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Anyone who has been following me on Twitter will know how much I loved A Quiet Kind of Thunder when I read it back in October. Sara Barnard is a brilliant writer and has written a wonderful story of unlikely first love. I was so excited, then, to be asked by the lovely people at Pan Macmillan to think about what it would be like to not be able to talk for a day. Working in a special needs school, I see teenagers who have difficulty communicating for a number of reasons every day, so this is something that particularly means a lot to me. When I think of what it would be like to not to be able to talk, I immediately think of all the problems I would have to face. Today I went to the supermarket and the self service checkout wouldn’t accept my bank card. I had to talk to a shop assistant to solve my problem. What would I have done if I hadn’t been able to talk to her? Would I have walked out of the shop empty handed? In my job I have to talk to colleagues, visitors and parents on a daily basis. How would I cope if I couldn’t talk to them? Would I have to give up the job I love? When I commute to work, I have to use the handrail for stairs because I have difficulty walking. Sometimes people can’t see this and expect me to move out the way, so I have to explain to them that I can’t. What would happen if I couldn’t talk? Would they understand, would they dismiss me as rude, or would something more serious happen? Would I get pushed out of the way? There are so many problems that I would face on a daily basis if I couldn’t talk, but these are some of the more serious ones. It’s a scary thought, and it makes me thankful that I am able to talk and communicate effectively. However, there are so many people that, for one reason or another, can’t communicate effectively, and for them the world must be a terrifying place. What is also worth thinking about though is all the different ways there are of aiding communication for those who find talking difficult. In A Quiet Kind of Thunder, Steffi and Rhys use sign language and swap notes to communicate. At the school I work in we use Makaton, another form of signing, to help the students communicate. There are systems such as PECS which uses pictures to communicate, and a number of apps are available which will speak for the user. It’s uplifting to think that, rather than just dismissing or ignoring these people, there are a lot of people out there who want to help. I was sent a copy of A Quiet Kind of Thunder by Pan Macmillan in exchange for an honest review.

A Quiet Kind of Thunder, the second novel from YA author Sara Barnard, is a beautiful story of two teens falling in love despite the struggles that face them. Steffi is a selective mute and Rhys is deaf, but the pair are brought together by their headteacher and an understanding of British Sign Language (BSL). Soon the pair are inseparable, resulting in a wonderful and heartfelt story about first love. When I first started reading AQKOT, I was apprehensive. Not only did it have a lot to live to following Beautiful Broken Things, but there was also the pressure to write about topics such as selective mutism and hearing impairment and get it right. What is evident from page one, however, is the level of research and care Sara has put into the story to make sure she does get it right. Not only are the characters believable, the book also have BSL symbols included throughout their story. Through this, the reader learns more about the world the characters inhabit and becomes a part of their story. By the time I finished reading, I felt like I was saying goodbye to friends.  The final result, then, is an amazing story of first love in the unlikeliest of circumstances. Whilst BBT was an amazing debut, Sara has really excelled herself with AQKOT. Steffi and Rhys’ story is touching and full of hope, and really makes the reader a part of their world. I laughed and cried with them throughout their story, and cheered when I got to *that* scene. Is this a contender for my favourite read of 2017? I think so.

My #SundayYAthon At Christmas TBR In the end though, I only got through two. The first was … And A Happy New Year? by Holly Bourne (5/5). This had been on my reading pile for a while, but I was saving it for the SundayYAthon. I have adored all three books in the Spinster Club series, and …AAHNY? didn’t disappoint. It made me laugh, it made me cry, and it was the perfect way to say goodbye to Evie, Amber and Lottie. I then moved on to The Twelve Days of Dash and Lily by Rachel Cohn and David Levithan (4/5). I read Dash and Lily’s Book of Dares last Christmas, so I was really looking forward to reading this. Although it wasn’t as light as the original, I still enjoyed it a lot. It was great to watch Lily grow as a character, and it ended in such a warm way that I couldn’t help but smile. All in all, the #SundayYAthon At Christmas was great fun once again, and it was great to see so many people getting involved! I may not have completed my TBR, but I had a great time reading some brilliant festive books. See you all at a #SundayYA chat soon! Some other #SundayYAthon At Christmas roundups: Kelly’s Rambles - Bookends And Endings The #SundayYAthon At Christmas Twitter Moment

There are many quotes I could use to demonstrate why I found this book so difficult to read, but there are two that particularly stick out. The first can be found on page 2, when Henry is describing the reasons Grace won’t fit in at high school. As well as her dress sense and lack of hygiene, Henry says that the fact that Grace walks with a cane will “really screw over her chances.” When I read this, my heart sank. This is not the kind of message we should be sending out in YA. I made my way through a couple of chapters, finding it difficult but feeling hopeful. I was sure it would get better. But then I reached the end of page 25, where Henry and his friends are discussing why Grace doesn’t write any more. Lola jokes that Grace has a voodoo curse on her “so that every word she writes breaks a bone in her leg and that’s why she walks with a cane.” I read this, and couldn’t help but wonder if this is what people thought about me. Did people really make jokes like that? This is when I knew Our Chemical Hearts wasn’t for me. No book should make me feel this uncomfortable. Our Chemical Hearts could have been a really important story. It could have been the story of how disability can be overcome, and how it doesn’t have to be the defining feature of a person. Unfortunately, for me Our Chemical Hearts was anything but that. Instead, it made me feel as though it was mocking young disabled people. If the story had been told from Grace’s point of view, showing her journey and how she overcame her disability, it could have been something special. Instead, it left me questioning and doubting both myself and other people. This is why I will not be returning to one of my most anticipated reads of 2016. Sometimes I have to look out for me.

Rainbow’s magic hands can shape trees at her will, but her gift is dangerous and has fatal consequences. From England to France, through secrets, fears and parallel worlds, Rainbow’s journey to understand her powers takes her beyond everything she’s ever known. To find the truth, she must also find herself. Tree Magic is out on January 9th 2017 through Impress Books. You can preorder your copy on Amazon now (ebook only).

Cell 7 is a gripping and intense look at what justice would be like if the death sentence hadn’t been outlawed in Britain. Set in an alternative modern day Britain, anyone suspected of murder is placed on death row for seven days while the public votes on whether they are guilty and should be executed. In a groundbreaking case, Martha Honeydew is not only the first teenage girl on death row, but she also confesses to the murder of celebrity Jackson Paige on arrest. Her execution seems cut and dried, but did she actually do it? Although Cell 7 is not my normal read, I was absolutely gripped throughout. Much like the viewers of Martha’s case, I was glued to the pages from the start, desperate to know whether she would be found guilty. The air of mystery that Kerry maintains throughout the novel, particularly surrounding the characters and their back stories, makes it impossible to know what the outcome will be as the facts are always changing. The reader is always finding out something new that keeps them turning the pages, wanting to find out how Martha’s story will unfold in the days leading up to her possible execution. Then, of course, there is the mystery surrounding the other characters. Eve Stanton, Martha’s designated counsellor, with a seemingly colourful history of her own. Isaac Paige, Jackson’s adopted son, and his relationship with Martha. The elusive Gus, who seems to know a lot but says very little. Jackson Paige, the celebrity hero who may be dead, but who seems to have touched everyone’s lives in one way or another. Put all these together an you’re left with a mystery just waiting to be solved, and with no police inspector to unravel the evidence it’s up to the reader to put the pieces together. Put all these together and you’re left with a terrifying, breathtaking read depicting what justice could be like if left in the hands of a voting public. As the story went on I found myself having ever more empathy for Martha and loathing the government and media in this alternative look at Britain, hoping for a fairer justice for everyone involved. I was on the edge of my seat to the very end, and I’m sure you will be too.

When I first read the blurb for The Call, I knew it was a book I would devour and love. A protagonist with a disability, fighting mythological creatures in an unknown land to save her life? Sign me up. I wasn’t disappointed either. Set in a dystopian Ireland and based on Irish folklore, The Call is as much intriguing as it is thrilling, and one that I found it very hard to put down. The Call starts off as any YA contemporary would. A young girl overhears her parents crying about the death of her older brother and a secret they must keep from her. But then they tell her about the Three Minutes, and what really happened to her brother. What follows is a rollercoaster of a story as the teens of Ireland trains to fight for their lives, never knowing what they will be fighting against. There’s love and there’s loss, but unlike most YA neither are the central theme, which is what makes The Call stand out from the crowd. The thing that grabbed me most about The Call is how effortlessly diverse the characters are. The protagonist, Nessa, is what some readers might refer to as an 'unlikely hero’. With legs twisted from polio, Nessa finds the training that all teenagers must undertake more of a challenge than most, but she refuses to let it stop her. What’s refreshing, however, is that Nessa never really dwells on her disability or lets it affect her, but rather gets on with things the best she can. She trains alongside teenagers of different sexualities and races, all of whom are woven into the story effortlessly. It’s refreshing and beautifully done, and reflects a society we are all familiar with today. Reading The Call was a whirlwind, and left me gasping for breath when I got to the final page. Fast paced and terrifying, this is a must read for anyone who enjoys a thriller, or even horror. The effortless inclusion of such a range of characters makes this relatable to everyone, and yet the Irish folklore that builds the basis of the plot keeps The Call keeps an air of fantasy that brings a welcome reassurance. Are you ready for The Call?

My #SundayYAthon TBR In the end though, I only got through two. The first was Remix by Non Pratt (5/5). This has been on my reading list for a while, and I knew it would be perfect for a summer readathon. Set over the course of three days at a festival, Remix is all about fun and friendships, and shows why you should never lie to your friends. Day two saw me go on to Needlework by Dierdre Sullivan (4/5). I knew it was going to be a hard read, but I’ve recently read Paper Butterflies so I thought I’d be okay. How wrong I was. It was a very difficult read about Frances’ reflections on the child abuse she suffered at a young age, but it was so beautifully written and poetic that I just couldn’t put it down. It did take me two days to read though… By the time day four arrived, I knew I wouldn’t read all three books on my TBR, but I persevered with The Manifesto on How to be Interesting by Holly Bourne anyway. I managed to get through 96 pages before sleep claimed me at the end of #SundayYAthon, but I’ve enjoyed what I’ve read so far. Bree is a loveable character that I can identify with a lot, and I can’t wait to see how her story plays out. All in all, the #SundayYAthon was great fun and I can’t wait to host another one in the future! I may not have completed my TBR, but I did achieve my goal of at least two books, and I read 606 pages (which is pretty good going for me). It was also brilliant to see so many other readers joining in, and getting to know everyone better. I just want to say a huge thank you to everyone who took part, and I can’t wait to see you all at a #SundayYA chat soon! Some other #SundayYAthon roundups: Eleanor Read A Book - A Little But A Lot - Books Ends And Endings - PowisAmy

These are just a few examples of the wonderful diversity of YA that teenagers and young adults enjoy and celebrate. There are many, many more available, but I’m leaving it to you to find the ones you enjoy. After all, my aim isn’t to suggest books to you that I think are good for you. I want readers to seek out and enjoy the books that matter to them. The article also addresses a lack of non-fiction available for teens and young adults. I can’t help but feel that this is just another poorly researched point designed to show YA in a bad light. There is a lot of non-fiction available, including the incredibly successful Mind Your Head from Juno Dawson (Hot Key Books), designed as a guide for teens and young adults about mental health and society, to help them deal with things they may have to face. If this isn’t preparing our readers for the “real, adult world”, then what is? The response to this article today has been incredible and uplifting. As well as the countless blog posts from people fighting the corner for YA, book lovers have also taken to Twitter to post on the #YAprepares and #fabYA tags to share their favourite YA and those that, despite what TES authors believe, do pathe the way for our teens to become “literate adults” and prepare them for the “real, adult world” (whatever that may mean). For that, YA community, I am proud of you, and glad to be a part of you. Keep fighting.  

I’ve often said that I judge a book by the emotions it takes me through when I’m reading it. When I cried my way through the last fifty pages of Paper Butterflies, I knew straight away this would be one of my favourite reads this year. Paper Butterflies tells June’s story of abuse at the hands of her step mother, Kathleen, a father who won’t acknowledge the truth, and Blister, the boy from the woods who gives her hope against all odds. Told in alternating chapters of Before and After, Paper Butterflies gives you an insight of the short and long term effects of abuse in the one place a child should feel safe: their own home. Thankfully there are also moments of reprieve in the time June spends with Blister and his family, and I couldn’t help being relieved for June when she got away from her home and spent time with people who loved her. I must admit, I found Paper Butterflies tough to read. The scenes of abuse and neglect that June suffered at the hands of Kathleen were painful and terrifying to read, and more than once I had to take a break before I could carry on reading. Some of the cruelty June suffered was unimaginable, and sometimes I wanted to read through my fingers so I could hide if I needed to. Why did I keep going back to it then? Because I just had to know what would happen next. I had to know whether June would be okay. I had to know whether she would pick herself up, go back to Blister and have a chance of happiness. I had to know whether she’d keep her head held high, or whether Kathleen would eventually win. Not only that, but the language Lisa uses to tell June’s story is so beautiful that it’s hard not to go back to it. Her description is so detailes that quite often I could have been June, and yet I never felt like I was being given too much detail. I could quote Paper Butterflies for hours to show you just how beautiful it is, except that would spoil the book and I definitely don’t want to do that… If that isn’t enough to make you want to read Paper Butterflies, then maybe this will be. The book culminates in a plot twist so big you won’t see it coming, and will keep you glued to the pages for hours (just make sure you have some tissues nearby!). Paper Butterflies is available now from all good bookshops, or can be purchased online here. For fans of: We Were Liars - E. Lockhart (Hot Key Books), The Sky Is Everywhere - Jandy Nelson (Walker Books)

The answer, of course, is no. Being a bookworm should no more be defined by how many books you’ve read than how much makeup you wear. It makes me uncomfortable that some people think this way. Reading and being a bookworm should not be a competition. It should not be a fashion statement. It should not be affected by how much makeup you wear. Being a bookworm should be defined by one thing. Three little words. “I like books.”