Shadow Web - N.M.Browne

I've read this book about 3/4 times now. Everytime I read it, I notice something different, it just shows how well crafted this book is. It's a book I read every year, I cannot get bored of this book because of the way I see something different, and I love reading about Jess and Johnny,

Synopsis: After searching herself on the internet during a break from a history essay, sixteen-year-old Jess Allendon from Shene, London finds another Jessica Allendon, from Shene, that is sixteen-years-old. She agrees to meet up with her at Waterloo. One minute she is approaching her doppelgänger, the next she is being shooed away from the 'first-class entrance' because of her skimpy clothes. Suddenly, she is trapped in a London which looks as if it's from an era long past, but the year is 2008. And the other Jessica has been playing a very dangerous game in his secretive and dangerous version of London that's landed Jess is a dangerous web that she needs to sort out. Fast.


Review: This book for me, has everything. There is action, feelings, romance, secrets, adventure, twists and turns and if it was a movie, I'd be on the edge of my seat. I love the character of Jess and the book follows her growing up and becoming mature and appreciate her own world which is better that Jessica's. She comes to the world completely disoriginated as you would expect and has to learn quickly about Jessica's life, work and past in order to do the right thing and for people not to notice she is different. There are lots of things that Jess does that the reader and herself in HER London would never think twice about but in Jessica's London, this is different and soon, Jess is in trouble.

The world itself is so interesting and it has puzzled me MANY times about what this parallel world is. From reading N.M.Browne's view on writing the book (you can see this on her website), the world shown is one where there have been no World Wars. That's right, I'm sure most people think while studying World War I or World War II 'I wonder what would have happened if they had never have happened?', 'I wonder what would have happened if England had lost?' Well, here's your answer. The world heavily features German aspects making it obvious of the world that has been created. When Jess walks into the house that there is a painting by 'A Hitler', which Jess remarks 'What an unfortunate name'. But there is no mention of Hitler or of wars that we would understand because here, they didn't happen or if they did, they were less significant than in Jess's real London. Women under 30 don't have the vote, there are various important links with Germany through the royal family and a traditional greeting is 'Guten Tag' (this is a formal greeting in Germany meaning 'good day'). It's funny and really makes you think about this alternative life that may or may not be happening right now.

Jess could be seen as a little bit annoying. At times in the past I have admittingly thought 'MAN UP'. It is true that Jess seems nothing like a heroine of the novel as she turns out to be and she has more to contend with than her doppelgänger.
I really like Johnny. When he comes out of his shell a little bit more, he seems very passionate, down-to-earth and cares about Jessica's well being despite not really liking her. I've read in some reviews that people think he seems much older than 17. I have to agree - he does seem like he is in his early 20s rather than the same age than me. But this fits with both his personality in this and the world that Jess is in.

Overall, this book is one that I love now and will keep on loving every time I read it. It has everything for me at least. Read it, if you haven't read it before, I'm pretty sure any teenager can relate to the woes and situation of Jess a little bit, even if she is in a different world. You won't regret it. Just don't google your name!

I give it a 5 out of 5

Author's Website: http://nmbrowne.com/
Pages: 312
Publisher: Bloomsbury
Challenges: BBC

Notes to Self - Avery Sawyer

Sometimes when authors/publishers ask me to review a book of theirs, I find myself thinking that this is wrong. I guess it's because before blogging (and partly during blogging), I just a normal person reading constantly that HAD to wait for all the best, upcoming, great books to come out in England, instead of America. Which sucks.

But now, even though when I find myself saying 'Yeah sure!' to a review request, it feels still weird and slightly wrong. But then I get to find books that I probably would never have known about and it helps me to love blogging and what I do.
This is one of those books. I felt bad saying yes to this interesting sounding book but then, I start reading and I feel so glad I said yes.
Blogging rules sometimes.

Synopsis: One windy night at the end of summer in Florida, two teenage girls climb up a roller coaster. Two fall down. Only one wakes up.
That one person is Robin who after a traumatic brain injury, she tries relearn who she is and find out what happened that night in order to try and help Emily, her best friend, wake up.

Review: This is one short read, I can tell you. But boy, is it intense.
The book starts with just before the fall and much like Robin, the narrative jumps to when Robin wakes up. From then on, we, and Robin, are trying to find out her past and more importantly, the accident itself where something is nagging Robin that if she remembers, it will save Emily. This all happens in a series of flashbacks throughout the book which piece together all our questions ending in the ultimate and last flashback - the fall.

I liked how Sawyer didn't reveal everything straight away to us - it made it a much more interesting read. I would say this story is unique, because in some ways I think it is especially the way it is done. But there are a   lot of books out there that reminded me of this one while reading - Speak and If I Stay to name a few.

This book takes some time to break in. At first, while reading, I didn't like it at all - I got annoyed at Robin and I found the hospital scenes disturbing and uninteresting. Not a good mix, I assure you. But when Robin finally gets out of hospital and starts to try and find out what happened, the story suddenly lifts up. The thing about Robin is that she is someone I could relate to.
So I haven't broken anything, had concussion or hurt in any way part of my brain, I felt and understood what she was going through. For me, her point of view is written like a typical teenager and the problem of her not remembering anything was linked with other teenage 'tragedies' such as not sure if you like a guy and people being mean to you at school. Maybe I got the wrong end of the stick or I totally lost the whole point - but that's what I felt. I related to Robin because her injury was linked with things I have gone through in my teenagehood.

Robin, I thought was going to be annoying. I feel bad saying this but I get annoyed when something happens to the protagonist and they whine on and on about their problems. I would be the same, I know, but still. Surprisingly, Robin wasn't. She got on with her life and I liked the determination to find out what happened on that night. Basically, what I'm trying to say is that Robin was a great narrator and I liked her character and the way she just got on with everything after the accident.

The writing was easy to read and flowed really well. There are a lot of chapters for such a short book and almost act as episodes. Despite this, the narrative was never snappy or broken up, it all flowed into a wondering book very well. Because of the episodes, it became very visual in my head while reading and I can totally imagine this as a movie in the way it is written.
Although I thought the opening could have been better, the ending...well, let's say that some may expect it happening, I did not. I had already made my decision on what happened at the end but this was changed completely.

Now, my problems. Wow, Josie is a total bitch and the way the people treat Robin when she returns to school, wow, that is harsh. At times I felt that the story seemed a little...dramatised. Like the way people treated Robin at school - yes it happens but I don't think it would have been that bad especially as they know about her brain injury. Another example is Susan (I won't reveal why) but I was like 'Seriously? That's a bit too coincidental. It was like Sawyer wanted to get the mother out of the story so introduced her.

NOTES TO SELF tackles multiple issues that teenagers have to deal with as well as the ultimate and tragic problem of brain damage - something we all fear and hope will never happen to ourselves and those around us. Avery Sawyer has successful created a book where people can somehow relate to Robin, even though she is in a rare situation. The writing and characters craft this book into something that I think most people would enjoy at any age. With the length of this book, I think everyone should read this book - even if it isn't totally perfect.
Verdict: I would give it a go - but I don't think it is everyone's cup of tea.

I give it a 3.5 out of 5

Author's Website: http://www.teashopgirls.com/
Pages: 107
Publisher: Self
Challenges: None

My week has been a little hectic...

This week has been a little hectic since I returned to college.
I had an exam yesterday, my first ever A level exam...and well, I don't particularly want to think about it but let's say I doubt I passed it.

On Monday afternoon, I have my other exam for January, which is History. I am incredibly scared especially as I'm only half way through teaching myself the syllabus (long story).

So yes. I am a neglecter of the blog and yes, thank you 'Anonymous' for that comment on how awful I am at blogging and should just shut the blog down, I so appreciated it and felt happy for the rest of the day all in the comfort of knowing what I already knew. Thanks. So much.

Moving on, I have many new books on my bookshelf and the fact, I've been working in a book store the last month, book are far from rare in my life. I have found a girl in my English Literature class who shares passions for the same sort of books (e.g. she is a MASSIVE John Green fan - oh yes!) which helps.
College is hard, and I know it isn't going to get any easier.

With the pressure of a blog as well, sometimes I wonder why I do everything.
But fear not my followers, this blog will NOT be closing down any time soon, nor will I abandon it.

Rebecca shall be back soon with more books than ever

Have a lovely week :)

The Perks of being a Wallflower - Stephen Chbosky

This is a book that has always interested me, as has for others. It is always a book that is named, never written about or seems to be read - well for me anyway.
After a school friend reading it and then, hearing about Amy reading and enjoying it, it started to interest me more and more. It wasn't until I walked into my college library did I finally see this book in the flesh - in the Banned Book Week section that my library had created.
This book is in the Top 10 books in the world to be banned. And from reading it, I can see why with the casual references to drugs, sex, alcohol, suicide and wait for it - being gay. Although this may cause people to be clicking the return button already from this review, wait. I could name a few books that address these issues and are not as banned as this one book - it's merely because it is all contained in this one 200-page odd book that adults - sorry - run the other way in fright. However - maybe teenagers actually like it. So TAKE THAT (I so thought of the band then...)

Synopsis: Charlie is starting high school as a freshman - alone. His best and only friend has gone and he is thought weird, geeky and socially awkward by his peers. This is until he is befriended by some seniors who take him under their wing and introduce him to the life of a typical teenager: relationships, love, drugs, alcohol and The Rocky Horror Picture Show.

Review: This is quite an...unusual book. I don't quite know how to put this review really.
Charlie is an interesting character. We start by knowing nothing and end with knowing not everything. His narrative is told through one sided letters by Charlie to a person he reveals he heard people talking about at his high school and thought he looked like a nice guy who wouldn't mind him sending him letters. Annoyingly, we never find out who this guy is.
Charlie starts of by having a lot of short sentences, like basic Year 1 language. I did this, I did that etc. But by the end of the novel, I found he wrote more freely and I almost enjoyed his writing. This book is not one where you can admire the vivid descriptions or be amazed by the choice of words. It is like Chbosky is saying 'Here's the story with no added crap. Like it or not'. Very different approach, but I liked this way. There was no metaphors and stupid representations of things you have to think yourself. It was just simple a story that could happen to a teenager.

Now, after reading some reviews on Goodreads, this book is thrashed down with a stick a lot. I admit, this is like putting a teenager in a book and adding every possible thing that could happen to a them in these years at once, but seriously, you know who you are, that does happen. I know a few people who have experienced all these things. Just because it is in a book doesn't it mean everything is fictional.
   Charlie was a likeable character I guess, although I found his naivity a tad annoying after a while. He just let people do things! The other characters were also great especially Sam and Patrick, the two seniors that befriend Charlie. There is this interesting, different relationship with all of them and things happen that would never be looked at in other YA novels which I liked. The other characters added a unique spin to this novel, each very original and typical of any teenager. Charlie seemed much younger than he was, just 16, my age.

Any readers of the book will sympathise with Charlie, especially if you are around his age. I remember being socially awkward myself, not quite sure what was the right or wrong thing to say in reply, how to talk to guys in a more mature, less playful way and how to arrange events without insulting anyone.
This really is a novel that anyone going or have gone through teenage years will understand and relate to, as well and feeling bad for Charlie. His sister and brother are no help, so with only two people much older than you for help, I think I would be like Charlie in that situation.

This is just something about this book that made me not love it, but not hate it either. I liked the references to the various books, which have also been banned (ha! Like Chbosky knew!) and the characters developing relationships. These are the things that made me enjoy the book. I think the main thing that made me not like this was the fact we never know what is wrong with Charlie, or who this person the letters are being sent to. I mean, if I'm going to read your book, you need to tell me these things, and there's not going to be a sequel, so do it now!

This book is strictly a more advanced read. It is complicated and I can see why it is one of the most banned books for the content, so be warned, this isn't a real YA book although it deals with that age range. The book provides a unique portrayal of teenage life that although, may seem unrealistic, I can assure you it is quite well done. It was interesting reading about Charlie and how he was accepted. There are many things about this book that I didn't like, the ending, the writing, Charlie himself at points. This book which everyone has heard of is nothing like you expect and will surprise you I think too. Although a slightly disappointment, it was very original and does stand out and is for any fans of John Green.

I give it a 3.5 out of 5

This book is being made into a movie for release in 2012, written and directed by Stephen Chbosky himself starring Logan Lerman (Charlie), Emma Watson (Sam) and Ezra Miller (Patrick). See here for more details

Author's Website: http://authors.simonandschuster.com/Stephen-Chbosky/1843916
Pages: 213
Publisher: Simon and Schuster
Challenges: None

Some books that also contain the issues addressed in this book:
- Thirteen Reasons Why - Jay Asher - suicide
- Diving In - Kate Cann - sex
- Pretty Things - Sara Manning - drugs, alcohol, sex

The Braces are off.

On the 11th June 2008, I got fitted for braces. I was a tall thirteen year-old approaching Year 9 - the BIG year of SATS and GCSE options - and having already gone a semi-serious operation in the April where I had been put to sleep and couldn't even talk for 3 days.

I've never been too fussed about them since. While my friends hide them away, I just got on with life regardless of my braces. Because of this, I think the majority of my friends and family cannot imagine me without them, especially newer friends. 

I was forecasted to have braces for 2 and a half years. That turned into 32 months, then soon approaching 3 years. It seemed like they would never go, I would live with them forever.
Until a couple of months ago in a passing comment to my orthodontist, I mentioned I hated them by now and just wanted them off. Before I knew it she was going into a long spiel that I should contact my dentist, do this, go book an appointment. It looked like I was finally having them gone.

This morning I woke up earlier than I should have gone.  The idea for the last two months seemed unreal that I, Rebecca, would be getting her braces off. It still now feels like a dream that I'm going to wake up and poof. They're back.
So I got ready, had breakfast, brushed my teeth, got into the car and drove to the orthodontists with my mother. Suddenly, I was in the chair. Suddenly, I was being asked to open my mouth, close it, bite together, open again. Suddenly, there was clipping somewhere rather close, a little pulling and then. Oh.

The thing I have been wanting so desperately for months, happened without me realising. I had my braces off. FINALLY.

The next part of the more hideous of the whole experience: cleaning my teeth and getting the glue off with numerous spinny tools that weren't too pleasant at all.
Anyway, around 20 minutes later, I was done.
The nurse handed me a tissue and glass of water and a mirror. I look at myself in the mirror first.

I have blood and moulding (for the retainer) smouldered around my mouth, mascara smudged under my eyes and let's just say, it was not the most attractive moment of my life. But then I opened my mouth and smiled. AND I LOOKED SO DIFFERENT. I hardly recognised myself, I feel like a new me.

For those who have braces or getting them soon, go through the pain, just live with it. When you do finally get them off, it will be the best day of your life so far.

(That is not food in my braces, it was just the light - honestly!)

Looking for Alaska - John Green

This is my first book for John Green and I've heard mixed reviews many times about this one, his debut. This, as far as I know, is the only John Green book avaliable in England right now and I have seen it countless of times both in the blogosphere and in the shops.
This was bought for me by one of my best friends, Tijana for my birthday in February. She wanted apparently to get me another book but the lovely proper bookshop that she went to, The Lion and The Unicorn, didn't have it so she got me this one as I had said that I wanted to read it, so here it is.

Synopsis: Miles Halter transfers from his childhood school in Florida to an exclusive boarding school in steamy Alabama, Culver Creek, to look for the 'Great Perhaps' quoted in the poet, Francois Rabelais' last words. Here, he finds many unique friends, including the funny, self-destructive Alaska, and many new and excting adventures, and of course pranks. Here as he tries to understand himself and his peers, he is pulled into Alaska's labyrinth that leads to some shocking consequences.


Review: I really liked this book, I really did. However, there are two small things that let it down, and from reading other reviews on this book, I know I'm not the only one that things these things.

Number 1: The book is in two parts, the chapters marked with the days leading up to the ultimate, shocking event (I am trying not to tell you too much because I read ahead of myself and found out beforehand and was shocked - I will be vague), both with 136 days before and after the event. Anyway, the first half was so good. Amazing even. I loved Mile's voice and how original all his friends are compared to other novels like this one. They are all such unique people with their own personality and not cliched or anything, however, you could also relate them to your own friends e.g. Alaska reminded me of my friend, George.
However, in the days afterwards, it started to go downhill. It started to get tedious, boring, went on and on about the same thing. It was also much shorter, or at least seemed it, than the first part which in the way I see it from the title, the 'After' bit is the whole point of the naming of the book. The book ended ambiguously too and it seemed a little rushed in a way that like you suddenly found out what they were looking for in about ten pages. I don't know....for me, it just wasn't how a book like this should end and it disappointed me slightly. There is an essay in response to an exam he is supposed to have done and well, would you really swear in your coursework? No way.

Number 2: Alaska started to get on my nerves. I know this was the whole point of her, that she was so two-faced in a way, but well, one minute she was all kind and happy. And then the next, she's screaming at them to go away and saying horrible, disturbing things. It was just so contrasting and I haven't met a person like that at all, so I guess I don't really understand what it's like but still, the fact that the novel is named after her, she was awfully annoying. That's it really.

This book held both good and bad points. The characters, both teachers and students (The Eagle and Takumi made me laugh) and descriptions were all so original and different to many things I've read before. You get to see into what it's like to be a teenager and John Green has done this successfully as well, the things they did DO happen now e.g. nicknames for people, smoking. I should know as I am their age in the book: 16. The 'After' bit held really good and emotional points which illistrated the grief caused by such an event and how different people deal with it. It was nice to see the union of Colonel and Miles after the event and how they ARE like Alaska so rightly says, like a married couple, which makes me think of people I know who act like a marriage couple a lot. It's just so funny and interesting to see how they have become so close to be that friendly and act in that way, although of the same sex.
There is more humour within it than that including the last words carefully chosen (Miles has an obsession with last words of historical figures)

I would really recommend this book to anyone that doesn't mind the dark events, it really is a good Young Adult book with some amazing bits in it that are so well done.
My copy of the book is the one above and you will only understand the significance of the flower when you read it through the whole way (it isn't a massive one but it is pretty big). There is a lot of foreshadowing in this book that you don't even realise when reading it normally - only at the end.

Overall, I think John Green has done a great job, especially as this was his debut, however, there are points where it isn't as good and slightly rushed. It does give a good insight into a teenager's live and how they deal with big personal issues such as the main event in the novel and acts as a lesson for other teenagers on how to deal with their grief and guilt. I really enjoyed this books still though, despite some of the low points. I am going to look for more of his books in the future.
THANK YOU TIJANA! :)

(Sorry for the vagueness!)

I give it 4 out 5

Author's Website: http://johngreenbooks.com/
Pages: 263
Publisher: Harper Collins
Challenges: None

Of Mice and Men - John Steinbeck

I'm reading Of Mice and Men constantly recently because I have an exam on it in 2 weeks, so I am probably the expert at the book at the moment. I know what every symbol means, why and what Steinbeck meant and wrote it. I feel happy about that in some ways but having to know every single little detail about the book does start to make yourself get put off by it hence my thoughts at the moment on the book:
*shivers* Urgh...Of Mice and Men...

Synopsis: The tragic story of the complex bond between two migrant laborers in Central California. They are George Milton and Lennie Small, itinerant ranch hands who dream of one day owning a small farm. George acts as a father figure to Lennie, who is a very large, simple-minded man, calming him and helping to reign in his immense physical strength.
(From Goodreads.com)


Review: This is one of those books that everyone should read and certainly comes under the category of a classic like Pride and Prejudice. It is interesting, engaging and from the first read, you will cry or feel upset at the end. Some of the people in my class read ahead last year and they said the ending is so sad. Me being the typical book reader didn't read ahead and let me say...there were a couple of tears in our class when it ended. Some hid however like a guy behind me sniffed, making me turn around and he looked at me then said in a choked voice 'What?' It made me smile but I totally agreed with his reaction. The end is definitely the killer punch.

By reading between the lines (like I have to) you find out more things through colour symbolism, pathetic fallacy (nature responding to what's happening in world) and constant metaphors meaning a variety of things.
The characters are well developed early on - the second Section. They all are completely believeable and represent different people in society at the time. Set in the 1930's in Soledad (means lonely in Spanish) in the Salinas Valley of California, it really is described how I could imagine it. In 1929, there was the Wall Street Crash where shares and money had no value at all and after the boom of America, there came the Depression which meant businesses went bankrupt, people had no jobs or money and everyone was on the 'bread line' (queuing for food). There was also the Dust Bowl in America where sand literally wiped out land and farms and caused farmers and workers, such as George and Lennie, to go west (yes, there is a song too...) towards California to find work on ranches doing labouring work. Steinbeck himself, also did this as a teenager and lived in Salinas where he also buried.

Of Mice and Men was supposed to be a play, but Steinbeck decided to write it as a novel first. However, one night, the manuscript was ripped to shreads when the family puppy got hold of it and erm...disposed of it. With only 3 months till publication, Steinbeck had to re-write it all from memory and therefore, it became a shorter novel. Although he was sketchy about what people would think of it, it was a worldwide success and he went on to write many more books about the iternant workers of America such as The Grapes of Wrath.

Overall, this book is a magical, enlightening and mostly entertaining book. For me, everyone should read it at some point in their lifes with the amount of pages there is - be is for your own pleasure or an exam...

I give it a 4 out of 5

Author's Website: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/John_Steinbeck
Pages: 168 (That was mine with some notes about author/book)
Publisher: Longman
Challenges: Historical Fiction Challenge

So Yesterday - Scott Westerfeld

This is the last book of the three I picked up when I was in Florida, America last year, mostly because they were American books with funny covers or weren't sold in England, much like this one. Okay, so I've seen the 'Uglies' series by Scott Westerfeld and heard all the praise around them but for some reason I've never picked them up and read them. And then my quest to find them recently have resolved in finding the other books in the series Not that one. I think I need to try harder before the movie comes out....


Synopsis: There are three parts to the pyramid that rules style. At the top there, are the Innovators - the selected few who invent the trends in fashion that will eventually being global. These are followed by the Trend-Setters who 'cool-hunt' for these Innovators and sell the ideas to companies. Under that, it is Consumers who buy this 'unique' product.
 Hunter is a teenager living in New York City who is paid by big corporations to roam the streets looking for what is 'cool' and what will be the 'next big thing'. He finds Jen, a Innovater with some of the coolest shoelaces he's ever seen. Mandy, his boss, however, goes missing with only her phone found in an abandoned building and a mysterious man following them. Hunter and Jen have to get to the bottom of what is happening before it is too late for Mandy and what they find it an attempt to ruin consumerism as we all know it.


Review: This was a very different and interesting book. First off, it's a mystery story which I like a bit of. I don't normally read them too much because I don't want to get bored of them. But this one...was very different.
It was nice to have teenage investigators who kind of bounce off each other and together are very funny and the romance that comes off them makes the book a bit more entertaining. The commentary from Hunter is good and although he tells all of it, you can tell how Jen is feeling too. The roles are a bit reversed here with the female being the leader (the Innovator). I liked seeing Hunter shy and not wanting to continue.

There are also lots of facts and history included through Hunter's love of history. This is applied to the case they are trying to solve so although they may be random and weird at first, they make sense later. I learn a couple of things from this book actually.
Most of all, this book does give an insight to how consumerism works and how big companies make things fashionable and new and original. It may not be completely true I guess, but I would say that it is mostly. When you think about it, if someone had a jab to cure cancer and it worked, they would tell their friends and family who would tell theirs and soon everyone would know about it and get it.
Well, when you see in magazines of some celebrity wearing something unique and 'cool', you see more of it in the shops and then more people have access to buying it. An example being when Kim Kardashain wore a jumpsuit and look now. Every shop I go in has one and I've seen lots of people wearing one, especially with the up and down weather of England.

I know I've done it. Copied what someone was wearing. My friend came home with a vintage find...I started to love vintage (just slightly before it became even bigger) and with Twilight. In October 2009, no-one had heard of Twilight except my friend, O, who loved the series. Others of my friends read them and then, the whole year seemed to read them and then, the movie came out and then more people read it until everyone had either read it or heard of it and knew the basic story.

I liked this book although it dragged a couple of times and some of the other characters (not Jen and Hunter - I loved them) got on my nerves. WARNING: If you hate books/films (like Inception) that are complicated and confusing and you have to think deeply about them before you understand, Avoid this book. It is very complicated plot and you only understand it fully really right at the end. Well, I kind of did.
This book title also just reminded me of the Hilary Duff song, So Yesterday. Great song and Great title which really fits in with the book. I'm definitely going to look for the Uglies series now.

I give it a 4 out of 5

Author's Website: http://scottwesterfeld.com/
Pages: 256
Publisher: Penguin
Challenges: None

She's Back.

Yes I got back last night from Cyprus..very late and went to bed straight away as it is 2 hours ahead from England so for me it was like midnight when I got home.

Anyway, after a lay-in this morning and the grand feeding of the cat next door, I am back to blogging. I also had to wade through 255 emails (I'm not kidding) mostly from Facebook and threads and urgh. It was weird and annoying. I don't want that many again.

Anyway, after Nessie telling me I had a Tumblr reply problem, I THINK I've fixed it - not too sure though. I fail at technology sometimes.

Anyway, Cyprus was veeery nice and I went to a lot of lovely places around the island including a Roman Archological Site called Kourion which brought back memories and history from my Roman Mysteries series of books days. I still need to read the next one...you might have a Roman Mysteries revival in the coming months. That could be fun :)

Also...I was lucky to have PETER ANDRE on my flight back from Cyprus (there were many a scream at the gate) and his children were on my flight going and he was at the airport waiting for them so basically...I saw him twice in a week...I don't particularly like him but oh well! :)

The Ampti-theatre there.

I used to absolutely love these books.

Anyway, hope you all had a great week while I was galivanting around. And HAPPY BIRTHDAY TO JOEY who you might have seen commenting. She's 16 today :)

My Week In Pictures (and some words...)

So this week for me has been Easter half term. Last year, I went on the school Ski Trip and came back with a throat infection and terrible cough meaning sleepless nights.
This Easter half term depressing item: REVISION. Yes, I have finally started revision - a month late because of Drama. Well, that's what I'm blaming it on. So I've been doing a lot this week and thought I'd share it with you.
Anyway...this may be a long post...

 

   

 

(From top left) 1) Katy Perry Stage. 2) Me at the concert. 3) the funky logo for Katy Perry's worldwide concert. 4) my new H&M shorts (which I love dearly). 5) my hair after being in a bun from Drama. 5) me musing at the Green. 6) our attempts at doing a pyramid (I am the top left - about to fall off) 7) me eating an ice-cream. 8) at lunch on Science Museum day. 9)George making her world at Science Museum

So I broke up on Friday after doing my Drama exam on the Thursday which went really well. We made a couple of more mistakes than the Tuesday performance (which went amazingly well) but apparently made the examiner cry...so all good! So I spend Friday afternoon enjoying the rare sight of a sunny day in England at the park playing cricket. 

Then, Saturday, I went to see Katy Perry with my best friend.  OH MY GOD. She was pretty amazing and had some lovely costume changes. She is much more of a performer than a singer at the concerts but I think that makes it much more enjoyable. She made the concert like a story and when she was changing, they had a video playing where she was going after her cat, Kitty Purry (love it). Reminded me of Alice in Wonderland! So glad I went, one of the best concerts I've ever been to in a while. I will maybe do another whole post about it but I would add some pictures by my friend took the majority of them as she had a better camera.

Sunday was spend at the Green with a group of friends, talking, eating ice cream, making (and failing) pyramids where I was put at the top a lot - weird as I'm not that light or small. Anyway, it was so nice to wear shorts and sunglasses and not have to worry about being cold or a coat! :)

Monday was my first revision day as I went to the local private school for a whole day looking at 'Of Mice and Men' for my English Literature exam. Urgh...I'm starting to hate that book now - and it's such a well written book too. I know most of the symbols and things like that off by heart now. 

Then Wednesday...I went to the Science Museum in London. I haven't been there since I was like 10. George loves space so I said I'd go with her for company as it's free to get in. It was a nice, different day out and did some revision in Science for it too :)

Then, yesterday, Friday I went to Covent Garden with my friend, Holly and we went around all the vintage shops there. I've always wanted to do that so I was so happy to finally do it and get her 2 months late  birthday present at the same time.

So overall...I have had an enjoyable week and to be honest, I'm kind of loving Year 11. Because this is our last year, we all want to meet up more and hang out in big groups which is nice as there's always different people there. I think summer is going to  be a lot like this.

How were your weeks? 

Speak - Laurie Halse Anderson

I read this book a couple of years ago; I was probably about 12/13. I had bought this book when it was on sale and I liked the sound of it. At the time, I didn't like it - I didn't understand most of the words in it and what was happening and felt rather disappointed. That is why I was apprehensive about reading it again and not liking it - again.
I think as a 12/13 year old -  I just didn't understand what was happening and that things like this do happen.
This is my review of it but also a bit of context to those that aren't in secondary school/high school now.

Synopsis: Melina has started high school on an all time low. Her best friends don't want to know her. Everyone hates her for something she did because she was scared over the summer. She has no-one, even she can't talk to her parents without a fight happening as they are on the verge of separation. Why?
Over the summer, Melina called the police at an illegal party where there was alcohol because she got raped by a Senior. A Senior that won't let her forget and it making her mute. This novel follows Melina over her first year of high school which can make or break you and how she overcomes and tries desparately to beat her silence.


Review: If you read this, not knowing at all what high school/secondary school is like, you will probably think Laurie Halse Anderson is exaggerating her descriptions just to get a good story. Although, she maybe in some parts, me, the sixteen year old and in my last year at secondary school after some 5 years there, think it's pretty accurate.

She is successfully made Melina sound and behave like someone her age (14) would. She is such a beautifully written character with an interesting voice. There are some laugh-out-loud moments in this book at the hilarious descriptions of her teachers e.g. her Spanish teacher's wild hand actions after stating she will not speak English in class for the entire year (which fails in about a lesson). And then, Melina's sarcasm which I must admit, sounds a lot like the kind I use. However, there are parts which you will find sad and really feel for Melina.

I just want to write a bit about how it relates, I think it's important. Over my 5 years at my secondary school/high school, I have had 5 friendship groups (about one per year) and had arguments with the majority of them, I have been 'popular' (that's a term I use loosely) for about a year in my first year there before I had an argument with them for being 'different'. I have been called 'anorexic' countless of times because of my height, high metabolism and how thin I am (which I hate sometimes). I've been called 'langy', 'too perfect', 'a bitch', 'ugly' and a 'neek' (too clever basically). So I kinda understand the whole name calling thing in the book. Although, some of those are very 'rude' words to call someone, at school, you can't take offence to them, otherwise you'd probably be called something else. Sure, at home, I could cry and be affected by it to my heart's content but at school, in public, just talking across the playground or talking to a guy would make people notice you. It doesn't happen so much now because we all know each other but I see Facebook statuses from the younger years and girls crying in corridors all because they are known as a slut or slag. To be honest, take it in your stride.
Like the other day, I was walking along calmly, stopped to talk to my friend and then a girl in the year below elbowed through and then turned to me and said 'Oh my god, get out the way you fat idiot' and then walked off. I laughed. Nice of her, don't you think? I would go on but I don't want you to get bored.

Anyway, the novel really does show a pretty accurate image of high school/secondary school. The characters are well written and all completely different and are the sterotypical types of cliques you see in a school. This is so worth a read, even if in some places it is banned (for some unknown reason) in some places. I think it's because it's such a head on view of rape and bullying instead of kind of scooting around the main details to make it okay for teenagers to read. I'm sorry but if you read about rape and sex in a negative way, that means you're going to do it? Sure...
Have a look for more of her stuff...this book is definitely worth all the hype you see about it.

I give it a 4 out of 5

Author's Website: http://madwomanintheforest.com/
Pages: 230
Publisher: Hodder
Challenges: None

The Legacy - Gemma Malley

Okay so normally people post 'In My Mailbox' on a Sunday but well I finished this one this morning so too bad. Bad timing I guess but oh well.
This is the last one in the amazing dystopian trilogy of The Declaration series involving a future Earth without disease and death. Bit different, right?
Of course, I might have spoilers in here for those that haven't read the last two books so...if you haven't, go to my review on the first book, The Declaration or the second, The Resistance.

Synopsis: Longevity, the drug that helps you live forever, protect you from disease, is failing. As they lose their effectiveness, a deadly virus is sweeping the world and everyone is looking at Pincent Pharma for the solution to the Missing people that suddenly disappear off the streets of London. Richard Pincent, the head of the company and son-in-law to the creater of Longevity drugs, claims that the Underground have contaminated a batch of the drugs which causes uproar and chaos as angry mobs kill those that are known as sympathisers or Opt Outs of the Longevity drugs. Someone knows what is truly happening - but who? The cast from the other two books: Jude, Peter, Anna, Shelia, Pip, all join again for the last and final battle against the organisation of Pincent Pharma that preserves life but does so much to deny that right...


Review:
This is truly the final chapter of this trilogy that in short, got me interested in the dystopian genre overall. This is set in 2125 - so 114 years before our time at the moment. There is no suggestion that this could never happen. Someone could make drugs like this to have eternal life. Someone could be making them, right now. You read other books in this genre and yes, part of it could happen but it's now Earth. It's a futurisic completely different place based loosely on Earth. That is the most interesting aspect of this series. It could happen and the way Gemma Malley has written this amazing trilogy is as if it is normal life. When she describes Jude and Peter walking around London, it sounds like they are and it sounds exactly, from living on the outskirts of London myself, like it is now - without the virus and the drugs of course. Nothing much has changed - just the whole eternal life element.

This for me, is the best in the series. I suppose in some ways it has to be. There is the original cast of characters that have been in it the whole way through - Peter, Anna, Jude, Shelia, Pip, Richard Pincent, Hilary Wright. Now, I know the characters as if they were real especially Anna and Peter. However, there are also new characters - either returning from past books or completely new and original ones. Gemma Malley makes them all different - all have a different voice and opinion on what is happening. For example, Julia. The Legal that hid Anna and Peter in the first book - she's back and is in a good chunk of the novel. That's what I love as well about this book; it's told through the same characters but broken up and sometimes overlap.

There are the obligatory surprising twists and turns to Gemma Malley's novels and this is no exception. The ending is one of the best yet for me and although in some ways it seemed...rushed (?) I think it mostly because it all happened so fast. Those that have been firm followers of this series I think shall end this novel with a smile on their face and happy with the outcome. I don't want to give too much away...sorry.
If you've never read this series, don't just read this one. I've read reviews on this book on Goodreads slating it - it's only as good as I make out if you read the other two first. They do refer to events in the past two books.

Overall, this is another brillant dystopian novel of Malley's and a great way to end one of my now favourite series. I'm glad it took a while to get my paws on this one - it was worth it. My advice: give it a read....but find the Declaration first!

I give it 5 out of 5

Author's Website: http://www.gemmamalley.com/
Pages: 272
Publisher: Bloomsbury
Challenges: BBC (British Book Challenge)

Candor - Pam Bachorz

Can I first just say that I love the name 'Pam Bachorz'? I have no idea why but I just do. It's such a good name. I think it was partly why I picked this book up.
Anyway. I saw this in my local library and having seen The Bookette's Review on it, it looked good and sounded right up my street in the terms of dystopian. But. I'm not sure about this one...

Synopsis: Oscar Banks lives in the rural town of Candor, build by his father. He is seen to everyone as popular, smart and the model citizen that his father wants in his town. However, under the surface, Oscar knows something. Everyone in Candor is controlled by subliminal messages played constantly, brainwashing everyone acts perfectly and does what his father tells them.
Oscar has found a way to block the messages into controlling him so on the outside, he is still the model citizen everyone thinks him as. There is just one problem: Nia Silva - the new kid on the block. Coming to Candor after running away repeatedly, Oscar's father and her parents are sure they can fix her. But after Oscar takes her under his wing, he has to decide whether to control her for himself to see the Nia he loves or let her turn into his father's Candor automaton...



Review: I'm really not sure what to say about this book. At first, it was all about Oscar's 'clients'. He helps people get out of the town and lead their own lives - for a price. For the first...10 chapters or so, it was all he talked about and to be honest, it wasn't that interesting. After that, when Nia is introduced, it gets more interesting but to me, it happens so fast. Like she's suddenly a new person and then, whoa. She's his best friend. Would you really build on that trust that quickly? Time does seem to go fast in this novel.

Overall, I liked Oscar as a voice for the novel. Pam Bachorz has used both short and long sentences to sound like a teenager and like he is talking directly to you. He also sounds so much like a boy of that age from my experiences at school and as the author is a female, she's done it well to reflect teenage boy's thoughts and feelings of today. Nia I also liked. She was the 'damsel in distress' kind of role but yet she still had attitude and personality and I could personally, understand where she was coming from.
    The novel explores what it would be like today if you lived in a town controlled by something like Big Brother in 1984. It is set in a town in Florida today. Now. Which is a different take on most authors that write in this genre who mostly go for the future. I liked it this way.

The setting, the way it was written and the characters were fine (well maybe not Sherman who got on my nerves straight away) but there was just something I didn't like about it. Something that made it...average. Nothing particularly special. If this was a series, I maybe would read the next book but only to see that happens to Oscar and Nia. That's what I meant by I'm not sure about it.

Overall, this book is well-written but it does have its faults and there is something about it that I didn't like. Pam Bachorz has done a good job at making it different from other books and setting it in modern day but yet, having a futurisic feel to it.
*WARNING* The ending will make you feel sad. That's all I'm saying...

I give it a 3 out of 5

Author's Website: http://www.pambachorz.com/
Pages: 287
Publisher: Egmont Press
Challenges: None

Audrey, Wait! - Robin Benway

Okay. So I know that The Fool's Girl - Celia Rees was on my 'Currently Reading' (right) but well...to be honest, I got to page 30 and I wasn't thrilled. And I have been DYING TO READ THIS BOOK so I thought I'd move onto this...
On a sidenote: I love this cover. It's so nice and original. Anyway...

Synopsis:
Audrey is just an ordinary teenager trying to survive high school with some awesome friends and an incredibly boring and self-centred boyfriend which will soon become an ex. When she breaks up with him, she doesn't realise that her life will be blown to pieces after Evan, the now ex, shouts 'Audrey, Wait!' as she leaves him for a single life.
Until the next day when she hears her ex's new song with his band, The Do-Gooders which is about their break up. Soon, it goes into the charts and as the bands music talents are shown to the world, Audrey, herself, starts to get paparazzi following her around and not being able to leave the house without a picture being taken. Meanwhile, she has to juggle the creeping love for one of her friends, seeing her best friend Victoria, the bitchiness and a negative picture being put in the papers. It's a dream come true, right?


Review:
In a nutshell, this book is about what it's like to suddenly have your name in all the magazines and the press stalking your every move. This is about what it is truly like to be famous (we all dream of it at some point, right?) and what effect that has on yourself and the people you love.
Sometimes I read some books and I just fall in love with the writing and the characters and overall, the book. Some people would say 'Ah it's one of those crappy teen books' but to be honest, I love those.
   The idea is really original and I know there aren't many books out there like this one. This is a very different book.
One thing I loved about this is the writing. I love those kind of books where it's like you're talking to someone who happens to be writing a book at the same time and this one is just like it. Robin Benway is such a good writer in that aspect and I am actually looking forward to finding some other stuff by her.
Over the time I read this, I was ill and I spend the whole morning reading about 200 pages and I don't do that normally. Her writing was that interesting and eventful.

Now the characters. Audrey. I love her! She has such a great sense of humour and is very sarcastic. Although, that may get on some people's nerves, I loved it. And I'm finding that I'm getting sarcastic myself recently. And I am sarcastic already...oh dear.
 Anyway, Audrey is a great character, she's interesting and funny and well...comes out and does some of the most funniest things.
The characters in general are so well thought out and so individual. With the added fact, it's in First Person, you start to feel like you are Audrey and these are your friends - I liked that. I felt more special I must admit.
My favourites were probably Victoria, Audrey's best friend and James, her work collegue who she likes.

The romance with James and Audrey wasn't understated but wasn't over the top. He wasn't in it the whole way through and to be honest, you don't see him coming until it happens. He is such a lovely guy and to be honest, I am a tad jealous of Audrey. Other honourable mentions are: Jonah (Victoria's boyfriend) and Audrey's parents who are the coolest parents I will ever meet. Oh and Bendy, the cat.

Overall, this book has more pros than cons for me. On a negative note, I know a lot of reviews on this book mention the swearing within it and I admit, being a non-swearer, there was a lot of it. On like every page. But then, those who would down grade it because of that, welcome to the real world! Funny enough, teenagers swear a lot and that amount wasn't unrealistic at all. I mean it.
   Also, at about halfway, I was thinking 'This is a 3.5 out of 5 at the moment' but by the end, I loved it. It literally turned on me about 40% of the way through. There are points which are less exciting than others and the fights nearer the end are shocking. And a bit...ugly.

I loved this book. It was enjoyable and interesting and something totally different. There are mixed views out there on this one but this is mine. This book will make you laugh, smile, cry, wince and all the other emotions you can think in books. And the moral of the story? Don't go out with a musician. Full Stop.

I give it a 5 out of 5 - I enjoy this much more than I thought.

Author's Website: http://www.robinbenway.com/my_weblog/

Matched - Ally Condie

So I'm rushing around my local library frantically trying to find The Legacy by Gemma Malley WHICH I AM SO DESPERATE TO READ. And the library computer says 'Check Shelf'. SO WHERE IS IT?
I ask one of the librarians, who takes one look at my school uniform (this was after school) and decides that the book I'm looking for is about vampires and points at a display of them. Why do all people think teens only read about vampires? oh yeah. Twilight. Grr.
   So anyway. I wander over there and don't find it. I find this one though next to it in the display for 'New In'. I've seen some reviews for it on the blogosphere and it's on my 'to-read' list on Goodreads. So I thought I'd pick it up.
I never found The Legacy :(


Imagine a society where Officals decide who you will love and marry. How many children you have. Where you work. When you die. It's enough to make you rebel, feel isolated, controlled and watched where ever you are. Want to make your own choices. For seventeen-year-old Cassia, this is her life.


Cover: I like the cover. It's simple and interesting and very different. Although, I have no idea how the girl in the bubble has anything to do with the story. Green is repeated throughout but, this isn't obvious.

The synopsis is short because I will give too much away otherwise. The book goes straight into the action and continues from there. Whether this is a good thing, I'm yet to decide.
When I finished this book this morning, it felt like...nothing had really happened. Throughout the book you're getting nearer and nearer the end and you're waiting for that big, shocking event but really, it never happens.
However, afterwards when you think of what happened, so much does and some, you enjoy, some, you don't. From the middle to the end, it is very flat and this is of course where the main things happen. I'm just not sure.

  The writing and characters, on the other hand, were really well done. Ally Condie writes some beautiful stuff especially when Cassia goes hiking on the hills. Cassia, overall, was great. She had her moments where I was sitting there thinking 'What is she doing?' but mostly I liked her and her take on life. Her final choice at the end is obvious and so cliche. But, it fitted with the rest of the book and I would say the rest of the series. It gives you and her, hope.
Xander. Oh my. If he was real, he WOULD be my best friend. He is just so lovely and understanding. A little obsessive with the games perhaps but nonetheless, I love him as a character. He wasn't actually in the story that much but I liked that. I wanted him to come back in the story and then he would. Oh I love him!
Ky. He annoyed me. I have no idea why. But he did. One thing I don't understand is one of the napkins about the death. (if you've read the book, you'll understand what I'm saying) - I didn't get how and who did it. That might be the point though. I guess I just prefered Xander.

Overall, this book has some great characters and is writing so lovely. The ending was a little bit of a let down to the rest of the book but I still enjoyed it. It was different to what I expected but somehow, I enjoyed it still. Especially the mentions to present day, now e.g. Wedgewood plates. It's one of these books which could come true. Our lives could be like that in the future - controlled and where freedom of speech is seen as not necessary. It seriously does make you think.
I shall be probably read the next in the series, Crossed, which is being released later this year - if only to know what happens next.

I give this book a 4 out of 5

Author's Website: http://www.allysoncondie.com/

Related Posts: 
Book #2: Crossed
Book #3: Reached

My Lovely Sweet Sixteen

So I promised details on The Birthday. For those who don't know, I turned sixteen on Sunday.
Sorry, it's a little late - I was waiting to see my friend's pictures.

So. On Saturday, I went to Nando's in Richmond for my birthday meal with 7 other friends. George and Joey who are frequent commenters on here, did attend of course. So we met up, had dinner, I opened my presents and then, my oldest friend, Julie who doesn't go to my school sadly, and my friend Holly came back to my house and we chatted like all teenage girls do.
And then it was over.
The thing I can't get over is that it went soo quickly. I was in there for 2 hours and I didn't even notice time passing. I don't know if that's a good thing or not. So moral of the story. Enjoy something much more while it lasts.
Here are some pictures:

Me and George - mid talk. I just have to say I love her. She is that amazing.
I love her facial expressions too.

My Birthday Cake. When it was in front of me, I forgot what I had to do.
Suddenly, I remembered and blew out the 6



Mine and Julie's actually wonderful Dad dancing.
I cannot dance for my life, gracefully.

So that was the Saturday. So on my actual birthday, Sunday. I had THE NICEST EVER Roast Dinner with my parents and grandmother. I have never seen my mother and grandmother so happy, it was such a nice way to spend the day. I normally celebrate my birthday with my friends on the day so it was nice to do this.

So overall, I had a wonderful birthday. Thank you to all of you that wished me happy birthday. I appreciated it.

Next thing - 1st blogoversary - 17th February. Wow. One whole year of book blogging. 
'On my Bookshelf' coming soon hopefully. :)

Quick Update #3

You know the most scary thing about blogging? The Stats.

So. Let's be fair, my blog is the most well known in the blogosphere but I'm up there - kind of. Anyway, today, I was bored after doing some science homework so I looked at my Stats which I normally feel self conscious about doing. Oh my.

In Janurary 2011, last month, I had 1,246 views from 16 different countries. Seriously.
Okay, so most of them was probably me (even though I don't track my pageviews) or my friends that have blogs themselves. It's just...so surreal.


Moving on, my birthday is in....THREE DAYS. I don't know why I'm so excited but I am. I guess it's because of the whole BIG sixteen thing. I mean, sixteen? Wowsas. That seems so older and mature. Which I am SO not. I burst in to laughter whenever my science teacher calls the air sacs in our lungs 'moist'. Gladly, I'm not the only one.
So yes. Moral of story. I am kind of excited for Sunday. I have a whole weekend of celebration, it's crazy. But also, I'm not because I leave the age of ripe old fifteen behind and also, it's so busy at the moment.

I am also loving Matched at the moment. It's so much like The Declaration series, it's unreal. Hmmm...copying? Don't think so. The plot and the 'worlds' are different structures etc.

Anyways. Have a nice weekend! :)

Quick Update #2

Sorry, I feel like I haven't posted in a while. I've been so busy - like I have 6 pieces of homework this week and it's 3pm and I've only done 3 of them AND tomorrow I have to go out and do some Media photography so...I'm actually doing things for once this weekend.

French went okay - had to start again though (Long Story - rather forget it :S)

Also, for regular readers, I'm reading Teen Idol - Meg Cabot, I know. So before you may judge me...Dreamland made me want t a happy book and I've been needing to read this again for a while because it's a bit of a childhood book....So there.

Last night, I had a great fun evening. It was my friend, that I've known since like Pre-School so...3, turned 16 on Thursday and well, she had a party at the new Pizza Express near me which has IPOD DOCKS so you can put your iPod in and listen to your own music. I love it there. The waitress was nice too. Which I LOVE when the waitress becomes like your friend for a couple of hours.


Anyway, it was really good because I got to spend some time with my friends. We haven't all gone out in ages and it was nice and enjoyable...and I wonder why people talk to us sometimes.

My Entry for the Weird Hair. Joey and George's were...well
I don't think they'd want them to go to the public ha :)

Dreamland - Sarah Dessen

Okay. Let's admit it. I am in love with Sarah Dessen's books.

They are just...SO good. Unfortunatly, leaving in the UK means I have to wait until a couple of months later until I can get my hands on her books to read after the initial publishing. And have to live with reading reviews about how much people loved her newest books - when I'm still checking on Waterstone's when on earth it will come out and can I pre-order it.
I have read all published book by Sarah Dessen, apart from the one that isn't been realised in the UK (and I think it's to do with the issues in it *stupid banned books place*) which is Dreamland. This one.
So, how did you get it? I hear you cry. Well, when I was in Florida in October, I was wandering around Florida Mall (which is HUGE) trying to find my mother when I see Borders. And wander in there. Even though I KNOW my mother is not going to be in there. And see this book. Reduced from I think it was $10 to $7. I had to buy it.
So I did and am now the proud and happy owner of Sarah Dessen's whole series of books....right now onto the review...

Catlin's life is falling apart around her. Her goody-two-shoes perfect sister has run away with a boy her parent's disapprove of, her mother buying porceliain creepy themed dolls that seem to turning up everywhere while her father watches sports and turns the dolls around to face the wall.
Until she meets Rogerson Biscoe, a mysterious boy with a bit of a history. From then on, she seems to be in a dreamland, trying to handle everything: not seeing her best friend, Rina; cheerleading which she hates; her parents so involved with her missing sister and then, Rogerson. It's then, she enters a world of cigerettes, constant drugs, lies and of course the fists, the punches and the bruises - all from the one she supposedly loves.


A lot of people have said 'Oh Sarah Dessen is boring - she always writes novels on the same thing, someone who has problems falls in love, they can't be together, oh now they can - HAPPY ENDING'. Which annoys me so much because a) yes, they are the same structure for every book but it's the way she writes them and the different problems her heroines face that make them so imagintive and different and b) have you read this one? Or That Summer? They are both so unlike the apparent 'boring structure'.

Dreamland is so different to anything I've ever read before. Sure, I've read a handful of books that have abusive issues in them but nothing quite like this one. Sarah Dessen seems to have caught what it is like to be a sixteen year-old and to have a boyfriend and that excitement you have at that age. She also, showed the sudden change in Catlin so well and when there was the first hit (I'm trying not to say who it is for those who want to read it - you might guess), it just comes so out of the blue that I was shocked as much as Catlin was. You feel what she feels, you sympathise with her so much.
Rina and Corianna (her friends) are both some of my favourite characters. Including Boo (neighbour) as well. What I love about Sarah Dessen is all her characters, minor or major, are so different and original from one another especially these three. Rina just made me laugh and I could so imagine her being a real person - especially at the end. Corianna and Boo - I just want them alive so I can be their friend too. They are both such lovely people, more Boo than Corianna. And great names too.
My only critism is that I just couldn't imagine Rogerson. You got snippets of description of him but you never got that kind of real real, imagery than the others. I don't know - it may be done for a reason or it's just me. The mother also annoyed me a couple of times. She was just so....organised and...pushy. I don't know - I just had an annoyance for her - it may be the dolls?

Overall, I enjoyed this book so much and I was caught from the first word. It's not one of Sarah Dessen's best ones of all time but it's enjoyable and written so well with some lovely characters.
It's also sad. WARNING: You need your tissues and you will feel slightly depressed afterwards.
So I'm going on to a funny, bright happy book from my childhood...

I give Dreamland a 4 out of 5

Author's Website: http://www.sarahdessen.com/

Quick Update.

Yes, I have changed the design of the blog :)
Well, I was supposed to be revising for a Science exam tomorrow but I woke up at 10am so I thought 'Oh I'll do that this afternoon' as I know it basically. So I decided to do a bit of updating blogging. It only took 30 minutes.
So what do you think? Good? Bad? Tell me below and I may surprise any commenters...

Also. On Thursday, I got my Mock Results back. Yes, any older followers will know my posts on how much I hate exams or how stressed I am like here and here. Oh and here and here...
You get the picture.
So...I did okay I think. Here is what I got (this isn't like me boasting - I actually think I could have done much better, it's just some people who have had to read those posts might like to know...)

English Language: A
English Literature: A
Maths: B
Science: A
RS: B
Statistics: B
History: A*
French: A* in Reading and Writing, B in Listening
Drama: A
Media: A

I actually cannot believe the History - I was on the borderline though.
I have a real Science tomorrow for Chemistry, so hopefully I do well because I didn't think I did very well on that one and got an A. Ah. Being a teenager...

Remember to comment on what you think of the new design!