Friday 16 February 2024

Review: Lie or Die by A J Clack (Young Adult, Thriller, 9/10E)

Don't let the chirpy cover fool you!

7th March 2024, Firefly Press, 304 pages, Paperback, Review copy

Book summary from Firefly Press

 Ten strangers trapped in a television studio

Forty-two remote cameras
 

One rule: Trust no one

When a casting call is announced for new reality TV show Lie or Die, Kass is tricked into auditioning by her best friend. Big Brother meets Mafia, Lie or Die pits contestants against each other as they try to discover who is a murderous agent and who is an innocent player. But when contestants start to turn up dead (the real kind, not the fake kind), Kass realises that not being eliminated and winning the game is the least of her worries. No longer a game of truth and lies, Kass and her friends are in a fight for survival. ‘Reality’ just got very real.

Nayu's thoughts

Hot in the wake of the thrilling BBC show The Traitors this young adult thriller is a perfect match for fans of the show (and if you haven't seen the show yet, do! I have seen most of the 1st season (not the finale as I can only watch at family's house due to lack of tv licence) and Lie or Die is far worse than traitors as people actually die. 

In the beginning Kass and her bestie Thea are the ones on the show, joining in a way that should have been an alarm bell for the chaos that follow. Kass is content as her other bestie Lewis is outside the sealed set, helping out the production in what feels like a dream come true role that runs into a distinct nightmare. At first the game feels fun, and the murders somehow go under the radar. How is that possible? Well you will have to read the book to find out how but in the world of TV where reality and fiction collide it is plausible for the contestants not to notice the deaths. There are warning signs for the reader but it takes Kass, Thea, and their rivals a lot longer to catch up. 

When the penny finally drops, and when the murderer starts laying clues, the tone of the show completely flips. It's impossible to know who to trust and who will die next. The mastermind behind the show is both extremely sadistic and very clever. Got to give credit where it's due, it took some planning to create the show and pull it off. The question is, can Kass and her friends survive alongside the other competitors and outwit the murderer? I'm not saying but the end itself is full of great twists and turns that made me glad I read it all in one sitting as waiting more than a few seconds to read on would have been agonising. 

I liked learning more about reality TV shows since I don't really watch them. The tension gets pretty intense, although it fell shy of completely wowing me as I feel spoiled since the Pretty Little LIars TV drama which blew my mind and made me less easily surprised in mysteries. Because of a certain incident Kass and Thea aren't actually getting along too well for a while, but when the murders become evident they team up because they both want to stay alive. Kass finds another ally, or so she thinks, but doing so also makes her look guilty. Lewis has to do all he can to help his trapped friends but his skills are severely limited for various reasons. There is a hint there may be a book 2 so I hope that will happen! 

Suggested read

Love a good scare? Check out The Retreat by Sherri Smith (Thriller, 10E/10E)


 

Thursday 15 February 2024

Review: Confetti by Dean Atta and Alea Marley (Children's, Picture book, 10E/10E)

 

 January 2024, Orchard Books, 32 pages, Hardback, Review copy

Book summary 

One day, Ari discovers a piece of pink confetti under the sofa. She throws is up into the air and watches it helicopter down: a small, bright moment of celebration.

And before long, Ari discovers confetti in other places: at her birthday party; at the Pride parade; in autumn's falling leaves; in the magical sprinkling of snowflakes. She finds that when you look around, life is full of celebrations, each moment bursting with colour and joy - just like a handful of confetti.

The debut picture book from acclaimed poet Dean Atta, winner of the Stonewall Book Award and shortlisted for the Carnegie Medal Prize, is stunningly brought to life by award-winning Alea Marley.

Nayu's thoughts 

They say don't judge a book by it's cover, which is true but in this case I fell in love with Confetti because of the cover. Look how joyful Ari is, and how beautiful the multi-coloured paper scraps are! Once she sees it at home Ari sees confetti in all it's colours everywhere. There is a magic to the way the colours encompass every scenario this sweet girl encounters. The soft yet vibrant colour palatte draws in the reader as much as the story of life's celebrations. 

Ari's love is that of a child's untainted by adult worldviews, innocent and seeing how love is everywhere with everyone. She has such a fun life and the confetti emphasizes that. It's an accurate portrayal of a child's imagination, as well as their innate compassion.  I hope readers see confetti everywhere after reading Ari's adventure. The world can be so beautiful and friendly.

Suggested read

If you love colours and love check out The Perfect Flower Girl by Taghred Chandab and Binny Talib (Children's, Picture book, 10/10) 



Sunday 21 January 2024

Review: Winner Takes Gold by Eloise Smith (Children's, 9 years +, 10E/10E)


  4th January 2024, Chicken House, 320 pages, Paperback, Review copy

Summary from Chicken House

It takes courage to follow your dreams . . . 

Young gymnast Pearl dreams of winning gold in Paris. It’s what Mum would have wanted.

However, elite training camp is super tough, even with the help of best friend Ryan and rising star, Jada-Rae.

Think ice baths, rivalry … sabotage.

When others will do anything to win, what will Pearl risk? Safety? Morals? Friendships?

This thrilling tale reminds us sport is about more than medals. It’s about making friends, being brave and freeing your soul.

Nayu's thoughts

I read this after a YA thriller, and honestly I was at at times more scared by the antics in Winner Takes Gold than the thriller. Partly because at least the killer in that novel was obvious about what they were up to, and partly because after the TV show Pretty Little Liars it takes a lot to scare me in a thrilling tale. I know, death is worse than gymnastic pranks but the pranks were serious and got the various competitors out of the training scheme. And I felt like Pearl didn't know who to trust, that included her best friend Ryan. Would Pearl be next? 

Once she and Ryan investigated a little, before they fell out, it seemed that so many of the staff and pupils were prime suspects. I had a sneaky feeling the staff's actions were less suspicious than they seemed  - as an adult I know how certain actions taken out of context by younger people can seem suspicious but its just part of someone's private life, not actually anything illegal.

How books start sets up the whole story, and Pearl being at her mother's grave was really touching. She has so much to live for and keeps her mum included in her gymnastic dreams. I like how realistic it was the way Pearl got onto the special program, and how by the end she does stick to her good principles even though it cost her her dream. I know competitive gymnastics is cut-throat, and Pearl does well to survive. I hope she gets to shine again and we get another tale with her as she has learned a lot in this adventure. 

 Find out more on Eloise's website, I'm certainly going to check out her other book, Sister To a Star


 

Suggested read

If you like heartwarming tales try The Girl The Cat, and the Navigator by Matilda Woods and Anusker Allepuz (Children's, 9 years +, 10E/10E) 


 

Saturday 30 December 2023

Friday 29 December 2023

Review: Bubba and Squirt's Shield of Athena by Sherry Ellis (Children's, 9 years +, 10/10E)

 


7th May 2024,  Dancing Lemur Press, 114 pages, Paperback, Review copy

Book summary

When Bubba and Squirt travel through the mysterious vortex on a quest to save their father, they end up in Athens, Greece where they meet an old woman known as the Oracle of Delphi. Her intriguing riddles set them on a path that leads to the Netherworld, a place where danger lurks around every corner.

With the help of their new friends and some unlikely allies, they must defeat the monster that holds their father captive. Will they succeed or be trapped forever in the labyrinth of the Netherworld?

Nayu's thoughts

This is genuinely one of my favourite sibling adventures. It has all the good stuff, friendship, dangerous moments, humour, and magical powers. I love how facts about the ancient world are woven into the duo's adventure. There's an ease with the protagonist that comes of being a few books into the series which is noticable from someone who has read the others. Bubba and Squirt definitely have a bigger picture adventure going on, I like how their family are more involved now, as unbelievable as their powers seem to be they come in handy too. The way they time travel feels natural and is well explained.

All is not plain sailing, but together with the temporary new friends they make they can overcome anything. I really liked the various deceptions that happened in this installment that I hadn't anticipated at all. I hope that readers decide to look further into ancient Greece as it's an amazing era with loads of fantastic myths and pot fragments to fangirl over (that might just be me, give me a fragment of a pot and I'm in heaven but I did my degree in Ancient History so I have more than a passing interest in it all). I like that there's a recipe in the book for a food they ate, makes the story more tangible. The Netherworld is a tricky place sure, they don't leave unscathed but they do succeed eventually.

Find out more on Sherry's website, like why music works it's way into her books as she is a musician. 

Suggested read

Check out the first book in the series, Bubba and Squirt's Big Dig to China by Sherry Ellis (Children's, 9 years +, 10/10E)


 

Thursday 28 December 2023

Review: Hidden Truths by Elly Swartz (Children's, 9 years +, middle grade, 9/10E)

 

Gorgeous cover!
 

October 2023, Delacorte Press, Hardback, Review copy

Book summary

Dani and Eric have been best friends since Dani moved next door in second grade. They bond over donuts, comic books, and camping on the Cape.

Until one summer when everything changes.

Did Eric cause the accident that leaves Dani unable to do the one thing in the world she most cares about? The question plagues him, and he will do anything to get answers about the explosion that injured her. But Dani is hurting too much to want Eric to pursue the truth—she just wants to shut him out and move on. Besides, Eric has a history of dropping things he starts. Eric knows that and is determined that this will be the one time he follows through.

But what if his pursuit brings him into direct conflict with another friend? Where does Eric’s loyalty really lie?

Nayu's thoughts

I was initially intrigued by how Dani ended up in hospital, since I have experience of staying in one as a child. Prior to the accident it was interesting seeing how close Dani and Eric were, they were like brother and sister in how they treat each other. Having a more conservative background I found it a little odd they were allowed to stay sleep over with each other but there was absolutely nothing romantic about their friendship, it was purely platonic. 

The accident itself was very dramatic in a good way, and the range of emotions Dani experienced were what I'd expect from her age. Baseball was her life and she felt her world was destroyed by her injuries which needed a very long recovery period. Being a few decades older than her I could see that while she felt it was awful, given time she would see it wasn't the end of her career, it was just a little set back and she would eventually get back to the boys' team which she had been able to join right before the accident, a great achievement for her. 

As for Eric, the agony he went through by keeping a lot of his worries about the accident to himself tore him up inside. His emotions were equally as raw as Dani's. I absolutely loved the realism of when his family finally found out about his possible involvement, they clearly wanted to support him and boost his shattered confidence but there was a real sense of disappointment and fear that his accidental mistake could have caused everything that Dani went through.  The way both the two friends had to try rebuild their trust in each other and deal with ugly realities was really well written and relatable. Elly definitely is fantastic at dealing with tricky emotions and making it realistic, not melodramatic. 

Make sure you check out Elly's website

Suggested read

For another tale about emotions check out The Snow Witch by Rosie Boyes (Children's, 9 years +, 10E/10E)

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Sunday 17 December 2023

Book review: Molly and the Shipwreck by Malachy Doyle and Andrew Whitson (Children's, 5 years +, Picture book, 10E/10E)

 

October 2021,  Graffeg, 36 pages, Paperback, Review copy 

Summary from Graffeg

 Molly and her dad rescue three people in trouble from a small boat off the coast. Though they speak different languages, the new arrivals quickly make friends with the islanders, who offer them somewhere to stay and some clothes and food. Just a few weeks later, a new challenge threatens this relationship, but will Molly and the islanders be able to help their new friends?

Nayu's thoughts

I try not to read about real world issues because honestly the reality is so depressing and I mentally can't cope with it. I thought a shipwreck sounded exciting. What I ended up reading was an uplifting tale about the happy ever after boat refugees who end up on a small island where a helpful community exists. Molly needs more people for her school or it will close, little does she know more pupils appear from an unexpected quarter, the sea. 

The close-knit feel of island life is evident. There is definitely 'the main land is slightly evil' feel when immigration turn up to take away the new residents, but that is not the end of the tale, thankfully. The illustrations are absolutely gorgeous and made each image feel alive. I love the slightly muted colours which fit islands I've seen on TV. This book touched my heart, it's beautiful and filled with hope for a better future, which we do all want. I may not willingly read current affairs books, but I'm really glad this one popped into my life. 

Find out more on Malachy's website 

Suggested read

Check out some of Malachy's other books including One Hundred and One Daffodils by Malachy Doyle and Denise Hughes (Children's, 5 years +, 10E/10E)


and The Jaws of Death by Malachy Doyle