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3.62 AVERAGE
3.62 AVERAGE
I very rarely find novels about Australian teenagers in Australian high schools, with Australian lives. YA is full to the brim with American settings (not that it’s a bad thing), so it was very refreshing to read The Yearbook Committee. Because, you know, I’m Australian:) If you want to know what Australian- well, Sydney- student life is like, go ahead. This book is great.
This story is about five very different people, from different walks of life, coming together to create an yearbook for the end of the year.
The characters: Ryan, Matty, Charlie, Tammi and Gillian, were unique in their own way. Each of them had their own problems, own concerns that stuck them apart. But what I liked the most is the friendship that was formed between all four of them. They were so different: blunt and determined Charlie and quiet, wallflower Matty, for example. Their ‘polar opposites’ personalities made for an enjoyable read.
The Yearbook Committee also deals with some serious issues as the story is spun. Issues like bullying, peer pressuring, and difficult home life are discussed- and you really feel for the characters as you read through their trials and tribulations. I admit, it made me realise just how much it affects us, because it literally hit too close to home. I think that Sarah Ayoub aptly discussed these issues through our main characters. I was so saddened by the end of the book, because the events that unfolded were so unexpected. No spoilers, obviously, but I cannot stress how much this book shows how issues should be talked about- and never bottled up.
It also deals with the prospect of the future in what I think is an intelligent way. All the main characters are dealing not only with navigating their final year of high school, but what exactly they want to do in their future. I mean, not all of us have our futures planned to a minute detail- we all have our doubtful days, and I think The Yearbook Committee captures this well.
Overall, I highly recommend this book. I loved it, and I hope you will too!
This story is about five very different people, from different walks of life, coming together to create an yearbook for the end of the year.
The characters: Ryan, Matty, Charlie, Tammi and Gillian, were unique in their own way. Each of them had their own problems, own concerns that stuck them apart. But what I liked the most is the friendship that was formed between all four of them. They were so different: blunt and determined Charlie and quiet, wallflower Matty, for example. Their ‘polar opposites’ personalities made for an enjoyable read.
The Yearbook Committee also deals with some serious issues as the story is spun. Issues like bullying, peer pressuring, and difficult home life are discussed- and you really feel for the characters as you read through their trials and tribulations. I admit, it made me realise just how much it affects us, because it literally hit too close to home. I think that Sarah Ayoub aptly discussed these issues through our main characters. I was so saddened by the end of the book, because the events that unfolded were so unexpected. No spoilers, obviously, but I cannot stress how much this book shows how issues should be talked about- and never bottled up.
It also deals with the prospect of the future in what I think is an intelligent way. All the main characters are dealing not only with navigating their final year of high school, but what exactly they want to do in their future. I mean, not all of us have our futures planned to a minute detail- we all have our doubtful days, and I think The Yearbook Committee captures this well.
Overall, I highly recommend this book. I loved it, and I hope you will too!
Okay so I was loving this book, read most of it yesterday and then he last 50 or so pages this morning. And the end totally changed my opinion. To be fair I totally forgot about the prologue so to me to ending came out of no where. The ending just felt totally rushed and the main plot point was not at all dealt with which made it feel like a throw away decision. I don't think you should include something like that if you're not going to expand on it and have it be part of your message. The end just turned into an essay that did sum up the growth of the characters and the tone of the book well but didn't at all reflect on the last events of the book which made it feel pointless. I didn't feel I, as the reader, had any chance to grieve because we didn't get to see the characters really grieve properly at all. It could have been better if we had at least seen from all the characters at the end but we just didn't get that.
I really loved the overall message of this book and how we got to see the characters develop but the ending just wasn't right for me.
I really loved the overall message of this book and how we got to see the characters develop but the ending just wasn't right for me.
emotional
funny
hopeful
inspiring
reflective
sad
tense
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Complicated
Fem tonåringar från olika bakgrunder blir sammanslagna för att arbeta med skolans årsbok. Ryan - kapten för fotbollslandslaget, Charlie - nykomlingen, Matty - enstöringen, Tammi - den populära och Gillian - dotter till en politiker. Deras första möte börjar inte bra alls, kommer de kunna samarbeta så årsboken blir klar eller kommer deras olikheter sätta allt på spel?
På ett enkelt sätt flyter berättelsen på genom att varje kapitel berättas utifrån en av karaktärernas perspektiv. Ett sätt som får mig att bara gilla karaktärerna ännu mer och förstå dem på ett djupare sätt. Jag vill att allt ska gå bra och när slutet närmar sig är jag så investerad i personernas liv och är så hoppfull. Men jag är oförberedd på det som kommer, det chockar mig och jag vill först inte tro det. Så det blir inte riktigt det lycka slut jag väntat mig, men det gör bara boken mer läsvärd och stannar kvar hos mig efteråt.
På ett enkelt sätt flyter berättelsen på genom att varje kapitel berättas utifrån en av karaktärernas perspektiv. Ett sätt som får mig att bara gilla karaktärerna ännu mer och förstå dem på ett djupare sätt. Jag vill att allt ska gå bra och när slutet närmar sig är jag så investerad i personernas liv och är så hoppfull. Men jag är oförberedd på det som kommer, det chockar mig och jag vill först inte tro det. Så det blir inte riktigt det lycka slut jag väntat mig, men det gör bara boken mer läsvärd och stannar kvar hos mig efteråt.
I came into this book, 'The Yearbook Committee' not really expecting much. I was pleasantly surprised at the quality of writing and the interesting way of story-telling portrayed throughout this novel.
I liked the format of this book, being written in first person but from all the views of Matty, Ryan, Charlie, Gillian and Tammi (people involved in the yearbook committee). It is always interesting to see other people's sides of the story. All of these characters were so different and I like how they were all united as individuals thanks to the yearbook committee at their school.
I was quite surprised with the ending of this book with the death of Gillian, relaying a theme of lethal bullying and drug use. It was quite saddening to me because she was one of the more likeable characters. I believe Sarah Ayoub has done a great job of both introducing and developing characters in this unique and heart-warming story.
I liked the format of this book, being written in first person but from all the views of Matty, Ryan, Charlie, Gillian and Tammi (people involved in the yearbook committee). It is always interesting to see other people's sides of the story. All of these characters were so different and I like how they were all united as individuals thanks to the yearbook committee at their school.
I was quite surprised with the ending of this book with the death of Gillian, relaying a theme of lethal bullying and drug use. It was quite saddening to me because she was one of the more likeable characters. I believe Sarah Ayoub has done a great job of both introducing and developing characters in this unique and heart-warming story.
Something about this book just isn't sitting right with me. As an Australian high school student doing year 12 (admittedly in a different state and doing VCE not HSC) this book felt wrong. This may sound weird but it didn't feel like I was reading a book set in Australia, it felt as if it could've been set anywhere.
Also Charlie moving states just doesn't seem realistic. HSC and VCE; which is what she would've been doing, are completely different and I feel like that wasn't properly addressed. Really, a lot of things weren't fully covered and I feel as if the book sort of just ended. I don't have that feeling of ending and closure that you get with most books just lots of questions and annoyance. Also sadness because Gillian - yeah that's anything that really annoyed me that I won't go into.
The other major issue that I have is that this book felt like it was written for a much younger audience, which goes back to the unrealistic feeling I had towards things that I know happen or can happen. I don't know.
This book just had so much potential and could have been so much more. It was also really hyped up by one of my friends but I just didn't connected with it the way they did.
But to try and end on a positive; this book was good for what it was. It had flaws, as all books do and it wasn't necessarily my cup of tea but it could be yours. It also did present some relevance to current society and really I could go into more depth about it all but I won't. Though I will say I did like the multiple perspective we got in this I do appreciate different perspectives in some novels and this one defiantly needed it.
Also Charlie moving states just doesn't seem realistic. HSC and VCE; which is what she would've been doing, are completely different and I feel like that wasn't properly addressed. Really, a lot of things weren't fully covered and I feel as if the book sort of just ended. I don't have that feeling of ending and closure that you get with most books just lots of questions and annoyance. Also sadness because Gillian - yeah that's anything that really annoyed me that I won't go into.
The other major issue that I have is that this book felt like it was written for a much younger audience, which goes back to the unrealistic feeling I had towards things that I know happen or can happen. I don't know.
This book just had so much potential and could have been so much more. It was also really hyped up by one of my friends but I just didn't connected with it the way they did.
But to try and end on a positive; this book was good for what it was. It had flaws, as all books do and it wasn't necessarily my cup of tea but it could be yours. It also did present some relevance to current society and really I could go into more depth about it all but I won't. Though I will say I did like the multiple perspective we got in this I do appreciate different perspectives in some novels and this one defiantly needed it.
"The yearbook committee had started out as a random bunch of people who walked the same halls, sat the same exams, shared the ordinary school experiences that became extraordinary as we learnt to look beyond one another's façade, Facebook profile picture, group of friends. Who knew after all those meetings, the five of us would not only accomplish what we set out to do, but become better people by knowing and learning from each other?"
This novel was so heartwarming. It felt a good feeling after you put it down each time. From all different backgrounds that you soon grow familiar with, you learn to watch each characters' POV and learn from it. What i loved most about it was that it leaves you with a little mystery of what happens next, and I really wish I could have seen how everything turned out for each of them at the end.
"As we evolve from children to adults, our outlooks change. Goal posts shift, strategies are altered, and the game gets a lot more demanding than we ever imagined it could be. And life suddenly becomes as unpredictable as a sand dune - one wrong choice and everything falls apart, drags you under."
From a girl who doesn't fit in anywhere, to a boy who's friends are melodies, rhythms and beats. From a captain who know longer commands his crew to a girl who is constantly pressured by friends and family. You get to understand these characters more than you'd like to, and I myself found that I could easily relate to the girl who is always second choice to her parents.
It was freaky the way Sarah Ayoub could fabricate such relatable characters, and strategically target them to a certain audience. An audience who could relate and understand these characters so easy, because some of us are living their lives.
After some tragic turn of events, I left this book crying.
"This is what the present is: when the sum of one person's past meets a world's collective future."
In the end, Ayoub left us with a incredible message that future readers should take to heart.
This novel was so heartwarming. It felt a good feeling after you put it down each time. From all different backgrounds that you soon grow familiar with, you learn to watch each characters' POV and learn from it. What i loved most about it was that it leaves you with a little mystery of what happens next, and I really wish I could have seen how everything turned out for each of them at the end.
"As we evolve from children to adults, our outlooks change. Goal posts shift, strategies are altered, and the game gets a lot more demanding than we ever imagined it could be. And life suddenly becomes as unpredictable as a sand dune - one wrong choice and everything falls apart, drags you under."
From a girl who doesn't fit in anywhere, to a boy who's friends are melodies, rhythms and beats. From a captain who know longer commands his crew to a girl who is constantly pressured by friends and family. You get to understand these characters more than you'd like to, and I myself found that I could easily relate to the girl who is always second choice to her parents.
It was freaky the way Sarah Ayoub could fabricate such relatable characters, and strategically target them to a certain audience. An audience who could relate and understand these characters so easy, because some of us are living their lives.
After some tragic turn of events, I left this book crying.
"This is what the present is: when the sum of one person's past meets a world's collective future."
In the end, Ayoub left us with a incredible message that future readers should take to heart.
Those aren't tears in my eyes. Nope, not at all. Okay, maybe they are. Honestly, I did not expect this book to be so emotional and relatable. I loved all five of the main characters, though I think Charlie was my favourite by a very small margin. It was such a beautiful story, and I highly recommend it.
*3.5 stars*
Wow, that last bit was really skimmed over.
Wow, that last bit was really skimmed over.
I appreciate what the author was trying to do here, but the execution falls flat. The plot is thinly drawn without much development and the characters similar, but mostly it's the writing that feels unpolished and thus fails to take off.
There are definitely some high points and heartfelt moments, and as with any Australian YA novel I appreciate the realism and connection that's hard to find anywhere else, but overall The Yearbook Committee fails to live up to it's potential.
There are definitely some high points and heartfelt moments, and as with any Australian YA novel I appreciate the realism and connection that's hard to find anywhere else, but overall The Yearbook Committee fails to live up to it's potential.