Chicklish

NEWS: Library Tour - Luisa Plaja

Just to explain why I won't be around much over the next few weeks, for any readers here who don't already know...

I'm going on a book tour! I'll be talking about Diary of a Mall Girl and much more, and each event will have additional fun, such as hair and beauty demonstrations, fashion shows and bath-bomb making. Oh, and there will be goody bags!

Find out all about it on my website.

I'll paste in a quick list of events below.

And maybe I'll get to meet some Chicklish readers...? I hope so!

Thursday 18 April: Bristol: Central Library, College Green, Bristol, BS1 5TL. Time: 1900. Click for details.

Monday 22 April: Edinburgh: Sighthill Library. Time: 1800.

Thursday 25 April: Barnstaple: Barnstaple Library, Tuly Street, Barnstaple EX31 1ELY. Time: 1830.

Tuesday 30 April: Birkenhead: Bromborough Library. Time: 1800.

Wednesday 1 May: Chester: Chester Library, Northgate Street, Chester CH1 2EF. Time: 1800.

Wednesday 15 May: Stockton-on-Tees: Stockton Central Library. Time: 1830.

Thursday 16 May: Newcastle: Newcastle Libraries. Time: 1800. Click for details.

Also:

Tuesday 28 May at the Hay Festival, "It's a Girl Thing", with Sophia Bennett and Sarah Webb.

 

REVIEW: About Zooming Time, Opal Moonbaby by Maudie Smith (Opal Moonbaby book 2)

Review by Isabella aged 8 (and family)

This book is about the return of alien girl Opal Moonbaby to Martha's life. Martha's very excited to see Opal again, but things do not go quite as smoothly as she hoped they would. Opal ignores all Martha's tips for survival in an earthling school. But there are worse things than grumpy Mrs Underedge, their teacher. Could there deadly enemies in their midst?

This book is brilliant. It made me look at head lice in a whole new way!

I enjoyed Opal Moonbaby's quirky way of speaking. She broke all the rules and got away with it, while also being totally charming and making loads of friends. She was fantastic. Another great character was Perry, because he was unusual and I liked the way he talked all babyish.

I really enjoyed following Martha's path through friendships, and especially the humour of it all. Opal's behaviour was funny, and the whole book is so colourful and imaginative. The school play ties up the story in a really exciting way.

I recommend this book to ages 7 and above, and to all people who like really funny, exciting and emotional books. This is science fiction mixed with true life, as aliens shine a light on normal life in Year 6.

Review by Isabella, aged 8

About Zooming Time, Opal Moonbaby by Maudie Smith

Published
07/02/2013

Publisher
Orion Children's Books (an Imprint of The Orion Publishing Group Ltd )

ISBN
9781444004793

REVIEW: Bring Me Sunshine by Wendy Storer

Review by Luisa.

Life is not easy for Daisy. Her dad might be a former rock-star, but he hasn't quite been himself for a while, and Daisy has to cope alone with his forgetfulness and intolerance of loud noises. She's even had to give up drumming - her passion. When childhood friend Dylan comes back into her life, how will she explain to him how much her life has changed, when she doesn't even fully understand it herself...?

I found out about this book on Twitter, thanks to the author. It was a runner-up in the Mslexia Children's Novel Award, and it's published by Applecore Books.

I was drawn in by Daisy's voice from the first page. She has an interesting background, including a rock-star father, a gorgeous little brother and a lovely friend-maybe-more from her past. She also has a heart-breaking secret that she barely even admits to herself - there is something wrong with her dad. Daisy's matter-of-fact narration as she leads us through her daily trials makes for a compelling read. The novel emphasises the importance of determination and of living in the moment, and it's inspiring to read.

Another thing I loved about Bring Me Sunshine is the way that each chapter begins with a song title, highlighting the drummer. I really enjoyed the book's musical connections, and it would be great to read it again with a soundtrack playing.

Bring Me Sunshine is a thought-provoking story for young readers who enjoy novels by Jenny Valentine, Jenny Smith, Siobhan Curham and Elen Caldecott, and I'd especially recommend it to music-lovers.

Review by Luisa.

Please note that another Wendy Storer novel, Where Bluebirds Fly, is on a special promotion and free to download for Kindle on Easter weekend.

Bring Me Sunshine by Wendy Storer

• Publisher: Applecore Books (20 Jan 2013)
• ISBN-10: 0957481284
• ISBN-13: 978-0957481282

 

REVIEW: Anatomy of a Single Girl by Daria Snadowsky (Anatomy book 2)

Review by Luisa.

"After everything that happened—my first boyfriend, my first time, my first breakup—jumping back into the dating game seemed like the least healthy thing I could do. It’s not that I didn’t want to fall in love again, since that’s about the best feeling ever. But as a busy college premed still raw from heartbreak, which is the worst feeling ever, I figured I’d lie low for a while. Of course, as soon as I stopped looking for someone, an impossibly amazing—and devastatingly cute—guy came along, and I learned that having a new boyfriend is the quickest way to recover from losing your old one..."

This is the sequel to Anatomy of a Boyfriend, a book that made a firm nod to Forever by July Blume with its depiction of first love. (Read my review of Anatomy of a Boyfriend here.)

It's not necessary to read the first book to enjoy this one; Anatomy of a Single Girl recaps all important past events and works as a standalone. Anyone who enjoyed the frank, explicit descriptions of relationships in the first book, though, will be pleased to find more of them in this sequel.

Dominique is now attending medical school, though this book is mostly set during the uni holidays and Dom is back home with her parents, frequently seeing her lively high-school BFF Amy, who is now in proper love.

Dom is not completely over Wes, her high-school sweetheart, but she's wondering other men. We get to meet Calvin, who is a good friend, and then Guy, who awakens hot new feelings in Dom. Once again, I really enjoyed reading Dom's analysis of everything that goes on in her life. She's a realistic character and a truthful, thoughtful narrator.

This novel isn't a romance. The emphasis, as with the previous book, is on Dom's exploration of herself and what she wants out of life and love. It's also about the way things are changing between Dom and her parents and friends as she grows up. It's an honest, warts-and-all account of late teen relationships, and it's unflinching and absorbing.

Review by Luisa.

Anatomy of a Single Girl by Daria Snadowsky

• Publisher: Delacorte Press Books for Young Readers (8 Jan 2013)
• ISBN-10: 038573798X
• ISBN-13: 978-0385737982

Read our interview with Daria Snadowsky here.

REVIEW: Butter by Erin Lange

Review by Luisa.

This is a school bullying story with a difference. After years of torment about his larger size, the narrator – who’s so used to being referred to as ‘Butter’ that readers don’t get to find out his real name for most of the novel – has decided to end his life in front of a YouTube audience, by eating himself to death.

Butter is a shockingly compelling novel. The main character’s voice is self-deprecating and funny, giving the book a light-hearted feel despite its dark premise. It’s amusing to read, but it’s also uncomfortable – readers are put in the same position as Butter’s classmates, as fascinated by his plans as they are nervous for his future.

Some of the friends Butter makes as a result of his plan seem quite likeable at times, but there’s a sense of foreboding in his new relationships, and it’s always clear that most of the kids suffer from  herd mentality, thoughtlessness and lack of empathy. The depiction of Butter’s parents – one a loving enabler, the other totally detached – is more subtle but equally important. Anna, Butter’s online love interest, doesn’t come across as a particularly sympathetic person, but it is interesting to see the way their online relationship highlights the prejudice that’s so prevalent. It seems to me that the story is designed to make readers question their own attitudes to fellow human beings.

Thought-provoking and insightful.

Review by Luisa.

Butter by Erin Lange

Published
07/03/2013

Publisher
Faber Children's Books

ISBN
9780571294404

OVERVIEW: The Witchblood series by Emma Mills

Last week, I was kindly tagged by Emma Mills in the 'Next Big Thing' blog hop. Read her Q&A here. After a while, with cogs turning slowly in my brain, I realised I'd already taken part in this. You can read my Q&A about Diary of a Mall Girl here.

I thought that, instead, I would turn the spotlight back on Emma Mills' books. Her current YA series, Witchblood, is about vampires and witches... and Jess, who discovers she is a mix of both. I recently read all three books in the series so far in quick succession, and I've been meaning to review them. Here are a few of my thoughts on each book...

Witchblood (book 1)

This book introduces Jess, a Manchester teenager whose life is about to change in ways she could never have imagined. After a terrible attack outside a nightclub, Jess is left for dead, until she's saved - and turned - by a gorgeous vampire. But the vampire community don't know what they've let themselves in for. Jess is different, and what follows is a journey of discovery for everyone in her life. What I loved most about this story was the way Jess's relationships with friends and family were depicted. They grew and changed in realistic and compelling ways throughout the book.

Witchcraft (book 2)

As soon as I read the opening chapter of this book at the end of Witchblood, I couldn't wait to read on! I thought the action was going to move to the States, but it turns out that this book is still firmly set in England.

This is the most action-packed of the books so far - it's fast-paced and dramatic, perhaps focusing slightly less on Jess's relationships. My favourite vampires still have very important roles to play, though.

Witchlove (book 3)

This is the book that's mostly set in the States! I really enjoyed finding out more about the American side of Jess's life. One of the newer characters takes on a strong central role and I loved the interaction between her and Jess. It was also great to see Jess's powers develop. Be warned - there is some very dark magic at play in this novel...

Witchblood is an entertaining series for fans of paranormal YA, featuring lots of British characters and settings. I'm looking forward to the next instalment!

Find out more about Emma Mills and Witchblood here.

 

REVIEW: Finding Cherokee Brown by Siobhan Curham

Review by Luisa.

Claire Weeks is fed up with her life. Friendless and picked on at school ever since her best friend moved away, she longs to feel like she fits in somewhere. Then, on her 15^th birthday, a mysterious card turns up addressed to someone called ‘Cherokee Brown’, and her mother’s reaction sets off a chain of events that Claire could never have foreseen.  Soon she’s skipping school to meet her birth father in secret, and finding out how to be brave.

At the start of this story, Claire has just bought a second-hand how-to-write book with an old-fashioned, chatty tone. The chapters in Finding Cherokee Brown are framed with quotes from the book and extracts of Claire’s own writing, as she follows the guidebook’s instructions. I loved this part of the story – both Agatha Dashwood’s voice and Claire’s response to it are very amusing and entertaining.

I enjoyed the gradual way that Claire changed in the course of the story, and the repercussions that these changes had on all the other characters. In particular, the bullying storyline plays out satisfyingly yet realistically, and I found the inclusion of Claire’s unsupportive class teacher to be fascinating and important. As with Dear Dylan, Siobhan Curham does not shy away from featuring imperfect adults. There’s a brilliant scene at Claire’s school where her parents and teachers all miss the clues behind her troubled behaviour, with excruciating results. Sadly, it’s easy to imagine something like this happening in real life. It’s wonderful to see the way that Claire begins to recognise her own strength.

The book had an extra bonus for me personally – Claire lives in the London borough I grew up in, and it was great to read about all the familiar places, including a library I worked in...

A touching and uplifting novel. Highly recommended!

Review by Luisa

Finding Cherokee Brown by Siobhan Curham

Published
04/03/2013

Publisher
Electric Monkey

ISBN
9781405260381

 

REVIEW: The Elephant of Surprise by Brent Hartinger (Russel Middlebrook, book 4)

Review by Luisa.

"Russel and his friends Min and Gunnar are laughing about something they call the Elephant of Surprise – the tendency for life to never turn out as expected. Sure enough, Russel soon happens upon a hot but mysterious homeless activist named Wade, even as he's drawn back to an old flame named Kevin. Meanwhile, Min is learning surprising things about her girlfriend Leah, and Gunnar just wants to be left alone to pursue his latest technology obsession. But the elephant is definitely on the move in all three of their lives... Before the story is over, Russel and his friends will learn that the Elephant of Surprise really does appear when you least expect him — and that when he stomps on you, it really, really hurts."

This is the fourth book in the award-winning Russel Middlebrook series, the first of which (The Geography Club) is soon to be released as a film.

I've heard nothing but praise for Brent Hartinger for years, and I once chatted to him online at Readergirlz back in 2007 (see this post). But up until now I hadn't actually read anything of his. And now I think I'll be ordering the entire back catalogue...

I loved this book to bits, and read it far too quickly for my liking. Russel is a narrator it's a pleasure to spend time with. He's honest - often touchingly self-deprecating and always hilariously self-conscious - he's witty, and he's utter fun. His friends are also great. I found myself wishing I had a Min and a Gunnar in my life. The book contains misunderstandings, sweet romance and plenty of light-hearted philosophical moments. You'll find out lots about freegans, American high school culture and the universal difficulty of teen relationships.

This is the kind of teen book I absolutely adore. Funny, thought-provoking and entertaining. Read it!

Review by Luisa.

• Publisher: Buddha Kitty Books; 1 edition (10 Jan 2013)
• ISBN-10: 0984679456
• ISBN-13: 978-0984679454

REVIEW: The Boy From France by Hilary Freeman (Camden Town Tales book 3)

Review by Luisa.

"When Vix's classmates find out that their visiting French exchange students will include boys, everyone is very excited. Everyone, that is, except Vix, who has a sick mother to cope with, and no time for boys. But her student does turn out to be a boy, and, what's more, he's both gorgeous and charming. All her friends and schoolmates are jealous, especially when he appears to have eyes for no-one but Vix. But is he for real? How long can it last? And will Vix's secrets and lies destroy the relationship?"

Oh, how I love the Camden Town Tales. It's a brilliant series for younger teens, taking a good look at all types of teen-girl relationships - with parents, with friends, with schoolmates and less-than-mates, with boys... and with themselves. The girls work through many problems, with London's Camden Town itself always providing a colourful, entertaining backdrop to the action.

Vix is quite a private person, so it was wonderful to see her take the spotlight in this third book (which, by the way, works well as a standalone - you quickly get to know the other characters and parts of their stories). I really enjoyed finding out more about Vix's life. She possibly has the toughest time of it, out of the three friends. She's a carer for her mother - a task she takes on without complaint, however much it might interfere with any potential fun in her life. It's easy to understand why she glosses over a few truths when she meets the gorgeous, intriguing Xavier, and yet it's also clear from the start that she might live to regret this approach...

I adored the character of Xavier and the way he brought Vix out of her shell. I think this is possibly the most romantic of the Camden Town Tales books, and yet it's still as grounded as the others. Hilary Freeman has a knack of telling a satisfying wish-fulfilment story which is also down-to-earth and always believable. I especially love the way the three main girls stick together despite some testing times, and the way the ultimate importance of their friendship is shown.

Realistic teen romance with a brilliant setting and characters you want to meet.

Review by Luisa.

The Boy From France by Hilary Freeman

Published
31/01/2013

Publisher
Piccadilly Press Ltd

ISBN
9781848123014

REVIEW: Me, Suzy P by Karen Saunders

Review by Luisa.

Suzy Puttock (with a 'P') is 14 and good at getting herself into embarrassing situations. She also has great friends, and a very sweet boyfriend called Danny. So why does new boy Zach seem so attractive? If she finishes with Danny and goes for Zach, what will it do to her group of friends? And, back home, will Amber's wedding take over the whole family?

Me, Suzy P is a thoroughly entertaining read. The plot and characters are great. Suzy herself is a relatable, accident-prone heroine who is endearing from the very first page. I also loved Suzy's friends, and the cafe they congregate in - I really want to go there! A special mention goes to Suzy's family. I could just picture them all. The way big sister Amber stole all the parental attention was very amusing, but ultimately I think the antics of little sister Harry stole the show...

Suzy has some interesting lessons to learn, and it's fun to follow her on her journey, which is full of mishaps, laughs and touching relationships.

A lively, heart-warming story, sure to put a smile on your face!

Review by Luisa.

Me, Suzy P by Karen Saunders

Published
01/01/2013

Publisher
Templar Publishing

ISBN
9781848772960