Everything Everything is written by Nicola Yoon and published by Corgi.

I am doing this review from pure memory, it’s over a year since I read the book but, it’s always stuck in my head and I’d love for more people to read it.

Everything, Everything is about 18 year old Maddy. She has spent her whole life indoors because of an illness that means going outside could kill her. The only two people she really knows are her mum and her nurse. Then, a new boy called Olly moves next door, and suddenly Maddy has to question everything she’s been told.

So, you could say the story is quite sappy and romantic, but it’s also really sad, and heartbreaking, and scary. This book is one of my favourites (and as it was made into a movie, obviously quite a few people agree with me!), because when we’ve spent our whole lives going in and out as we please, it’s really cool to read from the perspective of someone who’s never been outside, but has only seen it.

The ending totally took me by surprise – didn’t expect it at all. I’d say that my favourite character is probably either Olly, or Maddy’s nurse, they’re both really cool.

I’d suggest this book for probably age 13+, and I think that every house should have a copy, I mean this book really is … EVERYTHING 😄 (wow, that was a crappy joke).

One Silver Summer is written by Rachel Hickman, has a front cover by Helen Crawford-White, and is published by Old Barn Books.

This is one of my favourite books, and I’m pretty sure it’s been on most of my “favourites lists” since I first read it over two years ago.

One Silver Summer is about 15 year olds, Saskia and Alex. Alex is living with his grandmother, after running away from his boarding school, and Saskia is staying with her uncle after a tragedy. They’re both keeping secrets from each other but whose is going to come out first, and can they stay strong to each other despite the secrecy.

I have reread this book like 20 times and it’s one of those books which I can just pick up and read a random chapter. Despite the fact that it’s maybe a little bit cheesy (nothing wrong with that!), it is an amazing book. It’s sweet, funny and sad. It’s a romance, but also deals with some serious issues, like loss and being under pressure from parents.

Also it has horses (no, I’m totally not obsessed with horse books – I don’t know what you’re talking about?!), so that is an obvious selling point. Apart from the horses though, Saskia is definitely my favourite character.

I suggest this book is probably suitable for age 10/11+ and it’s a great book for schools, libraries and your home. Go buy it, it’s great, I love it.

The Year I Didn’t Eat is written by Samuel Pollen, has a front cover by Sophie Beer and Rob Wall, and is published by ZunTold.

This book is amazing. It is also serious and heartbreaking, but mostly it’s amazing.

The Year I Didn’t Eat is about 14 year old Max. Max likes bird watching and games, and he has anorexia. Because no, anorexia is not just a girls illness. This book gives us Max’s perspective of the year he didn’t eat.

Warning though, this book is serious (even though it’s actually a really funny book in places), so do not pick it up if you are having a bad day and want cheering up! That’s not a negative though, I love this book because it tackles an issue that is not usually talked about honestly, and it does it from a male perspective that is almost never seen (though, of course, it should be).

My favourite character is definitely Max’s older brother Robin, and you know what? I learned about a brand new thing in this book …geocaching (I had literally no idea what it was until I picked up this book, but it sounds like fun).

I’d recommend this book for probably age 11+ and think that all high schools should have it, as not only is it a really enjoyable story but it’s informative too. I also think that every library should have it, and all parents should buy it for their kids.

Am I Normal Yet? is written by Holly Bourne and published by Usborne.

This is a really, really good book and the title is literally my life (except I don’t particularly want to be normal because that’s just a bit boring).

Am I Normal Yet? is about a 17-ish year old girl called Evie. It tells her story as she struggles to make friends, get through school, maybe get a boyfriend(?), and struggling with her OCD and general anxiety.

This book is one of the more ‘relatable’ (I hate that word though!) books for me, because although I don’t have to deal with OCD or anxiety, a lot of the time it can feel like I’m trying to put up with an avalanche of things that are outside of my control, and I believe that’s how lots of teenagers can feel, because although not all problems look the same, they can still break you.

I love Evie’s friends, Amber and Lottie (there are books from their perspective too, which you should also read) they are amazing, and the feelings in this book are so powerful. This book deals with mental health issues amazingly and shows that just because a person has one “big” issue, that doesn’t mean they don’t have everyday issues too (as in – they’re still just people or they’re still just “normal”).

I suggest this book for probably age 12+, and I definitely think that all schools and homes should have it.

Black Enough: Stories Of Being Young And Black In America is edited by Ibi Zoboi and published by Harper Collins.

This book is lots of little books in one, so you’re basically getting a 17 for 1 deal – free books, be grateful!

Ok, so I can’t describe every short story in there or I’d be here for the next ten years so, instead you get a summary of my opinions on the book as a whole (sorry if it’s wrong).

Black Enough’s stories are all based on diversity and showing the lives of black people in books from their point of view and from an everyday life perspective, rather than the token black person they often get presented as. It shows the suffering they endure, and the prejudice they face everyday, for the simple fact that they have more melanin in their skin.

I really enjoyed this book (it took me way too long to read it, as I essentially haven’t had ANY free time in the past two weeks, but it’s really good). It’s brilliant because of being diverse, because it shows someone like me (a white person) what life can be like for other people but, more importantly, it also just has some really good stories in there.

There were a few of the stories that I kind of wish would be made into longer books. Some of my favourites were;

Warning: Color May Fade by Leah Henderson

Oreo by Brandy Colbert

Wild Horses, Wild Hearts by Jay Coles

Whoa! By Rita Williams-Garcia

Kissing Sarah Smart by Justina Ireland

&

Into The Starlight by Nic Stone

So I would suggest this book as being suitable for probably age 11/12+. It’s a title that should be stocked in EVERY school and library, and every home should have a copy too!

The Exact Opposite Of Okay is written by Laura Steven and published by Egmont.

This book is so honest, so realistic and SO funny!

The Exact Opposite Of Okay is about 17 year old Izzy O’Neil. She’s an aspiring script writer, and living life to the full – the way she wants to. However, when pictures of her start flying around school on a less than friendly website, and she seems to lose both her best friends, suddenly laughing it off doesn’t seem so easy

This book is just so good. It’s very funny, just from the perspective it’s written in, because it’s like there’s a person talking to you. And it’s so honest and realistic (I am not saying that every teenager gets into a sex scandal -although I’m sure some do- that’s not all of us!), it provides an honest view of how one mistake in the internet can ruin your life.

Another thing is that it talks about serious issues, like feminism, privacy and sex whilst still managing to be hilarious. Also, Izzy has a dog called Dumbledore, so she kind of has to be amazing by default.

AND, I’ve met the author of this book a few times, and she’s very funny in real life, and really lovely …and ask her about Monopoly boards!

I suggest this book for probably age 13+ and it’s a perfect book for any teenager, and for high school libraries.

The Scarlet Files: Cat Burglar is written by Tamsin Cooke and published by OUP.

This book doesn’t necessarily teach great morals, but it’s the first in a brilliant series of books 🤣

The Scarlet Files: Cat Burglar is about a girl called Scarlet, who’s about 13 and has a pretty unusual secret …her dads a burglar, and she’s training to become one too. The story follows what happens when a burglary goes wrong and she lands herself an even bigger secret, and a whole lot of trouble.

I really enjoyed this book, and it’s sequel, Mission Gone Wild. I believe that technically they are written for a slightly younger age range, but who cares, they’re good so I enjoyed them. And even though you know burglary is wrong -so don’t do it kids- Scarlet is kind of awesome. It’s a really interesting book that’s sad, happy and exciting. You should definitely read it!

This is a great book (I’m on 3 re-reads, & counting!), that I would suggest for probably 8-12 year olds-ish and i think it would be a great library and primary school book, and definitely one most kids should enjoy.

Walk On Earth A Stranger is written by Rae Carson, published by Greenwillow Books and has a front cover by Neil Swaab.

So, this book is actually part of a trilogy (the other two being Like A River Glorious & Into The Bright Unknown) and all three are fantastic. I always get them all mixed up though, because I read them so quick I just see them as one long book! So, really, this review is for all three!

Walk On Earth A Stranger is set during the gold rush in America, and it’s about a teenage girl called Lee who has a secret. This secret could endanger her life, and the story follows what she has to do to survive, when tragedy strikes.

I honestly love all these books, I would say this first one’s probably my favourite though, as it’s the one that pulled me into the series. I’ve reread it, at least three times, and I enjoyed it more each time. It’s also one of those books I will randomly pick up off the shelf and just re-read a chapter or two.

It has such a good storyline, because even when it seems as though things are relaxed, there is always the suspense that something is about to happen. And Lee is a feminist before her time, which is always going to make me love a book, and means she’s basically amazing.

I would suggest this book for probably age 11+ and i think it’s an exciting, inspiring book for teenagers, that every home should have.

Heartstopper is by Alice Oseman and published by Hodder.

This book is soooooo cute 💚💕

Heartstopper is about two teenage boys in high school, who are both slowly falling for each other but, neither of them are brave enough to admit it.

So, this is a graphic novel, which, to be honest, I usually don’t go for because for some reason it usually takes me a lot longer to read them. But, I REALLY enjoyed this book, all I could think the whole time was how cute it was and how much I wanted them to get on with it and admit their feelings. Charlie and Nick are just so adorable.

AND I can’t wait to read the second one in the series which is due out in July.

I suggest this book for probably age 12+ and would love to see lots of schools stocking it in their libraries.

The Glory is written by Lauren St John and published by Orion.

Horses are amazing. I want a horse. I’ve always wanted a horse. Someone, please, buy me a horse.

The Glory is a book about two people, both teenagers, both of whom love horses, one a boy & one a girl. The boy lives with his dad and is struggling for money. He has a horse that he can hardly provide for, and so he works a job at a burger place. The girl lives with her mum and stepdad, has more than enough money, and everything she could ask for …except for her dad, and a horse.

The book follows everything that happens when they both enter the same horse race, one for money and the other for escape.

It is actually ridiculous how many times I’ve read this book, I’ve re-read the whole thing at least 6 times, and then I’ll often just randomly pick it up and read a chapter.

I love The Glory – it seems like a kids book at first, but deals with some serious issues and is honestly amazing (also – HORSES – so come on, obviously its amazing) and Alex and Will together are really cute. But, the main stars are the horses, obviously they’re the best.

I recommend this book for probably age 10/11+ and it’s a great book for schools, libraries and kids.

Now, what about that horse?