Mini-reviews: Mind the Gap by Phil Earle and Passing For White by Tanya Landman

I'm almost always excited to receive books for review from Barrington Stoke. Their author list is incredible and they publish such wonderful stories that not only appeal to dyslexic or struggling readers but also to those who just enjoy a good story. Here are two mini-reviews of books by Barrington Stoke that I have recently.

Mind the Gap by Phil Earle

I loved Mind the Gap by Phil Earle. I knew I would, I've loved everything of his that I've read so far.  I was very excited to read this book when it first arrived: I loved the cover art and the premise of the book. However, having lost my own father quite recently, I wasn't sure if it was the best time to dive into this one.

But I feel like I needn't have worried.  Because while this book is about a boy whose father has died it's more about friendship.  Phil Earle wrote this story with such warmth and heart.  Mikey's dad was one of those dads who didn't stay for very long but who left an impression when they were around.  And since he died, Mikey has gone off the rails a little bit.

When Mikey admits to his best mate that he just wants something to remember him by, his friend goes off on this journey across London trying to track down someone who worked with Mikey's dad.  He's looking for a video clip or a photo or anything that Mikey can hold onto and then maybe he'd stop antagonising the local hard-ass and get himself beaten up.

I really loved this story.  It's based on a true story about the man who recorded some 'Mind the Gap' messages on the London Underground and his wife who grieved his passing.  I can definitely relate to this story ... this need to hold onto little things in the people who are gone from our lives.

Passing For White by Tanya Landman

Passing For White by Tanya Landman was just an emotional read for me.  I thought that by reading the synopsis of this book that I knew how it would turn out but the plot description doesn't really take into account how nerve-wracking it is, how tense I felt worrying about Rosa and Benjamin on this absolutely perilous journey.

Rosa and Benjamin are both slaves. It's the Deep South and the year is 1848. Because Rosa's master is also her father, her light skin means that she is often confused for being white. Using this to their advantage, Rosa and Benjamin hatch this plan to escape slavery by having Rosa pose as a white man with Benjamin has her slave and travel a thousand miles north to freedom.

As I said, I found this book to be very emotional. It's amazing how much is packed into one short story.  I felt for Rosa and Benjamin immediately.  Their need for freedom and why they chose to make this escape plan when they did was rather heartbreaking.  The journey itself is fraught with so many near-misses and some really quick thinking on Rosa and Benjamin's parts.

Passing For White is based on a true story, on Ellen Craft who escaped slavery through disguise and who saved herself as well as her husband.  What I found almost as fascinating as the actual journey is what their lives are like (spoiler ahead) after their amazing escape.  I thought Passing For White was a really eye-opening, emotional story and I'm really glad to have read it.

Disabled Characters in YA

I've recently written on this blog about my commitment to reading and supporting diversity within young adult books and one of the things I was quite keen to read and see more of in YA are differently abled characters.  I really don't read very much about people in wheelchairs or that have chronic illness or characters with vision/hearing impairment and so on.  But I'd like to.

The books I've listed below deal with disability in different ways. Blindside by Aidan Chambers looks at the way being involved in an accident that leads to a loss of mobility would be a challenge to deal with and The Last Leaves Falling by Sarah Benwell is the story of a teenager who has a neurodegenerative disease and what that means for his quality of life as well for his friends and family.  There's also There Will Be Lies by Nick Lake and an anthology called Love Hurts edited by Malorie Blackman that features at least two stories/extracts that features differently abled characters.

And while I have managed to come across four books published this month that I feel discusses disability in YA fiction, I'm afraid that I haven't found anything else throughout the rest of the year. If anyone knows of any books with prominently disabled/differently abled characters being published in 2015, I would love to know about them!

Blindside by Aidan Chambers (15 January, Barrington Stoke)

An emotionally challenging and beautifully written drama that confronts the messiness of life head-on. Pete's a brilliant runner and dreams of athletic stardom - but fate intervenes. Pete is blindsided when he is involved in a horrific bike collision and his whole life is knocked off course. Stuck in a hospital bed and lamenting the loss of his mobility as well as his shattered dreams, the other people on his ward help Pete see that giving up on life is not the answer. Particularly suitable for struggling, reluctant and dyslexic readers aged 12+

The Last Leaves Falling by Sarah Benwell (29 January, Random House) 

And these are they. My final moments. They say a warrior must always be mindful of death, but I never imagined that it would find me like this . . .

Japanese teenager, Sora, is diagnosed with ALS (Lou Gehrig's disease). Lonely and isolated, Sora turns to the ancient wisdom of the samurai for guidance and comfort. But he also finds hope in the present; through the internet he finds friends that see him, not just his illness. This is a story of friendship and acceptance, and testing strength in an uncertain future.

Love Hurts by Malorie Blackman (29th January, Random House)

Malorie Blackman brings together the best teen writers of today in a stunningly romantic collection about love against the odds. Featuring short stories and extracts about modern star-crossed lovers from stars such as Gayle Forman, Markus Zusak and Patrick Ness, and with a brand-new story from Malorie Blackman herself, Love Hurts looks at every kind of relationship, from first kiss to final heartbreak.

There Will Be Lies by Nick Lake (1st January, Bloomsbury)

In four hours, Shelby Jane Cooper will be struck by a car.

Shortly after, she and her mother will leave the hospital and set out on a winding journey toward the Grand Canyon.

All Shelby knows is that they’re running from dangers only her mother understands. And the further they travel, the more Shelby questions everything about her past—and her current reality. Forced to take advantage of the kindness of unsuspecting travelers, Shelby grapples with what’s real, what isn’t, and who she can trust . . . if anybody.

Award-winning author Nick Lake proves his skills as a master storyteller in this heart-pounding new novel. This emotionally charged thrill ride leads to a shocking ending that will have readers flipping back to the beginning.

Do you have any recommendations for YA books that feature a disabled character?

Mini-reviews: The Devil's Angel by Kevin Brooks and Blindside by Aidan Chambers

I adore Barrington Stoke books. I think they have an amazing list of authors and I love that their main focus is to help struggling or reluctant readers. Plus every book I've read of theirs is interesting, exciting emotional or thought-provoking. They do an amazing job. So it was with excitement that I received these two books being published this year, especially by two authors that I've read and loved previously: Kevin Brooks and Aidan Chambers.

The Devil's Angel by Kevin Brooks

The Devil's Angel by Kevin Brooks was quite gritty and intense about two friends, Dean and Jack. There's plenty of drinking and violence and the sort of behaviour that you might expect from two uncaring teenagers.  But there's something different about Dean.  Jack and Dean are friends right from Dean's first day of school when he cames in and punches the biggest, toughest guy in school. But he doesn't seem to stop either, he needs more violence more unrest.

It's quite hard reading this short story about these two friends.  Even without subtle hints throughout the narrative it seems clear that this story can't end in a happy way with Dean's persistent path towards destruction.  As a fan of Kevin Brooks, I felt like this book covered similar themes to that of Naked but I don't think that should matter too much.  It still made me feel strong feelings and thoughts and I found it quite interesting.

Blindside by Aidan Chambers

I wasn't quite sure what to expect when I first started reading Blindside by Aidan Chambers.  I knew it would be about a boy involved in an accident and dealing with a lack of mobility.

I was surprised by the depths of description towards Nate's accident and how much pain and suffering he goes through initially.  Nate is a teenage boy with lots of athletic promise. He dreams of being a competitive runner but on his way towards a night out on his bike at a nasty junction, he's blindsided by a vehicle and wakes up in the hospital.

With the sudden loss of his dreams, Nate goes through a whole range of reactions including anger and depression.  And that is when we go into a story line that I don't normally enjoy: that of meeting someone else, full of life and worse off than our main character who teaches our main character to be happy and feel lucky for his lot in life.

I did really enjoy Nate's anger and his descent into depression.  I felt like these were realistic and believeable reactions to everything that has happened to him and even his interest in another hobby thanks to another patient..  Perhaps if the story were a bit longer and there was more time to develop different feelings I wouldn't have felt off about Nate's friendship?  I'm not sure. Still, an interesting read!

Mini-reviews: Brace Mouth, False Teeth by Sita Brahmachari and Ring of Roses by Mary Hooper

I have recently been sent the most lovely packages from Barrington Stoke and they just make me so happy. Honestly, I do love Barrington Stoke and all they do. They have such an exciting list of authors as well. I'm always impressed by the quality of writing and how much emotion and action gets packed into these smaller stories. These two books arrived recently and I loved them both so much that I thought I'd squeeze in some mini-reviews for you today.

Brace Mouth, False Teeth by Sita Brahmachari

Isn't that a great cover? I love this cover. It's fun and colourful and really stands out to me.  And what a fantastic little story too.  Zeni is 14 and she doesn't have a clue what she wants to do for her week-long work experience.

She ends up at Magnolia Gardens Care Home and she didn't know what to expect that first day.  What she finds are a bunch of wonderful older people including a jazz musician, a retired barrister and an old woman called Alice who takes a shine to Zeni straight away.  The lady who runs the care home tells Zeni and Joe, another work experience student, that their project for the week is to to talk to the care home patients and find some way to improve their quality of life.

I think the thing that I loved so much about this book is that at times it's really very funny.  Zeni provides a lot of comic relief, most of the time without realising it and there were several points in the book that I did just laugh out loud at the things she says or does.  But it's also quite emotional as well.  Joe is there looking after his grandfather and worrying about how his grandfather is reluctant to settle in and get out of his room.  But I think Zeni's relationship with Alice is at the heart of the story.  They definitely have their ups and downs but it's quite sweet to see them together and to see how hard Zeni tries to make this old woman smile.

Brace Mouth, False Teeth was funny and sweet and well worth a read!

Ring of Roses by Mary Hooper

I say this all the time but I wish that I read more historical fiction. Initially I always feel a little bit wary of historical books and then once I start reading I usually fall effortlessly into a new time period and find myself really enjoying myself. Such was the case with Ring of Roses. I quite like the way Mary Hooper writes and have enjoyed books by her before.

Ring of Roses is about London during the Plague in the 1600s.  It specifically follows one particular teenage girl Abby just as she is starting a new job as a nursemaid for a wealthy family. Meanwhile, the Plague is just kicking off and we hear from Abby's perspective weekly death tolls and what normal people during the time thought was causing the spread of disease and about cures and how difficult things are at this time.  I found all of it to be incredibly fascinating and I realised how little I did know about this period of time at all.

Despite the historical detail, this story is about Abby and I really loved witnessing both her friendship with her friend Hannah as well as how much Abby cares for the little girl under her protection.  But the thing about the Plague was that nobody was immune to it from the rich to the poor and it was really interesting and at times difficult to see how Abby and her employers fare during this difficult time.

At the end of the book, with a note from the author, I found out that Ring of Roses is a companion book to two other books written about a similar set of characters (At the Sign of the Sugared Plum and Petals in the Ashes).  I shall be picking up those two books to read in the very near future and I'm quite excited about it too!

REVIEW: Tilly's Promise by Linda Newberry

I really loved Tilly's Promise by Linda Newbery.  I thought it was a really sweet and emotional book and I was very surprised by how much I felt for the characters despite this book being quite short.  I even had tears in my eyes at several different points of the story! 

Tilly's Promise is one of the first books by Barrington Stoke that I have read but I will certainly be picking up more especially after the strength of this book. I loved both the characters and the story.  Linda Newbery did a great job of pulling me into the WWI setting with some nice (but brief!) historical detail. I think the cover for this book is absolutely beautiful and very in keeping with the story line, especially as Tilly, Harry, and Georgie send each other postcards throughout the book. 

It's the story of Tilly, a young volunteer nurse that is trained and sent off to France to help out in the war effort.  She has a sweetheart, Harry, who is a soldier. When Tilly's younger brother, Georgie - a gentle, good-natured boy with learning difficulties, is being sent off to war as well, Tilly asks Harry to keep Georgie safe.  That promise proves difficult to keep as Tilly and Harry both witness death and injury as soldier and nurse.

I had no idea there were no restrictions in place to protect young people with learning difficulties like Georgie who was more than capable physically but not necessarily mentally or emotionally.  I also really liked that Tilly, as a nurse, comes to empathise with the German soldiers during her shifts as well and another emotional scene comes when Tilly makes her own well-intentioned promise to a soldier that she finds herself not able to honour. 

Barrington Stoke books are aimed at struggling, reluctant or dyslexic readers. Tilly's Promise is a really engaging story of World War I.  I really enjoyed the shorter chapters, the interesting story line and how emotionally invested I became in the characters and of Tilly and Harry's relationship.  Really recommended!

Mini-reviews: Prisoner in Alcatraz and The Fall

Recently I saw these two books listed on Netgalley. I didn't realise at the time that they are quite short stories aimed at reluctant readers. I requested them because both Anthony McGowan and Theresa Breslin are both UKYA authors.

And while there was a significant delay between downloading them onto my Kindle and reading them, I can definitely see the appeal of these books. While personally I do prefer a longer, more in-depth story, I thought both of these books were able to put across everything they needed in the short amount of space that they had.

Prisoner in Alcatraz by Theresa Breslin is the story of Marty, a young man who has been sent to Alcatraz, the famous prison off the coast of San Francisco in which famous gangsters like Al Capone went to back in the day.  I found it really interesting to read of Marty's experiences that led him to become a prisoner in Alcatraz. It really felt like a series of really unlucky choices that led Marty into the criminal life. And those bad choices continue within the walls of Alcatraz prison as Marty is conned into helping with a prison escape. 

I really enjoyed this story. I've visited Alcatraz and seen the conditions that the prisoners dealt with and also noted the distance between where Alcatraz sits on this rock in the San Francisco bay and how far a prisoner would have to travel to get to land. And yet I was on the edge of my seat watching this attempt at escape play out.

What I really liked about Prisoner in Alcatraz is that it seems to highlight the different every day choices that everyone has and the consequences of those actions.  Marty's story moved pretty quickly, there was plenty of action to engage readers and by the end I was generally interested in Marty's story and what would become of him. He made some poor choices in life, but my heart went out to him.  Very interesting story!

The Fall by Anthony McGowan is another story that had unexpected depth to it.  Our main character, Mog, has recently heard news of an old school friend and tells us this story of two specific incidents involving a group of friends that he had growing up. 

I think The Fall can at times be a little bit harsh to read. The tone of the book and the writing style are both pretty bleak. This group of boys attend a school that has known better times and bullying and other anti-social behaviour seems to be rife. This is a story in which none of the characters are very likeable and you can hardly say you 'enjoyed' the story when it's finished. But I did still find it interesting.

I think the main concept behind this story is the loss of innocence. In both of the incidents that occur, something beautiful or innocent seems to be destroyed. There is quite an obvious connection between a fox and a bullied boy within this story and I think conversations can be had about the meaning of the title and about Mog's reasons for doing what he did. It certainly made me stop and think.