Thank you to Andersen Press for this advanced reader's copy. It's the first day of 6th Grade for Carter Jones and it's pouring rain outside. His sisters are causing mayhem and his mother is overworked. His father is deployed overseas in the U.S. military, so times are stressful. That's why Carter is shocked to hear the doorbell ring just before he's off to school to see a butler standing on his doorstep. The Butler, or Mr. Bowles-Fitzpatrick as he asks to be called, has been sent to Carter's house on the request of Carter's late grandfather. Carter is as confused as we'd all be to have this happen, especially when The Butler politely demands that Carter walk their dog Ned as soon as he gets home, do his homework and speak proper grammar. He also ensures Carter looks after his sisters and help his mother with the washing up, cooking and cleaning. Carter knows these are things he should be doing, but always found time to do other things like eat cereal and "crash". Now he's got a butler making sure he does them on a daily basis. That's not all, The Butler introduces Carter to the game of cricket, and soon it's not just Carter who is playing, it's everyone at his Middle School. Carter eventually learns to love the game and with The Butler's help, starts to come to terms with his father's absence and the death of his brother. This book hit me hard, I lost my brother recently and it has been a huge blow to my family. Reading the passages that deal with this, how Carter learns to keep going despite knowing his life will never be the same, was like a punch to the guts. It's very true, what Carter goes through, some days you think you're going to be alright and then you see something or hear a song or whatever and you are laid low. It's comforting to know that even a fictional character can stand up to this kind of thing. I've always loved Gary D. Schmidt's writing, there's always a lot of humour and a lot of laughs. It's a wonderful novel with both of these things and it helped quite a lot.
0 Comments
Jam Gallahue has just joined The Wooden Barn, a specialist school for teens who have experienced trauma. She's there because Reeve, her boyfriend, someone she knew for less than two months, is gone. Upon her arrival, she's put into a class called Special Topics in English, with the firm yet matronly Mrs. Q at the helm. Mrs. Q gives the small group The Bell Jar to read. She then hands them all blank journals and tells them to write down what they are feeling twice a week. This is where things get weird. Writing in the journals transports Jam to Belzhar, an alternate universe of sorts where she can be with Reeve again, if only for a short time. Jam is blown away by this revelation, she's desperate to know if anyone else in Special Topics has had this happen before. Does Mrs. Q know? What happens when her journal is full? Jam has questions, and it will take a lot of digging to find the answers. I really enjoyed Belzhar, I felt it was a great novel that highlighted the power of writing and reading in general. I really loved that they chose The Bell Jar to analyse as it was the perfect text to accompany this story of heartache and pain. I do feel that Jam's reaction to certain events (no spoilers) needed to be fleshed out a little more, I think she'd be lacking in the friend department if she behaved this way in any kind of authentic situation. Each of Jam's friends have hidden trauma, secrets and desires which makes the story telling all the more interesting, though. It's a very unique story with a twist and I couldn't bring myself to put it down as I had to know what happens. Makepeace is 12 years old and has the ability to harbour ghosts within her body. The problem is, she doesn't know it. It's a secret her mother has been keeping from her throughout her life. When she's separated from her mother, she inadvertently inherits the spirit of a recently deceased bear. It is wild and angry, hungry and confused and it's in her brain and trying to control her body. After a series of devastating events, Makepeace is sent to live with her father's ancestors. They are a strange group of people who have secret powers. They see Makepeace as a troublesome girl with only one use, a use that won't be revealed to Makepeace until much later therefore I won't spoil it here. What Makepeace does know is that she needs to escape the clutches of these people. What follows is an epic adventure where Makepeace must befriend ghosts and those of the living whom she doesn't really trust. The country is engaged in a civil war, it's the 17th century and Makepeace must gather every ally she can if she is going to survive. I really loved this novel, there are multiple plot twists and side adventures to keep readers of fantasy fiction with some history thrown in engaged for hours. Makepeace and Bear are an unlikely yet amazing duo, and with each turn for the weird, I was on board. You'll really fall in love with Makepeace and be rooting for her every step of the way, she is defiant, brave, clever and cunning, yet she is honest and honourable throughout. The villains in this tale are many, and they are truly evil and disturbing. Makepeace's father's ancestors are about as dastardly and dark as they get, they have harnessed a power that has made them mad-drunk and desperate at the same time. They will stop at nothing to secure their name in the history books, this makes them very dangerous, as many characters in the novel find out the hard way. Another triumph from Frances Hardinge, I really recommend it! Samkad wants to be a warrior, but he's told he's not ready. His friend Luki also wants to be a warrior, but she's told she'll never be one because she's a girl. It's 1899 in the Philippines, and big changes are in the air. When Samkad's long lost brother reappears and brings with him a strange American visitor, Samkad's entire life is thrown upside down. A gritty story about truth, family, war and loss. I really loved Bone Talk as it is steeped in history. I had no idea of the American invasion of the Philippines and even if I had, the stories out there are primarily from a U.S. perspective. Bone Talk allows the reader to see things from the point of view of those having their entire lives taken from them, their choices taken away by foreign invaders who say one thing and do another, who do not keep promises, who bribe and lie and steal. It's a damning and fascinating look at political meddling and war but told through a very human lens. Samkad is a wonderful character who wants to be tough and brave like his father but who harbours very real fears and anxiety just like anyone. Luki is brave and fearless on the outside but deep down wants nothing more than to be friends with Samkad, that is her biggest fear. She is tough and loyal and a great character as well. When the Americans arrive, prepare for some really tough scenes that will make your blood boil, it's a riveting story that taught me a lot, loved it. |
Categories
All
Follow These Guys: 100 Scope Notes No Flying No Tights Pretty Books Reading Rants! Sophisticated Dorkiness Teen Librarian |