Danni is a caring, thoughtful and empathic girl going through the usual teenage problems, when her mother suddenly goes missing and turns up on a locaDanni is a caring, thoughtful and empathic girl going through the usual teenage problems, when her mother suddenly goes missing and turns up on a local beach with memory loss. Investigating the mysteries surrounding all this, Danni discovers a deep secret all the women in her family hold. Something that will change her life, and bring her into the orbit of dangerous and superstitious people.
Beautifully written and very evocative of Cornwall, Deep Water is a story full of heart and soul. With a pretty unique mystery at its core that is gradually revealed throughout the book, it's a great contemporary British YA fantasy, mixing teenage reality and magical elements in a very Susan Cooper-ish way....more
A lovely story about two young boys coping with the loss of their mum. The voice of Beckett Rumsey the narrator and POV character of the book is so clA lovely story about two young boys coping with the loss of their mum. The voice of Beckett Rumsey the narrator and POV character of the book is so clear and quirky, and the tone is sad an humorous at the same time. I particularly love Lara Williamson's unique and funny similies which are so individual to her characters and add so much to the voice. Billy, Becket's little brother, is a fun character too, and the way Beckett cares and looks out for him throughout the story is so endearing. They both come across so strong and clear in all their spiky stubornness, crazy plans and schemes, and their love for one another and their dad The story is quite similar in tone to A Boy Called Hope, Lara's first book, with the loss of a parent storyline, but I think the world of grownups that Beckett and Billy have to deal with is a little bit muddier and difficult for them to understand. There's even a pet snail called Brian. Over all, it's a great middle grade story about coping with losing someone, and the ending is just beautiful....more
This book has some great zen wisdom in it about life non-duality and what it's really all about. Possibly my favourite quote from the book (and I underThis book has some great zen wisdom in it about life non-duality and what it's really all about. Possibly my favourite quote from the book (and I underlined quite a few!) ...
"We do not "come into" into this world; we come out of it, as leaves from a tree. As the ocean "waves," the universe "peoples." Every individual is an expression of the whole realm of nature, a unique action of the total universe. This fact is rarely, if ever, experienced by most individuals. Even those who know it to be true in theory do not sense or feel it, but continue to be aware of themselves as isolated "egos" inside bags of skin."...more
Abhorsen follows straight on from Lirael, and really they are the same story split in two. It's a brilliant conclusion to the trilogy, with Lirael andAbhorsen follows straight on from Lirael, and really they are the same story split in two. It's a brilliant conclusion to the trilogy, with Lirael and Sameth coming into their own as heroes. A little too much logistics in the villains plan, slowed things up at points, but the finale, and culmination of the two books, was superbly exciting, and The Disreputable Dog and Moggett who are by far my favourite characters, have a big part to play in the concludiing scenes....more
Lirael is another kick-ass fantasy heroine from Garth Nix. Almost equal to Sabriel in her awesomeness! This series is so addictive and action packed, Lirael is another kick-ass fantasy heroine from Garth Nix. Almost equal to Sabriel in her awesomeness! This series is so addictive and action packed, so immersive and well written. I love the world building, the magic system, the characters, the sarcastic talking familiars, although the disreputable dog is not quite as good as Moggett, who luckily makes a late appearance in the book. I love the bad guys and walking-dead-zombie-type action sequences, where the heroes Lirael and Sameth must battle the undead and the necromancers with magic. It is not a standalone book like Sabriel – you should probably read that first to get to know the world - and it ends on a cliff hanger, so you have to read the third one. But it is easily as action packed and unputdownable as its predecessor, and totally engaging....more
The voice of Birdy the narrator is fun and snarky in her loner observations about the characters at her school, and she is also a little bit too obsesThe voice of Birdy the narrator is fun and snarky in her loner observations about the characters at her school, and she is also a little bit too obsessive, especially when it comes to her friend Bert. There's a great twist in the last act and the ending is deliciously dark....more
Some beautiful writing, especially in the concrete detail of Sorlie and what he's going through in his new life on the prison island. Interesting ideaSome beautiful writing, especially in the concrete detail of Sorlie and what he's going through in his new life on the prison island. Interesting ideas about the near future too. Sorlie is rather a bratish hero, and very teenage in his concerns, but by the end he is (a little) wiser. There's some great characters, and I love the developing way Sorlie relates to Ishbel, and his grandfather Davie, and to Scud - who was my favourite character in the book. ...more
This is a great fun middle grade book about girl friendships, navigating the new world of secondary school, and finding your hidden talent. Cassidy isThis is a great fun middle grade book about girl friendships, navigating the new world of secondary school, and finding your hidden talent. Cassidy is such a strong character with a distinct twelve year old voice and a funny outlook on her changing life: new friends and social groups at secondary school, and a growing family (her mother is pregnant with twins). It reminded me at times of Adrian Mole aged 13 and 3/4ths. There are also some hilarious gags - especially in the reply letters Cassidy get from the various organisations she writes to trying to discover her talent....more
An insanely wacky Middle Grade Fantasy comic book about a boy who drowns in his soup and wakes up in a sort of hell city filled with monsters. He meetAn insanely wacky Middle Grade Fantasy comic book about a boy who drowns in his soup and wakes up in a sort of hell city filled with monsters. He meets a talking crow and gets involved in a battle between the despotic leader General Spode and a band of outlaws. The beautiful cartoon illustrations, and the humour, are reminiscent of French Bande Dessin style - especially the Asterix comics by Goscinny and Uderzo....more
I love the unique villains in Piers Torday's writing, and the quirky details. here Little Man and Dagger - the white dog with the metal teeth - are alI love the unique villains in Piers Torday's writing, and the quirky details. here Little Man and Dagger - the white dog with the metal teeth - are almost as horrifying and creepy as Captain Skulldiss. Who is still one of my favourite villains of all the recent books I've read, and luckily he does make another appearance here.
When Polly is taken by Selwyn Stone, Kester explores the dumps and the skyscrapers and Cul Dee Sacks of Premium looking for her. On his journey he makes new friends in Aida and the rat (who's been banished from the wild below). And gathers together a whole new wild for the last part of his adventure, still to come....more
Beautifully written. It made me tear up a couple of times. Both Hannah and Aaron felt so real - a mass of contradictions, bad decision, stupid bullishBeautifully written. It made me tear up a couple of times. Both Hannah and Aaron felt so real - a mass of contradictions, bad decision, stupid bullish or bravado teenage logic.
Hannah at first was grating in the extreme. But then her character really grows in a subtle way across the course of the book. It is brilliantly done - and it doesn't feel like a character 'arc' - more like as she moves away from her old life another side of her personality comes out. I did feel there could be a little more about her actual pregnancy and her worries about being a mum, but in a way it is kind of a character trait that she's not thinking so much about the future only about the things going on now.
Aaron was a lovely character too, trying to atone for his past by being the perfect guy to Hannah. At points he comes over a little too perfect, like the hero Hannah needs, rather than how he might behave considering his own self doubts. I totally loved him and believed him as a character, but I wanted Hannah to confront his oddness a bit more, and I get why she wouldn't - because she doesn't want to spoil things. But he is like a cuckoo child a little bit, adopting someone else's family, and this creates conflict near the end.
Both characters are so likeable and full of depth. I love how the book ends, and I would definitely read a sequel to see how they deal with parenthood and their mixed up friendship/relationship. The nature of which is something created out of both their needs in that short space of time, and how would it develop when the rules changed? All this is so interesting that at the end I wished there was more. I so wanted to know how Hannah dealt with being a mother in her unique sometimes insightful sometimes scattered way. There's just so much potential for looking at that in the way she oscillates between being teenage and more mature in her handling of things. And how Aaron dealt with the truth being out there about him and the potential of a shift in his relationship with Hannah and her family, and how he'd be with the baby. And I would've loved to see how all the kids at school would be with Hannah as a mum. All that made me wish for a sequel and I hope one gets written one day!...more
This was the most fun thing I've read in a while - a cross between Jeeves and Wooster, Agatha Christie and Daisy Pulls It Off! With two great heroinesThis was the most fun thing I've read in a while - a cross between Jeeves and Wooster, Agatha Christie and Daisy Pulls It Off! With two great heroines in Daisy and Hazel....more
Dido Twite is a great heroine, all mouthy action, sharp elbows and ideas, and this is the first of the series I've read where she's the main characterDido Twite is a great heroine, all mouthy action, sharp elbows and ideas, and this is the first of the series I've read where she's the main character, but I didn't enjoy this nearly as much as my other two forays into Joan Aiken's many books - The Wolves of Willoughby Chase, and Black Hearts in Battersea – which I thought were both brilliant. Somehow the plot here is not as strong, it feels as if there's too much beginning and not enough end, because the denoument has brilliant possibilities, but is dealt with rather fast. Also the biggest disappointment for me in the book, there were no wolves, despite the fact the book starts with a big coach crash and Dido spends most of the time wandering round the countryside. It still has a lot of fun stuff though - including another of those outlandish and nefarious villainous plots that the baddies in Joan Aitken always seem to come up with....more
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