Chicklish

REVIEW: Sky Hawk by Gill Lewis

Review by Alexandra.

This novel really develops. It expands. It takes you in.

I didn’t like the back blurb of this book (which I luckily read after reading it).  It suggests it’s about a ‘creature’ which, for me, starts up pictures of all kinds of possibles. The title though is clear enough…

…Sky Hawk is about very impressive birds of prey, ospreys, that were endangered in the 1970s. Luckily the species fares a little better these days.

The novel pursues the idea of endangerment. Callum meets Iona trespassing on his family’s farm. She trades him a ‘secret’ for permission to come back. The secret is that an osprey is nesting on the farm. Callum and Iona form an unlikely friendship protecting the birds as they nest and a baby hatches. If the outside world finds out about the birds, they may be in danger from people that mean them harm. 

Even though the book doesn’t look that big, a lot seems to happen. There’s a dramatic twist in the friendship between the two teenagers, and after migrating south for winter, the mother osprey encounters new dangers. Those new dangers open up a new friendship for Callum and his friends and a mission for the village they live in.

A very nice story, grows in depth as it goes along.  I could imagine older children and younger teens enjoying this.

Review by Alexandra.

NEWS: Online Litfest at An Awfully Big Blog Adventure, 9th - 10th July 2011

Introducting the first online literary festival by An Awfully Big Blog Adventure, a fantastic joint author blog. Here's more about it from ABBA:

"July 9th and 10th 2011 will see us celebrating the third birthday of An Awfully Big Blog Adventure in a big way! We will be hosting the very first online literary festival organised entirely by children's authors. Our line-up is incredible, with authors popping in every half an hour to share insights, tips, book news and giveaways. ...all the posts will be archived for you to read whenever suits you."

Contributors include Gillian Philip, Jo Cotterill, Celia Rees, Leila Rasheed, Fiona Dunbar, Candy Gourlay, Liz Kessler and many, many more...

Full details at An Awfully Big Blog Adventure.

Follow ABBA on Twitter.

NEWS: Poison Diaries poem competition

To celebrate the launch of 'Nightshade' the second book in ‘The Poison Diaries’ trilogy by Maryrose Wood, there's a comptition to win a trip for two to Alnwick Castle in Northumberland the home of ‘Hogwarts’ and ‘The Poison Gardens’. (Closing date 27th June at 5pm)

Here are the details from The Poison Diaries team:

Your mission:
Write an original poem with the title ‘Poisonous By Nature’. Shortlisted entries will be judged by our expert panel including ‘The Poison Diaries’ author Maryrose Wood and the Duchess of Northumberland and the winners will have their poems read at the Alnwick Castle event.
 
The prize includes:
Travel to Alnwick castle including an overnight stay. Meeting the Duchess of Northumberland – the co-author of the books and creator of the Poison Garden at Alnwick Castle.
A tour of Jessamine’s childhood home - Hulne Abbey
A themed dinner in the fabulous ‘Alnwick Tree House’
An evening candlelight tour of the poison garden
Winners will also be one of the first to receive a preview copy of ‘Nightshade’and an exclusive Poison Diaries goody bag.

REVIEW: Hunting Lila by Sarah Alderson

Reviewed for Chicklish by Liz of Planet Print.

17-year-old Lila has two secrets she's prepared to take to the grave. The first is that she can move things just by looking at them. The second is that she's been in love with her brother's best friend, Alex, since forever. Or thereabouts. After a mugging on the streets of South London goes horribly wrong and exposes her unique ability, Lila decides to run to the only people she can trust - her brother and Alex. They live in Southern California where they work for a secret organisation called The Unit, and Lila discovers that the two of them are hunting down the men who murdered her mother five years before. And that they've found them. Trying to uncover the truth of why her mother was killed, and the real remit of The Unit, Lila becomes a pawn in a dangerous game. Struggling to keep her secrets in a world where nothing and no one is quite as they seem, Lila quickly realises that she is not alone - there are others out there just like her - people with special powers - and her mother's killer is one of them... (from Goodreads)

Hunting Lila was a compelling novel which had me reading until the early hours of the morning. I enjoyed it so much that I have officially branded it one of my favourite books of the year. Sarah Alderson wasted no time plunging the reader straight into the action – the very first scene was a mugging; an event which changed Lila’s life forever. I really liked how we got to see Lila in this kind of dangerous situation right at the start, because from this one scene we were already able to discern what kind of person Lila was, with barely any description about her at all. I have to say, I think Lila was a brilliant main character. Despite her power, she seemed like a completely believable teenager – she could be impetuous, stubborn and rebellious (never taking no for an answer), while also blushing and feeling awkward and embarrassed in front of the boy she liked (who, unfortunately for her, happened to be her brother’s best friend, the one guy she utterly believed she had no chance with). I felt like I could relate to her, even though our lives were completely different, because she felt like a real person that you could come across anytime, anywhere. I also liked her feistiness - she didn’t just sit idly and wait patiently, perfectly happy with being kept in the dark; she demanded answers, and then tried to find out things on her own whenever anyone refused to give them to her. She also dealt with new and difficult situations quite well, and her power was just cool. I don’t know how else to explain it – but moving stuff with your mind? Telekinesis? Cool. I found sifting to be a really interesting power too – modifying people’s memories is both intriguing and scary.

Alex (the “brother’s best friend”) was another character I liked. Scratch that, a character I loved. He was a mixture of everything you’d want in a guy: sweet, good-looking (to the max), mysterious, strong, determined - but he wasn’t perfect either; he had flaws and a few issues of his own, which I think made him all the more desirable (perfection is soo boring). I could definitely understand why Lila liked him so much. And he had to go through a lot too – there was this particular part of the book that challenged everything Alex had ever known, and I think the fact that he managed to get through this with a better view of things than he had before just showed how quickly he could adapt to desperate situations, despite the anxiety he might have been feeling inside. The way he coped with what was happening with Lila too – I loved the second half of the book so much, I can’t even explain. I absolutely loved the interaction between Alex and Lila; Lila had a sort of wry sense of humour, which I think Alex shared, and they definitely meshed well together and understood each other in a way no-one else could.  Even Jack, Lila’s brother, didn’t get her as much as Alex did, which I think shows how well attuned Alex and Lila were to one another. That being said, I did like Jack – he was a good brother, and even in a serious part of the book, he said some things to Alex which completely cracked me up. I felt sorry for him though, because he had to suffer deception after deception – I didn’t blame him for not knowing what to believe. In the end, he came through as a big brother, and I think his relationship with Lila grew even stronger.

Other characters I liked were Demos’s group, especially Suki. Even though I didn’t know what to make of her, she was so quirky and strange that I couldn’t help but enjoy reading about her, despite some of the things she was suspected to be involved with. My least favourite character was definitely Rachel – I loved to hate her, that witch! She made my blood boil – it’s no wonder Lila got angry, being around a person like that.

Another thing I really enjoyed was the way everything unravelled, and how we discovered what was going bit by bit – not knowing which characters to trust and which to suspect. It was one of the reasons the book was so gripping – I literally could not put it down, even for a second (which is why I’m sitting here typing now, absolutely exhausted from lack of sleep :P). The ending was a cliffhanger (though not one of those huge ones where the book cuts off halfway through the action), and now I’m really looking forward to the sequel (the wait is going to be a torturous one – I’m dying to know what will happen next!).

In conclusion, Hunting Lila was a thrilling read that I would recommend to, well, everyone. It’s a book even a sifter couldn’t make you forget!

Review for Chicklish by Liz of Planet Print.

REVIEW: Wish Me Dead by Helen Grant

Reviewed by Caroline.

Helen Grant’s spooky novels are set in Bad Münstereifel,  a pretty medieval town in Germany that’s stuffed with gorgeous cake shops and surrounded by the kind of dense forests where murderers and  witches lurk...

Wish Me Dead is another crackingly scary modern day gothic tale from Grant, this time revolving around the premise that wishes can be deadly.

Steffi is a quiet, retiring girl who feels pushed around by those around her. She can’t make her parents understand that she doesn’t want to be a baker and take over the family business, a future that has been laid out for her since her elder sister left home and became estranged from the family. So when a plan is hatched by her group of friends to visit a derelict house in the woods where the ‘Red Witch’ was said to live, Steffi doesn’t speak out, despite her unease. The friends decide to leave a note in the house with a death wish aimed at an annoying local celebrity just for a laugh and Steffi is the person who crafts the note. When the celebrity dies very suddenly shortly afterwards, it’s unnerving, but just about possible to dismiss it as a macabre coincidence. Then the second wish comes true....

Wish Me Dead is the kind of book that makes you want to curl up on the sofa on a rainy day and devour it in one go. Highly recommended.

Review by Caroline.

Caroline Green's novel for young teenagers, Dark Ride is published by Piccadilly Press.

GIVEAWAY: River Boy by Tim Bowler (now closed)

**Giveaway is now closed and the winner, H.C., has been contacted. Thank you for entering!**

I was lucky enough to attend a wonderful talk by Tim Bowler, award-winning author of River Boy, Frozen Fire, Buried Thunder and many other books.

(Read our review of Tim Bowler's latest novel, Buried Thunder.)

I asked Tim to sign a copy of River Boy, his Carnegie Medal-winning novel, to give away here on Chicklish. Here's more about the book...

"Grandpa is dying. He can barely move his hands any more but, stubborn as ever, refuses to stay in hospital. He's determined to finish his last painting, 'River Boy', before he goes. At first Jess can't understand his refusal to let go, but then she too becomes involved in the mysterious painting. And when she meets the river boy himself, she finds she is suddenly caught up in a challenge of her own that she must complete - before it's too late."

**Giveaway is now closed.**

REVIEW: Birthmarked by Caragh O'Brien

Review by Mel.

In the Enclave, your scars set you apart, and the newly born will change the future. In the future, in a world baked dry by the harsh sun, there are those who live inside the walled Enclave and those, like sixteen-year-old Gaia Stone, who live outside. Following in her mother's footsteps Gaia has become a midwife, delivering babies in the world outside the wall and handing a quota over to be "advanced" into the privileged society of the Enclave. Gaia has always believed this is her duty, until the night her mother and father are arrested by the very people they so loyally serve. Now Gaia is forced to question everything she has been taught, but her choice is simple: enter the world of the Enclave to rescue her parents, or die trying.

Dystopian YA novels have been in vogue for a while now, but this is the first chance I've had to read one of the recent headline titles from the US.  Birthmarked is set in a future world that's been ravaged by climate change. The main character, Gaia Stone lives just outside the protected inner wall of one of the few remaining cities. Despite living a hard life, she enjoys the comforts of home and finds fulfillment in a career as a trainee midwife. But everything changes when her parents are arrested and she discovers a strange genetic code that her mother has hidden from the elite. Gaia has to draw on all her determination and strength in order to crack the puzzle and save her family.

I was instantly drawn to this book because of the idea of the code, and it kept me reading right to the end, but I enjoyed lots of other elements too.  As with many YA heroines, Gaia is very much an active protagonist with bags of tenacity.  Although she's not sure of herself, she carries on regardless, moving in a positive direction when others back away.  I really liked her optimistic nature.  I was also intrigued by Leon, the mysterious guard who's been cast out by his elitist family.  He's convincingly ambiguous, swaying between a role as protector and persecutor, lover and enemy.  You're never quite sure where his loyalties lie and again, this makes for compelling reading.   

The pace is good throughout, with perhaps slightly more contemplative passages than are usual in YA. This slower approach worked for me because it allows the author to explore ethical issues such as adoption and fertility without rushing in favour of action.  The plot is also solid, and there were some surprise scenes that I didn't expect. My only negative comment is that I did feel that the central premise fell a little short at the end. I expected a major revelation and this didn't happen. Luckily, this was balanced out by a well-written and moving final scene, which was powerful enough to make me want to read the next book in the series.  I'm hoping that the sequel will be even better.

Review by Mel.

New York Books Challenge: Love is the Higher Law by David Levithan

Review by Keris for the New York Books Challenge.

I've read and loved a few David Levithan books and I was really keen to read Love is the Higher Law, set as it is around 9/11.

The Kindle sample took my breath away and so when my friend Michelle kindly sent me her copy, I settled down to read it straight away.  

It follows Claire, Jasper and Peter in the immediate aftermath of the terrible attacks on the World Trade Centre and it's just as incredible as I expected. In fact, I think it's an important and inspiring book. It's about learning from tragedy and how life goes on and you have to live it.

The book feels eminently real and wise. Claire's line about watching the towers fall on the news - "I don't want to know anything, and I want to know it all" - is exactly how I felt but couldn't articulate.

My only criticisms are that the characters don't sound like any teenagers I've ever met - they're incredibly articulate and wise - and I find the title a bit pretentious, but they are small issues.

An amazing book.

Review by Keris.

Join our New York Books Challenge.

REVIEW: One Dog and His Boy by Eva Ibbotson

Reviewed by Caroline.

It’s a tragedy that children’s writer Eva Ibbotson died before A Dog and his Boy was published because this book, like many of her others, is destined to become a classic.

Hal’s rich parents don’t spend much time with their lonely son, who isn’t all that interested in having all the toys money can buy. What  he wants more than anything in the world is a dog. But a dog doesn’t fit easily into the luxurious, pristine house where he lives, a house in which, ‘there was nothing that was alive. Not the smallest beetle, not the frailest spider..’ and with a garden that has, ‘no flowers – only raked gravel – because flowers mean earth and mess’. So mum and dad, with crass insensitivity, decide to hire a dog from Easy Pets agency for the weekend on Hal’s birthday as a surprise present....without mentioning the part about it being a weekend only deal. Fleck, a scruffy mongrel with ‘bat ears’, mismatched eyes and a very waggy tail doesn’t really fit the Easy Pets brochure and is there on temporary sufference only. But when Hal and Fleck meet, it’s love at first sight. Fleck is duly taken away at the end of the weekend (tissues to the ready for that scene, I warn you) but Hal isn’t going to give up. He’s prepared to run away and do whatever it takes to be reunited with his dog.

Warm, wonderful and wise, A Dog and His Boy is an absolute joy for readers of any age.

Review by Caroline.

Caroline Green's novel for young teenagers, Dark Ride is published by Piccadilly Press.

REVIEW: We Can Be Heroes by Catherine Bruton

Review by Hazel Holmes.

Ben’s dad was killed in the 9/11 attacks in New York. This alone sparks an unnerving feeling within, it is the first story I’ve read on the subject and I was anxious about the content. I needn’t have been though. Bruton is brilliant.

Ben is a young boy who is dealing with the loss of his father, but it’s also a story about other things too. Family, friendship, bereavement, racism, anger, love as well as hate. Ben is staying with his grandparents and Cousin Jed over the summer whilst his fragile mother is in hospital. Here he meets one of the best characters I’ve met in a long time, Priti. She’s just moved onto his grandparent’s street with her family, they’re Muslim and are trying to fit in with they’re predominantly white neighbours. Priti is feisty, funny and bold, yet with the innocence that comes with childhood. By just being herself she helps Ben deal with his conflicting feelings about his Dad and his Mum. My heart hurt for Ben. Kind, carful, caring Ben. He is drowning in guilt for not remembering his father, his mother’s illness and ‘burdening’ his grieving grandparents.  He’s the complete opposite to Jed. I disliked him at first, mainly because he was insensitive about his Uncle’s death and his blatant racist attitude and anger, but as the story developed it became clear Jed was grieving too. The absence of his mother and the influence of his own father’s fury were hurting him more than he wanted to show.

The three of them become friends whilst trying to uncover an elaborate honour killing and terrorist attack. Yet, as always, things are never what they seem. Bruton is ambitious with the topics she covers; she is pushing boundaries all of the time and forcing people to recognise their own unspoken prejudices, thoughts and beliefs. Amidst all the action are descriptions of Ben’s comic drawings. He sketches all the time about things going on, his thoughts and feelings. I feel it necessary to mention these as they’re a key aspect of the book; I really hope they’re included in the finished text. This is an exceptional debut, an important book that is tender, funny, sometimes uncomfortable but also incredibly sensitive.

Review by Hazel Holmes.

We Can Be Heroes will be published by Egmont on 1st August 2011