Review: Matched by Ally Condie

Title: Matched
Series: Matched #1
Author: Ally Condie
Publisher: Puffin (UK)
Publication Date:  December 2010
Pages: 366
Special Features: Interview with Ally Condie
Goodreads Average Rating: 3.79

Cassia has always trusted the Society to make the right choices for her: what to read, what to watch, what to believe. So when Xander's face appears on-screen at her Matching ceremony, Cassia knows with complete certainty that he is her ideal mate . . . until she sees Ky Markham's face flash for an instant before the screen fades to black.
The Society tells her it's a glitch, a rare malfunction, and that she should focus on the happy life she's destined to lead with Xander. But Cassia can't stop thinking about Ky, and as they slowly fall in love, Cassia begins to doubt the Society's infallibility and is faced with an impossible choice: between Xander and Ky, between the only life she's known and a path that no one else has dared to follow.

A whole different type of dystopian.

A dystopian love story, which follows the same kind of plot line of every other dystopian I have read. Yet for me Matched stand out much more, it isn't based just on taking down a society which is wrong, but instead focuses on the love triangle, featured in this story.

I can tell that the sequel: Crossed is going to be the same high standard as Matched, and perhaps better, even at the early stage in the series, I can tell straight away that Ally Condie has some big plans for the books ahead.
The book is more for female reader's, yet would be appealing to all ages and gender's.
Despite, the love dominating storyline, there is something for everyone and a very exciting read.

It was not at all predictable and constantly left you feeling like you were literally hanging on the cliff, with all the cliffhanger's, featured within the book, some solved in Matched and other's will be solved later in the series.

This dystopian, in different to other's I have read and seems to be slightly more civilised than other's, and Ally Condie has made such an amazing effort of making the society relatable to what we live in today, yet still of changed to the point of making it a 'dysopian'. In this book we still hear about the old 'society' as it was not that long ago, and you still see aspects of everything being changed by the Officals.
The character's for me were the best yet.

Cassia, manages to hold the same strength as a character as other female protagonists in Dystopians do, yet she is different. We witness a much larger change within her, and it was great seeing the change from Cassia at the beginning of the book, to tactical and strong Cassia it closed on. She is very relatable and holds the same emotions females hold today. She get's excited for her Match banquet, where she will find out who her partner will be for rest of her life, and even gets excited after finding it out.
Ky, one of two male protagonist's, and the guy she realises she has feeling's for, has became my new fictional crush. He is quite a broken and different boy, to other's we come across in the book, and has this type of bad boy edge, which makes him very appealing. Though at times he seems quite adorable, and what is better than a cute bad boy. Like Cassia, we also see him change throughout the book, though less as the person he is from the begging of the book, but instead stand out much more, and gain what could be seen as 'book confidence'.
Xander, the other male protagonist in the book, is quite a love hate character. I really liked him at the beginning of the book and thought he was going to be my new fictional crush, but slowly he became one of these characters who I couldn't stand.

This is a must-read Dystopian, which you are bound to love, the same I do.

Book Review: A Stolen Life by Jaycee Dugard

Title:  A Stolen Life: A Memoir
Series: N/A
Author: Jaycee Dugard
Publisher: Simon and Schuster
Publication Date: July 2011
Pages: 286
Goodreads Average Rating: 4.00

In the summer of 1991 I was a normal kid. I did normal things. I had friends and a mother who loved me. I was just like you. Until the day my life was stolen.
For eighteen years I was a prisoner. I was an object for someone to use and abuse.

For eighteen years I was not allowed to speak my own name. I became a mother and was forced to be a sister. For eighteen years I survived an impossible situation.

On August 26, 2009, I took my name back. My name is Jaycee Lee Dugard. I don’t think of myself as a victim. I survived.

A Stolen Life is my story—in my own words, in my own way, exactly as I remember it.

Hardest review I have ever written.
A Stolen Life: The true story of Jaycee Dugard, a girl kidnapped in 1991 age 11, found 18 years later.

The book written by herself, tells her story full of manipulation, emotional abuse, rape, loneliness and hope.
A girl who had been through people's worst nightmare's and came out stronger than ever, with two young girl's (her daughter's) by her side.

It is hard to believe that this story is about a girl kidnapped 4years before I was born, and found when I was thirteen.
Since her rescue I have followed her story via, online articles and TV shows and I knew I just had to read her book, her story.

It is a book, which tells of the events which happened, from being taken on that early morning in 1991, to the moment to she was rescued and even beyond. It tells what happened, and the emotions she felt, with even a Reflection piece every so often, as she reflects on what she has written. It's amazing how much she has remembered and horrible to think that this really happened, to such a young and happy girl.
I will admit the book is not amazingly written, like other best seller's, but for someone who was basically taken from the world she once knew, and couldn't even go to school, it was spectacular.

It is a must read for anyone who is interested in the Jaycee story or many other genre's, it really gives a first perspective view of this horrible event which happened in her life. The book has given her a chance to tell her story the way she wanted to tell it. This book is one, which will forever linger my mind and I hope I, nor no one else forgets this story of hope and survival.

Jaycee Dugard, herself is someone who I officially look up to. Not many people who have been through even a percentage of what she did, come out stable and ok in the end. She may never of put up a fight against even Nancy or Phillip, but she did what she had to do to survive and stay safe.
I love how in the book she says she one day dreams to be a bestseller, and now her dream has came true and I only wish more happiness on such a wonderful and amazing person.

Warning: This book is not for the faint-hearted. It is upsetting, and I had to put it down numerous amount of times, so I was able to calm down.

I would feel horrible if I didn't give this book a 5star rating, but it does deserve it aswell...

Name: Speak
Author: Laurie Halse Anderson
Publisher: Puffin
Publication Date: 22nd Oct 1999
Pages: 198
Avg. Goodreads Rating: 3.98

When Melinda Sordino's friends discover she called the police to quiet a party, they ostracize her, turning her into an outcast -- even among kids she barely knows. But even worse than the harsh conformity of high-school cliques is a secret that you have to hide.

This book is not just literature, but inspirational art.

This book is about a girl, Melinda who becomes a social outcast and an enemy to all around her because of ringing the police at a party. She slowly begin to feel that she can not share the horrible and disgusting secret inside her, that she must instead let it stay imprisoned inside her, slowly eating up the person she once was, and making her into someone completely different.

Laurie Halse Anderson does it again, making such a controversial issue, stand out against the crowd and leave an ever-lasting impression on all reader's.

I was a massive fan of one of her newer books :[book:Wintergirls|5152478], that I just had to read Speak, and well I have never made such a good decision in my life.
For me Speak is and should be seen as modern YA literature classic, and when I have kids I want them to be studying this book in school talking in-depth on the symbolism, (if you have read the book you will see the reference)

Issues which are featured in this book are mainly things which we as a community and a world tend to over-look because of what it involves, yet it should be an issue spoke out upon. This book alone holds a strong friendship and companion for anyone looking for support in the issues featured in this book. I felt that it was almost a diary of many people going through the same thing, it is a book to confine in and a book full of support.

Laurie Halse Anderson, as a writer doesn't just write, she creates. She creatures all these wonderful and realistic character's, all these un-believable images and all this amazing affects which get handed over to the reader.

Throughout this story I continuously witnessed Laurie Halse Anderson use such meaningful and effected phrases and words, that I myself felt the pure and heart-wrenching emotion which protagonist: Melinda feels. When she feels like she can't speak out or ever talk, the feeling is passed on to me, when her lips are described as being blistered, I can feel mine feeling the same to, and every moment Melinda feels a single emotions, I share that moment with her. For me, it was almost like poetry.
The book is split into a number of short chapters, each bit on it's own holding no reason to be in the story, but when together makes Speak what it is. Though I will admit the short chapter's made the book seem much longer, and was the main reasoning behind why it took so long for me to complete.

Melinda is a character who is hard to talk about and hard to sum up. She is two people in one. One personality overpowering the other. The other being herself before her secret happened.
Her overpowering personality is the only one we really witness (though her other personality, shone through at moments), though it is a character we don't properly come to grips with.
She is a character, who despite what she shows is strong, and one of the strongest I've witnessed, she's a character I didn't love, nor hate but a character I liked. She is an inspiration, which for me is the most important thing.

If you have not read this book, please do, it will teach you allot and it will provide you a source of entertainment.

I give this book:

Book Review: Living Dead Girl by Elizabeth Scott

Title: Living Dead Girl
Series: N/A
Author: Elizabeth Scott
Publisher: Simon Pulse
Publication Date: 2nd September 2008
Pages: 188
Special Features: N/A
Goodreads Average Rating: 3.84

Once upon a time, I was a little girl who disappeared.
Once upon a time, my name was not Alice.
Once upon a time, I didn’t know how lucky I was.

When Alice was ten, Ray took her away from her family, her friends her life. She learned to give up all power, to endure all pain. She waited for the nightmare to be over.
Now Alice is fifteen and Ray still has her, but he speaks more and more of her death. He does not know it is what she longs for. She does not know he has something more terrifying than death in mind for her.
This is Alice’s story. It is one you have never heard, and one you will never, ever forget.
I would just like to start off my saying, this book isn't for everyone, it may be marked as a Young Adult, but some reader's will disagree with that.

Many people will use the word 'distrubing' to describe this book.... I would also use that word, but I would also use 'truth', I've seen many reviews where people have just hated it for it's content and what is said in the book, but many reader's have ignored the fact that this book may be fictional but is also 'real'.

It's a book full of raw emotion. Straight from the beginning we are told the horrible and sorrow-filled story of a girl. A girl, who was taken from a happy life full of freedom, and forced into the arms of a 'sick' and mentally dysfunctional man. It is a hard issue to tackle and I believe Elizabeth Scott did this to near enough perfection.

It is the first Elizabeth Scott book I've read, and I can't wait to read more. I became attached to her wonderful writing style and story idea's. The book in a whole is something which will always lingering in the back of my mind, never to be forgotten

The book is short, something which I'm not a big fan of when it's a book I really enjoy, but it's perfect for the story it tells.
It's far from a book full of useless information, it only tells what is needed to be said and this it's self gives such an effect to the reader. I guess you can almost say it's not a book to entertain, but instead a book to tell. It says that despite our happiness, there will always be someone suffering, someone who could even be close to us, a neighbor, or friend.... anyone!

The book in some places repeated it's self, for example the use of Once Upon A Time, this helped build the story line, but also the emotion. Each time we see Once Upon A Time, we are supplied with new information about 'Alice', this was probably my favourite bit about the whole book.

I do not know what to say about the character's in this book.
'Alice', is a character I believe I have no right to judge. Not only is she a fictional character in the book, but a fictional character to herself. She is not who she is by choice, but instead forced to be someone she is not. But still is an incredibly strong character.
Ray, is 'Alice's' kidnapper, the antagonist in the story. The reader is made to hate such a sick man, but I will admit there were times I found myself feeling quite sympathetic towards him. We witness fragments of his childhood, he like 'Alice' is not who he is by choice, but is also forced to be someone who he isn't, by the past he has experienced.

I could not find myself able to rate this any lower than five, because it deserves nothing less, it entertains (I guess could be said), it tells and most importantly it teaches.

Book Review: Wintergirls by Laurie Halse Anderson

Title: Wintergirls
Series: N/A
Author: Laurie Halse Anderson
Publisher: Marion Lloyd Books
Publication Date: 2009
Pages: 278
Special Features: N/A
Goodreads Average Rating: 3.95

“Dead girl walking,” the boys say in the halls.
“Tell us your secret,” the girls whisper, one toilet to another.
I am that girl.
I am the space between my thighs, daylight shining through.
I am the bones they want, wired on a porcelain frame.

Lia and Cassie are best friends, wintergirls frozen in matchstick bodies, competitors in a deadly contest to see who can be the skinniest. But what comes after size zero and size double-zero? When Cassie succumbs to the demons within, Lia feels she is being haunted by her friend’s restless spirit.

In her most emotionally wrenching, lyrically written book since the multiple-award-winning Speak, Laurie Halse Anderson explores Lia’s descent into the powerful vortex of anorexia, and her painful path toward recovery.

This book was heart wrenching, emotionally and most importantly inspiring.

Book Review: Divergent by Veronica Roth

Title: Divergent
Series: Divergent #1
Author: Veronica Roth
Publisher: HarperCollins
Publication Date: 3rd May 2011
Pages: 299 (E-book)
Special Features: N/A
GoodReads Average Rating: 4.5

In Beatrice Prior's dystopian Chicago, society is divided into five factions, each dedicated to the cultivation of a particular virtue—Candor (the honest), Abnegation (the selfless), Dauntless (the brave), Amity (the peaceful), and Erudite (the intelligent). On an appointed day of every year, all sixteen-year-olds must select the faction to which they will devote the rest of their lives. For Beatrice, the decision is between staying with her family and being who she really is—she can't have both. So she makes a choice that surprises everyone, including herself.

During the highly competitive initiation that follows, Beatrice renames herself Tris and struggles to determine who her friends really are—and where, exactly, a romance with a sometimes fascinating, sometimes infuriating boy fits into the life she's chosen. But Tris also has a secret, one she's kept hidden from everyone because she's been warned it can mean death. And as she discovers a growing conflict that threatens to unravel her seemingly perfect society, she also learns that her secret might help her save those she loves . . . or it might destroy her.

Debut author Veronica Roth bursts onto the literary scene with the first book in the Divergent series—dystopian thrillers filled with electrifying decisions, heartbreaking betrayals, stunning consequences, and unexpected romance.

This book is a magical piece of YA Literature

Book Review: Forsaken/The Demon Trapper's Daughter by Jana Oliver

Title: Forsaken/ The Demon Trapper's Daughter
Series: The Demon Trapper's Daughter
Author: Jana Oliver
Publisher: MacMillian's Children's Books
Publication Date: 1st Feburary 2011
Pages: 448
Special Features: N/A
Goodreads Average Rating: 4.02

 Riley Blackthorne just needs a chance to prove herself – and that’s exactly what the demons are counting on…

Seventeen-year-old Riley, the only daughter of legendary Demon Trapper, Paul Blackthorne, has always dreamed of following in her father's footsteps. The good news is, with human society seriously disrupted by economic upheaval and Lucifer increasing the number of demons in all major cities, Atlanta’s local Trappers’ Guild needs all the help they can get – even from a girl. When she’s not keeping up with her homework or trying to manage her growing crush on fellow apprentice, Simon, Riley’s out saving distressed citizens from foul-mouthed little devils – Grade One Hellspawn only, of course, per the strict rules of the Guild. Life’s about as normal as can be for the average demon-trapping teen.

But then a Grade Five Geo-Fiend crashes Riley’s routine assignment at a library, jeopardizing her life and her chosen livelihood. And, as if that wasn’t bad enough, sudden tragedy strikes the Trappers’ Guild, spinning Riley down a more dangerous path than she ever could have imagined. As her whole world crashes down around her, who can Riley trust with her heart – and her life?

This book was so fasinating and intriguing, well worth a read.

Book Review: Hunger Games by Suzanne Collins

Title: The Hunger Games
Series: The Hunger Games #1
Author: Suzanne Collins
Publisher: Scholastic
Publication Date: 14th September 2008
Pages: 454
Special Features:
ISBN: 9781407109084
Goodreads Average Rating: 4.54

'Winning will make you famous.
Losing means certain death.
In a dark vision of the near future, a terrifying reality TV show is taking place. Twelve boys and twelve girls are forced to appear in a live event called the Hunger Games. There is only one rule: kill or be killed.
When sixteen-year-old Katniss Everdeen steps forward to take her sister's place in the games, she sees it as a death sentence. But Katniss has been close to death before. For her, survival is second nature.'

For me the Hunger Games was a book I had no intrest in, the storyline seemed quite disturbing and in no way appealing to me, this was also then supported by the cover, which also had no appeal to me. But how could someone possibly ignore a book so popular, a book so many people will declare as there favorite.

The action starts almost straight away, and runs straight through until the very last page, keeping me hooked and constantly turning the page. This book for me was a re-read, and still I managed to find myself entangled in the twists and turns in the novel, the deep emotion which is presented in the writing, and well the spectacular and original characters.

The story shows signs of unique-ness and it is known that the idea for Hunger Games, came to author Suzanne Collins whilst flicking through the scenes of an army or war film and a reality TV show, which despite the book is set in the future, still has a form of meaning to the world as it is today.

For me, not many books would beat Hunger Games, it's a book which shows a possible future whilst presenting what could be seen as controversial issues, my favorite kind of books.

The characters... well WOW!!!
There is many characters which are introduced to us within the book, each being different from the rest, but the same standards of believability.... except one:
Primrose Everdeen, or Prim, younger sister of protagonist: Katniss, is 12 during the book, but is portrayed to act like a 6 year old, this was the only one thing which managed to annoy me during the novel.

And before I end this review all I can say is... TEAM GALE!!!!

I give this book...

Book Review: The Iron King by Julie Kagawa

Title: The Iron King
Series:   #1 Iron Fey
Author: Julie Kagawa
Publisher: Harlequin Teens
Publication Date: February 2010
Pages: 363
Special Features: A chat with Julie Kagawa, Survival Guide to the Nevernever and a preview with second book in the series Iron Daughter.
Average Goodreads Rating: 4.10

'Meghan Chase has a secret destiny—one she could never have imagined…
Something has always felt slightly off in Meghan's life, ever since her father disappeared before her eyes when she was six. She has never quite fit in at school…or at home.
When a dark stranger begins watching her from afar, and her prankster best friend becomes strangely protective of her, Meghan senses that everything she's known is about to change.
But she could never have guessed the truth—that she is the daughter of a mythical faery king and is a pawn in a deadly war. Now Meghan will learn just how far she'll go to save someone she cares about, to stop a mysterious evil no faery creature dare face…and to find love with a young prince who might rather see her dead than let her touch his icy heart.'

 One word= WOW!!!!
This book is amazing beyond describe.

The Iron King by Julie Kagawa is a book full of imagination, creativity and fantasy, showing the amazing ability and skill Julie Kagawa has when it comes to fictional writing.

The book is written in first person from Meghan Chase's perspective and follows the story of Meghan as she enters the world of faery otherwise known as Nevernever in search for her younger brother who has been kidnapped.

I never thought it was actually possible to be able to put so much in one book and still have the story go at a steady pace. The story starts on the day before Meghan turns 16 living, a what some may describe as average life and suddenly being sucked into such an amazing world full of so much imagination, one which you would only believe ever existed in children nowadays.

The book also adds an aspect of present times and technology, with the use of the Iron World, adding even more awesomeness to make this book awesome.

For me the story has resemblance to fairy tales, which I guess is quite ironic as it is a book about fairies or fey as they are known in the book. The book also uses inspiration from Shakespeares A Midsummer Night Dream, using three characters: Robin Goodfellow, Oberon and Queen Titania as main characters in the story.

Meghan Chase starts off as a average and realistic Americain teenager, who is falling head over heals for school most popular and 'hot' guy, whilst wanting the latest in technology. But she is a character willing to give up anything for her family especially for Ethan her younger brother, which we witness multiple times throughout the book. Meghan is a strong and unforgettable female protagonist.
Along Meghan's journey we are introduced to a number of amazing and quite iconic characters.
Firstly there is Robin Goodfellow, her bodyguard  and a companion throughout the majority of her journey. He is King Oberan's most trusted man, but also Meghan's best friend. He is portrayed as a humours and enjoyable character, someone who surely brightens up the book.
Someone else who I believe adds some humor to the book is Grimalkin a Cait Sith, or cat known in the human world, who has quite a resemblance to the Cheshire Cat featured in Alice in Wonderland.
But my favourite character by far is the Winter Prince, Ash. He is seen as someone with a male ego, but the hot looks, enough to make your heart melt. As the book goes on we witness a relationship between Meghan and Ash which is absolutely adorable and adds the only thing missing to this book, romance.

The story is absolutely amazing, as I've said I can not describe how good it really is. It is definitely high up there with some of my other favourite books.
This a remarkable unique and well god-damn awesome debut. Julie Kagawa really is a skilled author, whose writing is wonderfully flawless.

I give this book a well deserved:

Book Review: The Goddess Test by Aimee Carter

THIS IS AN ARC REVIEW!!! THIS REVIEW WILL BE ONCE AGAIN POSTED ON THE DAY OF THE RELEASE...19TH APRIL 2011!!!

Title: The Goddess Test
Series: Goddess Test #1
Author: Aimee Carter
Publisher: Harlequin Teens
Publication Date: 19th April 2011
Pages: 293
Special Features:
ISBN: 9780373210268

‘Every girl who has taken the test has died.
Now it's Kate's turn.
It's always been just Kate and her mom--and now her mother is dying. Her last wish? To move back to her childhood home. So Kate's going to start at a new school with no friends, no other family and the fear her mother won't live past the fall.
Then she meets Henry. Dark. Tortured. And mesmerizing. He claims to be Hades, god of the Underworld--and if she accepts his bargain, he'll keep her mother alive while Kate tries to pass seven tests.
Kate is sure he's crazy--until she sees him bring a girl back from the dead. Now saving her mother seems crazily possible. If she succeeds, she'll become Henry's future bride, and a goddess.
If she fails…’
Thoughts
Aimee Carter’s The Goddess Test is the current hype in the YA book world, which is what put me off reading the book. I requested this book on NetGallery and was fortunately accepted.

The only word I can and ever will be able to refer to this book as is…. WOW!!

Aimee Carter gives a unique and romantic spin onto Greek Mythology, a subject loved by many including me.
I was hooked to the book instantly and read it whenever possible, even in the middle of class if I could get away with it. I’m already having withdrawal symptoms.

What I loved about the book was that it didn’t just stick to the theme of Greek Mythology, but hit a number of  important issues, the main being mother and daughter relationships. For a number of years protagonist Kate Winter’s has been the main caregiver for her mum, since she was diagnosed with a sever form of cancer. The story begins as Kate drives her mother to her hometown Eden, Michigan in the hope that her mother will die in a place she loves, and straight away the heart wrenching emotion begins and I found myself almost instantly in tears for the two. From this point I knew it was going to be a pretty amazing book.

As the book goes on we are open to many more mysteries which conclude with some of the most un-expected outcomes, and I slightly began to despise the book for tricking me numerous amounts of times, playing with my mind almost. But it was this which made the book so amazing and loveable.

We as the reader are also introduced to an assortment of loveable characters:
Kate Winter’s, is a realistic protagonist, who is willing to fight for what she believes in, but also protects the one’s she loves. I saw parts of myself within Kate, and im sure this was the same for many other readers, she is most definitely a character I will never forget.
Another pretty awesome character is male protagonist Henry, who is portrayed as Greek God, Hades, God of the Underworld, and well to be honest it was the young and attractiveness of Henry that made it take me ages to realise the book was focused on the Gods. Henry is a character I could feel myself falling head over heals for, he’s sweet, sensitive and caring, almost the complete opposite to what you would expected Hades to be.
I would also mention other character’s but I know I would give the plot line away.

The book for me was too short, I could only wish it was longer and I hated myself as I slowly came to the end knowing I would have to wait almost a year for the second book in the series to come out.

This book has brought me back into my fasination for Greek Mythology and was instant searching through sites almost as soon as I ended the book.

All I can say to all you readers out there, this book is great, amazing and fascinating. Don’t let the Greek God theme put you off reading it, its still a romance to me.

I obviously give this book...

Book Review: Sea Change by Aimee Friedman

Title: Sea Change
Series: N/A
Author: Aimee Friedman
Publisher:  Point
Publication Date: June 2010
Pages: 320
Special Features: 
ISBN: 978-0439922302 

'Sixteen-year-old Miranda Merchant is great at science...and not so great with boys. After major drama with her (now ex) boyfriend, she's happy to be spending the summer on small, mysterious Selkie Island, helping her mother sort out her late grandmother's estate. 

On the lush, beautiful island, Miranda finds new friends and a community with a mystical history, presenting her with facts her logical, scientific mind can't make sense of. She also meets Leo, who challenges everything she thought she knew about boys, romance...and reality. 

Is Leo hiding something? Or is he something that she never could have imagined?'

Sea Change is a story about love, fantasy and also becoming a new person. Miranda Merchant and her mother go to Selkie Island to sort out Miranda's deceased Grandmother's holiday home, but Miranda discovers the truth of her Grandmother, and also witnesses her own change to becoming a woman, she begins to care about how she is portrayed to others, and finds unlikely friendship in some people she would never even consider looking at normally. But Miranda also finds something she never thought she would find, not just on holiday but ever. She begins to fall in love with the mysterious Leo, a permanent resident on the island, and someone who is looked down upon by the Summer visitors. But she knows there is more to him than meets the eye, but refuses to believe any of the clues or warnings she has found warning her of the mer-folk.

What I thought of the cover?

To me the cover is enchanting, and i fell in love with it the first time i saw it. The cover obviously shows that it is a form of romance. The hint of blue adds to the effect of not just the Island that Miranda visits, but also the mythical water creatures that feature in this novel.

I wouldn't be able to guess what the book is fully about by the cover, but i understand it much more after reading the book.

What I thought of the title?

Like most titles i believe they dont give much away about the book. But i like this title and have came up with my own theory to why it has been named what it has. Sea Change, meaning that when the mermaids/men go into the water in their human form they then CHANGE into their true form.

The Characters

To me the characters are quite cliche but worked well. Like most female protagonist's in books Miranda is a shy, nerdish girl who doesn't particually fit in with her peers, Leo the male protagonist carries of the known cliche of being a mythical creatures, and s very mysterious, but this is a trait Leo needs to be him.

What I thought of the book?

This book is wonderfully amazing and enchanting. A great romance but also fantasy book, for all YA lovers. It will appeal to most people, but will have aspects all will love.

Thanks to Sea Change I was brought back into my book reading obsession. Throughout the reading process of the book I was constantly in need to read it, and was constantly caught reading it in the middle of class, something which i do not recommend, but i was just so addicted to it. Now ive finished it I feel slightly lost.

I give this book a...

Book Review: Noughts and Crosses by Malorie Blackman (New)

Title: Noughts and Crosses (UK) otherwise known as Black & White (USA)
Series: Noughts and Crosses Trilogy
Author: Malorie Blackman
Publisher: Corgi (UK) Simon and Schuster (USA)
Publication Date: 1st April 2002 (UK) 9th January 2007 (USA)
Pages: 448
Special Features: the English copy of Noughts and Crosses also            hold An Eye For An Eye, a short sequel story to Noughts and Crosses
ISBN: 978-0552555708 (UK) 978-1416900177(USA)

'Callum is a nought- a second-class citizen in a world run by the ruling Crosses...

Sephy is a Cross, daughter of one of the most powerful men in the country...

In their world, noughts and Crosses simply don't mix. And as hostility turns to violence, can Callum and Sephy possibly find a way to be together? 

They are determined to try.

And then the bomb explodes...'

Noughts and Crosses is a story about emotion, racism and forbidden love. Imagine a world just like ours but the black (Daggers/Crosses) are the ones in control and the the white (Blankers/noughts) are the lower class citizen. A world where the black and white can't go to the same schools, cant shop in the same shops and cant socialize with someone of a different skin color. Remind you of just a few years ago??

But Sephy and Callum, two people of different races, go against what everyone says ans attempt to make their relationship work. Despite Sephy's powerful and Nought hating father and Callum's Cross hating father and brother respected members of Liberation Militia, a violent terrorist organisation aimed at promoting equality between the two races.

Malorie Blackman is a famous English Children's author who i believe does not receieve enough credit nor recognition for this amazing piece of literature. Blackman had been planning on writing this book for a while, due to the lack of black protagnisits in books, along with a dream of reading a book with someone  like herself star in it. The idea came to her one day when she was in need of a plaster but could only find pink plasters, made to go with the skin colour of white people, this is also put into the book.

As she grew up, she was always at the end of verbal attacks from people who hate her due to her skin colour, even today where racism is apparently no longer meant to exist she is still verbally abused and even spat on.

I believe the idea of the book is amazing, she is true we don't have enough books by black people nor books that black people star in. Also the book makes people realize that racism still exist but people try to hide it.

What I thought of the cover?

The cover is very plain and simple, after reading this book i couldn't imagine it having any different cover, it perfectly sums up the book. Also it was the cover that drew me towards it. 

The cover only uses the colors black and white, to sum up the story of the first page. It shows the racial issues that take place throughout the book.

What I thought of the title?

The title 'Noughts and Crosses' automatically causes me to think of being back in lower school around the ages of 5-6, when during reading time we would be read books mainly based on African Amercains, i think one of the books was about Noughts and Crosses.

Malorie Blackman chose this title because Noughts and Crosses (Tic Tac Toe) is a game which is played many times throughout childhood, but is completely forgotten as we grow. It's a game full of stradgeies and game plans a game where if you win the battle you will not win nor lose in the war.

The title is different in America though being 'Black & White' this is because American's dont refer to Noughts and Crosses as Noughts and Crosses but instead Tic Tac Toe, but the title didn't fit well. But the title Black &White wouldn't make me want to particullary pick up the book.

Interesting things I discovered

When looking over the book, mere minutes before starting this review I realised someting about the book I did not before. O the blurb and inside the book Crosses u
se upper case for the first letter of the word, where as noughts use lower case for the first letter of the word. It is used to show the Crosses superiority over the noughts.

The Characters
All the characters in the book are completely believable. i also think they are quite simple characters, but this is what makes them the way they are.
Sephy is quite naive when she is around Callum, and is willing to almost give anything up for him.
Callum is protective over Sephy, and a great believer in equal rights.
The character which i believe is most believable is Sephy's mother Jasmine Hadley. Jasmine is supposed to be a trophy wife to her powerful husband Kamal. But deep down inside she is emotionally breaking down: her husband barely coming home, the fear of him cheating or leaving her, and turns to alcohol to heal all her wounds. She is a great literature version of many women.




The book is quite realistic, and i feel that many people would be able to relate to the character. I am unable to. The racism aspect and the forbidden love, along with many of the other characters small sub plots, would be relatable to most of the books readers.
The book is incredibly written, i was able to feel the emotions of the characters when reading the book. I constantly kept a packet of tissues next to me.


I couldn't really pick a favourite and least favourite part of the book, i loved the whole book (all the emotional bits a tad bit less, due to the need to make me cry).

I would recommend this book to everyone, of all ages. Mainly for those who want to see more coloured people star in books.

Ithink the message of this book is....

'Don't judge a book by its cover

Don't judge a person by its colour'

I give this book...

Check out Malorie Blackman's website for more info on this book and any of her other books: Malorie Blackman

Amazon (USA) 

| Book Depository | Amazon (UK)

Book Review: Wannabe A Writer? by Jane Wenham-Jones

Title: Wannabe a Writer?

Author: Jane Wenham-Jones

Release Date (England): 1st May 2007

Publisher (English): Accent Press Ltd

Price (UK pounds): £9.99

Genre: Non-Fiction Advice

Series: N/A

No. Pages: 320

'This hilarious, informative guide to getting into print, is a must-have for anyone who's ever thought they've got a book in them. Where do you start? How do you finish? And will anyone ever publish it when you have? Drawing on her own experiences as a novelist and journalist, "Writing Magazine's" agony aunt Jane Wenham-Jones takes you through the minefield of the writing process, giving advice on everything from how to avoid writer's bottom to what to wear to your launch party. Including hot tips from authors, agents and publishers at the sharp end of the industry, "Wannabe a Writer?" tells you everything you ever wanted to know about the book world - and a few things you didn't...'

I decided to buy this book due to the good reviews i had already seen and obviously a thought of writing my own book. I didnt expect it to be much though, just how to make your characters to come alive, how to plan your book etc... But its much more than that. It tells you the harsh reality of being an author. 

What i love most about this book is that its not just how she believe your should write a book but it always has what other writers and journalists do to keep to their deadlines.

The writing qualilty is very chatty, which made it easier for me to read a book like this, it is also very funny, to the point where i was crying from laughter at some points.

After reading this I definitely plan on buying her other books, along with her other writing guide book: Wannabe a writer we've heard of?

So everyone who has an ambition of being a bestselling author pick up your copy of Wannabe a Writer? ASAP. Definately worth the money.

I give this book...

Book Review: Boys Dont Cry by Malorie Blackman

Title: Boys Dont Cry

Author: Malorie Blackman

Release Date (England): 28th Oct 2010

Publisher (English): DoubleDay Children

Price (UK pounds): £12.99

Genre: YA

Series: N/A

No. Pages: 320

You're waiting for the postman- he's bringing your exam results.University, a career as a journalist... a glittering future lies ahead. But when the doorbell rings, it's your old girlfriend; and she's carrying a baby... your baby

Shes has enough and now its your turn.

What would you do? 

Boys Dont Cry is the kind of book i love to read when taking a break from fantasy genre's... its a hardhitting and realistic book affecting many people of 17 and younger, forced to chose which was they want their life to go. But most books based on teenage pregnancy is always about how the mother's deal with being a teen or a single parent, and sometimes i feel that the dads are not given any credit towards looking after their child. The book gives a different perspective on a story we all know... a single teenage dad (Dante) living in a world where he is sterotyped by people expecting that the mother is in the childs life and that because his is the dad, he is somehow unable to care for the baby. It also gives people an understanding of how hard it is to give up on a dream that you have been working towards for years, just for one unwanted 'mistake'.
Boys dont cry is a book that has a real meaning to me, at the age of 15 my brother was put in the almost same position as the protagnist Dante, but couldnt handel it and gave up completely on his daughter, as mistake he hasn't realised his making, but soon will and it will be the biggest regret he's ever had.



But like Malorie Black there is not just one nationwide issue in this book but two. Dante's younger brother, Adam is a full and out gay, who is discriminated against for his sexuality. He takes on a boyfriend who cant and wont admit that they are gay aswell.

Malorie Blackman is by far my favourite author and inspires me to write books with a meaning, that gives people a perpective to what its like to be like someone who faces the issues in the book.
She has an amazing and unique writing style, which keeps me hooked by every word and amazing storylines.
This book is a definite need to be read along with all her other books.
So if you love to read, pick up this book from your nearest book shop and get reading it straight away You wont regret it, but ull regret putting it off.

I give this book a ....

Book Review: Infinite Days by Rebecca Maizel

Title: Infinite Days

Author: Rebecca Maizel

Release Date (England): 3rd Septmeber 2010
Publisher (English): Macmillian Children's Books
Price (UK pounds): £9.99
Genre: YA
Series: 1st in the Lenah Beaudonte Novels
No. Pages: 400

Blurb:
For 500 years Lenah Beaudonte has been a vampire. 500 years of seduction, blood and destruction. But she is sickened by her dark powers – and longs to feel the sun on her skin, grass under her bare feet, and share the breath of a human kiss. She wants to be mortal again. But is she really capable of being human, after her long years of darkness? Waking up as a sixteen-year-old girl brings Lenah many things – the life she has missed, taste, touch, love. But a vampire soul is not easily shed. And her coven – the four vampires she led in decadence and thrilling destruction – want their queen back . . .
 
I had seen quite a few people do reviews on this book, but had never read any as the title never really drew me in. But I saw it in my local bookshop and the cover automatically made me need this book. It has the most beautiful cover i have ever seen, especially without the dust cover on (the dustcover is one the picture on the book, above)
 
I began to read this book before going to sleep I only planned to read about 20 pages but ended up reading over 100, and could of stayed up and read it all night if I didnt need to be up early the next morning.
Straight from the start I was hooked, and knew this book was going to be one of my favourites.
I am literally unable to use words to sum up how utterly amazing this book is, all I can say is: GO BUY IT NOW!!!!!

Maizel has this un-natural ability to make all characters loveable, including ones you are supposed to dislike.
Also her book is very different from vampire books I've read before. It's not one of these girl falls for irrestable vampire, but can almost be said its the oppisite.

Please go and buy this piece of amazment, and I hope you enjoy it as much as I did

I give this book...

Book Review: Catching Fire by Suzanne Collins

Title: Catching Fire
Author: Suzanne Collins
Release Date (England): 7th September 2009
Publisher (English): Scholastic
Price (UK pounds): £6.99
Genre: YA- Adventure
Series: 2nd book in the Hunger Games Trilogy
No. Pages: 480

Catching Fire is the sequel to Suzanne Collin’s bestseller Hunger Games, which completely mesmerized teenage book lovers, beyond belief, with its incredible writing and unique story line.

After her victory at the Hunger Games, Katniss returns home to live in the Victor’s Village, but she misses her old life, where she could live in her old home and hunt with Gabe, her best friend who is know forced to work in the mine’s 6 days a week.


But just before the Victors Tour, Katniss receives a visit from the President of Panem, after he believes Katniss has caused the Districts to start a rebellion. Now Katniss needs to convince the president that she did not mean to start a rebel, keep up her love with Peeta, and take part in the annual 75th Hunger Games tournament which this year includes constants who were once victors.

When reading hunger games I couldn’t find myself able to put it down, I literally had to force myself, with its addicting storyline, there was never a good place to take a break. Its almost as gripping as Hunger Games, with its unexpected twists, I could never of guessed what was going to happen next.

Part way through the book I began to wonder how Suzanne Collins can up with these individual and unique ideas, things which I have NEVER came across before in a book. If its amazing story was not enough, the garment designs, which Katniss’s designer creates for her, are so much of a fantasy on its own.

I give praise to Suzanne Collins, for making such a book, which kept teenagers gripped, without the use of complete supernatural creatures.

I am really looking forward to the next instalment Mocking Jay which recently was released just days ago. But could it really live up to the difficult task of being on the same level of success and amazement as Hunger Games and Catching Fire.

TEAM GALE!!!!!

I give this book

Book Review: Hunger Games by Suzanne Collins

Title: The Hunger Games

Author: Suzanne Collins
Release Date:
Publisher: Scholastic
Price (English Pounds): RRP £6.99
Genre: YA
Series: 1st book in the Hunger Games Trilogy
No. Pages: 454

In the near future, a reality television show basically rules peoples lives: 'The Hunger Games.'
Every year 12 boys and 12 girls (1 of each chose from each a different district) are chosen to take part in the show. There is no rules to the game, its basically a kill or be killed situation, only one player can make it out alive.

But when Prim Everdeen is chosen to take part, her oilder sister Katniss takes her place, being a hunter Katniss's second nature is survival.

I didnt know what to expect from this, I was never really intrigued by the blurb, but come on this is basically everyones favourite book, so there had to be something good about it, so I was given it for a my birthday, and put it after the majority of books i recieved, but kinda regretting it.
It was infact amazing.
Throughout the whole book I was completely hooked, and dispised myself for putting it down.

The plot line was unique and fantastic, keeping me gripped on every word. The characters were obviously well-thought out and all different in their own ways, with the majority of the characters being from different districts they all have something about them which gives away their districts.

I cant really place a down side of the story, because i dont think i have ever came across one or there is one. This book and series could possibly class as one of the most popular of our time, how could anything possibly be bad about it.

I give this book a

Book Review: Linger by Maggie Stiefvater

Title: Linger

Author: Maggie Stiefvater

Release Date: 20th July 2010
Publisher: Scholastic
Price (English Pounds): £7.99
Genre: YA
Series: 2nd Book in the Wolves Of Mercyfalls Series
No. Pages: 416
 
Sam and Grace's story continues, in the second book in the Wolves of MercyFalls. Now Grace is disobeying her parents and becoming dreadfully ill, as the wolf gene is coming back to haunt her. And Sam discovers that Beck  may of changed someone into a werewolf who could possibly blow the werewolves secret.
 
As soon as I picked up the book I was immediatly hocked, I didnt particually find it exciting for a beginning but I felt like I was back into the world of Sam and Grace, a world I had grown to love in the 1st book in the series Shiver.
The Prologue has been used to quickly sum up the first book, and also introduce this book, in a way, then it goes straight into the story, unlike a few sequals which will spend the first few chapters telling the story and also talking about the book before, which always annoys me because after the first page of the book I almost automatically know escatly what happened in the book before.
 
In some ways I saw the book as a two-in-one book, as it follows the story of Sam and Grace, but also Isabel and Cole (Isabel being Grace's friend and Cole being a newly turned wolf). I will admit this slightly annoyed be a bit, but after a while I got used to it, as the story ocassionally tied in with each other and there became a purpose for the two stories in one.
 
What I loved about this book is the flash-backs, which is used to help the develop the characters more, especially new character Cole, who is portrayed as the bad-ass in this book, and is one of the only wolves who was willingly changed, and the flash-backs are used as an easier way to explain his reasons why.
 
All in all I definatly recommend this series to anyone who enjoys a bit of romance, but other things at the same time. It is also definatly an all year round read, a good read for sitting outside in the sun in Summer and also for sitting cuddled up in bed in the Winter.
 
I give this book a rating of: