Thirteen Reasons Why Review | Film & TV

A few years ago, I read and reviewed, Jay Asher’s YA novel Thirteen Reasons Why and loved it. So, when the news came out that Netflix had got the rights to produce a 13-part series based on the book, I was beyond excited. For those of you who don’t know the story, which is pretty unlikely as it has been one of the most talked about Netflix originals in history, the story follows awkward teen Clay Jensen as he comes to terms with the shocking suicide of his close friend, Hannah Baker. Returning home from school one day, Clay finds a box addressed to him filled with 7 cassette tapes recorded by the recently deceased Hannah Baker. Going through the tapes one by one, Clay discovers the thirteen reasons why Hannah killed herself and uncovers many hidden secrets of his senior class along the way.

I'll Give You The Sun By Jandy Nelson | Book Review

Book Details:

Author: Jandy Nelson

Ages: YA

Rating: 6/10

Number of Pages: 429

Plot: When tragedy strikes, the once inseparable twins Jude and Noah Sweetwine have been driven apart, living in two very different and separate worlds. Written across two different time scales, Noah’s narrative follows his exploration of his artistic skills and his dreams of attending the local art school, but will his mother’s secret tear all his dreams apart? Set three years after their family tragedy, Jude’s narrative follows her struggles in art school as well as the distinct separation between her and her twin. Following their dealings with love, school and, most importantly, their crumbling relationship, I’ll Give You The Sun, offers a unique idea to the contemporary YA genre. In a story that interestingly addresses the effects of loss and family, Nelson creates two loveable characters that the reader wants to support from the very first page. 

Miss Peregrine's Home for Peculiar Children By Ransom Riggs | Book Review

Book Details:

Author: Ransom Riggs

Ages: YA

Rating: 6/10

Number of Pages: 384

Plot: An unexpected and shocking family tragedy sees young Jacob Portman travel to a remote island off the coast of Wales in order to uncover the secrets of the supposed 'peculiar' children his grandfather had told him so many stories of as a child. In a new and mysterious setting Jacob and his doubting father embark on an adventure that could prove Jacob’s new and peculiar visions and also uncover the secrets behind his grandfather’s past. In a small and archaic town, Jacob stumbles across the ruins of the orphanage once home to his grandfather and the peculiar children. Confused and disappointed, Jacob is almost ready to give up when he sees the beautiful Emma Bloom, one of the peculiar children from his grandfather’s photographs, but something is wrong – Emma hasn’t aged a day. In a story exploring the paranormal, Riggs creates a franchise that is able to mix the mysterious with historical elements.