Review: ‘First, We Make the Beast Beautiful’- Sarah Wilson 2017
My rating: 3 of 5 stars Pitched as a ‘new story about’ anxiety, this underwhelming book has moments of cut-through which are almost lost in celebrity name-dropp...
Review: ‘This One Summer’ – Mariko & Jillian Tamaki 2014
My rating: 3.5 of 5 stars A slice-of-life graphic novel that perfectly captures the frustrations and small anxieties of early teen life. The illustrations are g...
Guest review: ‘The Book of Dust’ – Philip Pullman 2017
My rating: 3 of 5 stars I couldn’t believe my eyes when I read a couple of years ago that Philip Pullman would be continuing Lyra and Pan’s story wi...
Review: ‘Burial Rites’ – Hannah Kent 2014
My rating: 5 of 5 stars Intimate, atmospheric and vividly told, Burial Rites is more than worthy of all the praise it has received. A powerful and emotional nar...
Review: ‘Goodbye Tsugumi’ – Banana Yoshimoto 1989
My rating: 4 of 5 stars Haunting and melancholy, Goodbye Tsugumi is a coming-of-age tale set against the vivid backdrop of the Japanese seaside. “It’s a marvell...
Review: ‘Silent Spring’ – Rachel Carson 1962
My rating: 4 of 5 stars It’s not often you read a book that had as much impact on the world as Silent Spring. Carson’s direct and unambiguous criticism of pesti...
Review: ‘The Hate U Give’ – Angie Thomas 2017
My rating: 5 of 5 stars Stop reading this review. Instead read this book. The Hate U Give is without doubt the most important YA novel this year, and should be ...
Review: ‘Fever Dream’ – Samanta Schweblin 2017
My rating: 3 of 5 stars A dark, twisted dive into the fever-induced memories of a mother. I struggled to understand this strange narrative, but found myself una...
Review: ‘A Semi-Definitive List of Worst Nightmares’ – Krystal Sutherland 2017
My rating: 4 of 5 stars A touching, hilarious and relatable book for older teens, about depression, anxiety, facing your fears, and learning to accept help when...
Review: ‘The Build-Up Season’ – Megan Jacobson 2017
My rating: 4 of 5 stars A confronting but compelling exploration of domestic violence and the legacies of abuse set against the gathering storm clouds of Darwin...