Refugee Boy

“Refugee Boy” by BENJAMIN ZEPHANIAH brings us back to earth with a bump.

A challenging read for young adults and more, this is a story that tackles a range of difficult topics, such as family break ups, bereavements and friendships, through the experience of one young refugee from war-torn Ethiopia and Eritrea. Alem’s mixed parentage has led to persecution of his family, and he is sent by them to the safety of England. But his problems are only just starting.  While it is easy to dismiss this book as too moralizing for it’s intended audience, the more intelligent will be gripped by its raw honesty and realism. Others will need to be helped to face up to the issues presented, and to realise that the reality of human experience can be as powerful and rewarding a topic in fiction, as the fantasy and mystery of Potter or Alex Rider. I rate this extremely highly as a “must read book” for the 12+ to adult readership.

Mister Monday

I have seen comments about GARTH NIX and his very successful Keys to the Kingdom series. I review here the first, “Mister Monday”, which I happened upon recently.

This book can almost, and perhaps should, be described as the start of a new genre which combines the best of science fiction with the magical world so beloved of Harry Potter devotees.  It is as exciting a read as any I have reviewed here previously. Snatched from the jaws of death, and chosen for that reason, Arthur finds himself with no option but to embark on a fantastic and dangerous journey to claim the Monday’s key, the first of seven that represent the Will of the Architect. The pace is at times breathtaking, and I was hooked from page 1.

Meet Garth Nix and his fantasy-adventure world at: http://www.garthnix.co.uk/home

The Spying Game

My next review, The Spying Game by PAT MOON, is another cracker.

This junior novel explores the hurt and confusion of a young teen at the death of his father in a motor accident. Anger at the the other driver, and feelings of self guilt, combine to create the state of mind that triggers a campaign to constantly remind the other driver of the death. Complications arise though, as events at school get out of hand, and Joe eventually learns the truth of the accident. Accepting this, he gradually allows the truth of his actions to emerge, and begins the healing process. Immensely valuable ideas for young people to explore, and dare I suggest it, many older ones also. A cathartic reading experience that many will be grateful for.

The Spying Game, Pat Moon’s second novel, was shortlisted for the Guardian Children’s Fiction Award and the Writer’s Guild Award. It was also broadcast on BBC Radio 4.

More information about the author here.

The Outcast

A first novel “The Outcast” by Sadie Jones is the subject of my next review.

This book has been the subject of much excitement having reached the Orange Prize for Fiction shortlist. Having just completed it during a weeks reading I can understand the acclaim and interest. The plot is essentially a vehicle to explore the alienation and damage wrecked on the human spirit and psychological health of young people starved of love and subjected to abuse. It achieves this goal through a story that will haunt you beyond the reading. To make the story more palatable perhaps, it is set in 1950’s England at a time before strict codes of family and personal conduct were loosened and society became more transparent. It is, nonethelesss, a chilling and disturbing story, and while I was also gripped in fascinated anticipation of each new revelation, I had to put the book down almost at each chapter – to reflect on, and to assimilate, the pain and damage that was being unveiled on the main characters, Lewis Aldridge and Kit Carmichael. The character of Lewis is almost lovingly drawn, while in comparison, that of Kit is rather sketched – but I suspect this was inevitable and takes nothing away from a first novel of real distinction.
The Independent has a useful further review here. An excellent video trailer has been produced by the National Film & Television School.

Clay

Having read two of his earlier novels, “Skellig” and “Kit’s Wilderness”, “Clay” by David Almond is a book I have been looking forward to for a while.

I have not been disappointed. The narrative is excellent, the story is dark and scary (not too scary), and the underlying ideas are challenging and relevant. All this presented at a pace and tension that will grip even reluctant readers. No wonder then that a TV film version has been produced for the BBC and recently released as a DVD. I have yet to view the film and will be very interested to see how it has been adapted.

You can listen to David Almond talking about Clay at the Meet the Author website, and David has his own website here. Again targeted at young people – but written with such quality that it is essential reading for all who admire an author who is continually stretching the boundaries of imagination and literature.

The Prophet

“The Prophet” by Kahlil Gibran was written in 1923.

This is a book of 26 poetic essays, which has been translated into over 20 languages. The Prophet, who has lived in a foreign city 12 years, is about to board a ship that will take him home. He is stopped by a group of people, whom he teaches the mysteries of life. And what a teacher he is. This is truly a book of life – with prose that offers beauty and wisdom whatever your religious belief, ethic origins or economic status. Gibran’s life may have been complicated, somewhat obscure at times, and short, but he has left a legacy of literature and philosophy  that deserves the reverence placed upon it across the world.
A good starting point to learn more can be found here at the BBC.

A more in-depth study can be found here at The New Yorker.

I was astonished to learn from the opening sentences of The New Yorker report that Gibran’s work establishes him as the third best-selling poet of all time – after Shakespeare and Lao-tzu. Once you have started reading it, you will soon come to realize that this is a reference and resource that should never be far from your hand.

Slam

Nick Hornby has been an exciting presence on the bookshelves, and on film, for a while now. “Slam” is apparently the first novel he has aimed at the teen/young adult market – though I am inclined to think that maybe his publishers are mainly responsible for slanting the publicity in this direction.

Nick Hornby is simply one of the best story tellers around and while the story may focus on teenage lives – and a difficult yet highly topical subject matter, teenage pregnancy – the story stands on its own as a brilliant read. You will know by now that I hate to give anything away about the story in my reviews, so again, if you want some detail before committing to reading it, then the Guardian review gets it just about right.
So who will read it? So far as I am concerned it has a universal market, and I can’t honestly think of anyone of any age, 14 or over, who will fail to love it to bits. It’s funny, its contemporary, it’s challenging, and it is as realistic as anyone could reasonably expect of an adult author writing about teenagers and their world today. Having said that, it is carries a message that every teenager, and their parents, should encounter and consider. Deserves to be a runaway bestseller.

The Two Pound Tram

If you have time only to read one short novel this year, and you haven’t already discovered it, then it must be this one – “The Two Pound Tram” by William Newton.

I read it in a few hours spread over two days. Had I not started late, I’m sure that I would not have put it down until I had completed it. Looking at the reviews printed on the back I can see that I am in good company in recommending this. It is an extraordinary tale told by one of two brothers, set primarily just before and during the second world war. To say anything else about it would spoil what I regard as my literary discovery of the year. Actually I bought it as a Christmas present for a close relative over a year ago, and on visiting this weekend, spotted it on the bookshelf. I’m afraid I wasn’t much company after that .
Winner of the Society of Authors Sagittarius Prize.
If you have to learn more before buying yourself a copy, then I will just add this tail-end of a review that I discovered elsewhere (I’m sure you can find the source without too much difficulty with a simple ..ogle )
“Whether the story is truth or fantasy, however, is not important. It is a wonderful story, told by a story-teller who, if nothing else, can embroider facts so imaginatively that you suspend disbelief. It reads like a memoir, and it captures with deceptive simplicity and humour the adventure, optimism, delights and disappointments of the vanished world of youth. It is a pleasure to read.“

The Clashing Rocks

Greek mythology has been a favourite source of story-telling for three thousand years. “The Clashing Rocks” by Ian Serraillier tells the story of Jason and The Argonauts.

Avid readers of Harry Potter will be familiar with centaurs, and the story opens with Chiron the centaur, who brings up Jason, whose father was held prisoner by his half-brother and denied his right to be King of Iolcos. As a young man, Jason is forced on a long and perilous journey to restore his father’s rights, the ultimate task of which is to bring the Golden Fleece back to Iolcos. Jason, together with 50 volunteers, set sail in a galley named Argo. The Gods are kind to Jason and his Argonauts and help them in their battles against the likes of Harpies, Sirens, and other fearsome and magical creatures. Stories like these are never too old to be retold, nor to be revisited.

A couple of efforts have been made to make a film of this story, the earlier one (1963) by far the more successful. This book and film were released in the same year.

The BBC has a terrific website that gives a very thorough historical perspective to the story – a superb educational resource.

Scopia (Alex Rider Series)

I return to the clutch of “new generation” Bond novels. this time “Scorpia” by Anthony Horowitz.

Unlike the Cherub series reviewed earlier, Alex Rider, the teen hero of this series, is the lone youngster, drawn into exploits with MI6 against, in this particular instance, a powerful criminal organisation called Scorpia. We learn more about Alex’s family as first he is tricked into working for Scorpia after being shown a video of the death of his father. Later, after failing his first mission with them, he infiltrates them once again, now knowing of their deceit, to foil a terrible plot to kill thousands of children in London. There is of course more, and the ending is a powerful one for younger readers, leaving open the question of whether Alex survives. To be honest, this is the most Bond-like of all these new thriller series written for children and teens. For that reason alone, it is a very attractive read for adults also. The pace is good, though time is taken to fill in the details that ensures easy accessibility for the younger readers. Alex is learning about himself and wrestling with emotions that young people will relate to. The exploits themselves are outrageous in the very best Bond tradition. “Scorpia” is the fifth book in the series, and personally I found it every bit, and probably a bit more, as satisfying as the earlier ones. I resolved to listen to this series rather than read the books myself. The reader, Oliver Chris, is perfectly chosen for the task. Recommended bedtime reading/listening if you enjoy a flight of nostalgic “boy’s own” fantasy from time to time, but not a “one-off” read.
More information about the series can be found at the Alex Rider website.