June Reads

Hi all,

Here are the books I've read in June. I've read some truly amazing YA books, the new Judy Blume and discovered a fascinating gender studies book!

The Summer I Wasn't Me by Jessica Verdi

I read this book as part of the Queer YA Scrabble at the beginning of June. This was a stand-out book for me as it dealt sensitively with a lot of themes that are important to me and that I don't see so much in YA books: sexuality, femininity and religion. The fact that it was set in a camp to de-gayify was also fascinating. You can read my full review here on Queer YA but this is a book that more people should be reading and I will be pushing it into many hands!

The Summer Prince by Alaya Dawn Johnson

This is another book I read as part of the Queer YA Scrabble last month and it's been on my radar forever so I was so thrilled to finally get a chance to read it. This is another stand-out book for me in terms of YA. This book is utterly unique in its setting, characters and storytelling and I am in so much awe at Alaya Dawn Johnson's talent. The fantasy isn't your typical fantasy and there is a varied cast of characters. Brownie points for non-judgmental sex and masturbation scenes. You can see my full review here on Queer YA. If you love fantasy, this is one for you to discover this summer!

Elspeth Hart and the School for Show-Offs by Sarah Forbes

I read this lovely book for younger readers in one sitting, it was at times sweet and at others quite terrifying. Elspeth is a deeply lovable heroine and we can't help but root for her as she is trying to find out what happened to her parents while going about her daily life in the Show-Off School. Some of the characters are truly sinister and will remind you of the nightmarish characters in Roald Dahl's books. A lovely start to a soon-to-be classic series. 

One by Sarah Crossan

This book utterly broke my heart and is written with such a light and powerful touch that I'm sure it will be sweeping up all the children's / YA awards this year. This verse novel about conjoined twins Grace and Tippi will take over your heart. This is a heart wrenching and heart warming story about sisters, love and identity and is such an amazing addition to the UK (and Ireland) YA scene. It will also convert you to verse novels. Perfect for fans of contemporary YA like John Green, Jenny Downham and Gayle Forman. 

Fear of Flying by Erica Jong

I read this as the author's new book, Fear of Dying, is out at the end of the year and I wanted to read her classic novel which I'd never read before. I think this is one of these books that can't be read without keeping in mind the context in which it was written. This was very much an instant classic when it came out for its portrayal of female sexuality and which resonated with a lot of women at the time. The novel is narrated by poet and writer Isadora who finds herself in Vienna for a conference. She ditches her husband of five years in search of a more fulfilling relationship and what she ends up finding is herself. Things have changed since it was written but I really liked the style and the feminist themes so I'm very much looking forward to reading the new book!

Poirot Investigates (Hercule Poirot) by Agatha Christie

As ever, there isn't any month where I don't read an Agatha Christie! I was reticent to read Poirot at first, thinking the stereotypes on Belgians (and French people by extension) would be too annoying for me but I actually ADORE Poirot and even read his dialogue with a French accent in my head. This book is a collection of short mysteries that Poirot, Hastings and the famed little grey cells solve. I am always very proud to solve some of the mysteries myself and this was greatly enjoyable.

1492: The Year Our World Began by Felipe Fernandez-Armesto

I'm doing some research on this period of history for something I'm writing and was hoping this book would be perfect but I didn't like this book as much as I'd hoped. Each chapter is about a different country for the years around 1492 and it was hard to put in perspective what happened simultaneously. It was interesting to read but I will be tracking down some other books on the subject to get more insight on some aspects of the period.

Women, History and Theory: The Essays of Joan Kelly by Joan Kelly

I loved reading this book. Joan Kelly is one of the first researchers in gender studies and she comes from a history background. It was so fascinating to read her essays - collected in this edition after her death - on looking at history from the point of view of women and how widely accepted periodisations in history can't apply to a history of women. Her essay on Renaissance and how there wasn't, strictly speaking, a Renaissance for women and this period of history was mostly about increased rights for men, was truly fascinating. This was a fantastic random find from the library and I'll be seeking more books by Joan Kelly in the future. 

In The Unlikely Event by Judy Blume

I adored this book! Loved it so so much! I'd only read Judy Blume's YA books and didn't know what to expect from one of her adult books but I totally loved it. The story is about three generations of family, friends and strangers in Elizabeth, New Jersey, after a series of unexpected events in the 1950s. I loved the variety of characters and what they were going through, especially Miri. I also loved the story, which was inspired by true events, and which is so topical and really makes you think. This is an amazing book and the perfect read for this summer. (Warning: not to be read on a plane or before a plane journey. You're welcome.)

~~~

What amazing books have you read last month?

In July I've already read a few Judy Blume classics in preparation for her event on 16th July in Edinburgh (SO EXCITED! Tickets here if you want to come!), as well as Naomi Novik's AMAZING new fantasy book Uprooted and Nancy Tucker's memoir about her eating disorder The Time in Between. 

Heart Of Stone - M. L. Welsh

Summary from Amazon:

After a wonderful summer sailing, Verity Gallant just wants life to stay the same for ever. But as she should know by now, not everything in life turns out as we would like.

The land is shifting beneath the ancient harbour town of Wellow, causing mysterious caves to appear in cliff faces, terrifying rock falls and dangerous landslides. And the earth isn't the only thing crumbling... Verity is thrilled that Jeb has returned, but their feelings for each other threaten her friendship with Henry and Martha.

Once again Verity and her friends are embroiled in a tale of evil, intrigue and lost love, as a powerful force works its way towards Wellow, hell-bent on putting an end to all happiness. The Heart of Stone is the key, and the race is on to find it...

~~~

Heart of Stone is the second book in the Verity Gallant series, if you haven't read Mistress of the Storm, the first book in the series, find my review [here]. This review will have a couple of spoilers for the first book so don't read any further if you don't want to be spoiled!

I absolutely adored Mistress of the Storm so I was very excited to read Heart of Stone and very intrigued to see where the story would take Verity this time around. And I was not disappointed! The sequel is brilliant and Verity has become one of my favourite heroines!

This installment sees Verity, Henry and Martha face a new challenge as they start their school year. The land seems to take a life of its own and it shifts beneath their beloved Wellow. It is unveiling mysterious caves in cliffs and causing landslides and rockfalls. Sand also seems to spread everywhere and you can't do anything without finding some in the most unusual places. The population of Wellow also seems affected and people are unable to get any sleep because of nasty nightmares and the town is slowly disintegrating because of the land. But soon, our heroes discover that all these events aren't just a coincidence and that the disappearance of the Mistress of the Storm has caused an unexpected consequence.

I don't want to spoil the book for you guys so I won't say what this consequence is, but let me tell you that it will be as original, surprising and thrilling as the first book, if not more. It seems Wellow has been keeping more than one secret!

M. L. Welsh is delving more into the mythology she created in the first book surrounding the Original stories and we are getting a much better insight at some of the characters and stories. It also shows how original the whole setting is and I find it to be a refreshing story among all those doomy-gloomy apocalyptic books drowning bookshops these days. Not that this is all cupcakes and unicorns either as there are some chilling moments, but Wellow seems like such a beautiful and magical place just waiting to be explored!

The book is also about love and friendship and how these can go wrong during hard times. And hard times the characters face, as some invisible force seems to be determined to end all happiness in the world. I really love how positive the books are and how being friends is about what you go through together and how much you are willing to go through for what you feel is right. It doesn't hurt that there is a bit of romance in the story either. From eternal soul mates to first love, the romance fans (such as myself, that goes without saying) will really enjoy this book!

I could go on for hours about this book! With a fantastic cast of character, some thrilling adventure, a pinch of mystery and a budding romance, Verity Gallant's adventures are a must read! 

Info: Books are perfect for teens and tweens (and adults clearly :) ) and for both boys and girls!

Thanks to RHCB for sending me this fantastic book for review!

Heart of Stone, by M. L. Welsh | January 2012 | Random House Children's Books | Book proof from the publisher

The Girl Who Leapt Through Time - Yasutaka Tsutsui | Japanese YA Novel Week

I am reviewing this book as part of the Japanese YA Novel Week I am co_hosting with Nina at Death Books and Tea.

If you would like more information about the week, head over here.

~~~ 

Summary from Amazon:

One of Tsutsui's best-known and most popular works in his native Japan, The Girl Who Leapt through Time is the story of fifteen-year-old schoolgirl Kazuko, who accidentally discovers that she can leap back and forth in time. In her quest to uncover the identity of the mysterious figure that she believes to be responsible for her paranormal abilities, she'll constantly have to push the boundaries of space and time, and challenge the notions of dream and reality.

~~~

The Girl Who Leapt Through Time is a collection of two short story by Yasutaka Tsutsui, who s one of the most famous science fiction writer in Japan. These two stories are some of those light novels I was mentioning in the intro post of this week: they are very short and, in the case of The Girl Who Leapt Through Time, have an animated film based on it. 

The first short story, The Girl Who Leapt Through Time, tells the story of fifteen year old Yazuko who discovers by accident that she can leap through space and time. 

After an accident in the biology lab, Yazuko inhales a product and faints. She doesn't think much about it but feels different ever since. Then when she is about to be crushed by a truck, and wakes up in her bed, she realises that she can leap through time. with the help of her friends Kazuo and Goro, she will try to understand her power.

I truly liked the story, especially after reading the end and how she came to have her power but I would have preferred reading an entire book rather than a novella! There's only so much you can fit in 50 pages so I thought there wasn't enough.

I felt that the dialogues were a bit off (which I didn't think in the second story) so I don't know whether it's the writing or the translation.

It is a sweet story and opens new perspective when you read the end.

As for the second story, The Stuff That Nightmares Are Made Of, it follows Masako, a high school student who has an irrational fear of heights and Prajna masks and who wants to get to the bottom of it with the help of her friend Bunishi. Masako also wants to help her little brother Yoshio with his night terrors.

I like this story better and I found really interesting how Masako would try to face her fears and help Yoshio face his. It is also interesting how both of them came to have those fears. It is quite fascinating how the mind works and through Masako and Yoshio we have two examples of why some things or ideas come into our mind and mold our behaviours.

I didn't notice the writing as much as in the first story, and I thought the writer could really build the tension through the various events in the book. 

Those two stories are short and sweet and present interesting concepts: time-travel and the psychology of fear. Judging by the language and the action, I think these books are for younger readers. I am told the film of The Girl Who Leapt Through Time is better to watch than reading the book because it goes deeper in the character description etc.

Percy Jackson And The Lightning Thief - Rick Riordan

Summary from Amazon:

Look, I didn't want to be a half-blood. I never asked to be the son of a Greek God. I was just a normal kid, going to school, playing basketball, skateboarding. The usual. Until I accidentally vaporized my maths teacher. That's when things started really going wrong. Now I spend my time fighting with swords, battling monsters with my friends, and generally trying to stay alive.

This is the one where Zeus, God of the Sky, thinks I've stolen his lightning bolt - and making Zeus angry is a very bad idea.

Can Percy find the lightning bolt before a fully-fledged war of the Gods erupts?

~~~

I knew about this series mostly because Becky @ The Bookette kept raving about it and you know how I am with series, I need to have all of them close to me so that I can read them back to back, so I didn't want to get started without having a solid weekend in front of me. Then Friday happened. I wanted a book to read and didn't know what to choose. I have a good 200 books unread on my shelves, all of different genres, length and even language, but out of all of these, I picked up The Lightning Thief and I couldn't stop reading until I picked up and finished The Sea Of Monsters. Now I was all desolate because I only had those two home but then a shiny idea appeared to me: "Kindle!!". So I've just bought the rest of the series and pre-ordered The Son Of Neptune :) (thankfully, my Mom and my banker don't go on the blog often so I'm safe saying this here)

This series is quite simply brilliant. Like *really* brilliant. There is some fast-paced action, some awesome characters and one spunky hero! The book is also very clever and intertwines Greek myths. Now, I'm a nerd as much as the next person, but I don't appreciate the condescending tone of some books with historical or mythical background as if you're a kid and the writer is teaching you. This book is not like this at all, it ROCKS!! You learn a lot without losing interest in the story or without the action losing pace.

Percy is a sweet character and kudos to Rick Riordan for making dyslexia and ADHD not look like a handicap or something laughable. The problem with literature is that it often forgets to add realism to its character (you know, they are all healthy and bright and handsome etc.) when in reality, more often than not, everyone has their own little quirks. And not only Percy, but various characters in the book are presented, as humans, in a way and as their "birth-form" in another. It is definitely an uplifting book on that front and there is so much kindness emanating from the characters (well, not Hades of course) that you can't help feeling full of love when reading.

I love the Percy-Poseidon relation and I can't wait to read more about their powers. As a Mediterranean, the sea fascinates me and this book truly shows the latent (and sometimes not so latent) power of the sea. Poseidon is a fantastic character and definitely my favourite of the Big Three :)

I *adore* Annabeth. She is a kick-ass heroine and shines with the characteristics of her mother Athena. That's one thing I love in this book: female characters hold their own so it is truly fantastic for both boys and girls to read. I really love all the other characters so I won't be making a list here, but they all have depth in them and, when you think about it, the characterisation is fantastic when considering all the mythology that the author has put in this. All the characters make sense with their mythical persona and in the modern story. It is mind-boggling how spot on some of them are!

The book is told in Percy's point of view and I really love that kid. His voice is perfect and really brings you in the best adventures ever. I won't tell you the story but the journey from Percy-mere-clumsy-human at the beginning to son of Poseidon is wonderful. There are some really good themes in the book which are fantastic for kids to read: there is courage, friendship, loyalty and trust, but there is also the idea that no matter how small and insignificant you are, and no matter the fact that you might probably fail, the journey is always worth taking.

So you might not have noticed from this review (hee hee), but I just became a *HUGE FAN* of this series. Definitely a book for the brain, for the heart and a little bit for the soul as well, you'll see. Everything is fantastic and I can't wait to read more.

A zillion thank you to the fabulous Becky for being awesome :)

Percy Jackson and the Lightning Thief by Rick Riordan | 2005 | Puffin | Bought from WH Smith.

Flight To Dragon Isle Blog Tour - Why Dragons? by Lucinda Hare

Hi everyone!

You probably know by now how much I love dragons so I was really excited when I was given the chance to review The Dragonsdome Chronicles! I have read The Dragon Whisperer and Flight To Dragon Isle one after the other in a couple of days and I am dying to read the next book! 

I loved Quenelda as a main character and the evolution she goes through, I also love the dragons and all the world in this book. I think it's a fantastic adventure story for tweens but also for anyone who is a fan of fantasy and dragons in particular! 

But without further ado, let me leave you with the lovely Lucinda Hare who will be talking about why she chose to write about dragons!

~~~

Why dragons?

Dragons!  Mythical, magical, scaled, horned and winged; we love them. They scare us silly, they pose riddles, they sit on mythological piles of gold and nowadays they are our friends, guides and companions.  They’re even cuddly and cute and have learning difficulties.  Dragons exert an enduring glamour to young readers and adults alike.  A tiny bit of our minds rationalise they might have once existed, after all there is hardly a culture on the planet that does not have them embedded in mythology and legend.   Dragons are dinosaurs with wings, and we know dinosaurs existed.  So with so many dragons around, why did I choose dragons in such a crowded marketplace?

Firstly, because these magical creatures live in the imagination of every child on the planet. All over the world legends and myths of dragons exist.  So, no matter where a reader lives, and no matter the animals they have as pets or working animals, or even if they have no pets at all, they can conjure an image of a dragon in their mind. This way no-one is left out of the story.

According to Root, who is Tangnost Bearhugger’s hapless apprentice, dragons, irrespective of breed are a horrifying assortment of teeth, talons, scales and tails.  They can eat you raw or toast you – well, only the carnivores, the battledragons, can toast you, but to Root that is beside the point.

Secondly because I thought I could bring an original idea to the table, a new take on an old favourite.   Dragons are thinking, talking creatures who have a pact with the peoples of the seven Sea Kingdoms to fight their age-long enemy, the amphibious voracious hobgoblins.   And although The Dragonsdome Chronicles are set in a medieval world, the Stealth Dragon Services (the SDS), the elite military fighting force of the Kingdoms are clearly based upon modern armed forces, specifically the Special Air Services.  Dragons take the place of Harrier jump jets, Apache Longbow helicopters and F-22 stealth raptors.  They have dragon pads instead of helicopter pads, they have helmets with integrated comms and heads-up visor displays.  They use modern terminology, strategy and tactics.

Thirdly dragons are not just in the book; they are central characters with wholly individual characters. There are three introduced in The Dragon Whisperer. There is Quenelda’s stocky Sabretooth battledragon, Two Gulps & You’re Gone; Root’s gentle, teasing Chasing The Stars, and the SDS Commander’s huge Imperial Black battledragon, Stormcracker Thundercloud III.  Two Gulps is a proud and boastful cave dragon, he has serious attitude and is temperamental. Chasing The Stars is a Windglen Widdershanks, a mild-mannered herbivore who has a wicked sense of humour and turns out to surprise everyone with her bravery, just like Root does. Stormcracker is the last of the noble dragons, with magic of his own that can make him disappear – hence the ‘Stealth Dragon Services’. Just like breeds of cats, dogs and horses, dragons come in all shapes, sizes and colours.

And finally, because all the dragons in The Dragonsdome Chronicles are inspired by our own large family of rescued animals. A lot of Two Gulps’ character is taken from our huge ginger cat, Rufus, who has serious attitude. I’m the only one who handles him, but when we come home late at night, even if it’s cold and wet, Rufus is there at the end of the path waiting for us. He has a huge cuddly lion which he treadles, so deep inside he’s just a big softie!

The enduring attraction of dragons is that they can fly and that we can fly on them.  Dragons take us to the skies where in reality mankind has only recently achieved that, and we have needed technology to do so.  There is not a creature in the world that can bear us skyward, but dragons can!  Flying dragons gives me great scope for showing how you might learn.  Some people ride horses, others motorbikes, everyone drives cars... but dragons?  Dragons belong to dreams and everyone can dream.  But then how would someone learn?  You can’t just get on a dragon and fly, any more than you could sit behind the wheel of a car and drive.  History can provide the best inspiration.  Once Roman cavalry fought without stirrups; that meant that you were often knocked from your saddle, and if you couldn’t remount you were dead.  So all legionaries had to practice on a wooden horse, a tradition that lives on in modern gymnastics.  So why not a wooden dragon?  With a little creativity to make it go up and down and side to side and spin around, you have a wooden dragon that mimics flying.  In this illustration the esquires are trying to make Root’s life a misery by giving him a saddle that doesn’t fit.

 But...and there is always a but, if you are like Root then you are afraid of heights and you get travel sick, and yes, there is much of me in Root.  I have never grown out of being travel sick.  I hate flying....all that emptiness below, and the slightest turbulence and my stomach rapidly follows suit.   Poor old Root....

The reality is that if we came across a dragon most of us would probably faint, and that is exactly what Root does!   He tries not to be scared.  Even when he is reassured that this girl is not a carnivore and loves her thistles and honey tablets, he finds those teeth and claws a bit too scary.  The fact that Chasing the Stars has a wicked sense of humour doesn’t help.

Of course there are also domestic dragons in the Dragon Whisperer. You meet them in the paddocks of Dragonsdome and at the Winter Jousts. But just because they are placid herbivores does not mean they don't have character. The Windglen Widdershanks gifted to Root has a wicked sense of humour and proves to be feisty and very brave - just like her master! I think Chasing the Stars is my favourite dragon so far.

And then again there is the nitty-gritty of flying.  Glamorous?  Exciting?  Well yes, but those of us who drive motorbikes know that unless you can afford the best kit, the leathers, boots, helmet and gloves, you still get cold and wet, and hanging on the back as pillion passenger when you’re travelling at warp factor nine is exhausting!  And that would be the reality of dragon flying.  But you would still want to give it a go, wouldn’t you?  Well, does the hapless Root?  This final illustration from The Dragon Whisperer gives you a clue, but go on, find out for yourself...because even for adults, dragons rekindle our childhood wonder for the world.   Dragons give us wings.

~~~

I agree! A part of me thinks dragons do exist and that I need to have one :D

Thank you Lucinda for this wonderful post on dragons and a bazillion thank you to RHCB for sending me copies of the books (reviews to come up soon!).

Flight to Dragon Isle is the second book in the Dragonsdome Chronicles published by Random House Children's Books (the first book is The Dragon Whisperer) which you can buy from any bookshop! Also, how beautiful are the covers? Seriously, I want a poster!!

Do not hesitate to visit Lucinda's website as it is full of gorgeous illustrations of the Chronicles made by the author herself!

The Emerald Atlas - John Stephens

Summary from Amazon:

They were taken from their beds one frozen night, when the world was covered in snow. The silhouette of a tall, thin man has haunted Kate ever since.

Ten years on, Kate, Michael and Emma have grown up in a string of miserable orphanages, and all memories of their parents have faded to a blur. Arriving at Cambridge Falls, the children quickly realise there is something different about this place – and Kate feels sure she has seen the dark, crooked house before.

As they explore, they discover an old, empty leather book. The moment they touch it, an ancient magical prophecy is set irrevocably in motion, and the children are thrown into a dangerous alternate reality of dark enchantments and terrifying monsters. Only they can prevent the terrible event that will ruin Cambridge Falls – and stop the world from falling into complete devastation.

~~~~ 

Kate, Michael and Emma are three orphans living in very poor conditions. Moved from orphanage to orphanage, they can only rely on each other for support. When they are moved to Cambridge Falls, their love and trust for each other will be thoroughly tested by the presence of spooky characters and extraordinary events.

The characterisation is one of the strongest and best aspect of this novel. The three main characters have different personalities which are acutely depicted. Even though they all come from the same mould, their age difference (important when it comes to their parents as Kate remembers them very well, Michael a little bit and Emma the youngest not at all) is one of the factors that differenciate them. Kate, the eldest, feels the weight of the responsibility her parents entrusted in her the night they disappeared. She wouldn't change her brother and sister for anything in the world but she wonders how different her life might have been without having to take care of them. Michael is very introverted and plunges himself in fantasy worlds populated by dwarves he discovered in one of his father's books, he is also very bright and seems to know everything (much to Emma's annoyance!). Emma is a bundle of strength, courage, determination and a bit of mischief rolled into one. She hardly thinks before acting and she never backs down. Of cource, Emma was by far my favourite character :)
But the fantastic characters don't stop at the three protagonists and a real care is taken to describe all the other characters and species.

The eerie setting is almost a promise of adventure and great danger in itself. Very remote and only accessible through a boat, Cambridge Falls doesn't feel like a home to the children when they first arrive. There are way too many secrets in it and they can't quite figure out the people living in it.

I won't spoil the fun by telling you what the fantasy aspect of the story is but I really thought that the book was an interesting take on magic/time travelling/world history and it is a great beginning to a fascinating new series. There was variety in characters and events and the story was at times laugh-out-loud funny and at others moving. The constant bickering between Emma and Michael is hilarious and I'm sure kids with siblings would relate to this book!

You can feel that the writer has been working for TV/cinema because the book has a very good pace and keeps you hooked throughout the story. The twists and turns of the plot are cleverly placed and not overwhelming or unbelievable.

I was disappointed to realise that the dwarves and screechers were very Lord Of The Rings-y but I hope the sequels will bring us fascinating new fantasy species.

The Emerald Atlas is a fantastic new series for tweens (and older!). There are some great themes about family, sibling relationships, courage and responsibility which bring depth to a great adventure story. The story has a lot of potential and I can't wait to read the sequels and discover a new adventure with the characters!

The Emerald Atlas | John Stephens | 2011 | Bought and read on my kindle.

Tall Story - Candy Gourlay + GIVEAWAY (UK only)

Title: Tall Story

Author: Candy Gourlay

Publisher: David Fickling Books (Random House Children's Books)

Category: 9+, Young Adult

Release Date: 3rd June 2010

Source: Sent to me by Random House for review

Hardcover: 296 pages

Summary from Amazon:

Be careful what you wish for ...Andi is short. And she has lots of wishes. She wishes she could play on the school basketball team, she wishes for her own bedroom, but most of all she wishes that her long lost half brother, Bernardo, could come and live in London, where he belongs. Then Andi's biggest wish comes true and she's minutes away from becoming someone's little sister. As she waits anxiously for Bernardo to arrive from the Philippines, she hopes he'll turn out to be tall and just as mad as she is about basketball. When he finally arrives, he's tall all right. But he's not just tall ...he's a GIANT. 

In a novel packed with humour and quirkiness, Gourlay explores a touching sibling relationship and the clash of two very different cultures.

~~~~~~~~~~~~

This is one of the sweetest and most refreshing books I've read this year. It is a very sweet story, extremely well written and deeply enjoyable !

Actually, you want to know a funny story? My roomie is from the Philippines and (wait for it) is a nurse! Exactly like the mother of Andi and Bernardo. And I laughed so much when Andi transcribes what she thinks is Tagalog, because that's exactly what I hear when my roomie talks to her family there. Sorry, I'm in a boring anecdote mode today !

This is a very sweet and touching story about a family finally coming together and getting to know each other after so many years apart. Andi and Bernardo's mother is a Filipino nurse who went to work in the UK, leaving her first son behind, thinking she could make him come after. But the immigration laws are such that Bernardo hasn't been granted the right to go to the UK, and he spent his childhood in San Andres with his Aunt and Uncle. Andi is his half sister that he met only once. The story starts when Bernardo has finally the right to go to the UK and live with his family. It is told from the point of view of Andi and Bernardo and we learn from their history and how they became the persons they are today. Andi (Amandolina) is a boyish basketball fan and Bernardo is a 8ft tall teenager who is believed to be the new incarnation of Giant spirit Bernardo Carpio who saved the village of San Andres from a catastrophe.

The characters were all very well described and very original and unique. I profoundly love both Andi and Bernardo, and the relation they have with each other. I like how Bernardo wants to act like a big brother to his sister and how tough little Andi is a kickass basketball player.

I loved the family spirit that come out of the story in general. It is such a beautiful book! And I found all  the stories and traditions from Philippines very interesting. 

There are also some serious issues developed in the plot, about working immigrants in the UK not being able to bring their children in the country or how nobody really cares about earthquakes on the other side of the world. I found this paragraph very spot on:

"And the weird thing was, everybody probably knew about it. Everybody had glanced at the newspaper headlines or heard the radio in passing or glimpsed something as they changed channels on the TV. Hundreds of Casualties in Massive Philippine Earthquake. But 'hundreds' are not people, are they? And blank faces on TV are not people either." p.249

Anyways, this is a very touching and down-to-earth story about a family, about making choices and having to live with the consequences. You will laugh out loud at some of the moments and cry your heart out in others. And as everyone in the book falls for Bernardo, you will fall for this unique and original story !

GIVEAWAY !
COMPETITION CLOSED

So the lovely people at Random House sent me two books of Tall Story and as I am a very nice person, and I love the book, I am organising a tiny giveaway to send this book to someone !

Since I'm broke (yeah well there's no other word for it!), I'm only doing it as a UK thing only. 

TO PARTICIPATE, send me an email here (with "Tall Story Giveaway" as a subject) and tell me a TALL STORY !

Isn't that the stupidest thing ever ? Haha, YES ! But I find the play on word very sweet !

No one has a clue of what a tall story is (me neither). It's just an anecdote involving height like being tall or small. 

Example:

Caroline "Tall Story Giveaway"

When I was around 6 years old, I went to visit a salt mine with my family and since I was tiny and it was dark, I approached a man (whose head was in the dark) whom I thought was my dad and asked him to take me in his arms because I was tired. I insisted *heavily* for 10 minutes with my legendary grace and discretion and the poor guy didn't know what to do besides pushing me discreetly and gently away. And then I started crying, and everyone was looking at him in the mine (poor dude), including my dad who thought this was hilarious. He keeps laughing his head off whenever we talk about this story. Pfff *looking grumpy* unfit parent! :-D

Yeah now you know where I got my humour from !

Okay, I have -clearly- a very very loose definition of what a tall story is, and I just want to send the book to someone, so just go ahead and send me a funny anecdote and I'll sort it out !

And I would like to thank the people at Random House for sending me this book and making me discover the amazing Candy Gourlay !!

Lost in Translation #3 - Eye of the Wolf by Daniel Pennac

Hello wonderful readers !

Welcome to yet another article of the Lost in Translation meme ! Ok so it's the third, but still... :-D
And YES, I have invested in Photoshop to make a new logo! Admit it, you're already in love with it, right ?

This meme, hosted here, is organised to appeal to the curious international reader in you to discover foreign authors and even encourage you to read some books in their original language ! How exciting !

For a presentation of the meme, you can go here or email me here (I am very nice and though I have a slight infatuation with werewolves, I don't bite. Much.)

The meme has a few rules:

- Check if the book is translated in English and available (country and online/bookstores) and specify it in your post

- It would be nice to follow the "Language Corner" where you say to which level the book is suitable for the people who want to read the book in its original language

- And finally: Enjoy and Spread the love !

Are my eyes deceiving me? Could this be a wolf ? YAY !

So I will be writing a post on French Young Adult writer superstar Daniel Pennac. He has written many books for the 8+ and 12+ age range. He is massively studied in French schools. He has also written a few essays on school and how subjects are teached there. He is a very well known and praised personality in children literature in France.

Eye of the Wolf 

by Daniel Pennac

I don't usually review books in this age range, but I still like how those writers describe very profound issues with the simplest words. I am sure you've already had a conversation with a child about important issues and have been wondering how that freckled kid could understand some things way better than you do and don't understand why you have to be so complicated about everything ?
Sometimes, you just learn listening to those kids and their vision of the world (and other times, after watching a Dora episode for the 50th time, you might not). Eye of the Wolf was published in 1984 in France but was only translated and published in English in 2003.




Born worlds apart, a wolf from Alaska and a boy from Africa share their extraordinary stories in this magical tale from master storyteller Daniel Pennac, translated by award-winning translator Sarah Adams. The wolf has lost nearly everything on his journey to the zoo - including his eye and his beloved pack. The boy has lost nearly everything too, and seen many terrible things. As they face each other on either side of the wolf's enclosure they share their stories in this captivating, mysterious and utterly unforgettable tale. Summary from Amazon.


This story has reminded me a lot of The Little Prince by Antoine de Saint-Exupéry. In the shortest book, you discover worlds you never thought existed and get to see animals in a different light. It is the type of book where children read one thing and adults read the same thing on another level and they can exchange ideas on the book. As a philosophical tale, the book can be read by anyone, from 8 to 88 years old (I mean, people above 88 can read it too, it's just an expression), and still be appreciated.

I like how the wolf and the boy both suffer from the cruelty of men. I find it to be an interesting twist that a harsh life would be thrust upon a strong animal and a harmless baby in more or less the same way.

I also like how the issue of industrialisation and its consequences on nature are hinted from the perspective of the animals. And each animal portrayed in the book is very well developed and interesting, from the fun personalities of the Alaskan wolves to the rich personalities of the African animals.

I find that there is a message of hope given in the book where friendship is possible between two different species who can hunt/eat each other. This friendship is reached through knowledge and communication. The wolf and the boy come from different worlds, but they can lean on each other. Yes, I love this song (Lean on me) and secretly want you to love it too. I find it very sweet that the boy chooses to close one eye to be on equal grounds with the wolf.

The French edition I read had very cute illustrations every few pages, the British and American editions don't have exactly the same (the illustrator differs), but hopefully, they are just as beautiful !


It is a very easy read and it is such a beautiful and touching story that anyone can read the book and fall in love for all its amazing characters. It is also the type of book that both a child and a parent can read and where they can talk about it together (which would be quite the whole point of the book, you know, friendship, family, love, all that).


Language Corner:
This book, being meant for a young audience, is a very easy read. If you haven't practiced your French in a while, it is a good way to start again with a simple yet entertaining story.


Where to find the book:
UK: Waterstones, Amazon
USA: Barnes and Nobles, Amazon

To take part in the meme :

- Write your name

- The name of your blog

- In parenthesis if it is the first, second time or more you participate

- In parenthesis which language it is

- Link to the LiT post, not your blog !

Exemple: Caroline @ Portrait of a Woman (3, French)

If what you post doesn't look like that, I will retaliate. Live in fear.