New England Rocks - Christina Courtenay

I've previously read one of this author's historical fiction titles, Highland Storms, which was a really enjoyable, well written period adventure and romance. I like to read a young adult novel from time to time, as I enjoy a nice variety in my reading matter! This is Christina Courtenay's first novel for young adults, and it is the first in a trilogy all to be set in New England.

Rain Mackenzie is expelled from Blakeborough boarding school in England and travels to join her wealthy parents where they currently live, in a small town north of Boston in New England. They hope to teach her a lesson after her exploits at her previous school where she was found in the boys dormitory surrounded by empty tequila bottles, by sending her to the local school, Northbrooke High, and bringing her down to earth. She is intent on not enjoying it at Northbrooke High, determined to keep to herself and not get involved with anyone. After all, she thinks she won't be there long. However, her opinion starts to waver when she gets to know fellow student and musician Jesse Devlin a little better. Despite a definite attraction between the pair, there's a complication because Jesse is already attached, and his girlfriend Amber isn't at all keen on Rain spending any time with him. The story follows Rain's time settling in at the school and getting to know Jesse. 

I thought this was an easy, enjoyable, fun and undemanding read, with a sweet storyline, featuring an independent, sassy heroine and a troubled, sensitive and handsome hero. It was an escapist read, and the development of friendships and romance were nicely portrayed. The author writes with a compassion for her characters, and captures the high school environment with its cliques and rivalries. I enjoyed the bonding day episode when the kids went out into the forest. I felt perhaps the outcome was a little easy to guess at, but I was glad that it concluded the way it did. Rain developed as a character, moving from her initial disgruntlement at finding herself thrust into a new school in another country, to an acceptance and even appreciation of the new people she meets, and happiness at how things turn out. There's a lot more to Jesse than initially meets the eye, and his tougher background is in stark contrast to Rain's privileged upbringing. There's some highlighting of the contrasts between the UK and USA, in terms of language and cultural comparisons; I'd have liked a bit more of this, and I'd have loved a little more about the New England setting and landscape.

Overall New England Rocks is a fairly quick read and an enjoyable teenage tale with heart, and I'd be keen to see what the author does in the next book in this series; in the meantime, I'll be hoping to read some of her other historical fiction.

Published by Choc Lit

Thanks to the publisher for kindly sending a copy of this novel to read and give an honest review.

You can find the author on twitter @PiaCCourtenay  and visit her website here.

You can read the prologue and first chapter on the Choc Lit website here. 

Freaks Like Us - Susan Vaught

‘There’s no running away from what’s in your own head.’

This is the story of three friends, one of whom, seventeen-year-old Jason Milwaukee, is the first person narrator. Sunshine goes missing and the mystery of the story is in trying to resolve where she is and why she has disappeared, with Jason struggling to remember what she had said to him before she disappeared, her voice fighting with the other, overpowering voices in his head.

Jason, who is telling the story here, is SCZI - schizophrenic. Sunshine is SM - selectively mute, and Drip (Derrick) has ADHD. Collectively they, and others like them who suffer mental illnesses tagged by such initials, refer to themselves as ‘alphabets’. As Jason’s father explains to FBI Agent Mercer, ‘”It’s a word Jason and Sunshine and Derrick use to describe themselves as a group. It feels better to them than any of the disorder-disability talk.”’

Jason often refers to his mother and father by their professional ranks of the colonel and the captain. His parents divorced when he was twelve and when we meet him he is living with his father. Jason is also referred to as “Freak” and tells Agent Mercer frankly: “Everybody calls me that. You can.”

The tension builds in the story as the hours go by since Sunshine has been gone. Susan Vaught's writing feels compassionate and honest in dealing with mental health in teenagers, how it feels to them to be different, to be classed as SED - Severely Emotionally Disturbed. The author is a practicing psychologist. She conveys the intensity of the struggle to deal with his affliction throughout every waking moment, through Jason’s hurried speech and transcribing the talk he hears from all of the different, competing voices in his head – the style of writing reflects the chaos of Jason’s mind and thoughts and the voices. Some of the thoughts they tell him are very negative and cruel: ‘He knows it’s your fault. He knows you’re an idiot. Fool on the hill. Fool on the hill. He’s got cold eyes. Why does he have cold eyes? He’s probably a serial killer.’

The author is careful to make it clear that he is not his illness; at one point he is talking and realizes these aren’t his thoughts but the thoughts of the voices he hears;

‘I hate it when I sound like my alphabet voices.

I hate it when I smear together like a wet photograph and get all sticky and can’t tell the crazy voices from my own voice and what I’m seeing now from what I saw before and what I want to see now and what I wanted to see before and –‘

His frustration at his real thoughts being clouded and hidden sometimes by everything else that is going on in his mind is difficult for him to bear.

I found this an unsettling and difficult read at times; some of the images Jason sees are a bit disturbing and the constant reminders of the cruel and confused voices littered throughout the text make for an uneasy read. But this is the author’s point; this is conveying the illness and the realities of what Jason endures. I’m glad the author attempted to portray this as it is. Anyone who has suffered or had experience of a mental illness will likely feel a resonance with this story, as will many compassionate readers who haven’t.

Throughout the story I found myself liking Jason and admiring him for who he is. I felt very sad and frustrated for him at times, when he was being bullied, or misunderstood by those who don’t know him, or when his unusual behaviour attracts unjustified suspicions that he might be guilty. Most sad of all was when he couldn’t reach inside his mind and find the memories and thoughts that he really needed, the clues that would help him understand about Sunshine, because the voices keep getting in the way, causing confusion. His deep affection and respect for Sunshine is evident throughout. I was so glad the three of them – Jason, Sunshine and Drip - had had each other’s friendship and understanding. It’s very clear that, as Jason observes, 'Some days life makes more sense than other days.'

The shift in the relationship between FBI Agent Mercer and Jason as the story progresses was very nicely done I thought. As he emerges with new understanding and consideration for Jason, so too does the reader.

A poignant, honest and distinctive young adult mystery novel with frank insights into mental health. 

Published by Bloomsbury Childrens Books

Meeting Lydia - Linda MacDonald - Book Tour - review and giveaway

'Memories were strange things: paper fragments, some black with jagged edges and some softly curving and brightly coloured.'

The year is 2001 and psychology teacher Marianne Hayward is thinking more and more about the past. Her daughter Holly has introduced her to Friends Reunited and she beings to spend time on the site looking through the names. This in turn causes her to reflect and it stirs up memories of her school days, of fellow pupils both kind and cruel. Now aged forty-six, Marianne feels she is at a turning point in her life; a change both physical and metaphorical seems to be underway, her husband Johnny has an attractive new colleague and seems suddenly more distant and her only child Holly is leaving for University. Pondering her memories, her life as it is now, and thinking about the difficult times she endured when she was bullied as a young girl, one of only a few girls attending a boys prep school called Brocklebank. She has stayed silent and not shared these memories, hiding them even from herself for most of her life:

'...the worst moments were still hidden in a locked box, too painful even for her own scrutiny. Sometimes she thought about opening the lid just a fraction and peeking through the tiniest gap to see if perhaps there was nothing alarming in there after all; that it was all a mistake; that she needn't have spent a lifetime of avoidance. But always she faltered, frightened of what she might find, and the box remained shut.'

Now, as she revisits those times in her mind, she remembers a boy who was never unkind to her, Edward Harvey, and searches Friends Reunited to see if he is there, wondering and intrigued as to what happened to him. The prologue to the novel introduces us to Lydia and Lucy in 1967 and I enjoyed discovering who these characters were and how the title of this novel comes about as I read on. 

I thought this was a really good premise for a story, and I was drawn in by the idea of Marianne looking back; I was interested in who she would find from her school days and how far she would go in terms of getting in touch with her former classmates from so many years before. This theme touches on something which many people will have toyed with, with the advent first of Friends Reunited, and then in more recent years facebook, both offering new ways back to the past. But is this always a safe path, an advisable one to take? We don't know what people will be like now. We may find happy nostalgia, but we may uncover sadness and hurt that has lain dormant. For Marianne, the one person she would be interested in hearing from is Edward, and the idea of finding him becomes somewhat of a preoccupation for her. Should she succeed in finding him, would getting in touch be the right thing to do?

Marianne is very prone to introspection; we are party to her thoughts and to the words she records in her journal as she analyses her days and thinks everything over. She is also prone to dwelling on the negative side with regard to events and recollections, and forgetting the more pleasant things that happened, something that is admittedly all too easy to do and which I identified with. 'She forgot the good times...and just remembered always feeling isolated, marginalised, bullied and downtrodden....The lesson was to learn perspective, but she hadn't learnt it yet.' Though I was willing her to no longer be blighted by past sadness, I understood that she was deeply scarred by it; events can haunt us even when, or perhaps because, we have kept them locked away, trying to protect ourselves. 

The novel looks at the enduring impact that bullying can have; Marianne tells us that 'the frightened girl is still within me. I hear her crying sometimes; I feel her pain when they call her names.' Despite a marriage that has been very happy and a lovely daughter, she is haunted by the damage inflicted during those early school days. 

I thought this was a thoughtful, emotional and moving novel of one woman's midlife journey through difficult times, self-criticism, past pain and confusion towards an understanding and acceptance of her past and a reassessment of her present; events are portrayed with sensitivity and perception by the author. This is a story about memories, hurt, emotional scars, love and life. 

Thanks to the author and the tour organiser for kindly sending me an ebook copy of this novel to read and review. 

Do visit the rest of the stops on the tour.

You can follow the author on twitter @LindaMac1 and also find her on Goodreads and on Facebook

Read about the story behind Meeting Lydia in this guest post by the author on Jera's Jamboree book blog.

About the Author

Linda MacDonald was born and brought up in Cockermouth, on the edge of the Lake District in Cumbria, England. She was educated at the local grammar school and later at Goldsmiths’, University of London where she studied for a BA in psychology and then a PGCE in biology and science. She taught secondary science and biology in Croydon for eleven years before taking some time out to write, paint and make jewellery. In 1990 she was lured back into teaching at a sixth form college in south-east London where she taught health and social care and psychology. For over twenty-five years she was also a visiting tutor in the psychology department at Goldsmiths’.

At the end of 2009, Linda broke her wrist very badly through tripping over a classroom chair. Reminded of the fragility of life and how time was passing with her writing dreams still unfulfilled, she decided to publish her first novel independently. Meeting Lydia was inspired by finding an ex classmate on Friends Reunited. The novel explores the effects of school bullying on later life, and the pros and cons of internet relationships from the perspective of a woman going through a midlife crisis. It was published in September 2011. The stand-alone sequel, A Meeting of a Different Kind, had already been drafted before Linda broke her wrist and was published in November last year. It continues the story from the perspectives of two different characters, looking at issues of friendship, loyalty and betrayal. Both books may be read independently and are being very well-received by a wide ranging readership of men as well as women. It is expected that there will be a third part to the series and this is a work in progress.

Health issues in 2011 prompted Linda to retire from teaching in order to concentrate on her writing career. She hopes that with this new focus she can bring her books to the notice of a larger audience.

Giveaway!

I am delighted to share with you a giveaway that is running with this whole book tour - the prize is two signed paperback copies of Meeting Lydia with further prizes of signed postcards and bookmarks.  To enter, please leave a comment on this post.  Please find a link to the rafflecopter entry form below. Two weeks after the tour ends, the author will select the winners from the comments on all blogs taking part in the tour. The giveaway is open internationally.

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Myopia - Jeff Gardiner

Jerry is being bullied at school. Those who pick on him target the fact that he wears glasses, and he suffers their cruel taunts and physical attacks. However, Jerry also begins to experience some unusual effects as a result of his short-sightedness, sometimes giving him a different, special way of seeing his world. 

‘He couldn’t explain the weird phenomena caused by his myopia, but one thing did occur to him: perhaps short-sightedness was not a disability after all, but rather a way of seeing the world in a different way.’

This book deals honestly with bullying and friendship, with prejudice and coming to terms with difficult situations. Jerry sadly considers the way the bullies have treated him: ‘What goes through a person’s head to think it’s okay to make another human being feel so worthless and humiliated?’ I think the author dealt with these important themes extremely well within his novel; this is an insightful story. The bullies are realistic and the bullying harsh, but the bullies are real characters, not stereotypes. Importantly, whether seemingly good or bad, the story illustrates that there is always more to a person than meets the eye.

I liked several of the characters; in particular the marvellous, innovative and supportive school deputy head, Mr Quincy Finn. Whilst other teachers do little to support Jerry, Mr Finn takes pride in making the school a better, safer place, and in empowering Jerry himself to be a big part of that change.

The author takes the subject of short-sightedness and makes it feel positive for Jerry; when he has his eyesight checked and is told of his myopia, he compares the sound of the word to another word, utopia, and imagines myopia as a place that he can visit only because of his particular eyesight.

This young adult novel is an intelligent, skillful and well-written treatment of a serious subject that sadly affects all too many children and indeed adults, with an admirable main character and a little feeling of fantasy and magic at times. Despite the central topic, it is not without touches of humour and romance, and it is definitely enjoyable and rewarding as an adult read too. 

Published by Crooked Cat Publishing

Thanks very much to the author for kindly sending an ebook copy of this novel to read and review.

You can find the author on twitter @JeffGardiner1 and visit his blog here and his website here. 

Once Removed - K. B. Walker

'Like unlocking the valve of a pressure cooker, opening her skin released the dementing force.'

Abby (Abriella) Garside is a newly qualified secondary school teacher in a small town in Yorkshire. Beth is a pupil at the school. Abby notices Beth involved in an incident with a craft knife. She resolves to keep an eye on Beth and tries to help integrate her more in her lessons. Beth comes to trust Abby.

Abby has a difficult relationship with her family throughout her life. Thinking back to when she was just a girl, she admits to a deep loneliness, to feeling pushed aside; 'I knew even then I didn't fit in my family, didn't really belong.' The feeling of feeling as if she doesn't quite fit in is one which lingers in her mind; 'Once at a distant relative's wedding, I'd been introduced to a cousin once removed. The phrase intrigued me and seemed to describe my position in our family.' She has a relationship with a man called Jeff, but as we learn more about them, it appears she is settling for him rather than it being a healthy relationship. Beth similarly suffers from a sense of isolation, feeling a 'screaming loneliness'. She cuts herself, and describes how she feels afterwards, as 'A satisfying pain pierced through the noise in my brain, giving voice to my silent cry.'


The first person narratives from both of the main two characters run alongside each other and give us an intimate depiction of the daily lives and struggles of them both as two separate individuals, and also as two people whose paths come together. Short passages in italics at the start of some chapters hint at one person's secret history and draw us further into the narrative. The characters are well drawn, from Abby and Beth, Aunt Frieda and Ryan, down to the minor characters like Mrs Billington. Abby has mannerisms which she repeats and this added to the realism of the character for me. There is real growth and development in plot and characters.


There is an intelligent exploration here of the notion of someone who feels like they don't quite fit, like they are different, and struggling both to be accepted by others, and to accept themselves as they are. I felt the pain being endured by both Abby and Beth really came across in the writing. Abby feels inadequate and out of place at times, lacking in confidence.


The book deals well with how people have little confidence, sometimes because of past hurt, and the strength that can need to be found to continue, to believe in oneself and realise that you are deserving of kindness and love, from others, but most importantly from yourself. It was wonderful to read a story dealing with this. The book also follows through and looks at what happens when someone tries to help and it is misconstrued, resulting in rumour, speculation, incorrect judgments formed without knowledge of the truth, and retribution.


The story kept me thinking whilst reading and each time I put the novel aside I was thinking about the characters.  The author shows insight into what is going on here, within destructive or cruel family relationships. The plot developed in a satisfying way. I empathised with Abby and was angered by how members of her family behaved towards her. It is a believable portrayal of sadness and hurt and although there are distressing moments and there is unhappiness, there is also friendship, joy and hope.

I found this a very moving, emotional book, and I felt that the sensitive and challenging subject matter, including self-harm, was carefully handled by this author. Empathy is created, the friendship between teacher and pupil is believable and it is carefully and beautifully portrayed. 

I would recommend this book and I will be looking out for future work by this author.

Published by Crooked Cat Publishing

You can follow the author on twitter @kbwalkerwrites and visit her blog here.

Thanks to the publisher for kindly sending a copy of this ebook to read and give an honest review.

One Breath Away - Heather Gudenkauf

'All the hard work she invested in creating a warm welcoming environment, destroyed by this terrible man.'

This contemporary novel follows five people all linked by the chilling events of one day in the small town of Broken Branch, Iowa, when a gunman enters an elementary school. Five narrators who are all linked by the events tell us about the day through their eyes, each giving a different perspective, and we find out a little about each of their backgrounds too, which allows us to learn about them, and relate this to how they are behaving now, on this day. As the snow falls, the rest of the town can only sit and wait.

Police officer Meg Barrett, farmer Will Thwaite, his thirteen-year-old granddaughter Augie Baker, and Evelyn Oliver, the teacher trapped in her classroom with her pupils and the gunman, recount what is happening around them, and then the final narrator is Holly, who is mother to Augie and her younger brother P. J., and who is in hospital across the country recovering from the effects of a terrible accidental fire. 

This is an emotional, captivating story of everyday lives and relationships interrupted by one terrifying moment. The tension builds as the story progresses. The author conveys the worries of those waiting to hear any news from the school. I found myself thinking about who the gunman could be, and what his motivation was. There is suspicion and speculation as to his identity by those closely involved. Through what we slowly learn about these characters' pasts, the author introduces several possible candidates who could be the gunman. Anxious parents and friends wait, desperate for news, but little is forthcoming. For policewoman Meg, this is frustrating: 'I feel at loose ends; the little information I have is fragmented and disjointed, doesn't make sense.' The reader is kept on edge for most of the novel as to how the events will conclude.

The novel is fast-paced, the narrative voice shifts regularly between the five characters, and the sections are all fairly short, until at one point we have as little as a paragraph or two from one character, then we skip straight to another. This occurs as the story is at its most uncertain moment, and adds to the tension for the reader.

The main characters are all convincing and well-drawn, each with their own individual concerns already playing on their minds, these anxieties then being compounded by the shocking events of this day. It's fascinating to see how each character reacts in this awful situation. I kept wondering what would happen next, and I was thinking about the story even when I'd put the book down. 

Published by Harlequin Mira on June 19th 2012 (US) and Mira on July 6th 2012 (UK)


Thank you to Netgalley and the publisher for an advance ebook copy of this novel to read and review. 


4/5