Review: The Bone Dragon by Alexia Casale

"Although you are afraid to fail, you are also afraid to succeed"

Evie's shattered ribs have been a secret for the last four years. Now she has found the strength to tell her adoptive parents, and the physical traces of her past are fixed - the only remaining signs a scar on her side and a fragment of bone taken home from the hospital, which her uncle Ben helps her to carve into a dragon as a sign of her strength. Soon this ivory talisman begins to come to life at night, offering wisdom and encouragement in roaming dreams of smoke and moonlight that come to feel ever more real.

As Evie grows stronger there remains one problem her new parents can't fix for her: a revenge that must be taken. And it seems that the Dragon is the one to take it.
This subtly unsettling novel is told from the viewpoint of a fourteen-year-old girl damaged by a past she can't talk about, in a hypnotic narrative that, while giving increasing insight, also becomes increasingly unreliable.

A blend of psychological thriller and fairy tale, The Bone Dragon explores the fragile boundaries between real life and fantasy, and the darkest corners of the human mind.

This book was a truly beautiful and poignant story, shrouded in mystery and a dark reality. Despite being a Young Adult novel aimed predominantly at teens I definitely feel this is a book that everyone should read as it offers a whole new perspective on life, death and all of the difficulties we face in between. These themes are explored so maturely even while being told from the perspective of a fourteen year old girl and they offer real food for thought. 

The protagonist Evie is such a strong character and Alexia Casale does such a good job of bringing her to life that she seems like any other teenage girl, despite having a dark past and facing many difficulties throughout her childhood. She is mature in some respects, having to grow up quickly but immature in others, often seeming a little naive.

The character of the dragon was my favourite in the whole novel as he delivered some of the wisest words and messages I had ever read in a YA novel. This is a book that everyone can learn from. The exploration of human relationships and the way that we affect everyone we come across in life was an important and delicately outlined theme in the novel. 

Initially, the book was quite confusing as much of Evie's experiences were still a secret waiting to be discovered as she grew in character by the reader. As the story progressed, the mysteries began to resolve and things began to become clearer. I found I couldn't put the book down! I hugely enjoy books with mystery and secrets running throughout the whole plot.

I would definitely recommend this book. The most important thing to take away from the novel is that Evie teaches us to be brave in every aspect of our lives. Alexia Casale has created a character whose experiences must not be swept under the rug. She has given a voice to victims of abuse who are too often forgotten through this beautiful YA story.

8/10

Review: The One Memory of Flora Banks by Emily Barr

"Live in the moment whenever you can. You don't need a memory to do that."

HOW DO YOU KNOW WHO TO TRUST WHEN YOU CAN'T EVEN TRUST YOURSELF? I look at my hands. One of them says FLORA BE BRAVE. Flora has anterograde amnesia. She can't remember anything day-to-day: the joke her friend made, the instructions her parents gave her, how old she is. Then she kisses someone she shouldn't, and the next day she remembers it. It's the first time she's remembered anything since she was ten. But the boy is gone. She thinks he's moved to the Arctic. Will following him be the key to unlocking her memory? Who can she trust?

The One Memory of Flora Banks is one of the most beautiful, poignant books I have ever read. Flora suffers from a form of amnesia that means she only holds memories for a few hours before being confused. Her last memories are of when she was 10 but now she is 17 and struggling to navigate life as a young woman when she is still treated as a child by her memories and her overprotective parents. Then something amazing happens to Flora: she kisses a boy and remembers. Flora seizes this opportunity to start living her life and taking chances, growing up and discovering in her own way. She starts out searching for someone else but discovers herself along the way.

Although this certainly isn't your typical YA novel, Flora is as relatable as any protagonist. Barr has made her raw and honest, far from perfect but full of emotion and a will to find her own adventure in life. She faces the same difficulties as many young teens do: broken friendships, first love and a struggle for independence. This is a story of honesty and discovery. This book kept me gripped the whole way through as Flora is a "wild and wonderful" character who is completely loveable. Everything is not always as transparent as it seems on the surface and Flora and the reader truly face a rollercoaster ride. Flora is the narrator but how reliable is the account of someone with memory loss?

I would 100% recommend this book to anyone who is a fan of YA literature and would enjoy a coming of age story with a twist.

9/10