All the Bright Places

All the Bright Places

Jennifer Niven

Theodore Finch is known either as Finch or "Freak." There are rumors about him that he doesn't deny or confirm so there is a mysterious aura about him. Violet used to be popular and used to be sociable until that one night that changed everything. Finch is constantly thinking about death and which is the best way to kill himself. Violet is counting down the days to graduation so she can escape this small Indiana town and the grief of her sister's death that infamous night. When they both meet at the top of the bell tower for the same terrible reason, their lives are forever changed. Finch and (ultra)Violet have a school assignment to discover the natural wonders of their town, so to be different they take a unique approach and discover the secret treasures of the town…and themselves.

It takes a few chapters to get used to Finch. He's annoying, attention seeking and doesn't stop talking. All these characteristics become his best qualities. Violet is neither annoying nor attention seeking and she hardly talks. This book is written with a dual perspective. I appreciate and enjoy this type of narrative because you don't just get one side of the story or one gender's outlook. This teen book is beautifully written and the story is different from what's out there and has been out there for the past 5 years. There's no dystopian world, this is set in today's time with cellphones and cars. There's no love triangle, just your ordinary good old fashioned boy and girl, will they or won't they romance. There's no government trying to do something for the greater good, it's just high school. What the characters do have to deal with are mental illness'.

This is a real story with real people and swearing, sex and drugs but don't let those things put you off. The values make it appropriate for readers aged 14+. If you like John Green, this book is for you.  A gripping coming of age story that will break your heart. You will be prepared but you will be in denial. Make sure to be emotionally unavailable for a couple of days after finishing the book. It's for the best. And then there's this quote: "Gentlemen are rare. They're like virgins or leprechauns." Jennifer Niven, you're a genius. 

Looking for Alaska

Looking for Alaska

John Green

Pudge (Miles) has always led a non eventful life, until his last year of  high school when he chooses to go to Culver Creek Boarding School. With his obsession with famous last words and his lanky skinny body that earns him the ironic nickname Pudge, he becomes friends with his roommate The Colonel and while seeking the 'Great Perhaps' he finds it unexpectedly in the form of the beautiful Alaska Young.

Adoration for this book is an understatement. It's hard to believe this is John Green's first novel, especially if you've read some of his more recent works. This coming of age story has elements of Catcher in the Rye, but is in it's own category for the teen of today (watch out, there's swearing!). All characters have their own quirk and geekness about them. Pudge loves famous last words, The Colonel loves strategies and is a real mastermind and Alaska, well, Alaska is the very cool and unpredictable mysterious girl that captures the heart of Pudge. Oh yeah, and she loves collecting books:

"Have you really read all those books in your rooms?"

Alaska laughing -"Oh God no. I've maybe read a third of 'em. But I'm going to read them all. I call it my Life's Library. Every summer since I was little, I've gone to garage sales and bought all the books that looked interesting. So I always have something to read." -I think we can all relate to that.

A gripping read that captures your heart but not in the romantic sense. The idea of boarding school is always cool and rebellious but this book shows that in reality, it's quite lonely. I suggest reading this book at 16 years of age and then reading it again in your mid 20s. To truly understand a coming of age novel, you need to do exactly that: come of age. Every emotion comes to surface and you really feel for all the characters. You may think that Pudge needs to grow a pair or that The Colonel needs to take a chill pill and that Alaska seriously needs to stop pretending that everything is ok. But I guess that's just all part of Green's "Great Perhaps."

A Mammoth in the Fridge

A Mammoth in the Fridge

Michaël Escoffier & Matthieu Maudet

Noah found a Mammoth in the fridge. No really, he did and it's stuck. Mum calls the fire brigade and the Mammoth runs off scared. He runs up a tree and it's up to Noah to rescue him. Mammoths like  carrots, right?

The title alone should entice everyone to read this quirky picture book. With only four colours used throughout the book, the illustrations are simple but different and compliment the overall feel of the story. Easy enough to read and is straight forward for beginners such as 3 year olds. The Mammoth and his silly nonsense is a cute bedtime story that represents the innocence of a child's imagination.  

This Moose Belongs to Me

This Moose Belongs to Me

Oliver Jeffers

Wilfred finds a moose. He names him Marcel. Wilfred gives commands to Marcel. Marcel does what he wants. One day, someone else claims Marcel was his moose first. What will Wilfred do?

I can't express enough how amazing Oliver Jeffers is. He delivers yet another visually stunning picture book and double whammy's it with a quirky and random story about a kid finding a moose and keeping him as a pet. This is by far Jeffers' best detailed illustrated book. Due to the detailed landscapes, they really should dominate the page but he somehow manages to bring the focus to Wilfred and Marcel throughout the book. You can pick out a Jeffers drawing out of a million along with the font. As always the font is the same and is what I like to call the 'Olly-J' font. This is perfect for the kid that reacts to visuals and has a creative mind. Adults, you are not excluded. Pick it up now!
-Marcel says so.