SCD Pageturners

The Final Year
I don't normally read or like verse novels but am so glad that I read this book! I love the way that verse was used and I don't think the story could be portrayed as well in any other way. I like the originality of focusing on year 6 instead of year 7 because year 6 is a very hard year for many people, but we tend to focus on year 7 instead. The suspense when Dylan was taken to hospital portrayed exactly how Nate was feeling and his emotions were absorbed by the reader. I am really excited to read the sequel and I am so thankful that this book made it into the shortlist.

Chloe

King of Nothing
When I picked up this book, I wasn't expecting to enjoy it. But despite this not being my style of book, I actually really enjoyed reading it. I liked watching Anton change throughout the story and I loved how real it felt. In life, things often seem to all happen at once and sometimes there are so many problems at once that you lose track of them all. This book shows that perfectly with all of Anton's problems. I like how, as the book progresses, Anton begins to forget about 'the mandem' but then right at the end they become a focal part of his life again for a few days. It would be nice to have a sequel, to see how Anton's relationships develop, with Rochelle, Matthew, Grace, his mum, his dad and teachers. Maybe it could also show how Kehinde changes.

Chloe

Little Bang
I found the premise of the interesting, the characters were well written and multi perspective viewpoints fitted the plot very well too. The pacing was a little slow in places and also I felt that the characters also had to move the plot which also worked well in places and fell thin in others. Overall I think the book was a good weekend read.

Aditi

Little Bang
Little Bang is an amazing read for anyone interested in romantic and realistic stories. With the start immediately delving into the deep end of the storyline, I could not put the book down. I loved the style of writing, coming from both of the main characters' perspectives. The characters were interesting and varied and the attention to detail was immaculate. This book was a rollercoaster of a read, exploring ideas very present in today's society. I can't recommend this book enough for anyone from year 8 onwards!

Roseanna

The Final Year
I liked it because it has different types of poems in different pages and they all refer to the same thing.

Jasmin

King of Nothing
I chose the King of nothing as the blurb intrigued me but as I started I absolutely fell in love with it. I love how the characters talk and act and I adore how it's worded and how it made me think about everyone I ever knew, past and present. I would recommend this to anyone and everyone as it's a deep and interesting story with a happy ending.

Carolina

All That It Ever Meant
A very nice story, that when you start you literally cannot stop. It is a very realistic family dynamic through most of the book. The words just flowed perfectly and so did the realistic and spiritual elements. They just fitted together. I normally prefer action-filled books, but somehow this book just kept me hooked. Despite not being jam-packed of crazy plot-twists and big battles, I really enjoyed this book and I loved the way that it wasn't so busy. It made me just sit there and read for hours. i couldn't stop. At the end, when the final plot happened, I had to reread the book and see whether it was true (I can't explain further without revealing the plot of the book!) Even the second time, I fell in love with the words and structure of the story. Honestly, I would recommend this book to anyone as it is not too hard to read, and is a nice book to just relax with for a few days. It's amazing!

Chloe

The Things We Leave Behind
A very gripping narrative. The character dynamics are wonderful throughout. I loved the switching between places because it added a new layer to the book. The best twist in the series was definitely the one with Billie, it added a whole new sense of grief to the story. Whenever books do that, it always makes me want to read it all over again to try and see whether the character is spoken to in any way. next time, it would be great if we could see Clem's biological mum once. Like, maybe, she calls Clem's grandpa on face time just to check if he's OK because she actually does care about him, and then Clem walks in and sees her. It could be just a glimpse or they could say an awkward hi, but it could also confuse grandpa as he might think that Clem is actually her mum that day. Overall, an incredible book and I really enjoyed reading it. I like how room was left for a sequel and I definitely want a sequel where they find Clem's dad. Maybe even life regains normality. this book definitely has room to be a series, maybe even from each different persons perspective would be nice. Like, one for Mishka, one for Claudia, one for Clem's dad. Claudia's one could be when they find Clem's dad, and Clem's dad's book could be about them returning to normal life. Maybe Mishka's could be a bonus book allowing us an insight to her thoughts on Clem and Billie. Maybe a diary.

Chloe

Little Bang
Not just another teen pregnancy story - the book delivered more than I was expecting. Set in Northern Ireland in 2018, when the issue of legalising abortion was a prominent news topic, it highlighted the additional complications that an unexpected pregnancy brings to the lives of two teenagers and their families. I enjoyed the dual narrative as it enabled me to really understand the characters and their thoughts behind the decisions that lay ahead without it being to sensational. The story-telling felt honest and natural, with different sides of the discussion presented respectfully. The characters felt thoughtfully written, and developed realistically throughout the story. It may not be for everyone, but I would recommend it to those who want a thoughtful read with an interesting setting.

Mrs W