chelsealouise's reviews
342 reviews

4/5: ‘Everybody Sees the Ants’ is a Young Adult, Magical-Realism Contemporary by A.S. King; Lucky Linderman is the recipient of Nadar McMillan’s relentless bullying, which has finally gone too far; he did not ask for his dysfunctional life. King is distinctive and smart, his accessible writing shines in this powerful novel about learning to cope with the shrapnel life throws at you, and then taking a stand against it. this is a very serious novel and it deals with very serious issues. The bullying that Lucky suffers is horrible and even though he says he is ok – making him not exactly the most reliable of narrators – it is clear that he is not. There is not only a degree of stress and fear but also of deep trauma. There are things he doesn’t say, not even to himself. He repeats that he is not suicidal and the mere fact that he repeats that constantly is quite telling. Above all though, there is Lucky’s frustration with his parents and their inability to stand up for him, not even a little bit. Although their parents obviously believe he is being bullied, their inaction or even the fact they won’t listen to him and discuss the problem is unsettling. The beautiful thing here though is the way that the author humanises these adult characters making it plain that bullying is something that befuddles everybody. His parents don’t act because they don’t love him or don’t care about Lucky, they don’t act because they don’t know what to do. This book explores the fact that there are no easy answers and no parenting manual – their most accessible suggestion is to get on with life and get through it until it gets better. Which brings us back to Lucky himself: he fully understands the idea that eventually it will get better – he can see that, and he believes that. Unfortunately, that does nothing to him now. He needs it to be better right now or else he won’t make it. Eventually, there is a realisation that sometimes there isn’t anything anyone else can do and all you have is yourself. With the help of new-found friends and even his family, Lucky finds the strength to stand up for himself the best way he can. The ending might be a bit too neat and perfect but is so full of the compassion and the warmth that the characters needed that I allowed myself to give a pass to some of the more problematic aspects (like for example, what happens to Nader). Plus, bonus points for incredible pieces of dialogue (the “asshole” one being a favourite). Overall, an excellent novel – Insightful!

DNF/5: ‘Where the Dead Sit Talking’ is an Ageless Based, Realistic Contemporary by Brandon Hobson; Sequoyah (?), a 15-year-old Cherokee Teen, becomes the foster child of Harold and Agnes Troutt, a middle-aged couple already fostering 13-year-old George and 17-year-old Rosemary. Hobson creates a smart, dark novel surrounding adolescence, death and rural secrets set in late-1980s Oklahoma. Hobson’s narrative control is stunning, carrying the reader through scenes and timelines with verbal grace and sparse detail. Far more than a mere coming-of-age story, this is a remarkable and moving novel. Unfortunately, I simply lost interest after impending University deadlines and haven’t felt the need to pick it back up. I hope to return to this novel at another date, as the plot-line is intriguing – Cultural!

3/5: ‘Finding Audrey’ is a Young Adult, Mental Health Contemporary by Sophie Kinsella; Audrey Turner has a serious Anxiety Disorder which affects every part of her life: relationships, appearances, trust. Due to a traumatic bullying situation which remains a mystery, it left Audrey unable to leave the house. Kinsella delivers a message about Depression and Anxiety Disorders in a comical, light-hearted way, whilst still managing to breakdown Mental Illnesses for those unsure about them. Under the guidance of thoughtful Dr. Sarah, Audrey begins to deal with her inability to make eye contact—or even to leave the house—by crafting videos of her quirky, near-farcical family, a nifty narrative device that especially shows off her “twitchy” mom. Sections of the novel are transcripts of the videos Audrey makes. Audrey's brother Frank is determined to win an online gaming championship with his team, in spite of their mom's frenetic attempts to remake the family based on newspaper advice—which, sadly for Frank, includes giving up computers. Complicating this is the fact that Frank's team includes sensitive Linus, who delicately, tenderly navigates Audrey's vividly portrayed roadblocks. As their relationship blossoms, Audrey gains both strength and courage. The one criticism I have is that simply having a boyfriend is unlikely to cure an individual of Mental Illness and this needs to be addressed. The counterpoint, however, of absurd humour against Audrey's uncertain progress toward healing, graphically depicted in her appealing and slightly ironic first-person voice, is compelling. Since the nature of the bullying is never fully revealed, it can readily represent the experiences of other victims. It's only as of the narrative approaches its conclusion that the true source of the dysfunction in Audrey's family is revealed: all of them have become victims in myriad ways. A simplistic and sweetly styled contemporary – Tragicomedy!

4/5: ‘Batman: Nightwalker’ is a Young Adult, Comic Fantasy by Marie Lu; Bruce Wayne, before his recognisable title as ‘Batman’ is required to complete community service at Arkham Asylum, the infamous prison that holds the city’s most brutal criminals – there he meets Madeleine Wallace, a brilliant killer tied to the rampant Nightwalkers. Lu masterfully blends science and science fiction, her forte, to craft a unique portrayal of the classic superhero. The book is written in a realistic present or near future where technology like robotic drones to assist police and portable frequency scramblers are believable technologies created by Wayne Tech. There's also a neat virtual reality element to Bruce's training regimen—a story concept that's not that far-fetched in this day and age. You're introduced to some classic Batman characters, including Alfred and Lucius Fox, as well as some new ones tailored for this story. If there is one noticeable addition to the story? Bruce has friends! This angle not only increases appeal for a YA audience (or readers of any age who care about interpersonal drama) but adds a little realism to the character we know and love. Bruce could have been (and often is depicted as) a dour teenager sulking in his mansion. Instead, he's adjusted and worked through enough of his trauma that he can have somewhat normal adolescence—minus the obscene wealth. He still cares enough about his parents' murders and the well-being of his city, of course, and it's not hard to imagine him eventually moulding into the hero we all expect him to become. Lu also introduces a new villain: Madeleine Wallace, an enigmatic character Bruce meets in Arkham Asylum while doing some community service. At first, she's aloof and mysterious, but, as she takes a liking to Bruce, she involves him intimately in the Nightwalker case, against everyone else's wishes. Madeleine is a great intellectual foe/ally for Bruce. She peppers their conversations with hints at the truth, giving him enough information to keep him coming back. You're never quite sure what's real and what's not, so it keeps you, the reader, constantly questioning what Madeleine says. Overall, as a major Batman fan, a truly unique piece – Nerd!

4/5: ‘The Last Days of Archie Maxwell’ is a Young Adult, Contemporary LGBT+ by Annabel Pitcher; Archie Maxwell - after discovering that his Father is Gay and with continuous Bullying at School - considers Suicide. Pitcher does not shirk using the language the characters use amongst themselves; therefore, homophobia and derogatory phrases are present – it is a dark, unsettling story and totally authentic. You feel for Archie: he's a decent, thoughtful young man caught up in a difficult situation. If the news about his father gets out, the bullying will get worse, but his mother has confided in Leon's mother - and Leon is the chief bully. It's going to happen, and Archie can only see one way of escaping. The trouble is that Tia has her own guilt and her own secrets - and she can see a way of escaping them too. How easy it is to think that Archie should just be honest and open about the situation: that most of the threat has disappeared once the news that Dad is living with Malcolm is common knowledge. He might have an unpleasant day or two, but then it'll be over. But that's easily said when you're not the person dreading another day at school and young men do find it more difficult to talk about their feelings than young women: Pitcher captures this perfectly and despite knowing what Archie should do, I was completely drawn into the downward spiral of his mental state. (I was relieved to find that Pitcher has supplied some resources for anyone who finds themselves in this spiral - you can find them at the back of the book.) One praise, aside from the plot is the book is Dyslexia friendly. So, what makes the book dyslexia friendly? Well, firstly Barrington Stoke has designed a special font where each character is distinct and pulls the reader on to read the next word. It's printed on a pale-yellow paper, which reduces the glare which can distract some readers and the paper is substantial enough to ensure that there's no bleed-through from the reverse of the page. The spacing between words and lines has been carefully judged to give the best reading experience and the text has not been justified as this can mean that readers get lost on the page. It's not only people with dyslexia who benefit from these ingenious but simple changes - most young readers will find the books easier to read and more enjoyable. The books also acknowledge that people with dyslexia - or reluctant readers - will have the same interest level as their peer group, but they might not have the same reading age. The Last Days of Archie Maxwell is very much a book for teens (and not suitable for younger people) but the phrasing and vocabulary have been made as user-friendly as possible. I absolutely adore this novel, in 139 pages, Pitcher ripped my heart out of my chest – Well-Crafted!

DNF/5: ‘Odd One Out’ is a Young Adult, Contemporary LGBT+ Romance by Nic Stone; Courtney ‘Coop’ Cooper lives directly next door to best-friend, Jupiter ‘Jupe’ Charity-Sanchez, whom he’s in love with – the downfall, Jupe is Gay – and crushing on new girl Rae Chin, who may or may not be straight. Stone soars beyond the tired, love-triangle trope as it examines what it means to confront shifting labels of Straight, Bisexual, or Gay that teens assign themselves. The book covers topics of consent; respect; LGBT+; acceptance and friendship. Despite the fantastic, diverse representative throughout; I DNF the novel, the three contrasting perspectives grew tedious and annoying. Stone’s writing voice felt unrealistic and awkward at times; phrases were not coherent and at times, cringey through the use of overly childish phrasing. Do not take the low-rating as a distaste for Stone’s work, ‘Dear Martin’, was an outstanding piece; however, ‘Odd One Out’ did not meet expectations – Cringe!

3/5: ‘Broken Things’ is a Young Adult, Mystery Thriller by Lauren Oliver; Mia Ferguson and Brynn McNally driven by their obsession with a novel called ‘The Way into Lovelorn’, kill their best friend – the only thing is: they didn’t do it. Oliver takes the innocence of childhood friendship and imagination and produces a much darker, sinister story. We are confronted with a horrific depiction of youth that, in parts, is very uncomfortable to read. However, I found this portrayal refreshing and intriguing and somewhat real as we delve into the darkest parts of child psychology and dynamics. The plot perfectly flits between past, present, fantasy and reality to create a fluid unravelling of characters and the shocking events that occur throughout. The story is voiced through Mia and Brynn, in both past and present time, and through their perspectives, we really get to know the girls and their complexities. With the seamless use of past and present we get to see real character development – or in this case, regression. One of Oliver's key notions in this novel is that every action and decision have a ripple effect. How the experiences, circumstances and injustices of one person's life can 'break' them and subsequently the people around them, leaving a trail of broken things. It also highlights how the courage of one person can break this cycle/ripple effect and we can choose to not be a product of our past. I found this idea so relatable and an honest acknowledgement of humanity in the face of destruction and hardship. This Young Adult mystery isn't just about a 'who-done-it' murder. It explores multiple challenges that adolescents face in everyday life. It shines a light on the difficulties of living in a small, close-knit community and the feeling of being trapped within it - and the label it gives you. Lauren Oliver also explores the challenge of being considered 'different' and how this can affect a person, especially in their youth. It explores homophobia, social anxiety, grooming and much more in this extraordinary array of complex and interesting characters that a wide readership can relate to. My criticism of this book is that in some places it became a very slow read and I had to re-engage myself into the story; this completely contrasts with the end as I felt it was a little rushed and left me wanting more answers and explanations – but that could be a deliberate connection between the reader and the characters in the story. Unfortunately, the major reveal was predictable from the first couple of chapters. Overall, I thought Broken Things was a fantastically dark mystery with beautifully crafted characters and fluid writing that made a very complex plot, filled with twists and turns, easily digestible – Dark!

4.5/5: ‘Eliza and Her Monsters’ is a Young Adult, Mental Health Contemporary by Francesca Zappia; Eliza Mirk is the anonymous creator of the wildly popular web-comic Monstrous Sea, under the pseudonym LadyConstellation. One day, the secret is exposed, creating endless hardship. Zappia offers an honest and thoughtful portrayal of a character with anxiety here and some interesting perspective on what it means to create and engage within a fan community. Eliza’s online friends are given as much, if not more, weight than her real-life friends in a way that will feel authentic to anyone who’s ever made friends through social media whom they may never meet in person. Eliza and Her Monsters sounds like it will be a story about a comic and a secret identity–maybe with a little romance. Instead, it’s really a story about connection within fandom and finding your thing and your people but losing yourself along the way. It’s also about fixing that–a lesson Eliza learns throughout the course of the novel. Eliza’s first-person narration is interspersed with excepts from Monstrous Sea fanfiction, message boards, emails, and illustrations of parts of the Monstrous Sea comics done by Zappia. This story is character driven but also fast-paced as Eliza’s world slowly starts to expand with help from Wallace. Eliza struggles with anxiety as she pushes against the limitations of what she feels capable of managing versus what she actually wants. The one complaint is the relationship between Eliza and Wallace towards the conclusion of the novel. Throughout their friendship, Wallace is working to novelize the Monstrous Sea comic–something that Eliza loves and supports. After she is outed, Wallace reveals that he has a book deal with a publisher for that novelization once it’s completed. He needs Eliza’s permission which she readily gives. But he also needs Eliza to finish the comic so that he can finish the novelisation. Something she feels incapable of doing in the face of everyone knowing her name and watching her, ready to pounce. Aside from issues of these publishing logistics, it felt out of character for Wallace to suddenly negate Eliza’s concerns in the face of his own ambition. Every other aspect of their relationship was sweet, but this thread with the publication of Monstrous Sea was frustrating at best and problematic at worst. Despite this, it was a true dedication to fandoms – Fantastic!

4/5: ‘A Tragic Kind of Wonderful’ is a Young Adult, Mental Health Contemporary by Eric Lindstrom; Mel Hannigan is on a strictly managed cocktail of medication to control her Dysphoric Mania, a form of Bipolar Disorder which makes sufferers feel simultaneously Manic and Depressed. Mel is also mourning the death of her Brother, who suffered from the same condition; Mel seeks to maintain equilibrium. Lindstrom offers an intense look at one person’s experience with bipolar disorder, as well as the internalized shame often felt by individuals with mental illness. Details about Mel’s deceased brother and estranged best friend are revealed slowly, providing tension and mystery. Emotions run high as Lindstrom’s story confronts mental illness, grief, and shame, but the optimistic resolution provides balance. As Mel goes through different mental and emotional states, the writing reflects the different moods and energy. From how Mel thinks while having a manic episode; without pause, without breath, without a filter. As for bipolar disorder representation, I cannot comment on the accurate representation because I haven’t had any experiences with bipolar disorder. However, I really did like seeing Mel’s “animals”, each chapter begins with a notation of Mel’s emotional state, with various internal forces illustrated by animals, which offer insight into Mel’s thoughts and actions. I do wish we had more scenes of her visits with Dr. Oswald because I feel it was very important – Knowledgeable!

4.5/5: ‘Dear Martin’ is a Young Adult, Realistic Contemporary by Nic Stone; Justyce McAllister, a senior in High School finds himself a victim of Racial Profiling – as a top student, Yale-bound – his negative encounter with the police leads to the beginnings of a special project: he looks to the teachings of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. for answers. Stone’s narrative includes letters Juystce writes directly to Dr. King as well as dialogue structured like the script to capture the fast-paced conversations within Justyce’s debate class. Stone explores topics like microaggressions, as we watch Justyce’s classmates make jokes at his expense and accuse him of being “too sensitive”; systemic racism, white privilege and white fragility, as some question the reality of racial profiling or the need for affirmative action; and police brutality, as Justyce is forced to constantly relive his negative police encounter, and later watch his best friend have one that does not end as nicely. Stone handles each with fierce honesty, but also with a strong sense of empathy for all sides. She recognizes the complex nuances of racial conflict and debates, and while she does not excuse racism or bad behaviour from any group, she offers insight into what members of different groups might be feeling and thinking in the midst of these highly-charged and difficult conversations. While the main character is a black male, and the goal of this book is primarily to offer a window into the fears many black males face daily, it in no way condemns the police or white people. Each is given a voice in a conversation towards reconciliation. However, Stone never offers any excerpts of Dr. King’s teachings, and we don’t get any insight into what specifically Justyce is reading or looking through as he reflects on them and tries to apply them to his life. While the project is introduced as the main plot point, it didn’t seem to play much of role in the development of the plot or character, and I often forgot he was doing it until a new “Dear Martin” letter would show up. Perhaps that small flaw isn’t much of a flaw at all since it piqued my curiosity. I was motivated to listen to and read more of Dr. King’s teachings to relearn and meditate on what he has to say, especially in the midst of all the racial tension that continues to build in our country today. I’d recommend Dear Martin to students who are interested in or struggling to understand, current events such as the Black Lives Matter Movement; or students looking for the vocabulary to speak about their own experiences with social injustice. However, Stone never offers any excerpts of Dr. King’s teachings, and we don’t get any insight into what specifically Justyce is reading or looking through as he reflects on them and tries to apply them to his life. While the project is introduced as the main plot point, it didn’t seem to play much of role in the development of the plot or character, and I often forgot he was doing it until a new “Dear Martin” letter would show up. Perhaps that small flaw isn’t much of a flaw at all since it piqued my curiosity. I was motivated to listen to and read more of Dr. King’s teachings to relearn and meditate on what he has to say, especially in the midst of all the racial tension that continues to build in our country today. I recommend Dear Martin to students who are interested in, or struggling to understand, current events such as the Black Lives Matter Movement; or students looking for the vocabulary to speak about their own experiences with social injustice – Crucial!