Review: The Name on Your Wrist by Helen Hiorns

The Name on Your Wrist by Helen Hiorns (review copy) - In Corin's world, your carpinomen - the name of your soul mate, marked indelibly on your wrist - is everything. It shapes your whole life, and sets out your future. People spend decades searching for the one they're supposed to be with.

But what if you never find your soul mate? What if you fall for someone else - someone other than the name on your wrist?

And what if - like Corin - you're desperate not to be found?

The winner of the Sony Young Movellist, chosen by Malorie Blackman. From the blurb.

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Review: In Bloom by Matthew Crow

In Bloom by Matthew Crow (review copy) - Francis Wootton's first memory is of Kurt Cobain's death and there have since been other hardships much closer to home. At fifteen, he knows all about loss and rejection, and if he's honest, Francis - would-be poet, possible intellectual - feels he is wasted in Tyne and Wear. Lower Fifth is supposed to be his time: but when he is diagnosed with leukaemia, a whole new world of worry presents itself. There's the horror of being held back a year at school, the threat of imminent baldness. But he hadn't reckoned on meeting Amber and finding a reason to tackle it all - the good the bad and everything in-between - head on. From Goodreads.

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Review: Finding a Voice by Kim Hood

Finding a Voice by Kim Hood (reading copy) - 'One, two, three, four. I started counting the steps as soon as my feet left the drive - each step took me further from my house, where I couldn't control the chaos...'

Jo's got used to keeping her head down and getting on with things. Between looking after her mother and avoiding the mean kids at school, she's never had much time to think about what she wants - and it wouldn't occur to her to ask for help. She has to be the strong one, always.

When she meets Christopher she wants to help make his life better and will go to dramatic lengths to do so. But she finds out that friendship is a two-way street...

A moving and compelling story of friendship against the odds. From the blurb.

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Review: Marly's Ghost by David Levithan

Marly's Ghost by David Levithan (review copy) - A remix of Charles Dickens’ A Christmas Carol with a Valentine’s twist

When Ben’s girlfriend, Marly, dies, he feels his life is over and the prospect of Valentine’s day without her fills him with bitterness. But then Marly arrives – or at least, her ghost does – along with three other spirits. Now Ben must take a journey through Valentines past, present and future – and what he learns will change him forever. From Goodreads

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Review: Replica by Jack Heath

Replica by Jack Heath (proof) - 'Whose body is that on the table?' I ask.
She stares at me, as though the answer is obvious. 'It's yours,' she says.
Before I have time to scream, she types a command on the keyboard. My consciousness whirls away like storm water down a drain.

Chloe wakes up to find all her memories have been wiped. And the only person who knows what happened is a teenage girl who looks and sounds exactly like her.

Who is she? And what does she want?

Chloe is running out of time to discover the truth. But she's in even more danger than she realizes, and nothing is as it seems . . . From Goodreads

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Review: My Second Life by Faye Bird (#Ad)

My Second Life by Faye Bird

I was sent this review copy for free by Usborne for the purpose of providing an honest review.

The first time I was born, I was Emma.
I was beautiful. I had everything to live for.
But I died.

Now I have been born a second time, and my previous life haunts me. Because in it I think I did something very wrong. I must find out what I did to Catherine. I must uncover the truth about Emma...

Intriguing, compelling, heartbreaking.
What if your past life could shatter your future? From Goodreads

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Review: Boy21 by Matthew Quick

Review: Boy21 by Matthew Quick (review copy) - It's never been easy for Finley, particularly at home. But two things keep him going: his place on the basketball team and his girlfriend, Erin - the light in even the darkest of his days.

Then Russ arrives. He answers only to Boy21, claims to be from outer space, and also has a past he wants to escape. He's one of the best high school basketball players in the country and threatens to steal Finley's starting position.

Against all the odds, Russ and Finley become friends. Russ could change everything for Finley, both for better and for worse. But sometimes the person you least expect can give you the courage to face what's gone before ...and work out where you're going next. From Goodreads

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YA Book Prize 2015 Reading Challenge

Last Thursdsay, the Bookseller's YA Book Prize 2015 shortlist was announced! I was so excited to see a few really amazing books on the list, plus a few I haven't read. Here are the books that are on the shortlist.


An awesome shortlist, right? And I have decided to try and read all the books that have been shortlisted by the end of 2015. I have read three already, and will mark these on my reading challenge page. Anyone else interested in joining me? :)

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Review: The Snow Child by Eowyn Ivey

The Snow Child by Eowyn Ivey (review copy) - Alaska, the 1920s. Jack and Mabel have staked everything on a fresh start in a remote homestead, but the wilderness is a stark place, and Mabel is haunted by the baby she lost many years before. When a little girl appears mysteriously on their land, each is filled with wonder, but also foreboding -- is she what she seems, and can they find room in their hearts for her? From Goodreads

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LGBT Reading Challenge: End of Year Survey

Cayce of Fighting Dreamer has created a mini-survey for the LGBT Reading Challenge as the year is drawing to a close. So here are my answers about the LGBTQ YA novels I've read this year, and those I'm hoping to read in 2015.

1. Number of YA LGBT books you have read in 2014:

18. There are still a few weeks left to go before the end of this year, but I don't think there will be any more LGBTQ YA novels read. But I think 18 is pretty good, considering before last year, I hadn't really read any. You can see a list of all the LGBTQ YA novels I've read this year on my Reading Challenges page.

2. Top 3 YA LGBT you read this year:

Hmm. I really want to say the first three books of The Rain Wild Chronicles by Robin Hobb (The Dragon Keeper, Dragon Haven, City of Dragons), but they're not technically YA. I feel there's strong crossover appeal for the stories, considering there are a group of teenagers who are major characters, but for the most part, the LGBTQ element of the story is an adult one, so I'm not sure this would count for this question? In which case I will say:

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