Review Time! - Midnight by Jacqueline Wilson

Title: Midnight

Author: Jacqueline Wilson

Genre: Kids, Contemporary, Chick Lit

Amazon: UK - USA

A few starting notes:

I decided to give this a shot because I usually enjoy Jacqueline Wilson books, and it seemed pretty interesting.

It was fairly short, so a nice book to slot in in between others.

Premise:

Violet is a slightly awkward and lonely 13-year-old. She loves books and the gothic fairies drawn by her favourite author, Casper Dream.

She also loves her brother, Will, but things have been weird ever since they found out Will is adopted. And sometimes Will likes to play games that are... a bit horrible.

Now there's a new girl at school, Jasmine. Could this finally be a true friend for Violet?

Best bits:

This is a fab book. I really loved it (I know its a kids book, and I don't care!)

I think Violet was a great character - to be honest, I saw a lot of myself in her (I was a really weird child.)

And Wilson makes you really feel for her (my God guys, the feels in this book!) It feels so realistic - the simple hurts that mean so much are so beautifully weaved in, complete with layers of complexity.

Will, likewise, has a complexity that I love finding in any book - and is all too rare sometimes in kids' books. Will is also a bit like a mini-Loki, if Loki were a teenager, and human, and his father was a policeman, instead of a God.

I loved the gothic elements and the fairies - just fab.

I also liked the slightly sinister edge there was in this book in places - to Will's games, to their father's treatment of both his children and his wife, and to the idea of changelings and all that came with it.

It came off really well, and didn't overwhelm, just giving that small edge of unease that makes you want to read more.

Not so great bits:

Honestly (and I'm always honest on this blog dammit!) I'm finding it really difficult to come up with any minus points for this book -

Maybe it was a little short, and some parts could've been expanded. And perhaps one or two plot-instances were just slightly convenient.

Some parts may be a little distressing, particularly to young readers.

Other than that... I can't really think of anything. It was that good.

Verdict:

This was just an amazing book. Truly great - I really loved it.

Perhaps a little much for very young readers, but most kids aged 11 and up will be fine.

Buy Now UK – Buy Now USA – Goodreads – Author's Site

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St David's Day - My Top 5 Roald Dahl Books

Dydd Gŵyl Dewi Sant Hapus! (Happy St David's Day!)


I figured that now was the perfect opportunity to celebrate one of Wales' most beloved writers, Roald Dahl.

Born and raised in Cardiff (our capital city,) to a Norwegian family, Roald Dahl would become one of the most loved children's authors of all time. And this September sees the centenary of his birth (in 1916.)


These, then, are my 5 favourite Roald Dahl books:



Matilda (UK - US)

I was a weird and bookish child: obviously then, I adored Matilda - and read it over and over (and over.) It's a fab story aside from the bookish-ness (although that's my favourite part,) and I always adored the sub-plots of Matilda's vengeance on her horrible family.

This is definitely my favourite Roald Dahl book :)




George's Marvellous Medicine (UK - US)

Everyone likes lists, because clearly we're all creatures of habit/neuroses at heart. So the main charm of this book to me, growing up (and still if I'm going to be honest about it,) was the listing of all the weird and wonderful things that George puts into his medicine to punish his horrible grandmother.

Horrible family members seem to be a theme in Roald Dahl books - just don't try any of this stuff at home!





Esio Trot (UK - US)

This one is a really sweet story about love, magic (sort of,) and tortoises. Of the same sort of length as George's Marvellous Medicine, but with far less bitterness.




The BFG (UK - US)

The story of a runty giant who likes to collect dreams, and his new friend, an orphan girl named Sophie.

This is a great book - full of iconic moments and scenes. And you have to love the BFG - he's just so sweet! And he has gigantic ears that you can sit in! What could be better?




Charlie and the Great Glass Elevator (UK - US)

The sequel to Charlie and the Chocolate Factory, this is one that I really need to re-read because I don't remember an awful lot of it. What I do remember though is how utterly random it is - even for a Roald Dahl book.

And that is probably the reason why a) not many people have read it, and b) I remember it so fondly (I'm a fairly random person myself  >.< )





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The Month in Review(s) - February 2016

Ah, February - a month of storms and Valentine's cards. And books of course.

 

Check out all my reviews from this month...

 



Kids

Percy Jackson and the Lightning Thief (aka just 'The Lightning Thief') by Rick Riordan - Fantasy, Mythology

Adult

Today Means Amen by Sierra DeMulder - Poetry
Jane Eyre by Charlotte Bronte - Classics, Romance
The Trouble With Wolves (aka 'The Trouble With Weres') by Leigh Evans - Fantasy, Urban Fantasy, Paranormal, Werewolves, Fairies/Fae
Omega Beloved by Aiden Bates - Romance (m/m,) Paranormal, Fantasy, Werewolves, LGBTQ+, Short Story

Graphic Novels

Grumpy Cat Volume 1 - Kids, Humour, Media Tie-In
Red Sonja/Conan: The Blood of a God - Fantasy, High Fantasy 

Popcorn Reviews (Film)

Seventh Son (2014)

Mini-Review! - Percy Jackson and the Lightning Thief

Title: Percy Jackson and the Lightning Thief (also published as just 'The Lightning Thief.')

Author: Rick Riordan

Genre: Kids, Fantasy, Mythology

Series: Percy Jackson (aka Percy Jackson and the Olympians) #1

Amazon: UK - USA

Verdict:

I really enjoyed this - though perhaps not to epic fangirling levels, like most people seem to.

It was fun though, as well as interesting and entertaining. I loved the random chapter titles.

The ebook I borrowed from the library was clearly aimed at a British market because it took Americanisms like 'mom' and 'chips' and anglicised them to things like 'mum' and 'crisps.' Unfortunately, this came across as just strange - particularly as it wasn't consistent throughout. 

I really did enjoy it though - and will probably read more of the series in future.

Buy Now UK – Buy Now USA – Goodreads – Author's Site

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Review (Graphic Novel Edition!) - Grumpy Cat Volume 1

Title: Grumpy Cat Volume 1.

Author: Ben McCool, Royal McGraw, Elliott Serrano, Ben Fisher.

Contributors: Steve Uy, Ken Haeser, Tavis Maiden, Agnes Garbowska.

Genre: Graphic Novels, Kids, Humour, Media Tie-In.

Series: The Misadventures of Grumpy Cat and Pokey! (#1-3.)

Release Date: 16 Feb 2016.

Amazon: UK - USA

A few starting notes:

I received a free digital review copy of this book via NetGalley. NetGalley provides review copies from publishers in exchange for fair and honest reviews.

It's Grumpy Cat! When I had the opportunity to review this, I just had to. I love kitties, and I love Grumpy Cat with her cute little face.

This is a comic compilation of The Misadventures of Grumpy Cat and Pokey (#1-3) which have several stories in each issue.

Premise:

Grumpy Cat just wants the chance to sleep, eat, and scratch things. Pokey and the dog insist she do something else with her day!

Best bits:

The artwork here is really cute - and the stories are the correct blend of cute, sarcastic, and funny.

The characterisation reminds me a lot of Garfield - which is by no means a bad thing, far from it.

I also love that the dog just wanders around saying, 'Good Dog!'

Not so great bits:

Some of the stories were just a little forced - no more so than many other kid-friendly comics, but I noticed it in one or two.

It probably goes without saying, but if you don't like Grumpy Cat, this isn't the book for you.

Verdict:

A cute and fun compendium that made me smile more than once and is suitable for kids. I love Grumpy.

Buy Now UK – Buy Now USA – Goodreads

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The Month in Review(s) - January 2016

From now on I'm going to provide a brief 'Month in Review(s)' post.

This is literally a re-cap of all the reviews that I've written this month, collated in one post.

So now you can take a shufty at the books (and the odd film) that I've reviewed in the month, and catch up on any you may have missed.

Enjoy! :)

Kids

Hetty Feather by Jacqueline Wilson - Historical Fiction

Young Adult

Dark Hope by Monica McGurk -  Angels, Paranormal.
The Invisibles by Francis Gideon - Romance (M/M), LGBTQ+.



Adult

Dead Ice by Laurell K Hamilton - Paranormal, Urban Fantasy, Zombies, Vampires, Crime, LGBTQIAP+
Poetry From the Lady of the Pier by Effrosyni Moschoudi - Poetry, Short Stories, Chick Lit

Graphic Novels

STARVE Vol 1 - dystopian

Non-fiction

Death, Disability, and the Superhero: The Silver Age and Beyond by Jose Alaniz

Popcorn Reviews (Film)

Batman (1989)
Constantine (2005)


I'll do a Charity Reading Challenge 2016 update when I've actually read something towards it. (Note to self: remember to read stuff for that challenge.)

Review (Yay!) - Hetty Feather by Jacqueline Wilson

Title: Hetty Feather.

Author: Jacqueline Wilson.

Genre: Kids, Historical Fiction.

Series: Hetty Feather (#1).

Amazon: UK - USA.

A few starting notes:

Any British female (and hopefully quite a few males,) under 30 will have heard of Jacqueline Wilson. The vast majority will have read at least one of her many, many, books.

Hetty Feather is probably suitable for kids aged 10 or 11 and up. It's also more than suitable for teens and adults - good books don't require limits.

Premise:

Hetty Feather is a Victorian foundling. Her little life is not meant to be anything grand - but Hetty, a bright girl with a skill for 'picturing' - is not overly-keen to resign herself to her lot.

Best bits:

Hetty is a great character - part Matilda and part Jane Eyre, with a dash of Oliver Twist for luck. She's a fantastic little fire-brand, and the first-person narrative creates a lot of empathy with her.

Her relationship with an early foster family, particularly foster brother Jem, provides a real heart (and real heart-break) for the book - as does the slow dissolve of many of her childhood dreams. It's not over-done, leaves some room for hope, and is really quite beautiful.

The writing is mature enough to please adults, but not too complex for a kid to understand. The prose is pretty damn good.

Not so great bits:

There are things that may be upsetting to some here, the book doesn't shy away from the realities of the time: physical punishment, child death, poverty, and the implication of attempted child abduction. It's all handled pretty well, but younger readers in particular may find some parts distressing.

I personally didn't like the infancy parts - I know Hetty's supposed to be quite fanciful, but the first-person accounts of being a baby are just a little too unbelievable in my opinion.

Verdict:

I really enjoyed this book - I think it's excellent. Fans of Jane Eyre or Matilda will love it, and I think adults will be captivated (I know I was!)

Honestly, this was a fab book, highly entertaining, and certainly worthy of praise.

Buy Now UK – Buy Now USA – Goodreads – Author's Site

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Review! (Woohoo!) - The Boy in the Dress by David Walliams

Title: The Boy in the Dress.

Author: David Walliams .

Genre: Kids, Humour.

A few starting notes:

I saw the BBC adaptation of the Boy in the Dress last year, so took my chance to borrow the eBook from the Welsh libraries service.

 

This is suitable for ages 9 or 10 up, maybe a little younger, or a little older, depending on what kid is actually doing the reading.

 

Premise:

Dennis is your normal 12-year-old boy living a normal, boring, life. Except, inside, Dennis is a bit different. But who's going to accept a 12-year-old boy in a dress?

Best bits:

I'm not entirely sure this could be more British unless the cover featured a bulldog drinking tea. This is just amazingly British - particularly in terms of humour - not surprising, I suppose, when it comes to David Walliams.

 

In the tradition of the legend of children's writing, Roald Dahl, Walliams doesn't speak down to kids and/or readers. He's along for the ride, down to taking a moment to look up details of football (soccer to the Yanks.)

 

The kids are going to love the gross bits - all the snot and the farting is like catnip to 10-year-olds. And Walliams manages to keep the balance and not go too far with the icky stuff.

 

Of course, mention must be made of the fantastic pencil-scratch-style illustrations of Quentin Blake, who was Roald Dahl's primary illustrator for many years.

Not so great bits:

There's very little to argue against with this book - although I can see how more conservative readers may be put off by the premise of a boy in a dress.

 

There's occasional use of the slightly-homophobic slang insult 'woofter,' which may insult some people.

 

Verdict:

I really did love this book; it was fun, entertaining, engaging, and genuinely good-hearted and well-written. I would recommend this to pretty much anyone.

Buy Now UK - Buy Now USA – Goodreads – Author's Site

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Review Time! - Shirley Link & The Safe Case by Ben Zackheim

Title: Shirley Link & The Safe Case. (US.)

Author: Ben Zackheim.

Genre: Kids, Crime.

Series: Shirley Link (#1)

A few starting notes:

I grabbed this on special offer to read on my new Kobo, on a fairly random whim.

 

I'd say this was suitable for anyone over nine or ten, and possibly even younger. The protagonists are about 14, but the content and style definitely feels more suited to a slightly younger audience.

Premise:

Shirley Link, kid detective and expert at deduction, is called in by the principal of her school to solve a crime which may put his job on the line.

Best bits:

Shirley is pretty much Sherlock Holmes in 14-year-old girl form. This actually works pretty well - clearly teenage girls lend themselves to sociopathic character traits very easily. I actually really enjoyed Shirley's snarky attitude - though she's not a 'nice' person exactly.

 

This book was generally nice and light and fairly entertaining. Which was perfect for my Christmas dinner induced chill out in front of the TV with Kobo in hand.

Not so great bits:

I think that the mystery itself could have done with some beefing out - a few more clues, maybe some more involving red herrings, and just a smidge less 1960s style Scooby Doo, (not that I don't totally love Scooby,) and it would've been so much better.

Verdict:

Light-hearted and very entertaining, this was a decent start to the series. I can imagine 11-year-old mystery hunters loving it.

Buy Now UK - Buy Now USA – Goodreads – Author's Site

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Review Time! (Woo!) - Vampire Mountain by Darren Shan

Review Time! (Woo!) - Vampire Mountain by Darren Shan

Title: Vampire Mountain. (US Link.)

Author: Darren Shan.

Genre: Kids, Paranormal, Vampire.

Series: The Saga of Darren Shan (aka Cirque Du Freak) (#4) - The Vampire Rites Trilogy (#1) (USA.)

A few starting notes:

This is #4 in The Saga of Darren Shan (US link) series - so my golden rule of sequel-reviewing applies: spoilers for previous books will be confined to the level of information found in this book's blurb.

The series is split into a number of trilogies. This is book #1 of the second trilogy (The Vampire Rites Trilogy (USA.))

This book can be read as standalone, should you wish, though it clearly leaves room for the book after it, and does make reference to the events of previous books.

This is a kids book - probably suitable for age 11+ - but obviously, age shouldn't be a barrier if the kid is mature and/or capable of reading to this level.

And, of course, this book is suitable for adults who refuse to be bound by the restrictions of age (like me!)

Premise:

Darren Shan (the author's pen-name doubles as the name of our young protagonist,) a half-vampire child, must make the dangerous journey to Vampire Mountain (hence the name,) to be presented to the Vampire Princes by his mentor, Mr Crepsley.

Best bits:

The whole vampire society is clearly understood by the author - and that makes this world both believable and absorbing. Not least because of the names and histories of the vampires in this world (the names are great: Larten Crepsley, Gavner Purl... the kind of names that make a book otherworldly and rich in detail.)

The story is interesting - which is always a plus. This alone may be enough to tempt even a reluctant reader through the chapters (which are fairly quick and pacey.)

The dynamic between Darren and the world he now inhabits is well portrayed - with particular room for expansion in the relationship between Darren and Mr Crepsley.

I also like the female vampire Arra Sails, because she's pretty damned cool. And I love the challenges Darren faces as a slow-aging kid-vampire - it adds an extra dimension of feeling older than the world perceives you to be.

Not so great bits:

Some of this verges on the gory, and there is some violence, mentions of killing, etc. - which might upset younger and/or more sensitive readers.

What I object to, though, is the treatment of the old, the infirm, and the 'mad,' vampires - politically correct this is not; euthanasia is not a topic which should be treated in a manner that's quite this blasé, and almost cold. This isn't integral to the book as a whole - it's more of a side-detail - but it p**sed me off.

Verdict:

A pacey and enjoyable kids' book which is equally entertaining for the adult. A vivid world with a gothic edge, this might be useful to tempt the reluctant reader, or boys.

Buy Now UK - Buy Now USA – Goodreads – Author's Facebook