SOME LIKE IT COLD by Elle McNicoll

 Having read Elle McNicoll’s other books, I was intrigued as to how her first foray into YA would fare. I will confess that I was little disappointed at first as I thought it was going to be the archetypal “rom com” churned out regularly on the Hallmark channel, with the golden girl loved by everyone, the evil older sister and the broodingly handsome Mr Darcy cipher. However, I soon realised that Elle had brought in many of the classic romantic tropes but there was much more to this story. For me, by far the best part of the story was Jasper’s neurodiversity which was described in an achingly effective way. I enjoyed the setting; who can resist a small-town vignette in the run up to Christmas? The characters were well written, and Elle fleshed out the selfish older sister and brooding boyfriend admirably. The minor characters also felt real. Best of all, there was a lovely happy ending, as you would expect with a rom com. I’m looking forward to recommending this to neurodivergent readers and those who love a great romance.

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AdelAIDE Just Wants to Help

 AdelAIDE is the second techno-thriller by Melinda Salisbury for Barrington Stoke. We read the first, Echostar”, with book group. Freya and her friends are environmentalists and are keen to highlight local climate issues. However, Freya is intensely jealous of her ex best friend, who is also climate aware and has a much bigger social media following. Freya wants to be an influencer too. When her dad brings home a prototype AI, Freya realises that it can help her realise her ambitions. There is a price, however…

Being rather nervous about AI and the effect it and social media can have on your life, I did expect to enjoy this story, and I was not disappointed. Whilst it was slightly stretching the bounds of credibility that Freya would have followed all the suggestions, despite the activities of some  more radical climate warriors, it was an enjoyable read. Freya’s friends and parents felt real but I think more could have been done with Enzo and Eden. This is a good story which highlights the need for climate change both at local and global levels, and makes us think about the dangers of becoming too invested in social media (or relying on AI).

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“Treacle Town” by Brian Conaghan

 

“Treacle Town” by Brian Conaghan is a tough but ultimately inspiring read. It’s set in Brian’s hometown of Coatbridge and the setting and context will be familiar to many of our students, and anyone involved with 'Young Teams'.

The story unfolds in a world of brutal gang violence, sectarianism, and personal tragedy. The main protagonist, Connor, is stuck in a world of deprivation and unemployment, and desperate to escape from the pointless gang warfare and lack of opportunities.

He happens across the world of slam poetry online and sees that this could offer a glimmer of hope for him, and that he was allowed to become part of that world. He joins a group in Glasgow and realises that he is not stuck and he can succeed. Meanwhile, his friends are still mired in the despondency of ‘Treacle Town’, and he has no option but to pull himself free.

This is a thought-provoking, emotional, and compassionate novel. The relationship with his friends and the pointlessness of their lives read true, and I loved the interplay between Conner and his dad.

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Wild East

This powerful and inspiring verse novel by Ashley Hickson-Lovence tells the story would-be rapper, Ronnie. Following the the tragic death of his best friend, Ronny’s mum decides to relocate to Norwich. Ronny has to adapt to a new city as well as coping with his loss. He finds solace in his writing – his dream of becoming a rapper is encouraged by his English teacher and a visiting poet. This coming-of-age story has multiple strands covering racism, identity, football, gangs and county lines, poverty and more. Despite this, the story never feels forced and the story lines are handled deftly and come together well. 

Ronny is a likeable and sympathetic character, and all the characters are similarly well written – I particularly liked Leigh and Malachi. At first, I thought the emphasis on poetry might dissuade some readers who would otherwise love the book, but Ronny’s verses read true and will appeal to most young people. I also think the verse novel format will make the book more appealing.

Highly recommended. 

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Safiyyah’s War by Hiba Noor Khan

 

Safiyyah’s War by Hiba Noor Khan is set during World War Two. It tells the story of Safiyyah, a young Muslim girl, who lives with her family in the Grand Mosque in Paris. Safiyah is troubled by the Nazi occupation of Paris, and when she discovers her father helping Jewish families, she is determined to help, despite her terror of being caught. This is a deeply moving and thought-provoking novel that highlights the power of courage, compassion, and unity in the face of adversity. With its rich detail about Paris and Islam, it provides a rarely told story from this period. Highly recommended.

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