Tuesday 31 August 2010

Winner of Scarlett Dead by Cathy Brett!

Huge apologies for making you all wait a few extra days. I've succumbed to an Evil Cold, Minor (but still Evil) chest infection, and the antibiotics are working but make me feel rough. So I managed to um yes forget this. 

Before I share who the winner is, I would like to sum up the answers to the question I put on the entry form: 

Imagine you become a ghost like Scarlett. What would you do? 

Travel, read lots of books, guard the school library, haunt people, visit writers and artists. 

On to the winner! 



The winner of this book is........

Cass! 

Many congratulations Cass. I'll pop the book in the post tomorrow for you. 

Thank you for all the entries - there is still one competition currently running here :) 

Monday 30 August 2010

The Violet Keystone by Garth Nix


5th August 2010, Harper Collins Children's Books
272 pages, Paperback
Review Copy

Children's, 9+, adventure

Frequent mild to moderate peril. Humour. Lots of drama.


The sixth and final adventure in the thrilling fantasy series from award-winning author Garth Nix.

Tal and Milla are only one step away from death, while the evil that has controlled their world for so long is about to triumph. If the Veil is lifted, nothing can save the Dark World. Their one glimmer of hope is to confront the monster Sharrakor and regain the Violet keystone. But first they must climb up to the highest levels and find their way into the Seventh Tower…

Nayuleska's Thoughts:

Leaving readings literally hanging onto the edge of the page is one way to finish a book. Thankfully I hadn't read the series beforehands, so the transition from book five to this one was easy for me. I do feel sorry for readers who had to wait to learn about Tal and Milla's fate. However, I think they may agree that it was worth the wait.

The chaos that entered Tal's own world: both the outer and inner chaos was pretty phenomenal. There wasn't really time to breath from page to page (on occasion Tal and Milla couldn't draw breath). And yet through the chaos there was order. Tal and Milla knew (some of the time) what they needed to do. They drew on the strength of their tenuous friendship, the friendships and working relations they had with their companions to keep striving, even though death faced them down at every corner. I felt a sense of relief as they entered the seventh tower, although also a big sense of apprehension. For what seems to be the final battle isn't all that it does seem. 

It was hard to watch Milla being unable to react because of what happened in book 5. I think it taught her patience and humility, which I feel helped her in the final battle. As for Tal, he has changed so much. He sees the bigger picture, and isn't as selfish as he was. He is able to step back a little and make tough decisions at the right moments.

Final Conclusion: Edge of the seat read full of action, sorrow and reflection. I'm eager to see what the next book from Garth Nix will be!

Be sure to check out the other books in the series which start with book one: The Fall. And check out the Keys of the Kingdom series which start with Mister Monday

What are you reading? #33

What are you reading on Monday? is a weekly meme hosted by Rachel at Home Girl's Book Blog where you post books completed last week and plans for upcoming books. Jump over to her blog and see who else is participating.

Books I've read this week:



Children's Fiction
(Brilliant ending!)



Horror
(Either it's mildhorror or I'm getting used to the genre!)



Young Adult
(First time of reading it - yay! I'm Team Peeta...I think...)



Historical Fiction
(Surprisingly little romance, more mystery than anything else...)




YA/Thriller
(The first is a reread...my review...overall, lots of fighting and a bit of gore!)


Fiction
(I love the cover!)


Children's Fiction
(This is spookier than the first book!)





Books I hope to read this week




Children's Fiction
(A person leading two lives....don't miss your chance to win a copy right here on my site!)




YA
(Vampires!)



Fantasy
(I'm eager to see if my theories from book 1 are correct...)



Children's Fiction
(The first is a re-read...my review... in preparation for the second.  Loved the first book, eager to start the next!)







Sunday 29 August 2010

Heist Society by Ally Carter



Feb 2010, Disney Hyperion
304, Hardcover
Personal copy

YA
Occasional mild violence, hints of romance in places


Summary from Disney Hyperion:

When Katarina Bishop was three, her parents took her to the Louvre...to case it. For her seventh birthday, Katarina and her Uncle Eddie traveled to Austria...to steal the crown jewels. When Kat turned fifteen, she planned a con of her own—scamming her way into the best boarding school in the country, determined to leave the family business behind.

Unfortunately, leaving "the life" for a normal life proves harder than she’d expected. Soon, Kat’s friend and former co-conspirator, Hale, appears out of nowhere to bring her back into the world she tried so hard to escape. But he has good reason: a powerful mobster’s art collection has been stolen, and he wants it returned. Only a master thief could have pulled this job, and Kat’s father isn’t just on the suspect list, he is the list.

Caught between Interpol and a far more deadly enemy, Kat’s dad needs her help. For Kat there is only one solution: track down the paintings and steal them back. So what if it’s a spectacularly impossible job? She’s got two weeks, a teenage crew, and hopefully just enough talent to pull off the biggest heist in her family’s (very crooked) history—and, with any luck, steal her life back along the way.


Amy's Thoughts:

Why is it so many of my favourite YA books begin in school? *shakes head* Clearly, I was destined to become a teacher and go back to school forever. But anyway, the review.

When Kat finds herself being blamed for putting the teacher's car in the school fountain, she's knows something's up. She doesn't expect it to be Hale, though - the really cute guy who has worked with her family for years, and whose first name still remains a mystery. Despite the cute factor, she's not exactly thrilled: after all, she had to pull one of the most elaborate cons in her life to get into this school, and she intends to go through with it. She's put her old life firmly behind her.

Only, no matter how far you run, you can't escape the fact that family is family, and when family needs you - well, you have to be there.

One of my absolutely favourite things about all of Ally Carter's work is how clean it is. I know that's kind of an odd comment to make; most people love a story for the plot, or the characters, or the worldbuilding, not for its cleanliness, after all :D But still. I have a baby sister who's 13, and I recommend books I love to her. So it's really nice to know that there are books I can recommend to her that really are clean.

That said, Heist Society is full of Ally's usual deft plot twists and well-developed characters, all with just a touch of romance. I especially loved the fact that the main job in the story involves breaking into the Louvre, and I've actually been there! My husband and I traveled to Europe for the first time last year, and it's so exciting to read a story and be able to visualise the places it describes :o)

Final Conclusion:

A squeetastic book! I still think Carter's Gallagher Girls series tops it, but Heist is a lot of fun. I hope the movie option becomes a reality :)

Find out more about Heist Society on the Australian Heist Society website, or find out more about the author at AllyCarter.com.

Saturday 28 August 2010

Win a copy of The Double Life of Cassiel Roadnight by Jenny Valentine! INTERNATIONAL ends 12 pm 11th September


Summary from HarperCollins

Two boys. One identity. He can change his life if he says yes…

An explosive new mystery from the award-winning author Jenny Valentine, The Double Life of Cassiel Roadnight is the story of a boy who assumes the identity of a missing teenager and in-so-doing unearths a series of shattering family secrets – and the truth about who he really is. With all the classic hallmarks of a Jenny novel – a fantastically strong, sensitive and memorable first person narration; themes of loss and betrayal, family secrets and personal identity; truly quality writing that is 'literary' but never inaccessbile or pretentious, this is the thrilling new novel from the author of Finding Violet Park.


---------------------------------------


The Prize:
THREE people will win a copy of this book, which came out 5th August.



To Enter:
Fill in this form here. That's it! You don't have to be a follower to enter.



The Deadline:
12pm GMT 11th September
I will notify the winners by email (picked by a random number generator).






Friday 27 August 2010

Chapter One of Out for Blood by Alyxandra Harvey

I fully intended to schedule in a book review today...but as I type I have lost my voice and have an Evil Sore Throat. So I'm using this chance to include the first chapter of Alyxandra Harvey's third book in the Drake Chronicles: Out for Blood! (I'm a huge fan...and keep recommending the books to people).

Click here to be taken to the first chapter.

Enjoy it! I'm off to relax and think happy, anti-sore throat thoughts. Which will involve books :)

Thank you to the lovely people at Bloomsbury for the snippet!

Thursday 26 August 2010

The Golden Acorn by Catherine Cooper


16th August 2010, Infinite Ideas
366 pages, Paperback 
Review copy

Children's, 

Lots of humour, mild peril, mystery

Summary from Infinite Ideas

When Jack Brenin finds a golden acorn lying in the grass, little does he know that it is the beginning of a thrilling and magical adventure. Just an ordinary boy, Jack has been chosen for a hugely important task, and enters a world he believed only existed in legend. Full of twists and turns and featuring characters such as talking ravens and mischievous Spriggans, The Golden Acorn is a hugely entertaining and exciting tale from a very talented new author. Your kids will love it, and so will you!

Nayuleska's thoughts

I love seeing acorns every year. The idea of one being important to Jack caught my interest. Jack is an ordinary boy, finding himself caught up in an extraordinary world which coexists alongside the normal, human one. Throughout the adventure, he isn't just exposed to magic, he gets to use it in a fun, unexpected way. Camelin the raven does more than just make Jack get food for him. The mischievous bird ends up being Jack's teacher in certain areas of magic. Camelin isn't his only teacher. There's a book which has restrictions on what it will reveal to Jack (although that isn't all it can do). Then there's Nora who's a great cook, and Elan who is closer to Jack's age. 

Jack's grandfather is delighted that Jack is making friends, and has no idea what he gets up to when he stays with Elan. I think even if he did find out, a part of him might let Jack carry on with it because it is so much fun. 
The fun isn't without danger. The role of the Spriggans becomes greater as the story continues. They - and others - pose a threat to Jack, just because he is The Chosen One. I'm wondering whether they will actively target Jack's grandfather in the next two books, which could put Jack in a difficult position if he had to choose between saving his grandfather and fulfilling his destiny. 

Final Conclusion: I'd love a talking raven in my roof! He'd never run out of food :) I'm eager to see what mischief Camelin will get into next (as well as Jack's adventure) :-) 

Similar books: check out The Boffins Go Batty by Jeanne Willis or Knife by R J Anderson

Wednesday 25 August 2010

The Company of Shadows by Ruth Newman


July 2010, Simon and Schuster
384 pages, Paperback
Review copy

Thriller, mystery

Fear, chases, many surprises, occasional violence and swearing,  

Summary from Simon and Schuster


Flicking through her friends' holiday snaps, Kate Benson receives a sudden shock. For there in the background is her husband, Charlie. Dark hair, blue eyes, familiar smile: there's no mistaking him. But that's impossible. Because Charlie died exactly a year ago.
Determined to track down the man in the photograph, Kate follows the trail from Miami to Sicily, where her husband drowned in mysterious circumstances. But when she discovers serious discrepancies in the original investigation, Kate starts to question whether she ever really knew the man she loved so much.
Was Charlie murdered? Was their marriage as perfect as Kate remembers? Who are the people following her? Who can she trust? And is Kate herself to be trusted? Because there are secrets in her past too . . .


Nayuleska's Thoughts

As a lover of Twisted Wing, I had to read this book. It is a totally different voice to Twisted Wing, and a different subject matter. But Ruth Newman uses the same level of clues, mystery and plot twists. In fact, the layers of all the characters revealed throughout the story had a greater impact on me than the ending of Twisted Wing. 

I felt very sympathetic to Kate. I could feel her desperation, her need for closure about the sightings of her husband. Chasing the clues to the phantom image of him leads her to question everything in her life. Any other person would have given up with each obstacle that gets set in her path. Ruth refuses to be beaten by any problem, and keeps going, even when her life is put in danger. I thoroughly enjoyed the thriller aspect of this book, it met every box that I have when reading a thriller.

I was able to guess a little of the ending, but the revelations about Kate's past had me grinning at the book. It was just so unexpected. Everything that happened in the book suddenly made sense. If the revelation had been placed any earlier on in the story (which would have been cool), the reader would have changed their mind how they viewed Kate. I'm looking forward to re-reading it, to view Kate's search with new eyes. And to reading more by Ruth Newman. 

Final Conclusion: A book with plots that flash up so unexpectedly that by the time the next revelation comes, you are still thinking 'What?!!'

Be sure to read the previous book by Ruth Newman, Twisted Wing

Tuesday 24 August 2010

Percy Jackson and the Last Olympian by Rick Riordan


February 2010, Puffin
368 pages, Paperback
Review Copy

Children's, Fantasy

Mythical beings, frequent peril and tension, touching moments needing tissues.

Summary from Puffin 

Most people get presents on their sixteenth birthday. I get a prophecy that could save or destroy the world.
That's how it is when you're the son of Poseidon, God of the Sea. According to an ancient prophecy, bad things will happen when I turn sixteen - because I'm the one who gets to decide the fate of the entire world. But no pressure.
This is the one where Kronos, Lord of the Titans, is beginning his attack on New York City, where Mount Olympus stands virtually unguarded. Oh, and the dreaded (and not to mention enormous) monster Typhon is also heading our way. So it's me and forty of my demigod friends versus untold evil . . .

Nayuleska's Thoughts 

There is no doubt that Percy has grown in many ways since he was first aware of being a demi-god. He is no longer phased by monsters cropping up in normal places. Although considering the number of enemies appearing in sight of humans in this book, it's a good thing Percy has experience. It will, however, take more than experience and good fighting skills to beat Kronos. Kronos has access to a large army. The number of campers at Half-Blood Camp has diminished. The ones that remain, well let's just say they aren't all so keen to fight. Percy faces a tough challenge of trying to bring the fractured campers together. That in itself is a tough job. Kronos doesn't pause the war because of the campers' internal conflict. That makes Percy's job look impossible. 

Impossible is a word that frequently sprang to mind as more challenges faced Percy, Annabeth, Grover and the others. Just when I thought things were getting better, another boulder dropped before Percy. This final book has more action, decisions and emotion than even I expected it to have. The relationship between Percy and Annabeth has a few developments, which are quite sweet. My guess about the role of the Olympian was partially correct, and very cool :) The ending has me hoping that there might be more in the future about Percy's life. After all, he is still a teenager. There's so much more to happen in his life. 

Final Conclusion:  Superb end to an amazing series which brings the ancient world to life. 

Be sure to check out the previous books in the series, starting with #1, Percy Jackson and the Lightning Thief

If you're eager for more ancient adventures, be sure to check out Rick Riordan's new series, which starts with The Red Pyramid (I'm currently reading it)

Monday 23 August 2010

The Children of the Lost by David Whitely


5th August 2010, Puffin 
416 pages, Paperback
Review Copy

Children's, 11+, 
Suspense, occasional gore and violence. 

Summary from Puffin

MARK AND LILY HAVE BEEN BANISHED from Agora, the ancient city-state where everything is for sale - memories, emotions - even children.

Lost and alone they discover Giseth, a seemingly perfect land where everyone is equal, possessions are unknown, and Lily believes they will find the secret of their entwined destiny.
But paradise comes at a price. Why are their new friends so scared? What hides deep in the forest? And who is the mysterious woman who appears in their dreams, urging them to find the Children of the Lost?


Nayuleska's Thoughts: 

After having a huge 'Ahhhh' moment at the end of The Midnight Charter (book 1), I was pleasantly surprised to see that virtually every page added to the kaleidoscope of plot twists in The Children of the Lost. I was taken in with the emphasis on emotions. Mark is the suspicious one. He is the one that doesn't want to be there, the one who wants to go back to Agora (but can't). Lily is so happy to find her niche in life. She can't understand Mark's absurd behaviour. They were more alike in book 1 than in this book. Here, they are definitely drawing apart. Mostly because of circumstances, but also because the way they view the world. I enjoyed watching their character arcs within the story. I didn't like Mark a lot of the time, but I could understand why he felt in such a way.

 I liked how I could understand the politics within the new world Lily and Mark live, and the undercurrent mystery of the secret society and the whole issue surrounding The Midnight Charter. David Whitely has carefully laid clues in the book which make sense once you reach the end (this is particularly true of the first book).  The ending - oh wow. I can't spoil it, but I was so sad to reach the end of the book. Book 3 can't come quick enough! 

Final Conclusion: A story full of layers that will have you thinking long after the last page. 

Be sure to have read the first in the series: The Midnight Charter. 

What are you reading? #32

What are you reading on Monday? is a weekly meme hosted by Rachel at Home Girl's Book Blog where you post books completed last week and plans for upcoming books. Jump over to her blog and see who else is participating.

Books I've read this week:

Well....I've barely read any books recently! Life's been life, I've had minor cold Germlets chasing me round.  So this week I have read....


Manga (I've read the Japanese version)
(Very cute tale about a girl with 4 pigtails, who views life from a different angle than other people...)




YA
(Fab take on the 'Little Red Riding Hood' fairy tale!)



YA (Life just gets worse for Tal and Milla)



Children's Fiction (Better than Percy Jackson - and I didn't think that was possible! Rick Riordan is definitely growing as a writer)






Books I hope to read in the upcoming week:
Well...as you can see so far I'm not reaching my targets. So I'll keep the list small. And will undoubtedly read other books too! (I hope!)



YA


 
 
 
 

YA/Thriller
(The first is a reread...my review...)

Sunday 22 August 2010

White Cat by Holly Black


April 2010, Simon & Schuster
310, Hardcover
Personal copy

YA Paranormal
Some moderate violence and gore, hints of romance including a kiss, lots of suspense

Summary from Simon & Schuster:

Cassel comes from a family of curse workers -- people who have the power to change your emotions, your memories, your luck, by the slightest touch of their hands. And since curse work is illegal, they're all mobsters, or con artists. Except for Cassel. He hasn't got the magic touch, so he's an outsider, the straight kid in a crooked family. You just have to ignore one small detail -- he killed his best friend, Lila, three years ago.

Ever since, Cassel has carefully built up a façade of normalcy, blending into the crowd. But his façade starts crumbling when he starts sleepwalking, propelled into the night by terrifying dreams about a white cat that wants to tell him something. He's noticing other disturbing things, too, including the strange behavior of his two brothers. They are keeping secrets from him, caught up in a mysterious plot. As Cassel begins to suspect he's part of a huge con game, he also wonders what really happened to Lila. Could she still be alive? To find that out, Cassel will have to out-con the conmen.


Holly Black has created a gripping tale of mobsters and dark magic where a single touch can bring love -- or death -- and your dreams might be more real than your memories.


Amy's thoughts:

In White Cat, the first novel in the Curse Worker series, Holly Black deftly plunges the reader into a world that is so much like our own - and yet different in chilling, subtle ways. Cassel, the main character, is well rounded and likeable, and it's easy to feel both sympathy and nerves for him as the story progresses and the plot thickens. As well as magic users who, in a world where magic is illegal, are labelled 'curse workers' - workers, for short - White Cat boasts a host of fantastic supporting characters: the quirky girl from school who ties her hair with twine and carries a hemp handbag; the science nerd who's also a drama props expert and is totally obsessed with fake blood; relatives to make your skin crawl; and of course, one white cat with an Attitude.

You can probably guess that I'm totally in love with the characters in this novel :o) But the plot is also awesome. I was so excited when I figured out a major twist halfway through the novel - only then the twist was revealed a few pages later and didn't turn out to be the major reveal of the novel after all! This book just keeps you guessing and guessing as Cassel digs through his family to sift out the secrets and lies from the truth - and learns that memories never count for as much as you think they do.

Final conclusion:

Oh. my. SQUEE!! Seriously. I can has next book in series (released March '11) yet, please? O:)

Find out more about author Holly Black at her website.

Friday 20 August 2010

Winners of The Eternal Ones by Kirsten Miller

It's time to announce the winners of another prize! (reviews will be back on Sunday....I'm a little busy with life and I'm catching up with reading) 



So the winners of a copy of the Eternal Ones by Kirsten Miller are....

Jenny Woolf! 

Hollie Marsh! 

I've passed on your details to the publicists and they will be in touch with you both soon. Many congratulations! 

Remember, keep your eyes peeled to the right for a list of which competitions are currently running here on NRC> 

Tuesday 17 August 2010

Winners of Hunger Games Competition!

I hope you are all gearing up for the release of Mocking Jay! I can proudly announce the winners of the competition.

The winner who will receive the lovely t-shirt, and a badge is....

#26, Throuthehaze ! 

The following are winners of a badge....(numbers are from my spreadsheet) 

# 14, Liz A!

#3, brandileigh2003!

#28, Linz!

#32, Lynsey Newton! 

#18, The1stDaughter! 

#20, Anne Royce!

#22, Debdesk! 

#12, Ashley's Bookshelf

#27, Justine! 

#5, Sharli!

#9, cherri!

#11, Aleksandra!

#4, Kaitlyn in Bookland! 

#8, kjovus!

#7, Lauren!

I will be emailing all winners shortly to sort out sending off the badges. Badges will be posted by Monday 23rd August (as will the t-shirt). 

Here are the following items which all entrants wanted to receive from a sponsor, and my thoughts about it. 

  • Water (essential)
  • A delicious vegetarian feast (tasty, good nutrients here)
  • Food (generic) (always useful)
  • Watermelon (A source of water! And a sweet food ) 
  • An item that can be a weapon as well as find food (inventive) 
  • Antibiotic ointment (very useful for preventing death from infection) 
  • A weapon (generic) (useful for protection) 
  • A knife  (good for protection)
  • Rifle with ammunition/machine gun with unlimited bullets (Well that would get rid of other competitors very quickly)
  • Bow and arrow (I love this type of weapon)
  • A bag filled with food, water and survival items (the sponsor would be rich to provide this!)
  • A copy of Mockingjay (This made me smile. The entrant did then say water, because you need that more than anything).
  • MP3 player (keep you occupied at night) 
Congratulations to all the winners! If you aren't among them, please keep checking back for the other competitions here on Nayu's Reading Corner (pssst, there are still two going on!) 

Witch Baby and Me On Stage by Debi Gliori


July 2010, Corgi Children's
336 pages, Paperback
Review Copy

Children's, 7+ 
Lots of humour, magic and mayhem



It's a rainy spring-time, coming up to Witch Baby Daisy's second birthday. Her nursery class are putting on a musical performance, helped by the older children, including big sister Lily. 

Meanwhile Mum is trying to potty train Daisy, unaware that as soon as she succeeds, Daisy will be reclaimed by the witches who live on the hill, who've only been waiting for their little protegee to be out of nappies before they take her 'home'. Happily, Daisy is so rubbish at toilet training that Lily persuades Mum to drop the idea, and the day is saved! 

The concert is a great success, despite Daisy turning Lily's bagpipes into a spider, and the witches are distracted by spells for romance.


My thoughts:

Waywoof has puppies! The puppies make Lily look even more crazy because, like Waywoof, they are invisible to normal people. Just because they are invisible doesn't mean they can't cause a lot of trouble. The funny situations they put Lily through are nothing compared to the havoc Daisy causes. Lily was trouble enough just when she could handle one spell on her own. Now, she is growing up and is confident to hold more spells at once. I love how Daisy knows her own mind and her own family very well. Her abilities as a witch baby have the three witches wanting to have her in their house pronto. Lily might dislike it at the time, but she is the best eldest sister a witch baby could have. Even if Daisy causes chaos at school on account of not liking certain things. People are willing to overlook strange occurrences when the only explanation is one they aren't fond of.  I'm eager for more witch baby stories, and would like one day to see witch baby go to her true home. 

Final Conclusion: 

A hilarious read about what happens as a witch baby grows up in a human household, and her witch guardians want her back. 

Other good reads

Monday 16 August 2010

What are you reading? #31

What are you reading on Monday? is a weekly meme hosted by Rachel at Home Girl's Book Blog where you post books completed last week and plans for upcoming books. Jump over to her blog and see who else is participating.

Books I've read this week:
This week has involved lots of R&R time, which has been wonderful.



Young Adult: Paranormal
(Breaking Dawn's my favourite, had a misunderstanding by employing my usual habit of peeking at the end of either New Moon or Eclipse - thought Bella became both a werewolf and a vampire! Was pretty eager to see that but it didn't happen...)



YA
 
 

YA/Thriller
(The first is a reread...my review...)



YA
 




Books near the top of this week's TBR pile:




Young Adult:  Fantasy



Sci Fi/Fantasy



Graphic Novel



Young Adult:  Fantasy
(Chance to win a copy right here...ends August 19th)




Sunday 15 August 2010

Zelah Green: One More Little Problem by Vanessa Curtis



July 2010, Egmont 
240 pages, Paperback
Review Copy

Children's, 11+ /Young Adult 
Lots of humours, serious issues (OCD, cutting), lack of communication in families

Summary by Egmont

My name is Zelah Green - and I'm still here. 

Summer's supposed to be good, right? But I'm stuck at home with a lousy laptop, stacks of homework to start and dad being more useless than ever. And then Caro turns up out of the blue, all heavy metal and piercings and attitude, and my boring summer's turned upside down. It's like she knows just what to say to wind me up, sending my OCD right out of control....

My thoughts: 

I hinted in the review of book one that OCD can never be cured. Although Zelah's back home, she still has OCD tendencies. Initally having Caro stay at her house is okay. But Caro does so many things that aggrevate Zelah's OCD. I felt so sorry for Zelah when I watched more of those OCD tendencies come back. Although she is surrounded by people she knows, she feels so alone. Her OCD is the one thing - or so she thinks - that she can rely on. She learns a few truths about life which she doesn't like. But when she hits rock bottom, her true friends pull through and help her out. I feel this book shows that whatever a condition a person has, even if it gets reduced, it will also affect their lives. Family and friends don't always realise that there is no cure, that stress brings problems back. As someone who always thinks 'what happened next?' I was pleased to read the next part of Zelah's life. I'm hoping that in the future there might be more of her story. 

Final Conclusion: 

A good continuation of Zelah's life, showing how even with treatment OCD can flare up any time. Heaps of humour here. 

Zelah Green: Who Says I'm a Freak? by Vanessa Curtis

July 2010, Egmont 
256 pages, Paperback
Review Copy

Children's, 11+ 
Lots of humour, serious issues addressed (Obsessive Compulsive Disorder, self-harm, anorexia, violence)

Summary by Egmont

My name is Zelah Green and I'm a cleanaholic. 

I spend most of my life running away from germs. And dirt. And people. And I'm just about doing OK and then my stepmother packs me of to some kind of hospital to live with strangers. It's stuck in the middle of nowhere. Great. There's Alice who's anorexic. Caro who cuts herself. Silent Sol who has the cutest smile. And then there's me. 

My thoughts: 

I find people who have conditions like these interesting. The way they think is slightly different to the rest of us. Zelah's voice had me laughing most of the way through. Apart from the touching moments where I held my breath, or was reaching for a handful of tissues. There are more people with (or perhaps more people who admit they have) OCD, who self-harm and other issues. In a sad way I'm sure that a lot of readers might know one or more people like Zelah. Zelah lets us into her head, to see how her brain reaches obsessive conclusions about germs. It portrays how family and friends are sometimes unable to cope with it. It also shows that people like Zelah still put a lot into society, and can make a difference to how other people live. And that with the right care, their condition can be managed. (I wouldn't ever say cured, because there is always as chance of a relapse, as book 2 will show). 

Final conclusion: 
A brilliant inside into the life of someone with OCD, one book that everyone should read. 

EVENT CLOSED Win a copy of Scarlett Dedd by Cathy Brett! INTERNATIONAL ends 12pm 29th August

With my current competitions coming to a close, I'd like to start up some more!

If you like the paranormal, how about the story of a girl who is a ghost? Here's the summary from Headline


You're dead Scarlett...

Previously a poor taste jibe from school frenemies, now a statement of fact. 

Scarlett is absolutely mortified (in more ways than one) to discover that she's accidentally killed herself while trying to get out of a school trip. Even worse, she's taken her entire family with her.

Life as a ghost is pretty dull - if only some of her friends were dead too.


The Prize: One person will win a copy of the book, which doesn't come out until 2nd September

To Enter: Fill in this form here. That's it! You don't have to be a follower to enter.

The Deadline: 12pm GMT 29th August. I will notify the winner by email (picked by a random number generator).