chelsloukelly's reviews
300 reviews

Batman: Nightwalker by Marie Lu

4.0

4/5: ‘Batman: Nightwalker’ is a Young Adult, Comic Fantasy by Marie Lu; Bruce Wayne, before his recognisable title as ‘Batman’ is required to complete community service at Arkham Asylum, the infamous prison that holds the city’s most brutal criminals – there he meets Madeleine Wallace, a brilliant killer tied to the rampant Nightwalkers. Lu masterfully blends science and science fiction, her forte, to craft a unique portrayal of the classic superhero. The book is written in a realistic present or near future where technology like robotic drones to assist police and portable frequency scramblers are believable technologies created by Wayne Tech. There's also a neat virtual reality element to Bruce's training regimen—a story concept that's not that far-fetched in this day and age. You're introduced to some classic Batman characters, including Alfred and Lucius Fox, as well as some new ones tailored for this story. If there is one noticeable addition to the story? Bruce has friends! This angle not only increases appeal for a YA audience (or readers of any age who care about interpersonal drama) but adds a little realism to the character we know and love. Bruce could have been (and often is depicted as) a dour teenager sulking in his mansion. Instead, he's adjusted and worked through enough of his trauma that he can have somewhat normal adolescence—minus the obscene wealth. He still cares enough about his parents' murders and the well-being of his city, of course, and it's not hard to imagine him eventually moulding into the hero we all expect him to become. Lu also introduces a new villain: Madeleine Wallace, an enigmatic character Bruce meets in Arkham Asylum while doing some community service. At first, she's aloof and mysterious, but, as she takes a liking to Bruce, she involves him intimately in the Nightwalker case, against everyone else's wishes. Madeleine is a great intellectual foe/ally for Bruce. She peppers their conversations with hints at the truth, giving him enough information to keep him coming back. You're never quite sure what's real and what's not, so it keeps you, the reader, constantly questioning what Madeleine says. Overall, as a major Batman fan, a truly unique piece – Nerd!

The Last Days of Archie Maxwell by Annabel Pitcher

4.0

4/5: ‘The Last Days of Archie Maxwell’ is a Young Adult, Contemporary LGBT+ by Annabel Pitcher; Archie Maxwell - after discovering that his Father is Gay and with continuous Bullying at School - considers Suicide. Pitcher does not shirk using the language the characters use amongst themselves; therefore, homophobia and derogatory phrases are present – it is a dark, unsettling story and totally authentic. You feel for Archie: he's a decent, thoughtful young man caught up in a difficult situation. If the news about his father gets out, the bullying will get worse, but his mother has confided in Leon's mother - and Leon is the chief bully. It's going to happen, and Archie can only see one way of escaping. The trouble is that Tia has her own guilt and her own secrets - and she can see a way of escaping them too. How easy it is to think that Archie should just be honest and open about the situation: that most of the threat has disappeared once the news that Dad is living with Malcolm is common knowledge. He might have an unpleasant day or two, but then it'll be over. But that's easily said when you're not the person dreading another day at school and young men do find it more difficult to talk about their feelings than young women: Pitcher captures this perfectly and despite knowing what Archie should do, I was completely drawn into the downward spiral of his mental state. (I was relieved to find that Pitcher has supplied some resources for anyone who finds themselves in this spiral - you can find them at the back of the book.) One praise, aside from the plot is the book is Dyslexia friendly. So, what makes the book dyslexia friendly? Well, firstly Barrington Stoke has designed a special font where each character is distinct and pulls the reader on to read the next word. It's printed on a pale-yellow paper, which reduces the glare which can distract some readers and the paper is substantial enough to ensure that there's no bleed-through from the reverse of the page. The spacing between words and lines has been carefully judged to give the best reading experience and the text has not been justified as this can mean that readers get lost on the page. It's not only people with dyslexia who benefit from these ingenious but simple changes - most young readers will find the books easier to read and more enjoyable. The books also acknowledge that people with dyslexia - or reluctant readers - will have the same interest level as their peer group, but they might not have the same reading age. The Last Days of Archie Maxwell is very much a book for teens (and not suitable for younger people) but the phrasing and vocabulary have been made as user-friendly as possible. I absolutely adore this novel, in 139 pages, Pitcher ripped my heart out of my chest – Well-Crafted!

Odd One Out by Nic Stone

1.0

DNF/5: ‘Odd One Out’ is a Young Adult, Contemporary LGBT+ Romance by Nic Stone; Courtney ‘Coop’ Cooper lives directly next door to best-friend, Jupiter ‘Jupe’ Charity-Sanchez, whom he’s in love with – the downfall, Jupe is Gay – and crushing on new girl Rae Chin, who may or may not be straight. Stone soars beyond the tired, love-triangle trope as it examines what it means to confront shifting labels of Straight, Bisexual, or Gay that teens assign themselves. The book covers topics of consent; respect; LGBT+; acceptance and friendship. Despite the fantastic, diverse representative throughout; I DNF the novel, the three contrasting perspectives grew tedious and annoying. Stone’s writing voice felt unrealistic and awkward at times; phrases were not coherent and at times, cringey through the use of overly childish phrasing. Do not take the low-rating as a distaste for Stone’s work, ‘Dear Martin’, was an outstanding piece; however, ‘Odd One Out’ did not meet expectations – Cringe!

Broken Things by Lauren Oliver

3.0

3/5: ‘Broken Things’ is a Young Adult, Mystery Thriller by Lauren Oliver; Mia Ferguson and Brynn McNally driven by their obsession with a novel called ‘The Way into Lovelorn’, kill their best friend – the only thing is: they didn’t do it. Oliver takes the innocence of childhood friendship and imagination and produces a much darker, sinister story. We are confronted with a horrific depiction of youth that, in parts, is very uncomfortable to read. However, I found this portrayal refreshing and intriguing and somewhat real as we delve into the darkest parts of child psychology and dynamics. The plot perfectly flits between past, present, fantasy and reality to create a fluid unravelling of characters and the shocking events that occur throughout. The story is voiced through Mia and Brynn, in both past and present time, and through their perspectives, we really get to know the girls and their complexities. With the seamless use of past and present we get to see real character development – or in this case, regression. One of Oliver's key notions in this novel is that every action and decision have a ripple effect. How the experiences, circumstances and injustices of one person's life can 'break' them and subsequently the people around them, leaving a trail of broken things. It also highlights how the courage of one person can break this cycle/ripple effect and we can choose to not be a product of our past. I found this idea so relatable and an honest acknowledgement of humanity in the face of destruction and hardship. This Young Adult mystery isn't just about a 'who-done-it' murder. It explores multiple challenges that adolescents face in everyday life. It shines a light on the difficulties of living in a small, close-knit community and the feeling of being trapped within it - and the label it gives you. Lauren Oliver also explores the challenge of being considered 'different' and how this can affect a person, especially in their youth. It explores homophobia, social anxiety, grooming and much more in this extraordinary array of complex and interesting characters that a wide readership can relate to. My criticism of this book is that in some places it became a very slow read and I had to re-engage myself into the story; this completely contrasts with the end as I felt it was a little rushed and left me wanting more answers and explanations – but that could be a deliberate connection between the reader and the characters in the story. Unfortunately, the major reveal was predictable from the first couple of chapters. Overall, I thought Broken Things was a fantastically dark mystery with beautifully crafted characters and fluid writing that made a very complex plot, filled with twists and turns, easily digestible – Dark!

Eliza and Her Monsters by Francesca Zappia

4.0

4.5/5: ‘Eliza and Her Monsters’ is a Young Adult, Mental Health Contemporary by Francesca Zappia; Eliza Mirk is the anonymous creator of the wildly popular web-comic Monstrous Sea, under the pseudonym LadyConstellation. One day, the secret is exposed, creating endless hardship. Zappia offers an honest and thoughtful portrayal of a character with anxiety here and some interesting perspective on what it means to create and engage within a fan community. Eliza’s online friends are given as much, if not more, weight than her real-life friends in a way that will feel authentic to anyone who’s ever made friends through social media whom they may never meet in person. Eliza and Her Monsters sounds like it will be a story about a comic and a secret identity–maybe with a little romance. Instead, it’s really a story about connection within fandom and finding your thing and your people but losing yourself along the way. It’s also about fixing that–a lesson Eliza learns throughout the course of the novel. Eliza’s first-person narration is interspersed with excepts from Monstrous Sea fanfiction, message boards, emails, and illustrations of parts of the Monstrous Sea comics done by Zappia. This story is character driven but also fast-paced as Eliza’s world slowly starts to expand with help from Wallace. Eliza struggles with anxiety as she pushes against the limitations of what she feels capable of managing versus what she actually wants. The one complaint is the relationship between Eliza and Wallace towards the conclusion of the novel. Throughout their friendship, Wallace is working to novelize the Monstrous Sea comic–something that Eliza loves and supports. After she is outed, Wallace reveals that he has a book deal with a publisher for that novelization once it’s completed. He needs Eliza’s permission which she readily gives. But he also needs Eliza to finish the comic so that he can finish the novelisation. Something she feels incapable of doing in the face of everyone knowing her name and watching her, ready to pounce. Aside from issues of these publishing logistics, it felt out of character for Wallace to suddenly negate Eliza’s concerns in the face of his own ambition. Every other aspect of their relationship was sweet, but this thread with the publication of Monstrous Sea was frustrating at best and problematic at worst. Despite this, it was a true dedication to fandoms – Fantastic!

A Tragic Kind of Wonderful by Eric Lindstrom

4.0

4/5: ‘A Tragic Kind of Wonderful’ is a Young Adult, Mental Health Contemporary by Eric Lindstrom; Mel Hannigan is on a strictly managed cocktail of medication to control her Dysphoric Mania, a form of Bipolar Disorder which makes sufferers feel simultaneously Manic and Depressed. Mel is also mourning the death of her Brother, who suffered from the same condition; Mel seeks to maintain equilibrium. Lindstrom offers an intense look at one person’s experience with bipolar disorder, as well as the internalized shame often felt by individuals with mental illness. Details about Mel’s deceased brother and estranged best friend are revealed slowly, providing tension and mystery. Emotions run high as Lindstrom’s story confronts mental illness, grief, and shame, but the optimistic resolution provides balance. As Mel goes through different mental and emotional states, the writing reflects the different moods and energy. From how Mel thinks while having a manic episode; without pause, without breath, without a filter. As for bipolar disorder representation, I cannot comment on the accurate representation because I haven’t had any experiences with bipolar disorder. However, I really did like seeing Mel’s “animals”, each chapter begins with a notation of Mel’s emotional state, with various internal forces illustrated by animals, which offer insight into Mel’s thoughts and actions. I do wish we had more scenes of her visits with Dr. Oswald because I feel it was very important – Knowledgeable!

Dear Martin by Nic Stone

4.0

4.5/5: ‘Dear Martin’ is a Young Adult, Realistic Contemporary by Nic Stone; Justyce McAllister, a senior in High School finds himself a victim of Racial Profiling – as a top student, Yale-bound – his negative encounter with the police leads to the beginnings of a special project: he looks to the teachings of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. for answers. Stone’s narrative includes letters Juystce writes directly to Dr. King as well as dialogue structured like the script to capture the fast-paced conversations within Justyce’s debate class. Stone explores topics like microaggressions, as we watch Justyce’s classmates make jokes at his expense and accuse him of being “too sensitive”; systemic racism, white privilege and white fragility, as some question the reality of racial profiling or the need for affirmative action; and police brutality, as Justyce is forced to constantly relive his negative police encounter, and later watch his best friend have one that does not end as nicely. Stone handles each with fierce honesty, but also with a strong sense of empathy for all sides. She recognizes the complex nuances of racial conflict and debates, and while she does not excuse racism or bad behaviour from any group, she offers insight into what members of different groups might be feeling and thinking in the midst of these highly-charged and difficult conversations. While the main character is a black male, and the goal of this book is primarily to offer a window into the fears many black males face daily, it in no way condemns the police or white people. Each is given a voice in a conversation towards reconciliation. However, Stone never offers any excerpts of Dr. King’s teachings, and we don’t get any insight into what specifically Justyce is reading or looking through as he reflects on them and tries to apply them to his life. While the project is introduced as the main plot point, it didn’t seem to play much of role in the development of the plot or character, and I often forgot he was doing it until a new “Dear Martin” letter would show up. Perhaps that small flaw isn’t much of a flaw at all since it piqued my curiosity. I was motivated to listen to and read more of Dr. King’s teachings to relearn and meditate on what he has to say, especially in the midst of all the racial tension that continues to build in our country today. I’d recommend Dear Martin to students who are interested in or struggling to understand, current events such as the Black Lives Matter Movement; or students looking for the vocabulary to speak about their own experiences with social injustice. However, Stone never offers any excerpts of Dr. King’s teachings, and we don’t get any insight into what specifically Justyce is reading or looking through as he reflects on them and tries to apply them to his life. While the project is introduced as the main plot point, it didn’t seem to play much of role in the development of the plot or character, and I often forgot he was doing it until a new “Dear Martin” letter would show up. Perhaps that small flaw isn’t much of a flaw at all since it piqued my curiosity. I was motivated to listen to and read more of Dr. King’s teachings to relearn and meditate on what he has to say, especially in the midst of all the racial tension that continues to build in our country today. I recommend Dear Martin to students who are interested in, or struggling to understand, current events such as the Black Lives Matter Movement; or students looking for the vocabulary to speak about their own experiences with social injustice – Crucial!

Paperweight by Meg Haston

4.0

4.5/5: ‘Paperweight’ is a Young Adult, Mental Health Contemporary by Meg Haston; Stephanie ‘Stevie’ Deslisle is trapped in an Eating-Disorder Treatment Centre on the dusty outskirts of the New Mexico desert. With twenty-seven days until the anniversary of brother Josh Deslisle’s death – the death she caused – Stevie intends to end her life too. Haston provides an insightful look into the minds of young people dealing with severe Eating Disorders. Paperweight is a compelling novel that gets inside the head of someone struggling with bulimia and allows the reader to understand some of the psychology and triggers of an eating disorder. While Haston’s novel revolves around Stevie, the surrounding people in her life are just as vital to the novel. Stevie pushes away close family, is dependent on her dangerous friend Eden and seeks the approval of her distant mother. She compares herself to the other girls in her treatment centre and hesitantly connects with those around her. Two of the most significant people in Stevie’s life are her brother, even after their separation, and her psychologist, “Shrink,” who shows Stevie the path to healing. Paperweight is a heavy read; dealing with important issues that are often hidden and/or are personal to the audience. I’ve never read a book that deals with issues such as eating disorders in this way and in this much depth and I was pleased that I read a book like this one because it allowed me to be transported into the mind of someone with an eating disorder to better understand what it must be like for them. The story is also told in flashbacks, which explains how and why Stevie ended up in an eating disorder treatment facility. There was a lot of mystery attached to this and that made Paperweight even more addictive. There was a lot of incentive to finish this book and uncover the mystery of what actually happened to Stevie and her brother. I liked getting to know her brother and her friend Eden. It was great for Stevie to finally realise how toxic some of the people in her life were, and this again added to her character development. The ending of this book was flawless, in my opinion. There was no ‘happily ever after’ or an epilogue that was too perfect to be true. This book ends without you really knowing exactly what Stevie is going to do and what is going to happen next. This book tackles issues of Eating Disorders, Depression, Betrayal, Death and Suicide head on and I really appreciate how these topics were written with such raw and brutal honesty. However, I feel as though this book may be triggering for someone who has an eating disorder or is recovering from one, so I advise you to read this book with caution. It is a phenomenal and vital story – Educational!

I Do Not Trust You by Melinda Metz, Laura J. Burns

3.0

3.5: ‘I Do Not Trust You’ is a Young Adult, Mythological Fantasy by Laura J. Burns and Melinda Metz; Memphis ‘M’ Engle and Ashwin ‘Ash’ Sood, two unlikely friends create an alliance to save M’s archaeological father – and the world from the Cult of the Ancient Egyptian ‘Set’. Burns and Metz devised a story of an archaeological hunt combined with fascinating mythology and daring exploits; a quest for a lost and powerful artefact. An epic journey, full of chases, ancient temples, magic and romance follow. I don’t read hieroglyphs, am unfamiliar with the worship of Set and Horus, don’t know the geography of France and have no knowledge of Sanskrit. That means I can’t speak to the accuracy of the text, the legends it describes or the settings it speaks of. Typically, in these kinds of stories, copious artistic liberties are taken, and in this novel that is especially true, since Ash can wield magic and the plot involves the possible reincarnation of a god. Those looking for a travel journal or historically accurate depiction of ancient civilizations should probably look elsewhere. However, those looking for a fast-paced, rollicking good time have come to the right place. The strongest and most enjoyable component of the tale is the relationship between M and Ash. As the title states, in the beginning, they don’t trust each other. M knows that Ash is willing to negotiate with her only because she has the map. She also knows he wants to steal it from her so he can take the map back to the Eye, which she can’t afford to let happen since it would leave her with no collateral to negotiate for her father’s life. She is rightfully wary of him yet grows to admire him as she comes to know him. I liked that even when they didn’t trust each other M and Ash treated each other with respect. I liked that they were able to talk out their differences and work as a team. This book scores high on exploits, fun and camaraderie. Ash and M visit Paris, Norway, South America, North America and a handful of other places as they decode ancient keys and go from being reluctant allies to close friends. The authors handle this all with a light, loving hand, setting the perfect tone for our adventure. The tale not only involves multiple locations but has multi-cultural stars. Ash is a twenty-two-year-old South Asian Brit and M a biracial (white/Chinese Malaysian) American. They’re very much from the cultures they were raised in. Unfortunately, the downfall arose in the repetitive nature of the travel; searching for pieces of Set and constant conflict. I Do Not Trust You is for fans of Laura Croft, Indiana Jones, James Rollins and the classic novels of Alistair MacLean – Boisterous!

The Night Circus by Erin Morgenstern

3.0

3.5/5: ‘The Night Circus’ is an Adult-based Historical Fantasy by Erin Morgenstern; two powerful magicians, Prospero the Enchanter and the enigmatic MR. A.H-, groom two young proteges, Celia Bowen and Marco Alisdair, to proxy their rivalry with the exhibit of ‘Le Cirque des Rêves (The Circus of Dreams) as a stage. Morgenstern’s work is a phantasmagorical tale set in an ahistorical Victorian London; enchanting and effective, in spite of the sentimental conclusion. The patient, lucid construction of the circus – the creators, performers and followers – makes for a world of illusion beyond that of realistic fiction. There is a matter-of-factness about the magicians' magic, a consistency about the parameters of the circus world, that succeeds both in itself and as a comment upon the need for and nature of illusion in general. While the novel's occasional philosophical gestures seem glib the book enacts its worldview more satisfyingly than could any summary or statement. Rather than forcing its readers to be prisoners in someone else's imagination, Morgenstern's imaginary circus invites readers to join in an exploration of the possible. Around her protagonists, Morgenstern assembles a cast of intriguing eccentrics, including Herr Friedrick Thiessen, the clockmaker and chief circus groupie, Tsukiko the contortionist, and Poppet and Widget, the red-haired twins born on the circus's opening night. Through the movements of her characters in this sparklingly realised alternative reality, Morgenstern explores the relation between competition and collaboration, collusion and manipulation, fate and freedom. The Night Circus poses questions about the essential connection between fantasy and reality and the human need for the former for the sustenance of the latter. However, the largest criticism is pacing; the plot is character driven and therefore, it takes almost ¾ of the novel for action to strike up. It grew boresome and required large amounts of effort; hence the duration of time to complete the read. I resorted to listening to the latter half of the novel on Audible to bring draw me out of the reading slump the story brought upon. The low rating purely revolves around the structure, the story-telling needed to pick up the pace. Above all, the novel is a genuine pleasure to read. Like any successful illusion, it could be carefully unravelled; but surely, as rare as it is, it should simply be enjoyed – Dreamy!