by Rowena Morcom | Dec 8, 2022 | Good Reading for Young Adults, Young Adults, Younger Readers |
Ledge is a romance/fantasy novel that details the escape of a woman named Dawsyn from a mountainside village where a few villagers are sacrificed to huge bird-like creatures each year.
The premise is reminiscent of the classic ‘Hunger Games’ trope, mixing in elements of fantasy, romance and survival. The characters in Ledge though are far less compelling, the plot is littered with holes and I found the pacing of the novel a bit off.
Although described as a ‘slow-burning romance’, the book moves quite quickly and glosses over some of the most interesting sections – such as the climax, yet it spends a large amount of time detailing the rather dull journey of Dawsyn and Ryon (the male lead) climbing down the mountain.
The representation of minorities seems tokenistic, with a random, unnecessary, queer character inserted for no purpose. Ryon’s character is also rather problematic – he is depicted as one of the only black characters, yet also portrayed as an animalistic ‘half-breed’.
Ledge had the potential to be a genuinely interesting book, yet its unoriginality makes it seem more like a half-hearted attempt to rewrite the classic survival/romance trope.
Reviewed by Jenny, Year 8, Pymble Ladies College, Pymble NSW
Age Guide 12+
by Rowena Morcom | Dec 8, 2022 | Good Reading for Young Adults, Young Adults, Younger Readers |
This is a well-written, contemporary YA romance which explores Libby’s first year as a Uni student, her passions on acting and her time belonging to the Uni’s theatre group. Libby is thrilled when she is chosen to play the lead role of Beatrice in Much Ado About Nothing, which is directed by the new director, Will, to whom she is very attracted.
Libby is filled with uncertainty as to who she really is and who she wants to be with. As she gets tangled up in group chats, drama, and more gossip, we follow her experiences in University as she seeks to discover her identity amidst the fear of doing something wrong in various relationships, and the desire to fit in.
From the very beginning, this book was very addictive as the narrative flowed so well. Written in third person it allowed me to look through the eyes of one character, Libby, rather than all the characters, which created suspense. This story also gives a detailed insight for people who don’t have that much experience with theatre.
I became very engrossed in the lives of the main characters, especially the romance between Will and Libby, and the friendship between Libby and Ella as they face tough obstacles. This story explores issues that teenagers find easy to relate to, highlighting the realities of friendships.
I recommend this book for teens that are older than 15 years old as it contains references to partying, sexual relationships and drinking. This book highlights the realities of friendships.
Well written, relatable, and enjoyable!
Reviewed by Louciana, Year 11, St Ursula’s College, Kingsgrove NSW
Age Guide 15+
by Rowena Morcom | Dec 8, 2022 | Good Reading for Young Adults, Young Adults |
Whisking us back to 1943 and the middle of World War II, Ellie Marney’s The Killing Code plunges us into the lives of Kit, Dottie, Moya and Violet in her YA historical fiction, where four girls work as code-breakers at Arlington Hall in Washington DC.
I thoroughly enjoyed this novel as the mystery itself was compelling, adding complexities of security checks and curfews, as well as the racist policies and actions of the time. The tension I came across derived from several sources; Kit’s constant fear of being unmasked as an imposter, the stress and urgency of code-breaking, the war itself, and a string of gruesome murders perpetrated against young, female government workers in DC. I adored the combining features of a murderer on the loose, a sapphic romance, deft incorporation of historical prejudice of the time, and of course, the emphasis on women involvement in war efforts.
The sheer amount of research that Marney has done for this novel, shown from the way she describes the girls’ code-breaking, is amazingly well done. The attention to detail is phenomenal and I found myself amazed by this throughout the entire novel. Additionally, I loved the quotes at the top of each and every chapter, and upon reading the author’s note at the back of the book, seeing the effort that Marney went into to retrieve and gain permission for these quotes, left me in utter awe.
The Killing Code is the first book I’ve ever read by Ellie Marney, and after reading it, I’ve decided that I definitely want to read more. The historical setting felt immersive without being distracting, and the murder mystery had me hooked from the very first chapter.
Reviewed by Christina, Year 11, Cerdon College, Merrylands, NSW
Age Guide 13+
by Rowena Morcom | Dec 8, 2022 | Good Reading for Young Adults, Young Adults |
The Darkening by Sunya Mara is a fantastic page-turner that had me completely captivated. The novel is set in a city surrounded by darkness called The Storm. Although the city uses ikonomancy, a magical language of symbols, to protect itself from ‘The Storm’, the Regia,
the hereditary ruler, is the primary protector.
Vesper Vale, the daughter of failed revolutionaries, is flung into uncertainty as she tries to save her father from the wrath of the Wardana, the city’s law enforcers. Through doing so, she meets Prince Dalca, the future Regia. When it came to the climax of the novel, I couldn’t tear myself away!
Within the storm, some imagery was confusing, however, I appreciated the intensity of the novel and related to Vesper’s morals and emotions.
Overall, this novel was phenomenal!
Reviewed by Olivia, Year 8, St Ursula’s College, Kingsgrove NSW
Age Guide 13+
by Rowena Morcom | Dec 8, 2022 | Good Reading for Young Adults, Young Adults |
Rhiannon Wilde’s Where You Left Us is a wonderful book that captures the dark undertones of young adult lives, as well as being a unique perspective on human experiences. Cinnamon and Scarlett, the main characters, are sisters who go through life’s ups and downs while discovering their true identity through mystery and romance.
This book reveals the sisters’ family’s hidden past, leading to an adventure about the past. Cinnamon’s father, Ian, suffers from depression, which contributes to Cinnamon’s introverted personality. That is, until she meets Daisy, her new co-worker. Cinnamon grows as a character throughout the book, making relatable situations the sisters find themselves in. Scarlett, on the other hand, discovers new sides to herself, as well as a new love interest.
This book really captivated me and is unlike any other book I’ve ever read. Rhiannon Wilde captures the various aspects of people and their mindsets, as well as the sisters’ relatable situations. This book’s flowing writing style is unique, and capable of conveying the story in an entertaining manner while giving a warm and comfortable feeling. As a result, I would recommend this book to any reader interested in learning about different writing styles. Overall, I enjoyed this book because it not only maintains a balance of mystery, romance, and drama, but it also uncovers a realistic view of mental health issues that Rhiannon Wilde has accurately captured.
Reviewed by Yashica, Year 8, Cerdon College, Merrylands NSW
