Review: One of Us is Lying by Karen M. McManus

Three Words: murder, lies, revenge

Just wow!!

Breakfast Club meets Pretty Little Liars meets 13 Reasons Why, in this wonderfully gripping novel by Karen M. McManus. Five students enter detention, but four only come out alive. So who killed Simon?

Bronwyn (Geek), Cooper (Jock), Addy (Princess), and Nate (Criminal) become prime suspects after a their classmate, Simon creator of the high schools gossip app About That, dies under questionable circumstances during detention. The odds are one or all of them did it as Simon had gossip on each of them, and if word got out it would have a major impact on each of their social lives. At least that’s what you’d think, right? One of Us is Lying grips you from the first page, and constantly keeps you questioning who is the killer? Is it the Bayview Four as the news has dubbed them, or is someone else pulling the strings, and framing them in the process? Not only does the storyline grip you, but the characters, I love them! Each are so diverse and aren’t your stereotypical geek, jock, princess, and criminal, and they all develop fantastically throughout. Karen M.McManus has made me rethink about reading YA crime/thriller novels, and hope to see more of her books on the shelves soon.

Review: After the Fire by Will Hill

Three Words: family, courage, truth

This book grips you from the first page, and I love how the topic of religious cults is explored. Inspired by the Waco siege which took place in 1993, After the Fire is truly a fantastic read being both intriguing and repulsive at the same time. Will Hill has done an amazing job portraying how easily a corrupt person can destroy innocent people’s lives.

‘The things I’ve seen are burned into me, like scars that refuse to fade.’

After the Fire follows 17 year old Moonbeam who is undergoing counselling after a tragic fire destroys The Lords Legion compound where she lived. During her sessions with FBI and psychologists we learn what life was like for her, and her Brothers and Sisters, as part of The Lords Legion both before and after fire. Moonbeam is an amazingly strong character, from discovering all she’s been taught is wrong, to losing family members, and putting trust in those she has been taught to hate. Honey, who is Moonbeam’s friend, also shows great strength and intelligence for her age. I felt very strongly for both of them, and their fellow brothers and sisters, who were exposed to such punishments and horrors. After the Fire provokes a roller coaster of emotions right till the end.

Review: Ink by Alice Broadway

Ink by Alice Broadway

Three words: art, fables, integrity.

Everyone wishes to be remembered, our tales told, and our name spoken. Ink follows Leora after the recent death of her father, a flayer with a mark to hide, and a secret to be told. During Leora’s training to be an inker, she wonders just how evil are the blanks, those who don't show their life story upon their skin. Is it fair that a mother shouldn't mourn the loss their child who has passed before they could be marked, and therefore blank. Or what about the forgotten? Marked so that even if they've led a good life, they'll never be remembered for their good deeds due to a past error. All the while Leora is also learning a well kept secret about herself, hidden from her by those she loves, and trusts. Can she learn what her parents have been trying to teach her? Not everyone who is marked is good, and not all that are unmarked are bad.

Beautiful read, and absolutely stunning cover!

Review: Contagion by Teri Terry

Three words: Family, love, sorrow.

Teri Terry has delivered yet again!!

Contagion is a Sci-Fi/Dystopia that will leave you feeling exhilarated after a roller coaster of emotions, as we follow Shay, Kai and Callie during their struggle to come to terms with a deadly epidemic that sweeps across Scotland and Northern England, along with the loss of love ones, and the uncovering of some earth shattering secrets.

I was glued to the pages from the offset where we meet Callie who is being kept against her will in a secret location awaiting a mysterious cure, but a cure for what? And are Callie’s illness and the one now sweeping the North of the UK the same? If only Shay and Kai can find Callie will they discover the answers and begin their journey to find a cure. I loved how each chapter is narrated between Callie and Shay as it helped gain a wider perspective of what was going on, and with each chapter a count down the pace is fast until the very end were I was left on a cliff hanger, and greedy for more. Contagion is a perfect mix between Science and the super natural. I cannot wait for the next installment to come out!

Library YA Recommendations

I am currently working within my local council's libraries, and the wonderful Team Leaders where I work gave me the job of taking care of the Graphic Novel, Manga, and YA section.

Now all three of these areas struggle to get issues so I knew I was going to have my hands full. Luckily I read quite a bit of YA and manga - and occasionally a graphic novel - so I at least had some idea of what might work. First move was to put the YA and manga together, a bit like how Waterstones in Newcastle have it set up. This worked amazingly! Especially for the manga as issues went up within the first week or two, and are thankfully continuing to rise.

This left me in a bit of a predicament however. I mean, how was I meant to top that?

Ideally creating a separate space for Young Adults would be fantastic, however due to limited space I can't do that, so instead I thought about doing a display to try and see if this would help. Originally it was meant to be one title a month being displayed, however due to some rule or such, all the books had to be displayed at the same time. I am grateful that this has been the only bump in the plan. As a compromise we're doing a hashtag on Twitter #YAreadsNT for each book.

September's book is The Hate U Give by Angie Thomas. 

Upcoming Titles

October: Three Dark Crowns by Kendare Blake 

November: Night Shift by Debi Gliori

December: Contagion by Teri Terry

January: One of Us is Lying by Karen M. McManus

February: Warbringer by Leigh Bardugo

March: After the Fire by Will Hill

April: Ink by Alice Broadway

Along with the hashtag #YAreadsNT, I will also be posting my reviews on the last Friday of each month for the corresponding book.

Please feel free to join in using the hashtag, even if you are far from our branches.

I look forward to seeing what you think of each of books either on Twitter or via the comments section. So far the idea seems to be working as the above stand is pretty much empty!

I am still waiting fpr a few of the titles, but hopefully the awesome delivery guys will being me some boxes any day now 😊

Thank you!! xx