Skipton Shadows

Twenty Four Seconds from Now
Twenty Four Seconds from Now is a fun, romantic book that explores the relationship between Neon and his girlfriend Aria. I enjoyed this book a lot as it incorporates heartfelt themes and humour, for example when Neon gets advice from his family members about his anxieties in his relationship, it's fun to see how they offer support in their own unique yet loving ways. I particularly liked the structure and ending of the book as the non-chronological order really helped me to get a sense of Neon's character development and how he faces his fears and grows as a person. I don't think I would change anything about this book and thoroughly enjoyed reading it!

Olivia

Ghostlines 
I thought this book was very interesting and vivid, and I really enjoyed the unique setting! I liked how you got an insight into life on a small island, as it is not somewhere most books I read are usually set, and Tilda was such an interesting protagonist, and it felt very real and almost like she was right there talking to the reader. All the characters felt developed and realistic, and it had a blend of being realistic but also quite warm and comforting. I really loved reading this and was sad when I had to return it, and it's definitely one of my favourite books on the shortlist so far.

Iris

Birdie
I really enjoyed this book and it's one of my favourites I've read so far. At first, I struggled to enjoy it as I felt the plot went quite slowly, but I ended up getting immersed in the storyline and characters! The author definitely had a way of making the characters feel real, and I was really hoping everything would go well for all of them, and I just found it really cosy and enjoyable. I thought it struck a balance between teaching important lessons about history without making it feel unrealistic and like a textbook. It had some really important messages delivered in a heartwarming, interesting way!

Iris

Wolf Siren
Personally, Wolf Siren was a brilliant read. The book had me hooked in the storyline which is based of a children's fairy tale and it was so gripping near the end. As a feminist, I adored and connected with the characters of this book and the challenges they faced. This book opened me up a lot and for me it was one of a kind. However, the start of the book was dragging the plot a little bit, which I must admit got me a little bored, but it got better the more chapters I read. Overall, it was such a good read and I think it may be one of my favourite books that I may read again!

Afreen

Not Going To Plan
This was my first read of this year's Yoto Carnegies and it did not disappoint me! The verse novel made the story flow at a really good pace, plus the dual narrative gave me a feel of the perspective of each character. The informal tone added to the connection between the reader and the characters, and I loved the way that some of the pages were set out with the words in the shape of an image, or in different positions on the page - like illustrations out of letters - and it really gave me an insight into what the narrators are thinking and feeling. I felt like I was inside their heads and experiencing the story as Zed and Marnie. I loved it.

Immy