|
|
Boys Don't Cry: (A) Malorie Blackman's brilliant book about a teenage dad. |
|
|
Between Shades of Gray: Ruta Sepetys tells the story of a Lithuanian family sent to Siberia in the 1940s by the Russians. Based on fact this is a sad but always hopeful book. |
|
|
Grace: Morris Gleitzman
Grace and her family belong to a strict Christian sect and have no contact with the "outsiders" in the world around them. Her father is expelled from the church for questioning its rules and Grace is determined to reunite her family. She quickly learns that certainly in this case fundamentalism does not equal love.
Told in a gently humorous way (Grace is quite young and most of her education has come from the bible); this short book really makes you think about intolerance and mind control. |
|
|
Asylum: Rachel Anderson
Rosa and her mother are asylum seekers, Sunday is an illegal immigrant. They end up in Hawk Rise, a condemmed tower block and make friends with the few remaining tennants in the block as they struggle to adapt to life in this country. You can though, feel their confusion as they struggle to deal with officialdom and find their way in what they thought would be 'the promised land'. |
|
|
An Act of Love: Alan Gibbons
Chris and Imran are childhood friends. Rioting, racism and prejudice weakens their friendship as they grow older. Chris becomes a soldier in the British army, Imran wants to be a soldier for Islam.
Told in short chapters the story quickly hooks you in as you wonder if Chris and Imran can heal the wounds that have grown between them. |
|
|
He's After Me: Chris Higgins (A)
Despairing of her dysfunctional family, 17-year old Anna falls madly in love with the gorgeous, mysterious Jem. Over time and without realising it she becomes more dependent on him, not realising she is only a means to an end.
A creepy and compelling fast read. |
|
|
People's Republic: Robert Muchamore
Zara's still there and there's a cameo appearance from Lauren but pretty much everyone else is new!
Ryan is the new 'main guy', setting out on his first big mission for CHERUB. The Aramov family runs a corrupt international business smuggling people and drugs amongst other things and the action ranges from China to Kyrgyztan, the Czech Republic and California.
Is this second series any good? - YES! Unfortunately though this is the first book in a three-part mission and the next one isn't coming out until October 2012. |
|
|
The Memory Cage: Ruth Eastman
Two wars, one family and lots of buried secrets.
'Grandfather' is suffering from Alzheimer's Disease. His adopted grandson Alex wants to help his grandfather remember what happened to him in the Second World War but doesn't want to face his own past where his family was murdered in the war in Bosnia in the 1990s.
A gentle story that slowly drags you in and really makes you think. |
|
|
Clash: Colin Mulhearn (A)
The story of Kyle (talented artist), his friend Gareth (ace story-teller) and school 'psycho Alex (underground cage-fighter).
Told in relatively short chapters from the points of view of Kyle and Alex the story instantly grabs you as you learn more about the characters.
Violent, sad, amusing and really hard to put down! |
|
|
A Year Without Autumn: Liz Kessler
An unusual time-slip story. Jenni and her best friend Autumn are on holiday with their families. Autumn's brother Mikey is seriously injured in an accident and all their lives are changed forever. Or are they? Jenni finds herself transported forward a year - can she slip between the time periods to change what happened? |
|
|
Artichoke Hearts: Sita Brahmachari
Mira is 12 and in her journal writes about her close relationship with her grandma who is dying of cancer. This sounds rather depressing but it's a colourful story with a lot of laughter and includes family life, school friendships and a romance too. |
|
|
Inside My Head: Jim Carrington
A fast paced story set in a country village based on friendship, bullying and families. Gary is being bullied by Knaggs. David is Knaggs friend. Zoe has moved from city life to the village and as well as dealing with her own insecurities she befriends Gary and they embark on an unusual adventure with a gripping climax. |
