August plus Bloodlines/Vampire Academy GN winner

How have we come to the end of another month?! August was a pretty good reading month for me, as I managed to get through 19 books. What's great about these books is that most all of them have been languishing on my TBR shelves unread for awhile.

I decided to turn October into a paranormal-themed month on the blog and this has made for an excellent excuse to ignore the other sent-for-review books and focus on reading some of my own books for a little while. I have to say, I've really been enjoying reading all of these paranormal YAs as well!

See the list below for titles of the books I read in August as well as how I came to acquire these books. Only 4 books read were sent for review from the publisher. And only four books were written by British authors that have been read as part of the British Books Challenge.


1. A Tangle of Magicks by Stephanie Burgis* (purchased)
2. Eight Keys by Suzanne LaFleur (sent for review)
3. POD by Stephen Wallenfels (sent for review)
4. Story of a Girl by Sara Zarr (purchased)
5. Girl, Missing by Sophie McKenzie* (purchased)
6. Lucas by Kevin Brooks* (purchased)
7. Claire de Lune by Christine Johnson (gift)
8. Dead Girls' Dance by Rachel Caine (purchased)
9. Lament by Maggie Stiefvater (purchased)
10. Abandon by Meg Cabot (sent for review)
11. The Dead of Night by John Marsden (purchased)
12. The Name of the Star by Maureen Johnson (swapped)
13. Crescendo by Becca Fitzpatrick (gift)
14. Paranormalcy by Kiersten White (purchased)
15. The Iron Witch by Karen Mahoney* (gift)
16. The Demon's Lexicon by Sarah Rees Brennan (purchased)
17. Vampire Academy graphic novel by Richelle Mead (sent for review)
18. Forgive My Fins by Tera Lynn Childs (won)
19. Vampire Academy by Richelle Mead (swapped)

Plans for September? I'd really like to get caught up on some books for November's theme on the blog (British authors!) so here is just a small list of books I'd like to get through.

Divided City by Theresa Breslin
Life: An Exploded Diagram by Mal Peet
Lia's Guide to Winning the Lottery by Keren David
Extreme Kissing by Luisa Plaja
Wasted by Nicola Morgan
Lottie Biggs Is Not Tragic by Hayley Long
Midwinterblood by Marcus Sedgwick
Kill All Enemies by Melvin Burgess
Sister, Missing by Sophie McKenzie

And finally, I had 186 entries into my Bloodlines and Vampire Academy graphic novel giveaway (PHEW!) and according to random.org, our winner is number 24... Kelsey from Enchanted Books. Congratulations Kelsey, I have sent you an email already! Thanks to all who entered, I'll be sure to host more giveaways, both UK and international very soon.

Bring on September!

GUEST REVIEW: Bumped by Megan McCafferty

Guest review from Jenni at Juniper's Jungle


I haven't read much YA dystopian fiction but what I have read I've enjoyed so when the opportunity to read and review Bumped by Megan McCafferty came up I jumped at it. The synopsis really grabbed me, a virus has caused everyone over the age of 18 to become infertile so the responsibility for procreation has fallen entirely to teenagers. Society has become completely focused on these teenagers, they act as surrogates for would-be-parents and if they have desired characteristics they can be paid with anything from cash to a full college education to comestic surgery to return their body to its pre-baby state.

The story centres around sixteen-year-old twin sisters, Melody and Harmony, who were separated at birth. Melody was adopted by a family from Otherside who realised the potential she had as a surrogate and have spent the last sixteen years doing everything they can to make her a highly desirable choice. Harmony was adopted by a family from Goodside, she's been brought up in a strongly Christian society who disapprove of the choices Othersiders have made.

Melody has been contracted by a couple, they're just trying to find the perfect match to father her child. Whilst she is waiting Harmony makes contact with her for the first time, and arranges to visit. We meet them as they're just meeting and starting to find out about each other's world. Melody's world feels particularly strange to the reader, it has it's own slang and jargon and these are littered through the book. By having Harmony as a newcomer to the world we have a way in too, I found that she asked most of the questions I wanted answers to.

I really liked Melody, the further you get into the book the more layers you get to peel back. I liked the fact that whilst she was so focussed on her prospective pregnancy she was still caught up in the same issues as most teenagers - trying to defend her place within the social standings at school, and worried about who Zen, her male best friend, is spending time with. I found Harmony a little harder to identify with, she's more guarded and I didn't feel like I got to know her quite as well. I liked Zen from the first time he appeared, and found that I liked him more and more as the book went on.

There are parts of the book that are quite hard to read, this society feels so exploitative. There is one bit in particular, a long way into the book, when Melody herself comes face to face with one of the darkest sides of her world. I actually stopped reading for a little while, I needed time to think about what I'd read. I realised that the strength of this book was that however hard and dark it became it still felt believable. I could imagine how our society could have changed to become that society, and that was what made it more challenging to read.

The final few chapters really build up to what feels like a tv style mid-season finale, the first act ends on a bang and I can't wait to read the sequel Thumped when it comes out next year.


Thank you so much Jenni! Please visit Jenni at her blog, Juniper's Jungle for more great reviews.

REVIEW: Divergent by Veronica Roth

Wow. I've not read a book in a long time that's been as exciting and addictive and BRILLIANT as Divergent by Veronica Roth. I've put off writing this review for a very long time for fear that I wouldn't be able to put my adoration of this book into the right words. I'm not sure there are adequate words to describe how wonderful Divergent is. Really wonderful book, one that still makes me breathless and emotional all these months after reading it. Honestly, when I first finished the book I immediately wanted to turn back to that first page and start all over again. This book is a definite keeper and I will continue recommending it for a very long time.

Not since The Hunger Games has a book blown me away right from the beginning in such a huge way. And in terms of action and emotion and romance, in terms of writing style and the story, I think I prefer Divergent over The Hunger Games. There's just something about Divergent that grabs me right from the start. It made me think and it made me feel and the story has stayed with me for such a long time. This book had a real impact on me and I'm absolutely gasping to read more in the series. I want more! I was more of Tris and Four! I want to know more about the world in which these characters reside. I want more action and adventure, I want answers. Give me more, please.

Divergent shows us a future version of Chicago in which people choose to live within five different factions which honours a specific trait. The factions include Candor (honesty), Abnegation (selflessness), Erudite (knowledge), Amity (peace) and Dauntless (courage). Our story begins with Beatrice Prior who has grown up amongst the selfless Abnegation but has also grown up admiring the brave and fearless Dauntless. So when her turn comes and she is able to choose which faction she will live with, Tris makes the difficult choice of moving away from her family and into the difficult and violent world of the Dauntless.

Things definitely aren't easy in Dauntless. At every turn Tris and the other initiates must compete against each other and themselves to prove their courage. It's brutal and unflinching the tests that Tris and the others endure and it's almost a little unbelieveable how strong of spirit and determination Tris is in order to survive.

I love the world-building that occurs here. I love the different factions and this image of a war-torn Chicago of the future. I love the characters and the difficult situations that Veronica Roth puts her characters in. She isn't afraid to make her readers squirm and be uncomfortable with the things that happen. And at the same time, there is this absolutely fantastic and tense and very emotional romantic relationship that Tris has with the mysterious (and hot!) Four.

I really have nothing but wonderful things to say about this book. Divergent without a doubt in my mind, is one of the best books I've read all year. Very exciting and romantilc and absolutely heart-stopping. Incredible book.

REVIEW: Birthmarked by Caragh O'Brien

I was thrilled to hear that Birthmarked by Caragh O'Brien would be published here in the UK. The book had been on my wishlist for ages as so many US bloggers seemed to have read it and loved it. I was really looking forward to reading it and while at first I found it difficult to get into, once Birthmarked hit its stride, I found myself completely lost in the story.

Birthmarked tells the story of a future world where a small village is divided by a wall. Those within the wall appear to live happy, carefree lives with no worries. Those that live outside the wall constantly fear for survival and enough food and water.

Gaia Stone, 16, lives outside the wall and has followed in her mother's footsteps as a midwife. Law dictates that as a midwife, Gaia, must advance a certain number of babies forward to live their lives within the Wall. The huge scar from a childhood accident that is visible on her face makes Gaia shunned from the pretty, happy people who live within the wall who only value beautiful things.

But Gaia's world changes drastically when one night, both of her parents are arrested and put in prison inside the Wall. It is thought that Gaia's parents have created a code which could explain the birth defects of those inside.

Gaia does everything she can in order to save her parents, even at great risk to herself. She's quite an interesting character, Gaia. Strong and capable and not afraid to stand up for what she believes in. Her character goes through many changes throughout Birthmarked, at first believing wholeheartedly in the rules and regulations set aside for her and her family and then slowly becoming more aware of the injustices and the unfairness of one group of people living in luxury while the other lives in abject poverty. I think my favourite thing about Gaia is her relationship with Sgt. Grey. She really puts a lot of pressure and faith that other people (and by this I mean Sgt. Grey) will do the right thing. Make the difficult choices and her disappointment in Leon, even when he is a complete stranger to her was fascinating to watch.

There's quite a bit of science in this book. Lots of detailed descriptions of DNA and genetics all of which mostly didn't interest me. I was more focused on the relationships between the characters and the morality of the different concepts that were brought up. I think maybe I was hoping for a little more in that area, but I can see how that could be themes the reoccur throughout the rest of the books in the series. I found Birthmarked to be a very enjoyable read and I'm really excited to read more in this series.

Jenni from Juniper's Jungle (Awesome Women)

I'm very honoured and grateful to have today's Awesome Women interviewee today to be Jenni, the lovely lady who blogs over at Juniper's Jungle. She's one of my favourite bloggers and just one of my favourite people! If you don't read her blog, you really should.

Over to you, Jenni...

Can you tell me a little something about yourself?

Hi Clover, thanks for having me! I'm Jenni and I blog over at Juniper's Jungle. I also talk telly at TV Canary.

I'm currently having a career change so I'm studying for a degree in Information and Library Studies. When I graduate I would like to work as a teen librarian, it's something I feel increasingly passionate about. I'm also beginning to pursue my dream of being a writer, I'm currently writing the first draft of a novel.

Jenni would like me to add that she is now (excitedly!) the Newsletter Editor for the hugely popular website, Novelicious. Well done, Jenni!

Did you have a role model growing up?

I don't think I did have a role model. There was no one that I looked up to and thought I want to be like her. I'm definitely the person I am because of my family, but it was more of a group influence, I couldn't say that any of them were really role models.

Who do you look up to now?

I am lucky now to have so many women who inspire me on a regular basic. One person I do really look up to is lovely YA author Keris Stainton. I love the way she decided on what she wanted to do and then made it happen. Seeing her success with one book published and one soon to be published is completely inspiring.

When you were little, what did you want to be when you grew up?

The first two things I wanted to be when I grew up were a librarian and a writer. Whilst this career change wasn't planned it does make me happy to think I'm finally working to realise my oldest dreams.

Tell me something about the women in your life who have been an influence on you?

My granny was a real influence on me. She was such a strong lady, she had a hard upbringing and broke away from the expectation that as the oldest daughter she would remain unwed and look after her parents in their old age. She managed her family brilliantly, and was a working mother up until her 60th birthday.

It was from my granny that I got my love for all things to do with fibre, she was a prolific knitter - she knitted wonderful multicoloured blankets and jumpers for Oxfam until she was around 90 and the arthritis in her shoulder and hand could no longer be ignored. She took a huge interest in everything I did, we lost her nearly four years ago and I still find myself thinking about how much I'd like to tell her about something I've done or show her something I've made.

My mom has also had a real influence on me. For as long as I can remember she has always maintained that there is nothing that can not be overcome. It has definitely been this that has encouraged my can do attitude.

Who is your favourite fictional character? And why?

This is a ridiculously hard question, there are just so many! If I had to pick one it would have to be Hermione Granger. I really enjoyed reading the Harry Potter books but a big part of me wished they'd come out when I was much younger, Hermione would have made school far easier for me. I was a lot like her when I was at school and I think that having her to identify with would have meant I didn't feel quite so different.

What were you like as a teenager and how did you cope with all the changes that occurred?

My teenage years were pretty rough. I didn't really have the emotion swings or anything like that, my mom often says now that she's thankful how easy both me and my brother were as teens. I did however see the bullying I experienced from primary school step up by a fair few notches and my confidence and self esteem ended up fairly well shredded. I got quieter and quieter and increasingly socially awkward as my teen years went on, I coped by reading and losing myself in books. They still remain my favourite way to cope when I find things.

If you had any advice for yourself as a teenager, what would you say?

-This too shall pass. I first came across this mantra in a book when I was in my early 20s and I've relied on it a lot since, I think the teen me would have benefited from hearing it.

-Cool is overrated, happy is the important thing.

-Don't bother lusting after that guy who has a girlfriend, they're going to stay together and get married.

Of the issues and concerns that women are faced with today, what's the area you most like reading about?

I really like reading about women finding and exploring their identity. I personally feel that it's something I'm still trying to work out, I spent a lot of years trying to be the person I thought other people wanted me to be and now I'm finally learning to be the person I want to be.

Is there anything else you'd like to add?

I'd just like to say thank you for having me, it's been great fun!

Thank you Jenni! I think bullying in schools is such a horrible experience, but one that many of us have suffered through :( 'This too shall pass' is a wonderful mantra to have. *hugs*

Please do follow Jenni's blog, Juniper's Jungle and if you would like to take part in my Awesome Women feature, please do get into contact with me.

REVIEW: The Dead of Night by John Marsden

It's been a really long time since I've been as excited as I am about a series as I am right now with the Tomorrow series by John Marsden. In this, the second book in the series, The Dead of the Night, I was just as drawn into the story, drawn to Ellie's voice and the other characters as well as the emotions and decisions and the action and these teenagers struggle to survive and to make a difference.

The Dead of the Night by John Marsden follows on a few weeks after the shocking ending to Tomorrow, When the War Began. Ellie and her friends are still in their hidden valley (which they call Hell) and are pretty shaken up with the departure of two of their friends. The balance seems to have shifted and without their two friends, they've lost their hope and their momentum.

A decision is made pretty early on into The Dead of the Night that they need to shake themselves awake and start preparing for more of the worst. Their families are still being held hostage by foreign invaders and it's beginning to get colder. Ellie and her friends decide they need to stockpile more food and supplies, they need to go after their two missing friends and they need to take stock of their surroundings to find out the situation in other places beyond their secluded little family.

Honestly, I really love this series, but I'm also finding it a little difficult to describe just what it is that I really love about this story or these characters so much. Ellie and the rest of them are dealing with something really horrible and disturbing - a complete change in everything they knew. And they have to come up with the strength to keep going, to plan ahead, to continue rebelling and using what they know and what little they have in order to provide for themselves as well as strike a blow against the people who have taken everything away from them. It also raises some thought-provoking questions about life and death and what it means to take someone else's life.

And as well as being this exciting and dangerous story about a bunch of teenagers making it on their own and blowing stuff up (which happens a lot, to my utter amusement and joy!) but there's also some really complicated and emotional connections between these friends as they navigate new relationships and heading into territory. I'm so seriously excited and anxious to dive into the third book and continue on with this story. Why has it taken me so long to get to these books?!

GIVEAWAY: Bloodlines and Vampire Academy graphic novel (CLOSED)

I'm thrilled to be hosting a giveaway for both Bloodlines by Richelle Mead and a Vampire Academy graphic novel. Just fill in the form below and I shall be picking one winner on 31st of August. A huge thank you to Penguin for being so generous.

As with all of my giveaways, it is not necessary to be a follower of this blog but I do always appreciate all of my new (and old!) followers. This giveaway is for the UK only, sorry to my international readers.

Good luck to you all!

Bloodlines by Richelle Mead - BLOOD DOESN'T LIE. Sydney is an alchemist, one of a group of humans who dabble in magic and serve to bridge the worlds of human and vampires. They protect vampire secrets - and human lives. When Sydney is torn from her bed in the middle of the night, at first she thinks she's still being punished for her complicated alliance with dhampir Rose Hathaway. But what unfolds is far worse. Jill Dragomir - the sister of Moroi Queen Lissa Dragomir - is in mortal danger, and the Moroi must send her into hiding. To avoid a civil war, Sydney is called upon to act as Jill's guardian and protector, posing as her roommate in the last place anyone would think to look for vampire royalty - a human boarding school in Palm Springs, California. But instead of finding safety at Amberwood Prep, Sydney discovers the drama is only just beginning...

Vampire Academy graphic novel - After two years on the run, best friends Rose and Lissa are caught and returned to St. Vladimir's Academy, a private high school for vampires and half-bloods. It's filled with intrigue, danger - and even romance. Enter their dark, fascinating world through a new series of 144-page full-color graphic novels. The entire first Vampire Academy novel has been adapted for book one by Leigh Dragoon and overseen by Richelle Mead, while the beautiful art of acclaimed British illustrator Emma Vieceli brings the story to life.


Thank you for your interest, however, THIS GIVEAWAY IS NOW CLOSED.

In My Mailbox 35

Welcome to another edition of In My Mailbox. IMM is a weekly meme hosted by Kristi of The Story Siren in which bloggers get the chance to share with their readers the books that have recently come into their possession. I really love this meme and I look forward to seeing all my favourite blogger's books each week. Thank you to Kristi for hosting something is such fun!

Here are the books that I acquired this week...


Kill All Enemies by Melvin Burgess - Everyone says fourteen-year-old Billie is nothing but trouble. A fighter. A danger to her family and friends. But her care worker sees someone different. Her classmate Rob is big, strong; he can take care of himself and his brother. But his violent stepdad sees someone to humiliate. And Chris is struggling at school; he just doesn't want to be there. But his dad sees a useless no-hoper. Billie, Rob and Chris each have a story to tell. But there are two sides to every story, and the question is ...who do you believe?

YAY! I think this book sounds incredible. I haven't yet read a Melvin Burgess book so I'm really hoping that this book will be a great place to start and it will encourage me to read his backlist as well. Very excited about this one.

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Life: An Exploded Diagram by Mal Peet - This is a brilliant coming-of-age story set against the backdrop of the Cold War and events leading up to the Cuban Missile Crisis. Clem Ackroyd lives with his parents and grandmother in a claustrophobic home too small to accommodate their larger-than-life characters in the bleak Norlfolk countryside. Clem's life changes irrevocably when he meets Frankie, the daughter of a wealthy farmer, and experiences first love, in all its pain and glory. The story is told in flashback by Clem when he is living and working in New York City as a designer, and moves from the past of his parents and grandmother to his own teenage years. Not only the threat of explosions, but actual ones as well, feature throughout in this latest novel from one of the finest writers working today.

I've heard interesting things about this book from other UK book bloggers so I was thrilled to recieve a copy for review. I'm hoping to feature this book as well as an interview with the author to go along with my British themed month coming up soon. Look out for it! :)

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After Obsession by Carrie Jones and Steven E. Wedel - Aimee and Alan have unusual pasts and secrets they prefer to keep hidden. Aimee's deceased mother struggled with mental illness and hallucinations, and Aimee thinks it could be hereditary. After all, she sees a shadowy river man where there isn't one. And then there was that time she and her best friend Courtney tried to conjure a spirit with a Ouija board ...Alan is Courtney's cousin. His family moved to Maine when Courtney's father went missing. It's not just Alan's dark good looks that make him attractive. He is also totally in touch with a kind of spiritual mysticism from his Native American heritage. And it's not long before Aimee has broken up with her boyfriend ...But it's not Aimee or Alan who is truly haunted - it's Courtney. In a desperate plea to find her father, Courtney invites a demonic presence into her life. Together, Aimee and Alan must exorcise the ghost, before it devours Courtney - and everything around her.

This book showed up unexpectedly from the publishers, and I'm really looking forward to reading it. I've only read the first book in Carrie Jones' series about pixies, but am eager to read the rest and also this book!

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The Scorch Trials by James Dashner - Solving the Maze was supposed to be the end. No more puzzles. No more variables. And no more running. Thomas was sure that escape meant he and the Gladers would get their lives back. But no one really knew what sort of life they were going back to.

In the Maze, life was easy. They had food, and shelter, and safety . . . until Teresa triggered the end. In the world outside the Maze, however, the end was triggered long ago.

Burned by sun flares and baked by a new, brutal climate, the earth is a wasteland. Government has disintegrated—and with it, order—and now Cranks, people covered in festering wounds and driven to murderous insanity by the infectious disease known as the Flare, roam the crumbling cities hunting for their next victim . . . and meal.

The Gladers are far from finished with running. Instead of freedom, they find themselves faced with another trial. They must cross the Scorch, the most burned-out section of the world, and arrive at a safe haven in two weeks. And WICKED has made sure to adjust the variables and stack the odds against them.

Thomas can only wonder—does he hold the secret of freedom somewhere in his mind? Or will he forever be at the mercy of WICKED?

I recently read The Maze Runner and I was absolutely swept away into the story and the confusion and this battle for survival. I LOVED it. So as soon as I finished, I had to order the sequel. I'm really quite excited!

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Abandon by Meg Cabot - Last year, Pierce died - just for a moment. And when she was in the space between life and death, she met John: tall dark and terrifying, it’s his job to usher souls from one realm to the next.

There’s a fierce attraction between them, but Pierce knows that if she allows herself to fall for John she will be doomed to a life of shadows and loneliness in the underworld. But now things are getting dangerous for her, and her only hope is to do exactly what John says . . .

Oh I do adore Meg Cabot. I really think she's a genius and I'm not sure I've read a book by her that I didn't absolutely adore. I'm sure I'll still feel the same after reading Abandon, which is the first book in a new trilogy by her. I'm sure that this book won't stay unread on my shelves for very long!

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Deception by Lee Nicholls - When Emma Vaile’s parents go missing while away on a mysterious business trip, she’s left all alone in her creepy old house. But her brother’s very cute best friend, Bennett Stern—Emma’s knight in J. Crew armor—arrives unexpectedly to whisk her away to New England. There, Emma settles into his family’s museum-like mansion and enrolls at an old-fashioned private school. She quickly finds friends in the popular legacy crowd at Thatcher and spends her free time crushing on Bennett. But the eerie visions she’s been hiding from everyone have gotten worse. Emma has memories of Thatcher that she can’t explain—it’s as if she’s returning home to a place she’s never been. Finally, Emma confides in Bennett and learns she is a ghostkeeper, a person who can communicate with ghosts. Bennett brought Emma to Thatcher to protect her, but now he needs her help tracking an other-worldly murderer.

A rich New England setting filled with mystery, tradition, and prep-school intrigue make Deception the perfect choice for fans of series like Kate Brian’s Private, as well as all those paranormal fans. The shocking ending will leave readers desperate for book two.

I can't say that I'd heard anything about Deception before it landed on my doorstep this week, but it sounds quite good and I'm looking forward to reading it.

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The Ballads of Suburbia by Stephanie Kuehnert - Kara hasn't been back to Oak Park since the end of junior year, when a heroin overdose nearly killed her and sirens heralded her exit. Four years later, she returns to face the music. Her life changed forever back in high school: her family disintegrated, she ran around with a whole new crowd of friends, she partied a little too hard, and she fell in love with gorgeous bad-boy Adrian, who left her to die that day in Scoville Park....

Amid the music, the booze, the drugs, and the drama, her friends filled a notebook with heartbreakingly honest confessions of the moments that defined and shattered their young lives. Now, finally, Kara is ready to write her own.

The Ballads of Suburbia has been on my wishlist for absolutely ages. It sounds like it will be a very emotional and gritty read. The story of a girl returning home years after a heroin overdose nearly killed her in order to tell her story and face those she left behind.

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One Seriously Messed-Up Week in the Otherwise Mundane and Uneventful Life of Jack Samsonite by Tom Clempson - Our hero?
Jack Samsonite
His mission?
1) pass his GCSEs
2) get the girl (to notice he exists)
3) survive the week without a serious face punching
Good thing he’s got a plan. Well, half a plan…

I have heard nothing but absolutely wonderful things about this book that it imeediately went onto my wishlist. I've been dying to read it and find out if it really is as funny as everyone has said. Thankfully I had a bit of birthday money lying around and I snapped this up with it. Will definitely be a book that I get to sooner rather than later.

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The Unwritten Rule by Elizabeth Scott - Sarah and Brianna have always been friends, and it's always gone like this: guys talk to Sarah in order to get closer to Brianna. So even though Sarah met Ryan first, she's not surprised that he ends up with Brianna (even though Sarah has a massive crush on him).

The three of them hang out, and Sarah and Ryan's friendship grows until one night an innocent exchange between them leads to a moment that makes Sarah realize that Ryan might be interested in her after all. But if there's one unwritten rule, it's this: you don't mess around with a friend's boyfriend.

So Sarah tries to resist temptation. But with the three of them thrown together more and more, tension builds between Sarah and Ryan, and when they find themselves alone together at one point, they realize they just can't fight how they feel anymore...

Oh, Elizabeth Scott! She's one of my favourite authors at the moment and I'm absolutely desperate to read absolutely everything she's written. I'm a little uncomfortable with the storyline, cheating with your best friend's boyfriend, but as it is Elizabeth Scott, I shall of course, give it a try.

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The Astonishing Adventures of Fanboy and Goth Girl by Barry Lyga - Fanboy has never had it good, but lately his sophomore year is turning out to be its own special hell. The bullies have made him their favorite target, his best (and only) friend seems headed for the dark side (sports and popularity), and his pregnant mother and the step-fascist are eagerly awaiting the birth of the alien life form known as Fanboy’s new little brother or sister.

Fanboy, though, has a secret: a graphic novel he’s been working on without telling anyone, a graphic novel that he is convinced will lead to publication, fame, and—most important of all—a way out of the crappy little town he lives in and all the people that make it hell for him.

When Fanboy meets Kyra, a.k.a. Goth Girl, he finds an outrageous, cynical girl who shares his love of comics as well as his hatred for jocks and bullies. Fanboy can’t resist someone who actually seems to understand him, and soon he finds himself willing to heed her advice—to ignore or crush anyone who stands in his way.

I've been wanting this one for absolutely ages.

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Love Story by Jennifer Echols - For Erin Blackwell, majoring in creative writing at the New York City college of her dreams is more than a chance to fulfill her ambitions--it's her ticket away from the tragic memories that shadow her family's racehorse farm in Kentucky. But when she refuses to major in business and take over the farm herself someday, her grandmother gives Erin's college tuition and promised inheritance to their maddeningly handsome stable boy, Hunter Allen. Now Erin has to win an internship and work late nights at a coffee shop to make her own dreams a reality. She should despise Hunter . . . so why does he sneak into her thoughts as the hero of her latest writing assignment?

Then, on the day she's sharing that assignment with her class, Hunter walks in. He's joining her class. And after he reads about himself in her story, her private fantasies about him must be painfully clear. She only hopes to persuade him not to reveal her secret to everyone else. But Hunter devises his own creative revenge, writing sexy stories that drive the whole class wild with curiosity and fill Erin's heart with longing. Now she's not just imagining what might have been. She's writing a whole new ending for her romance with Hunter . . . except this story could come true.

I heart Jennifer Echols!

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The Extraordinary Secrets of April, May and June by Robin Benway - April, the oldest, can see the future. May, the middle sister, can disappear. And June, the youngest, can read minds. At the time of their parents' divorce, the three sisters recover these strange and magical powers from their childhood, powers that help them cope with the hardest year of their lives. When April gets a vision of disaster, the girls must come together to save the day-and their family. But in the process they learn that there's one thing stronger than magic: sisterhood.

I really loved Audrey, Wait and have been looking forward to Robin Benway's latest.

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The Dark and Hollow Places by Carrie Ryan - There are many things that Annah would like to forget: the look on her sister's face when she and Elias left her behind in the Forest of Hands and Teeth, her first glimpse of the horde as they found their way to the Dark City, the sear of the barbed wire that would scar her for life. But most of all, Annah would like to forget the morning Elias left her for the Recruiters.

Annah's world stopped that day and she's been waiting for him to come home ever since. Without him, her life doesn't feel much different from that of the dead that roam the wasted city around her. Then she meets Catcher and everything feels alive again.

Except, Catcher has his own secrets—dark, terrifying truths that link him to a past Annah's longed to forget, and to a future too deadly to consider. And now it's up to Annah—can she continue to live in a world drenched in the blood of the living? Or is death the only escape from the Return's destruction?

Yay for zombies!

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Between Here and Forever by Elizabeth Scott - Abby accepted that she can’t measure up to her beautiful, magnetic sister Tess a long time ago, and knows exactly what she is: Second best. Invisible.

Until the accident.

Now Tess is in a coma, and Abby’s life is on hold. It may have been hard living with Tess, but it's nothing compared to living without her.

She's got a plan to bring Tess back though, involving the gorgeous and mysterious Eli, but then Abby learns something about Tess, something that was always there, but that she’d never seen.

Abby is about to find out that truth isn't always what you think it is, and that life holds more than she ever thought it could...

I love Elizabeth Scott.

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I did get other books this week but due to other things going on right now, I shall include them in my next post instead. Thank you to everyone who sent me books this week.

Kate Bush by Paula Rawsthorne (Awesome Women)

I'm very pleased today to welcome Paula Rawsthorne to my blog! Paula is the author of the really wonderful The Truth About Celia Frost, which I reviewed earlier in the week. In case you missed it, here's the official blurb:

Celia Frost is a freak. At least that's what everyone thinks. Her life is ruled by a rare disorder that means she could bleed to death from the slightest cut, confining her to a gloomy bubble of “safety”.
No friends. No fun. No life.

But the truth about Celia is more dangerous than she could ever imagine - and it's about to catch up with her.

A buried secret; a gripping manhunt; a dangerous deceit: what is the truth about Celia Frost?

If you'd like to know more about Paula Rawsthorne or The Truth About Celia Frost, please do visit the following websites:

Official website ... Celia Frost on Twitter ... Celia Frost's Facebook page ... The Edge

I know that I ought to choose Mother Theresa. My mother would be pleased if I did. It would be the morally right person to choose. After all, this diminutive woman devoted her life to helping the poorest of people in the harshest of conditions. Mother Theresa was someone to look up to (or down on - she was only 4ft something) and a reminder of what I should aspire to be like in my life. But the truth is, as a teenager, it didn’t look like much fun being Mother Theresa. No, it was another woman that rocked my teenage world and still manages to inspire my devotion even now I’m forty-something. These days I regularly make my kids cringe by putting on her records and dancing around the house.

The woman who was awesome to my teenage eyes and ears, blew my mind the first time I saw her on TV. One evening, amongst all the dross of the 1979 Top of the Pops Show, appeared this incredible looking nineteen year old with wild hair and even wilder eyes, playing the piano and singing in the most unique voice I’d ever heard. Kate Bush’s performance was hypnotic as she looked down the camera lens and sang with such intensity about Heathcliff and Kathy. ‘Wow!!’ was all the eleven year old me could say. This song, ‘Wuthering Heights’, made her the first woman to have a U.K. No. 1 with a self written composition. I still like to think that, after her performance, legions of teenage girls went to read Emily Bronte’s book just to see what had inspired such passion.



I was a teen music lover with no musical talent (everyone was relieved when I gave up the violin) but I was always drawn to songwriters who were also storytellers. From an early age I was aware of the magical combination of great music and storytelling - three minute songs that created snapshots of lives and fantasies.

I was a teenager with little drama in her life but a big sense of the melodramatic! I needed passion in my world and music, books and film provided it for me. Along with other musicians, Kate Bush’s gems of songs provided a wonderful inspiration for the Drama Queen in me.

Whilst stuck in my shared bedroom with my sister, fighting over whose music should be played in the tape machine (I thought she had terrible taste, of course) I would long to triumph so I could be transported by Kate Bush’s music, my imagination running wild.

But it wasn’t just her epic, transporting songs that made me love the bones of Kate Bush, or the music videos that accompanied them that were works of art - encapsulating her vision of the story. No, as I followed her career through my teenage years I could see so much to admire about her. When many music careers were (and still are) manufactured by managers and record companies, Kate Bush has always been in control of her music and career. She’s a singer- songwriter, producer (now recording her music in a studio at home). Despite enormous demand she only ever did one live tour, a spectacular piece of theatre and music. She could have made so much money but touring wasn’t for her.

Despite being beautiful (this was a woman who even managed to look good in a lycra cat suit) with a very physical performance style, she never used her sexuality to sell. This is in contrast to many female singers who are toe-curlingly sexual in their performances and image, as if afraid that their music alone isn’t good enough to capture anyone’s attention. Even as a teenager I certainly knew which of these types of singers I felt was most empowered.

Even though Kate Bush started as a teenager, relatively powerless in the industry, she didn’t bow to pressure from record companies and spent years creating her albums. (She took twelve years before releasing her AERIAL album!!)

She’s always maintained her privacy in a world when strangers expect you to bare your soul to sell your wares. She’s an unhurried and contemplative figure in an attention deficit society. She’s never followed the crowd or the money, never given into commercial gain over her musical vision (a couple of her albums are eccentric to say the least). Now she is a mother who manages to be successful and passionate about her career whilst making her child her priority.

It’s usual to look back at your teenage obsessions and gleefully cringe at how awful they now seem in the cold light of adulthood. Believe me, I have my share of those but Kate Bush isn’t one of them. I love her now as much as when I was a teenager - maybe even more, as I can appreciate the integrity it must take to stay true to your vision in the music industry for over thirty years.



Probably due to my inner drama queen being intact, her songs affect me as powerfully now as when I was sixteen. ‘This Woman’s Work’ still brings tears to my eyes even though I’ve listened to it hundreds of times, my heart still races when I hear ‘Running up That Hill’ and I long to be twirling around on a windswept moor with Wuthering Heights playing on my iPod (only it would probably be too cold so instead, I’d listen to it indoors with a nice cup of tea).

There is something fantastically British about Kate Bush’s eccentric genius and supreme individuality. Long may she continue to make music that stirs a cauldron of emotions and allows the imagination to run wild. I intend to keep dancing around the house to her records until my children work out a way to restrain me!

Wonderful post, Paula! Thank you so much :) I didn't know all of that about Kate Bush and now have a much bigger appreciate for her integrity.

Dystopic books on my wishlist

As you could probably tell from the reviews during this Dystopian August, but I really love reading dystopic/post-apocalyptic novels. I know that some think of it as a phase or a trend, but there have been really wonderful dystopic books around long before the popularity of The Hunger Games and I'm sure they will continue to be published and read long after this 'trend' passes. Here are some of the books on my wishlist, as well as some of the dystopic books I have unread on my shelves.

My wish-list:


The Fear by Charlie Higson - I'm in the middle of reading The Dead by Charlie Higson, which is the prequel to The Enemy. I'm not entirely sure yet where The Fear fits into the series, but I don't really care. I love these two book so far, and am really looking forward to reading more about zombies and survival in London! Luckily the wait for this book won't be very long, as it is set to be published 15 September.


Prized by Caragh M. O'Brien - I recently read Birthmarked by Caragh O'Brien, and quite enjoyed it. When I finished it I was immediately struck with panic at the thought of it possibly not having a sequel. Luckily it has, and will be published here in the UK 10 November. Reading the product description gives puzzling clues as to what is in store however. It looks as though Gaia has escaped from one dystopic society and stumbles into another? Hmm. (This is the US cover for Prized and the UK cover hasn't been revealed as yet!)


The Pledge by Kimberly Derting - I've been a huge fan of Kimberly Dertings series of books, the Body Finder series, with both The Body Finder and Desires of the Dead ranking very high in my list of top reads recently. So it's with great excitement that I look forward to Kimberly Derting's latest offering, the story of a rather opressive world in which the language you speak holds the key to your position in society. It is being published in the US in hardback on 15 November and I'm dying to read it.


The Death Cure by James Dashner - It's taken me awhile to read and be swept away by this Maze Runner series by James Dashner, but because of this year's Dystopian August, I've finally succumbed. I absolutely adored The Maze Runner and ordered the sequel, The Scorch Trials immediately after finishing. While I haven't yet started The Scorch Trials, I'm still excited and looking forward to reading more of this story. Bring it on.


All These Things I've Done by Gabrielle Zevin - I don't think I've ever been as excited by a storyline as much as I have been about Gabrielle Zevin's latest! Living in a world where coffee and chocolate are illegal would be enough to make me perk up. But then we're also told that the main character's family are involved in the illegal trading and manufacuring of the illegal items and that makes me sit up to take more notice. Falling in love with the enemy, having an ex who dies from chocolate, being blamed for murder. Holy crap, this book just sounds incredible. I really must order it straight away!


Unread on my book shelves:

But of course, I still have many a dystopic book already on my shelves that I haven't yet gotten around to. Here is the very top of that pile:


Nineteen Eighty-Four by George Orwell - Do you know embarassed I am that I STILL haven't read Nineteen Eighty-Four?! It's the book that's been sitting on my shelf maybe the longest and it's the biggest that I tell myself 'I'm going to read this book SOON' and it never happens. I admit that I have tried several times to start it but I blame bad timing and self-imposed pressure for not continuing with it. I really do want to read this book though and experience firsthand all the things I've only heard about second-hand, like Big Brother and Room 101. Soon, I promise you.


The Year of the Flood by Margaret Atwood - I really do adore Margaret Atwood, and I especially love her dystopic books. I absolutely loved The Handmaid's Tale and I really, really enjoyed Oryx and Crake. So when I heard about this companion novel to Oryx and Crake, I immediately went out and bought The Year of the Flood in hardback. And it sits there on my shelf waiting patitently for me to get around to it. I think perhaps this blog is the biggest factor in my having not read it as yet. I don't often read books other than YA and I feel overwhelmed sometimes at the amount of YA books on my TBR shelves and tend to ignore my adult fiction books. Which is a shame, as I'd really like to see how the story turns out.


Battle Royale by Toushun Takami - I have been hugely excited about this book as well. I've heard that it's excellent and really exciting. There's been a movie adaptation and a manga series. And yet, something about it makes me a little bit put-off from reading it immediately. I think it's the sheer size of it. And while I've been making huge strides lately into my irrational fear of chunky books, my intimidation of 500+ has not yet been defeated when it comes to this book!

And that's it for me! I would love to know if there are any dystopic/post-apocalyptic books on your wishlists?

REVIEW: The Truth About Celia Frost by Paula Rawsthorne

Celia Frost is a freak. At least that's what everyone thinks. Her life is ruled by a rare disorder that means she could bleed to death from the slightest cut, confining her to a gloomy bubble of safetyA". No friends. No fun. No life. But when a knife attack on Celia has unexpected consequences, her mum reacts strangely. Suddenly they're on the run. Why is her mum so scared? Someone out there knows - and when they find Celia, she's going to wish the truth was a lie - A buried secret; a gripping manhunt; a dangerous deceit: what is the truth about Celia Frost? A page-turning thriller that's impossible to put down.

I found the Truth About Celia Frost by Paula Rawsthorne to be a very interesting story. Aimed at a younger audience than what I'd normally read, but still absolutely gripping and addictive reading that will make you think.

Celia Frost is a 14 year old girl with an unusual problem - she has a rare blood condition that means that she could possibly die from any small cut. Living alone with her mom, it has been drummed into Celia for as long as she can remember that Celia is different to other kids her own age. She must be careful and not take risks. She can't put herself into any situation that might cause her to bleed. So for Celia, life is pretty unbearable. She's bullied and teased at school, she's isolated from schoolmates and singled out in front of the school. Her mother moves her around a lot and she has no stable place to call home. I felt very sad for Celia right from the beginning, it doesn't seem like the type of life that a teenage girl should be living.

When a particularly mean bully at school attacks Celia and she is carted off to the emergency room, things don't go quite as Celia expects. She doesn't die and the doctor can find nothing wrong with the way her blood stops on its own. When Celia's mother starts to panic and they immediately leave town, Celia begins to question everything her mother has ever told her. Has her entire life been a lie? Or has Celia's mother been hiding a more serious secret?

The Truth About Celia Frost is told from two main perspectives, Celia's as well as a dodgy private investigator who is hired from an unknown source to track down the Frosts. It's an interesting dual-narrative and I think it really adds to the mystery trying to be solved here - who is tracking down Celia, and what's the deal with her blood? Though there isn't a great deal of plot in this book, it is really nice to see Celia transform from a kicked-dog teenager into a young woman with more confidence and strength to her as she sticks up for herself and becomes more independent. Even making a really great friend in one of the neighbour boys, Sol.

I think The Truth About Celia Frost brings up some interesting themes - that of letting children become their own people and giving them some independence and to trust that they will be OK. It made me think of Celia's quality of life - where is that right balance between living your life freely and being alive but without any pleasure of happiness. Though I did feel like the whingey/manipulative relationship between Celia and her mother wasn't particularly believeable, I did find the friendship between Celia and Sol to be heart-warming and incredibly sweet.

Celia Frost as a main character really pulled at my heartstrings and right from the start, I was emotionally invested in her and was really rooting for her to end up in a good place. Once started, I really couldn't put this book down. Highly recommended.

Dystopian films and television

I thought it might fun, while I'm taking part in Presenting Lenore's Dystopian August to have a look today at my favourite dystopian/post-apocalyptic stories told through film or television. It sounded like a fun idea and then when I started writing this post, I realised that I am not a very big scifi geek AT ALL and I haven't actually seen a great deal of dystopic films or television programmes, at least according to the 'best' lists I've seen floating around.

But that's OK, right? Even if I only sort of dance around the edges of this genre? If YOU are a big fan of these types of films/tv programmes, please feel free to leave your own suggestions for what I should look out for.




Wall-E - I'm just going to jump right in here with the cartoon film. This is about the level of dystopia/post-apocalyptic that I like. Will my nerd badge be taken away from me? I think this film is utterly cute and I love the interaction between Wall-E and Eve (especially their 'dance' in outer space, AWWW!). But at the same time as that adorableness, Wall-E brings us this image of the Earth in the future in which mass-consumerism has taken over and the world is covered in rubbish and left inhabitable.




The Day After Tomorrow - I'm aware that this is probably not the greatest film ever, but I watch it all the time. I like the visuals in it, I like ogling Jake Gyllenhaal and I like the relationship between father and son. It's kind of strained and broken in the beginning but there's such strength to it throughout and the belief that the two will be reunited feels unwavering. It really is that one thing that keeps me returning to this film again and again. A rather bleak look at climate change at how it might affect our world in the future.




Dark Angel - I came late to watching Dark Angel and only caught it after the show had been cancelled. When I first started watching Dark Angel, I worried about cheesy dialogue and the show going a little too out-there for me, but I stuck with it and mostly enjoyed it. It's set in a post-apocalyptic Seattle and our main character, Max is a genetically modified super-human. Having escaped from this government facility where's been tested on, Max is searching for the other children who escaped along with her and trying to get by unnoticed. I think Jessica Alba is incredibly sexy and there's some great action sequences and she really kicks ass. I also was not complaining when Jensen Ackles joined the show and I had a bit of a crush on Logan, who's played by Michael Weatherly.




Jericho - Honestly, I'm going to end up with a reputation as being utterly SHALLOW when I tell you that I started watching Jericho because I fancied Skeet Ulrich. But the show was quite good too. It was interesting to witness the family and community dynamics of this small town after nuclear bombs had been detonated all over the United States. There's lots of secrets and everything feels really character-based while at the same time having this big mystery about the bombs.


I'm completely willing to add The Hunger Games film to this list once it's out. I'm excited and nervous about it.

Tell me about your favourite dystopic/post-apocalyptic films or television programmes!

REVIEW: The Dead-Tossed Waves by Carrie Ryan

I read Carrie Ryan's The Forest of Hands and Teeth last year and really loved it. So much so that I immediately picked up this hardback copy of The Dead-Tossed Waves. Unfortunately, it set on my shelf for far longer than it should have. I think what intimidated me about this book is that it isn't a straight sequel to the previous book. As a 'companion' novel, The Dead-Tossed Waves is told from an entirely new perspective and I worried that it would take me awhile to sink into a new point of view, when all I really wanted was to know what happened to Mary after she made it to the ocean.

I really shouldn't have worried. Once I began, I found Gabry's story to be just as interesting and easy to follow as I did Mary's in The Forest of Hands and Teeth. Gabry has lived her entire life in this village by the ocean, living in the lighthouse with her mother and being afraid of the Mudo that surround her, that wash up from the ocean.

But despite Gabry's fear, when her friends decide to climb the village barriers one night in a celebratory rebellion, Gabry is convinced to go along with them. That night ends in huge tragedy as half the group are killed and turned by Mudo and the other half are caught by the authorities and punished. Following the orders of Catcher, her best friend's brother and her long-term crush, Gabry manages to escape and feels endlessly guilty and ashamed that her own fear made her abandon her friends and run for safety. And this guilt and shame propels Gabry to take further risks for her own safety to follow a friend into the forest even though she knows he's been infected by the Mudo.

There are many things I love about Carrie Ryan - I love the beautiful way in which she writes. I love how sweet and romantic her relationships are. But what I especially love about Carrie Ryan is that even though she writes about zombies, there is so much more about humanity in her books. The Dead-Tossed Waves is a really wonderful and emotional book about growing up and making hard choices and confronting your fears and who you are and what you want.

Right from the very first page, my heart went out to Gabry, especially in the difficult situations she finds herself in. I love her struggles with her own identity as well as this difficult love triangle she finds herself in - choosing between her childhood crush and a mysterious stranger. This book is so highly readable and exciting and heart-wrenching that I must urge you all to read both The Forest of Hands and Teeth and then this book. And now excuse me while I go hunting frantically for a copy of the third and final book in the series, The Dark and Hollow Places.

Very highly recommended.

REVIEW: Tomorrow, When the War Began by John Marsden

It feels like as I'm writing every single review for Dystopian August, I've begun with 'I've had this book on my shelves for ages unread' and it is no difference with Tomorrow, When the War Began by John Marsden. I had heard good things about the series on other book blogs I read, especially from Australian book bloggers, and was keen to start. In a stroke of fabulous luck, I managed to find the entire Tomorrow series in a local charity shop last year. However, the idea of beginning such a lengthy series kind of put me off, especially reading one that had been out a fair few years.

When the movie came out and the first book was repackaged with a movie tie-in cover, it did pique my interest again in reading the series but I still put off until very recently. I can't quite recall why. Now that I've read the first book, I'm both excited to continue the series as well as watch the film version!

Tomorrow, When the War Began is certainly not the book I expected it to be. In some ways it feels very much like the first book in the series with much of the novel exploring the cast of characters and setting the scene. But there is still quite a bit of action and some romance along the way.

Our narrator is Ellie, a teenage girl in Australia who organises this trip with her friends to go camping in the bush. They hike along to an area they call Hell, in which they've heard rumours of a man who holed up out there after being accused of murder. The beginning is very much a party atmosphere as these teenagers hang out and relax and goof about together. But when the week is over, they find that their town a very different place to when they left. Their families and their neighbours have all been taken hostage and their country invaded. This group of teenagers must make some really difficult choices, either to leave and remain safe or to find other ways in which to fight back against the town's captors.

The story is told after some of the events had already occurred and is written down by Ellie as she remembers it, so a lot of the plot is skewed in her favour. I found a lot of the character development to be interesting, seeing how some like Ellie and Milo adapted easily to a more survival mentality and how they became leaders in organising the others with supplies and means of safety. Reading of some of the more risky adventures of this gang of kids is quite exciting and following that, reading of the discomfort of killing another person or the difficulties to adjusting to these new circumstances is quite interesting.

I felt like the romantic element of the story a little hard to believe, especially as there is no build-up to it. Ellie just all of a sudden springs these statements upon us 'I started to have feelings for this person' and before we're able to adjust to THAT, she comes up with 'but now I also have feelings for this other person' OH. What? Thankfully the love interest isn't the main focus of the story and it isn't what propelled me to continue reading. Though of course, the problems and shifts in relationships will, I'm sure, will continue throughout the rest of the series.

This first book gave me enough information about the characters and the Australian invasion to keep me interested and curious about how events will play out during the rest of the series. Its popularity in Australia gives me hope that the rest of the books in the series will continue to build on the strengths of this first novel. I'm sure it won't take me as long to pick up the second book as it did to pick up this book!

Middle grade heroines

Recently, I was able to spend some time with some really cool girls, aged 9 and 12 and it got me to thinking about this age group and how difficult it is to navigate. When I began to think about it more, I realised that it's probably when I was within this age group that I struggled the most - with my appearance, with fitting in, with realising what's important in my life and the type of person I'd like to become.

If I'd thought about it beforehand, I might have had a really interesting discussion with these two girls about the books they enjoy reading and what sort of things they look for in a good book. But I didn't. Instead, we talked about favourite animals and ran races and touched elephant poo (we were at a zoo!). And while it would have been awesome to talk about books with these girls, the way the day went was absolutely perfect anyway.

Spending the day with these two girls, who were so lovely and friendly, who were really open and nice and, despite the age difference, were really wonderful with my two boys was really great and it got me to thinking about books aimed at this age range and what sort of characters they would be introduced to. I really don't read very many books of this age range, but I think I'd like to start and I'd like to read some great middle grade books that have wonderful main characters, of either gender really, but perhaps mostly female. I think it's an age where things begin to shift and change and it can be hard to work through big transitions (like with my review of a few weeks ago, Eight Keys by Suzanne LaFleur!).

Here are two of the greart heroines I've read lately. Please feel free to leave your own suggestions of fab middle grade books with great characters.


Verity Gallant from The Mistress of the Storm by ML Welsh - I really loved The Mistress of the Storm. It had an interesting and adventurous story line, with sailing and piracy and an evil relative. Our main character, Verity, at the start of the story is pretty friendless and picked on and all of a sudden she's thrown into this mystery involving local history and her family and somehow Verity plays the key part in saving everyone. And despite quite a lot of magical powers being used by other adult characters, she herself must rely on her own inner-strength as well as the close friendships she's formed throughout the novel in order to make it through.

I really loved the emphasis on friendship in this book and that of the importance of storytelling. I think it's a great book for any age group, but especially for the empowerment of younger girls.


Kat Stephenson from A Most Improper Magick and A Tangle of Magicks by Stephanie Burgis - Yes, yes. I know my huge love of Kat Stephenson has already been well documented on this blog, but I couldn't write about awesome heroines for middle grade novels without mentioning her. I absolutely LOVE Kat Stephenson and this series.

This is defintely the sort of book I'd have loved to have read when I was younger (though I certainly enjoyed it plenty being the age that I am!). I was reading an interview with Stephanie Burgis recently on another blog in which she talked about Kat being the younger sister and how most books in the Regency period only give youngest siblings the briefest mention of anything. That is so true, and I think youngest siblings should rejoice at this series. I know that I sometimes felt overlooked being the youngest, but we can get up to our own fun adventures as well. But not only is Kat pretty brave and adventurous, she's also very loyal and sticks up for her own family members and tries her hardest to do what's right, even at the risk of personal sacrifice.

She's stubborn and fiesty and fun and I think she's a great role model for younger girls. She's definitely my most recent favourite female character in a book I've read lately!

So there are the two middle grade books I've loved and could recommend. What sort of books would you recommend to girls, 9 and 12, that are great stories with awesome main characters?

Sara Grant (Awesome Women)

I have the great pleasure today of welcoming Sara Grant to my blog. Sara is the debut author of Dark Parties, a dystopic YA novel, which will be published by the new Indigo teenage imprint for Orion on the 20th of October.

Sara also writes for The Edge and is here today talking about the fabulous women that have had an influence on her life. Here, first is the product description for Dark Parties:

Sixteen-year-old Neva has been trapped since birth. She was born and raised under the Protectosphere, in an isolated nation ruled by fear, lies, and xenophobia. A shield "protects" them from the outside world, but also locks the citizens inside. But there's nothing left on the outside, ever since the world collapsed from violent warfare. Or so the government says...

Neva and her best friend Sanna believe the government is lying and stage a "dark party" to recruit members for their underground rebellion. But as Neva begins to uncover the truth, she realizes she must question everything she's ever known, including the people she loves the most.

And if you'd like to know more about Sara Grant or Dark Parties, please do visit the following links:

Sara's website ... Sara's blog ... Sara on Twitter ... Sara on Facebook ... The Edge

Can you tell me a little something about yourself?

Hmmm...that should be an easy question, but I find it difficult to synopsize myself. But here goes...I was born in a small town in southern Indiana. I studied journalism and psychology at Indiana University. I spent the next fifteen years working in public relations.

I met my husband while standing in line for the ET ride at Universal Studios in Florida. There’s a longer story but it ends happily with me moving to London seven years ago. I went back to school and earned a master’s degree in creative and life writing from Goldsmiths College, University of London. I work as a senior commissioning editor for Working Partners, a London-based company creating series fiction for children. DARK PARTIES – a dystopian tale for teens – is my debut novel.

Oh, and randomly...orange is my favourite colour. I am an entertainment junkie – I love to read but also love watching movies and TV and now playing games on my iPhone. I think potatoes are the most perfect food. I have always loved to listen to music really loudly and have been known – since I was a teen and only when I was alone – to dance around my living room. I believe as Ralph Waldo Emerson said: nothing great was ever achieved without enthusiasm.

Did you have a role model growing up?

I’m really lucky. I had several role models growing up. My parents demonstrated how to live life with honour, compassing and a great sense of humour. I also was very close to my grandma. My family has always been hugely supportive. They told me from a very young age that I could be anything I wanted to be.

Who do you look up to now?

I still look up to my parents. But now I would add my sister to that list. She’s beautiful in every sense of the word. She’s honest, hard working and compassionate. If I needed her, she would be on a plane as soon as she could – and she knows that I would do the same for her. She’s the one I call when things go wrong, and she’s the person I want to celebrate with when things go right. We call each other when we need someone to listen, understand and take our side.

And last but definitely not least, my husband. He is incredibly smart, supportive, thoughtful and funny – and if he lives with me he has to be uber forgiving. He’s my muse, cheerleader, and safety net as well as my editor, psychologist, hero and best friend.

When you were little, what did you want to be when you grew up?

I wanted to be a singer and then an actress – specifically an actress on an American soap opera. From the age of about eight, I wanted to be a writer. But I thought my appalling spelling would prohibit me from achieving my dreams. Thank goodness for spell check!

Tell me something about the women in your life who have been an influence on you?

I have a heritage of awesome women in my family. I come from a long line of strong women: my grandma and her sister, my mom and her sister, and my sister. DARK PARTIES is a tribute to these women – in particular my Grandma Murray. She made me feel special. She spent lots of time with me. If you read DARK PARTIES, you’ll definitely notice a feminist theme. The women are the heroes and rebels.

I also had a long line of great female bosses. They demonstrated how to be a woman, wife, mother and leader.

Who is your favourite fictional character? And why?

I have many, many favourites. I love George Bailey from the movie IT’S A WONDDERFUL LIFE. It’s a silly, cheesy movie, but I’ve got to watch it every Christmas. I also love Atticus Finch from TO KILL A MOCKING BIRD. He’s heroic and human. These are both men who are quiet leaders in their communities. I think they remind me of my dad.

What were you like as a teenager and how did you cope with all the changes that occurred?

It’s funny. I just attended my 25th class reunion. I realised again that – although I enjoyed high school – I didn’t fall neatly into any particular clique. I was friends with everyone and no one. I was overweight so I firmly believed that I would never find a boyfriend let alone a husband. I knew that anything I wanted out of life I was going to have to get for myself. Sure, not attending my junior prom and waiting until the day after my seventeenth birthday to get my first kiss were difficult, but I always told myself that my day would come. And, I was right.

I wrote a lot of poetry – okay really bad poetry, but I found writing was a way to understand my feelings and cope with any teenage trauma.

If you had any advice for yourself as a teenager, what would you say?

It gets better. Have faith. Keep trying. Believe in yourself. And never, ever give up on your dreams.

Of the issues and concerns that women are faced with today, what's the area you most like reading/writing about?

I’m concerned that young women don’t dream big enough. I want young girls to read books and see movies and TV shows where woman are more than a sex object or victim. I crave more female heroes and leaders – not only in fiction but in real life. I am continually disappointed to see so many reality shows that focus on brainless, beautiful women whose main goals appear to be: shop, get a man and, well, be bitchy in general. I want to write and read about physically, emotionally and mentally strong women.

Is there anything else you'd like to add?

Just thanks for having me! (Oh, and DARK PARTIES will be published in the UK on 20th October.)

Thank you so much Sara for being here today! I love dystopic novels in general, but one that covers feminist themes and is a celebration of the awesome women in your own life makes me even more excited to read it. I look forward to it. Thank you again.