Book Review: You Against Me (Jenny Downham)

If someone hurts your sister and you're any kind of man, you seek revenge, right? If your brother's been accused of a terrible crime and you're the main witness, then you banish all doubt and defend him. Isn't that what families do? When Mikey's sister claims a boy assaulted her at a party, his world of work and girls begins to fall apart. When Ellie's brother is charged with the crime, but says he didn't do it, her world of revision, exams and fitting in at a new school begins to unravel. When Mikey and Ellie meet, two worlds collide. Brave and unflinching, this is a novel of extraordinary skillfulness and almost unbearable tension. It's a book about loyalty and the choices that come with it. But above all it's a book about love - for one's family and for another.

Jenny Downham's second offering is one very emotionally-exhausting read. While the book is nowhere near life changing, it can be aptly called a powerful book with an equally strong narrative, simply because it is capable of leaving its readers with very strong, very conflicting emotions. A fantastic read, this one.

I don't see You Against Me as a romance novel. At least not primarily so. This book revolves around the characters trapped in extraordinary challenging circumstances. For Mikey and Ellie, romance is part of these circumstances, and for these two love is both extraordinary and challenging. Their differences is highlighted quite early on in the book - not only are they on opposing sides of a criminal court case - Ellie is also privilege and Mikey is far from being so. The former is known as a shy, reserved girl, the latter more of a dangerous person with a bad boy streak. Their journey towards each other is remarkable for anyone in their shoes and I'm not saying so because I'm a romantic at heart. The road is not paved and many sacrifices must be made, but together, they learn to explore emotions foreign to them, realise the value of the finer things in life and experience the bittersweetness of first love. They both fight for and find courage - a value so very strong in the book.

Beyond the romance however, there is the looming backdrop of the court case - Ellie's brother Tom is on trial for sexually assaulting Karyn, Mikey's sister. This is where the book becomes inherently powerful - the effect of what happened on both families is truly heartbreaking. It is not only Tom and Karyn whose lives are turn around by it, but everyone's. Although we often symphatise with victims most forget their families and friends are heavily affected too. You Against Me reminded of the extent of such tragedy, because is chronicles every sacrifice, every suffering of Tom's and Karyn's families. It is blunt, honest and a true-to-life depiction of what happens when it happens - it does not sugarcoat the harm a tragedy like this can inflict to both party. There are of course two sides to every story, and You Against Me presents those sides in very concrete details. I was increasingly intrigued by what exactly happened on that night and can never make up my mind as to which version was the truth.

It didn't hit me at first that You Against Me is set in Britain, until tea (what else could it be?) is mentioned. I've always had a pleasure reading YA books set here, but of course the value of a book is beyond the beauty of its setting. This book in incredibly well written. The narrative is true to the characters and conveys genuine emotion to the readers. There is an extensive character development to support every complex detail of the plot.

If any, my complaints would only be that it became slightly predictable towards the end. Perhaps I was expecting the answers all along, but it seems rather typical of the twist to happen. I was also dissatisfied with the conclusion of the novel, the ending being abrupt, and vague.

However. This should stop you from reading You Against Me, because it is still utterly and absolutely fantastic.

Four Stars!


* You Against Me is out today, 2nd December 2010. Don't forget to grab your copies if you have not already done so, because believe me, this is worth your time! Thank you to David Fickling Books and Random House Children's Books for my review copy.

Book Review: Trash (Andy Mulligan)

Raphael is a dumpsite boy. He spends his days wading through mountains of steaming trash, sifting it, sorting it, breathing it, sleeping next to it. Then one unlucky-lucky day, Raphael's world turns upside down. A small leather bag falls into his hands. It's a bag of clues. It's a bag of hope. It's a bag that will change everything.

Even before I read Trash, I knew it will be one of those book that has a strong, immediate connection to me. As a child, I often spent my summer holidays in Manila, where the plot was loosely based. While reading, I came to find out just how much the characters, language and particularly the setting reminded me of the Philippines. But it is not its mere familiarity that made me love this book, it's the way the plot is reminiscent of some of the ugly reality in many, many places, and the brutal honesty in which this fact is presented.

The three characters, Raphael, Gardo and Rat, predominantly tell the story, although in certain key chapters other characters add their own input. The criss-crossing of narratives present different viewpoints which only adds to the magnetism of the whole book. These various point of views gives a broader viewpoint, I think, and allows the narrative to encompass a larger picture to drive home the plot.

I love these three boys - there is something about a child's voice that really captures my heart, but hearing their story is something beyond that. They have suffered so much from the cruel reality and their innocence is so tainted by the harsh world they were born in that each of their words seem too precious to not take to heart. Their excitement and despair is full of that powerful voice that I wanted to sweep them three into one warm hug and hope that that somehow brings enough comfort. I think that holds true in many readers and indeed makes one wonder that if these characters can hold one's heart, then what more the real children living in and with trash at the other side of the world?

Interestingly, many view Trash as a dystopian novel - but I beg to disagree. How can it be a futuristic novel when there are children living, eating, breathing trash? When there is widespread corruption by officials high and low and inhumane abuses in the hands of those who are supposed to protect? When children like Raphael, Gardo and Rat barely survive the next dawn and are in constant danger of dying a cruel, cruel death - of famine, war and diseases? No, Trash is not a dystopian novel. It's a moving, poignant novel about the here and the now. It's a story of the ugly reality.

There was the minor glitch of me not feeling wholly satisfied by the ending. It does not seem to fit well with the plot, although it still makes sense. I will not go into further details for fear of spoilers, but after reading, I wished the ending was a little less smooth and a little more thrilling.

Regardless, Trash is a book everyone should read. I mean it - everyone! No one can read this and say he (or she) did not take anything away from it. Andy Mulligan's Trash is one of those books that shows a picture of exactly how life is in places we don't know, but we should care about.

Four Stars.


* Copy received for review. Thanks to Lauren @ RHCB!

Book Review: Mistress of the Storm (Melanie Welsh)

The wind blew fast and clean straight into Verity's lungs. Even from the downs she could smell the salt spray - fresh and cold - and hear the crash as the Storm ploughed head-on into green and churning waves. Sea water washed over her prow and drained back in torrents of foam. Verity Hunter is just a normal, lonely little girl who has never quite fit in. But suddenly it's down to her to solve the riddle of an ancient pledge and protect her family from the evil Mistress of the Storm. What hope does she have against a witch so powerful that she can control the wind and create storms at will? Luckily, Verity does not have to face her enemy alone. As events begin to spiral out of control, she finds two loyal and steadfast friends to stand by her side. The Storm is coming. And it will change Verity's life forever.

Mistress of the Storm is the perfect read for younger teens who enjoy a hearty dose of mystery and for those who are transitioning from children's book to young adult novels. Set in the small town of Wellow, Mistress of the storm follows the events of Verity Gallant's life following the day she finds a mysterious man handing her a red book.

The book is generally presented in three parts. I found the first part to be about introductions. The book spends a good number of pages introducing characters with importance to the plot. It was disorienting with so many characters being simultaneously presented, but as the book progresses one begins to understand their role better. More questions about the mystery is added here than answers. The combined effect was for me, a little confusing, but it does get better as the book progresses. The middle part reveals the history and the more magical side to the book. The thrill increases, and the characters undergo a lot more changes and interact more with each other. The third and final part is where the action occurs. I liked it particularly because this is where everything is unraveled and all questions are answered. It has elements of folklore, magic and the general theme of good against evil, which is what really led me to believe that Mistress of the Storm is a particularly good book for younger teens. It is still rooted in the magic that kids adore in children's book, but with a more edgy, more mature side that makes it close to a young adult book.

The characters in this book is well portrayed. Verity isn't a particularly strong girl - she does not seem to stand up to bullies and keeps to herself; but her flaws gives her the best platform to mature and her strength and courage becomes clear at the end of the book. It was easy to symphatise with her and feel outraged with the antagonists. I feel it will appeal even more to childres as they relate easier to the many colourful characters. All of the important characters were given their resolutions, one I feel strongly about. It shows how the book is neatly outlined. There were little surprises in this book, none of which are big twists in themselves. I must admit there were times where I felt the narrative dragged and could just have gone straight to the point. I am also partly unsure that some of the characters are particularly important. Not that I mind them being in the book, I simply think it could have done with less. Nonetheless, characters give this book variety so they do seem to have their purpose at least.

To those who'd enjoy mystery with a hint of magic, Mistress of the Storm is the book for you!

Three Stars.


* Book received from Bookbabblers for review - thank you!