The fault, dear Brutus, lies not in our stars, but in ourselves if we are underlings

-Julius Caesar by William Shakespeare

John Green never ceases to amaze me, and he is a shining example of the talent required to write a really good young adult novel, that in fact, should be read by adults as well in order to understand their own lives better.

I finished The Fault in Our Stars in a whirl of contradictions. It is a book that is infinitely happy and unbearably sad and you cannot help but fall totally in love with Hazel Green and Augustus Waters.

The hard thing about reading a book in which a character or characters (especially the main one) are afflicted with some kind of incurable disease is that you want them to survive. You want it so much, because in a book like this where said character/s are funny and likeable and self deprecating and not at all like the whiney 16-year-old that so many of us picture you want them to get their happy ending. And yet you know that if the author gives it to them that you will be thoroughly disappointed that they have given in to your wanting. So you keep turning the pages, knowing full well that you’re only going to get your heart broken, but hoping that something wonderful will happen in the process.

And in The Fault in Our Stars it does. Something wonderful happens. Something which isn’t predictable and isn’t disappointing and is more than a little bit heartbreaking.

John Green has a way with characters, making them flawed and raw and wonderful all the time. It’s evident in Looking For Alaska, in Paper Towns and in Will Grayson, Will Grayson, and it is completely evident in The Fault in Our Stars. And the wonderful thing about the characters in this particular book, is that although you’re mostly glad you’re not them (because why on earth would you subject yourself to cancer) a little part of you wants to be Hazel or Augustus. They’re the kind of characters you wish you knew, and the way John Green has handled the characters in this book – with empathy, but not pity – makes you feel like you do know them a little bit.

There is too much in this story to describe. So many universal themes, like love and loss and dying, but also art and exploration and the universe. It is a book that contains everything in one simple story. But as is always the case with Green’s writing, it isn’t pretentious or self pitying but lively and funny and you will come out the other end knowing that the things you have taken with you are a side effect of a love story that is itself a side effect of dying.

Bright Young Things by Anna Godbersen was an interesting book, but not something that I would usually enjoy. It was something that I wanted to keep reading, but not because it was exciting, and drew me in, in fact, it was the complete opposite.

I kept reading because the whole story was a low and I was hoping for a high scene that would lift the action. I kept on waiting for the climax to come, and for some excitement to start, something big. There were a few little bits here and there, but nothing big. In fact, the story ended just as it was starting to become interesting. Having said that, as the first book in a series, this works as this first book has given me the grounding to enjoy the rest of the series.

Bright Young Things was not something I would pick off the shelf normally so I’m not sure how it compares to other books of its kind. I still enjoyed it while I was reading it, but I felt like it was lacking the excitement that I enjoy in other genres

I loved how the book was split into Letty and Cordelia’s stories, and how their stories seemed to coincide. 2 girls who left their home town to come to New York together, both for their different reasons, then were separated. Cordelia went off to find her father, while Letty aspired to become a star. They both rose and fell together, and both had happy, sad, exciting and dismaying times. Astrid was a good character to introduce; I loved her part in the story. She also had her story, but it was not as big as Letty and Cordelia’s. I wished her story could have been longer, as she played a massive part in the story, but you do not find out much about her, and she is such an interesting character.

Cordelia’s story was written very realistically, but I don’t know that the events would have happened that often in reality.  Letty’s story on the other hand, was very realistic, and would have been something that happened to many girls so wouldn’t have been uncommon, making it easier for readers to relate to. Letty’s story also gave you a brilliant look into the time when the book was set, while Cordelia’s did not.

Overall although I enjoyed this book a lot, I felt like it was missing something. I think a lot of readers will enjoy it, and I am interested to see how the series progresses.

Claudia Gray says, “If you love supernatural scares, family secrets and forbidden love, you’re going to love Deception.”

I say, “Even if you don’t love supernatural scares, family secrets and forbidden love, you’re going to love Deception.”

As someone who doesn’t often read supernatural books, I was worried this wouldn’t be a book for me but any doubts I had were cast away as I became wrapped up in the plot and besotted with the characters.

Emma is the ordinary girl whose parents just happen to own an antique shop and have a passion for the dead. Her odd family make it difficult for Emma to get in with the popular crowd at school and she feels isolated and somewhat a freak. When her parents unexpectedly leave with her brother and go away on an extended holiday, Emma is supposed to be left with Susan but when she receives an note saying that she won’t be coming back either, Emma really is all alone. Odd things begin to happen and as Emma’s dreams become increasingly sinister, Emma is forced to face the demons of her past and acknowledge the fears she has tried supress.

When she ends up in the hands of the police and on her way to a foster home, Bennet Stern shows up unannounced claiming to be her guardian and next thing she knows she is on her way to England, to live in a mansion and attend the exclusive Thatcher academy. She has memories she can’t explain and is about to find out that not all ghost stories are merely stories.

The characters each have their individual personalities and are strangely relatable. The plot is such that you simply can’t stop reading and are itching to know what happens next. The reader genuinely feels for the characters and wonders, will they be ok? The writing style is easy to understand and has enough description to allow the reader to paint vivid mental pictures and become sucked in to the story.

I highly recommend you read Deception and see for yourself how exciting ghost stories really can be.

“The whole world’s a stage.” said William Shakespeare in his play As You Like It but no one has really understood that until Lola Nolan. Not only does she vow to never wear the same outfit twice, she also wants to show up at the winter formal dressed as Marie Antoinette. Not exactly your average teenager. On top of Lola’s quirky fashion sense, there is her twenty-two year old boyfriend Max, her gay dads and her more-likely-to-be-drunk-than-not birth mother, Norah.

This book would have been a great read if that was the whole story, it sounds crazy. But no, that eclectic mix wasn’t enough for Stephanie Perkins (author of Anna and the French Kiss). She had to throw in the neighbours – Calliope and Cricket Bell, and yes, that is the Bell family, as in the telephone.

This book is centred around Lola’s relationship with Cricket and how she handles him coming back into her life just when she thought she was over him.

Perkins writes in a way that allows the reader to really feel a connection with each of the main characters, the writing is witty and relatable. Lola’s emotional journey, from Sunday brunch with her dads, to the winter formal makes you laugh, or in some places cry along with her. Perkins’ style of writing is playful and humorous and Lola and the Boy Next Door is a light read which leaves the reader wanting more.

One of the really fantastic things about this book is Perkins’ character development. The characters’ personalities are all completely different, yet very believable, if somewhat crazy. The reader comes away with a feeling of familiarity and sympathy for each one of them.

Lola and the Boy Next Door is a light, entertaining read perfect for teenagers who also have three simple wishes, one of which is to show that underneath the frills, they can be ‘punk-rock tough’.

Editors note: We were lucky enough to have two students review copies of The Apothecary! So below are two separate reviews by our readers – if you would like to win a copy of the book so that you can decide for yourself, comment below. First five people to comment will have a book posted to them. (Books will be posted in January 2012)

Review by Tian Xiao (yr 7)

The Apothecary by Maile Meloy is an exciting book set in London in 1952. It takes you on a journey with strong bonds of friendship, a sprinkle of romance and themes of loyalty and courage. It is a definitely a great book to add to your reading list.

Janie, a fourteen year old girl, and her family have just moved to London and Janie misses her life in California. She meets an apothecary who gives her some powders that will cure her homesickness. Not long after, she makes a new friend at school, Benjamin, who is actually the kind apothecary’s son.  They start spying on people who Ben suspects of being spies. This leads to the disappearance of Ben’s father, the apothecary and the magical book (The Pharmacopoeia) ending up in the two children’s hands. And so the adventure starts!

The book was fantastic overall and I really enjoyed reading it. The book had a nice plot and storyline but I would have like to know more about the bizarre spells inside Pharmacopoeia. The spells that we did find out about were simply out of this world!

The let down in this story was probably the ending. I was disappointed in the ending because although it tied up all the loose ends the story didn’t feel like quite finished. I felt that it would need a sequel to continue the story and give it a proper ending.

I would rate this book 4 out of 5 and would recommend for people aged 10-14. I think anyone who enjoys reading books with magical elements in it would have a great time reading it. This book definitely deserves the 4 out of 5 due to its amazing storyline. Maile Meloy has done a great job in writing her first novel for young adults. I am looking forward to reading some of her short story collections and other novels such as Both Ways Is the Only Way I Want It. I would definitely reread The Apothecary.

Review by Vanessa (yr 7)

‘The Apothecary’ by Maile Meloy was an amusing and delightful book to read. It was a book I couldn’t put down and which occasionally made me laugh.

The book is narrated from the perspective of the main character, Jane (or Janie) Scott. The book starts in California where Jane learns that her parents are communists and if they are going to be safe, they will need to move to a different country. As Jane tries to settle in a different environment, she meets a boy called Benjamin Burrows, who hopes that someday he would be a spy. But when Benjamin learns that his father, an apothecary, has been kidnapped by some mysterious German men, Benjamin and Jane set out on a whirlwind adventure.

Not only do Jane and Benjamin need to find the apothecary but they must protect his most sacred possession – the Pharmacopoeia, a book filled with potions and recipes that make the unthinkable become real.
Even though this book was well written and comfortable to read, I think that Jane didn’t really have much of a character. During her time in California, she spent most of her time trying to be Katharine Hepburn characters rather than be herself.
I also find it strange that in the beginning of the book, Benjamin follows Jane down to the train station, where Jane takes a train to Riverton. And when Jane sees him, Benjamin says that he knew that Jane liked him and is suddenly asking questions about whether Jane’s parents are spies for the CIA or work undercover. Perhaps Meloy could have made their first real discussion smoother and not so sudden because it seemed very abrupt.
I felt that Jane needed to know the answer to everything and in some cases made leaps to convenient conclusions that she didn’t arrive at realistically. For example, when Jane asks Benjamin what he wanted to be when he grows up and he refuses to say, Jane somehow figures out that because he tailed her unseen and had asked her whether her parents were spies that he wanted to be a spy himself. But, sometimes that may not be the case. Jane knowing all the answers often seemed like a bit too much of a coincidence at times.
Overall though, I think Maile Meloy ingeniously wound together a book that lets imagination come alive.

Love, peer group pressure, murder, police chases – Blood on My Hands has all the ingredients of an intriguing YA novel.
Katherine, the alpha female/leader of the in-crowd is found dead. As Callie found the body, was photographed with the murder weapon and then ran away, the whole town thinks she is the killer.  Unsure who to trust and unwilling to go to the policefor family reasons, Callie turns to her ex-boyfriend Slade, who Katherine made her dump, for help.
Convinced that she has been set-up by one of her friends and despite Slade’s objections, Callie decides to try and track downthe real killer, hopefully evading police capture at the same time.  As she tries to recall any details which may help herin her search, we gradually find out the dynamics of her friendship with Katherine, the other members and activities of the in-crowd girls and in particular, how they treated wannabe members.
This tale will strike a chord with anybody who has ever wanted to be part of the in-crowd, succumbed to peer group pressure or wanted to strike back at somebody who did them wrong.

Velvet is an incredible book with love, dead spirits and a hideous past.

It is the story of an orphaned girl, who has left her past behind, and works in a washer room, only to be saved from her life of starvation by a psychic woman. The journey Velvet takes is most riveting, and you won’t want to put it down until you’ve finished it.

I loved the build up to Velvet meeting Madame, and the romance that formed between her and George, the assistant. I loved how her life went from living off crumbs and working long hours in a washer room, to living it up with the rich and having what she thought was the dream job.

The way that Velvet’s past was gradually introduced throughout the book was good, but I would have liked to know a bit more about Charlie and Velvet’s mother. I think that even another book could be written, that goes before Velvet and tells the story of Kitty, Velvet’s past.

I was also quite fond of the private sittings Madame had with Lady Blue, Mrs Lilac and Mr Grey.  The individual stories that were formed in these settings were most interesting, but I would have like some closure with each person.

Madame’s séances were quite interesting and I also really liked the way Velvet was increasingly becoming a bigger part of Madame and George’s business by helping with such events.

I thought that the baby farm was a good section of the book, but there wasn’t much introducing Velvet’s journey and what she was to do apart from Madame speaking to her about it. It seemed a bit rushed, and I would have liked to know a bit more about baby farms themselves.

The ending came as a bit of a shock to me. I understood that Madame’s business was a hoax, because Velvet’s indecisive thoughts about her amazing job and lifestyle were very well shown throughout the book, but I don’t think there were enough feelings coming from Velvet towards Charlie. Yes, she did miss him when he was away, but when Velvet declared her love for Charlie at the end, I was a bit lost.

I also would have liked to know what happened to Lizzie and her family, and what happened to the things Madame and George left behind?

Overall though, Velvet was an amazing book, that I plan to read again and again and I will be recommending the book to my friends and school library.

“To kick this collection off, the editors of Ampersand are looking for fabulous manuscripts about the secret lives of teenagers. We want a voice that leaps off the page, a hint of a literary vibe, and teenage characters facing conflict in the course of their everyday lives. Manuscripts that are by turns funny, dramatic, gritty, romantic, heartbreaking or challenging. Each manuscript is free to stand along and we envision that successful submissions will give each debut novelist the launch they need to build their profiles in a competitive YA market.

We want Ampersand books to feel real to our teenage readers. We want to push the boundaries, but we’re not interested in moral-panic-inducing, usually urban-legendary topics (no sexting or rainbow parties here please). The idea is to write about real life, as it happens to today’s teenagers.”

So what’s the skinny?

• You must never have published a novel before.
• You must be open to collaboration and manuscript development.
• You must be willing to work to turn your manuscript into a finished piece.
• The finished novel should be about 40-50,000 words
• Protagonists should be between 16-18 years of age
• It goes without saying, but stories should be real-life and have a contemporary feel – no magical realism or angels, please.
• HGE is open to the exploration or depiction of issues like sexual activity, alcohol consumption, drug use, bullying, mental health issues and death. However, the editors reserve the right to object to anything that feels gratuitous or irresponsible (there is a duty of care from the publishers to the readers)
• HGE reserves the right not to contract without a full manuscript. However, if a writer shows promise, HGE might be willing to provide editorial assistance and development prior to contracting, at the expense of their own time.
• Due to the number of submissions, HGE may be unable to give personalised feedback as to why a manuscript isn’t suitable for this collection.

Submussions

• If you’re interested in submitting send the first five chapters plus a synopsis of the story to the managing editor – Marisa Pintado at marisapintado@hardiegrant.com.au
• The synopsis must give a clear indication of the plot and characters and be no more than one page long.
• The first titles in the collection will be published early 2013 so the cut of date for submissions for the launch is 5pm Monday 27th February 2012.
• Successful writers will need to have a completed manuscript by mid-April 2012.

Magic and crime. Two things so different that one might doubt they would work, however in the book White Cat, Holly Black makes them work, and well. Except for the minor proofreading oversight where a character is described as having one green eye and one brown on page 64 and then later in the book described as having one blue eye and one green one.

Despite this however, after I read White Cat I proceeded to read the book at least five more times and then buy its sequel- Red Glove, because I so enjoyed this mixture of crime and magic. However, this magic isn’t the type involving fairies, wands or anything so cliché. This magic is a much more sinister kind, and combined with the characters’ ignorance of when it is going to appear and what damage it will do, it is at times truly menacing.

Picture a world very like today’s but where magic is real but illegal and everyone wears gloves to protect themselves from it. Assassins to shoot each other; the assassins are death workers, magically gifted to kill with a brush of their fingers. Memory workers who can steal away your dearest memories by touching their skin to yours, and transformation workers who are so rare and powerful that there hasn’t been one since 1960.

Cassel Sharpe isn’t a magic worker, but has longed to be one all his life and to fit in with and be accepted by his proud worker family. His older brothers, a physical worker and a luck worker, have always been a team without Cassel and now they are grown up, the situation is no different.

Cassel may not be a worker but he is a murderer.

Three years ago, he killed his best friend Lila, even though he loved her. In his mind, bits of the murder are blurred and yet somehow surreal and he has no idea of what his motive was. All he remembers is standing over Lila with a bloodied knife and a weird smile on his face.

When Cassel is temporarily kicked out of school, he is immediately  thrown back into the life he was trying to forget, where forgery, lock picking, house breaking, murder are normal skills and non-workers are looked down upon. Cassel is back with his family, and being with them makes him remember he is an outcast; however there is a secret he’s beginning to unravel that will change his status forever.

This book has just the right doses of humour, romance, action and humanity. Cassel’s character is so realistic that the reader shares his pain, relief and hurt. All through the book Cassel battles with himself and is torn between what he has been brought up to believe and what is right.

There is a lot he must go through before he can get all the facts of the mystery surrounding him and there is the white cat… who is she and what does she want?

After Obsession grips you from the very first page. It is about a boy called Alan coming to a town called Maine because his cousin has just lost her father. He and his mum come to help them look after their house. It is also about a girl called Aimee. Both of them have intriguing pasts and abilities they prefer to keep hidden. They have to help Courtney (Aimee’s friend and Alan’s cousin) who has invited a demon into her life and body in a desperate plea to try and find her father who she believes isn’t yet dead. Aimee and Alan struggle to fight against the demon to save Courtney’s life and the town Maine.

I think that readers between grades 8 – 12 would like this book. It is written from two points of view and by two authors. Even though one author wrote from Alan’s point of view and the other from Aimee’s point of view, it flows really well from one to the other.  You can’t really tell where one author ends and the other begins.

Read an extract of the book here

The way the book is written draws you in. It makes you feel as if you are a part of the book, the struggles and the joys. I really like the part about the Cheeto auction. Aimee’s younger brother and her Gramps find a Cheeto they think looks exactly like Marylyn Monroe and they put it on EBay to auction it.

‘“Well, how’s the Cheeto auction going?” “We’re at $850,” Gramps announces.’ (pg. 122)

It adds a part to the book that isn’t all serious and it makes you laugh.

I like the way the authors describe the demon and how he acts. It is a bit creepy but it also makes you feel sorry for the characters that have to face it.

If you want a read that is both funny and has danger in it then this book is for you. Also if you liked Halo and Hades then you will love this book.