This is such a beautiful, lyrical, magical story - such a complete contrast to the recent teen romance and dystopian stories I've been reading. It's a modern-day telling of the Greek myth Eurydice and Orpheus. I read a brief precis of that myth after I'd finished 'Ella Grey' and David has stuck quite closely to the story.
Claire and Ella are best friends at school in Newcastle, in fact they've been best friends since they were tiny. One weekend, Claire and her other friends go away camping to the coast, and meet a very strange young travelling man, who plays beautiful music on his lyre. His name is Orpheus. Claire rings Ella, who has had to stay at home to revise, and holds the phone up so Ella can hear the mesmerising, enchanting music. Ella is totally hooked - there seems to be an immediate connection between her and Orpheus. When Orpheus appears later that week outside their school, Ella knows he is there for her and runs out of school to spend the day with him. They fall desperately in love and intend to marry on the beach at half term. But what happens that weekend and the days and weeks following are both tragic and sorrowful, and will change the lives of all those concerned.
The Manifesto on How to be Interesting
by Holly Bourne
Bree is seventeen, she lives in a big house with security gates, she's always the first one with her hand up in class to answer questions, she has special feelings for her English teacher, Mr Fellows, her best (and only) friend is the equally intelligent and nerdy Holdo with whom she spends all her free time watching films, her dad is always at work so she never sees him, and her mum is a yummy mummy spending all her time at the gym or out with friends for a healthy lunch. But Bree is also a little bit damaged. She is considered a freak at school by the gang of popular and pretty (but nasty) girls, she is teased by the handsome, big-headed Hugo and his loathsome circle of friends, and she self-harms to take away the pain of being miserable and uninteresting. Then one day, she decides to set up a blog and make a list of all the things she needs to do to become interesting, namely to become one of the gang of pretties to see how they live their lives. But what starts out as an experiment quickly becomes a way of life which she finds it difficult to extricate herself from, as one awful incident leads to another.
I wasn't sure how I felt about this book. I had mixed feelings for Bree. On the one hand I felt sorry for her - the only way out of what she thought was a miserable existence was to self-harm. We've all been teenagers, we've all been through varying degrees of loneliness and sadness, and it's awful that some feel the only way out is to hurt themselves.Why did she think she was below everyone else? She knew for herself that the girly gang were just nasty gossip-spreaders so why want to become one of them? And the incident with the awful Hugo - I can't believe she actually went through with it, hoping that he would turn out to be a different type of person, when of course he wasn't.
The one person who was left out from her new life and the only character I liked and wished was taken further was Bree's friend Holdo. I can't believe she would've just abandoned a best friend just like that and not told him of her plans.
It's a storyline that is probably played out all the time in schools - unpopular girls changing who they are to try to become popular. We know as adults it's always better to just stay true to yourself and just be who you are - people respect you more for it. Teens will probably love this book, but I just found it a bit grating, sad and annoying.
Violet Ink
by Rebecca Westcott
This is Rebecca's second novel - the first was the very moving Dandelion Clocks which dealt with a girl's struggle to cope with her mother's illness.
This book is not so melancholic, and I loved it more for that reason. I rushed through it chapter after chapter, unable to put it down, and as soon as I finished it, I thrust it into the hands of my 11 yr-old daughter gushing 'Read this one next!'
Izzy is such a wonderful character, and she has this fantastic obsession with a mood ring she wears which her older sister Alex bought her. It changes colour according to how Izzy is feeling and what is going on around her. I must look into whether they actually exist because I'd LOVE one! I loved the way that the chapter headings linked to colours to fit in with the mood ring. The colour theme also continues with Alex loving to write letters in violet ink. Izzy has a perfect relationship with Alex. Izzy is the quiet one and Alex is the extrovert, they talk openly about everything and hardly ever argue. Things change though when Alex starts going out with Charley. Alex starts to turn into a different person, she snaps at Izzy and hardly ever wants to talk to her or her mum. Then she runs away to Switzerland with Charley, taking a secret with her. Izzy is desperate for the old Alex to return - in more ways than one - but will life ever return to normal if she does?
A moving story of sisterhood, with emotions changing from love to hate to jealousy and then full circle again. Izzy is having to grow up fast learning the ways of the world quicker than she would have liked.
Suitable for 11+.
Only Remembered
edited by Michael Morpurgo
This is a wonderful collection of memories, letters, poems and stories from well known celebrities to mark the centenary of the First World War. I received an e-proof version of the book which unfortunately has neither the full collection of stories, nor the illustrations by the marvelous Ian Beck, but the stories it did contain were moving and thoughtful. Contributors include Her Royal Highness the Duchess of Cornwall, Sir Andrew Motion, Miranda Hart, Dame Jacqueline Wilson, Anthony Horowitz, Eoin Colfer, Antony Beevor, Emma Thompson, David Almond, Dr Rowan Williams, Richard Curtis, Joanna Lumley, Raymond Briggs, Shami Chakrabarti and Sir Tony Robinson. Royalties from the publication will be split between the Royal British Legion and projects for soldiers' children and families at SSAFA.
The Rain
by Virginia Bergin
Ruby is at a friend's house having a party and getting along rather nicely with Caspar in their hot tub outside. Her friend's parents suddenly call them inside sounding very panicky and worried. They've been hearing warnings on the radio of something terrible in the rain - and there are stormclouds up above. Sure enough, the rain comes hammering down, and it's only then that Caspar realises he's left something outside. He makes a quick dash for it and then races back in. Within seconds he is clawing at his face and body and there is blood everywhere. The mother decides to drive him to the hospital - the car has been safely parked under cover. Ruby goes with them only to find the roads jam packed with other afflicted people in cars either trying to escape or going to the hospital. Ruby is taken back to her house where she is quarantined by her mother and her stepdad, Simon. They don't want any harm to come to Ruby's baby brother, Henry. Over the next couple of days, the worst things imaginable happen to Ruby and she decides to somehow get to London to find her real dad - if he is still alive. On her journey, Ruby has to grow up fast, prove herself brave and determined, but above all, she has to survive.
I really loved this book. Once the action starts - which it does very quickly - it is very hard to put down. The panic and thoughts and feelings of Ruby seem very realistic. I liked all the characters, especially the geeky Darius Spratt, and the connection between the two at the pool and one of the camps was quite moving. Usually, when I've finished a book, it's a case of 'That was good - next!' but with this one, well let's just say, it stays with you.
Close to the Wind
by Jon Walter
Malik and his grandfather (Papa) are trying to flee their war-torn home country. They plan to catch the next boat out to a safer place as refugees. They hide in an abandoned house but soon have company. What takes place during that night will affect Malik's and Papa's future.
A wonderful story of escape and adventure, seen through the eyes of an innocent young boy. New friendships and a new life beckon, but will Malik be able to let go of the past?
This is a lovely story told in a very simple way, reminiscent I think of John Boyne and Sarah Moore Fitzgerald. The story is split into 3 parts, my favourites being part 2 which takes place on the boat and part 3 where Malik discovers what his new life is going to entail.
Recommended for 9-12yr olds.
