The Carnegie Coast Readers

Popcorn
I like the book but there are parts that I felt uncomfortable with. I liked the part where the main character stands up to the bully and the pictures were funny. I did not like the descriptions of anxiety and when the boy has an anxiety attack as I suffer from anxiety sometimes and it made me worry about getting a panic attack myself. I would recommend this book to people that do not suffer from anxiety so they can get an idea of what it is like but I don't think people that have anxiety should read it. 4/5 for readers without anxiety 2/5 for readers with anxiety

Aleesha

Chronicles of a Lizard Nobody
I liked this book because it was very odd. I thought the part with Zeke's Mum was odd in a good way because it was deep and made you think. The characters being animals makes it a good read for 7-10 year olds. I like that it represents different backgrounds- Miel is blind, Zeke is poor and has an ill parent and Pelicarnassus is rich. This is a good way to give different ideas of the characters to help younger readers learn about different cultures and upbringings. 4/5 I would recommend this to children aged 7+ years. I would read the sequel.

Charlotte

Ghostlines 
A heart-warming and glorious read! I love the way this book is written as the repetition of 'and' really highlights Tilda's love, eagerness and naivety towards Ayrie, her family and the mainland. I loved the imagery of Ayrie and the secret ghost Island of Alda. A relational depiction of 'new people' coming into your circle and having to navigate your differences. The description of the storm and the build up of tension when Albie goes missing was great. So pleased we had a happy ending. The secret of Rowan was a great thread throughout. Would highly recommend to ages 10-13 year olds. 5/5 stars.

Fiona

Chronicles of a Lizard Nobody
This was a fabulous read. Although fictional and having some really funny, heroic scenes it also hit some sensitive issues. I thought this was done incredibly well and highlighted some quite common situations people go through. It has left me wanting more as I want to know how Zeke's Mum is and I want to know how Miel is getting on their new friendship group. I love the funny factors added in like the Miel only shouts and that Zeke has France living on his knee. It blends both fantastical story telling with hard hitting relational aspects. I would recommend this for 10-13 year olds. 4/5 stars.

Fiona

The Boy I Love
I would never usually choose to read a book set in the war however I am glad I have read this one. The details of the war were interesting and told tales that I haven't heard before such as how soldiers were punished. The love story was told in such a way that it didn't overshadow the turmoil of the war and you were left rooting for the couple. There was tension, drama and victory in equal measure. I loved reading from the perspective of the Lieutenant. It created emotion and empathy for me as a reader. I cried near the end and couldn't put the book down. I would recommend this book to age 15+ for readers interested in romance and history. Big fan of this one 5/5 stars.

Fiona

Ghostlines 
Really liked the book because it had mystery and unpredictable points. Albie struggles to feel like he fits in and Tilda is trying her best to inform him about the Island. I enjoyed the moment the characters go home and find out the truth about the Island and it's stories. I would recommend this book to anyone who likes stories that are scary and have plot twists.

Aleesha

Popcorn
Anxiety...!!! The most difficult thing to describe when you are going through it but WOW what a wonderful representation of it!! The amount of emotion this book made me feel for Andrew was impressive. The irony...the things that made me sympathise with Andrew were not always the things that caused him anxiety, such as the fight. I enjoyed the 'no frills' element to the writing which would make this accessible to young readers and also give them the sense that these feelings of anxiety are felt by others and that they should be accepted. Thoroughly enjoyed the humour and the character dynamics.

Fiona

Not Going To Plan
I really enjoyed this book. The way it is written means that you can follow the story in a concise way without being overwhelmed by all of the 'outside noise'. The way setting and characters were developed through short sharp sections of text was great. The storyline was harsh but necessary and again the fact there wasn't a love story made this a powerful read. I love the character Zed and the fact that he is shown to struggle with the idea of not fitting into a label of sexuality and that that is OK. For me as a reader I was able to look at this perspective in a supportive and positive light. Fantastically powerful, great character focus and loved the style of writing. Big fan.

Fiona

Twenty Four Seconds from Now
A beautiful story of teenage love. The way the story teaches the importance of showing respect, honesty and vulnerability is lovely. It was great to read about their story and refreshing that it didn't include any heartache or outside influence to try and break them apart. Wonderful to read a happy and committed love story.

Fiona