Reviews
Revolver by Marcus Sedgwick
1910. A cabin north of the Arctic Circle. Fifteen-year-old Sig Andersson is alone. Alone, except for the corpse of his father, who died earlier that day after falling through a weak spot on the ice-covered lake. His sister, Anna, and step-mother, Nadya, have gone to the local town for help. Then comes a knock at the door. It's a man, the flash of a revolver's butt at his hip, and a mean glare in his eyes. Sig has never seen him before but Wolff claims to have unfinished business with his father. As Sig gradually learns the awful truth about Wolff's connection to his father, Sig finds his thoughts drawn to a certain box hidden on a shelf in the storeroom, in which lies his father's prized possession - a revolver. When Anna returns alone, and Wolff begins to close in, Sigs choice is pulled into sharp focus. Should he use the gun, or not?
The Demon's Lexicon by Sarah Rees Brennan
Nick and his brother Alan are on the run with their mother, who was once the lover of a powerful magician. When she left him, she stole an important charm - and he will stop at nothing to reclaim it. Now Alan has been marked with the sign of death by the magician's demon, and only Nick can save him. But to do so he must face those he has fled from all his life - the magicians - and kill them. So the hunted becomes the hunter...but in saving his brother, Nick discovers something that will unravel his whole past...
Chalkline by Jane Mitchell
Rafiq is taken from his family and recruited as a boy soldier to fight for the freedom of Kashmir. This is the story of Rafiq's transformation from child to boy soldier, as he is indoctrinated into the cause of fanatical belief. But his family have not forgotten him; when he can no longer recognize himself, they remember the boy he was, and reach out a hand of redemption as he spirals towards a final act of atrocity. Mitchell deals sensitively with difficult issues in this heartbreaking and uplifting book.
Mad Dogs by Robert Muchamore
The British underworld is controlled by gangs. When two of them start a turf war, violence explodes on to the streets. The police need information fast, and James Adams has the contacts to infiltrate the most dangerous gang of all. He works for Cherub. Cherubs are trained professionals, aged between ten and seventeen. They exist because criminals never suspect that kids are spying on them. For official purposes, these children do not exist.
The Ask and the Answer by Patrick Ness
"We were in the square, in the square where I'd run, holding her, carrying her, telling her to stay alive, stay alive till we got safe, till we got to Haven so I could save her - But there weren't no safety, no safety at all, there was just him and his men...Fleeing before a relentless army, Todd has carried a desperately wounded Viola right into the hands of their worst enemy, Mayor Prentiss. Immediately separated from Viola and imprisoned, Todd is forced to learn the ways of the Mayor's new order. But what secrets are hiding just outside of town? And where is Viola? Is she even still alive? And who are the mysterious Answer? And then, one day, the bombs begin to explode..."The Ask and the Answer" is a tense, shocking and deeply moving novel of resistance under the most extreme pressure. This is the second title in the "Chaos Walking" trilogy.
Guantanamo Boy by Anna Perrera.
This is a political, passiobate book about 15 year old Khalid and his family from Britain who go to visit relatives in Pakistan. After arriving, his Father goes missing and soon after Khalid is abducted, imprisoned, tortured and eventually moved to Guantanamo. His pleads of innocence cut no ice with post 9-11 american troops who are still on a revenge mission. A rivetting read.
Colony by JA Henderson.
This novel is set in various locations around the globe, including Scotand, New York and California. The year is 2009 and the world has fallen into a post apocalyptic state with death and starvation rampant. The subplot brings the reader back to 1980 which fleshes out some of the main characters as well as explaining how the world got into this sorry mess, a real page turner!
Ginger Snaps by Cathy Cassidy
Gone are the days when Ginger was an outsider, always on the fringes of friendship. She's swapped puppy fat and pigtails for make-up and hair straighteners and never looked back. Ginger and Shannon are best mates, but when they befriend lonely Emily, everything changes. Are Ginger and Shannon drifting apart or can they stay best friends forever?
