Sunday 15 April 2012

Blood Red Road by Moria Young




Title: Blood Red Road
Author: Moria Young
Pages: 492
Genre: Dystopia

My rating:

golden star
'They call me the Angel of Death'

I don't think I've ever given a book a golden star before (apart from the Hunger Games)!! But this book just had to be given more than five stars. It is Genius. Amazing. Outstanding. <Insert other good adjectives here>. I had no idea what would happen in this story even when I read the blurb my brain was still puzzling out what was going to happen in the next 492 pages. But it was so good that I finished it within three days plus I was on holiday which means less time for reading. The suspense was killing at points and I got really annoyed with some of the main characters on the second half of the book.

The plot is very unique as it contains no speech (or no speech marks- however you like to put it) or no chapters just nine different sections of the story. The language used is different and more like slang but don't let that put you off because you get used to it in no time at all and the author only used one point of view (I hate it when the chapters begin and the character changes). I can't give too much of the book away because then I'll spoil it for you for when you read it but this is the basics. The narrator of the story is called Saba and one day her twin brother is stolen and she knows she has to get him back. So she journeys out - just her and she doesn't relise how many people are actually on her side.

This is a book that when you finish it you will remember the last line for days and it will stick with you for a long time. I recommend this to people who like:

Dark Inside by Jeyn Roberts

Boy's Don't Cry by Malorie Blackman


Title: Boy's Don't Cry
Author: Malorie Blackman
Pages: 301
Genre: Realistic fiction

My rating:

5 stars
'You have a daughter now'
A friend actually recommended this to me and I have had this on my to-read list for ages now. Also we've just been on holiday so it's been a great opportunity to read this book. First impressions? I just thought it was going to be just one story but as you start to read it you relise that there's a sub-plot going on in the back ground. I've actually never read any of Malorie Blackman's other books before even thought their on my list to read. However I can see why her books are award winning And even this book is on the Carneige long list. I also agree with the reviews on this book and it is very sad and moving but there are bits that make you smile. That's what makes it so gripping. It makes you want to keep reading. I like books that do that:)


The plot is more so explained on the blurb but if you haven't read that then I'll just tell you anyway. Dante Bridgeman has a future. He's waiting for his exam results to arrive any minute when his old girlfriend Melanie turns up at his door. Not quite what he was expecting. And she is carrying a baby, not just any baby, his baby! Her name is Emma. He is told to look after her for a few minutes but those few minutes turn in to a few years which could turn into forever. However he is not alone, his brother Adam and his dad is on his side too and they help him get started. Dante relises his future is damaged but he is determined not to loose his friends either except something happens that leaves all their lives in ruins.

I have to stop now otherwise I will keep going on and on and I won't stop. You'll just have to read it. It's a really engaging book that maybe some people can relate to. I recommend this book to people who like
Being Billy by Phil Earle

Wednesday 28 March 2012

Forgotten by Cat Patrick


Title:  Forgotten
Author: Cat Patrick
Genre: Realistic
Pages: 304
My rating:


As soon as I started to read this my sixth sense told me it was a good book. I haven't been very lucky with choosing good books this year (although it's only the beginning)I just can't quite find the right book for me. However I was wrong, the book I need was right in front of my eyes.
   I have waited a long time to read this book, but as soon as I got it I didn't expect it to be this good. It took me less than a week to read it and I was gripped from the start. The thing about this book is that it doesn't give the plot and the storyline all away at once, the first chapter is quite confusing if you don't know what is going on but the blurb tells you most of that. Each chapter mostly revels something new that you didn't know, which the author does to keep you hooked. It certainly worked for me.

This book is about a teenage girl called London. Every day at 4.33 AM she forgets her past. She keeps notes on her bedside unit to remind her what happened the day before. Her life is repetative until she meets Luke for the first time. He's her personal weirdo. Her hot weirdo. She's afraid to tell him the truth and she realizes she can't even trust herself anymore. Her life is run by lies and she doesn't know who to trust. Maybe people are keeping more darker secrets than she could ever imagen. The chapters are short so you don't get bored easily and the writing is fluent and gripping. A very good read that I would recommend to anyone that enjoys reading!

Divergent by Veronica Roth


Title: Divergent
Author: Veronica Roth
Pages: 487
Genre: Dystopia

My Rating:
5 stars


I sometimes get put of by long books, whenever I read them they just seem to take forever. But this, this book is AMAZING!!! Words actually can't describe how good it is. I'm so glad that this is a trilogy. I keep wondering what's going to happen next. The plot isn't that obvious either unlike Twilight when you could practically guess what was going to happen next ut in this book it's not as obvious.

The main plot is that there are 5 different societies and when you are a certain age you can choose which one you want to go to, however not before you've done tests on what they think your society is. Beatrice Prior has her turn to choose but she is divergent - a girl that does not belong in any of the societies so she must choose her future wisely.

I can't wait for there to be a film (apparently in 2015) which is aggggeeeeessssss...
And I cannot wait for the next two books.
Oh, and if you are a member on GoodReads then you probably know that this book won Book of the Year 2011!!!

Friday 17 February 2012

Inside my Head by Jim Carrington





Title: Inside my Head
Author: Jim Carrington
Genre: Young Adult
Pages: 340

My Rating:


A great, realistic book about bullying. Very gripping and compelling read, didn't take me long to read. Each chapter is a new point of veiw either David, Zoe or Gary. Inside my head lets you feel what other people feel and gives you an insight to what Gary feels through out the story. From the very first page, it sets the scene and is easy to get in to.

The story is about Gary who gets bullied but he can't cope with it and loses his temper a lot. Then Zoe comes into his life and he tries to ignore her as much as he can despite his feelings for her, her doesn't want her to get hurt too but still, she won't leave him alone. David, who is the friend of Knaggs, who bullies Gary all the time, feels sorry for Gary but doesn't want to do anything about it because he is afraid of being bullied himself. The plot twists and turns, getting deeper into people's feeling and thoughts until you start to wonder where is the story going.


However much it can get confusing because it switches a lot, it is a brilliant book and a great read.  

Sunday 29 January 2012

The True Tale of the Monster Billy Dean by David Almond


Title: The True Tale of the Monster Billy Dean
Author: David Almond
Pages: 255
Genre: Fantasy

My rating:

'The Aynjel Childes no mor.
The Aynjel Childes has dun the deeds of monsters.'

This book is hard to describe. It's so weird and twisted in so many ways I can't actually get my head around it. The only reason that I kept reading this book is because I wanted to find out what happened at the end, if not then I definitely would have given up by now. The problems with this book is that there is no storyline. Nothing happens. And the sections don't fit together. Part one, for instance, is about him and the monsters, then he hardly talks about them for the rest of the book. I agree with that David Almond is a absolutley perfect writer and how he used language in this book is so unique but I just didn't understand where the story was going. 

Billy Dean is a monster but he is also the Aynjel Child. He can bring back the dead and heal the wounded. He is a saviour for Blinkbonny. He is a precious and respected child who was born on the day of destruction and survived. The few that knew about him thought he was a miracle. They are right. He was meant to live. He was meant to be. When he ventures out in the world for the first time he meets many new and strange people like Missus Malone and Mr McCaufrey. When people find out he has the power they come from far and wide to see their perished loved ones again and Billy does it for his Father, his terrible, cruel Father. 

I have to admit that I am very glad that I read the ending because the ending was so sad and powerful it seemed right to end a story like that.