Young Adult Book Reviews

Name: Eileen Armstrong
08 February 2024;

Genre: Myths & Legends

Reimaginings of the Greek myths are currently enjoying an explosion in popularity, fuelled in part by Booktok. This debut novel, Lies We Sing to the Sea, is a dazzling example, inspired by, but not a retelling of, the fate of Penelope's hanged maids from Homer's The Odyssey.</...

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Name: Tanja Jennings
01 February 2024;

Genre: LBGTQ+

"I celebrate myself, and sing myself" [Song of Myself, Walt Whitman, 1892].  Proud is a triumph. It is a timely LGBTQ+ anthology which celebrates and sings of diversity playing on the readers' senses like a beautiful concerto. The collection, selected by bestselling author Jun...

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Name: Melissa Chard
01 February 2024;

Genre: Myths & Legends

It's always a thrill to find a new writer who can deliver a story with panache and integrity. In Tim Hall's debut, a retelling of the Robin Hood myth (published by David Fickling Books), you also have a talent for writing that is sure to see this book on plenty of award shortlists in the comin...

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Name: Stephen Leitch
30 January 2024;

Genre: Myths & Legends

Visions, Vikings, myths, mystery and adventure all combine in this thrilling novel set in the Shetland Isles by master of teen noire and macabre Danny Weston. 15 year old Viggo's plans for the week reached as far as seeing the next Thor movie with his friends. But his...

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Name: Tanja Jennings
22 January 2024;

Genre: Personal Growth

Mel and Sid connect when sparks ignite at New Year with a little bang. But the universe has plans that will change everything. As her entertaining debut novel Flying Tips for Flightless Birds proved, Kelly Mc Caughrain has an ability to wr...

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Name: Morgan Harkin
22 January 2024;

Genre: Supernatural

In The Invocations, three young women join together to track down an unknown killer who is targeting women marked by magic. With five already dead, these three women must work together to find this unknown killer: Jude Wolf is cursed; Zara Jones is out for revenge; and Emer By...

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Name: Eileen Armstrong
21 January 2024;

Genre: Personal Growth

It's impossible to talk about the exceptional Little Bang without spoilers so let's cut to the headline for those who want to avoid them: you need copies of this book in your school library and all teenagers need (and will need little coaxing!) to read it. Littl...

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Name: Clare Wilkins
19 January 2024;

Genre: Dystopian

In This Tale is Forbidden, a secluded, cosy cottage and Woods laced with magic provide the suitably fairy tale setting for this story about a wise grandmother and her impulsive granddaughter. Nesta's world is rooted in nature and she loves the forest she is free to roam in, a...

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Name: Lily Bond
12 January 2024;

Genre: Suspense & Thrillers

Totally Deceased is an entertaining murder mystery in which Tilly ends up being haunted by the ghost of the teenage girl who was her heart donor. In the book, Tilly and her ghost (Jess) visit lots of different places to discover why Jess was murdered. The plot develops...

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Name: Sue Wilsher
12 January 2024;

Genre: Fairy Tales & Folk Tales

Freya loves being behind the camera, capturing images, a passion she shares with her father. However, since former supermodel, Bella Wilde, appeared in their lives, Freya's life seems to be changing quickly. Impossibly flawless, Bella seems to mesmerise those around her, but she makes Freya un...

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