Mars by Jasmine Rose

Book Details:

Author: Jasmine Rose

Ages: 13+

Rating: 8/10

Number of Pages: 159

Plot:  Amaryllis Wolfe is struggling with her recent breakup with her boyfriend Ethan; her life is full of confusing moments as her ex tries desperately to win her back. Amaryllis’ life is turned upside down when the new boy Logan Masterson pulls her aside in class and tells her she is beautiful. Logan is full of mystery; until he reveals his secret.... he has cancer. This book is full of romance, heartbreak and the odd moment that will make you laugh out loud.

I was sent this book by a book publisher and was extremely excited to see what it would be like. I have since read the book several times, and each time I find more elements of the book that I love. The book follows a similar story line to The Fault in Our Stars by John Green, so at first I was a bit sceptical about the plot, but after reading the whole book I loved the characters and the plot just as much.

I especially loved the development of Amaryllis and Logan’s relationship, as I felt it perfectly mirrored real life teenage relationships. The author clearly made all of the characters, even the more minor characters, like Amaryllis' Dad, likeable, for example Jenna, Amaryllis' best friend is extremely sarcastic yet the reader can tell that she loves Amaryllis like a sister. My favourite character was Logan as I thought that despite him having cancer he deeply cared about Amaryllis and added humour to the book at point where it was quite sad. 

"I don't love you, because I love my sister and my parents. What I feel for you is different. It's something so profound that my heart feels it'll fall out of its chest if you ever get hurt," he smiles at me. "I'm completely, totally in love with you, Amaryllis." - Logan 

Overall I absolutely adored this book! Despite it feeling quite similar to the work of John Green at the beginning, the remainder of the book was truly unique. The characters each had their own distinct personalities that make the reader instantly relate to the individual characters. I would gladly recommend this book to anyone who loved The Fault in Our Stars or any other John Green book. If you would like to find more about the author or book, find them on Goodreads;

https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/23279048-mars

Reviewed by Daisy Wallis

Lord of the Flies by William Golding

Book Details

Author: William Golding
Ages: 12+
Rating: 9/10
Number of Pages: 248
Plot: Set on a deserted island, Golding portrays his views on human nature, without the restraints of society evil will always prevail, through the actions of a group of young boys escaping the hardships of war. Throughout the novel the characters, even the most innocent, become more savage and sadistic in the hopes for survival. Golding uses a range of characters to symbolise the many different people in society; Ralph is the natural leader, Piggy is the victim etc. The novel follows the group of boys as they try to find new ways of survival and ways to get rescued. As the novel progresses the characters and the island itself become more and more damaged. 

Golding wrote the novel in response to the novel 'The Coral Island' by R.M. Ballantyne; Ballantyne's novel follows the same concept as 'Lord of the Flies' but suggests that in this situation, of being away from society and civilisation, that boys will not turn savage and strictly follow the bible. Golding used the same concept idea to show how he feels boys would react in this situation. 

I studied this book as part of my English Literature GCSE course, and since then I have read this book multiple times. The characters each have their unique characteristics which make each of them memorable and relatable. Golding uses the characters to portray his views on human nature, characters like Jack and Roger are key example of this as they go through the most deterioration compared to the other characters. Some of the characters, I felt, came across as being annoying and spineless, the worst being Piggy.

Golding also uses the setting to portray the idea of deterioration. From the beginning of the novel Golding uses the setting to show how the island, much like the boys, is decaying and deteriorating. From the continuous use of fire and the fruit that causes the boys to become ill, the island is full of natural aspects that show  decay. Golding uses these methods throughout the whole novel to emphasise the negative effects humans have on the natural environment around us and the idea that good and evil coexist even in the natural world. 

'Lord of the Flies' is a great modern classic that has an easy plot to follow and is enjoyable for any age group. I really liked the characters and the use of description of the natural environment around the boys to help portray Golding's views on human nature. I would recommend this novel to anyone who enjoys adventure novels or any novel that has a deeper darker message or meaning.

Reviewed by Daisy Wallis

The Fault In Our Stars by John Green

Book Details
Author: John Green
Ages: 13+
Rating: 7/10
Number of Pages: 313
Plot: Hazel, a sixteen year old teenager with terminal thyroid cancer, lives a life full of hospital appointments, reading the same book over again and watching America’s Next Top Model with her mother. Until she meets Augustus Waters, a seventeen year old who lost his leg after a battle with osteosarcoma, at a cancer support group for teens. The fault in our stars is full of humour and tragedy with points that will make you laugh or cry.

I wanted to read this book after seeing how popular it had become in the summer. I first read the book before the film adaptation, with Shailene Woodley and Ansel Elgort, came out in the cinema and I felt that it did not live up to the high expectations that my friends had built it up to be. I thought that the overall structure of the plot was very similar to Jodi Piccoult books that I have read in the past, I also found the book predictable and didn’t feel any strong connections with the main character. Despite this, after reading it again and watching the film I began to enjoy and like the book.
I liked the ongoing idea of the book that Hazel and, later, Augustus obsess over as it made the characters seem more believable and relatable for readers who maybe haven’t gone through the same traumas as Hazel and Augustus. I like the use of the character of Peter Van Houten, the fictitious writer of their favourite book, An Imperial Affliction; the character not only made you hate him every time he spoke but also personified the idea that not all dreams come true the way you want it to. The obsession of the book also made the book more unqiue and took the attention away from the fact that the characters have cancer.
However, as much as I love Hazel and Augustus’ relationship, I felt that the friendship between Augustus and Isaac, a teenager who lost his sight because of cancer, was not addressed enough throughout the book. My favourite passage in the whole book, and the film, is not linked to the main love story in the book but the love Isaac has for his friend Augustus;

“But I will say this: when the scientists of the future show up at my house with robot eyes and they tell me to try them on, I will tell the scientists to screw off, because I do not want to see a world without him.” - Isaac

I loved the character of Isaac and really liked his humour despite having lost his sight. I think the humour of the book really took away from the idea that the book is about teenagers with cancer, but more like the life of a small group of friends.
Overall, I at first didn’t think much of the book but after reading it again I can understand why the book is so popular amongst the teenage age group. I would really love to see maybe a sequel/prologue centred on  Augustus and Isaac’s relationship and to see An Imperial Affliction made into a real book.