Book Review: That Burning Summer by Lydia Syson

England, 1940

 

With was raging in the skies above the Channel, Peggy is putting on a brave face, but she knows Germany could invade any day. Though the family farm and her brother, Ernert's, worries keep her busy, it's hard to ignore the rumble of guns, the rumours of spies and the malicious gossip in town. Peggy must grown up fast - and when a young Polish pilot, Henryk, crash-lands near her home, she  faces a terrible test of love and loyalty. When so much could go wrong.

In one extraordinary burning summer, her life will change forever.

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'That Burning Summer' was an eye-opening book. Bringing forward a hidden part of History in the form of Henryk, it had a sophisticated yet simple writing style that brought alive a captivating romance that I was willing on!  Set in England during 1940, Germany could invade any day but, no one knows when. In the middle of this is sixteen year old Peggy who, does something that may have severe consequences for two of our main protagonists.

 

I felt very connected to the characters from the beginning; their stories were realistic and from the switching point of views, you got a very clear image of their personalities. Not just that though, you got a sense of their fears - and I liked that their experiences had affected them - and a piece of their past in the form of flashbacks from Henryk about his time in the Polish Air Force.  Of course, with Henryk there were always a wavering doubt with him - but, the way Syson has written it allows you to see various sides of the same time in History. Peggy is the driving-force of this novel, no doubt. She is coming-of-age in a difficult time and falling in love when all she can rely on is trust. While reading this book, you won't be able to help imagining yourself in her shoes. Ernest was a character that represented the fact that children can't just be hidden from War - I did like that they all stood for something; that they were all telling the same story although very different ideas. But, siblings and their curiosity get in the way, don't they?

 

A leaflet is presented to you at the beginning at the book that you soon find out was sent out to all members of the public detailing how to act in a German invasion. The novel was set around 'If the Invader Comes' and each part was set around one of the rules listed.  Peggy's brother becomes fixated on these rules, and keeps a watchful eye out for the Germans. Ernest wants to be the man in the family yet, feels he has to prove it to himself. At this point, the excitement really picked up!  The listing idea gave the novel a clear-structure, something I really liked and even foreshadowed what may happen in the next chapter. This was one of the main parts of the book, it kept me reading. I couldn't help but guess, think about and start going 'I know what's going to happen!" Syson took on a challenging part of this period of History - I know the story behind what happened but, only the more well-known information.

 

There was a romance building up throughout this - and, I'm not over-exaggerating when I say this is one of the most well-written I have come across in a while. It was given time to build-up and kept me turning the pages - I was rooting for them, and the danger of things going wrong brought tension into the plot.

 

Although, I enjoyed this, I did find some parts of the plot confusing at times, which meant I had to flick back and try to find out which character it was, for example. Also, 'That Burning Summer' came to a really abrupt ending. At what I felt was in the middle of the action, and a good-chance to throw in a heart-racing scene, it stopped - and an Epilogue that was quite blunt filled it's place. The Epilogue wasn't needed for me, and left me with too many loose-ends. I know there's not any sequel in the works at the moment but, I wanted more from the execution of ending the book the way it began. The writing also lost a poetic-feel it had in the first few chapters - something I adored as it was so unique in a crowded-place. I do feel like I am being a bit harsh on this book - but, I am definitely going to find some time to read Syson's other novel.

 

Thank you Hot Key Books!

 

I had a free-copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.

 

 

I do completely recommended checking out Lydia's website which I linked above! I am the only one who just adores the layout? Also, If you want to check out my new rating system and what it means, you can find it on my sidebar!

Book Review: Diary of a Mall Girl by Luisa Plaja

This is my first book review for Team Fox! I'm so excited to be a part of an amazing team of bloggers - and it's great to be able to discuss the same books, as we're all receiving the same books for review!

Fifteen-year-old Molly actually lives in the residential wing of her local mall, and mysterious twins Jewel and Jasper have just moved into the flat upstairs. As Molly grows closer to them, she becomes more determined than ever to find out their secret – and so do her other friends. Will their prying spoil Molly’s chances of happiness? - Synopsis from Curious Fox

 

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Diary of a Mall Girl was perfect summer-read: relaxing, quirky and fun! This was a laugh-out-loud book with interesting characters and a plot that kept you on the edge of your seat. Diary of a Mall Girl is told through diary entries written by the main protagonist Molly whom, at the beginning of the novel, says her life is "absolutely over." The diary entries were such a refreshing way of telling this novel, instead of a simple first-person narrative. I loved how Plaja set out the diary entries so you could have Molly slip off half-way through writing it because she needed "a moment to collect her thoughts." This was such a realistic touch to add to this novel and I fell in love with Molly's character. As for her 'so-called friends' I would definitely be willing to go out shopping with her on a Friday night.

 

The setting - The Lillies eco-mall was a fantastic choice. I loved how it was used and being able to imagine all of the boutiques and shops. There were places that kept appearing throughout the novel that I could picture and while the girls were out shopping, I couldn't help but want to walk the mall in their shoes.

 

Molly is someone every teenage girl to relate to - apart, in my case, from the love-triangle thrown into the plot. There were things I could recognise from her world that are completely evident in mine. For a start, I struggle with friendships and trying to fit-in: then there's the fact of exams that the teenagers in this novel are revising for. 

 

I loved the other characters in this novel. Jewel and Jasper were perfect for creating suspense as well as having interesting personalities and lives I wanted to know more about. Jewel was a secretive yet smart character, who was really intelligent and observant. I loved hearing what she would say to Molly in terms of advice but also how inexperienced she was when it comes to social-situations. I think this made her character much more realistic. The romance between Molly and Jasper was something that I was rooting for - and when it finally worked out, I couldn't help but smile. They were your typical teenage-couple but also had their own problems to work through. I couldn't help loving how they always seemed to be in a wrong-place, wrong-time situation. Molly having to think about her feelings for Jasper and find out how to interpret them was a lovely thing to see. It was something all teenage girls can relate to: struggling to work-out how they feel. And I'm glad to say Molly was no different!

 

Ameera and Wendy I found always wanted attention. They didn't like the fact that Molly was anything more than a 'Mall girl' or someone to keep them company when the other couldn't. I was thrilled to see her finally leaving them and finding Jewel. They always believed they were superior to Molly and had the right to know and interfere with everything in her life.

 

The one problem I did have with this book: the reason I rated it 3.5 stars, was the fact I felt the narrative was too young. At the beginning, when I read the first few pages I was under the impression that the main character was eleven(pre-teen) not the fifteen year-old Molly was. I would have loved to see a more mature side to Molly and at times, I found that I struggled to read the arguments between the three friends because they were cringe-worthy.  I don't know whether it was just bad-timing when it came to reading this novel. I enjoyed it, and would love to read a sequel but found I couldn't rate it any higher after recently reading 'The Bone Season.'

 

Rating: 3.5 Stars

For ages 11+

 

Thank you to Curious Fox for providing me with this book in return for a review.

Review: Shadows of the Silver Screen by Christopher Edge

Shadows of the Silver Screen has been a review I have been trying to write for a few days now, but it's been difficult to choose a rating.

It's 1900. The era of the silent movie has begun and the silver screen is casting it's hypnotic shadows over audiences everywhere. Penelope Tredwell, thirteen-year-old owner of The Penny Dreadful and celebrated writer under the name of Montgomery Flinch, has had a film offer. The Daughter of Darkness, penned by 'Montgomery Flinch' is being optioned as a film and after seeing what the Veritescope can do, she can't wait to see one's of the magazine's spine-tingling tale of terror brought to life by the camera. When filming starts on a remote manor house on Dartmoor, everything goes well at dirst. But as fiction bleed into fact, the actors don't seem to be playing just parts any more. The characters have taken them over and the sinister story is becoming reality.

The end of the story is dark and dangerous. Is that how her own will end too?

In this second instalment of thirteen-year-old Penelope Tredwell's gothic London life, one of the stories she pens under the name of Montgomery Flinch is being brought to life on camera. I thought this was a great route to take the plot, Penny and the other main characters as well as some new additions forward and into yet another sinister tale. From the first page, you are taken to Victorian London with elegant descriptions and gothic writing. Christopher Edge is one of my personal favourite authors because of his rich writing. He pens his work so realistically and brings the 1900 streets of London to life. As well as creating daring characters and detailed descriptions from fairgrounds to Manor houses and an interesting new 'gadget'.

Penny Tredwell, our main protagonist here, is one of the most refreshing heroines that I have read about. She's not the likely heroine, she doesn't hold a bow and arrow or jump from trains, but I find her so relatable. Penny is wise, interesting and unflinching, as well as being completely loveable. The way she works is that she out-wits the villains and sometimes feisty personality definitely plays a part. Another personal favourite character is Alfie and I'm hoping, in another book, that this character will be explored more. As Penny's best friend, side-kick and close confidant, I'm really wondering where this relationship could go. There was also a third-person narrative which I think really fits this  novel. You could escape from Penny at times when filming in Dartmoor and cut to London, where a different part of the plot is playing out. Alfie is certainly the charming-prince!

When Penny and Monty, the actor hired to take on the role of Montgomery Flinch at public appearances arrive at the filming location, the whole plot takes a deadly side. With myths, ghosts and spirits, this book is a gripping read. The climax of the novel is fast-paced and exciting and there are also some suspenseful twists and turns in the plot that I really enjoyed getting through. I think the worst thing for a book is to be predictable, and there were no times where it let your hand slip from turning the pages.

After reading Twelve Minutes to Midnight, there were a few things that could have been better about the sequels plot. The writing will always have the highest of ratings but I felt the actual plot was confusing at times, and I found myself having to turn back the pages to see what had happened, to work out how the present had happened-and sadly I found that a pain as I love to be able to know everything.  There was quiet a huge cast of characters, and with ghosts and spine-tingling illusions, it could also be difficult to understand some parts of the book. I also felt the age on this book should be higher, definitely not a read for children. It's not too scary but there's a few scenes in there that have you looking over your shoulder!

For people who love historical fiction and exciting mysteries, this is one for you! For ages 12+.

 Goodreads

3. 5 Stars