Book-review post!
This time around: two grown-up mystery-type books, although they’re about teenagers; one historical YA which is strictly-speaking probably more grown-uppy; one teen urban fantasy.
Megan Abbott – The End of Everything
A thirteen-year-old girl goes missing, and her best friend is keeping secrets of her own. This is one of those twisty ‘seedy underbelly of quiet little suburbia’ tales, with lots of slightly unsettling moments and some gorgeous writing. Enjoyed it enough to immediately order…
Megan Abbott – Dare Me
This time around it’s cheerleaders. Cheerleaders and sex and secrets and screwed-up-ness. Oh, it’s beautiful. (I have a bit of a cheerleading thing. There was this Sweet Valley High trilogy this one time… anyway.) Addy (the narrator) and Beth are best friends, pretty and when-needs-be cruel, but when their new coach arrives, determined to push them to the limit, everything changes. This is gorgeously-done, and I was immensely pleased by the last twist/reveal. Abbott’s writing is lovely, sucking you in – both of these were most enjoyable reads.
Elizabeth Wein – Code Name Verity
Read this for YA bookclub, and oh… well, what everyone else in the world has said, really. It’s the story of two best friends in the Second World War, one prisoner and one pilot, and amidst all the technical details pertaining to these roles, there’s also a lovely friendship and a lot of tension and some moments that will absolutely break your heart. I am not quite convinced of the YA-ness of this, but it’s a WWII book that’s well worth reading.
Katherine Farmar – Wormwood Gate
Aisling and Julie get separated from the gang on Junior Cert results night, and find themselves in an alternate version of Dublin, where three queens are battling it out for control of the city, and you can’t necessarily trust anyone you meet. Even though the girls have never quite seen eye-to-eye, they have to team up in this strange world and try to get home. I am not super-mad about urban fantasy, but two things really made this one work for me. First, the references to Dublin, and how they’re transformed into something magical (also worth noting: the most magical thing of all? A linked-up transport system!). Second, the relationship between the girls – which is a lovely ‘bickering pair clearly want one another but need to be in dangerous situation before this will become clear to them!’ dynamic that fits in perfectly with the events of the story. Girls kissing and a mystical version of Dublin – what’s not to love?
