Book Review: The Twice-Lived Summer of Bluebell Jones by Susie Day

Dye your hair. Dye Everything.

On her thirteenth birthday, Blue makes a desperate wish. To be transformed into a cool, confident teenager. Enter Red, appearing from nowhere like a wacky fairy godmother. She's only visible to Blue- in fact, she IS Blue, but a year older. With Red by her side to guide her, Blue can avoid all the gruesome embarrassments! But her future self causes a heap of crazy trouble - and there are dark secrets she's not telling...

The first full novel I have read by Susie Day. I reviewed one of her short stories which really sold me on her as a writer.

The whole of this novel is the main character to change herself and trying to make friends with "cool" people of where she is on holiday; making her a pretty realistic thirteen year old. The supporting characters are nice.

The twist was done well. It's hinted frequently through the book but not overly obvious. The ending felt a bit rushed and really let this book down. I didn't fully buy it and there is main thing that's kinda spoilerly. Here's a spoiler (highlight to see): the character just straight gives up, doesn't try to get out the situation at all. 

Overall, I give this book 4 out of five stars. I really enjoy reading this book, but the ending knocked a lot of points for me. It's on the younger side of YA. (Or older middle-grade? Teen would be so easier to use) Therefore short, which was nice read to have during the busyness of uni. Though with an important message for someone whose 13 or whatever age to hear.

Leaving the Library A.K.A only be surround by books at night and weekends.

Proof that I do occasionally consumed alcohol.

I'm in Glasgow (sort of) right now being focus to be in the presence of non-home bound family member. Doing stupid things like going to TGIFriday to drink cocktails. Well, we actually went yesterday and droved up then too.

I had my last week of work experience at a University library. I finish reading the 'Life of Pi' for review and wrote two reviews in the end (though I had read that book before). I also replaced stickers on the books. So much fun...I'm going to miss the shelving. I actually am. It was tiny bit of challenge but I really like organising book to a system. It doesn't matter if it it my making or someone else's. As long as it not just big Alphabet line because honest you always give up by the time you get to F when you're just browsing for say Horror.  So tempted to offer to organise my local library shelves. They just so terrible and they get doubles of books no one likes.

As user of local library, hell I even actually give them money because I keep forgetting to renew my books on the right day, I have every right to moan about the stupid mistakes. However, I plan to do nothing about fixing/avoiding in the future about these annoyances. It just how I roll. 

Today I actually left the home of one sister (I frankly wanted to stay in hotel), visit another and spent too much money. My nephews are somewhat cute. The youngest one has a thing for going through bags and stealing books from said bag. I sort of don't mind because an obsession with books is just something I can get behind. Even if reading them isn't currently involved with that obsession. Someday it probably will be. Till then stealing books is the right path. I mean the Book Thief and I know that's what I did. However, I was lead a stray.

We went shopping today where I spent too much money. Brought a onesies, wristbands featuring Batman and my favourite aliens and also in my highest form immaturity brought several Monster High dolls when we went Toys R Us.  I was probably too happy when my mum told me we were going. We also went to Asda where I definitely spent too much money on books and children in need merch.

We also tried out the wheelchair in a public for the first time, it was a lot easier on lament floor than on carpet in the hallway. I was one doing the pushing. I did almost crash into people as it was awkward to see beyond the chair when turning corners. My mum made a joke that I need the chair now from pushing her around day.It wasn't that bad on my arms, though the top of my feet hurt hitting both on them on the bar things on them. I wonder if I'll get bruises.

To finish we had proper Fish & Chips on the way home. That all for this week, now I'm going to bed to pounder what I'm going to do with Dark Knight trilogy Blu-ray considering I don't own a player.

Haunted Library

Sadly Halloween has once again past. Its sort of disappointing that I didn't have bigger plans on Halloween 2013 as it the only one I live through (morality anyway) with the number 13 in it. I'm also disappointed that no horror films came out this
Halloween. Though, it has been awhile since a heard about a horror film that actually sounded good.

I basically just craved pumpkins and dressed up. I was a bloody Red Riding Hood, you know after she
killed the wolf and stabbed the woodsmen for the fun of it. I guess I could have went as Buffy from that Halloween ep when that house came to life or something. The costume was sort of similar to the one she wears in it. I was so tired on Halloween that I gave up on a pumpkin mid carve. I had already craved a Batsymbol pumpkin (which I think came out very well). I had scouped out the guts of the other one, had did the eyes and started on the mouth. My mum offered to finished it so I let her and changed to a bloody state.

The rest of Halloween was spent lying about couches and watching disappointing Horror films. I don't know why but any time I watch a Horror film with my sister, its petty crap one. We watched "Smiley" (which co-wrote by my cat, Glasgow. Okay, it just someone with the same name. Not the 'smile' part but he writes movies with 'smile' in the title). The ending is so good but the rest of the film is so slow and boring. The main character was unlikable and digoal. I don't know, maybe its because they used to doing short films and they just need more practice with longer medium. We also watched "The Hills run red": it was just crap. We started watching "Thirteen Ghosts" (remake) but fell asleep. My sister actually fell asleep before me and I had been up since 6 am.

I've had my first week of work placement. I'm at the college library, it also the uni library as well. So far the experience has been interesting and I get to read as part of it. Mostly just re-shelving but I like the process of shelving books. Its fun. I probably should have pick something more people involved but I like libraries and books. It nice to be surrounded by organised books all day and then go home to my mess of book shelve that cry out to be re-organised. It on my ever growing list of things to do involving my bed room. Though, as of today I can tick one off the list.

I finally got rid of my broken bed, dismated it and put it in the shed today. Most of it will probably burn. Everything that's not metal. It was so dusty under the bed. It was so much fun clearing up that mess. I dealt with everything that was under the bed; however I had a lot of clothes that were just lying on the bed. There now on the floor, in bag though. There just like this wall of stuff between me and the tv. Its next on the list to deal with. Second, would have to be my damp wall that was behind my bed. It got black mould on it and the wall paper needs replacing. I've put bleach on it, but the mould still sort of there. I guess it needs a proper wash with bleach.

I guess I now have the fun of picking out new wallpaper and getting to move the tv. That all for the week, join me next week where I have no clue what I'll be doing. Though, definitely more library stuff.

Book Review: Acid by Emma Pass

The tagline for this book totally should have been "Acid, it'll make you trip".

2113. In Jenna Strong's world, ACID - the most brutal, controlling police force in history - rule supreme. No throwaway comment or muttered dissent goes unnoticed - or unpunished. And it was ACID agents who locked Jenna away for life, for a bloody crime she struggles to remember.
The only female inmate in a violent high-security prison, Jenna has learned to survive by any means necessary. And when a mysterious rebel group breaks her out, she must use her strength, speed and skill to stay one step ahead of ACID - and to uncover the truth about what really happened on that dark night two years ago.

I really liked this books but there is a few problems with it. Mainly that I never brought the premise. I just found the set up too unrealistic. It has Britain basically becoming police state in fifty years time due to the country going bankrupt and Europe kicking us out. That part that really undid the world for me. Britain would have to really piss off Europe (I'm presuming the whole of Europe have joined together at this point and not just the few in the EU) to get kicked out. I mean several country have went bankrupt (or close to it) and the EU help them (though that probably mainly to save the Euro).

I never brought people just being so very happy to let ACID take over in the first place. I know we only ever given the distorted view of this history but there would have been many a riot (even with the anti-ACID groups I just don't this is covered enough). Britain isn't bunch of push overs and we're very ford of alcohol (which banned in the world of ACID). I just don't believe it and unbelievable set up ruins the rest of the book for me in general which sort of did in ACID. I don't maybe if the book was set two hundred years in the future instead of one but with that said this book reminds me a lot of 'Slated' by Terri Terry (which I did a review on), they're not the same but have a few similarities with being British, new police stricture and altering of brains. 'Slated' only set forty years in the future but I bought it more. Pass just could have done a better job with making a more realistic world.

Another thing bug me is that its never explain why the books starts with Jenna being in a fully male prison. Surely there would be high Security prison for females as woman do commit violet crimes. I don't know its meant to be something they did to mess with her. We're just left to ponder where all the female murderers are.

Besides the bad world building, ACID is actually quite good. Jenna is really interesting character and kick arse character (though her actions in the last part of the book do annoy me somewhat, like what hell are you're doing. I suppose it would have been a boring end if she had just left to the others to finish). Also prepare to be confused as Jenna ends up using several different names during the book due to the whole hiding from ACID thing.

Another nice thing about this book is that its stand alone which is so rare in YA and Dystopia. Its all wrapped up nicely at the end of the book.

There is a bit of romance, which is cause the bit that annoyed me at Jenna, but other that I think it was buyable and nice. Yeah, I don't really care about romance parts in books.

Overall, I gave this book 4/5 stars, a few things could have been improved but it was still good book and nice addition to the Dystopia genre.

Book Review: Doll Bones by Holly Black

 Creepy Doll action with a male protagonist (mostly).


Zach, Poppy and Alice have been friends for ever. They love playing with their action figure toys, imagining a magical world of adventure and heroism. But disaster strikes when, without warning, Zach’s father throws out all his toys, declaring he’s too old for them. Zach is furious, confused and embarrassed, deciding that the only way to cope is to stop playing . . . and stop being friends with Poppy and Alice. 

But one night the girls pay Zach a visit and tell him about a series of mysterious occurrences. Poppy swears that she is now being haunted by a china doll – which claims to be made from the ground-up bones of a murdered girl. They must return the doll to where the girl lived, and bury it. Otherwise the three children will be cursed for eternity . . .

The main and important thing that is missing from the above summery is the Game. The trio (no, they never refer to that in the book) have this elaborate story going on which they act out with dolls which is the main reason Zach is so upset that about his father throwing out his toys. (From the honest point of view of twenty year old, I'd still be playing with dolls if I hadn't moved when I was 12 and they some how never made it into the house. Instead I write more and go through session of watching others play with dolls on Youtube). 

Zach instead of telling Poppy and Alice the real reason the Game is over, lies to them, saying he doesn't care about the game anymore. The Doll a.k.a. the Queen of their kingdom turns out to be haunted and leads them on to a quest.

The main theme is growing up and change, partly afterlife. Both are very depressing. The growing up theme includes drastic changes, growing apart and first romance which I ignored mostly as I'm actually still an eight year old that's not at all interested in that.

I'm a big fan of creepy dolls that are haunted and compared to all the other ones I've came across this doesn't really cut the mustard if solely basing it off that. I just don't think a real creep level is ever reached. Stuff happens but never constantly, though it is meant to be in question on whether or not the whole thing with the doll is actually true. You meant to wonder if Poppy has made the whole thing up with the purpose of leading Zach back into the game. I suppose its a better mystery than a horror (even twelve year old level).

There are few very unrealistic things that happen, which can be let to slide since this is a kid's book and makes the plot more interesting. I just say "Bus station" and "harbour" which will make sense once you read this book.

The three main characters are well defined. I personally think the strongest part of book is their friendship and the issues they work out through the book. Twelve is that awkward age where a lot of friendship from childhood can die or be severally weakened (Of course this tends to happen in Scotland more to do with this being the age to start Secondary school, but still). There hints of deepness to the characters, however this being a 250 page book, the hints were fine.

There are some lovely illustrations in this book by Eliza Wheeler. Petty and creepy. I do have a favorite illustration but it bit of a spoiler if I say which one. If actually interested its the one that features the label that been in my last four reviews (including this one).

Overall, I gave this books 4/5 stars. A few minor problems with it, but its still very good books. I probably eventually get my own copy, but not for a while as I'm broke and spent my pretty book fund on Sherlock Holmes (I regret nothing).

Disclaimer: I got this book off NetGallary. So for free for Review. Don't worry that doesn't effect my opinion at all.