Book-review post!
Some recently(ish) read YA and MG titles…
Cathy Cassidy – Looking Glass Girl
Cathy Cassidy’s most recent standalone novel ties into the 150th anniversary of Alice in Wonderland, with a modern-day Alice falling down the rabbit hole – and into a coma. The story flits back and forth between her dream-like encounters with strange creatures (plenty of explicit nods to Lewis Carroll’s work), her family and friends reaction after her accident, and the months leading up to the slumber party that seems to have gone horribly wrong. There’s optimism but also acknowledging of how cruel kids can be to each other and how hard it is sometimes – a great addition to the Cathy Cassidy canon.
Nancy Ohlin – Consent
(Thanks to Edelweiss for the review copy. The book will be published in November.)
Bea’s looking back on the relationship that shouldn’t have happened – with Dane Rossi, the young music teacher that’s helped her finally realise what she wants to do in life and who’s supported her love of piano, a passion that hasn’t been supported at home ever since her mother’s death. Great voice and an avoidance of oversimplification makes this one to watch out for.
Robin Stevens – Murder Most Unladylike
So. It’s a 1930s boarding school murder mystery for 9-12s. How can you not want to read it? The first in a series, this book takes on its historical setting with a light touch, acknowledging colonialism, racism and homosexuality within the school without ever getting preachy. The narrator, Hazel, is in charge of writing things up – her best friend Daisy is the dynamic one, and (naturally) the leader of their detective society – and through her we learn about all the boarding-school peculiarities. Up until recently, the Wells & Wong Detective Agency haven’t had much to do – their classmate’s missing tie was the most exciting mystery up for solving. But now the science mistress has been found dead – and then her body disappears. It’s up to Hazel and Daisy to investigate. I utterly adored this book, and immediately leapt into the second…
Robin Stevens – Arsenic for Tea
… even though the second does not take place during term-time, thus depriving us of boarding-school gorgeousness, but the big-house setting during the holidays proves to work just as well. It’s brilliant to see this classic murder-mystery trope play out for young readers, and to watch as Hazel and Daisy investigate the poisoning of one of the guests at a tea party. When Daisy’s father looks very suspicious, it threatens to tear apart the girls’ friendship, adding a new layer to this instalment of the series. Thoroughly, thoroughly enjoyed this book – I’ve been recommending the series to lots of people. The third book, First Class Murder (taking place on the Orient Express!), is out in July.
