Radio Silence (Book Review)

Title: Radio Silence

Author: Alice Oseman

Genre: Contemporary YA

Rating: 5 stars

Publication Date: February 25th 2016; published by Harper Collins Children’s Books

Goodreads: here

 

“Hello. I hope somebody is listening.”

And so begins this incredibly precious novel written by the lovely Alice Oseman about a boy stuck at university following a path he’s not passionate about, a girl described as a “study machine”, and how art and creativity binds these two.

Radio Silence follows Aled, the shy genius creator of an insanely popular podcast on Youtube of the same title, and Frances, the brainy girl who excels at academia and posts her art online for the world to see. Against all odds these two lovable teenagers meet and their friendship develops over the art each one of them create, and post, anonymously online.

Original Book Trailer

It’s All Absolutely Fine (Book Review)

Title: It’s All Absolutely Fine

Author: Ruby Elliot

Genre: Comics; Non-Fiction (mental health)

Rating: 4 stars

Publication Date: 31st January; published by Andrews McMeel

Disclaimer: I was sent a copy of this book by the publisher through NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.

 

Synopsis — what’s it about?

 

In this compilation of Ruby Elliot’s drawings she takes the reader on a journey through the ups and downs of life, basing it off her personal experience. She approaches a lot of different topics relating them to her mental health, discussing anxiety, bipolar disorder, eating disorders and her identity. While the topics at hand tend to be depressing she manages to talk about (or rather, draw) them with a positive message lurking underneath.

The Rule of the Land (Book Review)

Title: The Rule of the Land

Author: Garrett Carr

Genre: Non-Fiction; Travel/Nature

Rating: 3.5 stars

Publication Date: 19th January 2017, published by Faber & Faber

Disclaimer: I was sent an ebook copy by the Publisher through NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.

 

Synopsis — what’s it about?

Author Garrett Carr traveled the broder between Northern Ireland and the Republic of Ireland on foot and by canoe, mapping the landscape as well. In light of the Brexit referendum that took place on the 23rd of June of 2016 the author tries to answer what the implications of a split between the European Union and the United Kingdom, of which Northern Ireland is a part of, would be to the people living near the border and their everyday lives. In order to contextualize this, he tells the story of both countries, with a focus on the borderland, from their formation, to the history between the Catholic/Protestant divide and to the 1990s and The Troubles.

Because the author also mapped the landscape surrounding the border — namely the places he references and tells the story of — those maps are included in the book, as well as some photos of said places, to give the reader a mental image of the background of the topic being discussed.

Big Mushy Happy Lump (Book Review)

Title: Big Mushy Happy Lump

Author: Sarah Andersen

Genre: Comics/Humor

Rating: 4.5 stars

Publication Date: 7th March 2017

Disclaimer: NetGallery kindly gave me an ebook copy of this book in exchange for an honest opinion

 

Synopsis:

This is a collection of comic vignettes created by the author, Sarah Andersen. It’s done in the same style as her previous work, Adulthood is a Myth, from the perspective of a young woman as she deals with anxiety, stress, a carreer, relationships and other everyday things that make up adulthood.

“Smile” by Raina Telgemeier: Book Review

Title: Smile

Author: Raina Telgemeier

Genre: Graphic Novel, Young Adult/Middle Grade

Rating: ★★★★☆

Publication Year: 2010