Chicklish

REVIEW: Hottie by Jonathan Bernstein

Review by Alexandra.

Every so often a writing style will pop up that surprises me and reminds me what is so great about modern, new, different books that change how we see reading.  Hottie turned out to be one of these books, but, from the cover and the first thirty pages I wouldn’t have guessed it.

Alison Cole is the star of Hottie, along with the (dorky) David Eels.  Alison is pretty, popular and Class President, but when her so-called best friends convince her to undergo cosmetic surgery, she picks a pioneering surgical technique that doesn’t turn out how it should. 

It’s not long after her treatment that Alison causes some havoc – flames now come out of her fingertips!  Luckily, David Eels knows all about super hero powers and is there to pave the way for her to come to terms with her new ability and how to control and use it.  He even invents her alter-ego; Hottie. 

It’s a rollercoaster from there, crime-fighting, finding a place in a new reality, trying to get a date with the cute guy at school and come to terms with some back-stabbing from her former friends.  Add to this a step-mom she’s never trusted and Alison’s uncertainty on revealing her new found ‘powers’ to the public and you start to think Alison might have problems coming out the other side. 

Elements of this book make you really curious about the thought process of the writer – I’m sure he had a lot of fun with it.  Around some clearly very deliberately chosen classic ‘Hollywood’ moments and plot-lines, there’s this quirky, hilarious, memorable writing style that just makes you want a whole series of Hottie novels (I checked and there’s a sequel in 2010!).  I will warn you that it takes a while for the style to sink in – but after that you’re very glad to have this unique and intelligently written book in your hands. 

Read it to find out if Alison can come to terms with Hottie, if she can create a new world for herself and if she was right about her step-mom. 

Excellent.

Check out the author’s blog http://jonathanbernsteinbook.blogspot.com/

Review by Alexandra

REVIEW: Season of Secrets by Sally Nicholls

Review by Hannah

This the second of Sally Nicholls' books. The first, Ways To Live Forever, won the Waterstone's Children's Book Prize. (It's discussed by the Chicklish team here.)

Season of Secrets mixes an old-legend and the story of Molly who hasn't come to terms with the death of her mother. Everything seems dull until she meets a mysterious stranger, who seems to change that. It's a story of love, hurt, loss, and strange, mysterious magic.

When I first saw the cover of this book, I thought it had a very mysterious theme, so I knew it had something to do with magic. I've read a lot of things about this. Many people have said that Sally's writing is similar to David Almond's, and in a way, it is. This is a wonderful book, with a unique storyline. It's light and descriptive, yet dark and wonderous. I'd like to read what Sally Nicholls writes next.

Review by Hannah, aged 13

REVIEW: Breathing Underwater by Julia Green

Review by Sasha.

Freya has come to visit her grandparents who live on a remote island. Last year she visited them with her brother - but last year her brother died alone in a boating accident. Whilst back on the island, Freya finds a way, with the calming presence of her grandparents and the gentle care and attention of the people around her, to adjust to the fact that her brother has gone, and that life - and love - are still vibrantly in the air.

This book was very different from most books I've read. It was beautifully written and the main character, Freya, was very clearly portrayed. It was written in Freya's point of view and was really how she reacted to being back on the island her brother drowned on. She dealt very well with the situation and was very sensitive but strong. The book was centered around her feelings and how she felt for certain new characters coming in to her life. Nothing very dramatic happened in the storyline but it was almost peaceful to read a book like that. It is full of emotion and some parts may bring a tear to your eye. I don't think I will ever forget this book.

Review by Sasha, aged 12

REVIEW: If I Stay by Gayle Forman

17-year-old Mia has a full life, a wonderful family, great friends and an amazing boyfriend. She also has a deep love of music, and some happy, if difficult, decisions to make about her future. But in an instant, one snowy morning on a family outing, a tragic car crash reduces her decisions to one: whether to stay alive... or not. The book follows Mia's decision-making, combining flashbacks to her happy life with scenes from the present, where she lies in hospital in a 'grave condition' but fully aware of events going on around her and everything her visitors say and do.

I'd heard high praise for this book before I read it, and I wasn't disappointed, not by any stretch. The characters in this book are convincing and true-to-life, and I loved the depiction of Mia's quirky parents and happy family life. I also loved the descriptions of music and the role it has to play in Mia's life - and in the life of her boyfriend Adam. My favourite scenes involved Mia's friend Kim, especially when we were shown the way Kim and Mia's friendship developed. The romance and passion between Mia and Adam is also amazingly shown.

There was a fascinating emphasis throughout the book on the importance of family, and the way family members affect each other and change each other's lives, making this an excellent book for any age group to enjoy. I found it a very quick read, but one that is memorable, powerful and real.

REVIEW: My Dating Disasters Diary by Liz Rettig

Kelly Ann loves football and computer games and doesn't really understand what the fuss is about when it comes to boys. She loves boys, but not in the romantic sense. Her best mate is a boy called Chris and she hopes nothing will ever change their excellent friendship. But she's feeling the pressure to find a boy to kiss, and pretty soon there are complications in her friendships and her life...

This book is a prequel - it's Kelly Ann's story immediately before My Desperate Love Diary and My Now or Never Diary. It introduces Kelly Ann, a brilliantly feisty and fun character, who is always getting herself into trouble in one way or another. In fact, this book contains some of her most hilarious adventures yet. She's surrounded by a cast of lovable and brilliantly-drawn characters, including her down-to-earth parents and her psychology-obsessed best friend Liz. And, of course, the wonderful Chris.

I loved reading this book and knowing what happens next - it was such fun to spot the clues to future events, and I felt so engaged with the characters and the story that there were moments when I wanted to tell Kelly Ann what was in store for her. I think it would be a wonderful introduction to Kelly Ann's world for people who haven't yet read the other diaries, and I'll definitely be re-reading them now.

Highly recommended! (And so are My Desperate Love Diary, My Now or Never Diary and Jumping to Confusions.)

REVIEW: Weighing It Up by Ali Valenzuela

This is the true story of Ali Valenzuela, a girl who started dramatically limiting her food intake at the age of 14. By the time she was 18 and taking A-levels, her weight had fallen so dramatically that she was on the brink of death. The book follows her admission to hospital and her struggle with anorexia, with a good look at the fight for treatment.

Ali Valenzuela is involved in campaigning for better facilities for the treatment of eating disorders in Wales and is an ambassador for "beat", a charity supporting people with eating disorders. Some of the proceeds from sales of Weighing It Up will go to this charity. The book is designed to help people who suffer from eating disorders. It includes diary entries, although I have to admit that I occasionally found these slightly confusing. But on the whole this is a valuable book, full of honesty about the emotional side of the illness and its heart-breaking effect on family and friends.

There are a lot of books written about eating disorders, and I think this non-fiction book would be a good companion for a fictionalised account, such as Perfect Ten by Chris Higgins, Taming the Monkey by Judith Fathallah, and Second Star to the Right by Deborah Hautzig  (one of my all-time favourite books). I've also heard excellent things about Wintergirls by Laurie Halse Anderson (check out the review on Wondrous Reads).

See beat - beating eating disorders

GIMME FIVE: After Twilight

Finished the Twilight saga by Stephenie Meyer? What should you read next? The fabulous Jenny from Wondrous Reads answers this question in the latest in our occasional 'Gimme Five' posts. All books are shown with their UK covers and are available to buy in the UK, or have UK release dates listed.

Thank you very much, Jenny! Over to you...

Have you finished reading The Twilight Saga for the tenth time this year? Are you trying to find something to fill the Edward void? Then look no further than these five fantastic books/series!

1. The Mortal Instruments series by Cassandra Clare (City of Bones, City of Ashes, City of Glass - July 2009).

Enter a world of Shadowhunters and Downworlders - vampires, demons, and faeries. If you want a new boy character to obsess over, then meet Jace Wayland, Shadowhunter extraordinaire. He's hot, talented, and, most importantly, skilled at killing all things supernatural. This series is fast-paced and addictive, and is a must-read for fans of Twilight and Buffy.

2. Wicked Lovely by Melissa Marr (companion: Ink Exchange, sequel: Fragile Eternity - May 2009).
Wicked Lovely sees faeries make a comeback, and introduces us to Aislinn, the future Summer Queen. This book has it all - a brilliant love triangle, compelling writing and a cover to rival the famous apple and hands. Choose your team: Keenan or Seth?

3. The Morganville Vampires series by Rachel Caine (Glass Houses, The Dead Girls' Dance, Midnight Alley, Feast of Fools, Lord of Misrule - July 2009).
If you like vampires, then buy Glass Houses now! This series has everything: action, romance, humour, and a town full of fanged frenemies. Join Claire as she moves to Morganville, Texas, and discovers that there really are things that go "Grrrrr!" in the night.

4. The House of Night series by P.C. & Kristin Cast (Marked, Betrayed, Chosen, Untamed - August 2009, Hunted - September 2009).
Written by mother-daughter team P.C. & Kristin Cast, the House of Night series is set at a vampyr finishing school, where teens who are Marked go to learn about the vampyr way of life. These are incredibly popular in the US, and are already flying off shelves over here. Grab the first three books now, and get a head start in this twelve book series while you can!

5. Generation Dead by Daniel Waters (sequel: The Kiss of Life - July 2009).
If you want a change from vampires, why not try zombies instead? The undead are living amongst humans, and for Phoebe, it makes life very, very difficult. Laced with a little bit of romance, and appealing to both boys and girls, Generation Dead might just be the book to keep you up at night.

Guest post by Jenny at Wondrous Reads

More big thanks from us!

SERIES OVERVIEW: A Series of Unfortunate Events by Lemony Snicket

Sasha summarises the thirteen books that make up A Series of Unfortunate Events by Lemony Snicket, with an overview review at the end.

Book 1 - The Bad Beginning
The Baudelaire siblings, Violet, Klaus and Sunny, are at the beach when Mr. Poe arrives to shock them with terrible news that their parents have perished in a fire that destroyed their entire home. In the space of a second, the Baudelaire siblings become the Baudelaire orphans. They find themselves in the care of Count Olaf, who will do anything to get his hands on the Baudelaire fortune and will stop at nothing.

Book 2 - The Reptile Room
After the unhappines caused by their last guardian, The Baudelaire orphans go to live with their giddy uncle in his home also inhabited by some rather unusual reptiles. But even temporary joy always leads down a parth to misery as the re-appearance of unwanted guest brings death, destruction and despair.

Book 3 - The Wide Window
Another plot of evil leads the Baudalaire orphans, suitcases in hand, waiting on Damocles Dock. As misfortune seems to follow them where ever they go, Mr. Poe arranged for them to stay with their Dear Aunt Josephine. But when a hurricane, cold cucumber soup and some hungry leeches come on the scene the Baudelaires know things are not about to get better.

Book 4 - The Miserable Mill
The Baudelaire orphans embark on a journey to stay in a different kind of care as they are sent to be the new recruits of Lucky Smells Lumbermill. As soon as they arrive on the scene they sense that something is not quite right. They are paid in coupons and their meals include a packet of gum and a mysterious looking beef casserole. But like their other episodes of misfortune, this one does not get any better.

Book 5 - The Austere Academy
When the Baudelaire orphans arrive at Prufrock Prepatory School, they have no idea how their new guardians will treat them. They become acquainted in their new home made of plastic drinks cans and suffer being bullied by Carmelita Spats, but things suddenly look up for them as they meet Duncan and Isadora Quagmire, orphans. But when an unwelcomed face returns to the picture disguised as the new gym teacher, they can only turn to themselves and each other for help.

Book 6 - The Ersatz Elevator
The Baudelaire orphans come into the care of Jerome and Esme Squalor at 667 Dark Avenue. Their journey starts by lugging their suitcases up to the floor of the penthouse apartement, their new home. But when they open the door, they open the door to a red herring, three mysterious initials and a liar with an evil scheme. Will they survive?

Book 7 - The Vile Village
A village inhabited by flocks of troublesome crows. A village inhabited by rules. A village inhabited by grumpy elders. A village where a mysterious police woman stalks the streets. A village where if you brake one of the thousands of rules you will be burnt at the stake. Would you like to live in this village? The Baudelaires' new home is vile. A very Vile Village.

Book 8 - The Hostile Hospital
Driving to Heimlich Hospital in a van filled with singing people who never stop smiling is a funny way to begin a journey. But it is how the Baudelaires started their journey. When you have been accused for murder and the whole world knows about, it would be sensible to stay away from more trouble. But trouble seems to follow them where ever they go and no matter what; they can't escape it.

Book 9 - The Carnivorous Carnival
Running from a group of treachorous villians, the Baudelaires stumble across a carnival with a mystery. They soon become residents by pretending to be a two-headed person and a wolf baby as they earn their way into the Freak Show. Whilst being workers they find themselves coming into the path of death on several occasions. Can they survive with evil around every corner?

Book 10 - The Slippery Slope
The Baudelaire orphans relive the terror of their previous misfortune in the icy mountain tops. The twisted Count Olaf is keeping their sister, Sunny, captive miles away from wher Violet and Klaus are on their journey to rescue. But a boy thought to have died in a fire years ago falls into their tale. But is he who he says he is, can he be trusted?

Book 11 - The Grim Grotto
The Baudelaires descend into the damp, murky depths of despair as their journey leads them underwater. The horrors they encounter include mushrooms, a desperate search for something lost, a mechanical monster, a distressing message from a lost friend, and tap dancing. But with evil not far behind, how will they overcome it this time?

Book 12 - The Penultimate Peril
As they check into a hotel, you may think the Baudelaires should be looking forward to rest and room service. But they know exactly what to expect. With so many floors, such a variety of rooms, and a curious array of guests, spending time in the safety of the right hotel can be the perfect learning environment for children of any age. A keen researcher like Klaus, an adept inventor like Violet, and a sharp-toothed culinary master like Sunny are all sure to find engaging diversions during their stay. But they have prepared, in case this turns out to be the most unfortunate event.

Book 13 - The End
This book is the last in A Series of Unfortunate Events, and even if you have been brave enough to read previous twelve volumes, you probably can't stand such unpleasantries as a fearsome storm, a suspicious beverage, a herd of wild sheep, an enormous bird cage, and a truly haunting secret about the Baudelaire parents. This is the end of the tales of The Baudelaires, or could it be the beginning of an extra-ordinary one.

  

Overview Review:

These books were really exciting and thorough reads. I loved every single one. They all including shocking mysteries and horrible secrets. They are the type of book you can just lose yourself in. My favourite character was Violet. She was so strong and independent and really took care of her family in their desparate times of need. I am so sad that this series is over because it really has been so worth while reading every single one. If you haven't already, I suggest that you make A Series of Unfortunate Events a collection on your shelf.

by Sasha, aged 12

(The series is available as a box set called The Complete Wreck, pictured above.)

REVIEW: Extreme Kissing by Luisa Plaja

Review by Sasha

Carlota and Bethany are best friends. Bethany is the sensible one with a long-term boyfriend, Carlota is the crazy one with a wild past and rebellious nature. All is fine in their world - apart from Carlota hating her stepdad and longing for a old flame. And apart from Bethany thinking her boyfriend is about to dump her and that her period is late... Carlota comes up with a plan to put all their troubles behind them and go on a girls-only wild day out, with only their favourite magazine to guide them through the day. If they open it on a fashion page they have to get hold of a fabulous new outfit and pretend to be models. If they open it to a page on snogging, they have to find a boy to snog. The magazine will take them everywhere they need to go - but will it help them to reveal the secrets they are keeping from each other?

This is the second book by Luisa Plaja (author of Split by a Kiss) and it was amazing! It was so addictive that once you started reading it, you just couldn't stop. It was a constant page-turner as you always wanted to know what other mad adventures Bethany and Carlota would get up to.

I liked the way the charcters took it in turns to tell the story. This was a great way to know what the characters were feeling. I enjoyed reading Bethany's side of the story the most. I think this is because Bethany was my favourite character. She was always thinking logically whereas Carlota didn't seem to think much and just dived into a situation with consequences that managed to hurt the people around her. I loved the twist at the end. I really didn't see it coming. Luisa did a fantastic job when writing this book! Some parts of the book are for older readers so I recommend it for girls who are 13+.

Rating: 5/5

Review by Sasha, aged 12

(Note: The author of this book is also the editor of this site, but she solemnly swears that she didn't touch a word of this review, except to add the link to the Split by a Kiss review.)

Read Sasha's interview with Luisa Plaja

There's an Extreme Kissing giveaway and interview on the fabulous About Books. (Closes 6th May.)

REVIEW: Out of the Blue by Val Rutt

Review by Hannah

A story of first love in World War II. One morning, Kitty Danby meets Sammy Ray Bailey, a handsome young American pilot stationed nearby. Kitty and Sammy fall quickly in love and, for a few precious weeks, everything seems perfect. Many people say that it won't last, especially as Sammy is a Yank. Kitty doesn't care though. But it is 1944 and a tragic incident changes everything, leading to a web of secrets and misunderstandings which is only be understood years later...

I really liked this book. It was a really emotional story about love, war, sadness and betrayal. It was great to read a book that was written about World War II in the view of a teenage girl. Kitty is a character that a lot of girls can relate to (sweet, shy, funny, gentle), every girl can find a little bit of Kitty in them. When I read this, it didn't feel like I was trying to stay awake reading, it was like I was reading someone's diary. It all seemed real to me. And the transitions from past to present made me see how what happened affected Kitty now. Towards, the end I learnt more about Kitty, Sammy and even Charlie (her brother). The ending was beautiful, but I was sad the story was finished. The most memorable book I have read this 2009! Can't wait to read more from Val Rutt.

Review by Hannah, aged 13