Roomies- Sara Zarr and Tara Altebrando

 

Roomies is a YA book exploring the transitional period between leaving school and going to University.  Elizabeth and Lauren are two very different people who are allocated a room share.  They wonder if they will get on at all, but over a summer of emails they begin to open up, talking about their hopes and fears.  I loved how the power of the internet and the opportunities it offers for developing friendships before meeting in person is explored in this book.

Roomies captures the teen angst perfectly, the self doubt, the worries about relationships, the uniqueness of this time where you are no longer a child but not quite an adult.  Roomies tugged on my heart strings and took me back to that time in my own life.  It would be a great read for anyone who is preparing to go to University this Autumn. 

The strength for me lies in the depth of Lauren and Elizabeth's personalities.  They are very much temperamental teens-not always the most likeable, yet always relatable.  Because Roomies is written partly in emails and partly in insightful prose, the reader really gets to know the girls, and as they the book progresses I felt more and more empathy towards each of the girls and their insecurities.

I really enjoyed Roomies, a modern take on the classic coming of age genre.  It has a large dose of friendship, a smattering of relationships, a sprinkling of sex and a whole load of family drama.  Overall, a touching and tender read.

Roomies is out now, published by Hodder and Stoughton.

8.5/10

With thanks to the publisher for providing me with a review copy of this book in return for my honest opinion.

Kipper's Christmas Eve-Mick Inkpen

Mick Inkpen has created one of the best-loved characters in picture books- Kipper.  Always popular, Inkpen's colourful, bold pictures are great for sharing either 1-1 or in a group, and the stories are touching and humorous. 

Kipper's Christmas Eve is no exception.  Both children and adults are charmed by the simplicity of the Kipper books, and in this tale he is preparing for Christmas Day.  The young audience will be able to appreciate the festive routines of collecting a tree, opening presents and novelty fashion.  The large illustrations enhance the tale and are full of life and energy.

The only negative is that it is quite a long story for the target age range, and I have found that some children aren't able to concentrate long enough to enjoy the whole book.  However, Kipper and his friends are a staple of any children's library.

Kipper's Christmas Eve is out now, published by Hodder.

8/10

With thanks to Hodder for providing me with this book in return for an honest review.

Let's Find Mimi (Around the World)- Katherine Lodge

 

Around the World is the latest in the Let's Find Mimi series.  The idea is similar to the Where's Wally? books.  Mimi and her family are on a world trip, visiting landmarks such as the pyramids, the Statue of Liberty and the Great Wall of China.  Readers are invited to find Mimi, along with items she has lost on her journey.  Children will enjoy searching the illustrations and delight when they are successful.  The only negative for me is that it might be slightly too challenging for some young children as the mice all look very similar in features (especially as they are small) and it is only their clothes that differ.

 

The illustrations make use of bold, vibrant colours guaranteed to catch the eye of even the most easily distracted of children.  The images are also a great starting point for conversations about the world, different cultures and environments.  It strikes a good balance between being education as well as entertaining.

 

I especially like how these type of books encourage reluctant readers, allowing them to engage in the pleasures of books without feeling pressurised into decoding words.  Best suited to children aged 4-7, this book has a lot to offer.

 

Around the World is out now, published by Hodder.

 

8/10

 

With thanks to Hodder for providing me with a review copy of this book in return for my honest opinion.

The Secret Seven-Enid Blyton

Oh, Enid Blyton.  The cause of much debate and controversy in children's fiction, yet still incredibly popular.  Adults are often dismissive of Blyton, even those who loved her books as a child, and I was very keen to start rereading some of my favourites.  When the opportunity to review The Secret Seven came up, I jumped at the chance.  I must have read the whole series at least ten times between the ages of 5-10, and the books that I especially enjoyed many more times that that. 

With slight trepidation I picked up the book.  Would I be disappointed?  Should childhood favourites be left in the past for fear of spoiling the happy memories they provide?  Or would I feel like I was being reacquainted with old friends?

The Secret Seven is the first book in the series.  First published in 1949 there are definitely parts of it that seem dated, especially some turns of phrase that are used (particularly by straight laced Janet).  However they were probably also outdated in the mid 1980s when I read these books the first time, and I was never aware that they were so old fashioned through my childhood eyes.  The same could well be true for children in modern society, infact I would go as far as to assume that it IS true, or the books would surely have gone out of print-nostalgia alone is not enough to keep publishers printing books, they have to actually sell too.

I whizzed through the story, and recalled many of the key moments throughout.  It was almost like being transported back to my own childhood, a sense of deja vu.  I loved reliving the adventure, particularly the sense of being tucked away in the shed sat on a flowerpot in the meetings the children have.  Passwords and disguises abound as the seven set off to find out who the stealthy men sneaking around a spooky old house are.  What are they doing, and why?  Of course the Secret Seven come up trumps, I don't think that is a spoiler, and as an adult I finished the book with the same sense of satisfaction that I did the first time around.  This surely shows the power a good book has, it can stand the test of time and be read at varying stages in life and still be appreciated.

The Hodder edition I had to review was illustrated by Tony Ross, which is obviously an attempt to make the books as visually appealing as possible to the young audience of the twenty-first century.  Whilst I liked the illustrations I didn't feel they gelled especially well with the text, but this may just be because they are not what I would traditionally associate with Blyton. 

Don't overlook Blyton thinking her work outmoded and irrelevant for children today.  Any child seeking high adventure and a story about true friendship and teamwork will find plenty in the Secret Seven books to appeal to them.

I have already decided that I'm going to buy all the books in the series to reread and review.  They will then remain on my son's bookshelf to hopefully be enjoyed again and again-they are classics, pure and simple.

9.5/10
With thanks to Hodder for providing me with a copy of this book in return for an impartial review.