Articles about the Young Adult

This is a very simply written short novel describing Auschwitz from the perspective of a nine year old boy. The writing is clear and very easy to read, divided into short chapters, some wry irony throughout. However, I personally felt that the naivety of the boy was somewhat overplayed: would a nine year old really be so unaware? Some of the boy's language and mispronounciation producing puns that only work in English, such as 'Fury' and 'Out with', I found a bit contrived and the constant repetition began to grate. I'm not sure I could really believe the storyline, although the ironic impact of the ending was strong. It provided a much lighter treatment of the subject than offered by Primo Levi and Ken Keneally for example, but because of this the book is somewhat lightweight and lacking impact. However, it is still an easy and thoughtful read.

Twilight is the best book I've ever read - And believe me I've read a lot. I got the school librarian to order the entire series in so my friends could read them and she ended up having to buy more they were that popular! It's beautifully written and such a captivating tale. I deny any girl not to fall in love with Edward Cullen.

This is just awful. I tolerated the first two being both derivative and badly written and put it down to a young author finding his feet. But this is the worse of the three.

The book is predictable in extreme as the young hero lives out the author's adolescent Dungeons and Dragons adventures.

I tried. I really really tried but half way through I abandoned it. I was sick of falling out of the world he almost creates when he insists on using a 'big' word trying to impress the reader with word knowledge instead of doing his best to retaining the readers immersion. This will become one of three books I have ever started and never finished out of the hundreds I've read.

I can only say go read some more and see how the real writers do it.

If your older than 9 and looking for something to read, buy something else!!

Do I really have to give it a star?

Pratchett's books for young people have a tendency to reach beyond the intended age group and are just as enjoyable and relevant for adults. His latest novel, "Nation", is no exception. Anybody who has read his Tiffany Aching books will also know that Pratchett also has a fondness for headstrong young girls, delighting in exemplifying how they grow more or less smoothly into maturity. In this delightful novel Daphne, or Ermintrude as she was named by her family, is another example. Just for the pleasure of meeting her, the book would be worth reading... but there is so much more to explore here.

Thirteen-year-old Daphne is pretty, smart and well-educated, and loved by her aristocratic father. After the death of her mother, she was brought up by her strict grandmother, who instils in her a sense of values and responsibility but also, unintentionally, inquisitiveness and independence of mind. She is the counter part to Mau, also thirteen, and the actual hero of the story. His Nation, a small island in the South Pelagic Ocean is a traditional, pre-industrial society where gods reign and the spirits of the grandfathers maintain the ritualistic order by communicating their instructions to the selected few. While on "Boy's island", where he had been preparing for the rites of passage into manhood ceremony, Mau was oblivious to the tsunami of unheard of proportion that swept over lands and islands. The village had assembled on the beach for his return and celebration when the wave swept them away, leaving a trail of destruction. He reaches Nation in the aftermath of the disaster and discovers that he is all alone. Well, not quite... The ship that was to bring Daphne to her father in Port Mercia stranded on Mau's island leaving her with only a talkative parrot for company.

The story follows the two young people from worlds apart - without a common language and even gestures - who have to overcome their mutual suspicion and distrust and grow individually and together to become the centre of a new community as survivors from surrounding islands and from further afield seeking refuge with them. With great sensitivity and imagination, Pratchett explores the coming of age process in both. He exquisitely tackles the conflicts in Mau's mind between his old society steeped in mythology and hierarchy and the new reality where beliefs and rituals have to be questioned and new codes of morality be established. Daphne also has to develop a new understanding of society where class and privilege have no meaning. There are any number of challenges the young people have to face, starting with finding food and milk for a baby. There are pirates and renegades to deal with and much more... Can they, together with the diverse collections of refugees build a better and more hopeful Nation?

Pratchett's style is as always fluid and smooth, his imagery perceptive and innovative. His sense of humour, mostly subtle, shines through many sections. There are a few slow sections that a young person might skim over searching for the action on the next page. For adults the novel has many layers of narrative, food for thought on our perceptions of cultures, traditions and communication. [Friederike Knabe]

Breaking Dawn begins with the last days of Bella's human life, and then continues with the marriage of Bella and Edward, and what happens beyond that. And this is where I don't want to write a spoiler, so I'll skirt around it the best I can. The newlyweds go off on a beautiful honeymoon and have a wonderful start to life and husband and wife - but in true Twilight style, things don't stay normal for long.

They travel back to the rest of the Cullen clan, and before long, all hell has broken loose, with Bella right in the centre of all the trouble. It's now time for everyone to pull together, despite their differences, and fight against what is threatening them and their very existence. Bella is prepared to fight for her life and her determination, as well as her new immortal form reveal power she never knew she had. But will it be enough? Can Bella and her allies survive the biggest threat to all vampires - more vampires? Only one way to find out...

After reading this, I still preferred the third book, Eclipse. Yes, there's tons of action to be crammed into this book, but I still felt there were bits that could have been trimmed down. I didn't see the 'twist' coming but I wasn't altogether surprised because I've seen a very similar storyline in one of my favourite drama series. However, it was a great ending to the saga, but it's also left it wide open for continuation, if Stephenie Meyer decides she wants to pocket a few more quid. And fair play to her if she does. I'll definitely continue reading if she writes more!

I couldn't wait to get my hands on this one, but when i did... i wasn't satisfied.
This book isn't bad at all, and if you are a neil-fan, by all means read it. But, this book just wasn't as inventive, as surprising, touching or original.
the concept is great... the excecution.. not that great. There is nothing new, and i felt that i'd seen all the tricks before.
(Strangely, the book read as a script. i could just see the film sequences in my head.)
Also having read M is for Magic, i was already familiar with a great deal of the story. i almost skipped that part, but forced myself to read it again.
I sometimes thought: this is a real children's book, don't be so critical, but then characters such as victor hugo and the 66th president of U.S.A. are introduced, and i can't imagine kids being that familiar with french literature... It felt like Neil was sending me straight to wikipedia, to read up on some elemental history.
and the end... well... i suppose it was poignant, but i was not satisfied.
i remember being shattered coming to the end of neverwhere, wanting it to go on forever... i hardly dare pick up coraline again, because it disturbed and frightened me so.
The Graveyard book left me... unimpressed.

Please dont let him write another. Great Britain has the worlds greatest authors.
Anthony Horowitz; Alex Rider, Jason Steed, Ravens Gate, Necropolis.
Joe Craig: Jimmy Coates.
Robert Muchamore: Cherub.
All three authors have proved themselves as being the best teen spy writers not only in the country but the world.
Joe Craig who brought us Jimmy Coates is also the couson of James Bond Actor Daniel Crag.
Yet we have comedian Charlie Higson and part time author writing the young adventures of the great fictional character in the world.

By Royal Command is slows. and has James out of character, fleeing the country. The chapters are slow and boring in places.
When the wolrd is reading books by Anthony Horowitz and Stephenie Meyers this is a let down. Take the James Bond name away and you have nothing. I can see why they have not made a film on the series yet made a film about Alex Rider and are going to make a film on the Cherub series.

I bought this for my 8 year old daughter on the basis of the reviews on Amazon. I was not disappointed! It really is easy to do (even if you're not that creative yourself!). Use the stencils to create catwalk sensations - I bought it a week ago and have already sent for the refill pack as we have run out of hangers to display our creations. Loads of fantastic paper, sequins, beads, ribbon and glue (but only 20 hangers). My daughter absolutely loves it and can do it herself without any help - will definitely be buying more for presents for friends etc. Without a doubt this is fantastic value for money and I would recommend it to anyone who enjoys craft activities (adults and children). You will not be disappointed!

Wolf Island is a very good book. Full of twist and turns and ended on a cruel cliff hanger.

Grubbs Grady and his friends must fight hordes of demons and werewolves. Grubbs tries to hold his inner wolf in. He and his friends try to survive and escape. This story is at the same time of the seventh book, showing what Grubbs was doing while the famous magician Bernabaus fought his battle, (which is in book seven.)

Good for 12+. There is less action than in the previous books, but a better plot in this one.

Why cant Conn Iggulden write any faster? Have to say, another triumph. I love the way he writes, you feel like you are part of the whole journey. It's clever as well, because the heroes aren't heroes, there just as nasty as the bad guys, however they are your bad guys! Going to be depressed again now waiting ages for his next one :-(