Before I die, by Jenny Downham

Jasmin has been at it again, reading books like there's no tomorrow. This time she has given 5 stars to Jenny Downham's Before I die:

Wow, and again I say Wow.

Tessa is dying, and she knows it.

Being a practical girl she's done what anyone would do, she's made a list. Top of her list is sex.
She wants to cram as much living as possible in the time she has before she dies.

Tessa is a wonderful character, she's bright, funny and can be nasty sometimes. She gets a new boyfriend and fights with her parents. She generally lives her life while dealing with doctors' tests, drugs and treatment.

This is not a read for the faint hearted, it's compelling and heartwrenching. I cried and cried and cried...


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Uglies, by Scott Westerfeld

Staff member Jasmin has written a four star review of Uglies, by Scott Westerfeld:

This is such a great series, I love Scott Westerfeld.

In this book you'll meet Tally, a girl just about to turn 16 and just about to get herself turned in to a 'Pretty' with extreme plastic surgery. In this futuristic world all people are divided into Pretties and Uglies, and all get plastic surgery at 16. Pretties live a fun existance, partying and dancing, but surely there's more to life? Tally's pal Shay thinks so and runs away to the unknown outside, to be an Ugly forever. Tally has a choice to make, and when she does she uncovers the secrets and the lies that have made up her world for so long.

This is a fast and fun read and it's the first in the series so you can keep reading!

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Coraline, by neil Gaiman

Here is a review of the graphic novel version of Neil Gaiman's Coraline by staff member Jasmin. She gave it 3 stars:

I read the graphic novel version of this book and it's fantastic, a really spooky read.

Coraline is bored and lonely, she is ignored by her parents, and she's going stir crazy. She explores the old house they all live in, (which has been sliced into apartments) - And finds another world, a mirror world with perfect people with button eyes. Creepy, creepy, creepy!

The Graphic novel is wonderful, I highly recommend it over the book. Love it.

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The knife of never letting go, by Patrick Ness

Staff member Jasmin has given 4 stars to The knife of never letting go:

Set on a distant world populated by human colonists, this is the most original book you'll read all year. Todd lives in a little town, populated by men alone, men who cannot help but 'hear' each others thoughts. No one can keep secrets and no one can be private. There are no women, they died during the Spakle war, or so Todd has been told. Then one day Todd finds everything he believed is a lie - the Mayor of Prentiss town is pure evil and he must run for his life. This book doesn't let down the pace, you'll be reading well into the night trying to finish it. And it's a trilogy! Yay!

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Leviathan, by Scott Westerfeld

Picture an alternate Europe just before World War I. The German and Austro-Hungarian armies have at their disposal a range of Clankers - steam powered walking machines of various shapes and sizes. Heavily armoured against attacks and mounted with machine guns and canons. On the other side are the British Darwinists. They have learned to engineer and fabricate animals to create their weaponry. Featured heavily in this book is the Leviathan, a airship that is actually a living ecosystem.

If you are anything like me, that alone will be enough to make you want to read this book. But along with the clankers and living airships are Aleksander, prince of the Austro-Hungarian Empire, and Deryn Sharp a young English girl. Aleksander is on the run, under threat from his own allies. Deryn is disguised as a boy so she can fulfill her lifelong ambition and join the Air Service. From vastly different backgrounds and opposite ends of the continent, their stories converge as the possibility of war grows.

This book represents a bit of a shift for Westerfeld. I have liked all his YA books and like this too, but it won't surprise me if some of his fans are not as keen on it. On the other hand, I suspect he will gain a range of new fans. I am not completely sure of this, but it seems a large proportion of Westerfeld's fans are girls. Leviathan will gain him a whole slew of boy readers. A lot of them will be younger that his current fan base, and quite a few may well be older. Among others, I will be putting this book in the hands of all those kids who love reading about teenage secret agents, whether they are 11, 15, or 35.

It is an exciting read. The world, contraptions and creatures are fantastic and the story develops to a climax that will leave you wondering how long it will be until he finishes the sequel.

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REVIEWbyU - Slam, by Nick Hornby

About the books reader Sirani has given 3 stars to Nick Hornby's Slam. Here's what else she had to say:

Slam by Nick Hornby was an intriguing perspective of a teen. In this story, Alicia and Sam have an unlikely friendship/relationship but become good friends after a while. Their relationship is pretty intense and as Sam becomes a teen father is realistic. Alicia still wants and loves her baby, Roof but Sam doesn't. Sam learns that there is more to life than being a skater and Tony Hawk fan. Sam has difficulty accepting Alicia's pregnancy and birth. Alicia senses fear for Sam as he dreams about the past, and doesn't bother with the present things happening, like he had Alzheimers. Before, he had a good memory. Skating and Tony Hawk and friends who hung out at the Skate Park only mattered to him. Learning the reality of life gives an indication about what the boy is thinking. I rated this book 3 stars because I thought it was good in a way, but it's not a fun book!


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REVIEWbyU - The hunger games, by Suzanne Collins

About the Books reader Riprider has given 5 stars to The hunger games by Suzanne Collins. Here is Riprider's full review:

Every year there’s the Reaping. Every year there’s the Games. Every year there’s only one survivor. Every year there’s only one rule: Kill or be Killed.

Katniss Everdeen is a struggling teenager living in Panem. The nation of Panem consists of The Capitol and 12 surrounding poorer districts. Each year the Reaping occurs, and two tributes from each district are picked to compete in The Hunger Games as punishment for earlier rebellion. This year, Katniss swaps positions with her sister who was picked, and travels with her other district competitor to fight to the death in the Games.

This book is fast paced and full of action and adventure. The story follows Katniss as she fights to live in the horrible reality TV show, The Hunger Games. 24 contestants are deserted in an arena with limited supplies, and must make do with their wits and skills to survive. The players must kill each other using weapons, strength, instinct, intelligence or even the environment around them. The setting is amazing, and the author includes great detail, making it seem as if you were actually in the Games fighting alongside Katniss.

This book is a fantastic action adventure, that would appeal to fans of books such as The Ranger’s Apprentice Series.



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