Childrens’ – Page 9 – My Good Reads

‘The Queen of the Tearling’ – Erika Johansen

This book has been on my to-read pile for a while, but there never seemed to be a good time to get started on something that I thought might take a while to get through.

Initially, I found the book confusing. Everything about the novel suggests a Medieval setting, but it actually seems to be set in some post-apocalyptic setting in the future. Once I got past this confusion, I found myself intrigued by the world described.

We are told that nineteen year-old Kelsea Glynn is the rightful heir to the throne of the Tearling. She has spent years in hiding, and her guardians were trusted to prepare her for her future role. When soldiers come to escort her to the Keep, it is clear that Kelsea has a lot to learn.

I found it annoying that so much of the initial part of the book focuses on Kelsea feeling frustrated by her plainness, and her obsession with the appearance of those around her. Why did this have to be important? As I kept reading, though, it was clear that appearance was important in this world, and Kelsea’s learning to accept who she is plays a major role in her coming to accept her new position in society.

There were some interesting characters in the novel – and some that were downright unpleasant. I have so many questions: namely about the Fetch; who Kelsea’s father is; exactly what has got Mace so annoyed; the background to the Mort Queen; what role the jewels worn by Kelsea will play and when the odious Thorne is going to get his come-uppance.

I’ve heard this talked about as Game of Thrones for teenagers, but there’s some rather nasty details that might put off younger readers. However, this will probably get its fair share of fans once the movie comes out – though it’s doubtful that Emma Watson is quite what I’d picture Kelsea to look like.

‘The Earth is Singing’ – Vanessa Curtis

As you would expect with any novel that is set at this time in history, the subject matter is not remotely pleasant but it is a book that I feel makes compelling reading.

Hanna is 15 years old. She is Latvian, and also Jewish. Her dream is to be a dancer. Unfortunately, the Nazis arrive in her hometown and everything changes.

For anyone who doesn’t know much about what happened to the Jews during this period in time, this novel makes a fascinating starting point. Seeing events through the eyes of a slightly older teenager means we are given some awareness of the wider issues, while those around her still try to protect her from the true horrors of what is taking place. For those readers who do have some knowledge of this period in time, you read with grim determination. You know this is going to make for unsettling reading but you feel bound to continue.

With this novel I felt that the character of Hanna was so well-portrayed that you want to see out her story. For me, the most powerful scenes in the novel are when Hanna and those around her are at their most desperate. We witness people at their lowest, and the factual way Hanna observes these events made them – for me – more meaningful.

I would certainly recommend this to people to read, though I didn’t personally like the ending. It makes sense in terms of the story, but I don’t think it fits with what we were shown of the character of Uldis earlier in the novel.

I read this because it is on the 2016 CILIP Carnegie Long-list, and I would not be surprised to see this make it to the next stage.

‘Liccle Bit’ – Alex Wheatle

I picked this book up because it is on the Long-list for the 2016 CILIP Carnegie Awards. With its focus on teenagers living surrounded by gang-related crime, I felt it had traces of ‘Pigeon English’ by Stephen Kelman.

Lamar – Liccle Bit – lives with his mother, grandmother, sister and nephew in South Crongton. He dreams of escaping his limited world, but isn’t entirely sure how he can achieve this. His dreams look even less likely to come to fruition when the local gang-leader – who also happens to be the father to his nephew – starts to take a special interest in him. Without really being aware of it, Lemar is soon in over his head.

While the backdrop to this novel is bleak, the book was full of humour and I loved the depiction of Lemar and his friends. My only gripe was the ending. While it makes sense to maintain the focus on Lemar and his family, I really would have liked to know a little more about how certain events were resolved.

‘Spooks: The Dark Army’ – Joseph Delaney

The cover provides a tantalising glimpse of just how serious things have become. It also provides some reassurance that things are not – certainly in the beginning – as bleak as we thought they were at the end of the previous book.

It’s hard to talk about this novel without giving away crucial plot details. What I can say is that it was great to see some familiar faces again. Of course, things have changed since the last novel. The threat of the Kobalos is becoming increasingly concerning, and I really got a sense of Delaney turning the proverbial screw on this story.

As Tom is pushed into unfamiliar territory we are carried along with events occurring at breakneck speed. The descriptions of the battle scenes are, at times, more graphic than we’ve seen previously but in the grand scheme of things it seems to make sense. I’m not sure I’d forgive Joseph Delaney for an event that happened in the closing chapters, if it weren’t for the fact that there’s a sneaky peek of ‘The Dark Assassin’ included and it seems that we see more from one of my favourite characters.

Thank-you once again Joseph Delaney for a riveting read, packed with action and more than its fair share of surprises.

‘Tragedy Girl’ – Christine Hurley Deriso

This novel is due for release in April 2016, but I received an advance digital copy from NetGalley. For these reasons I won’t give any plot spoilers away.

Anne goes to live with her aunt and uncle after the tragic deaths of her parents. She is drawn to Blake, the golden boy of the school, who also has experienced his fair share of tragedy. While things seem good, there are clues that not everything is quite what it seems.

In this novel we get lots of questions, and Anne’s constant questioning does make the book feel slow at times. Unfortunately, once these questions start to get answered I feel that the story is rushed to its dramatic resolution.

While this isn’t my cup of tea, I can certainly see it being a book that certain students that I teach will love.

‘Bullet Boys’ – Ally Kennen

While ‘Bullet Boys’ features a trio of teenage boys at its heart, and some fairly mature action, it is a relatively straightforward read. I can see it appealing to boys and girls, particularly those who like their action and aren’t too bothered about understanding why it happens or even whether the action is particularly credible. That’s not to say it’s a bad read, but I didn’t find it quite as good as ‘Berserk’ or ‘Beast’.

It was, without question, entertaining once things got going.

Alex, Max and Levi are an unlikely group of friends. Alex is calm and steady, content to watch those around him, and he is handy to have around in a crisis (useful by the end of this novel). Levi is desperate to improve his lot in life. His initial actions spark a lot of the problems that come later. However, they could probably have avoided a lot of these problems if it weren’t for Max – a definite character to avoid if you ever came across him in real life!

This novel focuses in part on the boys’ developing relationships and their progression to adulthood. It’s successful here, and in the moments when we are watching the boys out in the wilds of Dartmoor. Where I found it less successful was with the plot concerning the Army and the hidden cache of guns. Made for some interesting scenes, but it all got so far-fetched by the end that I was keen for it to be over. I’m sure others will put it down in a much more positive frame of mind…

Lizzie Borden and the Trial of the Century – Sarah Miller

Not knowing anything about this case, I was curious when I received a digital copy of this novel – due for publication on January 12th 2016 – from NetGalley.

I’m giving nothing away when I tell you that this novel tells us the story – gleaned from news reports and other contemporary sources – of the trial of Lizzie Borden, accused of the brutal killings of her father and step-mother. We are taken through the details of the case as it is known, and we are left to make up our own minds about the outcome.

Non-fiction is not something I tend to read out of choice, but this read enough like a novel to keep me interested. What I found fascinating was the way in which the trial itself was conducted and what was revealed about the society of the time.

This is certainly a book that will gain readers’ interest, and it has piqued my curiosity enough to be on the lookout for more information about the case.

‘The Lie Tree’ – Francis Hardinge

I picked this up because it was on the Carnegie 2016 Short-list, and I was not surprised when it won the Costa Award.

Though it owes much to fantasy, this is a meticulously researched novel that offers a fascinating insight into the historical setting of the novel.

Faith wants to support her father in his research as a natural historian, but being female she is regarded as less than those around her. Her frustrations with the expectations of those around her made me so angry, but I felt the novel raised so many important questions.

Her father is forced to leave his home, accused of lying, and Faith is determined to prove his doubters wrong. Sadly, Faith comes to learn that things are not as simple as they seem. A dark yet delicious novel, that I think will appeal to many female readers with an interest in the world around them.

‘I Am Malala’ – Malala Yousafzai

There can’t be many people who haven’t heard of Malala Yousafzai, the teenager who was shot by the Taliban for fighting for her right to be educated.

This book – now told in more of her own words – takes us back to the beginning of the story. We learn that Malala had written, under a pseudonym, a blog for the BBC about life in Pakistan and how daily experiences that many of us take for granted were affected by the changing political environment.

For teenage readers this is an interesting insight into a politically complex situation, telling us a story that you cannot help but be moved by.

As an adult I was amazed by the strength of character shown by Malala’s family as they come under pressure to shut down access to education for females. I admired the strength of will that was clearly shown by the whole family to try and ensure that everyone in their province would get access to what many of us see as a fundamental right. I also admit to being more than a little humbled by the personality of such a young girl who, thanks to her family support, was determined to fight for what she believed to be right when it would have been all too easy to give up.

Though the novel is not well-polished, that isn’t important here. Malala’s voice shines through, and I felt it was important to get a sense of the girl behind the image. Her voice is engaging and honest. I enjoyed reading about how her family coped with the daily struggles of being uprooted from everything they knew, and I honestly believe that this is a book everyone ought to read.

‘The Copper Gauntlet’ – Holly Black and Cassandra Clare

If you enjoyed ‘The Iron Trial’ (which I did) then you will probably be a fan of this second installment of the Magisterium series.

Cal returns for his second year at the Magisterium, and things are getting bad. Cal is convinced that he is the person that all the mages are fighting against, but he cannot tell anyone of his fears. His father is convinced Cal is evil, and seems determined to take whatever steps he deems necessary to protect those he cares about.

This picks up well from the first book in the series, and we get plunged straight back into the thick of the action. It reminded me a little of Harry Potter, but that’s no bad thing. Some great characters and I feel this has been set up well for the next part of the series.