Oblivion (The Power of Five #5) - Anthony Horowitz

Release Date: 4/10/2012
Publisher: Walker
Pages: 672
Target Audience: Teens/Young Adults
Genre: Fantasy/Horror/Thriller/Fiction

Synopsis: Having escaped from Hong Kong, the five gatekeepers - Matt, Pedro, Scott, Jamie and Scarlett - are scattered in a hostile and dangerous world. As they struggle to re-group and plan their next move, the malevolent King of the Old Ones gathers his forces in Oblivion: a desolate landscape where the last survivors of humanity must fight the ultimate battle.

My Review: Wow. Well I'm not even sure where to begin with this book. I waited years to read this and though I sort of guessed  part of the ending correctly, it was no less of a shock when it happened.  I bawled my eyes out  and I felt immensely sad for two characters in particular though there was a happier epilogue to soften the blow.
It was a little disconcerting at first, what with the jumping between Jamie/Holly, Matt/Lohan, Pedro/Scott and Scarlett/Richard and it took some serious getting used too, and that was just the gatekeepers and there companions. There were also some POV shifts to those behind the enemy lines too, but by the end these all came together brilliantly with no loose ends.

The research done for this book must have been immense because, whether the characters were in Rome, Naples, Brazil, Cairo or Antarctica, the descriptions were vivid and very easy to picture. Oblivion was especially well planned out; I could almost feel the empty coldness in the Old One's fortress while I was reading and imagine the swarms of enemy soldiers in the final battle.

Was I happy with the twists and turns? I'd say I was even if I would personally have preferred a happier ending for all involved. Poor Richard is all I have to say, I really felt for that man, and I wouldn't have wished what he was forced to do on any one (lets just say the mystery of the Inca's Knife is revealed). Having said that it wasn't doom and gloom all the way to the end and I have to admit if there was one character I was proud of it was Matt. He proved himself to be strong and determined despite being weighed down with knowledge he should never have had to carry. Scott also impressed me, though I wanted to slap him on several occasions near the middle of the book.

When it came to the epilogue I was hoping for some  relief or maybe just some hope, which is actually what I got. I loved the epilogue and it did provide some sort of closure and I shed a few happy tears whilst reading it, and it was also nice to have a bit more explanation of the dream world too.
All in all I was very impressed with the ending to this series. it was an emotional, frightening and thrilling ride and i'm sure certain scenes from this book will haunt me for a very long time (and no, I'm not exaggerating).  I don't know how Horowitz will match this with what he writes next but I hope he gives it a good go.

Lolly Luck by Ellie Daines

Release Date: 05/01/2012
Publisher:  Andersen Press
Pages: 192
Target Audience: Kids
Genre: Fiction


Synopsis: 
Lolly is Lolly Luck by name, lucky by nature. She always wins magazine competitions, on scratch cards and any game you can think of. But when Lolly’s dad loses his job and then the family home, Lolly’s luck starts to change. And when she overhears her parents arguing, she learns a secret that will change her life forever.


My Review:
I was asked to review this by the author and I can't thank her enough since this is an amazing book. Though it's aimed at 12-year-olds (or there about) there is a lot to learn from Lolly's experiences.
I think the hardest thing I'm going to find when writing this review is doing so without spoiling any major plot twists, but somehow I'll manage.


Lolly Luck deals with many issues including bullying, arguments, redundancy and separation but it's all seen through the eyes of 11-year-old Lolly as opposed to an adult. Personally, I think this made for an emotional read and I couldn't help but feel for Lolly as things change around her. Some of the things she hears and then has to deal with is extraordinarily painful and she does so with such a positive attitude for the most part that I was left very impressed.

Part of the ending was a bit surprising and I am very glad that Miss Daines kept things realistic when she wrote this and even more glad for the things that Lolly learns by the end of the book. 

I won't say any more and risk spoiling things for those yet to read, but this is an incredible novel and I'm sure a promising start to the authors career.

Dear Bully: Seventy Authors Tell Their Stories by Megan Kelley Hall et al

Target Audience: Everyone
Genre: Non-Fiction/Biographical

I usually review my books in the order in which I read them, but I decided to deviate from that rule because you have to write some review while you have the words to say what you want to say, otherwise you risk never finding those words again.  This is one of those reviews.
Dear Bully compiles some of the most heart-wrenching, moving, inspiring, horrifying and heartbreaking tales of bullying that I have ever read about. Whether the contributing author was the Bully, victim or bystander they are all truly memorable.

I'm not ashamed to say that some of the authors stories made me shed a few tears and as someone who has suffered bullying as a child to some extent, I could relate to some of the feelings these authors have expressed during their retelling's of their own bullying experiences.

What I think is so alarming, and this is something I wish teachers in schools and parents would take note of, is that these authors all remember there experiences of bullying so clearly. This should immediately send alarm bells ringing in people's heads as clearly these experiences are not 'just part of growing up' and clearly leave some form of emotional scaring on the individuals involved as well as awful memories. I think the message is clear, bullying should not be tolerated, it is not something to endure and it should be stopped, no child (or adult even) should have to go through these experiences.

On the brighter side of things, a lot of these experiences have been channelled into positive things such as ideas for books, the strength to move on or even to become a stronger individual but the fact still remains, no one should ever have to endure victimisation in order to become something more in life. Not all stories have a positive outcome and there are some sobering facts about bullying and suicide that will make you think twice about your views.

Whether written in the form of essay, poem or short story these are a collection of stories that everyone should read, whether you've been bullied or not, whether you've witnessed it or not or even if you were a bully yourself. This is a book that will give you an insight into the minds of victims and bully's alike.

A Monster Calls by Patrick Ness

Target Audience: Kids/Teens/Young Adults
Genre: Fiction/Simply profound reads

I can tell you now that I will never do this book justice however well I write the review, so I tell you upfront the best way to experience this is to read it yourself (and get the hardback copy because the illustrations are incredible)

A Monster Calls follows Conor O'Malley after his mother falls ill and he wakes up one night to find himself face to face with a monster who shows up at seven minutes past midnight. The monster claims he will tell him three stories and then Conor will have to tell him 'the truth' something Conor does not understand at first.
This book moved me so much I am not ashamed to say that I was in tears by the end and I mean crying buckets, not just a few tears. I have read many emotional and moving books but this one has left such an impact I doubt I will ever forget it as long as I live.

This is simply one of those books that manages to weave an engrossing story but also manages to hit readers a lot deeper than that while still being a really good read with a fascinating story line. I was very intrigued by the stories the monsters told and some of them left me slightly stunned too, and I felt I took so much away from just reading this.

As well as monsters and darkness there is a lot of loss to deal with in this book and a lot of relationships that are focussed upon as the novel progresses and it is the characters that make this book truly what it is. Conor is such an extraordinary boy and yet curiously different in his view of things and I felt every blow he took and every time he felt pain, and I have to admit I would have had trouble coping in his situation.
Then you have the relationship between Conor and his dad and, to be honest, I wasn't too keen on him since he just didn't seem to want to stay around enough. His son was losing his mother to Cancer and he couldn't stay with his son. That broke my heart.
I did however, have much more respect for Conor's grandmother whom he doesn't seem to like much at first, and it was heart-warming to a certain extent watching how their relationship changes as the novel progresses.  With regards to Conor's mother I could never pretend to imagine what she must have been feeling and the last part with her and Conor in it had me in tears.

And what, you might ask, about the monster?  The monster I consider to be somewhat of an enigma. Is he real? Was he a figment of Conor's mind? I'll let you make that decision for yourself but I think the thing to bear in mind is that no matter what other people believe to be real. If you believe it, then it is.
Incredible book. Please read this.