Category: relationships

Alex, Approximately by Jenn Bennett

Life is a whole lot messier than the movies… Bailey Rydell has found the boy of her dreams. They share a love of films and talk all day – Alex is perfect. The only problem? They haven’t actually met… When Bailey moves to sunny California to live with her dad, who happens to live in the same town as Alex, she decides to track him down. But finding someone based on online conversations alone proves harder than Bailey thought, and with her irritating but charismatic (and potentially attractive?) colleague Porter Roth distracting her at every turn, will she ever get to meet the mysterious Alex?

Really loved this book, got it in October and could NEVER put it down! Absolute must read! SA (S2) *****

Normal People by Sally Rooney

Normal peopleConnell and Marianne grow up in the same small town in the west of Ireland, but the similarities end there.

In school, Connell is popular and well-liked, while Marianne is a loner.

But when the two strike up a conversation – awkward but electrifying – something life-changing begins. Normal People is a story of mutual fascination, friendship and love.

It takes us from that first conversation to the years beyond, in the company of two people who try to stay apart but find they can’t.

It’s a gread book. Really interesting. I love Sally Rooney books. HB *****

Viper’s Daughter by Michelle Paver

Viper's daughterA boy. A wolf. The legend lives on.

Viper’s Daughter is the seventh book in the award-winning series that began with Wolf Brother, selling over 3 million copies in 36 territories. Like them it can be read as a standalone story.

For two summers Torak and Renn have been living in the Forest with their faithful pack-brother, Wolf. But their happiness is shattered when Renn realizes Torak is in danger – and she’s the threat.

When she mysteriously disappears, Torak and Wolf brave the Far North to find her. At the mercy of the Sea Mother and haunted by ravenous ice bears, their quest leads them to the Edge of the World. There they must face an enemy more evil than any they’ve encountered.

I had a nice surprise earlier this year when I found out there was going to be a new book in the series and I wasn’t disappointed.  I re-read the first 6 books recently and Viper’s Daughter is every bit as absorbing as the rest. The story rarely slows down and there are plenty of twists along the way. Miss McGill *****

Heartstopper Volume 1 by Alice Oseman

Heartstopper: Volume 1Charlie and Nick are at the same school, but they’ve never met … until one day when they’re made to sit together. They quickly become friends, and soon Charlie is falling hard for Nick, even though he doesn’t think he has a chance.

But love works in surprising ways, and Nick is more interested in Charlie than either of them realised. Heartstopper is about love, friendship, loyalty and mental illness.

It encompasses all the small stories of Nick and Charlie’s lives that together make up something larger, which speaks to all of us.

It was cute and funny. I really enjoyed. K.G. (S3) *****

Heartstopper Volume 2 by Alice Oseman

Heartstopper: Volume 2Nick and Charlie are best friends. Nick knows Charlie’s gay, and Charlie is sure that Nick isn’t. But love works in surprising ways, and Nick is discovering all kinds of things about his friends, his family … and himself. Heartstopper is about friendship, loyalty and mental illness. It encompasses all the small stories of Nick and Charlie’s lives that together make up something larger, which speaks to all of us.

It was really heartwarming and adorable. K.G. (S3) *****

Katy by Jacqueline Wilson

9780141353982Katy Carr is a lively, daredevil oldest sister in a big family.
She loves messing around outdoors, climbing on the garage roof, or up a tree, cycling, skateboarding, swinging…But her life changes in dramatic and unexpected ways after a serious accident.
Inspired by the classic novel, What Katy Did, Jacqueline Wilson creates an irresistible modern version for the twenty-first-century.

It looks good but I personally don’t like it. HG (S1) *

Ice Lolly by Jean Ure

Laurel is only 12 when her mum dies and she is shipped off to stay with relatives she hardly knows. Her new family don’t seem to care about anything Laurel loves, including books and Mr Pooter, her old marmalade-coloured cat. So Laurel decides that she won’t feel anything: she’ll become Ice Lolly, the girl with the frozen heart.

I really liked this book as it has a sad start and a happy ending. I liked the part where she went to Stevie’s and picked up Mr Pooter and got another two cats at the same time, one called Carrie and the other called Lupin. I highly recommend it to people who love cats.  K.A. (S1) *****

Boys on the Brain by Jean Ure

Cresta’s diary starts: “My mum! She has boys on the brain!” She and Charlie are seriously embarrassed by their parents who insist on behaving like teenagers. The girls are serious about their schoolwork and their careers and they are not going to waste their time thinking about boys…
It was so good I just couldn’t put it down.
L.C.

Rain by Paul May

“Rain’s hippy lifestyle is now over – she and her mum have left their bus behind and moved into a real house. Rain is attending school for the first time, instead of being taught at home by her mum, but she doesn’t understand why she’s being bullied just because she’s a little bit different.”
This is a great book and I enjoyed it! ****

R.S.