Carnegie Long List continued

I’m setting myself the challenge to read all of the books on the long list before the winner is announced. 52 titles in 6 months. That’s 2 a week….. I’d better get reading!

Since my last post I have read….

 

 Artichoke Hearts by Sita Brahmachari

A surprisingly good read. I had expected it to be overtly ‘girly’ but instead it is the story of Mira and the approaching death of her Grandmother. Full of gentle humour, and looking at the close relationship between them, this story is a really good read, and although I didn’t cry I found the moments when her Grandmother says goodbye for the last time to people and friends as she goes about her dasily life poignant.

Quarry by Ally Kennen

A strange tale. Largely unsatisfying. Scrappy – the lead character recieves increasingly bizarre dares via his phone, so he has a go at doing them. The mystery is who is sending these texts and why. Naturally, set against a background of recent parental separation (why the mother doesn’t do more to look after him I reallt do not understand!) he feels he has no one to turn to – apart from the school bully…. The reveal is both unexpected, and yet such a let down.

 Caddys World by Hilary McKay

I’m fairly sure that if I had read all the books that this prequal links to then Im sure I might have  laughed at the in jokes, and spotted moments of “Oh that’s why….” As it was it was an okay story about four girls as their lives slowly change for a different reasons. If you liked Saffy or Indigos story then you’ll proberably enjoy this book too!

 

 

Books I’ve read so far….

      

  

Carnegie Long List continued

I’m setting myself the challenge to read all of the books on the long list before the winner is announced. 52 titles in 6 months. That’s 2 a week….. I’d better get reading!

Since my last post I have read….

The Emerald Atlas by John Stephens

As I suspected in the previous Carnegie Blog spot this turned out to be book one in a trilogy. Which fits in with the three siblings and the three missing books. Sigh. It is a bit of a mixture of Harry Potter and Artemis Fowl, but is a poor relation to both of these. I did like the time-travel explanation, and those in KS3 who love fantasy may enjoy this too.

Lia’s Guide to Winning the Lottery by Keren David

If you’ve ever wanted to get inside the head of a teenage spoilt brat then this book is for you! It has all the usual teenage coming of age angst:-parents, school work, friendships, siblings, love and sex. All magnified by Lia’s lottery win and the responsibilties that come with it.

My Sister Lives on the Mantlepiece by Annabel Pitcher

I really enjoyed this book, and the issue with lack of speech marks was avoided by having all talking in italics, so whilst not normal I was able to read without it being too distracting. The story covers the neglect of the surviving children many years after the death of Rosie, the subsequent breakdown of their parents marriage, alcoholism and the resulting bigotry. A uplifting story of survival, and a satisfying read.

 

I’m currently reading “The Emerald Atlas” by John Stephens and I have a nasty suspicion that this to will turn out to be “Book one” of a series too!

Books I’ve read so far….

     

Carnegie Long List continued

I’m setting myself the challenge to read all of the books on the long list before the winner is announced. 52 titles in 6 months. That’s 2 a week….. I’d better get reading!

Since my last post I have read….

 “Matched” by Ally Condie

An interesting and thought provoking read, it did remind me of another book I read years ago and the name of that one escapes me. Unfortunately “Matched” is the first part of a series so I put it down unsatisfied and disappointed. On those grounds I hope it doesn’t make the short list.

“One Dog and His Boy” by Eva Ibbotson

I found this book to be both preachy and predictable. It is aimed at younger readers, although if you are a dog fan (and I’m not) then you’ll enjoy the dogs points of view.

“Blood Red Road” by Moira Young

This book just annoyed me. Firstly there are no speech marks so I had to stop reading every so often and work out if someone was talking or thinking and who it was – or wasn’t – and this stopped me from ‘getting into’ the book. The second annoying thing is the language used as in “I ain’t sen nutin’ yet” – which as a rule I ‘m fine with when it is used as someone is speaking – as it adds to characterisation. But this was used throughout the story – and not just in speech marks (since there weren’t any!- arrgghh!). The final nail in the coffin was it is the first part of a new series… so it didn’t end satisfactorily and I definitely don’t want anymore! So sad because at the heart of this there was a good story.

I’m currently reading “The Emerald Atlas” by John Stephens and I have a nasty suspicion that this to will turn out to be “Book one” of a series too!

Books I’ve read so far….

   

The Carnegie Medal is awarded annually to the writer of an outstanding book for children.

The long list has recently been published and the MRC is currently buying any books on the list that we don’t have already!