This realistic and refreshing book explores Kaz and Ruby’s three day festival to give a whirlwind adventure that could beat Dora. The new refreshing novel explores a shift of narrations through best friends Kaz and Ruby, giving a better input into lives and more of an emotional impact.
The best friends dance to the same beat despite extremely differing personalities. Ruby is a wild child with a different inner core shown through guilt… Thank you Alex (note sarcasm) with a deep love for Stu, despite events that may make her question what truly is the truth and an inability to reciprocate the words “I love you”, Kaz seems calmer than Ruby; although, similar events between characters within the novel depict otherwise. She’s a wild-child at heart and we love her for it. She is also overcome by guilt as she loses her v plates with a man I can only personally describe as scum.
Their friendship is perfectly in tune and this summer they’ve massively been looking forward to forgetting about heartbreak, putting their troubles behind them and going to music festival Remix to see their favourite band, Goldentone, live. Will the weekend be everything the girls dreamed of? There is one thing I can say, it’s one they will NEVER forget. Is it a lesson or blessing? Even if they have been given tickets to a hot festival, add alcohol, ex-boyfriends, bands and a whole bunch of lies into the mix and it’s a perfect mix for a witch eager for mayhem. Will Kaz and Ruby’s friendship succeed?
This was the first novel I’ve read by author Non-Pratt. Don’t scream! I know, I know I’ll calm the cray and read more but I, unlike a million or possibly billions of others, was not too eager on this novel. STOP THE CRIT! Although I do not hesitate to admit that the novel was truly amazing, because it presents the life of teenagers in a realistic manner. Today a few of my friends were victims of a lady pulling to pieces all teenagers on the bus just for being that – a teen. Is it me, or does that opinion seem to appear a lot?
Not all teenagers’ minds are toxic; rather, that’s for the individuals who judge teenagers when they were once one also. They too made mistakes, had a first for everything. So why judge us? STOP! The novel did portray teenage life and for that I could easily relate (especially with Ruby). It presented the resentment that came with “mistakes” but also the lessons. This was especially important. Everyone in life makes mistakes but what is it if it has no lesson?
If there’s no guilt it may be a crime but in your own courtroom. Life is about learning. So, stop for a moment and praise your life and yourself. Kaz is often called “pretty” by ex-boyfriends. Although new girl Lauren can’t see her beauty, the world can. I would say the most profitable part of Kaz is her loving personality where she often puts others’ needs before herself.
I must admit I had loved Non-Pratt’s use of slang in his newly born vocabulary by combining words. YOU CREATIVE MOUSE! It was an adaption that had made the text adapted to the characters, which many authors fail to do. Many, unlike Non Pratt, represent a young audience with a high received pronunciation and knowledge. Don’t get me wrong that’s great, and teens can be like that, but in a novel the character and the words imagined to form their fitting personality fail in their job, and instead we imagine the characters in older ages.
Non-Pratt mastered being realistic in writing. Is this due to a down-to-earth personality and life experience impacting writing? That is not something I can answer, unfortunately.
However, if you have not read this novel I would suggest picking it up. It’s easy to read in a day and will give that pleased with life feeling after reading. With an overall theme that friendship, like music, has the power to tear you down, build you up and bring you back to yourself, Remix is a must read for the summer for anyone who has had a song or friendship change their life. 4/5 stars for me.
• Buy this book at the Guardian Bookshop
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