The Year of the Rat By Clare Furniss | Review

Book Details
Author: Clare Furniss
Ages: Young Adult
Rating: 8/10
Number of Pages: 307
Plot: Told across the year following her mother's death, Pearl is torn by the grief of her mother's unexpected death and the joy she should be feeling over the birth of her new baby half-sister Rose. But Pearl cannot love Rose. It was Rose that caused her mother's death and turned her world upside down. To Pearl, Rose is nothing but The Rat. As friendship and family become even harder for Pearl to deal with, it seems that her mother's spirit still lingers and guides her through the darkest of times. In a story of grief and loss, Furniss explores the effects of heartbreak in a bittersweet tale full of woe and the glimpses of humour. This contemporary cleverly combines the sorrow and woe of loss with the importance of family and friendship.

Infinite Sky By C.J. Flood | Review

Book Details
Author: C.J. Flood
Ages: Young Adult
Rating: 8/10
Number of Pages: 271
Plot: After being rocked by their mother's departure, Iris and her older brother Sam have been affected in different ways. But when a traveller family sets up illegally in front of their farm it seems that Iris and Sam's lives will be changed forever. As Iris secretly strives to form a friendship with the son of the travellers, Trick, it appears that the presence of the travellers coupled with the blossoming relationship of Iris and Trick is forcing Sam even more off the rails. With tensions higher than ever before, and the knowledge that someone is going to die, Flood's novel explores the effects of family breakdown whilst creating a story that leaves you on the edge of your seat. This contemporary manages to consistently mix the elements of a suspense with the exploration of an interesting family dynamic that is not often written about so successfully.

The Martian By Andy Weir | Review

Book Details

Author: Andy Weir
Ages: Adult
Rating: 8/10
Number of Pages: 369
Plot: After an unexpected storm hits the base on Mars, astronaut Mark Watney is stranded with no way of contacting Earth or his team. But Mark's not ready to admit defeat. Using his engineering skills and botanical knowledge, Mark embarks on a desperate quest to contact Earth and get back to his team. As he overcomes more and more obstacles, Mark starts believing that his outlandish plan might work, but as the days draw on his supplies decrease. Will Mark have enough supplies to last? Written from a range of different perspectives, The Martian follows the desperate struggle to get Mark Watney off of Mars. A perfect mix of humour, suspense and adventure, the plot makes this novel impossible to put down and a story you won't forget for a long time.

Glass Sword By Victoria Aveyard | Review

Book Details
Author: Victoria Aveyard
Ages: Young Adult
Rating: 8/10
Number of Pages: 440
Plot: Following the shocking events of the Red Queen, Mare and Cal are on the run from the new Silver King, and Cal's evil younger brother, Maven. Mare Barrow, despite being a red blood, poses a threat to the Silver court due to her unique Silver ability of controlling lightening. Now with the knowledge that she is not the only of her kind, Mare alongside a group of red rebels, sets out to find and recruit these fighters to their cause - to bring down the king. In a tale of betrayal and rebellion, Mare is following a deadly path with the risk of becoming an even greater monster than the king threatening the lives of silvers and reds alike. Will Mare turn to the dark side? Or will her family and new recruits save the last of her humanity?

Review: I read Red Queen about a year ago and did really love the plot and characters that Aveyard created. Its unusual to find a series that incorporates the typical conventions of a dystopian with the more historical aspects of a royal court. I love this mix as it added a new lease of life to a genre, dystopian, which I feel has been over done in the last few years. I was therefore quite excited when I found this in bookshop and couldn't wait to delve back into Mare's world. The book continued with the interesting take on a world divided by blood and I feel that Aveyard still managed to make this believable and almost relatable in the current climate worldwide. In fact, throughout the book I felt myself comparing the distinct divisions between the silvers and the reds with religious and cultural divides across the world.

Another aspect that I think really makes the Red Queen series stand out is the integration of political aspects such as the ideas of protest and insurgent groups. Even though these political aspects have been used before in other dystopian novels, Aveyard leads with these themes adding a sense of individuality to her series. The use of the insurgent group the Scarlet Guard is a great addition to her storyline. Despite having shared characteristics with other groups in popular YA fiction, Aveyard I feel goes further into the running of the insurgent group as well as the many different roles that exist within it. For example one aspect I loved reading and learning more about was the divide in ideas between the leader of the group and his followers. I feel that this divide added a complexity to the group that other YA authors have yet to successfully delve into and explore.

"If I am a sword, I am a sword made of glass and I feel myself beginning to shatter."

I always judge a book by how I feel as soon as I have read the final line and it slowly sinks in that I will probably not return to this fictitious world for a good while. Upon finishing this particular sequel, I was left with a desperate longing to know more. And this I think is what makes this book, and this series, one which is loved or hated. For me, this aspect makes the series more intriguing and, honestly makes a huge impact on whether I am going to continue a series or just abandon it altogether. I must say that Aveyard's development of Mare Barrow was truly breath-taking. The moral complexity of Mare by the end of the book was extraordinary and totally unexpected. I can, however, see why people don't like Mare by the end of the book and feel as if more needed to be said. A clear example of this is a clear lack of Maven. Maven I feel is one of the best villains ever created in a YA series. A bold claim I know but for me Maven incorporates the best characteristics of a typical villain and yet is still a royal, so basically he is the Scar of the YA world.

Overall, I love this series. Aveyard adds a complexity to her characters and plot that really makes the series stand out amongst the other YA books of its kind. I loved the moral complexity of Mare and I can't wait to see how this develops in the next book. I do, however, understand why some people haven't enjoyed this sequel. I did feel at times that more could have been developed in regards to Maven and his diabolical plans to eradicate Mare's kind. Despite this I cannot wait until the next book!

Have you read 'Glass Sword'? Leave your thoughts and opinions in the comment section below!

The Girl From the Train by Irma Joubert

Book Details

Author: Irma Joubert

Ages: 12+

Rating: 8/10

Number of Pages: 320

Plot: Set in Europe during and after the Second World War, the book focuses on the lives of two people and how the devastation of war brings them together. Six- year-old Gretl Schmidt, a German-Jewish girl, has faced the hardships of war first hand along with her family and now she is on a train headed for Auschwitz. Jakob Kowalski, a fighter in the Polish resistance, unaware of Gretl’s existence, is planting a bomb to the tracks. As the sole survivor of the bomb, Gretl is alone in Poland, a country hostile to her people with no one to look after her or help her survive. After Jakob finds Gretl alone and hungry he takes her to his family farm. For years, Jakob and Gretl must keep her true identity a secret amongst his Catholic family. After spending years learning and growing with Jakob and his family, Gretl becomes a key part of running the farm and also expresses a love of learning – but she cannot stay with him forever. Lying about her true inheritance, Jakob and Gretl return to Germany and Gretl is given the opportunity to travel to South Africa and find a new family. Separated by continents and the political conflicts of the time, Jakob and Gretl form an impenetrable bond that stays with them forever. In a story of history, politics and love Joubert creates a historical fiction with realistic characters and unique storyline that makes it stand out against other Nazi Germany novels.

 

Review: I was kindly given a complimentary copy of this novel from the publishers via BookLook Bloggers, and was excited to delve into the world created by Joubert. Having loved this period of history during my GCSE’s and read almost all of the young adult fiction around the subject, I thought I had quite a large knowledge around the subject – how wrong I was. This concept is not only unique, but introduced me to new parts of the period that I had not previously been aware of. One way in which I think Joubert achieved this, was through her use of two narrative voices. Through Gretl we get the Jewish perspective of the Nazi regime and the Second World War, and this is what is typically seen in ficition regarding this subject. However Joubert chooses to add a second narrative voice, in Jakob, who introduces the effects of German and Russian aggression on the Polish people. In my opinion, I think that it is this use of two interlinked narratives that makes Joubert’s work so unique in comparison to other World War II fiction.

“When you look at the moon, remember I am seeing it too.” – Jakob

It is undeniable that Joubert creates a range of realistic characters that fit the expected characteristics and beliefs of the groups at the time. However, I felt that at times I wanted to know more. There were a few moments in which I was left wanting more, especially in regards to Jakob and his struggles in Poland whilst Gretl was in South Africa. Although Joubert quickly remedies this near the end, I felt that, at times, the characters didn’t have the same exposure that the reader craves. At times I was left wondering what has happened to Jakob. This may have been to emphasise their distance, but, for me, it felt as if a huge chunk of the narrative had been discarded.

Despite this, I thought Joubert captured 20^th century Europe and its inhabitants in a realistic way that other writers have failed to convey. The depictions of the hardships of the war and the conflicts between communism and capitalism were vivid and memorable, so much so that it is, in my opinion, one of the best fictions set in the Second World War time for the young adult readership. I loved the characters, especially the development of Jakob’s characters as I feel Joubert really managed to capture the disastrous effects of war on the individual. Despite at points wanting more, I feel that, overall, Joubert captured these lives so beautifully that I think Gretl and Jakob will stay in my mind for a long time after reading the book. I would recommend this to anyone who loved The Book Thief or John Boyne’s work as Joubert deals with the same themes whilst introducing the reader to characters that you can’t easily forget.

Doon by Carey Corp and Lorie Langdon

Book Details:

Author: Carey Corp and Lorie Langdon

Ages: 12+

Rating: 8/10

Number of Pages: 486

Plot: Veronica Welling’s life is not what it seems. Behind her popular cheerleader exterior, Veronica is forced to deal with an absent father, an unfaithful boyfriend and an unloving mother alone. On top of all of this, Veronica is now seeing a blonde boy in a kilt everywhere she turns and she is the only one who can see him. So when her best friend Mackenna Reid offers to whisk her away to Scotland for the summer, she cannot refuse. Unknown to them, they face a summer full of fantasy and adventure. Through old mystic possessions of Mackenna’s aunt, the girls discover the fantasy world of Doon – a magical kingdom that promises to fulfil the girls’ dreams. In addition to this new magical world, Veronica’s mystery stranger is not only there but a prince preparing to ascend the throne. Whilst Veronica tries to decipher whether she is destined to be with the prince, Mackenna must decide if she should follow her Broadway dreams or follow her heart and pursue a relationship with another prince. In a tale of friendship, fantasy and love, Veronica and Mackenna must work together to save their beloved new world and those they love.

Review: I was kindly given a complimentary copy of this novel from the publishers via BookLook Bloggers, and I was so excited to explore a whole new fantasy world. Corp and Langdon have created a magical fantasy world that is unique and loveable characters that are unlike any other. I loved how the authors chose to use Scotland as their backdrop as it was a lovely change from reading books that solely revolve around the US. As well as this, Corp and Langdon managed to depict the setting beautifully and created a memorable kingdom that could put other worlds to shame. Although I have never been to Scotland, the authors created a picturesque setting that make the reader feel as if they are really there.

"When things seem difficult and we’re tempted to doubt, we need to trust in what we can’t see.” – Prince Duncan

As well as this, I thought that the characters Corp and Langdon created were imaginative and the relationships realistic. I especially loved the friendship of Mackenna and Veronica. The relationship depicted between the girls was realistic and their contrasting personas, one a popular cheerleader and the other a Broadway lover, made their friendship even more relatable. In fact, Mackenna was probably one of my favourite characters in the book. Her determination to be an award winning actress and her protective nature towards her friend, made her, in my opinion, the most relatable character of the book. At times, I found that some of the characters were a bit cliché and lacked the same realness as Mackenna, especially Prince Duncan who, despite being an interesting character, was a little cheesy at times when it came to talking to Mackenna.

However, there were some aspects of the book that I didn’t fully invest in. I understand that the book was set in Scotland for the majority of the plot, but I found the constant use of Scottish colloquialisms a little hard to read. Yes, they made the plot more life-like but the extent to which they were used made the novel, in parts, drag. In addition to this, the story seemed to be unnecessarily long, for example the interactions between Veronica and Jaime were painfully slow. Despite this, I loved this book and I think that the authors have successfully created a fantasy world that is easy to fall in love with. The characters, although at times a little cliché, each had their own characteristics that made them unique and likeable. Corp and Langdon have successfully created a series that brings the magic and action of the Harry Potter series with the mystery and fantasy of the Chronicles of Narnia series. I can’t wait to delve into the rest of the Doon series and learn about the magical kingdom and its inhabitants.

Four: A Divergent Collection by Veronica Roth

Book Details

Author: Veronica Roth

Ages: 13+

Rating: 8/10

Number of Pages: 285

Plot: Two years before Tris Prior made her choice to leave her faction and join another, Tobias Eaton too makes the decision to leave his faction and start a new life. In these four short stories from Veronica Roth the reader gets an insight into how Tobias became known as ‘Four’ and how his life in Dauntless started. In these stories, ‘The Transfer’, ‘The Initiative’, ‘The Son’ and ‘The Traitor’, we follow Four as he claims his place in the Dauntless hierarchy and discovers secrets that could jeopardise his future and the future of the whole faction system. The first three stories follow Four as he adjusts to Dauntless life, making friends and enemies along the way. The final story, set two years later, follows Four, now an instructor, still trying to figure out the secrets of his faction, when he meets an unexpected hero, who will change the future of the faction system forever.

Review: As a massive fan of the Divergent series, when I discovered this little miracle I was beside myself. As most of you are probably aware, if you have read my reviews before, I am reluctant to give books a 10/10, but last April I was so excited by the series and so in love with the characters that I had to give ‘Divergent’ exactly that. My favourite character in the whole series was of course Four so when I discovered that after the disappointing ending of the final book in the series I was going to get more stories about my favourite character I was very excited. There are four individual short stories within the book, each focusing on different times in Four’s life.

 

“One thing I know: For helping me forget how awful the world is, I prefer her to alcohol.” - Four

The first, second and third story occur two years before Tris made her decision to leave Abnegation. In these stories, I felt that we learnt more about the sensitive side of Four, rather than the tough image we get in ‘Divergent’. I especially liked the first short story, ‘The Transfer’, as Roth showed the true extent of how his father’s actions affected him. In the first story we are also introduced to a range of new characters, and some familiar ones, that reveal more about Four and also made me love these characters even more. My favourites were Zeke and Shauna. Although we don’t see much of them, or are told how significant they are in Four’s life, in the ‘Divergent’ trilogy, these short stories really show how much characters like Zeke and Shauna care for Four and vice versa. I especially loved the relationship that Roth created between Four and Zeke, there were parts in these short stories, mainly seen in the control room, where we got a real insight into how important Zeke is to Four.

Another amazing thing about this collection of short stories is that Roth has also included three exclusive scenes that occur in ‘Divergent’ but are from Four’s perspective. These scenes reveal so much more about what Four was truly thinking when he met Tris, something that we don’t really get in ‘Divergent’. The stories and the added exclusive scenes were presented wonderfully and made me love Four even more. However, although I feel that a whole book from the perspective of Four would have killed the appeal of the franchise, it would have been nice to read about what happened to Four after the shocking events in the final book, ‘Allegiant’. Roth has managed to successfully remind the fans of the ‘Divergent’ series that Four is an amazing literary character who is not just tough but has a heart-breaking back story. Although I loved reading this and being taken back to the ‘Divergent’ world, I could not give these stories a rating as high as my previous review on ‘Divergent’ as I am still recovering from the ending of the series and I feel that there could have been more stories from my favourite character, Four.

The Hunger Games by Suzanne Collins

Book Details

Author: Suzanne Collins

Ages: 11+

Rating: 8/10

Number of Pages: 454

Plot: Set in a post-apocalyptic world, America is now separated into twelve districts all controlled by the all mighty Capitol. Each year each district must sacrifice one girl and one boy to the blood thirsty Hunger Games to repay the Capitol for their ‘generosity’ after the war. The games, a source of entertainment for the people of the Capitol, have only one rule – kill or be killed. In the starved district 12 sixteen year old Katniss Everdeen does something that shocks and delights the people of the Capitol – she volunteers for the games. In order to protect her sister and her new friend and ally Peeta Mellark, Katniss must use her skills with a bow and arrow to survive the Hunger Games.

Review: To celebrate the release of the final instalment of the Hunger Games films this winter I have decided to do a review of the first Hunger Games book by Suzanne Collins. So, I absolutely love the Hunger Games trilogy and have probably read each book a thousand times each. I am also a huge fan of the films and, as you have probably already guessed, I am so excited for the release of the new film. I first read this a few years ago and from the first read I loved the plot, the majority of the characters and the extravagancy of the Capitol. If you have read any of my other book reviews you will know that I am a massive fan of any dystopian or post-apocalyptic novel or series of books, and this series is one of my favourites. Not only does Suzanne Collins create a world that is unique and shocking at the same time but she also creates a contrast between the many different types of character within the book.

 “He made you look desirable! And let’s face it, you can use all the help you can get in that department. You were about as romantic as dirt until he said he wanted you. Now they all do. You’re all they’re talking about. The star-crossed lovers from District Twelve!” says Haymitch.

Initially, I thought after reading the blurb and reviews online that the book would be incredibly violent and gory and lack in the development of relationships amongst the characters. However, the book contains less violence and gore than I imagined and there are plenty of complex relationships between characters that make it a thought-provoking and intriguing read. My favourite relationship throughout the whole book was probably the friendship between Katniss and Rue. From their first meeting it is clear that 12 year old Rue reminds Katniss of her younger sister Prim; at the beginning of the book we see that Katniss acts in a protective and maternal way towards her younger sister and this same nature is seen when Katniss befriends Rue. I liked how Suzanne Collins used this to emphasise the protective nature of Katniss which can sometimes be lost due to her cold interaction with some of the other characters, e.g. Peeta.

My favourite characters in the book have to be Effie Trinket and Haymitch Abernathy, despite being very different from each other it is clear that they both care about Katniss and Peeta. I hate how these characters are always overlooked when people discuss the trilogy and that characters that lack the same depth and intrigue are put on incredibly high pedestals, for example, Gale. To be honest I really hate how in the film adaptations we don’t see enough of Haymitch and Effie’s love and admiration for Katniss and Peeta. Despite this, if you are one of the only people on the planet who has not read this you need to go and read this. Even though it’s classified as being a YA novel, in my eyes it is a modern classic that everyone must read. It’s not just another dystopian series, it has much deeper meanings that make it one of the most intriguing and interesting books to read.