Picture Me Gone
by Meg Rosoff
Meg Rosoff is one of my many favourite authors. One of her books 'How I Live Now' is soon to be a film (out 27th September 2013). My personal favourites are 'What I Was' and 'Just in Case'. Until now. 'Picture Me Gone' is about 12-yr-old Mila, who sets out on a trip to America with her father to try to find his friend, Matthew, who left the family home one day and didn't return, leaving his wife, baby son, and dog behind. Mila uses her special gift of being able to 'read' people - their thoughts, feelings and memories - to try to solve the mystery. What she uncovers are friendships, secrets, lies, tragedy, and a situation that is just too incomprehensible for a 12-yr-old girl.
I was drawn into this book immediately - I knew by the second chapter that this would be my favourite. I nearly cried when I read how sad Honey the dog was, how she was disliked by Suzanne the wife, how she missed her master - "loneliness flows off her in waves"..."this is not a happy house". Thankfully Mila and her father take Honey with them on the search for Matthew which is a relief for us all.
This is a fantastic book of discovery. Mila is a very mature young girl - perhaps being an only child has helped her understand the intricacies of adult relationships and behaviour, which also helps her piece together the mystery.
Meg has the brilliant ability of capturing and describing every emotion, every subtle bit of body language, every part of a conversation, so you can vividly imagine each and every character she introduces into the story. I loved loved loved it.
Smile
by Raina Telgemeier
(Review by Megan)
This is an epic book about a girl called Raina in sixth grade, who has a disastrous fall after a meeting at Girl Scouts, where she knocks out her two front teeth! Raina's life turns into a nightmare as the orthodontist gives her braces, embarrassing head gear, and fake teeth!
Turning into a teenager makes her life harder, as she grows interested in boys, goes to high school and gets spots...
I loved this book in all ways, especially how it is laid out like a comic book, with pictures and speech bubbles that makes it a more enjoyable read.
If you like Diary of a Wimpy Kid or Geek Girl you'll love this.
Chasing the Dark
by Sam Hepburn
Joe Slattery's mum has been killed in a hit-and-run car accident, and as his father is no longer on the scene, Joe is sent to live with his mum's sister and her husband. However, Aunt Doreen shows only animosity towards Joe. While enjoying a walk out with his dog, Oz, to escape the awful Aunt, Joe finds himself in the grounds of a crumbling mansion. Before he knows it, he is grabbed by a dirty tramp, who threatens to kill Oz unless Joe brings him food, medicine, bandages and money. This is the start of a frightening adventure for Joe as he uncovers secrets and lies. The accident that killed his mum was no simple hit-and-run; who was the stranger in the car who was giving her a lift; what is the tramp with the foreign accent doing hiding in the mansion. Joe tries to discover some answers, but in the process finds himself in mortal danger.
A great thriller that definitely picks up speed as it progresses.
Fortunately, the Milk...
by Neil Gaiman
A crazy, kooky tale of a father's trip out the house to get some milk so the kids can have their breakfast cereal. He is away for absolutely ages, and on his return his children ask where he's been. So begins an incredible story of time-travel, meeting dinosaurs, aliens in spaceships, pirates, stone-god worshipping men, and the all-important pint of milk. If the story isn't enough to keep the readers entertained, Chris Riddell's illustrations will definitely have you poring over every page, looking at the minute detail of his pictures. The father of the story bears an incredibly uncanny resemblance to Neil Gaiman himself...
A brilliant pairing of author and illustrator to create an entertaining fantasy story for young readers.
The Mysterious Misadventures of Clemency Wrigglesworth
by Julia Lee
I really enjoyed this fun, quirky adventure story of a brave young orphan, Clemency Wrigglesworth, who travels alone from India to England, not knowing where she is going or who will look after her. She is taken under the wing of Mrs Potchard and her son Gully, and his aunt Mrs Marvel and her children Whitby and Leicester. An advertisement is put in The Times newspaper announcing the arrival of Miss Wrigglesworth and her location, but unfortunately the mysterious lady who comes to whisk Clemency away may not have her best intentions at heart. Gully and Whitby set out on a daring rescue mission, while Clemency uses her fearlessness and bravado to attempt to find out the truth about her real family.
If you like this, also try The Thornthwaite Inheritance or The Considine Curse by Gareth P Jones and Wilma Tenderfoot and The Case of the Frozen Hearts by Emma Kennedy
Perfect
by Rachel Joyce
I really enjoyed Rachel Joyce's first book, The Unlikely Pilgrimage of Harold Fry, so I was looking forward to reading this one. Rachel has such lovely descriptive prose, and her turn of phrase is perfect. But do not come to this book expecting a tragi-comedy. Come expecting tragedy but no comedy. You feel constantly on your guard, expecting something awful to happen, knowing the moment is coming very soon, and when it does it is heartbreakingly sad. Catastrophic events build up to one big disaster that leaves the characters and the readers saddened and tearful. The twist at the end will have you sobbing even more.
The Case of the Pistol-Packing Widows
by Caroline Lawrence
The third in the brilliant P.K Pinkerton Mysteries, this story finds P.K. travelling from Virginia City to Carson City on an undercover job paid for by Opal Blossom, but concerning someone he is uncomfortable to follow - his friend Poker Face Jace. As is to be expected, his mission is not an easy one, and P.K. has to introduce more disguises to get where and what he wants. New friendships are made, foes are fought, secrets are uncovered, Mulligrubs are overcome, but above all a great adventure is had - by P.K. and the reader!
This is one of my favourite series, and I really look forward to the next installment!
