Review: History Is All You Left Me by Adam Silvera

"I know you're not around to live, and I know you're always going to live through me."

OCD-afflicted seventeen-year-old, Griffin, has just lost his first love – his best friend, ex-boyfriend and the boy he believed to be his ultimate life partner – in a drowning accident. In a desperate attempt to hold onto every last piece of the past, a broken Griffin forges a friendship with Theo’s new college boyfriend, Jackson. And Griffin will stop at nothing to learn every detail of Theo’s new college life, and ultimate death. But as the grieving pair grows closer, readers will question Griffin's own version of the truth – both in terms of what he’s willing to hide, and what true love ultimately means...

History Is All You Left Me is one of the most honest books I've ever read. It's truly immersed in real life so it never feels like fiction as the themes discussed in the books are realities so many young people face. First love, first heartbreak, first loss and mental health issues. None of them are sugercoated, they're all depicted with brutal honesty. It was also really refreshing to read a book with LGBT protagonists who don't struggle with their identities and are happy with themselves. It's important to have books with this plot line as it teaches young people that it's not something you have to hide, it's something you can be proud of. 

Griffin is a really complex character and that's what makes him so likeable. He loves with all his heart but he also makes mistakes, often hurting the people around him. His struggle with OCD is probably one of the best mental health depictions in YA literature and Silvera definitely does a fantastic job at adding to the conversation and removing the stigma around mental health. Also. Griffin's unwillingness to accept the death of his best friend Theo is relatable to anyone who's had a loss and knows it's hard to let go when you haven't had any warning or the chance to process the bereavement.

The structure of the story, flitting between the past and today, is a clever method of showing how and why all of the characters reach the mindsets are in and what led to the events of the current day. The relationships between all the characters are unlikely, interesting and dynamic. With plenty of pop culture references, History Is All You Left Me is filled with fun, humorous moments as well as heartfelt, emotionally charged scenes. This is the kind of book you can't put down and when you do, it never truly leaves you. I'll definitely keep the messages in the book with me for a long time.

10/10

June is LGBT Pride Month. To learn more visit http://www.stonewall.org.uk/our-work/campaigns/pride-2017

CONFESSION: I Did Not Love Harry Potter and the Cursed Child - Review

“The truth is a beautiful and terrible thing, and should therefore be treated with great caution.” 

Words could not do justice to my excitement when news of a Harry Potter stage show, to also be released as a book, surfaced. As a huge Harry Potter fan, any extension of the wizarding world created by genius author and all-round literary queen JK Rowling was the greatest thing imaginable. So yes, I was excited. The book was released while I was on holiday and I remember rushing into Waterstones as soon as I returned with my pre-order slip, eagerly awaiting the story of my favourite fictional characters and their children, 20 years on. 

Once I finally had my hands on it, I read it almost instantly and my first reaction was to love it without seeing any flaws. Blinded by the excitement of what was essentially fanfiction becoming canon, I became obsessed with it. I thought it was amazing, a story that needed to be told, one that kept us guessing right until the end. However, after some time away from it, with perspective I see the book is not as amazing as it could have been. 

Obviously Harry Potter and the Cursed Child is not intended to be read, it is a play and really needs to be seen performed live so the magic can be witnessed. I really appreciate that when analysing the book and this  makes me want to see the stage production even more than my initial Cursed Child obsessed self. Additionally, this review/confession is a long time coming since it took me a while to gather my thoughts and to get the courage to criticise openly something I really wanted to love. I just want to clarify that I did like and enjoy the story very much, I really just didn't love it. 

So the first problem for me that needs to be addressed is Ron. Yes, Ron himself in the play is a problem. Everything that Potterheads know and love about Ronald Weasley is cast aside and forgotten by the co-authors (who I suspect had more input than JK herself, unfortunately).  The brave, loyal and passionate redhead is reduced to a two dimensional character merely there for comedic value. It was just so sad to me for this to happen. Ron is so much more than a clown and the fact that the depth to his character wasn't explored me really ruined my experience of it.

Furthermore, I just didn't feel that that the world of Harry Potter was further explored or that there were enough moments that revealed aspects of the wizarding world that were previously unknown. My major problem with this is that I felt the writers really didn't take risks, they played it safe, giving fans what they already knew and were comfortable with. A new concept or setting being explored really would have set this play apart from some of the mediocre fanfictions drifting around on Wattpad. 

This leads me onto my next point: the Cursed Child felt like bad fanfiction. This is because of the strange way all the what ifs? that are posed on Tumblr forums seemed to magically (pun intended) come true. I appreciate that by setting it in the future with the same characters we know and previously loved would potentially have this feel, but overall I didn't feel that they nailed a world and people previously perfected. 

That being said, there were aspects of the Cursed Child that I really enjoyed, for example the relationship between Albus and Scorpius. It was refreshing and sweet to have that sort of innocence returning to the darkened world of Harry Potter. My favourite character was definintely Scorpius as he was the furthest from what I was expecting of him. I anticipated a young, charming and perhaps obnoxious boy, a mirror of his father. Instead, we are presented with a bubbly yet apprehensive child who is anxious to adhere to the rules. His unconditional faith in Albus made me love him instantly and I was so pleasantly surprised to see that he was a truly good person. 

Overall, I didn't love the Cursed Child, but this critical mindset makes me even more eager to see the play performed live, I have a feeling there'll be a different touch of magic that will bring the script to life off the page!

My Top 10 Songs to Listen to While Reading Everything Leads To You by Nina Lacour

"The best things aren't perfectly constructed. They aren't illusions. They aren't larger than life. They are life."

Everything Leads to You is a gorgeous story about young film enthusiast Emi landing her dream job set against the back drop sunny LA. Her brother allows her to stay in his apartment for the summer under one condition: something amazing must happen there. Initially, she struggles with this enormous task but a mysterious letter from a film icon of the past leads her on a wild adventure as she searches for the truth. Meanwhile, Emi also finds the truth in her own life, falling in love with a girl along the way as they discover what happened in the past to lead to this moment and what this means for their future. 

I was completely captivated by this book, the setting is so realistic you can practically feel the sun shining on you while reading it! Emi is a hopeless romantic with so much love to give that her presence was felt right off the page. That being said, I haven't stopped thinking about this book since I read it, so here is my playlist for you to listen to while reading!

1. Sister Rosetta (2011 Version) by Noisettes

This song was playing in my head as Emi is frantically searching markets for locations and items to add something special to her movie sets! This song has so much energy it's perfect for the book.

2. Flightless Bird, American Mouth by Iron and Wine

This is a gorgeously soft and romantic song and I imagined this being played as Emi and Ava began to fall in love. 

3. Dreams by Fleetwood Mac

This song reminds me of Emi's (sixth) break up with Morgan at the beginning of the novel. There's a sort of resentment for what happened but still hope for the future, and Emi is certainly looking forward in time despite struggling initially.

4. Young Volcanoes by Fall Out Boy

I love this song so much and I think it fits really well as it's about being young, wild and free and realising you have the potential to be whoever you want, which is a quality that Emi and Ava both bring out in each other.

5. Turning Tables by Adele

I feel like this song is representative of Ava's relationship with her past and her tumultuous home life. Whenever she holds something to be true, it's contradicted by a newly learned fact and that emotion is really conveyed in this song. 

6. The Ballad of Mona Lisa by Panic! At The Disco

There's a few reasons this song had to make the list. Firstly, I'd say that Mona Lisa definitely represents Morgan for Emi. She knows that she'll mess her around but there's something irresistible about her that can't keep her away. Also, there's a real story behind this song, which Emi would definitely appreciate as she sees the story in everything around her, which is a beautiful way to see the world.

7. Hooked On A Feeling by Blue Swede

There's just something really bright and happy about this song and the feeling of really falling in love without even trying really comes through. 

8. Shape of You by Ed Sheeran

This song is the right mix of a playful relationship turning serious which I think definitely fits for the book, without giving away too much. 

9. Impossible Year by Panic! At The Disco

Another Panic! song. But you can't get too much Panic! so it's okay. This song is completely sad and I'd say this probably represents the moment for Ava where she truly loses hope.

10. Empire by Shakira

This is one of my favourite songs of all times so of course it made it into the Top 10. This is a truly perfect song because it's about really seeing yourself as powerful while falling in love with that special person who makes you feel that way. 

This book is about a love for the movies and never waiting twice to seize the day. My only regret is waiting so long to actually read it! 

Feminist Icons of Literature: Hermione Granger

"Books! And cleverness! There are more important things! — Friendship! And Bravery!"

Brains, sense, loyalty and kindness. An aspirational, hard-working young woman who is confident in her abilities and never apologises for her success. A girl thrust into a completely new world at a young age who never falters, merely taking every new experience in her stride and going out of her way to learn everything she can to set herself apart. Hermione Granger was my all-time favourite character as a child and that hasn't really changed! Now, I admire her as more than a book nerd who's kind to her friends and good at magic, I see the kind of pioneering feminist she was, defying expectations at all ages.

Hermione, born and raised by muggles, enters a world completely new to her at the age of 11. This would be difficult for someone of any age, where everything you thought you knew about the world isn't the truth and there are hundreds of new customs and rules and societal structures to familiarise yourself with, but classic Hermione adjusts amazingly well, throwing herself into books to learn all she can. What is so amazing about Hermione is she embraces the intelligent part of herself from an early age, never denying or hiding her brains but being secure and confident in who she is. This inspired me as a child to not ever be embarrassed about working hard at school or loving books and it's important that we have these kind of role models in children's literature. The characters of books and film are the role models outside of family and friends who influence us most and it's so necessary to have someone like Hermione leading the way and proving to young girls that it's okay to work hard in school and to aim for a successful, academic career.

Additionally to this, Hermione is undoubtedly a feminist icon as she fights for what she believes in: the rights of house elves. They had been enslaved by the wizarding world and Hermione recognised them as deserving of respect and fair treatment. The Society for the Promotion of Elvish Welfare initially faced mocking from even her best friends but as a cause close to her heart, Hermione persevered and continued to fight for the house elves. This is an important message for young girls because it teaches us that when you find something you're passionate about in your life, you must fight for it because if it's not you, there's no one else who will take up the baton!

Finally, Hermione is an all round badass, amazing woman who is consistently loyal to her friends and the causes she believes in, standing by Harry until the very end despite the difficulties and the threats to their lives that they face. She's the brightest witch of her age and never allows anyone to underestimate her or prevent her from aspiring to the best future possible. And for that reason, Hermione is one of my feminist icons of literature. 

Review: A Quiet Kind of Thunder by Sara Barnard

"Mistakes are an unfortunate side effect of actually doing things, but they're usually worth it in the end."

Steffi doesn't talk. 
Rhys can't hear.
They understand each other perfectly. 
Love isn't always a lightning strike. Sometimes it's the rumbling roll of thunder...
The stunning new novel from the bestselling author of Beautiful Broken Things is a love story about the times when a whisper is as good as a shout.

A Quiet Kind of Thunder is certainly one of the best books I've read this year. It tells the tale of two wonderful people who need to have their story heard: a socially anxious teenager who struggles to have her voice heard due to her selective mutism and a deaf boy struggling with the challenges of starting sixth form at a main stream hearing school. Despite their communication challenges, the pair support each other and develop a strong bond, speaking through broken sign language and messaging apps. But there's more to their relationship than having difficulties in communicating with the world in common - they're a dynamic duo who understand each other, sharing inside jokes and pushing themselves to bring out the best in each other. This beautiful tale of young love despite exploring two minorities whose voices often go unheard is relatable to all young teens starting a new school, moving on to the next stage in life and falling in love for the first time. 

The most refreshing part of the book is that Steffi's chronic anxiety is not magically cured by a handsome boyfriend. Instead, their strong bond gives her the courage to go out and do the things she's always dreamt of, with the added confidence of someone cheering her on at the sidelines. Additionally, Rhys is not overly reliant on Steffi to communicate, they work together to better themselves. Their young relationship is fresh and new and exciting for them and this is tangible when reading, however it is not overly intense as relationships often are in YA novels, so this was certainly refreshing to read.

I believe this is a really important book to be read as it delicately explores the issue of anxiety and mental health in young people while not glamourising it. Steffi's experience is raw and it's easy to see the difficulties she faces. Young people should read this book to better understand the experience of those around them with anxiety, and also for those who experience similar problems to realise they are not alone and this is something a large number of people unfortunately go through.

Furthermore, this is the first YA book I have read where one of the main characters is deaf. Barnard does an amazing job in bringing disability to the forefront of YA books and handles the topic well. Rhys is just a normal teenager who just happens to be deaf and it's really important that he is portrayed that way so that awareness is raised of the difficulties disabled people face but also of the fact that with support they can lead a normal life. This book also sparked an interest for me in BSL as I think it's important for us to be able to communicate with people from all walks of life.

I would recommend this book to anyone who enjoys a coming of age YA novel and also anyone who enjoyed Barnard's first YA book Beautiful Broken Things. If you like the writing style of Holly Bourne, you'll probably love this book.

9/10

This week is mental health awareness week and if you're interested in learning more you can visit https://www.mind.org.uk/ or https://www.mentalhealth.org.uk/campaigns/mental-health-awareness-week

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