Requiem - Lauren Oliver

The final book in the Delirium trilogy.

As escapees from a regime which operates on teenagers to remove the erratic 'love' gland-the cause of strife and war down the ages - Alex & Lena join forces with other escapees. Outside of the city there is no easy availability of food and shelter and survival is not definite.

Inside the city is no guarantee either, a class system is still evident and there are rumbles of overall social discontent.

As a young adult book this is an excellent read. It's not really a stand alone, so much of it relates back to the previous two without explanation.

A very good series to get teenagers interested in reading.

Recommended.

Publisher - Hodder & Stoughton

The Prophet - Michael Koryta

Reviews such as 'this should establish Koryta as an international bestseller once and for all' miss a core detail of the UK market. We don't do baseball or American football or whatever it is that little league relates to. So with heavy emphasis on the game the book becomes a bit of a struggle.
That said the premise of the crime thriller is good.
Two brothers in town had a sister when they were teenagers. After her death they each reacted differently, one turned to God, the other became a bailbondsman.
Years later another teenage girl is killed in the same town.
This time there's a link between her and the bailbondsman brother and he decides to track the killer down.
In the meantime his estranged brother is put at risk.
With great family dynamics and a good story well hidden in some kind of sport I can see that the author could become appreciated over here.
If he learned about football or rugby....

Publisher - Hodder & Stoughton

Selected at six - Joan Goldman

The wonders of ebay meant that a book I'd been looking for for years eventually surfaced at a bargain price. And when it arrived it had bonus stamps from Birmingham Reference Library - 'Discarded'
Serendipity indeed.
This is an autobiographical account of a teacher of 'backward' children in the 60's.
It's of particular interest to me as my mother was one of these teachers and many of my half term holidays were spent in 'the hut' where she taught.
Similarly in this school the remaining space was handed over for the children least likely to succeed. The only instruction from the headteacher 'I want them reading by the end of the year'
How this is achieved and the stories along the way make interesting reading of a 'discarded' book.
Shortly to be passed to a group of 6 such teachers who will love it.
Think 'Call the midwife' for education

Publisher - Hodder & Stoughton

Burning Air - Erin Kelly

As a family including a private school teacher, a magistrate and the perfect children the MacBrides should have a comfortable life.

And on the surface they nearly do. But every family has its secrets and this one is no exception. The secret however has affected another family and one member of that family has no intention of forgetting. Revenge is much more likely.

Having made, or helped to make, a decision which was to affect the rest of Darcy Kellaways life Mr Macbride is unaware of the actual impact of his decision.

Written in several voices starting with Lydia, the mother, the reader is led backwards and forwards through the history, learning from various angles the effect or lack of knowledge each character has been subjected to as a result of one decision.

While the MacBrides wait for the arrival of a new baby at the same time as it's grandmother is dying Darcy is scheming his revenge.

As a psychological thriller this is an excellent read with surprises throughout the book and a twist right at the end.

It seems an illustration of a damaged mind more so than a genetically warped one and the despair and frustration suffered by Darcy come across well. The small triumphs as his plan comes together are exactly that, very small, but in his mind they play a major part towards his ultimate revenge.

Just how far would a family member go to protect a family member, to try to please a member or even just to try and be what a parent wanted?

One of those books you pick up and put down only when it's finished.

Publisher – Hodder & Stoughton