Mansell Library Reviewers

Popcorn
Pros: - This book was easy to read and I liked how anxiety was a motif throughout the book. - I liked how the therapy sessions were a change of setting Cons: - I don't think this book is my genre, however if I was younger I may enjoy it more - I would not usually go for this book however the plot was really good. -> I would like to have seen a bit more plot development Rating : 3 / 5

Zayna

Not Going To Plan
Plot ; I thought that the plot was really well written ,I liked that it reflected themes of Feminism, Standing up to Homophobia and Teenage Pregnancy. I loved the fact that this book was based on empowerment and that this story is personal to the author. I enjoyed the fact that this novel highlighted the struggles and pressures of teenagers, through a personal and meaningful approach. The fact that it was written in verse also made it special and the switching between POVs allowed each character to reflect on the situation and how it affected them deeply. To me, I was deeply hooked from start to finish and read this book in one sitting! One thing I wanted to know was their GCSE scores! Did Zed get a 9 in Spanish? Overall, I rate it 4.5/5!

Zayna

Wolf Siren
Wolf Siren by Beth O'Brien is a book that thoroughly explores the themes of Patriarchy and Adventure through multiple characters' experiences, including the protagonist, Red. Patriarchy is explored in Wolf Siren through the Mayor, who sends Caragh Pent to be the town's woodcutter after she refused his proposal for marriage. Her sentence was due to be 1 year, but it was later extended to 2, which shows the power of men. The Mayor also gave out rations in the village due to the location, a clearing in the woods, providing a lack of food available. He also has the power to reduce the rations for those who disobey laws or does things the Mayor disapproved of, but the real question is: Who will halve his rations? Adventure is explored in this novel through the character of Red. She absolutely loves the woods, and she can think of no happier place. Red is also visually impaired, and the trees in the woods help to guide her to where she needs to go, creating a sense of security and safety in the woods, which is not what the Mayor described the woods to be, which also makes her question the reliability of the Mayor. Towards the beginning of the novel, Red makes a delivery to Ms Blaeberry, who is suspected to be a witch by the men of the village, but the women meet her in her little hut in the woods anyway. Ms Blaeberry teaches Red about her grandmother's past and her secret powers of being able to turn into a wolf. To conclude, Wolf Siren is a book that explores the themes of Patriarchy and Adventure through characterisation and experiences of these characters. Wolf Siren is a 10/10 book that definitely deserves this award, and the hard work and effort that has been put into this book is clearly shown.

Sara