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3.63 AVERAGE
3.63 AVERAGE
Wow. Where to even start with this book? I honestly thought this was going to be a cute and quick read between all the heavy books that I’ve been reading lately but IT WAS NOT
The writing wasn't the nicest writing I've ever read, but I definitely enjoyed reading it. And then the ending. BAM. I don't think I'll recover for a while.
Firstly, thanks to HarperCollins Australia for this review copy.
Review originally posted at Fiction in Fiction in Fiction
I remember someone once saying on Twitter how Aussie books are much more character driven than US books which are more plot driven. Melina Marchetta definitely comes to mind and I realise it’s the character driven books I love best. After reading The Yearbook Committee I can definitely say the characters have stuck with me.
What do you get when you combine a school captain who used to be star of the soccer team, a politician’s daughter who’s overly enthusiastic, an opinionated girl who hates Sydney, the popular girl’s best friend, a scholarship student from a poor background, and shove them onto the Yearbook Committee? Unwillingness to cooperate and absolute chaos that’s what. It’s bloody brilliant.
The first character we’re introduced to is Charlie who’s moved to Sydney from Melbourne and basically hates the move and anything in Sydney. I really disliked Charlie in the beginning because she felt the need to give a negative opinion on EVERYTHING. She seemed so ingrained in her beliefs and it was like everybody else should share those beliefs or they were wrong. And she felt the need to express her ideals at every possible moment, even when it wasn’t right for the situation. On the flip side I liked that she stood her ground and didn’t let anybody shutdown her feminist views. She definitely thaws and becomes easier to be around with as the book progresses. I liked that she has her moments of weakness and it’s obvious she’s a teenage girl too who has crushes and occasionally wants to drop the tough act.
Gillian was an interesting one. She was way too enthusiastic for my liking and tried so hard to please everyone. And I think because she tries so hard is one of the reasons why people treat her as a doormat. She won’t get angry at anything anybody does to her because she wants them to like her. But this girl has such a big heart. Despite the bullying she receives from her classmates and her horrible mother who gives her hell about her weight, and a father who cares more about his votes than his own daughter, she always has a smile on her face. Gill was the one who everybody in TYC came to like and could get along with.
For once a golden boy who is actually a good guy! The school captain Ryan is a genuinely nice guy and it was no wonder he got voted in as school captain. Not just because he’s good at soccer but because he cares about his role. He took being the school captain seriously, ensuring students did the right thing and being friendly to everyone. He also takes the yearbook seriously too because the principal gave him the responsibility. If Gill was the glue that kept everyone together, Ryan was the driving force behind it all. He’s the type of guy who’s like “I don’t care what shit is between you guys, you are going to get this done.” Love people like that! And Ryan isn’t without his own troubles. He struggles with a future where the one dream he was set on has crumbled. It was refreshing to see this because most high schoolers are the reverse – their future looks so uncertain because they don’t know what to do with their lives, but there’s endless possibilities.
One of my favourite characters was definitely Tammi. I found that she had the most growth throughout the book (these tend to be my favs). She starts off as the best friend to the popular girl who silently stands around as her best friend gets whatever she wants and does whatever she wants. Tammi matures though and quickly realises her best friend isn’t as perfect as she thinks. My favourite part about Tammi is that, no matter what her boyfriend says, she won’t let herself be pressured into sex. I think it’s becoming more and more a common thing in high schools these days and for Tammi to care about her body and not give in is awesome. Ladies (and gentlemen), reminder that you shouldn’t do something because somebody else tells you to. No matter what it seems like, it’s not a race. Don’t EVER let anybody pressure you into sex (or anything really). Do it because you want to when you’re ready. If he/she won’t wait for you, they’re not worth it.
Then my favourite who probably comes in just a little in front of Tammi, is Matty. I just wanted to hug this boy, hoodie and all. I like them smart and broody. Kid won an academic scholarship into a Catholic school! And beneath the hoodie, he’s actually sweet and caring ahhh love love LOVE. Poor guy is working two jobs to support himself and his mum who’s had some kind of breakdown and is obviously suffering from mental illness. He’s tough but he’s also coming apart at the seams. It was wonderful having him as a character as a fresh lens on the rich kids at Holy Family.
We’ve also got a great cast of secondary characters. There’s the other students at Holy Family, the teachers who are definitely questionable, and this really awesome principal. Ayoub brings in diversity through the families and friends of our MCs such as Gillian’s brother, and Matty’s best friend who I adored. Mo doesn’t bag Matty out for being smart and winning a scholarship, but actually supports and respects him. There are so many more characters but you’ll just have to discover them yourself. It’s these guys who make the main characters really shine and add depth to the story.
All of this is set against the backdrop of Sydney’s inner-west and ERMAGHERD you guys this is my fav part of reading. I haven’t read a book where I had “a sense of place” (as Melina Marchetta put it at the launch) since Melina’s own books. It feels so good to read a book and know where Burwood Westfield is, to be able to picture Burwood Park, to crave El Jannah (chargrilled chicken with this amazing garlic sauce they make), to think back to my own lunch at Burger Project a few weeks ago. Just like the characters in TYC, I walked the streets of this book. And it felt like coming home. This book felt like home to me. Ayoub does the setting so freaking well it was like a character of its own.
Then we have all the issues this book tackled. Through the diverse characters we’re able to see bullying, the differences in socioeconomic background prevalent in Sydney, mental illness, disability, peer pressure for everything you can possibly think of, the pressure to do well in the HSC and what happens after, and what I believe is a growing problem in NSW’s education system – the qualifications of teachers.
All of these very relevant themes are beautifully interwoven through our five MCs into an ending that reminds you this is reality. I can’t get over the amazing characterisation; freaking top notch. Each one of these characters have left a lasting impression. The Yearbook Committee became so much more than getting a yearbook out on deadline. Ayoub managed to encompass all the moments of Sydney high school life into 320 pages – the tears, the joy, the friendships and everything in between. EVERYBODY GO READ THIS OMG.
Review originally posted at Fiction in Fiction in Fiction
I remember someone once saying on Twitter how Aussie books are much more character driven than US books which are more plot driven. Melina Marchetta definitely comes to mind and I realise it’s the character driven books I love best. After reading The Yearbook Committee I can definitely say the characters have stuck with me.
What do you get when you combine a school captain who used to be star of the soccer team, a politician’s daughter who’s overly enthusiastic, an opinionated girl who hates Sydney, the popular girl’s best friend, a scholarship student from a poor background, and shove them onto the Yearbook Committee? Unwillingness to cooperate and absolute chaos that’s what. It’s bloody brilliant.
The first character we’re introduced to is Charlie who’s moved to Sydney from Melbourne and basically hates the move and anything in Sydney. I really disliked Charlie in the beginning because she felt the need to give a negative opinion on EVERYTHING. She seemed so ingrained in her beliefs and it was like everybody else should share those beliefs or they were wrong. And she felt the need to express her ideals at every possible moment, even when it wasn’t right for the situation. On the flip side I liked that she stood her ground and didn’t let anybody shutdown her feminist views. She definitely thaws and becomes easier to be around with as the book progresses. I liked that she has her moments of weakness and it’s obvious she’s a teenage girl too who has crushes and occasionally wants to drop the tough act.
Gillian was an interesting one. She was way too enthusiastic for my liking and tried so hard to please everyone. And I think because she tries so hard is one of the reasons why people treat her as a doormat. She won’t get angry at anything anybody does to her because she wants them to like her. But this girl has such a big heart. Despite the bullying she receives from her classmates and her horrible mother who gives her hell about her weight, and a father who cares more about his votes than his own daughter, she always has a smile on her face. Gill was the one who everybody in TYC came to like and could get along with.
For once a golden boy who is actually a good guy! The school captain Ryan is a genuinely nice guy and it was no wonder he got voted in as school captain. Not just because he’s good at soccer but because he cares about his role. He took being the school captain seriously, ensuring students did the right thing and being friendly to everyone. He also takes the yearbook seriously too because the principal gave him the responsibility. If Gill was the glue that kept everyone together, Ryan was the driving force behind it all. He’s the type of guy who’s like “I don’t care what shit is between you guys, you are going to get this done.” Love people like that! And Ryan isn’t without his own troubles. He struggles with a future where the one dream he was set on has crumbled. It was refreshing to see this because most high schoolers are the reverse – their future looks so uncertain because they don’t know what to do with their lives, but there’s endless possibilities.
One of my favourite characters was definitely Tammi. I found that she had the most growth throughout the book (these tend to be my favs). She starts off as the best friend to the popular girl who silently stands around as her best friend gets whatever she wants and does whatever she wants. Tammi matures though and quickly realises her best friend isn’t as perfect as she thinks. My favourite part about Tammi is that, no matter what her boyfriend says, she won’t let herself be pressured into sex. I think it’s becoming more and more a common thing in high schools these days and for Tammi to care about her body and not give in is awesome. Ladies (and gentlemen), reminder that you shouldn’t do something because somebody else tells you to. No matter what it seems like, it’s not a race. Don’t EVER let anybody pressure you into sex (or anything really). Do it because you want to when you’re ready. If he/she won’t wait for you, they’re not worth it.
Then my favourite who probably comes in just a little in front of Tammi, is Matty. I just wanted to hug this boy, hoodie and all. I like them smart and broody. Kid won an academic scholarship into a Catholic school! And beneath the hoodie, he’s actually sweet and caring ahhh love love LOVE. Poor guy is working two jobs to support himself and his mum who’s had some kind of breakdown and is obviously suffering from mental illness. He’s tough but he’s also coming apart at the seams. It was wonderful having him as a character as a fresh lens on the rich kids at Holy Family.
We’ve also got a great cast of secondary characters. There’s the other students at Holy Family, the teachers who are definitely questionable, and this really awesome principal. Ayoub brings in diversity through the families and friends of our MCs such as Gillian’s brother, and Matty’s best friend who I adored. Mo doesn’t bag Matty out for being smart and winning a scholarship, but actually supports and respects him. There are so many more characters but you’ll just have to discover them yourself. It’s these guys who make the main characters really shine and add depth to the story.
All of this is set against the backdrop of Sydney’s inner-west and ERMAGHERD you guys this is my fav part of reading. I haven’t read a book where I had “a sense of place” (as Melina Marchetta put it at the launch) since Melina’s own books. It feels so good to read a book and know where Burwood Westfield is, to be able to picture Burwood Park, to crave El Jannah (chargrilled chicken with this amazing garlic sauce they make), to think back to my own lunch at Burger Project a few weeks ago. Just like the characters in TYC, I walked the streets of this book. And it felt like coming home. This book felt like home to me. Ayoub does the setting so freaking well it was like a character of its own.
Then we have all the issues this book tackled. Through the diverse characters we’re able to see bullying, the differences in socioeconomic background prevalent in Sydney, mental illness, disability, peer pressure for everything you can possibly think of, the pressure to do well in the HSC and what happens after, and what I believe is a growing problem in NSW’s education system – the qualifications of teachers.
All of these very relevant themes are beautifully interwoven through our five MCs into an ending that reminds you this is reality. I can’t get over the amazing characterisation; freaking top notch. Each one of these characters have left a lasting impression. The Yearbook Committee became so much more than getting a yearbook out on deadline. Ayoub managed to encompass all the moments of Sydney high school life into 320 pages – the tears, the joy, the friendships and everything in between. EVERYBODY GO READ THIS OMG.
Not as good as I thought it would be.
So we have a group of people who don’t know and/or don’t like each other joining a yearbook club. Yet we rarely actually see them do anything for this club. They go to monthly meetings (I feel like meeting once a month is not enough, especially when they got nothing done in half of those meetings except arguing but whatever) and then go about their lives.
Honestly some of the characters were just really annoying and self centred so not all of them were likeable.
Also this book opens with the aftermath of a party gone wrong and we’re lead to believe that someone has died. But as the book went on I pretty much forgot that was a thing that happened until the last few chapters happen and we learn what went on in that party. It just felt like an unncessary addition to the book.
Some parts were interesting and enjoyable, and some characters were likeable but it was a pretty meh read.
So we have a group of people who don’t know and/or don’t like each other joining a yearbook club. Yet we rarely actually see them do anything for this club. They go to monthly meetings (I feel like meeting once a month is not enough, especially when they got nothing done in half of those meetings except arguing but whatever) and then go about their lives.
Honestly some of the characters were just really annoying and self centred so not all of them were likeable.
Also this book opens with the aftermath of a party gone wrong and we’re lead to believe that someone has died. But as the book went on I pretty much forgot that was a thing that happened until the last few chapters happen and we learn what went on in that party. It just felt like an unncessary addition to the book.
Some parts were interesting and enjoyable, and some characters were likeable but it was a pretty meh read.
funny
lighthearted
reflective
relaxing
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
You can find this review and more at Angel Reads
I’ve wanted to read a Sarah Ayoub book for quite a while now, I had seen Hate is Such a Strong Word so many times, but just never bought it. But when I interviewed Sarah Ayoub for my #LoveOZYA feature, I knew I had to read at least 1 of her books. So I picked up The Yearbook Committee and let me tell you, I loved it.
The Yearbook Committee follows five very different students as they come together to complete the yearbook for the end of year 12. This book is full of friendships, breakdowns, romance, family and everything else. It is such an intense book, that I could not put it down.
Ryan was quite interesting - he is the guy that everyone knows, but isn't a dickhead. I enjoyed when we were reading about him. He has this standard for himself and when everything falls apart - he just doesn't know how to deal with it.
Charlie has just moved to the school, and just does not want to be there. Charlie was intriguing and I was always looking forward to reading her chapter.
Matty, just broke my heart. I want to be his best friend and hug him all the time. He holds all this stuff in and I wanted to scream at him to do what is right for him. Matty has such a kind heart.
Tammi is someone who's perception on things, is manipulated because of who she is friends with. The way that she reacts to things, the way that she talks is all because she wants to stay friends with the popular girl. The peer pressure that she feels is intense and sometimes frightening.
Then we have Gillian, she is the politician’s daughter and always in the spotlight, but it's not easy to be there, especially if you want to be your own person.
All these characters and the friendships they build and break is quite interesting. they are so different from each other, yet so alike. The dynamic between them all was fascinating and intriguing.
This book can get relatively intense at times, but I enjoyed, it shows that life isn’t all rainbows especially in your last year of school.
I loved that this book had so many different types of relationships. From family to friendships to romance, it was all there. Some were strong and some did just not work. There were friendship fall outs and new friendships and I loved it. Basically The Yearbook Committee was real and raw.
We are able to see in The Yearbook Committee that teens are flawed too, and everything doesn’t work out to how you planned it to be. We witness insecurities, heartbreak and everything that comes along with your final year of school, and being a teen in general.
It deals with teens and stereotyping. How we should not be defined by that stereotype and we can be anyone that we want. We are not just some label. I love this because anyone can connect to this, they can see themselves or how they treated others and fix it.
I loved the compelling writing of Sarah Ayoub, it captivating and you are drawn in from the start, you connect to each character one of or another and you want to know their story, you want them to get through the year and go out into the world.
Overall, The Yearbook Committee is enchanting, you will be torn apart and put together over and over again. You will be taken on a ride with 5 students in their class year of high school – so be prepared.
I’ve wanted to read a Sarah Ayoub book for quite a while now, I had seen Hate is Such a Strong Word so many times, but just never bought it. But when I interviewed Sarah Ayoub for my #LoveOZYA feature, I knew I had to read at least 1 of her books. So I picked up The Yearbook Committee and let me tell you, I loved it.
The Yearbook Committee follows five very different students as they come together to complete the yearbook for the end of year 12. This book is full of friendships, breakdowns, romance, family and everything else. It is such an intense book, that I could not put it down.
Ryan was quite interesting - he is the guy that everyone knows, but isn't a dickhead. I enjoyed when we were reading about him. He has this standard for himself and when everything falls apart - he just doesn't know how to deal with it.
Charlie has just moved to the school, and just does not want to be there. Charlie was intriguing and I was always looking forward to reading her chapter.
Matty, just broke my heart. I want to be his best friend and hug him all the time. He holds all this stuff in and I wanted to scream at him to do what is right for him. Matty has such a kind heart.
Tammi is someone who's perception on things, is manipulated because of who she is friends with. The way that she reacts to things, the way that she talks is all because she wants to stay friends with the popular girl. The peer pressure that she feels is intense and sometimes frightening.
Then we have Gillian, she is the politician’s daughter and always in the spotlight, but it's not easy to be there, especially if you want to be your own person.
All these characters and the friendships they build and break is quite interesting. they are so different from each other, yet so alike. The dynamic between them all was fascinating and intriguing.
This book can get relatively intense at times, but I enjoyed, it shows that life isn’t all rainbows especially in your last year of school.
I loved that this book had so many different types of relationships. From family to friendships to romance, it was all there. Some were strong and some did just not work. There were friendship fall outs and new friendships and I loved it. Basically The Yearbook Committee was real and raw.
We are able to see in The Yearbook Committee that teens are flawed too, and everything doesn’t work out to how you planned it to be. We witness insecurities, heartbreak and everything that comes along with your final year of school, and being a teen in general.
It deals with teens and stereotyping. How we should not be defined by that stereotype and we can be anyone that we want. We are not just some label. I love this because anyone can connect to this, they can see themselves or how they treated others and fix it.
I loved the compelling writing of Sarah Ayoub, it captivating and you are drawn in from the start, you connect to each character one of or another and you want to know their story, you want them to get through the year and go out into the world.
Overall, The Yearbook Committee is enchanting, you will be torn apart and put together over and over again. You will be taken on a ride with 5 students in their class year of high school – so be prepared.
I was led to this book by Melina Marchetta so I had high expectations. I should have lowered them. It's clunky, formulaic and has an ending which is poorly done.
I would probably put this as more of a 3.5-4. The writing was simple, which wasn't a problem for most of the book, but there were moments (climax, for example) where the simplicity just didn't quite do the story justice. I think the characters were good, but their narrations all sounded so similar. I was halfway through a Matty chapter before I realised it wasn't Charlie.
emotional
hopeful
inspiring
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
Content Warnings
Graphic: Alcoholism, Bullying, Death, Mental illness
I loved this book!
People who would not otherwise have associated with each other are forced to interact in their final year of high school. It was really interesting to see how this played out.
I also found it really interesting finding out about every character's backstories, struggles and home life. It really makes you aware of how everybody is going through so much, yet you might not ever know.
Definitely recommend to any teenagers who are into Australian YA contemporary and character driven stories.
People who would not otherwise have associated with each other are forced to interact in their final year of high school. It was really interesting to see how this played out.
I also found it really interesting finding out about every character's backstories, struggles and home life. It really makes you aware of how everybody is going through so much, yet you might not ever know.
Definitely recommend to any teenagers who are into Australian YA contemporary and character driven stories.