Juniper Lemon's Happiness Index by Julie Israel

After losing her sister, Juniper is finding it hard to face certain people at her school, Lauren and Camilla were friends and then there's Heather and Kody too.

When she uses Camilla's bag and finds a letter addressed to a boyfriend or girlfriend Camilla had, Juniper takes it upon herself to find out just what her sister was keeping from her.

Frustrated at herself for not saving her sister and seeing flashbacks to the July 4/5 accident where Camilla was driving and filming at the same time resulting in the car crash accident which killed her, Brand sees her smash up the ceramics department and helps her by taking the detention punishment and helps Juniper dumpster dive for her lost index card from her collection of past events.

Juniper spends the course of the book trying to piece together the life her sister kept hidden from her and along the way finds out secrets of her closest friends which wrecks and repairs relationships.

The unique part of the book aside from the mystery romance her sister his from her, is the fact that she keeps a physical record of the most important memories from set days in a modern day where we mostly rely on technology, I liked that. It was also a promise she made to her sister she continued despite her being gone. Which shows her loyalty and connection is still strong.

Many thanks to the publishers for allowing me to review this book for them!

Bubble Wrap Boy by Phil Earle

Charlie is a teenage, Chinese boy whom lives his life as his parents only child, but overly protected still by his mum, the way she sneaks off and goes to evening classes all the time arouses suspicion in Charlie over where she really goes.

He wants to skate though despite knowing his mum would disapprove and he is very clumsy as well and when she finds out, the skate park kids and his best friend Sinus end up dubbing him bubble wrap boy after an incident.

Eventually, Charlie's mum's secret is out by accident and Charlie finds out why his mum is so overprotective of him and he can't blame her but he does want to help her as well as perform at the skate park event coming up.

The book deals with the effects of growing up in school and fitting in loosely while focusing on family secrets and parenting a lot. Charlie stands up for himself to prove to his mum mostly but his dad too that he can't always be protected from bad stuff that will happen as it's inevitable really to never expect it to happen.

It's uniqueness sells it to me as I truly enjoyed it and the developing mystery as you read on and untangle it!

Saint Anything by Sarah Dessen

Sydney is a young girl in her brother's broken shadow, never in trouble but massively sheltered from life by her parents because of his actions she begins to rebel and just be herself unapologetically.

Peyton, Sydney's brother is sentenced for a drink driving accident after he originally started doing drugs and breaking and entering it spiralled until he was put into jail long term after disabling a young boy when he hit his bike.

Ames, Peyton's best friend from a narcotics anonymous group is left to look out for Sydney for Peyton only he's a very creepy guy and not just Sydney but Layla her new friend from the pizza parlour she goes to notices it as well.

Layla's brother, Mac, becomes close to Sydney and shares with her his past weight issues and his self belief in Saint's with a necklace he wears. He later passes on another one to Sydney to keep her hopeful of change to come for the better after moving from private school to Layla and Mac's school she feels like she fits in better and finds herself having masses of fun until her parents try to stop her going out to concerts.

Her mum is a very Peyton only focused character and misses all the good Sydney does meanwhile when Ames stays and he and Sydney are alone, things get tense as things come to ahead just what will Ames do...

A very good book, not my favourite Sarah Dessen but nevertheless a great read about teenage life and being in the shadow of a sibling.

Say Her Name by James Dawson

A boarding school holds a deep secret, a group of girls known as The Elites along with Naya and Bobbie, two other students at the school and two boys all start messing with Bloody Mary one night after telling ghost stories.

What immediately follows over the next five days is a series of odd events leading Bobbie to solve the mystery as Mary keeps appearing around in reflective surfaces trying to pass through and tell her story.

As Sadie disappears first from the school eventually more of them disappear to solve just what Mary wants after they summoned her.

There is involvement of the boarding school rooted into the story with past pupil's and teachers making it an engrossing story which is just the right amount of scary to read before bed still as I did! It was a great creepy tale with the Scooby doo style investigative fun to keep you reading on.

Not If I See You First by Eric Lindstrom

Parker is a blind girl who's navigating her life after her dad's death, this caused her aunt and her family to move in with her to help out after her mum caused the car crash which blinded her and she's now also gone.

So when her friends and especially Sarah her very best friend find out that Scott is hanging around their school again Parker finds herself on edge after what she felt for him before he caused an incident.

Meanwhile she's happy with Jason, another guy at school that she also likes and she met recently when shopping and he helped her. He also supports her for her running passion which he also has a share of.

I did enjoy this book but lost interest as Scott came into it more and it wasn't clear what the heck was happening with him and Parker. It is worth a read as Parker is a great strong character with being blind and loving to run not letting her passions get lost.

By Your Side by Kasie West

Trapped in the library over night believing her friends Jeff, Lisa or Dallin will remember and come back for her, they don't. That's until Dax finds her also in there, Autumn ends up locked in with him for three days until she has a bad anxiety attack after she hears the local news of her friends being in a car accident. She would also have been in the car had she not been trapped and frets over her parents panicking that she's presumably dead when she wasn't even there.

She really likes Jeff who was driving the car in the accident but after he's in a coma, his best friend Dallin warns her not to mess him around as he can see she's also battling with feelings for Dax after she gets him to trust her about his drug addicted mum and him being taken into care.

The book was a sweet read and I have to say very interesting at being trapped in the library with complete opposite character types which makes a lovely match as they truly brought out the best in each other.

Baby Lost by Hannah Robert

Only two days after Christmas back in 2009, Hannah's life changed drastically after a car crashed into her car while she was eight months pregnant with her little baby 'Halloumi'.

Also in the car was her partner, Roma and their daughters, Jackie and Jazzie who all managed to escape the wreck along with Hannah but unfortunately, baby Zainab had just one tender day with her family due to the horrific accident. No amount of bruises or broken bones were as significant a side effect of the crash as an innocent newborn life being so cruelly taken. I feel anger towards the reckless driver for taking this poor family's precious baby away, reckless drivers need stopping and need punishment.

Hannah's writing during the time of being in hospital talks of her inability to face traveling in a car again so soon as the trauma caught up to her and all she was facing ahead of her felt too much, working with a physiotherapist to walk again properly as well as grief all taking a toll.

I was glad to know that the reckless student driver was caught but saddened to know that Hannah and Rims split. However, their grief was aided by Ali's arrival, a newborn baby boy joined their family and sent a new glimmer of life and hope to them.

I was so glad to read that Hannah's family escaped but the loss of a new baby is always a tender thing. In our family, my aunt suffered a lot to get pregnant and I have a friend trying multiple rounds of IVF to try and have a baby, it's an emotional toll to endure at any stage of pregnancy from conceiving to birth. Hannah's account is detailed and strong, the family is a powerful team and baby Z would be proud to have such a loving family.

Many thanks to the publishers for allowing me to review this book for them!

Girlhood by Cat Clarke

I couldn't believe my eyes when I stopped this book available for review, the latest young adult fiction novel from Cat Clarke!

Having previously read and enjoyed all of Cat's books, I'm so excited to share a review and overview of this book with you all!

Set in Duncraggan Academy, an expensive boarding school, Harper is trying to get on with her life after the death of her twin sister, Jenna who died because of heart failure as a result of a post Christmas diet of Harper's suggestion.

Harper has a key group of friends at the Scottish boarding school, Ama, Lily and Rowan. Kirsty becomes a talked about 'legend' after surviving initiation which the four friends make her undertake as it's essential for new students.

Kirsty and Harper both bond over their shared loss of each one's sister, Kirsty's sister died as the result of a car crash in which Kirsty is now scarred on her body from.

The girls games, truth or dare and the like result in an awkward situation and Rowan and Harper become distanced over Kirsty. Harper really likes Kirsty whilst Rowan seems very off towards her and wary.

The title being Girlhood shows it's true of the novel as we see Harper becoming distanced from her core group of friends as she becomes closer to Kirsty.

However, the truth surrounding Kirsty and her past comes to light and the girls have to help Harper realise before anything can happen to her, after all Kirsty likes shooting at the Clay pigeon's, would she shoot Harper?

You'll have to read it to find out what happens!

In the book, Harper is bisexual and rowan is lesbian, the sexual themes are unique as in older boarding school books I can't recall a same situation where it has been pointed out. Also, the girls are accepted and not outcast for being their true selves. It also shows that death can be a bonding opportunity over recent losses at the same time even though it's a bittersweet deal.

Cat Clarke has written another stellar book and is sure to be an essential teen read this year, pick it up when it's released!

The One Memory Of Flora Banks by Emily Barr

The book focuses on the life of Flora, a seventeen year old girl suffering from amnesia after a brain tumor.

Or so we believe her parents have been looking after her after the tumor, let me tell you, this story will shock you.

Anyway, as her best friend Paige's boyfriend is leaving to study in the Arctic, he kisses Flora on the beach the night before he leaves!

The issue is Flora believes she loves him and so she writes it down all what happened, on post it notes, in her diary and on her arms so she can't forget despite never actually forgetting it happening proving her memory is getting better!

However, Paige finds out and just as Flora's parents are set to go stay in Paris with Flora's Ill brother, it leaves Flora home alone and to fend for herself which when suffering such severe amnesia as she is, she actually does well until an idea comes along.

As Flora sets off to fly to find her true love in the Arctic alone, no one knowing her plans etc we see that this seventeen year old is recovering the right way, but it won't be for long...

The story flips at the last part, I was shocked at what I read and honestly the ending made the book for me. The story was good but last part made it for me as it did slow up. I would highly recommend this book to you and I know it's been popular among readers this year too so far.

Emergency Admission's by Kit Wharton

Joining the NHS ambulance service as a driver since 2003, it seems like more drama entails on each shift than in a soap we might watch on TV!

Patients described from true journal accounts made by Kit previously awaken us to the hard work and terrifying situations they may face, unaware of at first what exactly they've been called out to. A few snippets of information can't explain how the patient is fully at all.

Many accounts involve the police being used as accompanying safety due to severe histories of mental health or abusive behavior. Patients have been known to them over time for various reasons and at times the situations are so shocking to think of being in, a great one for this is giving birth when driving and being in or near to a field in the middle of nowhere!
There's more where that came from but I don't want to spoil the book, you NEED to read it!

Kit is an hilarious man and I would rather have a jokey member of the ambulance crew than an unnerving silent serious one. The situations he's been through to get to where he is now show his dedication to his career now.

This is definitely my type of book and thank the publishers for allowing me to review this book for them!

Faceless by Alyssa Sheinmel

Maisie Winters is a normal sixteen year old girl. She was looking forward to prom with her boyfriend, Chireg and going to college or University with her best friend Serena. A passionate runner, she could've got a scholarship.

Yet her life gets changed forever one night. A thunderstorm causes a tree she's running by to collapse on her as she was approaching her home mere houses away. A neighbour put out the electrical fire happening to her. Yet after waking from a coma, she can't begin to comprehend what has changed.

Waking to find severe burns to her left side and her face, Maisie finds the strength to get a face transplant after her nose, chin and cheeks burnt off severly and learn to love life again no matter how much it can throw at you to deal with. Sure it takes time and a break up too, doubling the blow but Serena and her parents support despite their arguing and splitting up.
Maisie is a very strong girl and shows the extent of her courage to try and rebuild her life, not become a stranger like she feels at first towards her new face.

I really enjoyed this book and am glad to have finally checked it off on tbr list!

Trouble by Non Pratt

Fifteen year old Hannah has gotten herself into a terrible situation. Not only is she underage to legally have sex, she finds herself pregnant and by a boy who should be unobtainable to her. She confides in her gran about the situation who is super supportive even as Hannah's cool crowd abandons her including best mate Katie whom was her main drinking buddy.

Hannah then meets Aaron, the new boy with a dark secret about his past whom is the son of the school's new teacher. She makes a great friend in Aaron who voluntarily offers himself as a stand in father for her unborn baby and supports Hannah through the rubbish she gets at school, as she breaks the news to her family about just whom the real father is and becomes her best friend and maybe more...

This book is great for breaking many barriers about underage pregnancy, sex with the wrong person and death and it's many after effects. This books was very honest about the struggles of friendship issues and fake friendships too with the way that Katie turns against Hannah, joins the popular crowd who then turn against her like she did to Hannah, showing karma gets you in the end as often said!

I really loved this book and it's lived up to it's title about there being trouble!

This Careless Life by Rachel McIntyre

After finishing her A levels, going to prom and stressing over the infamous, 'him' of her story, she is visited by Cass, whom is a TV producer, calling on Liv and her friends, Declan, Hetty and Jez to take part in a new TV show, This Careless Life.

Liv applied to take part after spotting an advert online when she was uploading her latest YouTube tutorial. She comes from a very rich family whom own vast amounts of land and many racehorses.

She didn't know however, her biggest secret was about to be exposed, a picture of a dead girl surrounded by paracetamol packets.

But this starts off a trail, all linked to the four auditioning and linked together they unravel a mystery surrounding this audition.

This book is like a modern inspector call's with added social media influence to expose events. It was a great, intriguing mystery which made it a page turner and gripping!

Thanks to the publishers for allowing me to review this book for them!

Wing Jones by Katherine Webber

Wing is a teen whom is very different to others and not just because of her name. Not only is she mixed race being Chinese and Ghanian she is a fifteen year old with a huge passion about to reveal itself showing her a new world she never new existed.

When her older brother Marcus gets into a severe accident, Wing and her family are torn up inside with grief over what's happening. They wing up in tons of debt and eventually risk losing their house. Even one of Wing's grandma's gets a job despite her age and complaints.

Wing however, deals with her grief by magical realism and running. A dragon and lioness spur Wing on to challenge herself when she runs as she wants to be fast and powerful, strong enough to do good for her brother and what he's done as the family face a lot of hate for his action's cause's.

When out running, Aaron who is Marcus's best friend can't believe the talent Wing naturally has and has been hiding from everyone and urges her to join the running team which she does and through the team she makes great friends and falls in love.

She also is spurred on by Aaron and her new running club friends to try out for a Riveo, the specialist running trainer brand, to be their new campaign face. Of which their is a money prize as well which could save her family from losing everything.

Wing is such a rare treat of a character being mixed race which we rarely hear about in a lot of young adult novels. The dedication to running and passion is inspiring and proves dreams can all come true even when you don't know them yet. Love can come at random times deapite endless wishes for it and the book also opens up to us and motivated me at least to run even though I like to when I can anyway!

Goodbye Days by Jeff Zentner

A group of four boys, the Sauce Crew as they were known are now made of one sole member, Carver.

The other three, Eli, Mars and Blake tragically died when colliding with a truck.
Carver blames himself as he was texting them when they crashed.

However, Blake's gran is the only relative not to blame Carver, but to celebrate the life her grandson had with him. Carver's guilt also means he takes over Blake's chores he did at his gran's as she can't get down and weed to garden or now the lawns.
They also celebrate Blake's life by having a Goodbye Day for Blake together.

Carver bottles up a lot of his emotion but does open up to Jesmyn and Blake's gran about how he feels. He does suffer anxiety as the threat of possible jail time rests undecided over his head and see's Dr Mendez about his panic attacks in order to try and handle his emotions better and grieve. He and Jesmyn are talented students, Jesmyn in piano and Carver with his creative writing. They both appreciate and support each other's talents encouraging each other they do have a future to hope for.

This book shows the true horror of losing those closest to you but the flip side as well, showing who stands by you when you need them most. We see Carver go through a true rollercoaster effect of up's and down's throughout the book, love and loss play huge roles in this book. We also see Carver imagine his friends still with him throughout scenes in the book as he can't let them go at first. I really enjoyed it as it wasn't all solely focused on death, there are times of friendship flashbacks and happy moments for Carver with his sister and Jesmyn too.

Thanks to the publishers for allowing me to review it for them!

Optimists Die First by Susin Nielsen

Petula is a sixteen year old pessimist whom suffers from panic attacks. She believes she is a realist and nothing good comes from being an optimist. She attends YART which is a youth creative art group and counselling. She also fears germs and accidents, death and generally, life and any catastrophe that could entail. Her sister Maxine died and her mum has a small army of cats to find forever homes for.

I loved the cats being named after book characters!

Petula then meets wannabe director Jacob, he has a bionic arm and also attends counselling. We also learn that Petula blames herself for the death of her younger sister, Maxine who was three and even years on now, can't forgive herself for what happened. Petula feels like she needs to keep herself safe and alive as she's here not Maxine as well and seeing how life has changed and the atmosphere the family skirt around the issue in the room with them still unattended too by proper communication. She soon learns from having to work with Jacob on a school project, the tragedy around the loss of his lower arm and subsequently that he feels built he lived and not his two best friends.

In her YART group, there is a right bunch of amazing characters which each were unique and enjoyable. I really love the evolvement of this in a book as it is used in schools or at least it was when I went to my high school nearly ten years ago now.
I enjoyed the time in the group and made a beautiful papier mache mask I still own and a folder of sketches too. It helped me through high school and even though Petula doesn't allow herself to at first enjoy it. She does and the people along with the situation too as they eventually become friends through some cool adventures.

The book deals well with trust issues and friendships as well as loss and love of course. It shows the good and bad of situations quite literally but with hilarity it places to keep it a gripping read. Thanks to the publishers for allowing me to review it for them!

Zenn Diagram by Wendy Brant

Eva is a geek, a math loving geek whom even has a favourite calculator! She has been involved in helping out to tutor students. She is told by Josh, one of the popular school footballers, that she looks like a librarian with her glasses, but a cute one which boosts her low confidence. She has a serious issue with touching other people's belongings in an OCD behavioural way. But, she sees a pattern or a vision, a part of that person that isn't on show to the world, a secret. Both her parents are dead and so she has been raised by her mum's sister and pastor husband whilst they cope with quadruplets too.
Charlotte is her best friend and her opposite, tall, blonde and plays the cello.

Zenn, is a guy whom is struggling with math and is late when we originally meet him in the book, to meet up with Eva as she tutors struggling students and Zenn is new to the school.

Eva struggles with her college applications, she feels she should stay home and help with the kids but does want to study despite the huge debt. Charlotte fits in with the popular crowd after being asked to homecoming by Josh and subsequently she hangs out with Eva less too. Meanwhile, Eve starts to hang out in the art room and eat her lunch there with Zenn after he's done her family and church a favour. Zenn and Eva meet up and have their first kiss as well as Eva meeting Cinde, his mum.

As Eva grows closer to Zenn, she discovers the reasons to why she can't get any more visions/feelings when touching him or his clothing anymore, items around him that aren't his are still an issue though.

The surprise however, is a secret which drags up around eighteen years of history they never even knew they had between them both.

It was a gripping but heartwarming read dealing with love, loss and of course, proving even geeks fall in love when it's right. Many thanks to the publishers for allowing me to review this book for them!