gr8 txts: relationships
Here are our librarians' picks:
Jackdaw Summer
David Almond
One hot, unforgettable summer Liam finds an abandoned baby who has a huge impact on his family. Amongst the new friends he makes is a refugee from Liberia who was trained to be a child soldier and his violent past cannot be forgotten. Another winner from David Almond dealing with social issues of the day.
9780340881996 Hodder Children’s, 2009
Al Capone Shines My Shoes
Gennifer Choldenko
Although they have never met, notorious Alcatraz inmate Al Capone uses his influence to secure Moose’s autistic sister a place in a good school. Now Capone wants a favour in return and Moose must decide whether he is willing to help. His friends are against it but can Moose really say no to one of the world’s most infamous criminals? A gripping follow up to Al Capone does my shirts.
9781408801550 Bloomsbury, 2009
Bang, Bang You’re Dead
Narinder Dhami
Mia acts strangely when a gunman enters her school. Instead of running away she stalks him because she thinks it is her brother and she is desperate to stop any violence. As she follows him she discovers some terrible truths about her family. A frightening story with a real twist.
9780552560436 Corgi, 2009
Solace of the Road
Siobhan Dowd
Holly has been in care for all her life and is desperate to escape and be reunited with her mother. The chance discovery of a blonde wig gives the opportunity to become a new, self-confident character called Solace. In her disguise she runs away in search of what she believes will be a better life with her mother. On her occasionally dangerous and often hilarious journey she experiences much kindness. However, as she nears her destination she begins to realise that maybe her memories of her life with her mother were very far from the truth.
9780385609715 David Fickling, 2009
Rowan the Strange
Julie Hearn
Rowan has always been strange but recently things have been getting worse. While other children are evacuated to the country, Rowan is sent to a psychiatric hospital and subjected to a treatment so experimental and controversial that not even his parents are aware of it. Dark and harrowing, this is a powerful tale of a teenager with schizophrenia at the start of the Second World War.
9780192792150 Oxford University Press, 2009
Love Ya, Babe
Chris Higgins
The “babe” in the title is an unexpected arrival in Gabby’s home. Her “ancient” mother has another baby while Gabby is trying to cope with the embarrassing horrors of being a teenager. She wants nothing to do with it but events lead to her being very much involved. A funny insightful story and very readable.
9780340970751 Hodder Children’s, 2009
Life, Interrupted
Damian Kelleher
Fourteen year old Luke and his football mad, accident prone younger brother Jesse have a lot to deal with when their single mum is taken seriously ill. Find out how they cope and come to terms with this family tragedy. Sad and deeply moving but surprisingly full of humour and positively life affirming.
9781848120037 Piccadilly, 2009
Love, Lies and Lizzie
Rosie Rushton
When Mrs Bennet inherits a large sum of money the family moves into the village home she has always desired, transporting her four young daughters and husband from the life they know to a world of country pursuits and social events. How will they ever find romance in this small community? This is a witty novel based on Jane Austen’s Pride and Prejudice.
781853409790 Piccadilly, 2009
The Ant Colony
Jenny Valentine
Set in a block of rented flats this is a story told in their own words by two unhappy young people Bo and Sam. Teenager Sam has run away from home and is sorting his life out on his own while 10 year old Bo is struggling through life, as her Mum has a drink problem and a string of unsuitable boyfriends. Despite the age difference they support each other. Well drawn characters in a heart-warming story.
9780007283590 HarperCollins, 2009