Cinnamon Rain by Emma Cameron

Teenage years can be troublesome for most of us, regardless of how well we've got it. Dealing with expectations of parents, teachers, friends and any/all of the other people that seem to want something from you, or want you to do something. Trying to feel comfortable in your own skin can be is one of the most difficult things to achieve when you can't even fathom your place in the world. 

These are just some of the things that came to mind as I read this novel by debut author Emma Cameron. Then, on top of all of those expectations, awkwardness, friendships, etc. some people have a troubled home life thrust on them as well. I find it hard to imagine everything that some teens have to go through as well as just being a teenager. This book helped me see some of those things.

A stunning verse novel that really brought these characters alive, Cinnamon Rain follows three teens approaching the end of year 10, Luke, Bongo, and Casey (the girl they both love). I loved the format of this book. first, we get Luke's story, which introduces us to the other two as well as others in his life. Some aspects of his friends' lives remain a mystery to him though. Then, we get a similar time line over again from Bongo's point of view, taking us a little further along in time. Finally, we revisit the events from Casey's perspective, filling in the gaps that were left and taking us to a place where the characters have a chance at a sense of belonging. 

Occasionally, I hear people scoff, or turn up their nose at a verse novel. I don't understand this. I genuinely feel that it is a great and under-used format. On the most basic level, they are simply easier on the eyes to read. You breeze through it, absorbing it all with ease. Then, poetry is ripe with poignancy, each poem with its 'punch-line' bringing the message home on each page. I love it, and Cinnamon Rain was no exception. 

All in all, this is a great teen read by a new Australian author that I now look forward to what she does next. 

4 Gold Stars

Find it on Goodreads

Girl Parts by John M. Cusick

Are we becoming so connected that we’re missing the point? Do continuous and apparently limitless social, entertainment and informational possibilities presented by the internet make us disassociated? I have wondered this in the past. I have heard countless news reports of the depression that social networking has caused, some of which are littered with actual accounts of what depressed teens have done because of this. I have even felt this same depression, identifying that it was social media that was the cause of it.

This is a strange way to start a review. But these are the larger ideas that fuel Girl Parts. The opening (Chapter 0) starts with a particularly confronting example of what I was talking about, but that is just the catalyst.

The actual story centres around two boys, nearly 17, who are forced to see the school counsellor in the aftermath of the event at the beginning. One is wealthy and get’s almost everything he likes, and the other isn't and prefers to be left alone. The counsellor prescribes them both a type of therapy that is being trialled by a Japanese company. The wealthy boy’s father says yes immediately. The other’s investigates and decides that it is not for his son.

The therapy? A robot teenage girl who acts as a ‘companion’ (or girlfriend) but will only allow the boy to progress in their physical intimacy as their emotional relationship develops. If the boy tries something before the girl is ready, he will receive an electric shock.

What makes this book so interesting is the way that each of the characters sees the robots, including Rose, who is, herself, one of them.

This is a great read that poses a lot of questions that are all tidily wrapped up in a fascinating boy/girl drama with a twist. It is as much for female readers as it is for male, my only suggestion would be to make sure they are 14 or over. Definitely worth tacking down!

Pan's Whisper by Sue Lawson

For starters, I’d like to preface this review by saying that I don’t go out of my way to read realism. It’s not really my genre of choice, but every now and then I’ll read something that makes me think: If it’s all this good, I really should be reading more of this stuff!

Pan’s Whisper is the first book by Sue Lawson that I’ve read, even though she has written nearly 20. Once again, trust me to discover someone brilliant who has a huge backlist that now I feel compelled to add to my already overloaded reading pile. She is a Victorian who’s writing voice is convincingly Australian without coming close to being overbearingly so.

Back to the book at hand: Pan’s Whisper.

I’m sitting here, staring at the book, trying to think of what to write and all that’s going through my head is: Oooo I loved this book!

So, I will try to do better than that.

Pan (short for Pandora) is being put into a foster home. (I’m not spoiling anything here; it’s on the back of the book and on the first page…) The trouble is, she doesn’t want to be in foster care, which contributes to her being obnoxious and defiant. She has very particular memories of her childhood and can’t work out why she should be there. She feels betrayed by her sister and misses her mother, as difficult as her mother could be.

Enter Hunter, a boy who couldn’t possibly know what she’s going through. Could he?

The thing about this book that really made it work for me (other than the brilliant writing) was the format. We experience life with Pan, who has buried memories she doesn’t want to uncover. Early on, her foster mother suggests writing to her sister and supplies paper, envelopes and stamps so she can post them herself. The book then unfolds like this: Pan lives her life in foster care, attending a new school; she sees or experiences something that causes a fractured flashback; she then writes to her sister (letter format) describing the memory from the point of view of her younger self; then we are shown that same experience from Pan’s sister’s perspective which, bit by bit, reveals the lengths the she went to in order to protect Pan from what was actually happening. It is these memories from the sister’s perspective that become increasingly heart wrenching.

My goodness this book is fantastic! I’m getting shivers just writing about it!

If you like realism, then it’s for you. If you’re not so partial, then I suggest you give it a go anyhow. Each time I see the cover or hear ‘Pan’s Whisper’ I think: that book was GOOD! I’m sure you will too.

The Chapter Sampler is HERE

I Am Thomas by Libby Gleeson and Armin Greder

Any teen who has felt any expectation from the adults around them will understand this book.

Therefore, any teen will understand this book.

It is confronting. It does not shy away from what it is trying to say.

It is powerful.

Libby Gleeson and Armin Greder are an amazing pair. To my knowledge, they have done three books together, each one a masterpiece with a very different tone. This one is the most blatant and in your face. As it should be.

Mortal Engines by Philip Reeve

The world is there to be consumed, right? If I can use it, I’ll take it and make it mine.

This is the basic idea behind the world of Philip Reeve’s Mortal Engines. Well, as I see it anyway. Reeve has taken the idea of the rich and powerful taking and consuming what they want, from whoever they want, and labelled it ‘Municipal Darwinism’. This ‘delightful’ idea is set in a post apocalyptic/dystopian world where engineers have placed their cities on wheels and which now roam the planet eating smaller towns and villages in order to make use of their consumables.

“It’s a town eat town world out there.”

A staggering idea, perfectly executed.

You can see it all happening, right before you on the page, right before us in the future. A world where city life means never setting a foot on the filthy, muddy earth like the savages in the few static towns and cities.

Throw into this world an adventure that involves a number of teenagers, murder, conspiracy, pirates, the fate of thousands of people, and a whole lot of ideological conflict and you’ve got one hell of a story!

I kept picturing the whole thing as if it was a Studio Ghibli animation, and that suited me just fine! I have seen that it’s on IMDB but I’m sure it’s not Studio Ghibli and it’s only “in development” so who knows when it will be turned into a movie, and what that will be like.

In any event, this is a brilliant book! And I can’t wait to read the rest of the series (when I find the time! There’s now 7 books all up!)

Life: An Exploded Diagram by Mal Peet

Wow! I have heard some glowing reviews about Mal Peet’s writing in general but had never had the time to read any of his books. Until now… and I’m left amazed!

Peet’s prose is a smorgasbord for those who love the English language and what it’s capable of. Full of rich and original descriptions and subtleties that state plainly what going on in the story, but allude to so much more. If there is one thing he has achieved in this brilliant book, it is a perfect illustration of Life as an exploded diagram.  No piece of the story is too small or too large to be left out. Each little detail all fits perfectly into the picture. Peet has superbly realised with this novel what his narrator has with his art: “I’ve made my living these past thirty years painting and drawing things exactly and intensely as they are and letting them speak for themselves.”

The story itself centres on two teenagers who are trying to make sense of life and love in the English countryside in the shadow of the Cuban Missile Crisis. The missile crisis is explained in detail as it will affect both of them more than they could have ever imagined.

This is for the reader who wants more. More of everything. More of life. It is not simply another teenage love story. Quoting the book: “Lord knows, bookshop shelves already creak under the weight of Misery Memoirs and Teen Novels that might as well all be called My School Hell. I have no desire to add my small pebble to that avalanche of unhappiness.” 

Do not be fooled by this being shelved in Young Adult fiction sections of bookshops. While it is a great read for the teen who wants something meatier, something better, it is just as much for adults. Those that lived through the missile crisis, those that have only heard about it, those that haven’t but have had a run-in with teenage love, and those that are simply fascinated by life and how everything fits together. In all honesty, I have no interest in politics, but there was no point in this book that I didn’t want to keep reading. Such astounding writing has left me invigorated. I strongly suggest you read this book.

Now I’ve got all of Mal Peet’s other novels to look forward to. As a friend said to me recently “I’m jealous that you’ll get to read them for the first time.” There is a magic in that first reading. There certainly was in this one.

Blink & Caution by Tim Wynne-Jones

There’s something striking about Tim Wynne-Jones’ writing that I find intriguing. He writes subject matter that I would normally have no interest in whatsoever, but somehow his prose is so elegant and atmospheric that I’m engaged from beginning to end.

Admittedly, I’ve only read one other of his books: The Uninvited, which I really quite liked, so it was no surprise when I thoroughly enjoyed Blink & Caution.

It tells the story of two teens who have run away from home (separately, they don’t know each other at the beginning of the story) and have been living on the streets for a number of months.

‘Blink’, as he has named himself, goes into a hotel to scavenge food left out in the hallways, leftover room service, and witnesses something that will lead him into more trouble than he would have imagined.

‘Caution’, as she has named herself, sees her life on the streets as an extended death sentence for the horrible thing that she did.

There seems to be no hope for either of them until they meet each other and decide to work together to get to the bottom of the mystery that’s in the newspapers across the country, the mystery that Blink has witnessed a key part of.

I wish I had been marking the quotes I like throughout this book (like I usually do) because some of his similes and metaphors were surprising and beautiful. If there’s one thing I get sick of in books, it’s clichéd descriptions.

So if you’re after an absorbing crime thriller, that doesn't get too heavy but is full-on enough to keep it interesting, I can recommend Blink & Caution.

And I know I’ll be hanging out for Tim Wynne-Jones’ next book and (when I have time!) looking into his others as well.

A Monster Calls by Patrick Ness & Siobhan Dowd

A Novel by Patrick Ness from an Original idea by Siobhan Dowd

The ‘Chaos Walking’ trilogy quickly and firmly established Patrick Ness as one of the authors that inspires me the most.

Therefore, I was more than excited to hear about his new work ‘A Monster Calls' and could not wait until I had read it. So much so, that when I had my hands on a copy, all other reading (regardless of how important – uni and work – were laid aside).

This particular book was born in the mind of Siobhan Dowd who, tragically, died before she could write it. In Patrick’s words: “She had the characters, a detailed premise, and a beginning. What she didn’t have, unfortunately, was time.”

So, in being invited to use Siobhan’s idea, Patrick let it grow, in the wild way of stories. Then he ran with it and made trouble.

And I for one am thrilled that he did. The story that these two have come up with is fantastic and one to be appreciated on any number of levels.

For me, it reads like a beautifully crafted modern fairy tale, full of modern sensibilities and psychologies. What I mean by this can easily be explained with a quote from the book:

“There is not always a good guy. Nor is there always a bad one. Most people are somewhere inbetween.”

Mix that with the idea that not all stories have a happy ending and you get a brilliantly written tale of a boy’s struggle with his mother’s illness and a visit from a Monster as old as the earth who wants only one thing: the truth, spoken from Coner’s lips.

While the idea was Siobhan’s and the words Patrick’s, it would be unfair to review this book without reference to Jim Kay’s illustrations which perfectly capture the flickering, messy, darkness that would be conjured by one’s imagination were this tale read aloud by a dancing fireplace. Some illustrated novels seem like two works clumsily thrust together, the illustrations adding nothing, sometimes detracting from the written text. Jim Kay’s art adds to the snowball effect that began with the text, built in your imagination, was complemented by the artwork and had me glancing at the window to make sure that there was no such Monster peering in.

Moving, dark, and real, A Monster Calls can be devoured in one sitting and leaves you asking yourself: “What is my truth?”

5 Gold Stars

Find it on Goodreads

Monster Blood Tattoo Book One: Foundling - D.M. Cornish

Another trip to Canberra, another audio book listened to. The Library is fantastic if you want to try out some audio books but don't want to pay for them not knowing if you like them. Before every long trip I always make sure I visit to see what takes my fancy. This time, I found this: Monster Blood Tattoo. It had been recommended to me very strongly and I was going to have to wait until I was able to borrow it, but then I happened upon it in the library and my wait was over. My choosing also taking considerably less time than usual.

So what did I think?

First and foremost, I think I needed to say that Humphrey Bower reads brilliantly. his accents and voices are completely believable and not at all affected. There wasn't any characters that made me wince as in some audio books. My only issue with this recording is more of an editing problem. At times the pauses were unnecessarily long making me lose the flow of the story, and at other times, such as at the end of the chapters, there wasn't enough pause. ChapterthreewouldendFourTitleofchapterfour. But that aside, This is a great series.

When it was recommended to me, it was described as 'more like The Hobbit than Harry Potter' and I would have to agree. The reason Harry Potter had come up is because when this book was first released, I heard a rumour that it would be the "New Harry Potter". I think that was said about a lot of books, and still is because so many people (particularly publishers) want books to be the next Harry. Who wouldn't? No-one can argue with those sales. But as far as this series is concern, the likeness extends as far as 'Unpopular orphan boy goes on adventure in the vague direction of his destiny'.

While part of the charm of Harry Potter's world is learning all the ways wizards fit/hide within the world we know, Cornish has constructed a world from the ground up. Each chapter begins with a pseudo dictionary definition of some part of that world. He paints a picture of the harsh life humans live, constantly assaulted by the ruthless and bloodthirsty monsters and how those that slay them are revered as heroes and monster sympathisers are scorned or even hanged.

I very much enjoyed learning the way of this world only to have our little boy hero with a girl's name come to wonder if all monsters deserve death.

The story, simply put, is the journey of Rossamund from the orphanage he grew up in, to a distant city where he is to take up the post of a lamp lighter. The only trouble is, the journey does not go as planned from the very beginning and he had quite an Adventure on the way.

The way of life and countryside is well realised without being over-laboured. This is a great fantasy adventure!

"Hello," I Lied - M.E. Kerr

Besides having a BRILLIANT title, this book is really well crafted. If you are interested in an exploration of what many gay teenagers experience as they try and work out who they are, then I can't strongly recommend this book enough.

The main character, Lang, is out, but only to a select few. He feels like it's his business and he'll tell people when he's ready. His boyfriend, Alex is an actor and is pretty much out all round. Lang however, while being comfortable enough with himself to have a boyfriend hates to be labelled in any way and goes out of his way to avoid OGTs (Obviously Gay Traits) and is put of by some of the mincing gays he sees in New York City.

When he meets Huguette ("you pronounce it you-get, then you get nothing") a stylish French girl, in town for the summer that his mother's boss has asked him to show around, he finds himself confused and he begins hiding the real Lang.

He has even said himself that there is no such thing as Bi-sexual, but finds himself questioning that.

Un-preaching, un-flinching and honest, "Hello," I Lied thoroughly explores the confusion that can occur when homosexuality and conformity are thrown into the same pot, and where hiding yourself from those around can lead. particularly if you are hiding from yourself.

I haven't read a lot of books that deal with gay teens, but I know that there should be more like this one.

Stormbreaker: Alex Rider #1 by Anthony Horowitz

Well what can be said about Stormbreaker?

It is perfect - for what it is.

This is a fast paced, lots of action, spy-James-Bond-style, book with a 14 year old main character. What 10-16 year old boy wouldn't love imagining themselves in his place? Solving the mysteries, thwarting the baddies, using high-tech gizmos, kung-fu-ing henchmen, and being an all round cool guy!

This was a little out of the realm for me. I don't usually go anywhere near this kind of genre. But a new job where I'm expected to know my backlist, an audio book that matched the length of a drive to Canberra and what do you know... Alex Rider. Teenage spy.

This time, I was not taken with the reader of the audio book. I will read the rest of the series myself. It felt stilted and was too easy to tune out and his accents where not the best.

The book on the other hand is better than I thought it would be. It's not as 'well written' in parts and a lot of what I read, but it's perfect for its market and when boys (or even girls, as I know there are some out there that are fans) are reluctant to read, such easy to read but fast paced books are great!

Having discovered in the first chapter that his 'Uncle' (who hated him calling him 'Uncle') died, I immediately wondered which book in this series uncovers that Alex Rider is actually Will Rider's son, not his nephew.

I will have to read to find out and I know I will enjoy them as I go.