The Midnight Dress - Karen Foxlee

The Midnight Dress by  Karen Foxlee

Guest Review by Alice (15)

Rose Lovell and her dad arrive in yet another town, she knows it will be the same as always, they will stay a while, her dad will get drunk and they will move on, it's happened before and it will happen again, won't it? But this time it's different, Rose makes friends with Pearl Kelly, the 'town sweetheart' who convinces the closed-book Rose to take part in the town's harvest parade. Rose goes to Eddie the town dressmaker whose life is riddled with secrets, tales, and according to the townspeople, witchcraft. Together they create a dress woven and stitched from memories, stories and magic. On the night of the parade the girl with the midnight dress goes missing, and nothing will be the same, ever again.

On top of having a beautiful plot line this book is one of the most spectacularly written books I have read in a long time. Rose is a bit of a goth, loves all things black and most of all the rainforest she discovers after hearing  Eddie's stories. When she meets Pearl she starts to come out of her shell. The way the character Rose is written made me fall in love with her and also feel a little bit of empathy for her, she had never really had any friends before Pearl and her dad doesn't really care about her. The book is written in a way that at the beginning of each chapter you find out a little bit more of the end and that helped me to understand the story more as the plot twisted on.

Anyone over the age of 11 could easily get as absorbed by this book as I did!

This book is brilliant for anyone who loves a good bit of friendship and mystery in a book. If you do then this book is most definitely for you!

Publication details: 2013, Hot Key Books, London, paperback

This copy: review copy from the publisher

Emily Climbs - LM Montgomery

Emily Climbs by LM Montgomery

Guest review by Alice (14)

This is a beautifully written follow up to Emily of New Moon but you have to read Emily of New Moon first as I did because it would get a bit confusing as to who's who as there are quite a few characters from the first book in this book. I for one can't wait to read the last book in the Emily series (Emily's Quest) to find out what happens next.

(Spoiler alert – if you haven’t read Emily of New Moon, go away and do that first if you're afraid of spoilers for Emily Climbs!)

Emily Climbs is the second book in the Emily series. In the first book, the 12 year old Emily moves to New Moon, her aunt's house after her father’s death leaves her an orphan. Now 14 in the second book, Emily goes to Shrewsbury high school with her friends, Ilse, Teddy and Perry, but going to Shrewsbury means going to stay with aunt Ruth and to stay with aunt Ruth means to give up her beloved writing. Emily now torn from her dreams faces many dilemmas throughout the story.

My favourite character is Cousin Jimmy who although he is not the main character is always willing to listen to Emily and he will always side with her, always thinking her right.

This thought provoking book will make all teenagers and adults sympathise with the woes and dilemmas of young Emily from the start of the book when she is 14 to the end where she is 17. Some of the language on this book may be a bit tricky for younger readers to understand (even I had a bit of trouble with some words!) and this book gets ten out of ten for a deeply satisfying read.

Publication details: November 2013, Virago Modern Classic, London, paperback (first published 1925)

This copy: review copy from the publisher

Geek Girl - Holly Smale

Geek Girl by Holly Smale

Guest Review by Alice (14)

A funny book with lots of interesting facts, I was crying because I was laughing so hard!

It is about a teenage girl called Harriet Manners, who is a geek. No-one seems to like her at school, then she gets the chance to remake herself and become a new person. Holly Smale is an author who can write a good book and draw readers into the plot quickly.

A book full of personality and inspiration, I would definitely recommend Geek Girl to anyone who enjoys random but fun bits of trivia and a good laugh. I rate this book ten out of ten because it is something unique and I love it! A book for anyone over the age of 12 who also likes a bit of romance thrown into the funny and fun facts brew!

Publication details: 2013, HarperCollins Children’s Books, London, paperback

This copy: review copy from the publisher

PS. Recommended age on the back cover is 11+.

The Fault in Our Stars - Teen Book Club

October’s teen book club read was John Green’s The Fault in Our Stars. The group met at the local library and had a Hazel and Gus style picnic: Dutch themed sandwiches – Gouda cheese, chocolate spread – and fizzy drinks in fancy bottles served in picnic champagne flutes.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Here are some of their thoughts about the book:

Imi

I absolutely loved this book, it's beautiful, emotional and one of my favourite books! It is so well written and by an amazing author. I constantly wanted to read more and I swear I had withdrawal symptoms when I wasn't reading it! Both times I read it I was sobbing even when I knew what was going to happen! All in all, I think it's an incredible book that I would recommend to anyone and everyone! 

Bridget

I thought that it was a good book but it was very predictable as I guessed the ending from the end of the first (or second) chapter, but I didn't really expect it to happen exactly in the way it did and as dramatically. I really liked Isaac, I thought that he was funny and I feel like I connected to him very easily. I thought that at points the words felt quite forced, like he didn't know what to put, also I think he tried too hard to put in quotes that would make people remember the book and think about it. I think that the book was over-hyped, my expectations were very high from what people had told me but it didn't live up to those expectations at all, this could be because they were so high that I didn't give it a chance.

Catherine

I thought The Fault in Our Stars was basically just a cancer novel, not that I have anything against cancer novels. However writing about someone overcoming this particular illness I think tends to restrain the level of originality others can have. As a whole the novel was okay to good, but not exceptional. It is one of the most hyped up books I've ever read and it really didn't live up to my expectations. The characters, while different, weren't very believable. For example Augustus didn't flow. Everything he said felt very scripted, like an over prepared speech. I feel Augustus was sort of made as a character to be famously quoted and therefore he wasn't natural. The characters didn't really connect for me. I think over a longer or teen novel I tend to expect to build a little empathy link with the characters. You come to know their little habits and their flaws and that makes them seem real. The characters and the whole book were really too perfect for me but I can see why some people liked them. The plot was also easy to predict. All in all I thought the book was a nice short novel perhaps for a day on the beach however I was disappointed and sad that it wasn't the emotional page-turning heart-wrencher it was set up to be.

Alice

I loved The Fault in Our Stars and I cried at it.

Mac

I really liked The Fault in Our Stars. It was sad but happy and a few tears were shed. Parts were a little predictable but that didn’t stop me from reading it. People have said it is very over-rated but I don’t think that at all. John Green did a splendid job. I can’t wait to read others of his.

 

Thanks to The Reading Agency for sending us reading group copies.

 

November's book club read was Noble Conflict by Malorie Blackman. Thoughts on that coming soon.

 

 

 

 

Alice's notes: 4 Carnegie 2013 longlist books

Our guest reviewer, Alice (12), has read four of the novels on the Carnegie longlist. She has considered some of the judging criteria (as interepreted by shadowing groups) and made a few notes on these books:

1. To Be a Cat by Matt Haig
2. Trouble in Toadpool by Anne Fine
3. Hitler's Angel by William Osborne
4. The Terrible Thing That Happened to Barnaby Brocket by John Boyne



Note: this is a cover of a proof copy. The cover in the shops is different and red.

1. To Be a Cat by Matt Haig

Characters
The author made me believe in all of the characters and their personalities.

Style
The story builds up slowly and the language is easy to understand. The story is from the author's point-of-view.

Plot
The plot is easy to follow, there is no sub plot and you can sometimes guess what's going to happen next.

Overall
I enjoyed it; it was right for my age group. I felt as if I wanted to carry on reading. I would recommend it; it left me thinking a lot; it didn't remind me of anything.

2. Trouble in Toadpool by Anne Fine

Characters
The conversations the characters have use suitable language - no swearing.

Style
The language is easy to read and understand. The story builds up slowly; a lot of description.

Plot
The plot/story is easy to follow. You can't guess what's going to happen next. I did not expect the ending.

Overall
I enjoyed it. It was a bit young for me; probably more for 9-11 year olds. I wanted to carry on reading. I would recommend it. It left me laughing. It did not remind me of anything.

3. Hitler's Angel by William Osborne

Characters
A good first impression - Leni and Otto are brave German teenagers.

Style
It dives straight into the action; a lot of dialogue; not a lot of description.

Plot
Easy to follow; no sub-plot.

Overall
I enjoyed it; right for my age group; I wanted to carry on reading. I would recommend it. It left me feeling sad and happy. It didn't remind me of anything.

You can read Little M's review of Hitler's Angel.

4. The Terrible Thing That Happened to Barnaby Brocket by John Boyne

Characters
A surprised first impression by how they wanted to be normal.

Style
Straightforward language and easy to follow.

Plot
I didn't expect the ending. It was surprising.

Overall
I enjoyed it. It was right for my age group, maybe a little bit young. I wanted to carry on reading. I would recommend it. It left me feeling happy. It didn't remind me of any experiences.

You can read M's review of The Terrible Thing That Happened to Barnaby Brocket.

 

*******

Copies: all book copies received from the publishers for reviewing the CILIP Carnegie 2013 longlist.

Bullies, Wonder & A Giveaway

Today is the start of Anti-Bullying Week which runs in the UK from 19-23 November 2012. We Sat Down will be supporting the week with reviews of books where bullying is a central theme in the stories.

First up, is Wonder by RJ Palacio, our contribution to the new anti-bullying book club launched by the Anti-Bullying Alliance (ABA) and Random House Children’s Publishers.  Plus, there's a chance to win a copy of Wonder by RJ Palacio (see end of post). Wonder has been nominated for the Carnegie medal 2013.

 

Our reviews of Wonder:

Alice (12) was our nominated reader to review Wonder for the Anti-Bullying Alliance book club. Here are her overall thoughts:

About:
The book is about a boy named August who has a deformed face, and what it feels like to be him. The book is told by different people in his life at different points in the story.

Favourite character

Summer because she made friends with August and was one of the first to do it.

Rating

10/10- an excellent read but it can get emotional in places.

Age rating

All ages!


Little M's thoughts:

About:
Wonder is about a boy named August who has a mis-shaped face and is partly deaf. He starts high school without his astronaut helmet and without his mum. August got home-schooled after he was bullied in primary school.

Thoughts:
I would recommend this book to everybody because it shows bullying in school and out of school but there are some kind people too. I think it is an easy read. I found that one of the chapters was different to all the others and I still wonder (wonder - ha!) why. This book is in We Sat Down's Top 20.


Here is a link to M's review of Wonder which was posted earlier this year.

Wonder - UK Giveaway

 

To win a copy of Wonder by RJ Palacio:

 

Leave a comment on this post

 

OR

 

E-mail us: wesatdown2  @  gmail  .  com

with the subject line WONDER

Rules:
1. This giveaway will close at 5pm on Friday 23 November 2012.
2. If you are younger than 13, please get your parent's/guardian's permission to enter.
3. A winner will be selected at random.
4. Winners will be contacted by e-mail for their UK postal address. Please make sure that your entry enables us to contact you.
5. This giveaway is sponsored by ABA and Random House Children's Publishers.

 

Party Disaster - Guest Review by Alice

Party Disater by Sue Limb is reviewed by our 12 year old guest reviewer, Alice.

*******

Party Disaster by Sue Limb

Preview:

Party Disaster is about a teenage girl called Jess and her friends - Flora, Jodie, Fred and Mackenzie. It is called party disaster because Jess invited a few friends over and word gets round which causes a major disaster. Can Jess sort it out?

Favourite character:

My favourite character was Jodie. Although she isn’t the main character she wasn’t selfish and she always thinks of others before herself!

Extra comments:

- this book is part of a series and the beginning doesn’t make sense at first if you haven’t read any of the others

- it takes a while to get into the story

- the first time you read it, it seems rather confusing

Rating:

8/10  - maybe aimed at older people

Recommendation:

12 and over; for people who want close to real life stories

*****

Publication details:

Bloomsbury, June 2012, paperback

This copy: received by We Sat Down for review from the publishers