Young Adult
The Bone Shard Daughter is a satisfying though wanting end to a novel on human experience. What makes us human? Are humans made or born? Indentured servitude or slavery, is one worst or better? What is the alternative? Is it acceptable to do unacceptable things for the greater good? Who defines the greater good?
Plus there’s magic, mystery, and fantasy
Xianxia novels are high-fantasy stories that feature magic, demons, ghosts, magical beasts, immortals, and Chinese folklore and mythology. Jade Fire Gold is a really great read and I’m hoping there is a sequel or at the very least another book in this universe.
What Can I Say? is a self help book suitable for all ages, abilities and confidence levels.
Even if you’re the most clued up person socially or struggle 1:1 or in groups, you will gain something from reading a chapter or two.
Sometimes there is too much to write and it’s easier to summarise visually.
Check out my recap for July 2021, I went big and read like crazy. Some month are great like that.
Kissing Emma is an accurate and disheartening representation of current stories you hear time and time again in the news: young people caught up in a spiral of poverty, addiction and/or domestic violence with very few positive options to escape. These shouldn’t be familiar stories, we shouldn’t be desensitised, but we are.
Calli is on her 10th new school because her mom ups and leaves town when romantic relationships ends. If that wasn’t enough to contend with Calli has Tourette syndrome. She longs for a friend and somewhere to call home.
Heartfelt, powerful, insightful and just packed full of emotion. This YA read was more than just the turmoil of the teenage years.
This incredibly short story inspired by Balkan folklore, was a fun read. It’s a cautionary tale of keeping your word, mysterious men, vulnerable girl, going on a night time adventure in the woods.
The Gatekeeper’s Staff was heroic, dramatic, full of suspense and the best thing yet was that this world of West African folklore was a mystery. Get the audiobook and you won’t regret it
Hexed is a fairly topical book, which covers #metoo issues around consent, institutional bias, pervasive sexism and the added bonus of being able to deal with these issues with the power of witchcraft. And set within high school. Seems like a lot of juggling balls, but it all works.
What is it like to be a black teen now? These difficult and topical themes were portrayed in a real, accurate and age appropriate way in Black Brother, Black Brother. A must read.
