KECHG Shadowers

Not Going To Plan
I enjoyed this book. The way it was written in verse and how the author used that to (literally) shape what was happening was really enjoyable at some bits, although I did find it a bit annoying at times to have to turn the book or my head round to see what was written. In terms of the story, there are some fairly mature themes included but it was generally enjoyable and I would probably recommend it.

Sophie

Twenty Four Seconds from Now
This book was definitely a unique read - it was structured in a way I had never seen. I think the informal writing style and the time skips to the end past reflected the thought processes of a 17 year old - and I could see the consideration gone into writing as Neon, the main character. It was unlike anything I have ever read, and I would definitely recommend it to others.

Yuvi

The Boy I Love
I loved this book! I thought it was a sensitive and poignant portrayal of forbidden love through times of distress. Danny and Stephen’s love felt natural and the storyline overall was very engaging.

Yuvi

Ghostlines 
Ghostlines is a really powerful book that mixes grief, art, and friendship in a way that feels real without ever getting boring. I liked how the story slowly reveals more about the characters, especially the way the drawings help show what they can’t say out loud. It’s emotional but not overwhelming, and it leaves you thinking about how people cope and grow after difficult moments. It certainly is a refreshing story!

Adithi

Ghostlines 
I liked this book a lot and felt it was a good read. The characters in this one were well-written and felt real, and the island feels well-rounded as well as intriguing enough to want to know more. Overall, it gets a 7/10 from me.

Linn

Wolf Siren
I really enjoyed reading this book - it gets an 8/10 from me. I loved the world building in this one as the village and woods felt realistic and familiar, as if they could have happened in our history too. Furthermore I also loved the messages this book touched upon and the ending was nicely rounded off with a satisfying conclusion.

Linn

The Boy I Love
I loved this book so much and it gets a 9 or even 9.5 out of 10 from me. I thought the progression of the book felt natural and stayed interesting throughout, and the development of Stephen and Danny's relationship was well written. I also really liked that the ending was realistic yet also hopeful.

Linn

Not Going To Plan
This book was really good and I enjoyed it a lot. I loved the formatting of the book and the way it switched between perspectives, highlighting the comparisons well. I also found the message empowering and leaving the ending open to interpretation was a great touch. Overall, I'd give it an 8.5/10.

Linn

Twenty Four Seconds from Now
I really enjoyed this book. The way it was told in reverse, starting from the present then rewinding to points further and further back was a great way of understanding how Neon's feelings had developed and how the situation had unfolded. I especially liked how moments that were mentioned earlier in the book were explored in greater detail later when they were actually happening and how that grew your understanding of the story.

Sophie

Popcorn
I enjoyed Popcorn, especially with it's representation of OCD, anxiety and other things similar to that. It also felt fairly accurate to how some school days can go, specifically with the overall tone.

Sophie

Birdie
'Birdie' is an amazing book. While keeping the beautiful friendship between Birdie and Mr. Duke, Rose also keeps a clear focus on the blatant racism, making for a heart-wrenching story. She really shows life in Yorkshire at the time with the Great use of vernacular and the difficulties of the recent war in her writing.

Siya

Twenty Four Seconds from Now
Twenty Four Seconds from Now is a very interesting book. I think that writing from the perspective of a boy on such an intimate topic is effective due to societal standards not really showing emotion in men. I enjoyed the order of events that, instead of being in a traditionally chronological order, went backwards because I have never read a book in that style before. I enjoyed the themes of family that were explored when Neon took advice from his mother and grandmother, which was very heartwarming; however, I do think that there were some unmemorable characters who were not essential for Jason Reynolds to include. Moreover, the book felt like a very long introduction with not enough focus on the plot, instead a larger emphasis on the complicated structure.

Arfa

Not Going To Plan
'Not Going to Plan' was the first book I read out of the shortlist, and I was pleasantly surprised by the poem-like format. I think it was effective to convey the thought processes of Marnie and Zed in a realistic way, and I thought the use of typography was unique and engaging. It covered mature and controversial themes, namely teenage pregnancy and abortion, which I found to be quite interesting and perhaps a bit heavy, but interesting nonetheless. I felt that Marnie and Zed's connection grew well throughout the book and that their friendship developed quite naturally. Although this wasn't a book that I would pick up myself, it was a fresh and uniquely written perspective towards these themes, and I would definitely recommend it to others.

Yuvi

Not Going To Plan
The book was powerful and informative in such an engaging way. I have not read verse novels before so it was quite unusual to me, and yet it was a very interesting way. It definitely highlights the emotional weight of abortion and dealing with pregnancy, giving quite an accurate idea of teenage culture as well. The cliff hanger it is left on, creates suspense, leaving me wanting read more!

Hannah

Ghostlines 
This book was amazing! It blends the mix of nature with feelings of loneliness, regret and being somewhere new. It shows the journey of friendship alongside exploration and discovering new things. This book was so nice to read, even though I would recommend for younger readers.

Hannah

Wolf Siren
I loved reading this book. The way it beautifully intertwined aspects of the common red riding hood tale and morphed it into a wonderful story of fighting through struggle and learning to embrace differences instead of hiding them was done masterfully well. I also really enjoyed the setting of a small village and seeing how that, and what happens there, compared to my own life in a city. I would definitely recommend this book.

Sophie

The Boy I Love
I absolutely loved this book. The way it explored themes of forbidden love in a war setting did an incredible job of keeping tension high whilst still providing the reader with those moments of downtime where the amazing writing and personal moments can really shine. I would definitely recommend this book.

Sophie

Wolf Siren
The book was gripping and eerie, almost unsettling but in a nice way. The book dealt with a lot of strong themes (misogyny being one, as the men tried to take control of the women) but my personal favourite was the portrayal of disability. Red, who is a teenager, doesn't see her visual impairment as a problem but rather as a power. This was really empowering for me personally, but especially for readers who can stonger relate to her, this would be really aspiring and inspirational.

Anusha

Chronicles of a Lizard Nobody
The book was chaotic, funny and gripping. Sure sometimes it seemed a bit immature (I did not know it was for 7+) but it also portrayed really vital struggles of life (like being bullied, or a loved one being ill) in a captivating way. The plot was very interesting and so peculiar, not like any other book I've ever read before. I guess I also enjoyed this as it reminded of me when I was 8 years old, and my only worry was what was for lunch. It brought back nostalgia of a carefree childhood. I really enjoyed it.

Anusha

Birdie
I really enjoyed the book Birdie. It was an emotional tale of a girl who perseveres and shows determination even things get hard and she suffers. She finds company in different things (e.g the pit pony she's friends with) when everyone around her is ignoring her. It highlights to us how to find happiness even when times are hard. It really encouraged me to try harder to find good even when it's not apparent.

Japmeh

Chronicles of a Lizard Nobody
I really did like this book it was fun,engaging and the illustrations were really funny. I would recommend it to maybe younger readers or people who just like fun silly books :)

Sarah