The Storyteller by Jodi Picoult

Sage Singer is a woman who is used to hiding away from the world. She hides her face behind her hair to keep people from looking at her scars and works at night in a bakery to further avoid their stares. Having lost her mother, her main social activity is attending a grief group which is where she meets an old man, Josef Weber. Josef is a quiet man, well respected by the local community to the point where no-one has a bad thing to say about him. He and Sage connect with one another and become friends. One day Josef decides to tell Sage his darkest secret, a secret about an evil past that shatters Sage's trust and reveals Weber's quest for redemption. Events soon lead Sage on a journey through her grandmother's history, a story that is filled with the darkest horrors of war, a tale that brings survival and questions about the truth. Will Sage be able to forgive and can she do as she is asked?

I used to love Jodi Picoult until her adult novels all became the same and so it had been a while since I've read one but the cover for the advanced reading copy made me curious and so I thought I'd give it a go. It even came with a ribbon which was very handy.

I'm glad I did as this is Picoult back to her best (My Sister's Keeper is still my favourite but this will be a close second).

The tale within these pages deals with a difficult issue as Picoult's writing often does. Sage has to make a choice that will have serious consequences but the right answer isn't necessarily obvious. It also looks at the horrors of war from within the eyes of a Jew imprisoned in the nightmare of WW2. This part of the book is powerful and heart breaking. Minka experiences so much loss and suffering. I'm not sure of the accuracies of Minka's experiences, as it's been a while since I last looked at this terrible part of history, but Picoult paints such a horrible picture with her words that I can only hope no-one has to suffer them again, even though I know these things still happen in the world today. Picoult deals with it all very well. It's also a reminder that those who suffered during WW2 are still dealing with the consequences today.

This book is well written. It doesn't shy away from a difficult time in the world's history. It is hard to put down. This book lingers with you after you've finished. It has a love story or two but they don't overshadow the bigger theme. It has moments that warm your heart. It has a character who betrays your trust and then redeems them self towards the end. It has compassion, anger, and a small touch of happily ever after that doesn't destroy the realism of the main events. If you can stomach a story based in the horrors of Nazi concentration camps then read The Storyteller. It's worth the time you'll spend lost in its pages.

I give it 8/10.

Title: The Storyteller
Author: Jodi Picoult
Publisher: Hodder & Stoughton Ltd
Adult Fiction

Night School: Legacy by C. J. Daugherty

I was overexcited when I stumbled across this at the start of the year, having forgotten that its release was so soon! Night School had left me longing for more and Legacy will not leave you disappointed!

Allie has survived the summer term at Cimmeria Academy but only just. She's beginning to find out the truth of who she is, finally putting her rebellious past behind her. She has the gorgeous boyfriend in Carter West and a brilliant best friend in Rachel. But all is not well at Cimmeria. Ruth's murder has left a shadow over the school, with student safety a primary concern under the threat of Nathaniel. Allie is also learning that her family, from her mysterious grandmother to her runaway brother, are at the centre of it all. Trust, secrets and forgiveness will all play their part. Can Allie's relationships survive the strain of life? Can Allie herself stay safe?

First of all I must congratulate Atom on the cover as this is much more representative of the books than the previous one for Night School. The building is just how I imagined Cimmeria to be and the red-haired figure against the snow is brilliantly striking. I've already witnessed it drawing girls in whereas Night School itself slipped by unnoticed by most even when it was in a prominent place for months.

Legacy is a worthy sequel. It's just as well written and full of suspense as its predecessor. I'm still unable to predict where Daugherty will take Allie next. She has woven in plenty of secrets to keep you hooked and has used brilliant characterisation. You get this sense that Allie is important but it's still unclear as to how or why. It also feels slightly more realistic as Allie's relationship with Carter isn't the easy happily ever after that dominates a lot of teen fiction these days and she becomes just as obsessed as girls often do when it comes to love but without it overwhelming the other elements of the story. I still love Allie, who remains just as human and likeable as before, keeping the flaws that help make her who she is.

Night School feels a bit like Ally Carter's Gallagher Girls but more mature and serious and as with The Gallagher Girls I honestly cannot wait for the story to continue! The only drawback is that I couldn't put it down and so it was over far too quickly!

I give it 8/10 :)

Title: Night School: Legacy
Author: C. J. Daugherty
Publisher: Atom
Teenage Fiction

The Last Dragonslayer by Jasper Fforde

Jennifer Strange (16 years-old in two weeks) has found herself running Kazam, a company that hires out sorcerers to do everyday tasks such as re-wiring a house or delivering pizzas, after the disappearance of Mr Zambini. She cannot do magic herself but is a foundling who lost her parents as a baby and so must work at Kazam until she is released by Zambini when she turns 18. Kazam is facing tough times in a world where people are increasingly suspicious of magic and the magic itself is waning in strength. One day people start having visions of the death of the last dragon. This death will mean a race to see who can claim as much of the dragon's land as possible. It could also mean war as the Ununited Kingdoms seek to extend or protect their borders. Jennifer soon finds herself getting caught up in events in ways she doesn't expect.

It's immediately obvious that this book has been written by the brilliant Jasper Fforde as his style is so distinctive. It is random and provides his usual twists on reality that make the setting something recognisable yet different, bringing his humour shining through. However, it pains me to say that unfortunately The Last Dragonslayer isn't as good as his adult novels. Perhaps this is because he is too aware that he is writing for a younger audience and so holds back a little too much. It takes a while to get going and then suddenly rushes around from one scene to the next, never really giving the reader a decent feel for the world, characters or situation and then suddenly it's over. It's pretty obvious early on what Jennifer's role is going to be although I wasn't entirely sure about the fate of the dragon until the end. She's your typical underdog rising up to be something great even though it's not a position she sought. For me, the best character is the fearsome Quarkbeast who is simply superb! It is a loyal pet that has a taste for metal and is incredibly intimidating but who's "quarks!" make it rather likeable. The supporting cast are some of Fforde's usual comical creations, both likeable and infuriating. Fforde also brings a humourous look at politics, transnational companies and the media by making them comically extreme, although it is easy to see the similarities found in today's world.

Overall, The Last Dragonslayer was enjoyable but too rushed. However, it has set the scene for a series that has potential and I look forward to reading the sequel (The Song of the Quarkbeast) later on in the year.

I give it 6/10 :)

Title: The Last Dragonslayer
Author: Jasper Fforde
Publisher: Hodder & Stoughton
Teenage Fiction

Africa: Eye to Eye with the Unknown by Michael Bright

Taken from the back cover:
'Think you know Africa? Think again. Nowhere is more savage, more dangerous, yet more beautiful and astonishing than this mysterious continent. Witness new animals, new behaviour, and an Africa at its most unexpected in this companion to the landmark new BBC One series.'

Africa is an attempt to present the natural wildlife that live in this beautiful continent in a new way. It definitely succeeded in opening my eyes to the rich diversity of life that exists in Africa. It shifts the focus from the usual lions and hippos to more obscure creatures such as the upside-down catfish and Bryde's whale. You still get glimpses of the more popular inhabitants but their role in the wider community is highlighted. The style of writing is easy to read and feels like you're actually there witnessing these animals for yourself. I found I didn't want to put the book down. The descriptions are vivid, an effect that is enhanced by the stunning photographs. Some of the images really took me by surprise as they're so incredible. Others fascinated me. It'll be interesting to see the videos that link to them once they are live. One of the only criticisms I have is that there were some animals mentioned that weren't included in the photos and so if like me you're not too knowledgeable about more obscure African wildlife you will be left wondering what some of them are. The only other one I have is that there are a couple of pictures that aren't captioned and they happened to be the ones I wanted to know a little more about. However, there is plenty to discover in this book and it's one that I've found myself sharing with others, whether it's to point out the awesome picture of a meercat on a guy's hat or the Namaqualand Desert in bloom, share a fact such as elephants are scared of bees or publish a Facebook status along the lines of "All fear the honey badger!" It's also a book that manages to get across the tragic situations that face some of these animals, particularly how the drought of 2009 affected the elephants and how many young fail to survive the first few months as they become dinner or are simply overwhelmed by the harsh conditions. It's a great journey of discovery that will interest both those who have never read a book on Africa before and those who have been to visit.

On the whole, this is a brilliant book that drew me in and kept me interested a lot more successfully than I anticipated. It's also made me want to go to Africa and experience some of the wildlife for myself. I'm gutted that I won't be able to watch the show as it seems really promising based on the book. It's definitely one I'll be recommending.

I give it 9/10 :)

Title: Africa: Eye to Eye with the Unknown
Author: Michael Bright
Publisher: Quercus
Natural History

Night School by C. J. Daugherty

Allie Sheridan has just been arrested for the third time in a year. She hates her school and her parents don't know what to do with her. No-one can fill the hole left when her brother ran away. As a last resort, her parents make the decision to send her away to Cimmeria Academy, a boarding school Allie has never heard of and who's location is a mystery. Instead of hating it, Allie starts to make friends, improve her grades and really starts to feel at home. That is until someone gets murdered. Then Allie starts to realise that there is a huge secret at Cimmeria, a secret that is shared by the teachers and even some of the pupils. A secret that Allie somehow gets caught up in...

So the first thing I thought when I looked at the cover and saw the title was "Oh not another vampire novel!" Thankfully I was completely wrong. There is not a single vampire in this book. Or a werewolf. Or an angel. Or anything else that would tie it to the dark/paranormal romance genre (even though that is what this cover strongly suggests). Hurray!

This is a novel filled with suspense and suspicion and will keep you guessing until the end (and into the next one!). And yes, Daugherty manages this without a single supernatural creature. She uses secrets, mystery and danger to reel the reader in and keep them hooked. Her writing style flows well and the pacing is good. She creates a convincing world and her characters are completely believable. I love Allie! She is complex, with her troubled past, but also genuine. She suffers from the same doubts as most girls, falls into the same traps and is completely likeable. Even though there is some romance involved, it doesn't overwhelm the book or become the focus of the plot, even if it does have the inevitable triangular element. The whole novel is well written and I struggled to put it down. I honestly cannot wait to read the next one (currently due for release in January 2013! Yay!) and I really hope that it will deliver all that it promises.

If you like Dead Beautiful by Yvonne Woon, you'll love Night School!

I give it 8/10!

Title: Night School
Author: C. J. Daugherty
Publisher: Atom
Teenage Fiction

The Worst Princess by Anna Kemp & Sarah Ogilvie

Princess Sue knows how to be a good princess, having read all of the books and grown her hair to the floor, but she longs for adventure and life outside of her castle. At long last her prince arrives and she can see her freedom, right up until he shows her to her new tower. Fed up with this, she enlists the help of a big scary dragon over a cup of tea and finally gets the happily ever after that she desires.

This is a picture book that adults will find fun too. It's a fun twist on the traditional happily ever after princess story. The plot is amusing and entertaining. The illustrations are colourful with care taken to include bits of detail in addition to the plot (such as an unhappy looking fish about to land in a smiling crocodile's mouth) and so will keep children entertained that little bit longer. The Converse style shoes that Sue wears are a nice touch that instantly jumps out letting you know that Sue is not your typical damsel in distress. Together, the writing and illustrations create brilliant characterisation as well as a really engaging book. Brilliant for your not-so-girly princesses!

I give it 8/10 :)

Title: The Worst Princess
Author: Anna Kemp & Sarah Ogilvie
Publisher: Simon and Schuster
Picture Book

Where is Fred? by Edward Hardy & illustrated by Ali Pye

Fred the caterpillar loves to play hide and seek. This is especially important as Gerald the crow would love to eat Fred for his lunch. Join Gerald as he hunts high and low for his meal, becoming ever more suspicious at the familiar-looking white fluffy objects on various people...

I really enjoyed this picture book! It's lots of fun with colourful and brilliant illustrations. It's well written and the use of different font styles is fantastic as it really adds that extra bit of character to the book. Gerald is the sort of silly character that children will love. It's a great book to read aloud with a child (or group of children) as you have the interactive element of finding Fred as well as the humour provided by Gerald, the fun illustrations and Fred's surprise at the end (with the potential for a nice science tie-in).

I give it 10/10!

Title: Where Is Fred?
Author: Edward Hardy
Illustrator: Ali Pye
Publisher: Egmont
Picture Book