Paper Towns - John Green

Quentin Jacobson is a normal kid living in a subdivision in Florida. He isn't one of the cool kids (he takes his pulse when he gets too excited to check it isn't dangerously high) but Q has a miracle, he  lives next door to Margo Roth Spiegelman,

"She was the most fantastically gorgeous creature that God had ever created"

Q is in love, gut wrenchingly and achingly in love with Margo who he has known since they were 2 years of age, but while Margo progressed to being a legend at school for her looks and exploits, Q hangs around outside the band hall with his two friends, regarded as geeks and obsessing about getting dates for prom night. Q won't be going to the prom, because if he can't go with Margo, he sees no point in going at all.

When Margo opens Q's bedroom window a month before graduation and invites him along on a long night of revenge Q goes - and has the night of his life, but Margo does not turn up to school the following day, nor the next, nor the one after that. She has done this before, and now technically an adult, no one is seriously looking for her. When Q spots a poster taped to the back of her bedroom blind he realises it's a clue and sets out in search of the real Margo Roth Spiegelman.

John Green's book is a book about that perennial favourite subject amongst teens - identity. Think 'Catcher in the Rye' and 'To kill a Mockingbird'. 'Paper Towns' is easily as good as these classics but has the added advantage of being contemporary. As Q spends his last month of school searching for Margot and following the clues she leaves in a book of Walt Whitman poetry he begins to realise that the popular, beautiful and legendary Margot Roth Spiegelman maybe wasn't waving after all, she was drowning. There is more than a nod to Whitman (the middle part of the book revolves around his poem 'Song of Myself') and Emily Dickinson and Sylvia Plath are also referenced as is 'Moby Dick'.

Green has created some memorable characters, particularly Radar (remember MASH - no you probably don't you're too young!) who spends all his time editing an online encyclopedia Omnicionary, which has it's own website here (a bit like Wikipedia), and Q's parents, both analysts. Radar's parents have the second largest collection of black Santa's and Ben needs to pee - a lot, which can be problematic on a non stop road trip!

Have I mentioned the road trip? Every good book needs one and this one is to a paper town, which is a town that doesn't exist inserted into maps to spot copyright infringement, and this is of course the metaphor for the whole novel. Margot refers to herself as paper and those around her as paper, the image she has projected is not the real her. In that respect we are all paper, a construct that reflects how we want others to see us. Margot's flight is a search for her real self and, if he finds her, Q realises that he has to accept Margot as she really is and not as he has constructed her in order to love her - even if this means loosing her.

This is a sharply written novel which I enjoyed immensely, it is clever, witty and very serious. It will appeal to older teens who are ready for more than just a plot line in their reading.

John Green is also the author of two other novels only one of which, 'Looking for Alaska'. is available in Europe. All three of his books have won him a huge following in America and 'Paper Towns' has it's own Facebook page here. You can also see John Green answering questions about the book here.

Just go and buy the book, but preferably buy both 'Paper Towns' and 'Looking for Alaska'- you won't be disappointed.

Carole

The Other Girl-Sarah Miller

This is Sarah Miller’s second book about Molly McGarry. Molly is now going out with Gideon Rayburn and her ability to see inside his mind means she can give him what he wants in the relationship. However, she soon realises that there are disadvantages to seeing her boyfriend’s inner thoughts. Pilar Benitez-Jones, the hottest girl in the school, always flirts with Gideon and Molly can see the effect of this attention in her boyfriend’s mind. The knowledge Molly receives has disastrous and bizarre consequences in her life and Pilar is not Molly’s only problem. Molly is a scholarship girl at Midvale Academy. The school needs its richer pupils so their disregard for rules will not result in expulsion but if Molly pushes her luck too much it could cost her her place in the school. Her relationship with Gideon causes her to break the rules. When she is caught her house-mistress does not talk about punishment but about wanting her to be on the school’s team for the ATAT, an intellectual competition between schools. The prize for the winning this year is the enough for four years college tuition. Molly needs the prize if she wants to go to a top university but her grades have been slipping since her relationship with Gideon started. She doesn’t want to use time she could be spending with her boyfriend studying for the competition. Her life is slipping out of her control. How can she have everything she wants?

                Available since the 21^st June, this is a great book for girls in the 14+ age group. Miller competently deals with teenage relationships showing how difficult it can be to balance love and other aspects of life. The book touches on teenage issues like body image and sex.

I really enjoyed this book. Molly’s unorthodox approach to solving her problems is absorbing and often hilarious. I would recommend it to anyone who likes a good book that engages with teenage problems and has a more relaxed side to the storyline as well.

I would like to thank Bloomsbury for providing me with an advance copy of this book for review.

Reviewed by Roisin

How Ali Ferguson Saved Houdini - Elen Caldecott

For Ali Ferguson just moving into his new home is an adventure. He and his mother have moved out of his grandparent’s house into a flat in a Tower Block. Ali pretends he is an explorer as he inspects his new neighbourhood but when he meets Caitlin he gets involved in a mystery that is so exciting pretence takes second place. Caitlin’s dad Dave is attacked and Ali, Caitlin’s friend Gez, and Caitlin’s adventures begin when they try to find out who attacked him and why.

The book is not only an adventure story. A second story line follows how the absence of Ali’s dad affects him and his mother. Their move into the Tower block is the start of their plans for a new life without him. Ali becomes aware that his mother has a different idea to him of what this new life will be like. He realises that his view of what his life will be might have to change.

The book also deals with attitudes towards people who are different. For example, Ali’s granddad does not like the area the Tower Block is in and judges it before he has met the people in it. The book explores how preconceptions like this are not always right.

Caldecott has written a book that will be enjoyed by all ages. The exciting plotline and the entertaining characters combine to make a book that is more than a simple adventure story. It is due out on the 12^th July and would be a great summer read for the 9+ age group and anyone else who wants to read a good book!

I would like to thank Bloomsbury for providing me with an advance copy of this book for review.

Reviewed by Roisin

Magical Mischief - Anna Dale

Mr Hardbattle has a problem, his bookshop is inhabited by magic.

Magic can be very inconvenient, particularly when a step on the stairs regularly turns to custard. And magic gives off a mighty whiff, the result of which is that Mr Hardbattle's customers have flooded out the door and have not returned.

When he receives a notice that his rent is to be increased Mr Hardbattle doesn't know what to do but the wind and rain blow Arthur and Miss Quint into his shop and Mr Hardbattle is forced to reveal his secret. The three set out to find a new home for the magic but things take a serious turn when Mr Hardbattle leaves Arthur and Miss Quint in charge whilst he scouts possible locations for magic's relocation. But Miss Quint is lonely and starts making wishes.

Have you ever heard the saying 'Beware what you wish for!'

Wishes are dangerous things, particularly when you are in a magic bookshop.

This wonderful book for 9 - 11 year olds is a real treat to read with some great characters - both real and magic - and one disaster after another. With a silly spinster and a sensible Arthur, children will delight in the role reversal of the principle characters and the madcap ending. Also a great bedtime read for those not yet ready for a independent reading of a book of this length.

As I was reading (and as the book deals with magic) comparisons with that other children's contemporary magic series Harry Potter are inevitable. Personally I couldn't read the Potter books but Magical Mischief I read with a smile on my face and enjoyed every madcap minute of.

And yes working in a bookshop is a lovely job. Is our shop full of magic?

Well, if you look really hard in the corners and open some of the books, you never know what you will find!

Wake - Lisa McMann

It would be cool to be able to see other people's dreams, wouldn't it?

Janie Hannagan would not agree, she has been sucked into people's dreams since she was eight. The falling one, the naked one and the ones that terrify. But the dreams are only one of Janie's problems, she's living with her alcholic mother in the wrong part of town, working and saving furiously to go to college but in school the students keep falling asleep and this means Janie knows their intimate thoughts, feelings, desires and wishes.

When one night she experiences one of Cabel's dreams she is terrified. His reputatuion as a drug dealer goes before him, so how come he is so concerned about her? Trying to make sense of his mixed signals Janie is drawn into more than Cabel's dreams as 2005 draws to a close.

Lisa McMann's style is simple and direct which I liked alot. The story moved forward quickly, although the date and time headings could be confusing and I gave up following them as the story drew me in.

The book has been nominated as an American Library Association Quick Pick for reluctant YA readers and is ideal in this catagory because of the books style. Tagged for ages 12yrs + there are themes of alcholism, drugs and lesbianism in the book.

'Fade' the second book in the expected trilogy of books will be published on 1st August.

The Boys Are Back In Town

A few suggestions for the girls as they try to get under the skin of the boys for challenge #10 in our Summer Reading Challenge. I will start by recommending the three books that have influenced girls and their idea of a romantic hero for generations:

Mr Darcy, Mr Rochester and Heathcliffe in some of the greatest love stories ever told - and not a Cullen in sight!

Who could resist a fallen angel? Angels are all the rage at the moment and picking up where the vampires left off, in 'Hush Hush' we meet Patch and Nora who become involved in a century's old battle between the immortal and the fallen - and what a cover.

The second part of the story 'Crescendo' is out on 14th October.

And so that we are fair to all magical species, why not curl up with Sam in Maggie Stiefvater's 'Shiver'. Sam is a werewolf who must fight not to change into his wolf form if he is to stay with Grace. The next instalment of Sam and Grace's story, 'Linger', is due out on 5th July so you won't have to wait too long to find out what happens next.

John Green's novel 'Looking for Alaska' deals with all the big milestones - first drink, first prank, first friend, first girl, last words. In a wonderful coming of age story Miles Halter must make his way in the new boarding school he has been sent to, negotiate all those firsts and deal with the clever funny and sexy Alaska Young.

What would happen if you were sitting in class and you teacher disappeared, and not just your teacher but everyone over the age of 14 years. How would you manage, how would you survive and how would you deal with the kids who want to take over your world? Add some superpowers to the mix and Sam and Astrid have some big problems.

'Hunger' the second book in the series is available and with 'Lies', book number three, published in the US you could spend the whole summer with Sam and the kids from Perdido Beach.

Finally, Tim Bowler's fusion of real life and the supernatural 'Bloodchild' will have you on the edge of your seat as Will tries to piece together who he is and what has happened in the town, which has a secret - a secret that some will do all in their power to preserve. Even kill.

It's over to you now girls as the boys out there are waiting to provide you with an action packed summer.

The Boys Are Back in Town!

A musical link for the girls, start guessing what challenge #10 - A Different Gender - books we'll be posting about next week! In the meanitime sit back relax and enjoy your musical link

The Boys Are Back in Town