When I Was Me, by Hilary Freeman, is one of those books that makes you go ‘is it…? what the…? Oh, now I get it…no, I’m wrong again’ and I love an author who can keep you guessing. Ella wakes up one morning to discover that everything has changed. Well – not everything. She’s still apparently herself; … More When I Was Me – review
A Song for Ella Grey is a beautifully written book. A friend lent me her proof copy after I said I’d not managed to get on with the couple of David Almond books I’d read before. You know how sometimes everyone raves about a writer and you just don’t feel it yourself? And you worry that … More A Song for Ella Grey – review
I’ve heard a lot about Apple and Rain by Sarah Crossan. Well, no – that’s not strictly true. I’ve seen school librarians go ‘oh, yes, THAT book’ and get slightly misty-eyed. I’ve heard a fellow author say it’s the best book she’s read this past year and that it broke her heart. I’ve seen the … More Apple and Rain – review
Times have changed in YA bookland. Counting Stars, by Keris Stainton, reads more like a Lisa Jewell adult novel to me – and that’s a compliment. I’m quite sure there will be many young adults who will enjoy indulging in the multi-character, layered plot. It’s kind of like Friends in book form – and in … More Counting Stars – review
Someone at Bloomsbury has really got the measure of me. I can’t otherwise explain the fact that they sent me a picture book (which I don’t normally review) all about challenging gender stereotypes. I’M A GIRL! by Yasmeen Ismail is probably the most outwardly feminist picture book I’ve ever read – and I love it. The … More I’m A Girl – review
I am being thoroughly spoilt by books at the moment. I love a good contemporary YA, with issues galore and preferably some kind of impending doom that’s resolved in some way at the end. That possibly says a lot about me! But IN ANOTHER LIFE by Laura Jarratt ticks all the boxes for me, and … More In Another Life – review
Sometimes you come across an author who writes such fantastic stuff that you really wonder why on earth they’re not on all the awards lists ever, or being interviewed by the Guardian, or appearing on Top YA lists everywhere. EDEN by Joanna Nadin made me feel like this – and Sheena Wilkinson’s STILL FALLING has … More Still Falling – review
I was keen to read ONLY WE KNOW by Simon Packham because a) he used to blog for Girls Heart Books and I never got around to reading anything of his (and I really do try to read stuff by bloggers who help me run the site!) and b) it’s published by Piccadilly Press, who are … More Only We Know – review
I can’t believe I haven’t reviewed one of these books on my site before. Maybe it’s because I’ve spent all my time telling people I meet to buy them! The Stinkbomb and Ketchup-Face series has caused more bedtime merriment in this house than any other. My seven-year-old literally squeals in delight, and I have been … More Stinkbomb and Ketchup-Face and the Bees of Stupidity – review
I’ve been looking forward to Stop Those Monsters! since reading Steve Cole’s Aliens Stink! last year and enjoying it far more than I was expecting to. Stop Those Monsters! is another take-a-boy-out-of-normal-life-and-shove-him-into-a-parallel-world story. This time we have Bob, a 12-year-old boy being babysat by Rachel Thing (he can’t remember her surname) when his house is caught … More Stop Those Monsters! – review
Jo Cotterill 