I remember reading something by Diana Wynne-Jones a few years ago and not particularly enjoying it. I can't even remember which book it was. I don't know what made me pick up Charmed Life, but I'm so glad I did! Not only did I find a wonderful book, but I also found a list of books waiting to be read! Gwendolen is a witch, and her younger brother Cat knows that. In fact, he thinks the only reason he is alive is that she is a witch who saved his life when he was drowning. Gwendolen is talented and ambitious, determined to rule the world. No one can stand in her way, not even the most powerful enchanter in her world. On an aside, you could blame it on Enid Blyton's Malory Towers, but from the very beginning, I disliked Gwendolen. I hope that if I ever meet someone called Gwendolen, my impressions aren't as tinged with prejudice as they were when I started reading this book! Coming … [Read more...]

The Girl Savage. Rooftoppers. And now, The Wolf Wilder. How can one person write three such wonderful, and wonderfully different books? I started reading The Wolf Wilder with unfairly high expectations. For one, I've read and loved Katherine Rundell's other books. For another, the cover of The Wolf Wilder has a quote from Philip Pullman saying it is a triumph. What more validation does a book need? Yet, about halfway through the book, I was conscious of disappointment. Sure, it was a nice book. But it wasn't great. It wasn't the kind of book that forced me to keep reading. I could not gasp at Rundell's imagination, somehow. It wasn't a story that I'd find myself reliving and telling people about. It did not have the punch of things I love in stories - friendship, loyalty, bravery ... And then, as I continued to turn the pages, the narrative shifted again, and … [Read more...]

Caitlin is sure her disguise will work. She will escape from the camp that is supposed to keep her safe from the monster that is taking over the world. She will save her friend. Caitlin dons a chef hat, and even writes 'chef' on it. If that's not convincing, what is? Unfortunately, she looks like a ten-year-old. Also, she has always found reading and writing difficult, so she's spelt 'chef' with an 's', and she's put the 'e' the wrong way around. Somehow, the guard is not convinced that she's a chef. Caitlin is an absolutely charming character. Lonely and friendless, she has no idea what she's going to do during her summer holidays, especially since her mother refuses to let her adopt animals and bring them home. When Caitlin finds a little creature that looks like a prawn, everything changes. Before she knows it, the creature begins to grow. It can control its shape and as it begins … [Read more...]

When I started reading Sophie Someone, I simply could not figure it out. I was also a little put off by the idea that the whole story was told from the point of view of a pigeon. I have no love for pigeons. But then, something made me frown and say, 'Let's give this another shot.' I turned to the back of the book and saw a little pie-chart put there by the publisher. The pie-chart said the book was mainly about secrets. A small part of the book would deal with pigeons. And a bigger part would deal with word play. Eyes a little wider, I began reading the book again--and could not stop until I had finished. And finally, when the last page was over, I found myself thinking, 'Oh, my God! That was such an incredible book! Are there really people in the world apart from me who understand it?' Sophie Someone is an unusual book, to say the least. Sophie has a secret and she … [Read more...]

How do you write a modern novel with a child detective? Famous Five and Secret Seven aren't really believable anymore because now, everyone thinks of the tape that cordons areas off, and the fact that clues simply aren't that easy to find. Smart by Kim Slater shows you how it's still possible to write a mystery story, despite all these practical considerations. And she gives you a story that is not just about a murder being solved, but also about slow learning, race, drugs, domestic violence, and love. When I finished about half the book, I did a mental recap. I thought about the idea of writing stories that address important issues, issues that need representation. I also thought about how easy it is to make a book seem agenda-driven if it deals with even one of these issues. And Smart dealt with so many! Granted, in many places, it did feel a little agenda-driven; yet, … [Read more...]