Review: Angel and Bavar by Amy Wilson

After the death of her parents, Angel has a lot to get used to: a new home, a new family, a new school. The last thing she’s interested in is making new friends. Until she meets Bavar, a strange boy who slips through the shadows, a boy who might understand her nightmares.

But Bavar doesn’t want to let anyone in. Everyone—and everything—in his enchanted house is already urging him to step up and protect the world from a magical rift and the fearsome monsters traveling through it, a responsibility he wishes he could ignore.

Then Bavar discovers that the monsters are the same ones that killed Angel’s parents. Determined to stop the creatures for good, he reluctantly accepts Angel’s help. Together, Angel and Bavar must find the courage to stand up for each other and themselves to repair the rift between worlds…before it’s too late.

Ok. I'll admit something before I write this review.

I failed to realise that this book was middle grade when I downloaded it on Edelweiss, so I started it expecting a slavic inspired Beauty and the Beast. However, whilst the fairytale inspiration is there, the fairytale romance that I wanted was not. Not a bad thing, and completely my own fault, but not what I expected.

When I did get past that, I started to enjoy this book. There is a lot of depth there - something that MG books tend to lack - and Bavar especially was the type of broken character that the genre lacks. The friendship between Bavar and Angel was heartwarming, and that - I think - is the main point of this book. It's very well done.

That being said, there was a somewhat rushed feel about this book that stopped me being so into it. I would have loved Wilson to have taken a step back and used a little more time to flesh out the world and the characters. Kids like to imagine, and they need more description to do that.

Overall, Angel and Bavar was a lovely book about friendship and one of the better Middle Grade titles when it comes to characterisation. That being said, I do feel that the pacing was a little off and the descriptions were lacking which meant this book didn't quite become everything it could have been.

Book released 6th November 2018 by Katherine Tegen

Book received from the publisher/author in exchange for an honest review

Review: Portal 24 by Meredith Stroud

When teen con-artist Darius is approached by a mysterious government agent about joining a 'Project Oberon', he has no idea what to expect. Certainly not that Project Oberon is actually a top-secret experiment which sends teens back through time to prevent disasters before they happen! Before Darius has time to wonder why he's been chosen, his first mission arrives in the form of a huge electromagnetic weapon of mass destruction, which will kill millions of people in New York - unless Darius and the team can stop it. They're confident; it's all in a day's work for these teen wonders, but what they don't bet on is evil mastermind Ludd. And what they don't know is that Ludd knows the deadly secret behind Project Oberon. If Darius and the gang don't make it back to the portal within twenty-four hours, then they'll be lost in time forever...

Portal 24 was an enjoyable book and it's a breath of fresh air in this time of female and romance dominated time travel stories. I can't say that I absolutely adored this book because it did seem a little bit simplistic for me as it seemed to be aimed at a slightly younger and more male audience than I fit into! I think that the slightly younger target audience meant that the science wasn't exactly all that believable and the explanations given for the twenty four hour rule was very vague in comparison to explanations given in other time travel books.

That being said, Portal 24 was still a very engaging story. I loved the con-artist main character Darius and the kick-ass female lead Bianca and I really appreciated the lack of romance in this book. This is actually a real boy book, full of action, adventure, sci-fi and a street-smart main character and whilst I established quite a few years ago that I am NOT male, I did really like the high-stakes action in this book.

I did feel that the ending was a little bit rushed, it all seemed just a teeny bit too wrapped up and I would have liked a bit of an epilogue. I'm not sure if this book will have a sequel, because there were a few things left open, but if there is a sequel I probably will read it.

Book released  5th September 2013 by Hot Key Books

Book received from the publisher in exchange for an honest review 

Review: To Be Perfectly Honest by Sonya Somes

Fifteen-year-old Colette is addicted to lying. Her shrink says this is because she’s got a very bad case of Daughter-of-a-famous-movie-star Disorder—so she lies to escape out from under her mother’s massive shadow. But Colette doesn’t see it that way. She says she lies because it’s the most fun she can have with her clothes on. Not that she’s had that much fun with her clothes off. At least not yet, anyway…

When her mother drags her away from Hollywood to spend the entire summer on location in a boring little town in the middle of nowhere, Colette is less than thrilled. But then she meets a sexy biker named Connor. He’s older, gorgeous, funny, and totally into her. So what if she lies to him about her age, and about who her mother is? I mean, she has to keep her mother’s identity a secret from him. If he finds out who she really is, he’ll forget all about Colette, and start panting and drooling and asking her for her mother’s autograph. Just like everyone always does.

But what Colette doesn’t know is that Connor is keeping a secret of his own…

Holy mother of unreliable narrators, this takes compulsive liars to the brink! I was a little bit wary going into this book because I've never read anything in verse before but Sones masters it - the verse is perfect and reads so well, only going into noticable verse at some points which worked really well. I was totally sold on the idea of an unreliable narrator and I was expecting this book to be a bit heavier. This book does deal with some heavy issues but it deals with them so well, I loved watching Colette's growth and seeing how she matured throughout the novel. The last part of the book was fantastic, when Colette realises that she needs to stop lying and face up to her life.

To start with I really liked Connor, he seemed really genuine which I guess is why Colette liked him so much as well, but then the reader begins to see through him. I was screaming for Colette to get a grip and realise what was going on! Despite the fact that she was an unreliable narrator, I really did like Colette - she was a unique character but she has her issues in life and deals with them the best that she could. I absolutely loved little Will, he was a joy in this book!

To Be Perfectly Honest is a short book and so it doesn't go too deep into any of the characters or the issues, but I really think that it does what it intends to - nothing less and nothing more. It was a fun book that dealt with some less than fun issues and it's executed very well.

Book released:  August 27th 2013 by Simon & Schuster Books for Young Readers

Book received from the publisher in exchange for an honest review (Edelweiss) 

Review: Love, Tink by Elle Strauss

Tink is hopelessly smitten with Peter, the leader of the Lost Boys who'd mysteriously arrived at Neverland two years ago. Unfortunately, Peter is tired of the adventure and especially tired of dodging Captain Hook who is after his head. He just wants to go back to New York City and live his life as a normal fifteen-year-old.

Tink is the only one who can help Peter return, but it breaks her heart to do it. She just wants to make him happy, so she does the unthinkable and betrays the fairy king. Now her heart is filled with remorse. Should she go after Peter? Should she follow him to his New York?

I was a weird child, I used to watch the Disney movie 'Peter Pan' at least twice a day until I was like eleven, so whenever I hear about a book which is a different retelling of the story I am so excited to read it. When I saw Love, Tink on NetGalley I just knew that I was going to love it, I was so right. I think that if I'd read it as a series of novellas I wouldn't have loved it, but reading it as a full novel was great.

What I really liked about this book was the mixture of the New York setting with the Neverland setting, I liked that Tinkerbell and Jangle came into this brand new world and had to get their head around technology and cars and money - it made for some really funny moments, as did the fairies in school. I'm suspending disbelief a little bit at some things, such as the fact that the first guy they meet just happens to go to the same school as Peter. I mean, I have never been to new York, but I imagine that there are a lot of schools. As well as this, sometimes Tink and Jangle used phrases in Neverland that seemed almost like slang, then they barely understand anything that anyone is saying when they reach New York. Then again, this is a fun fantasy read and isn't meant to be taken all that seriously.

I am so glad that Wendy was kind of a bad guy in this book - she's the annoying, clingy girlfriend that views anyone and everyone as competition. I always thought she was such a weak and annoying character anyway, compared to the spunky Tinkerbell. Peter was the witty and clever leader we all know in the first few scenes, but after he returns to New York we get to see him as a normal teenage boy, which was awesome as well. I loved Jangle, Tinks fairy best friend who sometimes seems a bit harsh but just says everything that Tinkerbell needs to hear. More than anyone, I loved Tinkerbell - she is loyal, brave and hung up on a boy, making her a fantasy heroine as well as a relateable character for any girl.

If you liked Disney's Peter Pan and Disney's Enchanted, or if you enjoy fairytale like fantasy reads with tough characters, you really should read the Love, Tink collection. Some of the novellas leave off at awkward points and some are a little short so I recommend you read the whole collection together. Honestly though, this is such a fun read which took me back to Neverland, my favorite fantasy world ever.

Book released  10th July 2013 by 

Book received from the publisher/author in exchange for an honest review (NetGalley)

Reviews for other books by this author:

Clockwise

Review: The Clockwork Bluebird by Ravven

London, 1897: Maia and her brother Tyler find themselves in the midst of a war between the Faerie Courts on Christmas Eve. Accompanied by a talking dog, a clockwork kitchen servant and Fox the stable boy, they embark on a quest to save their lost parents and find the Bluebird.

The palace of Night and the Land of the Dead. Skyships. The Goblin Market. A black wolf and the Huntsman who pursues him. A gang of clockwork-enhanced children living in the lost Underground tunnels under the city.

What do you get if you mix the fantasy adventure of Alice in Wonderland, add in some clockwork and airships and put in some fairy queens and talking animals? The answer is The Clockwork Bluebird... this book is a mixture of all the things I would have loved to read when I was twelve years old and reading this book took me back to that age where I didn't need any romance, all I needed was a good adventure with some fun characters and a slightly scary bad guy.

I felt a little bit out of the loop with this book because I haven't read the children's book that this was based on, so I think that I missed out on a few references and stuff that made it a tiny bit less awesome for me. I did really enjoy the story on it's own though, it was short and a complete story and the writing and descriptions were absolutely beautiful, I was really impressed by how Ravven managed to combine the whole steampunk and the fantasy together in this amazing London setting.

Maia and Tyler were both tough, adventurous characters. I loved spunky Maia from the start, but by the end she was such a tough fighter, the type of character I really would have connected with as a younger reader. Tyler started out more meek and mild, but he got a lot braver during this story - I loved him to pieces. The other characters were also fantastic - the treacherous Zazu, the loyal Pip, the faithful Bread and the cunning Fox - every single one of them added a dynamic to the story.

Overall, fans of classical children's books by Lewis Carroll and C.S. Lewis and Enid Blyton will love this book, it will take you back to your younger years. This is one book that you would like to read and then give to your kids in the future.

Book released 4th June 2013 

Book received from the author in exchange for an honest review 

Review: Unleashed by Jennifer Hartz

Six mismatched students at Deacon Proprietary are about to discover the demonic legend of their school's origin is actually true. Not only have they obtained amazing powers, but they've also unleashed the demonic Horde. Now it's up to these six high school freshmen to stop the Horde before its evil spreads throughout the school and beyond.

Before we talk about anything else, can we just look at that cover? Look at how it looks just like a comic book, which is what this book has the feel of - that book totally encompasses what this book is about and the general feel of it which is light, fun but full of awesome. I wouldn't advise anyone who is looking for a deep, dark superhero style book to read Unleashed however if you're looking for a lighthearted book and want superpowers, this is just for you. I personally just loved watching all of the characters learn about their powers and loved watching this group of unique people band together for a common cause.

This book follows six different characters who group together to use their newly acquired super-powers to battle a series of demons intent on killing them and stealing their powers. Whilst certain characters appealed to me more (I loved Shelly but thought Caitlyn needed more work) I think that each character was explored enough to become likable and even though it's a short book and the narration changes I managed to connect to most of the characters. Each character had their own back story to make them stand out and honestly I really can't fault the characters in this book. There is some romance, but you don't really see it happen aside from with Cooper and Shelly. Mike and Caitlyn become a couple and there is some jealousy however this all kind of appears out of nowhere, I really don't think this book needed romance though since the awesome superhero-ness of it all was enough for me.

Hartz is a good writer, but I think this book needed a little more editing, as some parts of the book just didn't sound right and there were a few typing and grammar errors in places. This doesn't really bother me, however some readers may find this a bit of a distraction at times, so be warned. I really did feel like Hartz's writing really fitted the tone of the book though, and each character had a unique feel to their pages. 

If I could find just one thing that kind of bothered me, it's that sometimes the characters seem older than fourteen to fifteen years old. I know that kids are growing up quicker these days and know all about the rules of intimacy, but when Jimmy is making out with his girlfriend and he talks about his top button being undone, it didn't seem like something I could see him doing.

Overall, Unleashed was a really fun yet action packed read and I just can't wait to read the rest of the Heroes of the Horde series.

Book released 21st May 2013 by Desert Breeze Publishing

Book received from the author in exchange for an honest review.

Review: Nowhere by Jon Robinson

'No one's coming for us.
Not our families, not the police.
No one.'

Alyn, Jes, Ryan and Elsa are Nowhere. A concrete cube in the middle of a dense forest. Imprisoned inside are one hundred teenagers from all over the country. They're all criminals. But none of them remember committing any crimes. Who has put them there. What do their captors want? And how will they ever break free...?

Nowhere was a really fast paced, original and gripping story that did seem to be lacking a certain something that meant that I didn't love it, but I did still really enjoy it. This is the type of book that has the ability to appeal to both boys and girls, it has strong female characters but the intrigue, politics and action that will appeal to boys in their younger teens.

The premise of Nowhere is so intriguing, teens being told that they're criminals but all of them are convinced that they're innocent - they have no idea where they are, they were just snatched off the streets and they're being brainwashed and thrown in cells. This is such a mysterious and vague description and it's executed just as well, with us learning things a little bit faster than the characters and enough secrets left unanswered to warrant the sequel, Anywhere in 2014.

What really worked for me in this book is how we follow a group of kids and also have some chapters where we'll get a glimpse of what's going on behind the scenes. The book builds up the political intrigue outside the prison and builds up the suspense inside it and it's fantastic, even when there's barely anything happening there's still the escape plans being hatched and the relationships between the teens to follow. I did feel that because there's no set main character I felt a little more disconnected from the characters than I like, I like to get to know the characters and Nowhere didn't do that for me unfortunately.

Like I said at the beginning, Nowhere is lacking something and I can't quite put my finger on what it is, however I did enjoy it, at 250 pages it's a quick and interesting read. The characters will appeal to both boys and girls and the plot unravels so well. I would have liked to connect to the characters a little more, but overall Nowhere was an enjoyable read.

Book released 4th July 2013 by Puffin

Book received from the publisher in exchange for an honest review 

Review: Clockwise by Elle Strauss

Casey Donovan has issues: hair, height and uncontrollable trips to the 19th century! And now this --she's accidentally taken Nate Mackenzie, the cutest boy in the school, back in time. Awkward. Protocol pressures her to tell their 1860 hosts that he is her brother and when Casey finds she has a handsome, wealthy (and unwanted) suitor, something changes in Nate. Are those romantic sparks or is it just "brotherly" protectiveness? When they return to the present, things go back to the way they were before: Casey parked on the bottom of the rung of the social ladder and Nate perched high on the very the top. Except this time her heart is broken. Plus, her best friend is mad, her parents are split up, and her younger brother gets escorted home by the police. The only thing that could make life worse is if, by some strange twist of fate, she took Nate back to the past again. Which of course, she does.

I really enjoyed reading Clockwise despite the fact that there were a few issues that stood out to me, and the reason i enjoyed reading the book so much is because Casey is one of the funniest narrators I have read in a long time. I often read books where the narrators doesn't read as a teenage girl but Casey was so realistic in her wit, humour and her sardonic self-view that it really made this book a pleasure to read.

This book is in no way groundbreaking or hard-hitting, it doesn't really have a climax and yes, it is completely fluffy with very little substance to it, so I wouldn't call it absolutely awesome. However as a quick, fun and clean read this book totally hits the spot. The story itself is pretty simple, the unpopular girl gets pulled into the past with the popular, cute jock and hijinks occur. I have to say that whilst Casey was a lovely character, none of the other characters really have much to them which I guess I can put down to the age range for this book, which I'd put as middle-grade to young YA. It did take me a while to get into the story since it seemed a little young for me,but when i did I thoroughly enjoyed it.

Since there is no real plot line aside from Casey and Nate being in the past and a few side plots like the creepy guy from 1960 with a crush on Casey and the story revolving around Samuel, who is a black person in a time of slavery, there are really no highly paced parts in this book. The pace is never slow though, it's a leisurely read which is good for just relaxing or winding down from a darker YA read. Actually, I should probably mention that in this seemingly fluffy story, there are darker historical events woven in such as the 1860s civil war and the racism and segregation of the 1960s, which are well written and fit into the story seamlessly, so you barely notice the seriousness of the issues.

Overall, Clockwise is a good book with a steady pace and an awesome, funny narrator. The book could have done with a more defined plot and some character development, but it was a pleasure to read and I'll be picking up the sequel for when I want something to chill to.

Book released 21st November 2011 by ESP Publishing

Book received from the publisher in exchange for an honest review (NetGalley)

Review: The Sweet Dead Life by Joy Preble

“I found out two things today. One, I think I’m dying. And two, my brother is a perv.”

So begins the diary of 14-year-old Jenna Samuels, who is having a very bad eighth-grade year. Her single mother spends all day in bed. Dad vanished when she was eight. Her 16-year-old brother, Casey, tries to hold together what’s left of the family by working two after-school jobs— difficult, as he’s stoned all the time. To make matters worse, Jenna is sick. When she collapses one day, Casey tries to race her to the hospital in their beat-up Prius and crashes instead.

Jenna wakes up in the ER to find Casey beside her. Beatified. Literally. The flab and zits? Gone. Before long, Jenna figures out that Casey didn’t survive the accident at all. He’s an “A-word.” (She can’t bring herself to utter the truth.) Soon they discover that Jenna isn’t just dying: she’s being poisoned. And Casey has been sent back to help solve the mystery that not only holds the key to her survival, but also to their mother’s mysterious depression and father’s disappearance.

I initially requested The Sweet Dead Life because it was a short read and I figured I could use it to fill out the gaps between other reviews, I wasn't particularly excited to read it but I as after something short one day so I thought I would give it a go. After I finished the book a few hours later, I realised that I was pretty glad I grabbed this book. 

This is a fun, cute and sassy book, definitely different from what I was expecting. The paranormal mixed with the mystery worked very well and I was engrossed in both aspects of the book. The mystery itself was well written, though I was suspicious of who the culprit was from the middle of the book I had no idea what their motivation was. The angel side of the story was also interesting - I spent a lot of the time wondering what would happen to Casey after the big mystery was solved.

What really made this book for me was Jenna, she was a sassy and smart narrator who never ever whined or moaned. Jenna's narration is funny and savvy and she honestly did read as a fourteen year old girl. Casey was an amazing character, I loved him but I did feel like he read as a little older than his sixteen years, to me he seemed more like eighteen or so.  I also really liked Amber, who had the brains and the attitude which really evened off the group's dynamics.

The ending was absolutely perfect. Everything works out in the end, even if they don't work out perfectly, as much as I love happy endings all tied up in a bow the ending to The Sweet Dead Life really worked for me. 

Please note that while this book is tagged as middle grade and has a younger protagonist, there are some older themes such as some swearing and mention of erm... "self-love".

Book released 14th May 2013 by Soho Teen

Book received from the publisher in exchange for an honest review (Edelweiss)

Review: Transparent by Natalie Whipple

High school is hard when you're invisible.

Fiona McClean hates her family, has had to move to a new school and seems to be completely invisible to the boy she likes. So far so normal, right? But Fiona really is invisible. She doesn't even know what colour her own hair is.

Born into a world where Cold War anti-radiation pills have caused genetic mutations, Fiona is forced to work for her mind-controlling mobster father as the world's most effective thief. When her father announces she must become a murdering assassin, Fiona and her telekinetic mother make a break for freedom. Running to a small Arizonian town, Fiona finds that playing at 'normal life' with a mother on the edge, a brother she can't trust, and a boy who drives her crazy is as impossible as escaping her father.

Every kid, when asked what super power they would want if they could have one, has said they want to be invisible. What could be better than being able to play tricks on friends, or sneak into the other gender's locker room, or get payback on that bully that has made your life living hell (Sneak into their bathroom and change their shampoo to bright green hair dye? Yes please!). Poor Fiona is invisible, and I'm sure she will tell you that frankly it isn't really all that it's cut out to be. 

I started out disliking Fiona as a character, she's savvy and clever, but she also seemed frustratingly bitter and stubborn and those are not traits that I like in my protagonists. It does get easier to like her as the book goes on though, because she actually makes friends and realises that life isn't as bad as she thinks it is. Also, it's kind of understandable that she's bitter and suspicious, since her gangster Dad is exploiting her powers... and he has some kind of crazy compelling power which makes it impossible for her to say no... yeah, I'd be bitter as well. I loved every other character as well, even the ones that we're straight out bad guys (Dad) and the ones that may be straight out bad guys (Graham). Bea, Seth and Brady were all amazing characters that were key in Fiona's transformation. 

This book is funny, I loved Whipple's writing - she makes Fiona come to life and really puts the best humour in the best places. I did feel that at times there was a lot of info-dumping and telling-not-showing, but I won't nit-pick over that. As well as that, the world building did seem a bit weak, but once again that didn't bother me to a massive degree.

It's difficult to categorise this book since there are superpowers, but the issues that Fiona deals with have quite a contemporary feel. This is kind of like sci-fi-contempo? Is that a thing? I think this book may have MADE sci-fi-contemporary a thing!

Transparent is a funny, thrilling and marginally romantic read that I would totally recommend to people looking for something a bit lighter. A great book!

Book released 16th May 2013 by Hot Key Books (UK)

Book received from the publisher in exchange for an honest review 

Review: Poison by Bridget Zinn

 

Sixteen-year-old Kyra, a highly-skilled potions master, is the only one who knows her kingdom is on the verge of destruction—which means she’s the only one who can save it. Faced with no other choice, Kyra decides to do what she does best: poison the kingdom’s future ruler, who also happens to be her former best friend.

But, for the first time ever, her poisoned dart . . . misses.

Now a fugitive instead of a hero, Kyra is caught in a game of hide-and-seek with the king’s army and her potioner ex-boyfriend, Hal. At least she’s not alone. She’s armed with her vital potions, a too-cute pig, and Fred, the charming adventurer she can’t stop thinking about. Kyra is determined to get herself a second chance (at murder), but will she be able to find and defeat the princess before Hal and the army find her?

Let me just put this out there: I absolutely adored Poison, it was fun, adorable, fast-paced and gripping, the heroine was intelligent and strong and the sidekick is so uber cute! There is romance in there, but it's more in the background which is different to most of the books I read. I honestly can't say anything bad about this book.

Seriously, that paragraph up there sums it up. I could end this review right now. 

But I won't, I'll just write a few more paragraphs gushing about how much I loved this book and how I'd like to recommend it to everyone. No, I'll try and write something informative and review-y, after all, I am a reviewer so I should like... review now, right?

This book has a kind of middle-grade feel, it was very fun and animated and the story and characters will definitely appeal to younger kids, it is marketed as a YA book but I'd recommend it to girls of about twelve and up as well. I'm not actually that sure whether the appeal will stretch to people much older than me, I'm nearly twenty but I am a lover of all things fantasy and fairytale like which is probably why I enjoyed it that much.

Bridget Zinn's writing is absolutely amazing, I was gripped, even when the book wasn't all that fast-paced for the most part. The characters seemed to come right off the page and I loved each and every one of them, especially Kyra and the Princess Ariana. Fred was this lovable guy that I kind of fell in love with and Rosie was just the darned cutest sidekick ever (everyone loves a good animal sidekick). I would have liked to see a little more happen at certain parts of the book, and Hal could have been a bit more prominent as a character, but I'm actually digging for criticisms now and I seriously can't find much else aside from that.

Overall, Poison was a fantastic fantasy book that I'd recommend for lovers of cute, light fantasy reads and tween girls and well... basically everyone who wants a bit of a light read and some adorableness. This was great.

Book released 12th March 2013 by Disney Hyperion

Book purchased by myself.

Note:

After finishing this book I went to find out more about the author and found that she passed away due to cancer in May 2011, way before this book was published. 

Check out her story here

Review: Under Shifting Glass by Nicky Singer

  

Jess has a secret: a mysterious glass flask she finds in an heirloom desk's hidden compartment. Its surface swirls with iridescent colors, like something's inside, something almost like a song, something with a soul. No one else sees anything under the shifting glass, but Jess is convinced there must be some kind of magic in there. And when her twin brothers are born critically ill, Jess begins to believe that the force within the flask just might hold the key to saving her brothers-and her family.

This is going to be a very difficult book to review because it had it's strengths and I thought this book was fantastic but at the same time some things just didn't seem to click. I wasn't sure what I was getting into, I'm just a sucker for 'double face' covers, and I knew it was middle grade but other than that this was just me diving into it completely blind.

FIrstly, I have to say that I loved the Britishism's in this book, something about it just seemed so subtly British and as a Brit myself I have to say that I really enjoyed picking up on these. I also found Singer's writing absoltely flawless, the prose is lyrical and yet realistic, the plot and the characters seemed so natural and I was so touched by the storyline. There was something really magical about this book, even though the slight bit of fantasy with the shifting glass seemed more like a plot point to support the main issues dealt with in the book. I felt that the issues dealt with were very well-done - Jess is dealing with the death of her great-aunt, as well as the birth of her baby brothers, who are born conjoined, we also ge to see Jess grow a little.

There's quite a bit of spirituality in this book, Jess takes an interest in Buddhism, whih I was a little confused by at times. As well as her way of dealing with her issues in life, which is coincidence - If these snowmen are still here tomorrow, the twins will be okay. The spirituality was original and quite fun to read about but some of the stuff was just plain confusing and a little bizarre, like what happens to souls after someone dies...

Overall, Under Shifting Glass was a deep and enjoyable book but I constantly felt a little disconnected from it, I'm not too sure why.

Book released 19th February 2013 by Chronicle Books

Book received from the publisher in exchange for an honest review (Edelweiss)

Review: Dancing in the Dark by Robyn Bavati

Ditty Cohen is passionate about ballet--she loves how it feels to stand en pointe, to rise and spin across the room. But her Orthodox Jewish parents want Ditty to focus on the teachings of the Torah and to marry at a young age according to their religious tradition. Although her parents forbid her to take dance lessons, Ditty secretly signs up for ballet and becomes entangled in a web of deceit. As one lie leads to another and another, Ditty knows she must stop dancing, but she can't abandon the one thing that gives her freedom. She begins to question her faith and everything her parents have taught her, realizing just how much is at stake as her two worlds collide.

This is one of those times where I didn't read the blurb because the cover was just too pretty, I love that cover but I had thought that this book was a paranormal because that book just does not scream contemporary at me. I had to adjust when I first started this book because it wasn't what I was expecting, but when I did adjust I quite enjoyed the book.

In terms of pacing of this book I felt a little let down, the book seemed quite repetitive and whilst I enjoyed it there were no parts that particularly gripped me or had me wanting more, I was able to put this book down and pick it up a few days later and I didn't feel the urge to read more of it when I was away. I never had to force myself to read it, but it was a little bit 'meh' to me.

When Ditty started to question her upbringing and the adults in her life I started to get more into the book, I was hoping for a happy ending with Ditty's parents supporting her dancing and whilst we do see a little bit of that at the end it did seem a little pointless to give Ditty this inner struggle and not see a complete resolution of the problem, but maybe that's just me.

I also question the way that religion is put across in this book - yes I understand that Haredi Jews are strict but they seemed almost cult-like in this book. I was a little put off by the way that the Haredi community is portrayed as this 1970s-era community that basically came across as 'religion is brainwashing'. The modern orthodox cousin, Linda, is portrayed as s**t-like and the extremes didn't really work for me.

Look, I didn't hate this book, I really did enjoy certain parts of it but I can't really say much else other than that overall it was a bit of a 'meh' read. I'm very sorry!

Book released 8th February 2013 by Flux Books
Book received from the publisher in exchange for an honest review (NetGalley)

Review: Geek Girl by Holly Smale

Harriet Manners knows a lot of things. She knows that a cat has 32 muscles in each ear, a "jiffy" lasts 1/100th of a second, and the average person laughs 15 times per day. What she isn't quite so sure about is why nobody at school seems to like her very much. So when she's spotted by a top model agent, Harriet grabs the chance to reinvent herself. Even if it means stealing her Best Friend's dream, incurring the wrath of her arch enemy Alexa, and repeatedly humiliating herself in front of the impossibly handsome supermodel Nick. Even if it means lying to the people she loves. 

As Harriet veers from one couture disaster to the next with the help of her overly enthusiastic father and her uber-geeky stalker, Toby, she begins to realise that the world of fashion doesn't seem to like her any more than the real world did. 

And as her old life starts to fall apart, the question is: will Harriet be able to transform herself before she ruins everything? 

Geek Girl is a  positively fun and completely enjoyable book with a message that isn't at all preachy and will totally appeal to younger readers as well as the typical YA crowd.

This book is so enjoyable because it's relatable. We all remember being fifteen and being so insecure of ourselves and having to make decisions for ourselves despite pressures from our parents and friends and that is exactly what Harriet is going through in this book. On the surface it's a cute teen read but underneath it has this message about being who you are on the inside. 

I loved Harriet as a character because she was so funny, so relateable but also a joy to read. I also actually really liked her best friend Nat who, after a while is supportive of Harriet's modelling despite the fact that it was her dream from the start. Nick was a cute character and an entertaining love interest and the totally awkward and absolutely adorable bond between him and Harriet was so fun. This is also one of the few books where I can honestly say that I enjoyed reading the adult characters, especially Harriet's dad!

This book isn't without it's flaws though, the plot was pretty predictable and whilst they were fun the read the characters weren't well developed and so they were pretty predictable as well. This book is a book for those times when you just want to smile, but if you're looking for depth and development Geek Girl is probably not for you.

Overall, Geek Girl was a fun, fluffy read that had me giggling all the way through, however in terms of plot and character development this book wasn't completely there for me. Still, I read it quickly and completely enjoyed it and would totally recommend this book to younger teens.

Book released 28th February 2013 by Harper Collins
Book received from the publisher in exchange for an honest review

Review: A Most Improper Magick by Stephanie Burgis

"I was twelve years of age when I chopped off my hair, dressed as a boy, and set off to save my family from impending ruin.

"I made it almost to the end of my front garden..."

Magic may be the greatest scandal in Regency England. But that's not going to stop Kat Stephenson when there are highwaymen to foil, sinister aristocrats to defeat...and true loves to capture for her two older sisters.

I first heard of this book in 2011 when it was released in the US as Kat, Incorrigible and got some fantastic reviews, I had no idea that it had previously been released under this title in UK until I received the third book for review from the publisher and requested the rest of the series. I can totally see why it was so highly praised, I really enjoyed it and I can't wait to crack open the next two and see where the sorry and romances go.

It was so nice to read a fun story with a young protagonist which doesn't totally resolve around romance, yet there is still romance for Kat's older sisters Angeline and Elissa. Kat is a perfect character, often with all of the stubborn stupidity but young intelligence and wit that only a character of her age can pull off. I was laughing so many times at things that she said and her relationships with other people - especially her sisters, because they fight so much and love each other a lot, making them seem like such realistic characters.

Of course, there's also a well written and entertaining paranormal aspect of the book, this isn't a dark book at all, this is a totally entertaining happy book which could be called the Matilda for today's kids.

Overall, a well written and completely entertaining book that younger readers will thoroughly enjoy.

Book released 10th August 2010 by templar Books
eBook received for review (Print)

Review: Ordinary Magic by Caitlen Rubino-Bradway

In Abby’s world, magic isn’t anything special: it’s a part of everyday life. So when Abby learns that she has zero magical abilities, she’s branded an “Ord”—ordinary, bad luck, and quite possibly a danger to society. 

The outlook for kids like Abby isn’t bright. Many are cast out by their families, while others are sold to treasure hunters (ordinary kids are impervious to spells and enchantments). Luckily for Abby, her family enrolls her in a school that teaches ordinary kids how to get around in a magical world. But with treasure-hunting kidnappers and carnivorous goblins lurking around every corner, Abby’s biggest problem may not be learning how to be ordinary—it’s whether or not she’s going to survive the school year!

Ordinary Magic was such a fun, witty read and let me start off by saying that whilst this book is middle-grade I absolutely loved it! It was so cute and fun and clever and I absolutely devoured it. Rubino-Bradway has written a book that is engaging whilst not being too deep but isn't fluffy. It finds that perfect balance between writing something that's fun and sweet and also has the action and the adventure.

The characters in this book just totally shine, I loved Abby who was so spunky and real but I totally adored Alexa, the big sister who is totally kick-ass and Gil, the clever older brother. Peter is a quiet and moody boy who becomes Abby's best friend and all of the other teachers and students were awesome. I absolutely loved Abby's snarky narrative, it had me chuckling and laughing. 

There is plenty of action and adventure in this book. The comedic bad guys Trixie and Barbarian Mike had me giggling with their attempts to capture the ords, Mike was a lumbering big bad guy and Trixie was pure evil, but in a totally comedic way. There was plenty of action in this book and I loved it.

This book also has it's sad bits. I felt so sorry for Abby who is ignored and kicked out o school because she has no powers, I loved the fact that Rubino-Bradway put in the bits about discrimination as it adds a level of depth for the older readers.

Overall, this book was so funny and witty and such a nice quick read. The characters were great and there was some fun action in there.

Overall Rating: A

Released May 8th 2012 by Bloomsbury (USA)
Received from the author in exchange for the review and as part of the blog tour.

Review: Shut Up by Anne Tibbets

Mary's older sister, Gwen, has royally screwed up her life. Not only is Gwen pregnant at seventeen, but she's also decided to marry The Creep who knocked her up.
Now Mary is powerless to stop her family from imploding. Her parents are freaking out, and to top it off The Creep has a gross fascination with Mary while Gwen enjoys teasing her to tears for sport.

Despite her brother's advice to shut up, Mary can't keep her trap closed and manages to piss off Mom so much it comes to blows.

Mary doesn't know what to do, and all her attempts to get help are rejected. When she finally plans her escape, she fails to consider how it could destroy them all.

---

Before I even bother to start reviewing this title I have to say that Anne Tibbets is an extremely talented author. I loved The Beast Call, her fantasy book and I was extremely impressed with Shut Up, a contemporary release. This is a short book but by no means is it fluffy, or anything you should expect from a novella. This is jam-packed with emotion and whilst it isn't an actiony book it's very hard hitting.


Mary has got it bad, the poor girl has to deal with her sister's creepy fiance (poor Mary is only young and the creep that knocked up her sister is hitting on her!), her abusive sister who makes everything about her and is constantly upsetting Mary and a mother that beats her own daughters. It was intriguing but horrible to watch young Mary descend into depression and when we're reading it through her brother Paul's point of view we get to see it through the eyes of someone that loves her. I think that this book will hit a chord with anyone that feels like they're on their own.


When Gwen leaves, to leave with The Creep things start to look up for Mary, showing that the route of all problems is Gwen but then when she returns everything comes crashing down. This was an absolutely heartbreaking part in the book and I was actually in tears by this point.


Mary does eventually began to heal her emotional after everything comes to a dramatic climax, but her story is so poignant and will definitely reach a lot of readers, both young and old.


I can't really sum up this book, but i'd advise you to pick it up - but buy some tissues at the same time.


Overall Rating: A+

---

Released February 28th 2012
Book received from the author in exchange for an honest review


Other books by this author:
The Beast Call