![]() ![]() ![]() Maybe she doesnt need Jodie as much as she used to. Jodie really doesnt fit in with the posh teenagers in her class. When term begins, their strange summer is over. Jodie has always been the leader but now its Pearl whos making new friends. Things start to change now they are in their new home. When their parents get new jobs at Melchester College, a Victorian Gothic mansion, the girls spend a bizarre summer holiday in the boarding school with just a few leftover children for company. Jodie is nearly three years older, bold and brash and bad and Pearl adores her. Pearl is the younger one, small, shy and anxious. Things start to change Pearl and Jodie are sisters. ![]() ![]()
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![]() ![]() ![]() Visceral, learned, and acutely lucid, Bluets is a slim feat of literary innovation and grace, never before published in the UK. ![]() Much like Roland Barthes’s A Lover’s Discourse, Bluets has passed between lovers in the ecstasy of new love, and been pressed into the hands of the heartbroken. The combination produces a raw, cerebral work devoted to the inextricability of pleasure and pain, and to the question of what role, if any, aesthetic beauty can play in times of great heartache or grief. While its narrator sets out to construct a sort of ‘pillow book’ about her lifelong obsession with the colour blue, she ends up facing down both the painful end of an affair and the grievous injury of a dear friend. Maggie Nelson is one of the most electrifying writers at work in America today, among the sharpest and most supple thinkers of her generation - Olivia Laingīluets winds its way through depression, divinity, alcohol, and desire, visiting along the way with famous blue figures, including Joni Mitchell, Billie Holiday, Yves Klein, Leonard Cohen and Andy Warhol. ![]() ![]() I once got in trouble during gym class for sneaking a book into the outfield during baseball (I’d hidden it under my shirt when we were changing). I also read literally all the time: at breakfast in the morning, on the school bus, under my desk instead of listening to the math lesson, in the bath. I had a bottomless appetite when it came to reading materials, by which I mean that if I didn’t have a book nearby I would resort to the backs of cereal boxes or the weird ads in the yellow pages. The term “voracious reader” is clichéd, but it’s the most accurate one to describe what I was like as a kid. Furlong’s Juniper, an independent-minded woman with supernatural healing skills living in a dream cottage full of magic, was different. Even in books, mothers were mostly just background noise fathers were at least allowed to be funny or have quirky hobbies, but mothers rarely seemed to have inner lives. Although I had a vague sense at the time that I wanted to have kids one day, none of my concrete experiences of what motherhood looked like made it seem all that appealing. I was ten or eleven the first time I read it, and I didn’t think about mothers much beyond the fact that they were just sort of there-often harried, overworked, and tired, but useful if you needed a meal or a hug. ![]() ![]() Monica Furlong’s Wise Child was the first time I ever saw a mother that I wanted to be. ![]() Sign up for our newsletter to get submission announcements and stay on top of our best work. ![]() ![]() ![]() An interesting story that ends with little change of heart for Julia. Julia’s burgeoning (sexual) relationship with a young man complicates things further. Slowly, she learns that not everything is as it appears-her sister was not perfect, her parents have struggles, and her own emotions and thoughts are clouded by mental illness. Predictable clashes occur between feminist Julia and her strict, traditional Catholic parents. What unfolds is a story of family secrets, tangled emotions, and mental illness. Julia was already the black sheep of her Mexican-American family, but the death of her perfect, saintly sister Olga made things worse. I Am Not Your Perfect Mexican Daughter Erika L. Unlike the rest of this list, this book is appropriate for any age. Although Williams-Garcia portrays complex and fractured relationships, the book is as much about forgiveness and reconciliation as it is about grief. Clayton tries to process his grief and anger in different ways, and Williams-Garcia weaves the language of blues throughout the story to communicate emotion. The only finalist geared toward middle schoolers, this book tells the story of a young African-American boy grieving the loss of his grandfather, “Cool Papa,” who was a jazz musician and passed that love to his grandson. Clayton Byrd Goes Underground Rita Williams-Garcia ![]() ![]() ![]() Times such as when someone blew the tire out on a girl’s awesome SUV and sent it careening off a steep embankment in the Alaskan wilds in the middle of the night. There were times when a lady had to use strong language. Jan is far better at this game than he is."66%: "#Listening the parents just showed up and it was freaking HILARIOUS! Poor Boris!" Read more ![]() ![]() I am looking forward to the next one audio!Part of my Read It, Rate It, File It, DONE! ReviewsStatus Updates33%: "#Listening Poor Boris! He doesn't stand a chance. I am still getting used to her male voices but really they aren't bad. She is also great with the pacing and wit. Need the next one now!Audio Thoughts Narrated By Chandra Skyye / Length: 5 hrs and 58 mins Chandra's narration is really growing on me. Seriously there wasn't a thing that I didn't love about this story including the stuff with "evil" Gene. ![]() I would love to get their love story because I bet it was a doozy. Jan's folks though totally stole the show. They are so very well matched and it was fun to see them get from denial to love. Listened for Review (Tantor)Overall Rating: 5.00Story Rating: 5.00Character Rating: 5.00Audio Rating: 3.75 (not part of the overall rating)First Thought when Finished: I loved, loved, loved, loved Outfoxed by Love by Eve Langlais!Overall Thoughts: Just going to say it Jan and Boris rocked my world. ![]() ![]() ![]() Bram's character really was a disappointment and I honestly found his storyline confusing - especially when he is given such power and respect from a group who barely know him - which leads to my point that the hierarchy and political tensions were rather underdeveloped. Eve was by far the strongest narrator and her character made the most sense in terms of how she was raised and her destined role within this corrupted society. For a duo authorship, there were very little differences in the writing styles for the different characters - although Eve's chapter's had a psychological darker portrayal, whereas Bram's were more visually action packed which made little sense. I initially found the premise of this book intriguing, but sadly the characterisation and world-building did not match-up to my expectations. Terrific Narrators, Slightly disappointing Story ![]() ![]() Together, Kate and David must race to unravel a global conspiracy and learn the truth about the Atlantis Gene. But when David receives a coded message related to the Immari attack, he risks everything to save the one person that can help him solve it: Dr. Agent David Vale has spent ten years trying to stop the Immari. In the hands of the Immari, it would mean the end of humanity as we know it. Her work could be the key to the next stage of human evolution. What she has found is far more dangerous-for her and the entire human race. ![]() ![]() She hasn't recovered from what happened to her, but she has made an incredible breakthrough: a cure for autism. Kate Warner moved to Jakarta, Indonesia to escape her past. ![]() As the Immari rush to execute their plan, a brilliant geneticist makes a discovery that could change everything. It has been there for thousands of years, and something is guarding it. Off the coast of Antarctica, a research vessel discovers a mysterious structure buried deep in an iceberg. They've also searched for an ancient enemy-a threat that could wipe out the human race. For 2,000 years, they've hidden the truth about human evolution. _ The Immari are good at keeping secrets. ![]() The countdown to the next stage of human evolution is about to begin, and humanity might not survive this time. _ 70,000 years ago, the human race almost went extinct. Riddle's bestselling Origin Mystery trilogy (currently in development to be a major motion picture). The Atlantis Gene is the first book in A.G. ![]() ![]() ![]() But when Norra intercepts Wedge Antilles's urgent distress call, she realizes her time as a freedom fighter is not yet over. Meanwhile, on the planet's surface, former Rebel fighter Norra Wexley has returned to her native world-war weary, ready to reunite with her estranged son, and eager to build a new life in some distant place. Out on a lone reconnaissance mission, pilot Wedge Antilles watches Imperial Star Destroyers gather like birds of prey circling for a kill, but is taken captive before he can report back to the New Republic leaders. But above the remote planet Akiva, an ominous show of the enemy's strength is unfolding. ![]() But the battle for freedom is far from over.Īs the Empire reels from its critical defeats at the Battle of Endor, the Rebel Alliance-now a fledgling New Republic-presses its advantage by hunting down the enemy's scattered forces before they can regroup and retaliate. The second Death Star has been destroyed, the Emperor killed, and Darth Vader struck down-devastating blows against the Empire, with major victories for the Rebel Alliance. ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() It is important to remember that this novel is the first of its kind and the plot, which appears overworked and familiar today is, indeed, the first of it’s kind and did cause quite a sensation in it’s day. Unfolding in a castle that comes with underground passages, sealed vaults, and trap doors, my favorite part of the story was when the young Princess Isabella, fearful for her virtue, is running away from Manfred through the dark and haunted castle.In a melodramatic yet playful manner the story has the evil usurper, the noble yet humble rightful heir, two virtuous princesses and a host of other characters running around the Castle of Otranto confronting vanishing giants, pieces of enormous armour, moving artwork and each other.This deceptively simple story deals with issues of inheritance, power and morality and religion. The story develops around a supernatural event that occurs at the beginning of the story and causes the death of Manfred’s only son and heir. Considered to be the father of Gothic romance fiction this fantasy is set in the middle ages, and is peopled by characters experiencing strong emotional and psychological distress. ![]() I found The Castle of Otranto by Horace Walpole to be an odd yet entertaining story about a tyrant knight called Manfred, Prince of Otranto, and his family. ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() LGBTQI+ Children's Books celebrating Pride in London and Pride Month this June.Sophie Cameron - our Author of the Month.Best kids books for getting children walking for National Walking Month and Walk to School Week.Shortlist announced for the 2023 Klaus Flugge Prize for the most exciting newcomer to children’s picture book illustration.Refugees - 40 children's books to raise awareness for Refugee Week 19-25 June.Celebrate Elmer Day on 27 May with David McKee's colourful and inclusive picture books.Great Children's Books to read with Dad this Father's Day!.10 Books for Children to Celebrate the Windrush Generation. ![]() 30 Children's Books to Celebrate World Oceans Day.Children's Books that celebrate brilliant teachers for National Thank a Teacher Day!.The Week Junior Announces Shortlist for New Children's Book Awards. ![]() |