I really liked this novel. It started so well that it got me hooked from the beginning. As it opens, Kai is on a surfboard, being swept out to sea. HeI really liked this novel. It started so well that it got me hooked from the beginning. As it opens, Kai is on a surfboard, being swept out to sea. He took a risk, he went to far, and now he needs to face the consequences of his stupid tantrum and poor decision-making and hope like hell someone will figure out where he is. He likes a girl, he has always like her, but he seems to be permanently friend-zoned and passed over for the cooler guy. However, is perception is not reality and the girl does really like him. She's always liked him. In a comedy (but not really a comedy) of errors, now he's tossed his toys and alienated a bunch of people who care about him and she can't get people to understand that he is really missing.
This is tagged as romance, but it is only really romance towards the end. I think it is more philosophical journey, a novel of understanding who you are and where you fit. It's interesting because it is a surf novel and it is British, not something I often expect. The characters are likeable and it has much to recommend it. Also, the cover is gorgeous. ...more
I really enjoyed this gentle story about a boy with sight difficulties who has a close encounter with a whale which seems to be a kindred spirit with I really enjoyed this gentle story about a boy with sight difficulties who has a close encounter with a whale which seems to be a kindred spirit with him. Eric is visually impaired, and his parents are very protective of him in the kindest and most loving of ways, but he has reached the point where he needs a little freedom. His lack of sight means that dangers lurk nearby as he lives in a remote area near dangerous rocks and wild seas. When Eric is out on a fishing trip with his Dad they encounter a Minke whale, there is some connection forged between them, and Eric decides that it is his mission to protect the whale, but this is not an easy thing, there are tensions. This wild coast is a fantastic setting for a story of growing independence, making a stand and protecting the things you love.
This book was written by a 15-year-old, the writing is very good, it is nicely constructed and there is a maturity about the writing which belies the age of the author. Great job Arlo Kelly. I'm looking forward to more from you. ...more
Have I ever read a book with so many adjectives? Nope. This book, from the blurb on the back, should have been right up my alley. Young adult, dystopiHave I ever read a book with so many adjectives? Nope. This book, from the blurb on the back, should have been right up my alley. Young adult, dystopia, a couple separated by circumstances. I made it to page 20. ...more
Yet again I've slipped well behind in my Goodreads records. This is my week of catch up.
The second book in the series A Good Girl's Guide to Murder isYet again I've slipped well behind in my Goodreads records. This is my week of catch up.
The second book in the series A Good Girl's Guide to Murder is a great sequel to the first. I seem to have made these my Covid reads, I read the first one during my first bout a couple of years ago and this one while I had it recently. This one I found a little bit slower to start, but once I was fully embedded in it I was hooked and couldn't put it down. Pip is such a great character, I loved her dilemmas - she thought she was done with investigating but when one turns up and she has a personal connection to a missing person, she can't help but get involved. Pip is so bad at taking advice but without her, the crime in her town would go largely ignored. She has the connections, the perseverance and the grit to take on anything it seems, even when it costs her mental health and incurs the wrath of her family.
This series is great. If you got into the first one, then this one is going to hook you as well. A must for every high school library I think. ...more
Really nicely written YA novel about finding first love. It's a complicated family situation for Cody and Ryan, Cody's Dad and Ryan's Mum were once maReally nicely written YA novel about finding first love. It's a complicated family situation for Cody and Ryan, Cody's Dad and Ryan's Mum were once married and they now have a very complicated blended family. It's a family fraught with tensions and historical bitterness and then, wouldn't you know it, Cody and Ryan are falling for each other.
I loved the tensions, the drama, the way that the awkward situations are written and I really liked the way that the boy's feelings were explored. This is a cool book. A little bit sexy but not too overt and I would have loved to have shared this with The BookGang at school. ...more
Since picking up this book I've purchased 2 copies for friends' children. It is a treat. A treat for the eyes, for the mind and for your heart. Buy itSince picking up this book I've purchased 2 copies for friends' children. It is a treat. A treat for the eyes, for the mind and for your heart. Buy it for the people you love who like quirky things. Buy it for children you want to get off a device. Buy it for yourself to have it sit by your chair and peruse night after night. Buy it. ...more
One of my favourite authors for kids. This is a great story, full of issues as you'd expect from this author who likes challenging societal norms and One of my favourite authors for kids. This is a great story, full of issues as you'd expect from this author who likes challenging societal norms and challenging social attitudes in his fiction for the middle school audience.
I'm so far behind in reviews that I'm going to leave it there, but this is a great addition to any school library and Hercules is a great and brave kid with more than his share of stuff to deal with. ...more
Excellent teen who done it. Lots of great Agatha Christie references, cool friend group and I was really invested in finding out what would happen as Excellent teen who done it. Lots of great Agatha Christie references, cool friend group and I was really invested in finding out what would happen as the tension built and danger lurked rather alarmingly. Great book for school libraries. Kathleen Glasgow's work is making me very happy at the moment. ...more
I trust Tristan Bancks to give me an excellent read for young teens. A book that is not too small, not too big and with action. Lots of action. And teI trust Tristan Bancks to give me an excellent read for young teens. A book that is not too small, not too big and with action. Lots of action. And tension, he does tension so well. We have a bunch of kids, in a town that has little going on. A drought and the town that was drowned years before being slowly revealed as the dam that flooded it shrinks due to a flood. There is a gritty mystery to be solved and some furious adults are intent on stopping these kids from uncovering a mystery that they want to stay buried (or drowned).
Great book, awesome kid characters and a lot of secrets. ...more
A retelling of one of my favourite stories from childhood. I was super excited when this arrived in the office and I really enjoyed it. The story is gA retelling of one of my favourite stories from childhood. I was super excited when this arrived in the office and I really enjoyed it. The story is great but the art is fabulous too.
This takes the traditional tale, develops the character of the little match girl, explains her sad and terrible life, selling matches on the street in the freezing cold, dealing with adults with bad intentions, the illness of her mother who suffers from the chemicals used in matchmaking in the factory, her dear but starving little brother and the evil factory owner. Conditions in the factory are horrid, it is a hard job, the money earned is little and everyone is starving.
And then, a little bit of magic happens, the striking of a match brings some magic. Bridie is transported to another world, and then it happens again and she realises that striking the matches can show her a better life. If only she could make it happen for real.
This is a beautiful book to hold, it has feel feel-good factor, and it's beautifully produced. It's a lovely story with interesting characters and plenty of obstacles to overcome. It would be awesome to read aloud to a class. ...more
I hardly ever review picture books on here. I read a lot of them for work these days, but sometimes one moves me and I think that other people should I hardly ever review picture books on here. I read a lot of them for work these days, but sometimes one moves me and I think that other people should know about it, this is one of those books.
A young boy loves school, especially Wednesdays when his big brother Apa and comes to walk him home from school. It seems like all the cool things happen on Wednesdays, there's karate, watching Apa play basketball, there's kapa haka and the walk home from school chatting with Apa. But one Wednesday Apa dies. Now there is no point going to school on a Wednesday, it is the worst day. The boy doesn't want to go to school on Wednesdays anymore.
This is a story of grief, family, of a community pulling together to help this young boy come to terms with the death of his brother. It is told with simple but moving language, the illustrations are beautiful, particularly the expressions on the faces. It says on the back that it "is part of a series about aroha and nurturing the resilience of children who have experienced a traumatic life event. It aims to help adults and children talk about what has happened and support children's well-being"
I loved this book, I passed it around the office and we all had a little moment with it. Highly recommended. ...more
This is a soft story, gently exploring first love, first understanding of who you might be in the world. It's Aria's story, she's been sent to her graThis is a soft story, gently exploring first love, first understanding of who you might be in the world. It's Aria's story, she's been sent to her grandmother's place for the summer instead of going on holiday with her friends, she did something a bit dumb, she got into trouble - damn the internet - and now is in California. She's far from home and friends and trying to entertain herself with projects and keeping her grandmother company. She begins to realise that the vibrant gran that she's known, is getting older and possibly not as mentally together as she's always been. Aria is a bit bored, but meets the person who does her grand garden, is taken with her, and quietly, begins to realise that she is falling for her.
I really enjoyed it, it's a gentle coming of age story and it just gently unfolds and makes you happy, and now I feel the need to read Malinda Lo's other book. ...more
I love David Hill’s books. I’m biased because I like David Hill. But I like him because he writes books that are perfect for his audience. He doesn’t I love David Hill’s books. I’m biased because I like David Hill. But I like him because he writes books that are perfect for his audience. He doesn’t over complicate things, there are always plenty of issues to consider and he does exactly what needs to be done to drive a story forward. This is perfect for reluctant as well as keen readers. With realistic characters who have realistic conversations and an excellent build to the climax I’m a big fan of this book. More please David ...more
In my humble opinion, David Levithan is one of the best writers for middle school/intermediate and young adults in the game today. I love his books.
TIn my humble opinion, David Levithan is one of the best writers for middle school/intermediate and young adults in the game today. I love his books.
This one takes on book banning, and in a similar way to A.S. King's Attack of the Black Rectangles, and written for the same audience, it takes the kids' point of view. Donovan leaves his set text, The Adventurers, lying around, his mum picks it up and starts to read it and is instantly alarmed. She feels that the friendship between the two main male characters is a gay relationship and that her son should not be reading about that at his tender age. His mum mobilised her networks and soon the parents in town are up in arms about the book. Poor Donovan is caught in the middle. He feels so sorry for his lovely teacher who set the book and is so conflicted that his mum is stirring up trouble for him it's very upsetting. We're introduced to the book and chapters of the story run alongside Donovan's story so we become fully aware of why his mum might wonder about the characters but also why the book is such a great choice for the class. It's action-filled, full of strong friendships and just the kind of thing that will engage readers.
Alongside this, there is a new boy in his class and as Donovan and he become more and more friendly the relationships of the characters in the book begin to play on his mind
This is a small but lovely book. A book about conflict and how to resolve it, a book about relationships and the assumptions we can make about them. It's beautifully written and I was hooked from the first line. It is a heartwarming and carefully thought-out exploration of the phenomenon of book banning, why it can happen, why it is wrong and how a community can pull together for good. It is also a lovely exploration of the first wondering of where you fit in the world. Highly recommended. ...more
I'm a big fan of Sarah Laing and have been hanging out to get hold of this book since it was published. So I went into it with a predisposition to lovI'm a big fan of Sarah Laing and have been hanging out to get hold of this book since it was published. So I went into it with a predisposition to love it. And love it I did! There is such a lot to love. The format is interesting. It is part graphic, part informational, part photographic journey. It really does have it all. And it is all tied together in a really appealing way.
This is above all a memoir of Sylvia and her love of birds, her passion to save as many as she possibly can and her passion for training others to work alongside her and to pass her legacy onto. The story of her life, growing up in foster care, what it was like to be a young child who was abandoned by her parents, given to families who had often as many as 10 other kids to look after, it was not an easy life. I loved reading about Sylvia and her life and loves. All captured so beautifully in graphics and in wonderful photographs.
The final part of the book is a call to action. It shows you how to look after birds who have lost their parents, who have damaged themselves and how to feed the wild birds in your neighbourhood. None of this is preachy, the tone is just right.
This is a book for young and old. A really lovely present book. I just adored it and think of all the kids who love birds that I've met doing my project who would appreciate it. A gem of a book. ...more
I picked this up because I adored the cover, and because I've seen this author crop up a few times and I was curious. It is an excellent YA fantasy. II picked this up because I adored the cover, and because I've seen this author crop up a few times and I was curious. It is an excellent YA fantasy. It really feels like myths and legends from Japan come to life. Mysterious creatures with magical powers, a heroine who grows in strength as the book goes along. Wonderful sidekicks, from talking cats to a fabulous magpie.
Our heroine Miuko is touched by a god, causing a curst which presents as a blue pigment spreading coldness and marks up her body. Now she is on a quest to reverse the curse, save her village and especially her father and the inn he runs. Along the way she will meet danger and some really nasty characters who will try to stop her and to trick and torment her. As Miuko grows in confidence on the journey she begins to use the powers she gains from the curse, using it to get her closer to successfully getting home all the while considering her options, she could have enormous power or she could revert to being the meek young girl she was before.
This is a great read. Lots of great action. A thoughtful heroine and a great cast of characters good and bad. I really enjoyed it. ...more
One of the very few 5 star reads this year! This is everything I want from YA fiction. Actually, this is everything I want from fiction. I want to becOne of the very few 5 star reads this year! This is everything I want from YA fiction. Actually, this is everything I want from fiction. I want to become emotionally attached to the characters, I want snappy interesting and unpredictable dialogue, I want it peopled with characters I think I could meet in real life. This book is all that and so much more.
This was an emotional roller coaster, with beautiful highs, distressing lows and full of absolutely excellent feels from every other gamut of emotion.
Stella, you won me over on the first page. Your journey is wonderful. And unpredictable. Please buy this for your teenagers....more
This arrived in my office and I snaffled it because I have heard how much people have loved it. They were right, it is a lovely book. Slightly weird aThis arrived in my office and I snaffled it because I have heard how much people have loved it. They were right, it is a lovely book. Slightly weird and quirky. A wonderful book to read aloud. A great book for a school library collection. Lots of wonderful messages about belonging, loneliness, the concept of families and friendship. I'll have to hunt out the next book now. ...more
Cute as a button graphic novel about a bunch of diverse kids at a very unusual high school. It's a book about finding yourself, yearning, crushes, sibCute as a button graphic novel about a bunch of diverse kids at a very unusual high school. It's a book about finding yourself, yearning, crushes, sibling love and understanding and with a generous dose of magic. It is beautifully illustrated, and super cool. I adored Vi, felt like she was my people! I loved all the various characters with their quirks and ways of being. It is a dose of fun and a blimmin good time. ...more