Southmoor Shadowers

Chronicles of a Lizard Nobody
'Chronicles of a Lizard Nobody' manages to tackle some tough themes in a way suitable for a younger audience - the humour presented in the book can be appreciated by all ages, even though one certain knee-related plot point was a little confusing to get through. Overall, a nice story to read!

James

Wolf Siren
'Wolf Siren' portrays its themes in a subtle yet also in-your-face manner, with Red and her family all having unique personalities that help in the furthering of the plot. The themes of patriarchy and empowerment of women that 'Wolf Siren' explores also serve a role in the story and don't have an overwhelming presence in the overall book.

James

Twenty Four Seconds from Now
'24 Seconds From Now' is an unconventional love story told from the perspective of the boy, which might help the book relate to those who might be in a similar situation. The story also explores bonds between family members, with Neon's family being supportive of each other during difficult times.

James

Popcorn
'Popcorn' is a great representation of anxiety and strategies of how to manage it for a younger audience - the subject matter is portrayed in an appropriate manner - the support system portrayed is one we can all learn from!

James

Ghostlines 
'Ghostlines' is a great tale about two children from very different backgrounds, who learn to respect each other and both come to learn new things about the world outside and within Ayrie - which itself has been portrayed wonderfully as a small and tightknit community.

James

Birdie
'Birdie' is a fantastic telling of the story of Birdie, who could herself reflect many who had gone through similar experiences to her. The themes of racism are a major element of the story, while not derailing the main plot - I really enjoyed reading this!

James