Colleen Hoover blends music and poetry, humour and heartache, in her beguiling and romantic ‘Slammed’ series. It’s the story of Layken and Will, mature beyond their years due to the…
Give a Child a Book – and Give Them the World!
“Books make great gifts because they have whole worlds inside them, and it’s much cheaper to buy somebody a book than it is to buy them the whole world.”– Neil…
Pull on a Halloween Costume and Slip into Another Skin…
Halloween was one of the two cultural events I missed most after living in the US (the other being Thanksgiving). It’s not that I enjoy horror or the macabre; in…
“There is no hook turn at Brunswick Road…”!
Friday night was the Castlemaine book launch party for Ellie Marney’s first young adult novel, Every Breath (Allen and Unwin). The official launch was at Readings in Carlton the week…
Can You Judge a Book by Its Cover?
Those who know me well, are resigned to my evangelical conversion to the e-reader. The convenience, accessibility of books and light-weight nature of the e-reader had me at “e”. But…
Game, Series, Match
With the soccer season now well underway, my mind turned to the number of riveting sports-themed series now available. If you enjoy watching or playing sport—but particularly if you love…
Review – ‘Requiem’ by Lauren Oliver (Delirium series)
I’ve just finished reading Requiem, the final book in the young adult series, Delirium, by Lauren Oliver. The main character, Lena, lives in a world where love is considered a…
Animals at Large
In high school, my friend Nancy raised livestock to sell at the local fair to earn money for her college fund. Among other animals, Nance had a series of pigs…
Dystopian Fiction – A Perfect Fit for Young Adults
Dystopian fiction is a compelling genre which has grown considerably in popularity with young adult series writers and readers. Prime examples include The Hunger Games, Chaos Walking, Divergent and Delirium….
Larger Than Imagination – Film Versions of Children’s Books
“My son’s read the book, so he’s fine to see the movie….” This is a surprisingly common belief, and children often diligently finish a book or series as “proof” that…