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The Soup Movement by Ben Davis

Well, I really have let my book review writing slip lately! What can I say? Pandemic life is busy! Anywho, I just wanted to drop quickly by to add my thoughts on this exceptional book by Davis. 

Jordan’s just moved to a new area with his family and has started a new school. Fitting in can be tough, but snippets of the past can help but permeate into Jordan’s present. Through a powerful and honest ‘Hospital Blog’ he recalls what life was like dealing with cancer and meeting the other residents. Rio is another kid on his ward, who is fierce and funny, and who comes up with the idea of them doing a year of ‘mitzvah’ (doing selfless good deeds for people, a concept derived from Judaism). So when Jordan meets a homeless man called Harry, he knows just what he has to do.

There are some really tough topics covered in this book (bullying, homelessness, illness, grief) and I sure cried my eyes out more than once when reading this. But we see such joy in the formidable team of Jordan and Rio, that are very well developed characters that are warm and real. They show us that we all have the capacity to make a difference to people’s lives for the better, however small the act, which is incredibly inspiring to not just younger readers. This restorative book is one that I would definitely recommend to any reader, it really is that good.

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Ace of Spades by Faridah Àbíké-Íyímídé

Wow, you know, I still can’t get over the fact that this is a debut novel! Àbíké-Íyímídé sure knows how to pack - an early on - punch with Ace of Spades and tells a story that will be forever etched in your mind for long after you’ve read it. This high school thriller is one that, I think, every teen should read.

Devon and Chiamaka go to Niveus Academy, a private school, where they have both just been made prefects. This comes as no suprise to Chiamaka, who is popular and works hard and has money. But to Devon, it’s a shock to him and, actually, most of the student population there. But fame comes at a cost, when an anonymous texter starts revealing both of their most intimate secrets to the school. Who can it be and why are they so desperate to ruin these two kids’ futures?

This book is amazing. The dual narrative of the two main characters expertly reveals their differences and, increasingly, their similarities - they have to work together to get to the bottom of things. Around half way in, the penny begins to drop for Devon and from then on, the harrowing reality of what’s really happening takes momentum. I don’t want to give anything away, but it is a shocking and chilling revelation that is expertly dealt with by the author. This is, undoubtedly, a powerful and timely novel, with a badass female lead and a belter of a storyline, which also touches on LGBTQ+ and race themes. I really cannot recommend this book highly enough.

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Stick Boy by Paul Coomey

Hold your horses, cuz here’s another brilliant visual and fun story for all those Tom Gates and Wimpy Kid fans out there! Published in January of this year, I’m actually a little bit surprised that I haven’t heard more about this book. In fact, I really hope it quickly evolves into a series as there’s real traction there to make this book fly and become a new favourite.

Stick moves with his family to Little Town, in the hope of making some new friends and to be as far away as possible from his old school bully. Sadly, this doesn’t last very long when he meets Sam and Gretchen. And before long, Stick finds himself in a compromising position that could turn everyone against him. That is, if people’s new shiny Homebot’s don’t distract the town first!

This book really is a lot of fun. There’s lots of illustrations on almost all of the pages, which have that established ‘doodle’ like quality but with added colour - a brilliant move as the book is really eye-catching! And, surprisingly, the story is actually written in third person and doesn’t take a diary format. Nice. As you can imagine, a 2D boy within a 3D world makes for some hilarious situations and opportunities for mayhem, which readers will adore. So many students love this accessible style of book and I’m very glad that this debut by Coomey gives readers exactly what they want, with a little extra too.

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I’ve seen many a primary school teacher gush over this book these past few years. And maybe it’s this gushing that made me think that this was a saccharine tale that wouldn’t be very ‘me’. What can I say? I’m a darn idiot! Because this book is actually a whole lot darker than I ever could have imagined. 

Marinka lives with Baba Yaga, a woman who guides the dead into the next world - a craft that Marinka must take on too. Marinka is confined to the house and must never steer too far away. She has no friends, other than the house, who has played with her and kept her entertained over the years. But Marinka grows increasingly unsatisfied with her life and decides to break some of the rules in order to feel free. But at what cost will these defiance's take?

Grounded in Russian folklore this moralistic tale is engrossing and feels very original. There is a looming darkness about the book, a melancholy that sticks – Marinka makes mistakes and then has to fully deal with the consequences of them, some of which are horrifying. We find the character of Marinka as unlikeable and selfish at first, but she develops and grows throughout the course of the novel and we soon realise she is just finding her way in life, as we all are. The occasional sprinkling of illustrations are black and white and haunting. A powerful and striking story about grief, identity and growing up that absolutely deserves a place on your bookshelves.

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Run, Rebel by Manjeet Mann

This book’s been out for about a year and a half and I am gutted to have not read it before. It didn’t take long, I pretty much finished it in two goes which I NEVER do. Usually, I take my time with a book to savour every page. But not this one. 

The story follows the life of Amber, whose parents are Indian migrants with no English writing or speaking skills. Her father is abusive, a man who drinks too much and for which the repercussions spill onto the pages – controlling behaviours, violence, etc. These go way beyond cultural rules. But the one thing that Amber has is her running, it’s the one thing that makes her feel alive and forget everything. But, surprisingly, it’s a history book that sparks an inner rebellion in Amber and that builds slowly and boldly. But will she ever be free of her father?

Written in verse, this makes for a immediately engrossing and fully immersive read that is tragic and fierce and uplifting all at the same time. This is powerful writing that tackles difficult subjects and creates a complex protagonist who evolves with every poem. The small chunks of Amber’s mum and sister woven into the narrative makes the perspectives unified in their despair, as women who want more from life - which makes Amber’s uprising all the more remarkable. I cannot wait to push this book into the hands of young adults who come into my library this term, and relish the many conversations I’ll have about this amazing book for years to come.

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Giften by Leyla Suzan

I’m excited to say that I got my mitts on this stunning proof copy and couldn’t wait to delve right in. It just looks so good and as soon as I read the words, ‘a girl takes on an oppressive system in this electrifying dystopian teen adventure’ on the back cover (woah, this sounds just amazing!), I had to read it immediately.

Set in a post-apocalyptic world with dwindling resources and widespread starvation, Ruthie is one of a rare group of Giftens. They have a special gift and can grow things with their hands. But if the MAGs find her, she could put everyone in the Field, all of her friends and family, at risk. So she decides to leave and join forces with those who may be able to help her. 

This stunning debut novel is a fascinating environmental, dystopian story that gets increasingly gripping with every page you read. The structure is set as three parts and the third section is definitely where all of the action is. And though the plot takes a while to get going, it’s all engrossing and builds successfully into a dazzling crescendo. Each chapter begins with a short quote from one of the characters, as part of The Recorder’s narration, which adds depth and intrigue to the story. It’s a brilliant tale of family, traditions and survival with many twists and turns along the way. I can’t wait to see what else Suzan’s got in store for us!

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The Key to Fear by Kristin Cast

Having heard of Cast before, but never actually read any of her books, this latest novel has certainly got my attention with this absolute banger of a cover. It’s bold and stark and is pretty much everything I’m looking for in a good read; mystique. That and a very relevant premise...

The Key Corporation keeps everyone safe. Because of a deadly virus years ago that wiped out scores of people through touch (the irony, I know!), The Key has laws to ensure that those who break the code, are heavily punished. So when Elodie, a nurse at the Medi Centre in the long-term care unit, meets Aiden twice in one day and one of her patients miraculously wakes up, she knows that something is awry. And from then on, following the rules becomes harder as everything Elodie thinks she knows is turned upside down.

This book has had mixed reviews tbh. And though I can agree that, sometimes, all the pieces don’t quite fit together with the plot and the different points of view narration can get a little confusing, The Key to Fear is still a thrilling ride. Elodie is well developed as a character, Aiden is purposefully eccentric and attractive, whereas Rhett is instantly unlikeable. The perfect love triangle. The world-setting was well-crafted and sinister with technology at the fore. And the ending is just great, with a ready-made ‘key’ for the door into a next book, which may just mop up those loose ends anyway. 

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Where the River Runs Gold by Sita Brahmachari

I know, I know. It’s been yonks since my last review. But, in my defence, the pandemic and working in a school this past year have really taken up quite a lot of my time and so reading has had to take a bit of a backseat. Now it’s the summer holidays, I feel restored with this gorgeous dystopian (yeah, I’m seriously back on terra firma, right?) but MIDDLE grade fiction novel from the fantastic Brahmachari.

Shifa and Themba are twins who live in a world run by Freedom Fields. They protect and feed the people by recruiting children to pollinate crops by hand, since all of the bees are gone. But when the two siblings get to their Farm, things are more dangerous than either of them could have ever have imagined. With the help of a couple of unexpected characters, they know that they have to escape in order to survive. But will they ever be able to break free?

This is a very dark but timely story about the importance of the protecting the environment and being brave. Brahmachari’s lyrical, complex writing and building plots are drenched in melancholy throughout this novel. It really is dark. But this stands disparate to our main character, Shifa, who is steadily bold and spirited. Luca is a slippery character, who we grow to like, surprisingly. And together, along with Themba, there is a sense of hope that they will succeed in the end. For all it’s shade, Where the River Runs Gold shines light as a purposeful warning to our young readers; love nature and be, ultimately, free.

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All the Lonely People by David Owen

Can you believe this is Owen’s THIRD novel? Honestly, I had to double check that myself as it genuinely feels like he’s been part of the YA Lit ‘scene’ for decades. But with his fourth book about to be released, I thought it was a great time to delve into this rather intriguing one, with it’s Eleanor Rigby lyric-title immediately getting my mind racing as to it’s subject matter!

Kat is a huge presence online. But she is eventually forced to leave the virtual world behind after she becomes the victim of an alt-right trolling attack. Strangely, now her online self has been deleted, she begins to physically fade from the real world. Wesley is one of her attackers who quickly finds his guilt transforming into action as he starts to help Kat, and other Lonely People, try to find their way back from the Fade.

This is a very timely novel about the perils of social media but from an authentically teenage perspective, which is not moralistic or banal. This is a story about toxic masculinity, bullying, identity and acceptance on many levels. Owen uses magic realism to hammer home Kat’s feeling of loss from deleting her profiles online, a place where she was previously able to fully be herself. I loved seeing Wesley’s perspective on everything too, and his growth as a character. There’s no double that this is an accessible, absorbing and powerful story that I will be eagerly shoving into students’ hands, whenever I can.

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The Bees by Laline Paull

I think I went into reading this book a little naively. This book is...epic. As in, A Handmaid’s Tale or Animal Farm type-epic. This is a dystopian, totalitarian and anthropomorphic (a right mouthful, no?) masterpiece that I see saddled up on the shelf next to the great contemporary classics of many a household or library.

Flora, Bee 717, is born at the bottom of the pile (or hive) and begins life as a sanitation worker. But she is not like the rest of them as, though she is ugly, she is also strong, large and has some exceptional talents which lead her to opportunities above her station. Like the other bees, she loves her queen and will do everything she can to ‘accept, obey and serve’. She progresses through the hive until...she commits a terrible sin for bees and from then on must hide her secret, at all costs. 

Though clearly fantasy, this book heavily draws on very real political, religious and societal issues. Flora is our rebel against the class system, that has protected her species for many years; everyone has their place. Though desperate for survival, she eventually becomes the key figure in a revolution against the Sage’s traditional values and protocols (and yet, motherhood is not one of them?!), that, ultimately, die along with the hive when they cannot accept it’s final demise. It’s important to note that there are some very violent and graphic scenes in this story - as the bees are humanised throughout, this can, therefore, make for uncomfortable reading. But it is beautifully written and, though dense, it is well worth the effort and will leave you pondering not only the world of bees, but also that of our own.

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Murder Most Unladylike by Robin Stevens

I can’t believe this book first came out in 2014! And for six years this book (and subsequent series) has flown off my library shelves meaning that I’ve not had chance to take a breath in order to read it myself. But with Book 9 having been recently published, I thought it was about time I see what all the hype is about. Plus, I love a good murder mystery!

Daisy and Hazel go to Deepdean; a boarding school for girls. But when Hazel discovers the body of one of the mistresses, Miss Bell, lying on the Sports Hall floor one day, their new detective agency suddenly gets an exciting (if not tragic!) new case. Very quickly, the girls deduce that Miss Bell has been murdered and they immediately go about drawing up a list of suspects and start to make their enquiries. But will they ever find out who the murderer is or will their snooping put the girls in the kind of danger they could never have imagined?

This series is a clear nod to Conan Doyle with Daisy and Hazel as the respective Holmes and Watson. But in Stevens changing the characters to young girls, the duo make for a, perhaps, more accessible, funny and captivating update of a classic for a younger readership and so this series has, rightly, gained a lot of attention and accolades over the years. This book is really is full of action, intrigue and has plenty of twists to keep readers on their toes - the perfect detective novel! And though Daisy is by no means an easy character to get along with, it’s through Hazel’s narration that has us rooting for them throughout. I really am gutted I haven’t read this series sooner. 

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The Way Past Winter by Kiran Millwood Hargrave

This writer sure knows how to conjure and culture magical new worlds. And The Way Past Winter is, thankfully, no different. But this latest instalment is...well, *chef’s kiss! Genuinely, this book is destined for greatness, and awards, as it will inevitably be shared with many lucky young (and old, might I add!) readers for many, many years to come.

The story begins with a family of siblings, who live in a place that is constantly winter. With their mother passed and their father disappeared, they get by on their own. But when a mysterious man, Bear, visits them and then one of the children, Oskar, disappears the next day, Mila is sure that the man is to blame. Embarking on a difficult journey to find their brother, the three girls piece together what may have happened to Oskar. But will they find him before it’s too late?

This has got to be one of the most stunningly written books I’ve read all year. Arresting, lyrical language is used to tell a dark fairy-tale story with a modern twist on the traditional, i.e. with Mila and her sisters rescuing their brother rather than the other way round. Mila is a hugely likeable, determined and real character, who is well placed to be the narrator as well as a symbol of inspiration for the reader. In fact, all the women in the story are! I’ll admit that the second half of the book is much pacier than the first, but the wait is definitely worth it to encounter a truly remarkable and bittersweet finale. I don’t do star ratings but if I did, this one would be an easy 5/5.

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Mohinder’s War by Bali Rai

I’ll be honest, I don’t usually go in for historical novels as, for me, reading is all about escaping the real. However, I adore most of Rai’s previous (vast!) works and the premise of Mohinder’s War grabbed me more than your usual World War Two text perhaps would. It’s a war story that educates too, and depicts an underrepresented version of war in a way that, honestly, I don’t think I’ve ever experienced before.

Joelle lives in France with her family, are part of the resistance and where they often hide fellow allies. And when a plane crashes nearby, Joelle finds Mohinder, a Sikh RAF pilot who is in need of some help. A friendship forms as the two characters get to know each other, their histories and faith. But when tragedy strikes and Joelle is left with a difficult decision, who will she be able to trust?

At just 155 pages, Mohinder’s War is an accessible, quick read that isn’t daunting, but always fascinating. The character of Mohinder is brave, kind and always acts with honour, which is explored through the story as he gives us insight into his Sikh faith. In parallel, this book has a dark storyline that really hits home of the brutality of what life was really like back then. Joelle and Mohinder are, to me, both stoic heroes. And the beginning and end of the story, written in the present, gives us some hope that friendship can, sometimes, last a lifetime.

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Clap When You Land by Elizabeth Acevedo

I absolutely loved The Poet X by Acevedo and was ruddy over the moon when it won the Carnegie Medal last year! So when I came across this gem not so long ago, I couldn’t wait to delve right in. Another verse novel? Another story littered with Spanish? Another personal tale about identity, family and love? COUNT ME IN!

Camino lives in the Dominican Republic. Yahaira lives in New York. And though this story begins with two complete strangers, one vital thing connects these two young women; their father. Who has just tragically died in a plane accident. Camino and Yahaira’s worlds are completely changed forever and they both begin to unravel the secrets about their father’s double life. But will everyone accept and embrace the truth?

This is a powerful dual narrative that deals with some heavy topics but in a very tender and honest way. Dealing with their grief and loss, Camino and Yahaira have to deal with the practicalities of what may now be like for them both. Forgiveness is a trait that they must explore again and again, not just of their father but of other people close to them; these are complex but realistic characters that are expertly crafted. And it’s also the verse, the language that will leave you silently stunned with its beauty. Let’s not beat about the bush here - it’s perfectly clear that, like for me, this is going to be one of the best YA books you’ll read this year.

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Bloom by Kevin Panetta and Savanna Ganucheau

I’m so glad that books, like Bloom, exist. This YA graphic novel is accessible, inclusive and so fresh. And, teamed with Ganucheau’s stunning illustrations, this funny and warm romance story is just the tonic for lockdown life. And whether you’re reading this as a teen or an adult reflecting back, there’s plenty to identify with and enjoy.

Ari works at his family’s bakery, and, now that school has finished, he wants to escape to the city with his friends and their band. In hoping to convince his parents of his chosen career path, he offers to sort a replacement baker, in the form of Hector, who actually has a real passion for baking. But the bakery is struggling financially whilst Ari struggles with life and what to do with it. Will things pan out for Ari in the way that he’d initially intended or will everything change, perhaps, for the better?

Simply put, this book is sublime. Both the dialogue and images tell the story of a romance that grows (and, ahem, ‘blooms’) without an explanation of Ari’s sexuality, which is great! The white and black illustrations with a blue hue fill are gorgeous and I love the large landscape scenes and petal montages of Ari and Hector baking together. Visually and thematically, Bloom feels reminiscent of Oseman’s successful Heartstopper series with all the characterisation along with the engaging humour of the writing of Simon James Green (notably Alex in Wonderland). I can personally think of so many students in my school who would love to read this; I just need to make sure I’ve got several copies in my library first.

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Blood Moon by Lucy Cuthew

After an outpouring of love for this book on book Twitter recently, I made sure to buy this for my school library and give it a read before recommending to students. And as Cuthew’s first YA novel, she sure does make this writing lark look easy. Because I’d say that this is one of the most vital verse novels you will read this year. 

Frankie and Benjamin fancy each other and one day, things get a little fresh and they ‘hook up’ (do the kids still call it this, lol?) on the way home from school. At an intimate moment, Frankie ends up starting her period. Somehow word gets out and a meme of her appears on the internet and she receives a load of harassment and online bullying as a result. Whilst all this is going on, Frankie falls out with her best friend, Harriet. Will their friendship be lost forever and will Frankie ever find the truth about who created the meme?

Cuthew’s writing immediately draws you into this book and you’ll end up reading it quickly and eagerly to find out what happens. That’s a really good sign. The poetry works really well too and I absolutely love how popular this style of book is getting right now (accessible, easy to read and powerful). Essentially, this book is all about feeling empowered as it highlights that growing up, relationships and periods are all completely normal and healthy. As Cuthew herself writes, “the shame has come from what other people have said. I can’t do anything about that.” How inspiring; how refreshing. It’s clear that we need to talk about this kind of stuff more, including sex, in order to make it all less taboo. And this book is a very good place to start.

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Proud (compiled) by Juno Dawson

I’m seriously annoyed at myself for not reading this sooner. Anything with Juno Dawson’s name on it immediately grasps my attention so I have absolutely no valid reason as to why it’s taken me so long to pick it up. But now that I have, I’d say that this is one of THE most important anthologies for teens published in the past decade. 

As a collection of stories, poetry and art, Proud contains the creative works of a total of 25 different people. That is certainly no mean feat, being as every individual piece is unique and special. There are freakin’ hilarious moments, as well as the awkward and soul-searching ones, which makes this book diverse and thoroughly engaging. But each entity is about the taking a moment to shine a light and reflect on some of the personal experiences of some LGBTQ+ folks. And by sharing them here, hoping to connect to readers perhaps going through familiar situations. Representation IS important. 

I’ll be honest, there are some authors that were unknown to me and for that alone, this book is crucial in educating it’s readers and showing us new, talented voices. This book is honest and empowering; reminding us to be proud of who we are.