June 2016 – Page 2 – My Good Reads

‘Everland’ – Wendy Spinale

This is a curious book, but one that I can see having its fans amongst teenage readers.

Gwen Darling and her younger siblings, Joanna and Mikey, are the only survivors of their family after London is destroyed by bombing. Most of the population has been killed by a virus, and those that remain alive are desperate to find a cure. The survivors of the bombing – who all seem to be children – are hunted by Captain Hook and his Marauders, who are desperate to find the one who has immunity to the virus.

Joanna is taken by Hook’s men, and Gwen is determined to get her back. She bumps into Pete who, along with his Lost Boys, vows to help her get to Everland to rescue her sister.

This was a well-written story, with plenty of action to entertain. My main problem was that, at least initially, I couldn’t see past the Disney images and associations…a curious blend of ideas to play with, some of which work more successfully than others. It certainly brings a refreshingly modern twist to a rather stuffy classic.

‘The Pain Eater’ – Beth Goobie

She hadn’t told anyone. Not a single soul. Not one word about that night and what had been done to her had ever passed Maddy Malone’s lips. She’d thought about it at first – had been desperate, even frantic, to tell. But then had come the shame, and the intimidation from the boys who raped her – and the one who held her down.

Now it’s the beginning of a new school year and Maddy is hoping that she can continue to hide, making herself as quiet and small as possible. She is consumed with keeping the memories at bay, forcing them down through small cuts and the burn from the end of a cigarette. But when her English class is given the assignment of writing a collaborative novel about a fifteen-year-old girl, The Pain Eater, fact and fiction begin to meet up. When the boys spread rumors about Maddy, she realizes that continuing to hide the truth will only give them more control, and she slowly gains the courage to confront them.

From its opening Prologue, where we are told about the rape of fourteen-year-old Maddy, this is a powerful read.

The novel actually focuses on the events of a year after the attack. Maddy has told no-one of what happened to her, and she is used to keeping her head down and being invisible. Over the year since the attack, Maddy has worked out the identities of her attackers and things come to a head when she finds herself in English class with two of them.

The class are set an intriguing task-a collaborative story. And so begins a fascinating read.

As much about the creative act of writing as it is about Maddy’s brave decision to finally speak about what happened, this novel is powerful. Like a number of books on this topic, I feel this should be a must-read for teenagers.

Thank you to NetGalley for the ARC in exchange for an honest review. This is one book I’ll be urging my students to consider when it’s published! As of September 2nd, Amazon.co.uk are indicating that the Kindle version of the novel will be available from 13th September 2016 while the paperback version is available for pre-order (scheduled release March 2017).

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Thank you for you review of The Pain Eater by Beth Goobie. I spoke with Beth and I know she was really happy to see your review of her new book, and we are too here at Second Story. It’s great to see a reviewer/blogger who has a wide interest and gives a really considered and thoughtful review of each book.

Beth wanted me to clarify the publication date of the book with you. The book is being released in September in Canada and then in March in the USA. Our books are not being distributed in the UK directly at the moment, but Amazon does seem to make it available so I hope that UK readers can purchase it, or they can also access the ebook versions.

Thank you so much for bringing attention to our book!

Emma Rodgers

Marketing & Promotions Manager

Second Story Press

‘Flat-Out Love’ – Jessica Park

‘Flat-Out Love’ is a curious read, but one to persevere with.

We first meet Julie when she’s heading to college in Boston. Her accommodation doesn’t work out, so an old college friend of her mother steps in and saves the day. Julie joins this eccentric and highly dysfunctional family, and we get to see her learn more about them as she goes through her studies.

This eighteen year old is quick to take thirteen year old Celeste under her wing, but it is her relationship with Finn – the eldest son – that initially draws us in. Though we’re told Finn is travelling, Julie friends him on Facebook and finds herself drawn to this boy she’s never met.

There are some wonderful moments during this story. It’s witty but also upsetting. Julie seemed a little too keen to ‘fix’ everything, which I wasn’t totally convinced by, but I found myself drawn to her as she learns more about the relationships between those around her.

It is only fairly late on that we start to get clues about the, quite frankly, astonishing revelation this warm but broken family unit have to make. Julie’s initial response had me gulping (and, yes, feeling more than a little teary) but by the end I was quite won over.

‘The Program’ – Suzanne Young

A dystopian novel with a bit of a difference.

At this point in time we are led to believe that suicide has become an epidemic. We’re not told why – though it’s laid at the door of our dependence on anti-depressants – but with so many teenagers killing themselves, society has turned to The Program as a way of controlling this problem. Anyone under the age of 18 who shows signs of being depressed/uncertain or even experiencing excessive emotion (tell me if I’m missing something, but I thought that was the expected result of lots of hormones and someone lacking life experiences on which to draw) is enrolled into The Program.

Sloane and her boyfriend James have experienced their fair share of tragedy. Sloane’s brother killed himself, her best friend is taken away as she’s depressed, another friend kills himself and James eventually succumbs to his emotions. One by one, everyone she relies on and interacts with is removed, and it is perhaps inevitable that Sloane is taken into The Program.

The second part of the novel chronicles Sloane’s experiences, and it is here that we get our strongest hints that all is not quite what it seems. Sloane is never entirely sure who to trust, and what feelings are caused by the obscene amounts of drugs pumped into her during this process. She comes to trust Realm, who seems like one of the good guys, but even that isn’t quite as straightforward as we think.

The final part of the novel focuses on what happens when Sloane is returned home. She doesn’t quite feel as she’s meant to, and she has the opportunity to regain some of her memories. Her dilemma is whether it is worth it when those she shared the experiences with have no recollection of the events.
This reminded me a little of ‘Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind’, though here the actions are placed firmly in the hands of the adults who believe they are acting in their children’ best interests.

The Epilogue really sets up our interest in what comes next. I can’t wait to find out where this goes.

‘Paper Butterflies’ – Lisa Heathfield

If you read one book this year, I would urge you to make it this one.

Due for publication at the end of June 2016, this is the second novel by Lisa Heathfield (after reading this, I’ve already purchased a copy of her debut) and it is a genuine must-read.

When we first meet June she is ten years old. Her mother has died and she lives with her father, notably absent, step-mother Kathleen and half-sister Megan. The abuse she suffers at the hands of her ‘new family’ is horrific. Appearances are deceptive, and while everyone thinks June comes from a loving family the systematic humiliation she endures is beyond imaginable.

This is perhaps one of the most uncomfortable books I’ve read in a long time, but it was truly compelling. I felt I couldn’t leave June, much as I wanted to.
When June meets Blister (Jacob Wick) in the woods she gets a chance at happiness, becoming a part of a family that genuinely care for each other. Their friendship really was a crutch to sustain her, but I loved how together they retain a zest for life and laughter.

On one or two occasions June comes close to revealing the extent of the suffering she faces both at home and school. Nothing comes of it. When she finally plucks up the courage to seek help from the one person you would hope she can rely on, the cruelty of the rejection is scalpel-sharp.

I was desperately hoping for a happy ending for June. I wanted to feel there was a chance for good to win. What I got instead was a complete hand-over-my-eyes, stomach-dropping living-hell of an event. At the back of my mind I wondered if this was a step too far – hadn’t June suffered enough? But it certainly acts as a device to enable her to explore fully her feelings towards those who hurt her so much when she was younger.

The final section of the novel really forces us to think about how we as a society respond to events such as those described within this novel. The recurring image of butterflies was powerful, and I felt it fitting that the final words belonged to Blister.

Just, wow!

I cannot thank NetGalley and the publishers enough for the ARC in exchange for an honest review.

‘All The Missing Girls’ – Megan Miranda

Touted as another ‘Girl On The Train’ thriller, don’t let the comparisons sway you. Yes, this is a thriller and there are crimes involved, but this is not simply another attempt to jump on a plot-twist bandwagon.

In this novel, Miranda focuses on telling us the story of two girls who disappear – a decade apart – but once we’ve been introduced to the key players, we have a daring structural device to contend with. At the point in time that the second girl disappears, the story is then told backwards…it sounds odd, and does make for a little confusion initially, but it was a fascinating idea to take us back through the investigation from the present to the point in time at which it started.

I can imagine that for crime/thriller aficionados this structural technique could be a turn-off. Initially, the story is a little slow. The characters aren’t particularly likeable and their relationships are not clearly delineated. There is a very real sense of people hiding things, but it becomes clear why they are doing this as we read on.

The action takes place in and around Cooley Ridge, a fairly claustrophobic setting complete with mysterious woods. Nic, one of our main protagonists, returns home to help her ailing father and to try and tie up loose ends. She has not been back for a while and her return brings back memories of the time of the original disappearance, that of her best friend Corinne. Those who were under suspicion at the time – Nic’s brother, Daniel, her boyfriend, Tyler, and Corinne’s boyfriend, Jackson – are all still living in the town. With the disappearance of Annaleise Carter, the groups’ original alibi, it becomes clear that they all have something to hide.

Nic is determined to find out what happened to Annaleise and her investigation ensures that we slowly unravel some hidden secrets and desires. Not all the details are relevant to the modern investigation, but trying to piece together the details of the original disappearance was a great puzzle. Who actually committed the crimes does not, actually, seem to be at the fore of the writer’s concerns. She seems more interested in unpicking the level of culpability that a number of characters have, and exploring how they come to terms with their involvement.

Thank you to NetGalley for the advance copy of this novel. There’s a definite buzz about this and I can completely see why.

‘A Court of Mist and Fury’ – Sarah J. Maas

Feyre survived Amarantha’s clutches to return to the Spring Court—but at a steep cost. Though she now has the powers of the High Fae, her heart remains human, and it can’t forget the terrible deeds she performed to save Tamlin’s people.

Nor has Feyre forgotten her bargain with Rhysand, High Lord of the feared Night Court. As Feyre navigates its dark web of politics, passion, and dazzling power, a greater evil looms—and she might be key to stopping it. But only if she can harness her harrowing gifts, heal her fractured soul, and decide how she wishes to shape her future—and the future of a world cleaved in two.

While I thoroughly recommend A Court of Thorns and Roses, this is in a league of its own.

Upon her return from Under the Mountain, Feyre is broken. She is fading away, and Tamlin’s desire to protect her becomes stifling. As readers we are keen for her to get her happy ending, but when her marriage to Tamlin is interrupted we wonder how on earth it is going to happen. Bear with it, and you will see how Maas pulls off something more than a little unpredictable.

In the background of Feyre’s personal life we have the story of the King plotting to gain control of the kingdom. War is coming. Lots of characters tell us this, over and over again. Don’t worry, I think we can safely say what the focus is for the next in the series! It’s fair to say that not a whole lot happens but there wasn’t one point where I found myself bored.

This is a huge turn-around from book 1 but it makes perfect sense in light of what we learn in this novel. We spend a lot of time in the Court of Rhysand, and come to learn an awful lot more about him. Rhysand is a deliciously complex character, and there is a definite sense of Maas having fun writing this one. While we come to this novel seeing Rhysand very much as the villain, it’s soon clear that things are never quite as straightforward as we might think.

There will be some readers who will criticise the explicit sexual content in the later stages of the novel. It is a long time coming, but Feyre certainly makes up for lost time! In the context of the novel it does make sense, and it’s hardly groundbreaking that Feyre gets to have a healthy sex life only once a clear bond is established. My main concern is that it seems this series is being marketed as young adult fiction – typically focusing on readers of 14 and upwards – and I think some parents might appreciate a bit of a heads-up about the graphic sexual content beforehand.

In addition to admiring the shift in focus that we get here, which does hint at a truly interesting next book, I am completely in awe of the ending. At this point I feel there should be a cue for my maniacal cackling and rubbing of hands together in anticipation. I, for one, cannot wait until the next part is out.

‘A Monster Calls’ – Patrick Ness

Patrick Ness takes the final idea of the late, award-winning writer Siobhan Dowd and weaves an extraordinary and heartbreaking tale of mischief, healing and above all, the courage it takes to survive.

This is a book that I feel is a must-read, for a number of reasons.

Firstly, the subject matter is one that everyone will have to deal with at some point in time. In this novel, Ness perfectly sums up the confusion and uncertainty that we might experience when someone close to us is seriously ill.

Secondly, it is beautifully descriptive. There are passages that you will want to read and re-read as they simply capture a moment or a feeling, perfectly.

Lastly, the character of Conor. We witness his mother’s treatment through his eyes, and we get to explore how it feels to be living in this situation. He is very realistically portrayed, and Ness doesn’t shy away from the ugliness that Conor deals with. It simply is, and Conor has to come to terms with what he is living through.

Though this is a quick read, it is one that will remain with you long after the book has been put down.

‘Eleanor and Park’ – Rainbow Rowell

Having recently read a couple of Rainbow Rowell novels, it didn’t take long to sniff out another potential read. Most reviews of this were overwhelmingly positive, gushing even, which put me off a little. I was worried about not ‘getting it’ or not quite feeling as positive about it as I hoped to. Thankfully, I needn’t have worried. This quite hooked me.

I can overlook the fact that Eleanor and Park seem to fall in love overnight, and with virtually no contact, as the pair of them together were so earnest and lovely. Both misfits in their own way, they are great characters who just seem to find each other at the right time.

My main gripe with this novel was that I felt we dwelt on the relationship between Park and Eleanor at the expense of developing our understanding of their home environments/relationships. I can’t understand how all these people seem to know what Richie (Eleanor’s step-dad) is like, but do nothing about the situation. It could also have been interesting to flesh out some of the other characters who see something in both Eleanor and Park. These are not unlikeable teenagers, but they were in their own little bubble for so much of the story and yet there were clearly people who cared about them.

I also found it quite disconcerting to have such an obviously dated setting with regard to tapes and cultural references. I loved this, but wonder if it might be a little off-putting to contemporary readers.

Though the romantic in me hopes the words on Eleanor’s final postcard gave Park hope of them meeting again soon, I admire the fact that Rowell left us uncertain about what happens.

‘Every Exquisite Thing’ – Matthew Quick

With a title that contains a quote from one of my favourite stories ever (The Picture of Dorian Gray), I had a sneaky suspicion that this would be a book I’d enjoy. Sometimes it’s good to get what you wish for.

The story focuses on Nanette O’Hara, an introverted student who has toed the expected line all her life. A good student and a star soccer player, she is popular and comes from a comfortable background. Yet she always feels something of a misfit, and struggles to feel comfortable in her own skin.

This coming of age novel begins with Nanette being given a copy of The Bubblegum Reaper, a cult novel, with which she identifies heavily. When she learns that the author lives in her town she arranges to meet with him, and so begins an unusual friendship.

Booker helps Nanette start to question who she is and the place she will take in society. Her relationship with Booker, but also Alex and Oliver, focuses on them each finding their way.

It’s hard to sum up precisely what made this book work for me. I think the sense of self-doubt is something that many will identify with, and the pages crackle with humour (though sometimes of the dark sort). There are one or two moments that really throw the reader off-kilter, but it was touching and it certainly got me thinking.

Thank you to NetGalley for the ARC in exchange for an honest review.