Dark Secrets 2 | Elizabeth Chandler

Two stories with only one thing relating them. They are both about an unsolved murder.
In No Time To Die, Jenny’s sister, Liza, who she is closer to than anyone in the world, has just died. Jenny decides to go to the summer drama camp where Liza was murdered by a serial killer. But she goes under a false name so that no one will know who she is. Everything is exactly how Liza described it. But, as Jenny digs deeper, she begins to wonder if Liza was really murdered by a serial killer after all.

In The Deep End Of Fear, Kate’s father recently died. He left her two requests. One, to return a ring to Adrian Westbrook, and, two, to regain contact with her mother who she has not seen since she was five. Deciding to return the ring, she takes a job looking after Adrian’s son, Patrick. But that means returning to her childhood home where her best friend, Ashley, had died by falling through the ice on the pond. Patrick is behaving oddly and saying he can see Ashley even though no one has ever told him about her. Kate isn’t sure that Ashley’s death was an accident. There are plenty of people who would benefit from her death…and Patrick’s.

I couldn’t put it down. I just had to know what happened next. Certain characters I loved and others I hated. The bit I loved the most was that the outcomes are completely unexpected. I could have made a long list of the people I thought might have killed Liza and Ashley but the people who actually did wouldn’t have been on it. But then I saw that it was them all along. Well written and I would definitely recommend it.

By Zobdy
Age 13

Wicked , Resurrection | Nancy Holder & Debbie Viguie

Resurrection is the last in the five part Wicked series. It is particularly focused on the witch cousins, Holly, Nicole and Amanda, but there are so many other characters doing different things, it’s almost too hard to keep track of where everyone is or, even, who’s still alive. Definitely not a stand alone book. Do not try to read any of the books out of order or you will end up in a very confused mess.

The Houses of Cahors (Holly, Nicole and Amanda) and Deveraux (Jer and Eli) are forced to put aside their differences to face an enemy more powerful than any they have encountered before. New friends are found and old ones lost forever. It is full of action as the final battle begins. It makes you feel happy and sad and angry along with the characters. You feel like you are there with them experiencing everything they do. A real page turner. Brilliant, if you can keep up.

By Zobdy
Age 13

Nation | Terry Pratchett

Nation by Terry Pratchett

Nation is set in a world which is almost identical to ours. The Nation is a tribe that live on a tiny unknown island. That is, it was, until the wave came and wiped out everyone except Mau. But he’s not alone because there is a shipwrecked “trouserman girl” called Ermintrude and a very rude parrot. Ermintrude hates her name so tells Mau that she is called Daphne. They try to understand eachother’s cultures and languages and together they help all of people that come to the island.

I loved it right up to the end, which I hated. I’m not going to say what happens but it’s not what you want to. I know several people who agree with me. It’s a great book because it makes you care about the characters and what happens to them.

I tried reading it a few years ago because I got it for Christmas. At the time, I wasn’t particularly interested so I couldn’t get into it. But now I’ve picked it up again, I’ve really enjoyed it so even if you try it and don’t like it, try it again later and you might surprise yourself.

BY Zobdy
Age 13

Hush Hush | Becca Fitzpatrick

Nora Grey is an ordinary girl (aside form being anemic) who goes to school, does her work, and hangs around with her best friend, Vee. Until Patch turns up. Handsome, mysterious and slightly roguish, he is everything Nora doesn't want. Nora feels uneasy around him because of the fact that he knows everything about her and seems to be finding out more by the second, because whenever she is with him something bad happens, and because of the strange sensation she can't work out whenever she is near him.

Assigned to be biology partners with him, Nora can't help but get to know Patch and slowly starts to fall for him. But with crimes striking all over the place and with Nora caught up in it all, the only feeling Nora can have for patch is suspicion.

As life gets more dangerous and questions waiting around every corner, Nora puts her trust in Patch, only to find out that that could have been a bad Idea.

I loved this book and I can't wait to read 'Crecendo' the sequel.

I think this is a young adult book, probably for girls because the book is written from a girls point of view and I don't think that it would appeal to boys like that.

PomPom

Wintercraft - Jenna Burtenshaw

Wintercraft is set in a country called Albion in a made up world. Kate Winters has a rare power, she is one of the Skilled. She can look into the veil and manipulate life and death. But Kate doesn’t want to have any part in it because the Skilled are hunted. She just wants to be left alone. When she is captured by the infamous Silas, who is known for killing people without a second thought, she tries to get away to find her friend, Edgar, and her uncle, Artemis. But then she learns the truth about Silas and the job he wants her to do. They make a deal which leads to chaos and death.
I found it hard to get into the book. Every time I picked it up, I struggled through the first few pages but, after a few minutes, I was hooked again. So, once I got started I couldn’t put it down. The story is fast paced and full of action. For the most part, I thoroughly enjoyed it. I was interested in this new world and fascinated by the Skilled. But, although I think it is an excellent book well worth reading, unfortunately, I don’t agree with the comment on the inside cover that says “Wintercraft is set to be the most exciting teen title of 2010”. Despite that, an amazing read.
By Zobdy
Age 13

Darklife - Kat Falls

Darklife by Kat falls is set in the future. The whole world has grown unbearably hot and most of the land is now underwater. Ty was born underwater and knows it as home. He meets a girl, Gemma, at the beginning of the book and she explains that she is searching for her brother. Gemma lives in a care home and wants to get out. She hangs out with Ty and his family under the sea and slowly they become best frineds. While searching for Gemma's brother, they come across a nasty gang called Sea blite and their leader, Shade. Gemma's brother is nowhere to be found and Sea blite are growing more and more dangerous. Lots of mysteries are waiting to be answered and Gemma is under threat of being taken home to the 'Top side'.

Overall this was a very good, interesting book. aimed probably 11+ years, Girls or boys. Definatly a 10 out of 10!

Pompom

Giveaway - Hush Hush

I have a paperback copy of Hush Hush by Becca Fitzpatrick to give away. All you need to do is comment and one commenter will be selected via randomiser.

This is my review from the hardback in October 2009

It's beautiful. The cover isn't just a great image it's beautiful with it's slightly metallic quality to the cover, the evocative font type and on the inside of the hardback cover the white feathers showing on the black paper. I could happily just hold it.

I read it in two big happy chunks, before bed last night and over breakfast this am. Hush Hush is a paranormal YA and in an increasingly popular genre it is becoming more and more difficult to stand out. This stands out. It's tense and dramatic, Nora is riddled with doubt, unsure who to trust, who is a threat and what is really going on. Fitzpatrick is very effective in creating the doubts and anxiety not only in her heroine's mind, but in her readers. There are enough potential threats and twists that for everyone I saw coming there were more that caught me by surprise. Nora is a likeable heroine who is drawn gradually from normality into a world of angels and fallen and that allows the reader to be drawn into a place where such things are possible with her.

Ok Patch is a silly nickname, but I got over that pretty quickly and that really is the only nitpick I can manage with this one.

Becca Fitzpatrick, like Sarah Rees Brennan, is an author set to make a real impact in a YA market with a thirst for the paranormal.