Book Review: Dark Spell by Gill Arbuthnott (Scottish Children’s Book Award Shortlist)

I was investigating the Scottish Children’s Book Awards Shortlist recently, because Scotland’s been on the brain and I only know how to deal with big issues through literature.  I read an awful lot of Scottish fiction – for children, teens, and adults – while I was living there, but have felt it rather lacking in

Book Review: 100 Sideways Miles by Andrew Smith

Toot-tootle-oo! (That’s that medieval trumpet sound of oh-hey-big-news, but you’ll have to imagine it sounding more impressive than the phonetic sounds I just typed out…)  The National Book Award’s long list for Young People’s Literature has been announced!  I’ve read three of the books already: Skink – No Surrender, Brown Girl Dreaming (I reviewed it here), and 100 Sideways Miles.  I really

Book Review: Jackaby by William Ritter

Star Ratings: Characters: **** (4 stars) Character Development: *** (3 stars) Plot: **** (4 stars) Writing: **** (4 stars) Overall: ***1/2 (3 1/2 stars) Age range recommendation: 13 + (some scares, but nothing wildly inappropriate) A tenacious young Brit takes on a job as assistant to an awkward-but-brilliant private detective in 19th century New England.

Book Review: Girl Defective by Simmone Howell

Star Ratings: Characters: ***** (5 stars) Character Development: **** (4 stars) Plot: *** (3 stars) Writing: **** (4 stars) Overall: **** (4 stars) Age range recommendation: 14 and up. (Drugs, sex, and rock’n’roll.)  Adults will really like this one, too. I don’t understand old music, or teenage crushes, or Australia. These are not my areas

Book Review: Cartwheeling In Thunderstorms by Katherine Rundell

This new children’s novel by Katherine Rundell (author of my much-beloved Rooftoppers) came out in August.  I read an advance reader’s copy, so some details may have changed before publication.  The UK title of this book is The Girl Savage. Star Ratings: Characters: **** (4 stars) Character Development: *** (3 stars) Plot: *** (3 stars)

Book Review: Daughter Of The Forest by Juliette Marillier

Star Ratings: Characters: **** (4 stars) Character Development: ***** (5 stars) Plot: **** (4 stars) Writing: ***** (5 stars) Overall: ****1/2 (4 1/2 stars) Age Range Recommendation: 15 and up. (The main character might be quite young, but there’s torture and sexual violence.) I had no idea that such a spellbinding, heartbreaking re-telling of “The