REVIEW: Brave New Girl by Catherine Johnson

Name: Brave New Girl

Author: Catherine Johnson

Publisher: Frances Lincoln Children's Books

Date published: 3rd Nov 2011

Number of pages: 191

Source: Luisa Plaja

Rating: 3.5 stars

"I can make things happen - good things - I know it!" Seren is so full of brilliant ideas - it's just that she always seems to put her foot in it! First there was the dance routine where she fell off the stage. And now her plan to get her sister Sasha noticed by gorgeous Luke Beckford looks like it could backfire… Seren reckons she's just hopelessly accident-prone! But there's one person who believes in Seren. Her mate Keith is making a film for a national competition and he wants Seren to be in it. Could Seren turn out to be a star after all? This is a funny, big-hearted story with a lovable heroine who will make you laugh and cry.

I was quite hesitant to start reading Brave New Girl mainly because it's aimed at younger children.  But when I started it, I found myself actually enjoying it. 

Seren is a wonderful character who tries to make everything good for everyone but in doing so, she makes things worse.  She is kind and bubbly and desperate for everyone to see that she's just trying to help.  I felt quite sorry for her at times but I did laugh at some of the things she does!  She has the qualities where you just want to hug her and tell her that everything's okay.  And her best friend Keith is such a geeky, lovely person that I really warmed to him as well.  He sees Seren and her big-heartedness and stands by her as a true friend.

Apart from believable characters, the setting is perfect for this year.  It is set before the London Olympics and is a kind of sub-plot because it is intertwined throughout the novel and many of the characters are involved in it in some way.  It was a great read to get me in the sporting spirit!

Overall, I did enjoy this book but I would have loved it much more if I had read it as a younger child.  There are a few flaws here and there but I think that is only due to the fact that it is for a younger audience, and I loved the mention of White Rabbit Chinese sweets (they are so yummy!). Brave New Girl is a beautifully warm, hilarious book filled with family love, friendship and the Olympics! It would be perfect for little sisters or as a light read for yourself as I'm sure older teenagers would like it as well!

Happy reading!



Interview with blogger, Beth!

I feel so happy to be able to interview blogger Beth who runs Page-Turner!  Page-Turner is one of my favourite book blogs and it's really amazing with a lot of good content, so if you haven't checked it out, go and do so once you've read the interview!  Over to Beth...

Welcome to A Reading Daydreamer!  Can you tell us a bit about yourself and your blog?
Hi! My name's Beth and I started blogging in 2011. :-) On Page-turner I love to review books, post LOTS of book news and I also LOVE doing interviews with bloggers and authors! Throughout the time Page-turner has been set up, I've gotten to know some awesome authors and made some brilliant cyberspace blogger friends! :-) Who all helped me set up Page-turner :-)

Why did you start Page Turner?

I set-up Page-turner because.....I don't think my parents could physically listen to me talking about books anymore!!- Zoe Crook, the blogger at teenage book blog BOOKHI got in
contact with me via an author, after I had contacted the author. Me and her then became "e-mail pals." ;-) Soon, I discovered her book blog, BOOKHI. I absolutely LOVED the idea of blogging, and so with loads of inspiration from her, I set up Page-turner! I set up a book blog because I absolutely LOVE reading and reviewing books, I had kept a book review journal but I wanted to do more, and so book blogging was also perfect for that :-)

What is the best and worst thing about blogging?
I LOVE blogging!!! I really don't know were I'd be without Page-turner!-Its hard to choose my favourite thing because I love absolutely everything (!!) but probably its when I get a really nice comment on a post, it means so much!! I think the worst thing is probably when I didn't enjoy a book I review on Page-turner, I try not to write to negative reviews but I want to be honest, and so sometimes that's hard.

What is your favourite weekly meme?
Mmmm....there's SO many to choose from! ;-) But probably In My Mailbox :-) I don't take part in many weekly meme's, but I love IMM, I try and do it once a week but sometimes I forget and do it every other week. Its such a good idea, how did the blogger come up with it?! :-)

How long have you been blogging for?
I set up Page-turner in 2011 and my first post was on July 25th (2011) but I didn't start day-to-day blogging until September 2011 really.

What ambitions do you have for your blog in 2012?
To put loads of effort into my posts, and make them better! I am so grateful to every single one of my readers, and I hope in 2012 Page-turner will grow even more!

Who are your favourite authors and what books do your particularly like?
(*Get comfy!*)- My favourite authors are Suzanne Collins, Luisa Plaja, Ally Carter, Sophie McKenzie, Gemma Malley, Ruta Sepetys, Jacyln Moriarty and sooooo many more! The Hunger Games series were FANTASTIC, :-), I also loved Cold Hands, Warm Hearts by Jil Wolfson and The Truth about Celia Frost by Paula Rawsthorne, I JUST LOVE SO MANY!

Do you think you are like any fictional characters?
I think I am a mixture of maybe Alice from Torn, Lauren from Girl, Missing and a little bit of Ginger from Gingersnaps by Cathy Cassidy. :-)

If you ever wrote a book someday, what do you think it will be about?
I think I would write a dystopian book with romance and thriller mixed in (my 3 favourite genres!)-I also want to write a book told in switch-over narratives, I love books written like
that :-)

And finally, do you like to daydream?
YES!!! :-), Who doesn't LOVE to daydream?! ;-) I spend half the time in school getting told off for apparently "not listening"........ ;-)

Quick-fire questions

Book or e-book: Book
Computer or TV: Computer
Sophie McKenzie or Sophia Bennett: Sophie McKenzie
Early bird or night owl: Night Owl! ;-)
English or Science: ENGLISH!!
Reading or writing: Mmmm,...I absolutely LOVE them both, but it will probably have to be reading ;-)

Thank you, Beth!
Thanks so much Beverley for the interview!!!

Thanks again to Beth for letting me interview her.  Now hurry up and visit Page-Turner!

Just to let you all know, I will be quite quiet on the blogging front until the end of this month because I have my prelim exams :-(.  I will still be reading but I won't have much time to post up reviews during this time.  I will be back by the start of March with a new feature for A Reading Daydreamer so don't worry, I'm not abandoning the blog.  I'll make it up to you by posting lots in March!

Wish me luck and happy reading!

In My Mailbox #4

In My Mailbox is a weekly meme created by Kristi at The Story Siren.  It's the place for me to talk about the fabulous books I have received each week.

So happy when a little package dropped through the letterbox for me!

Torn by Cat Clarke:  Can't wait to start this!  I've heard lots of good things about this book and have wanted to read it since it first came out, I love how it looks so mysterious and full of adventure !  Thank you to Charlotte from Red House for sending me this!

What did you get in your mailbox this week?

Beverley x

Someone Else's Life by Katie Dale Blog Tour: INTERVIEW

I was delighted when Katie Dale invited A Reading Daydreamer to take part in her blog tour!  Katie is the wonderful author of a fantastic debut novel, Someone Else's Life which came out on Thursday.  I hope you enjoy reading this interview and find out more about this talented new author.  It is with pleasure I hand over to Katie!

Welcome to A Reading Daydreamer!  Can you tell us a bit about yourself?

Hi! Thank you so much for having me! I am an actress and a writer and I currently live in Cambridge. I write both for children (Fairy Tale Twists for 5+) and young adults (Someone Else’s Life) and my first books are being published this year! 

When did you decide that you wanted to become an author?

My mum, Elizabeth Dale is a children’s book author so I’ve loved reading and writing my whole life, but I initially followed my dream of being an actress, and went to drama school and performed in Shakespeare tours and feature films. Then in 2008 my writing career really took off when I was selected as a winner of Undiscovered Voices, a competition run by the Society of Children’s Books Writers and Illustrators (SCBWI). One of the judges was an editor at Orchard Books and she gave me my first publishing contract – for eight books!

What inspired you to write Someone Else’s Life and how did you come up with such an intriguing storyline?

I heard a story on the news about two babies that were swapped at birth and for some reason it really stuck with me. How would I feel if that happened to me? Would it change how I felt about my parents? How would it affect my life? What would I do? After that it was the book I just had to write. 

How did you feel when you found out that Someone Else’s Life was going to be published?

It was the most amazing feeling in the world. I’d worked on it for years, and once I got an agent and worked on it some more I had hopes that it would be published, but there’s was always a part of me that feared no-one would want it after all, worried that I’d just been fooling myself all that time.

To then discover a publisher wanted to publish it – not just in the UK, but in America and Canada and Germany and Brazil as well – it’s just a complete dream come true.

What challenges did you overcome to see your writing in print and can you tell us about the publishing process?

It’s LONG! I got my offer of publication in April 2010 and the book’s only just been published – on February 2^nd 2012! In that time a lot happens – mainly editing! For my first rewrite I received EIGHTY pages of editing notes! Whilst that was quite daunting, I’m so grateful to my editors for being so attentive and diligent as it’s made the book so much better.

Then there are lots more edits, decisions about titles and covers designs, then websites and twitter, then finally – publication!!

What ambitions do you have for your writing career?

I’d love to keep writing YA novels, and children’s books, but I’d also love to write picture books too, and I’m very interested in writing for stage and screen – it would be a dream to write a film – and maybe act in it too!

Are you planning or writing any stories for your newly-found fans to read in the future?

Yes, I’ve nearly finished my second YA novel, this time more of a thriller. Here’s the blurb:

Tall, dark, and handsome, the first time Sasha meets mysterious Christian she knows he is The One. But Christian is hiding a terrible secret. Why does he clam up every time Sasha asks about his past? Why does he have the initials L.N. engraved on his watch? Why doesn’t he have any family – and why does he dye his blond hair black?

Then when Christian’s house goes up in flames, his tyres are slashed, and he flees for his life, Sasha insists on going with him.

But as Christian’s secret is unveiled in front of the whole world, it seems everything he’s ever told Sasha is a lie. Even his name. Her loyalties torn, her emotions in tatters, Sasha must decide whether to stand by the man she loves, or turn him over to his pursuers. Can what they’re saying about him really be true? Should she trust him? Or is she in terrible danger…?

But Christian isn’t the only one keeping secrets.

For what if their accidental meeting was no accident at all…

 

Are there any authors who you hope to be like?

I am a huge fan of Jodi Picoult – I love all her books and the way she uses characters, point of view and personal situations to let you see all the different sides of a controversial issue.

It makes you realize you really can’t judge someone till you’ve been in their shoes.

Can you share any tips or advice for our budding writers?

Read as much as you can.

Write often – it’s like anything, the more you do it, the better you get.

Enter competitions! They can open doors that often remain closed to unpublished authors.

And finally, do you like to read and daydream?

All the time! I love losing myself in other worlds and other lives – I think it’s kind of magical. 

Quick-fire questions

Dogs or cats: Dogs (but I love cats too)

Coffee or hot chocolate: Hot Chocolate – with cream and chocolate flakes J

Mac or PC: PC – I’ve never tried a Mac

Andy or Josh: Andy

Early bird or night owl: Definitely a night owl – I do not like early mornings!

Book or e-book: Book

Britain or America: Britain, but I love the diversity of the States.

Acting or writing: Both!

Thanks Katie!

 Thanks for having me!

Twitter: @katiedaleuk 

Read the 1st chapter on Katie's website:  http://katiedaleuk.blogspot.com 

Read my review of Someone Else's Life HERE

Thanks again to Katie for inviting me to take part in her first ever blog tour and answering all my questions!  Be sure to read Someone Else's Life, it's now one of my favourite books! (Check out the book trailer below!)

I am happy to announce that A Reading Daydreamer has now been running for exactly one month.  Thank you to all my followers and everyone who reads this blog, I appreciate every one of you!

Happy reading,

Beverley x

Someone Else's Life Book Trailer

This is Katie Dale's book trailer for Someone Else's Life! The interview will be posted soon so look out for that...

In My Mailbox #3

In My Mailbox is a weekly meme created by Kristi at The Story Siren.  It's the place for me to talk about the fabulous books I have received each week.

These were kindly sent to me from Luisa for Chicklish review:

Choker by Elizabeth Woods:  This book seems like a mysterious thriller and I'm so excited to read it!  It's not my 'type' of book (yeah, I'm a bit of a scaredy-cat!) but one of my aims for starting this blog was to try and discover books that I wouldn't normally read.  Who knows, I might love it after all!

The Look by Sophia Bennett:  OMG, OMG, OMG!!!!! Can you feel my happiness, my joy?!  I am OVER THE MOON to have received this book!  I thought I'd have to wait until March to get my hands on it but thanks to Luisa, I don't have to wait! Whoopeee!!!! Sophia Bennett is one of my favourite authors, and after the success of the Threads trilogy, I am sure The Look won't disappoint!!!!  Look out for the review on Chicklish and A Reading Daydreamer! (Please kindly excuse my overuse of exclamation marks but it perfectly conveys my happiness)

Check out the side, it's a wonderfully pink colour (but it looks purple-y here, blame my camera!) and I also got a cute little postcard which is now used a bookmark!

And I also took this out from the school library:

The Truth About Celia Frost by Paula Rawsthorne:  I've read many good reviews of this and I can't wait to start it.  It is a debut novel and I've recently discovered many fabulous debuts so I have high hopes for this! Look out for the review!

Many thanks again to Luisa for sending me two fab looking books!

I've just noticed that all three books have a close-up of a girl on the cover, what a coincidence, huh?

Happy reading,

Beverley x

P.S. What did you get in your mailbox this week?

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.