We're winding back the clocks this week to the first world war, as site member SurreyGus2021 penned an excellent, thought-provoking review of Private Peaceful by Michael Morpurgo. In this book brothers Charlie and Tommo sign up to fight in the war and start being bullied by their Sergeant "Horrible" Hanley.
"My favourite character was Charlie, because he was so brave ... The cover of the book is the name of the book with two butterflies next to it, with soldiers in the background, with reeds underneath. It has the words 'Innocence and Love, Courage and Cowardice', which sums up the book perfectly. I loved this book because of the perfect mix of joy and tragedy."
And with similar elements of war and conflict, justonemorepage wrote a superb review of The Impossible Knife of Memory by Laurie Halse Anderson. In this book Hayley struggles with her father's PSTD after his return from the Iraq war.
"The Impossible Knife of Memory didn't quite live up to a book I previously read by the author, Wintergirls, but I enjoyed it nonetheless. Its continually rolling plot meant that I was gripped throughout, and the whole book was lifted up by slick prose. It's an excellent addition to the contemporary genre that I'm sure will be read and loved by many people."
The theme of mental health, something we've been interested in on the Children's books site this month, continues in our next pick – an outstanding review by emybot of The Art of Being Normal by Lisa Williamson. David struggles with his gender identity and is bullied until a new boy at school called Leo sticks up for him.
"Williamson has written an amazing debut novel that I'm sure will spark many conversations both on what it really is to be normal and also what it is to be transgender. I hope that it helps kids who are too scared or just don't know what's different about them to stand up and be free, because they deserve it just as much as we do. The book handles things perfectly and has opened up a whole new discussion and place in YA, where everyone is accepted and all people are mentioned. I hope that this book inspires many more because I think everyone could learn more about different types of people."
And this was followed by a brilliant review by Echo Cinderella of Ignite Me by Tahereh Mafi. Set in a dystopian future, this trilogy follows Juliette as she enlists the help of Warner, the commander of Sector 45, in a bid to bring down The Reestablishment.
"The writing was amazing, the way she wrote the book and the chapters was exceptionally well figured out. The worst thing I think you can have in a book is over usage of clichés, and I didn't sense any at all in this book. She has such a unique type of writing, that you can tell it's entirely her own. Some of the language she used in her book I now use in my daily life, which is crazy how the book has stuck with me so well. Tahereh Mafi is exceptional, and my golly her books are phenomenal."
Another dystopian triumph that's been popular with our site members, reviewed this time by eleanorreads, is The Mime Order by Samantha Shannon. As the second book in The Bone Season series, this novel follows dreamwalker Paige as she escapes from the Sheol 1 and keeps moving until the fate of the underworld is decided.
"I have been desperate to get my hands on this book for a long while now … The plot was intense. It was weaved with lies and deceit and impossible to predict. The book may seem long at 500 pages but you fly through it, by the end it is impossible to put down. You get to uncover more about all of the characters and really develop an understanding of their past. In addition you get to see more of Scion, which I find really interesting. The social structure and entertainment of the underworld is so complex and you gain such an insight as the book progresses … I just hope the rest of the series can live up to the first two."
Our roundup is coming full circle to finish this week: back to time travel, we're moving not backwards but forwards (at rapid speed) to the time when the Earth's rotation slows down. Scared? You should be! That'sMe wrote a spectacular review of The Age of Miracles by Karen Thompson Walker, which is set in a world where the length of a day has reached 40 hours.
"This book is about betrayal, love, friendship and destiny. It is about poems, stars, parties and animals. The age of miracles is the perfect book to sink your teeth into because it seems so realistic. I would recommend it for the ages of eleven to even adult, because it is not written in a childish manner."
Hip-hip-hurrah to our site members for sending in such delightful reviews! If your review has been handpicked for our roundup, be sure to email the Book Elves and we will send you a present in the post.
Happy reading!
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