ONE OF US IS LYING by Karen M. McManus

“Five students walk into detention. Only four leave alive. Yale hopeful Bronwyn has never publicly broken a rule. Sports star Cooper only knows what he’s doing in the baseball diamond. Bad boy Nate is only one misstep away from a life of crime. Prom queen Addy is holding together the cracks in her perfect life. And outsider Simon, creator of the notorious gossip app at Bayview High, won’t ever talk about any of them again. He dies 24 hours before he could post their deepest secrets online. Investigators conclude it’s no accident. All of them are suspects. Everyone has secrets, right? What really matters is how far you’ll go to protect them.”

What is the book about?

Five students are mysteriously tricked into getting detention: Bronwyn, Cooper, Nate, Addy and Simon. Simon – creator of the gossip app ‘About That’ at Bayview High – leaves detention without any hope of surviving. He dies 24 hours before he could post their deepest secrets online. The death is investigated and investigators reach the conclusion that it is no accident and all four of them are suspects. The police have no evidence and no matter how hard they try every lead is a dead end. But is this murder investigation all it seems and could there be another explanation? Everyone has secrets they don’t want to share, what really matters is how far you go to protect them. 

What were your initial thoughts on the book?

I have been reading murder mysteries for a few years now and have oved every single book. One of my friends also likes murder mystery book too and she recommended One of Us is Lying quite a while ago. Ever since she suggested that I read it, I have been desperate to read it and when I got the book I was so excited. I have never read a book by Karen M. Manus so I didn’t know what style of writing she had and was unsure if it would be as amazing as I had been told. I was incredibly surprised at how quickly I began to love the book and I knew that this was soon going to be a strong favourite of mine. By the time I read a few chapters I was already in the world of Bayview High trying to investigate a murder and work out who the killer is. I was really intrigued when I started reading it and it was really fun to have the opportunity to solve a murder. When the murder happened I knew that I wanted to find the murderer before the characters in the book and I knew that this was going to be a very mysterious book.

Who was your favourite character and why? 

In this book there were many likable characters and I found that this question was really hard to answer, but, in the end I made a decision. I think that both Addy and Bronwyn were my favourite characters. I liked Addy because once the gossip ruined her life she became more independent and wasn’t the Prom queen stereotype that I thought she was at the beginning of the book. I also liked Bronwyn because she was brave and smart and didn’t let anything stop her from proving that she and her friends were innocent. Bronwyn didn’t seem that conscious about what others thought about her when her mistake was known and I thought this was a very likable trait. Both girls really showed how smart and powerful they can be if they are allowed to show their true personality. Even though both of them were murder suspects they didn’t let that get in their heads and made sure to discover the truth before it was too late.

What was your favourite part of the book and why?

My favourite part was when I finally discovered who was really behind everything. At one point, when reading the book, I realised that I was going about everything wrong and no matter how many clues and how much evidence was against the four suspects the police was investigating, they still didn’t seem like murderers but I still had to consider all the options. I knew that I had a feeling that the fifth person in the room was the person responsible for everything or, at least some parts. Even though I was sure that my feeling was correct it was still difficult to ignore all the facts leading me to a different person but, as soon as I finally had real proof to support my argument I was excited at how the rest would play out. I would have liked to have my suspicion confirmed earlier but I was still incredibly thrilled to read on and could not wait for the criminal to get what they deserved. Once I had read this part, I was also eager to understand how everything had been planned and why this had all occurred in the first place, and I was certain that I would soon have all my questions answered.

What was your overall impression of the book?

Overall, I really enjoyed reading the book and thought that it was really interesting. There were a few things that I didn’t really like though like, for example, the clues that led to the real criminal. I was really intrigued a how the murder and everything was pulled off and who was the mastermind behind it all but I think that one thing that would have made the book better would have been planting some more clues that would point to the truth. I think that there were too many red herrings and that it would have been much better if some small details were used from the very beginning of the novel to allow some clearer explanation. Although One of Us is Lying has some flaws, I still think that it was an amazing book because of how there were so many things that made all four of the suspects particularly suspicious. I thought that it was very smart to have the police so involved in the investigation because there are some things that children aren’t able to find on their own and much of the evidence was discovered by the police and their research. I think that it was really mysterious and it was very fun to try and work out who the true culprit was, especially because there were four very good options, even if I didn’t believe it was it was any of them, it was still interesting to consider all suspects and work out how it all happened and which one had the best opportunity. 

Would you recommend this book?  

I would 10000000% recommend this book not just for mystery lovers like me but for anyone who hasn’t found the book genre that really interests them because the book is just amazing. Although I think that everyone who reads One of Us is Lying will love it I think that it’s most suitable to be at least 13 before reading.

Summarise the book in one sentence. (Verdict)  

A thrilling and breath-taking read that you will never forget.

Reviewed by Jimena Gutierrez Reviriego

LIFE AND DEATH by Stephenie Meyer

“There are two sides to every story… You know Bella and Edward – now get to know Beau and Edythe. In celebration of the 2015 tenth anniversary of Twilight comes Stephenie Meyer’s Life and Death, a bold and compelling, reimagining of the iconic love story that will surprise and enthral readers. When Beaufort Swan moves to the gloomy town of Forks and meets the mysterious, alluring Edythe Cullen, his life takes a thrilling and terrifying turn. With her porcelain skin, golden eyes, mesmerising voice and supernatural gifts, Edythe is both irresistible and enigmatic. What Beau doesn’t realise is that the closer he gets to her, the more he is putting himself and those around him at risk. And it might be too late to turn back…”

What is the book about?

Beaufort Swan moves to the dull, wet town of Forks to live with his dad. This is where he meets the mysterious and beautiful Edythe Cullen who seems to be hiding something. Beau thinks she hates him at first but he still becomes completely obsessed wishing she would like him as much as he likes her. Beau is determined to uncover her dark secret not caring about the consequences Edythe keeps warning about. After discovering the truth Beau grows closer to Edythe not worrying about what may happen because of his actions, and they become more than just friends. What Beau doesn’t realise is that the closer he is to Edythe and her family the more he puts his humanity on the line, and not just that but the lives of everyone he cares about. He isn’t frightened, or even concerned, about Edythe’s true identity and what he doesn’t know is that it might already be too late to turn back… 

What were your initial thoughts on the book?

I absolutely loved the original book, Twilight, and as soon as I heard there was another retelling of the book I knew that I had to read it. Before I started reading I was a little concerned that I would find the book boring and would think that it wasn’t any good as it was (supposedly) almost identical to the initial one. However, I should have never even considered that because even though it had the same storyline, it was like reading a completely new book because all the characters were different. Just like Twilight I found it really hard to put down once I had started and was very intrigued to find out more. Although the book started very well, at first, it was a bit confusing to try and remember wo each character was because they were all gender swapped, so in order to understand, I had to reference to Twilight when I could figure out who it was. 

Who was your favourite character and why? 

Even though this book was fairly similar to Twilight, I found it much harder to pick a favourite character. In Twilight, I decide that Bella was my favourite character because she was selfless and was really caring and wanted to make sure that no one was left unhappy. I found that I also liked Beau for these reasons but it was different because of the gender. Beau was still protective of his parents, specifically his mother, and I thought that it was very sweet and made Beau better than all the other characters. Beau also had the courage to see past the vampire parts of Edythe and look for the good in her, even when she wouldn’t see it and would only think about the monster side of herself. I think that it was really brave of Beau to follow his heart but also a bit stupid and I think one major flaw is that he is oblivious of the danger his choices may lead to not just for himself but for those close to him. His flaw makes it strange to imagine that he is protective over his mother and wants to ensure her safety and happiness because he endangers her and changes her life in a terrible, unfixable way.

What was your favourite part of the book and why?

My favourite part of the book was the end because of many reasons. Firstly, I think that it was the most interesting and action-packed part of the book and it is when many of the questions readers have, are finally answered. This was my favourite part in both Twilight and Midnight Sun because it is when the hunt begins. I think that I like this part mainly because it’s a bit mysterious and it reminds me a lot of the murder mystery books I read particularly of the moment when the characters know who the murderer is and are being chased. Unlike Twilight and Midnight Sun, Life and Death has an unexpected twist which answers new questions and shines a light on what could have been for Bella and Edward in Twilight. The final chapters of the book are exciting and full of suspense and reading this section made me enjoy the book even more.

What was your overall impression of the book?

Overall I really liked Life and Death and found it really interesting to learn that genders didn’t matter and the story would still be the same – or could be the same. After a while it got easier to understand who was who and I stopped having to refer to Twilight. One thing that I didn’t like about Life and Death was that too many parts of the book changed and, as I had the Twilight book events in my head, it got a bit frustrated because, in my opinion, the Twilight version is better. Another thing that was a bit upsetting was that a lot changed about Bella, not just her gender but Beau’s appearance was very different, for example he didn’t have Bella’s chocolate brown eyes; he had pale blue eyes. Even though there were a lot of things that I found I didn’t enjoy, I still really loved reading the book. Strangely enough, when reading Life and Death, I still felt it was necessary to read another chapter in order to find out what happens next even though I already knew all of the events of the book from reading Twilight and I really enjoyed all the cliff-hanger endings.

Which book did you like best: Twilight or Life and Death?

Even though I really enjoyed Life and Death I would never even think of it replacing Twilight. Life and Death was an amazing book but I think there is a clear reason why Bella and Edward were chosen for the original book instead of Beaufort and Edythe. I think the events of the book changed too much when Bella and Edwards genders changed and although the book was still really good I had read Twilight first and the original version of them was better. I think that some parts of Life and Death were much better than in Twilight, mainly because they had been reused and revised so some of the words that didn’t really fit had been edited so they would make sense. I also think this was because that had been altered to make the book better for Beau and Edythe so it made sense to have Bella and Edward gender swapped. Life and Death was really interesting and, although I don’t regret reading it, I still think that it changed too much and that the book was much better in its original state. 

Would you recommend this book?  

I would absolutely recommend this book, specifically if you are 15 or older and enjoy romance or fantasy novels. The book is definitely worth reading however advice reading Twilight first as it is the initial book.

Summarise the book in one sentence. (Verdict)  

A reimagining of the amazing Twilight romance novel.

Reviewed by Jimena Gutierrez Reviriego

ROY AND THE BUDGIE

What is the book about?

The book is about a boy called Roy who has a pet budgie.

Who was your favourite character and why? 

My favourite character was the budgie because he got away from Roy and it was funny.

What was your favourite part of the book and why?

 My favourite part was when Roy found the budgie because they were happy again.

What did you think of the book and why?

I really liked the book but there were some hard words that I couldn’t read.

Reviewed by Fabiola Gutierrez Reviriego

MIDNIGHT SUN by Stephenie Meyer

“I could see how easy it would be to fall into loving Bella. It would be exactly like falling: effortless. Not letting myself love her was the opposite of falling – it was pulling myself up a cliff face, hand over hand, the task as gruelling as if I had no more than mortal strength. When Edward Cullen and Bella Swan met in Twilight, an iconic love story was born. But until now, fans have heard only Bella’s side of the story. At last, readers can experience Edward’s version in the long-awaited companion novel, Midnight Sun. this unforgettable tale, as told through Edward’s eyes takes on a new and decidedly dark twist. Meeting Bella is both the most unnerving and intriguing event he has experienced in all his year as a vampire. As we learn we learn more fascinating details about Edward’s past and the complexity of his inner thought, we understand why this is the defining struggle of his life. How can he justify following his heart if it means leading Bella into danger? In Midnight Sun, Stephenie Meyer transports us back to a world that has captivated millions of readers, and brings us and epic novel about the profound pleasures and devastating consequences of immortal love.”

What is the book about?

Edwards’s life in Forks has been normal so far – well as normal as being a vampire in a human world – but everything changes when Bella Swan, daughter of the Chief of Police, moves into town. At first Bella Swan seems like a normal teenage girl until being within a mile radius of her could compromise everything Edward and his family has built. Edward tries to resist but finds it impossible and hopeless. After a while Edward stops trying and a relationship develops between him and Bella. Bella doesn’t seem to understand the consequences of spending time with a vampire and only seems to get herself into more trouble. Edward wishes to always be around be around Bella, but could satisfying his own desires mean leading Bella into danger?

What were your initial thoughts on the book?

As always I was desperate to read Midnight Sun, however, I was worried that it would be boring to read a book that is almost identical to one I have already read, even though it is from a different perspective. Even though I was uncertain about Midnight Sun, I was still intrigued at the possibility of still enjoying this book as much as the original, Twilight. Once I started reading, I knew I shouldn’t have doubted my love for the Twilight Saga and that this book wouldn’t be as good as the others. After I had read the first few pages, I realised that even though a book has the same main events, they are still very different because they are told from someone else’s view and not everyone will have the same opinion or see things in the same way. Retold novels are also different because there are moments where a certain character goes off on their own so all the other characters will be doing something unknown to that character. Both of these things changed Midnight Sun and made it an amazing novel.

Who was your favourite character and why? 

One of my favourite characters was Bella because of how her personality developed in a new light. Lots of people have said that Bella has no personality and that she was just a typical damsel in distress with no proper role until Edward came to save her. After reading Midnight Sun Bella’s personality was so much clearer and I think that one of the reasons Stephenie Meyer wrote this book was to show the readers that Bella did have a proper personality. In Midnight Sun, Bella showed she was selfless, brave, kind, protective, responsible and patient. I was shown how Bella was caring of others and made sure that they were happy even if it risked her own happiness. Even though a lot of her personality was implied in Twilight, everything was so much more explicit because Edward stated the obvious. My other favourite character was Alice also because of the new personality traits revealed in Midnight Sun. It was really interesting to learn about how impatient Alice was to become friends with Bella and how she helped and stood by Edward even when some of the Cullens didn’t trust his choices and thought he was being irresponsible.

What was your favourite part of the book and why?

It was really hard to choose a favourite part as the whole book was amazing but I did really enjoy the ending. In Twilight the ending was also my favourite part but I think that liked it much more in Midnight Sun. The ending stood out to me because it was very trilling and exciting as Edward followed the tracker and tried to get rid of the danger to save Bella. A lot was going on during this section of the book and it was very interesting to find out what lead to the tracker discovering Bella’s location, and how Edward was able to realise this in order to rescue Bella before her time ran out. This part is particularly interesting because I got to follow Edward and what he was doing while Bella was hiding from the tracker so the last few chapters were very different. I also finally understood how the Cullens were able to trick people into thinking that Bella had fallen out of a hotel window instead of them finding out what really happened. 

What was your overall impression of the book?

Overall, Midnight Sun was a great book that I really enjoyed. It was really interesting to get an inside view of Edwards thoughts and understand everything that he did in Twilight that might have been a bit confusing. I really liked reading about Edward and his opinion and I sometimes used Twilight to try and understand both Bella’s and Edward’s thoughts. Midnight Sun answered a lot of my questions particularly about Edward and vampires abilities. I got to know more about Edward and the burden of his abilities and it was fascinating to read about how puzzling it was for Edward not to be able to read Bella’s thoughts. It also intriguing to learn about Alice and Edward’s relationship and the strange way they were able to inconspicuously communicate. I also got to learn more about Edward’s past and some information on the other Cullens. I found Midnight Sun very interesting and informative and really liked reading it.

Which book did you like best: Twilight or Midnight Sun?

I think that my favourite book out of Twilight and Midnight Sun is probably Midnight Sun. Even though Twilight is the original book, Midnight Sun was a lot more interesting and action-packed. I think that a lot more information was given and a lot of questions that were left unanswered from Twilight were finally acknowledged – though there are a couple I am still puzzled about. I also liked Midnight Sun because it was written from Edward’s perspective. Due to Edwards extra ability, mind reading, I was able to read about more peoples responses to his and Bella’s actions which meant I was capable of understanding actions and emotions of certain characters that seemed unclear in Twilight. In Midnight Sun I read about the Cullens pasts which I really enjoyed as I like knowing a person’s backstory so I am able to properly analyse their actions to recognise the reasons for their behaviour.

Would you recommend this book?  

I would recommend reading this book, particularly for those who enjoy romance and fantasy novels. I think that Midnight Sun is most appropriate for reader 15 or older and that it is better to read Twilight first as it is the original story.

Summarise the book in one sentence. (Verdict)  

A new version of the incredible Twilight love story from a fresh new perspective.

Reviewed by Jimena Gutierrez Reviriego