REVIEW: Between the Lines by Jodi Picoult and Samantha van Leer

Name: Between the Lines

Author(s): Jodi Picoult and Samantha van Leer

Publisher: Hodder & Stoughton

Release date: 5th July 2012

Pages: 384

Source: For Chicklish review

Rating: 4 stars

Delilah is a bit of a loner who prefers spending her time in the school library with her head in a book—one book in particular. Between the Lines may be a fairy tale, but it feels real. Prince Oliver is brave, adventurous, and loving. He really speaks to Delilah. And then one day Oliver actually speaks to her. Turns out, Oliver is more than a one-dimensional storybook prince. He’s a restless teen who feels trapped by his literary existence and hates that his entire life is predetermined. He’s sure there’s more for him out there in the real world, and Delilah might just be his key to freedom. Delilah and Oliver work together to attempt to get Oliver out of his book, a challenging task that forces them to examine their perceptions of fate, the world, and their places in it. And as their attraction to each other grows along the way, a romance blossoms that is anything but a fairy tale.

[summary taken from Goodreads]

Having read a few of Jodi Picoult's books, I had understandably high expectations for Between the Lines.  I must admit that I was struck instantly at the beginning by the fact that this is like no other Picoult novel and I was a little disappointed that it fell just an inch short from my expectations.  I had to try not to compare it to her other books as it is totally different from them.  Despite a little disappointment to start with, Between the Lines proved that it is just as good as any other novel by Jodi Picoult as I read on.

What I love about this is that Jodi Picoult co-wrote this with her daughter - it must be a beautiful thing to share in a relationship.  Not many people can say they have written a book with their mother!  I can't believe the whole idea behind the book was thought up by Samantha - boy, does that girl have a great imagination!  The premise is absolutely beautiful and the fairy-tale feel wraps you in magic and believing in the impossible.  There is a very thin line between fantasy and ridiculously unbelievable and this book is in danger of crossing that line but as I read the book, it was as if I was trapped in my own bubble of magic and make-believe.  It wasn't until I put down the book and reflected what I had read that I thought, 'A character in a book talking to you? Really?!'  However, that's why Between the Lines is so amazing: it may seem far-fetched and entirely impossible to do some of the things Delilah does in the book but Jodi and Samantha have the ability to make you forget common sense and to believe every word on the page.  

I really warmed to Delilah and I think that most readers will love her too as she is so easy to relate to.  We all sometimes read a book and wished we knew someone in real life like a certain character!  She seemed quite naive and vulnerable which made me desperate that she got her happy ending and my heart melted every time she and Oliver were together.  Oliver doesn't judge her or bully her like everyone at her school and I adored that the handsome prince fell in love with a quiet, book-loving girl and not a stuck-up, vain, 'princess'.  There were some parts in the book which felt quite ridiculous but the blossoming romance between Delilah and Oliver was enough to knock me on the head and tell myself to stop being so sceptical!

The writing style cannot be faulted at all: Jodi and Samantha enticed and captivated me, leaving me hungry for more. I adored the intricate illustrations that came before each fairytale chapter (the book is split into the chapters from the actual fairytale, and Delilah and Oliver's POVs).  The silhouette drawings also add a light quirkiness to the overall book, making Between the Lines a very special book indeed.

However, the ending was a little too rushed for my liking, where there was a final attempt to rescue Oliver from the book.  There were just some details that I didn't understand and it was a little out of this world but I was pulled in again by the magical happily ever after so I quickly forgot my doubts and confusion.

Between the Lines is a pretty magical book full of hope, dreams and trying to overcome the impossible.  Despite some slips of confusion, it is a thoroughly enjoyable read that will pull you into a world where humans are only a paper-thin distance away from gorgeous princes (with British accents!) in fairytales.

4 teacups for Between the Lines!

***Thank you to Luisa for providing me with a review copy!***

I'm desperate to get my hands on a final copy because apparently the illustrations are in colour and while they are still beautiful in black-and-white (as they are in my review copy), I'm eager to see the 'finished product'!

REVIEW: Skin Deep by Laura Jarratt

Name: Skin Deep

Author: Laura Jarratt

Publisher: Electric Monkey

Date published: 5th March 2012

Pages: 377

Source: Chicklish

Rating: 5 stars


Originally posted at Chicklish

'I wanted to say this morning, only you ran off... Sorry if I was rude.'  The boy from the boat grinned, looking straight at me.  'Your surprised me, that's all.  The scar' - he touched his face - 'took me by surprise.  I didn't mean to be rude.'  I gaped at him. Nobody ever, ever mentioned the scars.

After the car crash that leaves her best friend dead, Jenna struggles to rebuild her life.  But every stare in the street, every glance in the mirror, makes her want to hide away.  And then Ryan turns up - a tall, good-looking traveller unlike anyone Jenna's ever met before.

Can he help to put her world back together, or will he just break her heart?

  Skin Deep is a beautiful novel about fourteen-year-old Jenna who meets a polite, good-looking traveller called Ryan. Jenna luckily survived a car crash which killed her best friend, but she herself did not get away easily and half her face was burned. Hidden behind a mask for half a year, her confidence and self-esteem is blown especially without Lindsay to look out for her. And then by chance she meets Ryan - a handsome, gentlemanly traveller. As their friendship develops, he builds her confidence and helps her come to terms with her disfigurement. But will he shatter the pieces in her life that she has so carefully glued back together during their relationship?

I am so glad that I was asked to review Skin Deep because otherwise I would probably have overlooked it and then I would have missed out big time! Laura Jarratt writes beautifully and brings a fresh, vivid voice to YA fiction.  Before I started reviewing/blogging, I always had the misconception that debut releases were dull and boring but Laura Jarratt demonstrates that newcomer authors can write just as beautifully as experienced writers. 

In the first half of the novel, the reader gets to know the characters through the alternating chapters between Jenna and Ryan, and nothing really happens. It charts the beginning of Jenna and Ryan’s friendship before following how it develops into something more. Looking back I wondered why I didn’t give up on reading it but then I figured that it was because it was very interesting to see how Ryan was helping Jenna break out of her shell and that was more page-turning than any fancy plot!  The climax hit me in the face when I least expected it and I felt my heart sink a little, hoping that I wasn’t going to be disappointed by one of the characters. From then on I was rushing through the book, desperate to find out the ‘truth’.

The characters in Skin Deep are so believable and easy to empathise with. The sensitivity with which Laura created the fragility of Jenna strikes a poignant chord within the book. Despite the reader probably finding it near impossible to understand the sheer pain Jenna had to go through, her vulnerability and innocence allows us to see life through her eyes. She refuses to venture too far outside and prefers to remain inside the safety of her own home, away from the looks that she is given from strangers. I pitied her greatly and I just wanted to give her a reassuring hug.  And then we get on to Ryan… Ryan, Ryan, Ryan. I could ramble on about him but I’ll try and spare you the gushing.  He’s so unlike how the typical traveller boy is portrayed.  He’s charming, polite and most of all he realises beauty is skin deep. He looks past the scars on Jenna’s face and sees her for who she really is. He convinces her that her disfigurement doesn’t define her and that she shouldn’t let staring eyes affect her confidence. He seems like an older sibling, but it’s clear from how the book continues that he doesn’t just want to fill the role of caring big brother. But is he really that amazing or is he just another guy taking advantage of a scared, vulnerable girl?

Laura Jarratt’s intriguing style of writing along with a cast of easy-to-warm-to characters makes Skin Deep a heart-wrenching debut which you will not want to miss. It is truly inspiring and thought-provoking, and made me realise that there are things in life which you shouldn’t take for granted.  Please read this, you certainly won’t regret it!

Thank you to Luisa for letting me review this book for Chicklish!

REVIEW: Choker by Elizabeth Woods

Name: Choker

Author: Elizabeth Woods

Publisher: Simon and Schuster

Date published: 1st March 2012

Number of pages: 233
Source: Chicklish
Rating: 4.5 stars

Cara has always felt like an outsider, and since she moved away from her best and only friend, Zoe, she feels more alone than ever. Cara spends her time avoiding the popular girls who call her ‘choker’ following a humiliating lunchroom incident, and wishing that gorgeous Ethan Gray would finally notice her. Then one day, Cara comes home and finds Zoe waiting for her. With her best friend back, Cara’s life changes overnight, and with a new look and new found confidence, her popularity soars.
 But when a girl goes missing and everyone comes under suspicion, Cara’s new life starts to unravel. Worse still, Zoe is behaving very strangely, and Cara begins to wonder exactly what her friend does all day while she’s at school. You’re supposed to trust your best friend no matter what, but what if she turns into a total stranger?

Cara is a loner and is always taunted by the popular girls in school. Following a particularly embarrassing accident in the canteen, she is dubbed ‘Choker.’ The ‘queen bee’ Alexis and her friends are intent on causing Cara unnecessary grief, pushing her to the limits. Unhappiness builds up within Cara but when her childhood friend Zoe returns, she feels like everything will be okay. Zoe radiates confidence and this seems to influence Cara, boosting her social status. The hot guy Ethan Gray even seems to show an interest in her. However after a series of very serious events, Cara questions her friend’s motives and wonders whether Zoe is what she seems…

The storyline of this book really kept me turning the pages, despite the start which was a bit too slow for me. Once you get into it, it becomes a very gripping read which leaves your heart beating rapidly. I guessed how it would turn out quite early on in the book though some parts made me question my assumptions, however in the end, I was right. Despite this, I still felt thoroughly shocked and slightly freaked out by some of the events in the book.

I must admit that it was difficult to warm to Cara. She is a very detached figure and Elizabeth Woods does not directly reveal what she is feeling, leaving the reader guessing restlessly. Her vulnerability and fragility was portrayed perfectly: at times, I felt great pity for her and I just wanted to reach out and hug her. Another character who was equally worthy of a hug was Ethan. I gathered that he was good-looking from the descriptions but the one thing that made my heart melt was that he would openly cry! I’m a sucker for males who aren’t afraid to express their innermost feelings. His relationship with Cara was quite surreal: is it possible for a guy to see you in a new light that quickly? But he was so sweet and nice that I soon forgot about that. However, I HATED Zoe, I have never read about such a manipulative, controlling character! She just infuriated me so badly! I hated how she constantly tried to make Cara guilty and - I can’t even articulate my loathing for her…

One aspect of the book that I wouldn’t normally like in another is the third-person narrative. Usually, I strongly dislike third-person: it doesn’t allow me to feel what the characters are feeling, I can’t put myself in their position, I can’t delve into their innermost thoughts and uncover their secrets… But it worked rather well in Choker. It added to the sense of mystery and didn’t allow you to get too close to Cara so that you’re always left asked guessing and out in the cold.

Overall, this book really creeped me out. It wasn’t scary in a bloody and gory way, but it played tricks on my mind and even days after reading it, I’m still a bit confused. The ending disappointed me a little because my questions weren’t answered and I felt it was a little rushed. Although I guessed how it would turn out, it still shocked me and left me sitting at the edge of my seat. It is a very chilling, gripping read that is different from any other book that I have read. I would recommend it to older teenagers who are looking for a unique book to enjoy. 4.5 stars, simply because I wanted a better conclusion to it that answered my questions.

Sorry I haven't posted up any reviews lately, hope this makes up for it :)

Happy reading,
Beverley x

REVIEW: The Look by Sophia Bennett

Name: The Look

Author: Sophia Bennett

Publisher: Chicken House

Date published: 1st March 2012

Number of pages: 328

Source: Chicklish

Rating: 5 stars

Ted is tall. Freaky. When she’s spotted by a model agency, she can’t believe it. At the same time, her gorgeous sister falls seriously ill.  With her world turned upside down, Ted must choose between fame and family. Can she be a supermodel and a super sister?  All in five-inch heels?

Ted Trout cannot believe it when someone from a model agency sees her on the streets and tells her she has potential to become a model.  What is so special abut her?  It certainly can’t be her frizzy, ‘bird’s nest hair’.  And what about the beautiful sister standing next to her?  Confused, she forgets about it until the family discover something shocking: her sister Ava has lymphoma. Through Ava’s encouragement, Ted agrees to try modelling out.  The Look goes on to follow Ted’s new, glamorous career and how a family copes with heartbreak. Will Ted remain faithful to her family or will she choose fame and riches?

I jumped at the chance to read this before its release date and I was so EXCITED to have one in my hands!  After the success of the Threads trilogy, I knew that The Look wouldn’t disappoint and I really hoped that it would live up to my expectations. But WOW, it goes beyond my expectations. Sophia Bennett is back and better than ever; this has to be her BEST book yet!  

The characters are so believable and I instantly warmed to Ted and Ava. Ted is just like any other fifteen-year-old: stumbling through adolescence and life in general. By the end of the book, I have so much admiration for her because she is strong and brave and doesn’t allow people to force her into doing things she doesn’t want to do. Modelling seems to change Ted as a person, it boosts her confidence and shapes her as a unique individual. Her maturity grows throughout the novel and she becomes like the older sister to Ava, supporting her through everything and caring for her after her cancer treatment. Ava is also a very likeable character: she fights against a deadly illness while trying to keep everyone happy.  Despite her bubbly attitude, it was still possible to feel the fragility in the family and the fear that they could lose her to cancer.

The storyline is fabulous, told through Ted’s witty narration which makes the book much more interesting, I laughed out loud in several parts. The novel is quite surreal in some cases because I couldn’t possibly imagine being a model but Sophia describes everything so perfectly that you can certainly imagine it all. There aren’t any particular twists or turns in the plot because most of the turning points come from the actions of the characters but that doesn’t make it less enjoyable.

I LOVED The Look and I would encourage all teenage girls to get it when it comes out. I think it is perfect for Sophia’s older teenage fans (like me!) and is a wonderful step-up from the Threads books. Sophia Bennett has once again conjured up a beautifully glamorous masterpiece, full of dreams, hopes and heartbreak. And yes, it does live up to the bright pink page edges!

Happy Reading and Daydreaming,

REVIEW: Celebriteens In the Spotlight by Joanna Philbin

Name: Celebriteens In the Spotlight

Author: Joanna Philbin

Publisher: Scholastic

Date published: 2nd June 2011

Number of pages: 273

Source: Chicklish

Rating: 4.5 stars

They didn't ask for fame. They were born with it. Lizzie Summers is used to living in her supermodel mother's shadow. But after a photographer spots Lizzie's unique look, she becomes the 'It girl' of New York's fashion scene. But is fame all it's cracked up to be? 

The book centres around Lizzie who is the daughter of world-famous supermodel Katia. All her life, she has tried to avoid the camera and stay away from the paparazzi. But, at a fashion event, she says something bad about her mother and it soon gets loads of hits on the Internet. However, she gets noticed by laid-back photographer, Andrea, who is convinced that she is the 'New Pretty.' Soon, she becomes extremely popular and causes a stir in New York. The book goes on to chart her experiences with fame and how she comes to realise the things she never noticed before.

I couldn't wait to start this book when I first received it because it sounded a bit like Gossip Girl and 90210 and it's nice to read a book about rich teenage girls and their scandalous lives once in a while. The first thing I realised was that the characters in Celebriteens at fourteen years old are a few years younger than the likes of Blair, Serena, Naomi and Annie etc. But that didn't make the book any less enjoyable - in fact it was even better because I could relate to them more easily. Despite the fact that Lizzie has rich and famous parents, I really warmed to her and was able to empathise with her. She is portrayed like any other girl: struggling with growing up, arguing with parents and juggling boys and school. She is a likeable character with a nice personality, as are her best friends Carina and Hudson who are very supportive of her and understand what she goes through. Another major character in the novel is Todd, Lizzie's sweet, childhood friend, freshly returned from London. Their relationship really frustrated me, there were too many guessing games: does he... does she...? But it was one of the subplots that kept me turning the pages! 

I really enjoyed Celebriteens and thought it was a fabulous book. It was quite predictable so there was no sitting-on-the-edge-of-the-seat reading but don't expect it to be a smooth ride - there are a few bumps and slips on the way! However, if you want something more jaw-droppingly scandalous, this may not be for you. I must admit that it kind of gets off to a slow start but it does get better and after that it is a worthwhile read. Near the end of the book, there is a beautiful, romantic scene that made my heart leap and put a broad smile on my face. The story ends on a cliffhanger so I am anticipating the next book in the series. Joanna Philbin must be applauded for a wonderfully written debut novel; it gives you a sneak peek into the world of the famous and reveals things you would never have known. Overall, a funny, heart-warming novel that I think many girls will love! It deserves 4.5 stars.

REVIEW: Someone Else's Life by Katie Dale

Name: Someone Else's Life

Author: Katie Dale

Publisher: Simon and Schuster

Date published: 2nd February 2012

Number of pages: 485

Source: Chicklish
Rating: 5 stars

When Rosie Kenning’s mother, Trudie, dies from Huntington’s disease, her whole world falls apart. Not only does Rosie desperately miss her mum, but now she has to face the fact that she could have inherited the fatal illness herself. Until she discovers that Trudie wasn’t her biological mother at all... Rosie is stunned. Can this be true?  Is she grieving for a mother who wasn’t even hers to lose? And if Trudie wasn’t her mother, who is?  But as Rosie delves into her past to discover who she really 
is, she is faced with a heart-breaking dilemma – to continue living a lie, or to reveal a truth that will shatter the lives of everyone around her...

Someone Else’s Life revolves around Rosie, a girl who has to deal with the pain of realization that the mother she had loved for seventeen years was not actually her birth mum. Desperate to find her real mother, she tags along with her boyfriend Andy to the United States as he embarks on his gap year.  While she discovers shocking secrets that break her heart, she stands strong and perseveres with what she believes.

When I was told that this book is like Jodi Picoult for teenagers, I jumped at the chance to read it, being a fan of Jodi Picoult and her skilfully written, realistic books. Reading the synopsis made me even sure that this was my type of book. As soon as I started to read it, I was engrossed, pulled in by all the different emotions and feelings of the characters. Although most of the book is told from Rosie’s perspective, all the other characters are developed brilliantly and their personalities shine through. I loved Rosie and her fresh, honest account of how she handled all the secrets, lies and truths. She is a character that you can easily warm to and I really did empathise with her throughout the book; I could feel her grief, her joy and everything in between. The emotions seem to jump off the page and penetrate your heart and that is the one of the things that makes this such a fascinating read.  

Another praiseworthy feature is its predictability or should I say unpredictability. An anonymous character contributes to the narration of this story and this person is revealed in Part Two of the book, so no peeking!  I honestly thought that I knew who this person was but it turns out I was wrong, adding to the unpredictable element of the story. When you think you’ve got it all sussed, Katie tweaks the story and surprises you with the unexpected. 

It hits all the right notes: it has action, romance and adventure all mixed into reality. Right now there are too many books that don’t have a deeper meaning but Someone Else’s Life has taught me to ‘make the most of the time we’ve got, seize the day, treasure every moment with the people we love’ (quoted from p475). This message is entwined throughout the book and reminds us that we should live life to the full, no matter what. It is utterly flawless and is perfection in the form of a book; it has everything you could wish for in a book and had me hooked from page one (I had to sneak off to the library at lunch so that I could continue reading it!). Overall it is a warm, poignant novel with a unique story-line that is sure to touch your heart and stay in its treasured place on your bookshelf for years to come. It deserves all of its 5 stars and I would recommend it to teenagers who aren’t just ready for Jodi Picoult books and young adults who enjoy reading real-life stories. I hope Katie Dale continues to write more amazing novels for us to read!!!

Click HERE to pre-order it, or buy it as soon as it hits the shops!

Thanks must go to Luisa at Chicklish for sending me this utterly amazing book!

Happy Reading,

Beverley x

REVIEW: No Ordinary Love Song by Alison Prince

Cal hates: What humans are doing to the planet - and his dad, most of the time. Cal likes: Music - and Kerry from Australia, who's so beautiful it hurts.  But when liking turns to love, everything changes...

No Ordinary Love Song revolves around sixteen-year-old Callum McCasky and how he experiences first love in the summer with a girl who has just arrived with her family on the Scottish island where he lives. It is like a breath of fresh air for him: away from his eccentric family and time for him to forget that humans are destroying the earth. But life at home and family troubles are the least of his worries when Kerry tells him that she is pregnant...

Callum struggles through school and his parents and teachers pester him to make more of an effort so that he can go to university even though he enjoys and wants to pursue music. Life at home isn't any better for him and I felt very sorry for him when both his parents, embarrassingly, started affairs. At the start of the book he does not have a good relationship with his parents - especially his father, who is portrayed as the alpha-male - but over the course of events the family become much closer and begin to realise what they had missed before. Callum also matures as a person, from an orange-haired sixteen-year-old boy to a young adult who takes responsibility for his actions.

At first, I didn't really enjoy this book but I must admit that it gets better towards the middle. It was interesting to read a love story from a boy's point of view because most books like this would be written from the girl's. I particularly enjoyed reading about the way he dealt with Kerry's pregnancy and how he was so responsible and stuck by her through everything. He was successfully portrayed as a typical moody teenager but his views of the world and human beings were quite complex and mature from the start, which gave the book a unique voice. Some of the book is also written from his mum Elaine's point of view and this certainly adds a more realistic touch to the overall story because she is an 'outsider' to Callum and Kerry's relationship. The tone of the whole story varies from witty to serious and in places I appreciated Prince's unique style of writing.  It addresses many different issues like first love, teenage pregnancy, breakdown of families and global warming.  I give this 4/5 and would recommend it to those over the age of 13.

Thank you to Luisa for sending me this book to review for Chicklish.  To see the review on the Chicklish website click HERE.

REVIEW: Sister, Missing by Sophie McKenzie

Sister, Missing by Sophie McKenzie begins two years after the events of Girl, Missing.

After the death of a family member, Lauren's birth mother takes Lauren and her sisters, Shelby and Madison, on holiday so that they can spend more time together.  But something terrible happens: one of her sisters goes missing and it all seems startling similar to when Lauren was taken years before.  Can Lauren save her sister before it's too late?

When I started Sister, Missing I had slight reservations.  I loved reading Girl, Missing and thought it was perfect as a stand-alone book. I was still eager to read the sequel but I did wonder if it would live up to the first book.  But as soon as I picked up the book and read the first few pages, I was engrossed and could not put it down. It seemed like I was in the adventure and action along with the characters. It is very fast-paced and action-packed, it doesn't slow down!  I honestly cannot find a page where there is no action. The storyline twists and turns where you least expect it and is a rollercoaster of thrilling writing. At times, when the book slows down, for example the conversation between Lauren and Shelby, a poignant profound atmosphere is created and works nicely as the two sisters come to terms about their dislike for each other. The ending is something I didn't expect and I did wonder why Sophie McKenzie decided to end it like that but once I left the book for a few days, I understood why she did.

Sophie McKenzie is successful in creating believable characters. Although the book revolves around saving the missing sister, it continues subtly the theme of identity and Who Am I? that appeared in Girl, Missing. It charts the development of Lauren as the main character and how she matures as time goes on. She begins to realise that she herself is not perfect and that no one is and she confronts this strongly.  All the characters are thoroughly likeable. I fell in love with Jam who continues to love and support his girlfriend, and the innocence of Madison was portrayed perfectly.

Overall, I really enjoyed reading Sister, Missing and won't hesitate to read any other books written by Sophie McKenzie.  5/5!!!!

Thank you Luisa at Chicklish for giving me this book to read and review!