Clever control story about power, truth, knowledge.Reads a little academically, but the slow pace (after an all-out action opening) is important information gathering for later on - when it starts getting really clever. Blackman revisits themes from her previous stories - love across barriers, st...
've only dipped my toe so as to speak into Malorie Blackman's excellent young adult reads so far, starting with the brilliant Noughts And Crosses (read my review HERE) and now with the follow up Knife Edge. Well, I might be a bit of a latecomer to the party but blow me down with a feather she is ...
This book broke me. So I've kind of put off reviewing this book for a bit over two weeks now, I know I know shame on me I know. But I did have my reasons (somewhat) and I think I just needed this story to sit in my brain for a while. It needed some time to marinate..... you know like a steak......
The novel’s catchy title sets the scene with a clever pun –Liam is a teenage ghost who is head-turning gorgeous and starts to appear to the main character, a girl called Nova, aged around 13. She lives by the sea at Phoenix Manor Hotel which is owned and run by her rather harassed but well-meanin...
“Theif!” is an interesting short novel. In it, the protagonist, Lydia, is accused of being a thief. She escapes onto the moor, where she is taken forward in time, into a world ruled by a tyrant. Lydia discovers that it is her brother and her future self who are at the tyrants. This book talks abo...
From scaring Mum at Halloween to building the biggest snowball the world's ever seen - Maxine always has a super plan and needs the help of her twin brothers, Anthony and Edward. Together the super siblings make all sorts of mischief . . . Can they fix it before Mum finds out? These seven funny...
Beans calls her dad 'Gadgetman' because of the weird and wonderful gadgets he comes up with - everything from exploding biscuits to Spy Kits. But when Gadgetman accidentally invents a device that could be used to steal millions of pounds, the wrong people find out and Gadgetman is kidnapped!With ...
Betsey Biggalow Is Here! Betsey Biggalow had another of her bright and shiny ideas! Today would be her HELP THE WORLD day! The question was, who should she help first? She ran into the living room. Sherena was sitting at the table, books, books and more books spread out in front of her. “Have no ...
I could have kicked him. What on earth was he doing giving Mr Guy our names? Trying to get us both expelled? ‘So what are you doing here then?’ asked Mr Guy again, picking up his killer dog. ‘Our mum is doing an evening class here and we said we’d meet her,’ Gib replied. I held my breath as I wat...
I asked, wondering what had happened to our dinner. Mum had given us an apple each to keep us going until our dinner had finished cooking. “Maxine wants more! She’s big as a door And wide as the floor So it’s half-past four!” rapped Anthony. I gave my brother a dirty look. “Maxine, it’s ten past ...
Sephy I stood in the doorway, watching Mother sip at her glass of white wine. I realized with a start that I had to think back a long way to remember seeing her without a glass of Chardonnay in her hand. ‘Mother, can I have a party for my fourteenth birthday?’ Mother looked up from her magazine. ...
Dim torchlight danced eerily across the walls. The footsteps slowed as they approached the bed. Carefully, silently, the torch was placed on the bedside table. A brilliant flash of metal glinted in the torchlight. The glare of a knife blade … And as the blade flashed downwards, it seemed in the d...
Gran’ma Liz commanded. “It’s Sherena’s turn,” said Betsey. “No, it isn’t. I did it yesterday. It’s your turn today,” Sherena argued. “But I wanted to play with May. We were going to play Robin Hood with my new bow and arrows,” Betsey said. “Sherena, couldn’t you do it for me . . .?” “Betsey . . ....
Behind you,’ Jack screamed out from the landing. I was too petrified to even turn my head to look at him. Out of the corner of one eye I could see him waving his hands above his head to attract VIMS’ attention. VIMS took another step towards me. One of his feet was now on my bed. The mattress gro...
The third time she blinked, she opened her eyes to find herself standing in front of a real, live, furry Harry. And there was snow falling all around them. “How woof-onderful!” said Harry. “You’ve come to play with me. I hoped you would!” “You can talk too?” Nicky asked, amazed. “Of course,” Harr...
Yours too, Mum. If either of you are out there, somewhere, please watch over Callie. Please don't let my daughter slip away. I know it isn't written anywhere that life is supposed to be fair, but please keep Callie safe. And here. Meggie has been through so much. So have I. Taking Callie away fro...
I had a few things I needed to get off my chest, things I couldn’t say on the bridge. And from the look on Mum’s face when she opened her door, she had a fair to middling idea of what was coming. ‘What choice did I have, Nathan?’ ‘You had the choice not to try and take Vee’s ship away from her,’ ...
Callie Rose is 13 Double science was fantastic today – 'cause I got to sit next to him. Of course, when Mrs Mayne split us into pairs and said we had to work together, he moaned like the north wind down a chimney about having to be my partner. But then he had to do that – otherwise his friends wo...
I sprang back, Emma in my arms. She was still screaming. ‘What’s going on?’ Dad asked wearily. ‘I was just coming to get you,’ I admitted. The words came out almost slurred, I was so tired. ‘I need your help, Dad. Emma won’t stop crying. It’s doing my head in.’ ‘Is she hungry?’ ‘No. I tried warmi...
I said. “I want a cat,” said Anthony. “I want a rabbit,” said Edward. Mum put her hands on her hips. “I’m not getting three different pets. In fact I’m not sure if I should even get one.” “But . . .” I said. “But . . .” said Anthony. “But . . .” Edward repeated. “No buts!” Mum argued. “I don’t th...
Chapter Eight The Protest March ‘WHAT’RE YOU SAYING? That the people who broke into this house weren’t real burglars at all?’ Nosh asked, astounded. ‘Why would they take the time to sit here and wipe out every file, then not take the computer?’ I asked. ‘Why not take the computer, then delete all...