sarahsbookcorner.co.uk

Sezzy Penguin's Book Reviews is on the move! It can now be found under the new name Sarah's Book Corner at sarahsbookcorner.co.uk.

Thank you so much to those of you who have taken the time to read and share my reviews. I've had some great responses and have been amazed at how far my posts have spread!

Here's a preview of the new site:

Hopefully see you there,

Sarah :)

Clay Charms by Kaitlyn Nichols

Taken from Waterstones.com:
"Create your own adorable adornments with Clay Charms. Charm bracelets are always in style and this book shows girls how to customize their own bracelet with more than 30 different clay charm designs. Budding jewellers can learn how to make custom charms, bake them in an ordinary oven, add shine with the special glaze, and then attach your creations to the included bracelet."

I had to order this book in to our store for a customer and when it arrived it caught my eye as the charms looked very cute and it claimed to contain most of the things you'd need to make them. As I had a long Sunday ahead of me, I thought it might be a fun idea to order one in for myself and give it a go. I was not to be disappointed!

The book comes with different colours of clay to make the charms, glaze, charm hooks, rings, a bracelet, shaping tool and a display stand to hang them on whilst the glaze dries. The only things you need to provide yourself are paper clips to hang the charms on whilst they dry, a permanent marker to add finishing touches and foil, a baking sheet and an oven to cook them in. The only thing I feel is missing is a container for the clay to go in as it is unlikely that you will use it all up at once.

The book is incredibly user friendly. They've provided pictures at the beginning of each charm for you to measure up the amounts of clay that you need to create that particular one. The instructions are logical and easy to follow. There are tips on how to shape the clay, mix colours and deal with potential problems. The only charm I really struggled with out of the ones I tried was the cake one (I did abandon the attempt in the end) but I'm sure this will become easier with practice. I honestly thought it would be trickier but I am pleased to say that this is a great book. The quantity of clay provided is more than enough as well, even though it doesn't look like much at first, as in reality you use very little for each charm.

My creativity usually only stretches as far as stick men but here's proof that this book genuinely is easy to follow:

I would definitely recommend this book and am curious as to whether the other titles in the Klutz range are just as good.

I give it 8/10.

Title: Clay Charms
Author: Kaitlyn Nichols
Publisher: Klutz Press Inc.
Children's Activities

Crown of Midnight by Sarah J. Maas

Taken from Waterstones.com:
"Eighteen-year-old Celaena Sardothien is bold, daring and beautiful - the perfect seductress and the greatest assassin her world has ever known. But though she won the King's contest and became his champion, Celaena has been granted neither her liberty nor the freedom to follow her heart. The slavery of the suffocating salt mines of Endovier that scarred her past is nothing compared to a life bound to her darkest enemy, a king whose rule is so dark and evil it is near impossible to defy. Celaena faces a choice that is tearing her heart to pieces: kill in cold blood for a man she hates, or risk sentencing those she loves to death. Celaena must decide what she will fight for: survival, love or the future of a kingdom. Because an assassin cannot have it all ...And trying to may just destroy her. Love or loathe Celaena, she will slice open your heart with her dagger and leave you bleeding long after the last page of the highly anticipated sequel in what is undeniably THE hottest new fantasy series."

First of all, I'd like to say a massive thank you to Bloomsbury for sending me an advanced reading copy of this book. It is possibly the book I've been most anticipating this year!

In preparation for Crown of Midnight, I reread  Thone of Glass and I am happy to say that it was just as good as I remembered it although I was struck again at how few assassin-y things Celaena does in it and so I picked up Crown of Midnight desperate not to be let down and looking forward to seeing Celaena unleashed at last in her new role. I can safely say that I was not to be disappointed!

Celaena still has her girly moments, which is to be expected as she is only 18, even if she is the most deadly assassin in Adarlan - something which finally Maas leaves the reader in no doubt about! Celaena is brilliantly dangerous, absolutely stunning, talented and yet is still human and can love. She has to be one of my favourite characters in teen fiction at the moment! Maas hasn't exhausted all of her talent in creating Celaena however. She's also created the honourable, gorgeous, caring Chaol. I truly fell in love with this Captain of the Guard over the course of this book. He is so well meaning that it is literally heart-breaking when things go wrong. And Maas wasn't done yet! The crown prince also becomes more of a man in this book. He really grew as a character and I cannot wait to see what will become of them all. All three face death along with the unexpected and this just helps to make them so much stronger individually.

Maas' world building is simply superb. She feeds the reader the right amount of depth and detail - not so much that you become overwhelmed and bored but not so little that you fail to enter it each time you pick up the book. This is a true fantasy novel, one worthy to make a home on your shelf for along with the best of the genre. The author's writing style is still brilliant and, aside from one detail, I had no idea what would happen next. Escaping predictability seems to be a rare gift these days! I have no idea what will happen in the third book and cannot wait for it. Therefore, my plea to Maas is to finish the next novel soon and pop me near the top of the advance readers list as I am desperate to know what happens next (the downside to advanced reading copies if that often you have to wait that little bit longer for the next instalment!).

Ignore any comparisons with The Hunger Games - they are completely different. Mass' world feels more natural in the past and as an alternate world, yet Collins' is what seems to be a future America. Yes, both have a ruler and oppressed people but their overall feel is very different. The fact that they are different is not a bad thing as there is a place for both of them and so I hope that all mentions of the current ruler of dystopia is removed from Crown of Midnight as this book should be trusted to stand on its own.

Overall, I absolutely loved this book! It is such a well-rounded novel, with brilliant characters, a vivid world and an unpredictable plot. If you like a good fantasy novel, you have to read this series! Crown of Midnight is an excellent sequel and a gripping page turner.

I give it 10/10 :)

Title: Crown of Midnight
Author: Sarah J. Maas
Publisher: Bloomsbury
Teenage Fiction

A Monster Calls by Patrick Ness and illustrated by Jim Kay

Taken from Waterstones.com:
"This is an extraordinarily moving novel about coming to terms with loss. The monster showed up just after midnight. As they do. But it isn't the monster Conor's been expecting. He's been expecting the one from his nightmare, the one he's had nearly every night since his mother started her treatments, the one with the darness and the wind and the screaming... The monster in his back garden, though, this monster is something different. Something ancient, something wild. And it wants the most dangerous thing of all from Conor. It wants the truth. Costa Award winner Patrick Ness spins a tale from the final idea of much-loved Carnegie Medal winner Siobhan Dows, whose premature death from cancer prevented her from writing it herself."

Patrick Ness has already had success with his Chaos Walking trilogy. These books were brilliant and so on a couple of occasions I was tempted to read A Monster Calls but the cover always put me off as it looks like the book will be rather dark and depressing (it is a book about death after all). It's actually a book I accidentally bought twice, having purchased the paperback on the spur of the moment and then forgetting about it until I came across the beautiful hardback with a book plate signed by both the author and illustrator (if you pop into Waterstones it's worth checking to see if they have a signed hardback as there seem to be plenty around but as none of them are stickered as being signed by the author no-one realises and so I've since spotted quite a few).

I imagine it must be quite tricky to write a story based on another author's idea but Ness manages it seamlessly. Unfortunately, I've never read one of Siobhan Dowd's novels and so I can't compare this to hers but it definitely stands up well against Ness' Chaos Walking trilogy. In fact, A Monster Calls is the first book to win both the Carnegie Medal (an award that recognises an outstanding piece of writing for children or young adults) and the Kate Greenaway Medal (an award that recognises distinguished illustration in a children's book) in the 50 years since the illustration award was established.

The quality of the writing is brilliant. Unlike Chaos Walking it isn't written in a stream of conciousness style but you are still able to learn a lot about Conor's character without obvious and direct descriptions. The other characters are brilliantly composed too as they feel very vivid at times or less easy to grasp when dealing with the mystery of the monster, both of which are appropriate in their place. The use of italics works well for the parts where the monster is speaking and the pacing is good. Ness jumps straight in with the story and doesn't waste time explaining every character, setting and back story - he just gets on with it. It's not hard to work out what is going to happen but then that is not the point of the story, plus you can never be sure just how real the monster is. The obvious thing to do would be to assume it is a figment of his imagination but then where do the other stories come from and how does Conor cause so much destruction?

The story is supported by the superb illustrations by Jim Kay. The story would make sense without them but they add so much atmosphere to the text that together they are perfect. They are all black and white and shades of grey which helps to create the mood as well as allowing the reader to take time to discover the details contained within them.

Now, as I said, this is a story about death but it is so much more than that. This is a story about how a boy has to face death and come to terms with it along with the blooming flower of hope that has to meet the harshness of reality. It's interesting that Ness uses two monsters in the novel. Perhaps each one is meant to symbolise the different aspects of death (the scary, unstoppable nightmare and the more friendly, comforting acceptance) both of which Conor must face and accept (although I'm not one of those people who tend to read too much into stories as I read them to escape into the world painted for me by the author and only usually consider any subtext if the author highlights it or if I'm asked to). However, whether this was Ness' intention or not, it is very clever. A lot of people are afraid of death and would certainly be comfortable with the comparison to a monster but they often forget that to some death can be a comfort and a release from a time of great pain. In a way it is a relief to read Ness' expression of some of these feelings. We all feel slightly invisible from time to time or guilty for something we shouldn't or frustrated with the course life has taken us on and all of these come through so well in Ness' writing and Kay's illustrations. It is not a book that will have you laughing and bouncing with excitement but it does bring strength by the end, in a kind of cathartic way (yes, I did cry a few times too!).

Overall, this book is simply outstanding. It has to be one of the best and most powerful books I have ever read. It deals with a very delicate subject excellently and is well worth a read. It is a literary masterpiece.

I give it a perfect 10/10!

Title: A Monster Calls
Author: Patrick Ness
Illustrator: Jim Kay
Publisher: Walker Books
Teenage Fiction

Urgle by Meaghan McIsaac

Taken from Waterstones.com:
"'When the next baby is dropped, I will leave to make room for him. He will take my place.' Abandoned at birth, the Brothers of the Ikkuma Pit know no mothers. They fend for themselves, each training their Little Brother to survive - until they grow into men and it's time for their Leaving Day. No boy knows what's beyond the forest. No Brother who left has ever come back. Until now..."

I wasn't sure what to think of Urgle. The title didn't immediately grab me and neither did the cover but when I read the blurb it sounded interesting and so I took the opportunity to give it a go. It turned out to be pretty good! It wasn't one of those books that I got hooked on but when I sat down to read it I enjoyed it. The pacing is good and the world building is quite good although I never felt like I got a proper feel for each place. I loved the idea of the story and the setting though and the place names are brilliant. There's just something really satisfying about saying "Ikkuma."

Urgle is a brilliant character. At no point is he the brilliant action hero you find in most books. He constantly lacks confidence or ability but he has something he wants to achieve and won't let anything stop him. Things don't always go smoothly (although the characters cope with their injuries vary well for the most part) and this all makes Urgle feel very human.

I'm not sure if this novel is a stand alone or part of a series. The way it finished could go either way although it indicates that there may be more to come. Part of me desperately hopes it is a stand alone novel as I'm getting a bit fed up with series as there are so many and it is so hard to keep track of them all, but I definitely would not be opposed to reading the sequel.

It was an enjoyable read that has distinct echoes of The Knife of Never Letting Go and so if you loved that then you should like Urgle. It's one of those rare books that will appeal to both boys and girls and is actually a great recommend for boys (for those who have read the usual Muchamore, Horowitz and Higson I'm starting to run out of ideas!). I didn't pick up on any issues with language or content and so would be reasonably confident recommending it to younger teenagers.

I give it 7/10.

Title: Urgle
Author: Meaghan McIsaac
Publisher: Anderson Press
Teenage Fiction

If Your Find Me by Emily Murdoch

Taken from Waterstones.com:
"What happens in the woods, stays in the woods... For almost as long as she can remember, Carey has lived in a camper van in the heart of the forest with her mother and little sister, Jenessa. When her mother disappears, Carey's father arrives and everything changes. Suddenly Carey and Jennessa must adapt to the wider world of family, school and boys. But Carey feels trapped by a terrible secret. If she tells, it could destroy her future. If she doesn't, will she ever be free?"

I wasn't sure what to expect of this book. The cover of the arc I received looked like it might be a horror story (which in some ways it is as it's definitely one of nightmares) but the finished cover looks a little more friendly.

It's set in the real world, one that is a parent's worst nightmare. I don't want to say too much more about the plot because the way this book is written is very powerful and so I wouldn't want to ruin this effect by giving out any spoilers. Murdoch handles the subject matter very sensitively though and writes it incredibly well. It was heartbreaking getting to know Carey and Jenessa and finding out the details of their lives - there were places where Carey is revealing part of her history that made tears fall down my cheek. They are both incredibly strong and vivid characters and Jenessa is absolutely adorable - I couldn't help but feel love for her and Shorty. At first I thought the lack of the letter g at the the end of -ing words was going to irritate me but I soon found myself being sucked into the book and only experiencing them as part of Carey's accent. When I say sucked into the book I really mean it. I got so involved in the plot so quickly that I really struggled to put it down at the end of my fifteen minute break. This book isn't one that has a teen romance as the main focus which makes a nice and refreshing change (there is a slight interest but its definitely a minor focus and is more about friendship).

I've finally figured out the pattern between all of these traumatic books that linger with you. It's not just the terrible events that haunt the reader but the authors often choose to leave part of the story unfinished and so you are left wondering what happened to the characters after the book finished. This is exactly the tool that Murdoch uses and it is brilliant as I haven't stopped thinking about Carey all day.

A quick note on the content: there are sexual abuse and drug references which are essential to the plot and so this book is definitely not one that is suitable for younger readers.

Overall, this is a brilliant, if traumatic, read. One that is filled with powerful and heart-wrenching emotion. It is one of those books that has great crossover appeal to adults too.

I give it 9/10 :)

Title: If You Find Me
Author: Emily Murdoch
Publisher: Indigo
Teenage Fiction

Jesus is _____. by Judah Smith

Taken from the back of the book:
"Jesus is _____. How would you finish that sentence?

The subject is there, and so it the verb, but what comes next? Your answer could shed light on the path to becoming who you were made to be.

In these pages, Judah Smith fills out that sentence again and again, each time further revealing the character of Jesus. He writes as if to a friend, illustrating the importance of Christ's message to modern men and women. This is a book for new believers, for lifelong followers, and for the merely curious.

Judah Smith shows us the Jesus that sombre paintings and hymns fail to capture. With passion, humour, and conviction, he shows that Jesus is life. Jesus is grace. Jesus is your friend.

Jesus is a new and better way to be human."

Quite simply this is a book about Jesus. Who he is. Why he came. What this means for us. The idea behind it stemmed from giving people the chance to finish the sentence "Jesus is..." and the various responses they gave. Judah Smith answers it in various ways, explaining the answer and its importance for us.

Over the years I've read a few Christian books, yet few have affected my life as much as this one. Smith states simple truths that should be obvious but in some ways are so obvious we miss them, kind of like when you look through a window, how often do you see the glass? It is refreshing, honest, easy to read and actually made me laugh out loud in places as well as having a profound effect on how I think and live my life. It's rare that I get truly passionate about one book in particular to the point that I keep talking about it for over a month to everyone I know but this is one of those gems. It's a book that has helped me to remember the heart of my faith and has refreshed my way of thinking.

Judah is an American and so this does shine through occasionally but this isn't necessarily a bad thing and it doesn't create any barriers as can happen in some pieces of writing. In some ways it adds to the humour, e.g. "Money, for example, is amoral. Cars are amoral. Sports are amoral, except for maybe cricket - any game that takes five days to play must be sin. Apologies to my British friends." He writes in a very friendly and approachable way that means his book isn't a chore to read and the things he shares are easy to remember.

I recommend it to anyone who is remotely curious about Jesus and the truth of the Christian message, whether you think you know it all or not. It really is a book that those who want to know Jesus should read.

I give it 10/10 :)

Title: Jesus is _____.
Author: Judah Smith
Publisher: Thomas Nelson
Christian Writing/Non-fiction