Everything Everything by Nicola Yoon

Everything, Everything is a young adult novel that is inspiring to all  
teenagers to explore the world around them and to not take what you have for granted. This novel centers around 17-year-old Madeline Whittier who is being treated with a disease called "bubble baby disease". It is when the sufferers are extremely vulnerable to infectious diseases leading them to have a life with numerous barriers.

During this novel we learn that Madeline has never interacted with anyone outside her home other than her Mother and her nurse Carla who is one of her closest friends - until the new boy next door catches her eyes. Olly Bright moves in next door leading to a series of emails and text messages exchanged between the two of them. She's continually gazing through the window at her new neighbour, wondering if she will ever come in contact with him. Through the ongoing text messages Olly and Maddie form a deep relationship that leads them to risk everything to be together.

The use of the text messages and emails made this book very enjoyable and interactive. I love how this book hooked me as soon as I read the first page. This is a novel for all ages and is an easy novel to read. I love how this book is different to all generic teenage books. This book discusses how lucky we are to have what we have and explore the world around us. There was nothing negative about this novel!

This novel is thrilling and will leave you constantly reading and never wanting to put it down!

By Grace Spiteri , Year 9

Shimmer by Paula Weston

“I crack a knuckle like Rafa would. Feel stronger hearing that sound”

Shimmer is the third book in the Rephaim series. It follows Gabby (Gabriel) who is a 139 year old Rephaim, with no memories of her past 139 years, just fake memories that never took place.

This book starts exactly were the last book- Haze finished. With Rafa gone and Gabby on the floor in the Sanctuary. Gabby is determined to get Rafa back, even if it means breaking the rules and going against Nathaniel and the council of five. Whilst doing this, Gabby is trying to fill in any  
blanks she can about her life she doesn't remember at the monastery with Jude and why she didn't leave with Jude, Rafa and the outcasts. This whole book takes place in a few days.

This book is a great lead up to the ending of the Rephaim series and gives a type of preparation for the last book. I particularly like how Gabby  
showed her independance and never let anything get in her way. Shimmer though, was not my favorite in the Rephaim series though it is still a fantastic book and read.

Giuliana Year 9

Take a look at these new books in our library!

   

And The Ocean Was Our Sky, Patrick Ness. Illustrated by Rovina Cai.

This book was so intriguing! 

Ness twists the popular tale of Moby Dick, tipping the world upside  
down--literally. Told from the perspective of the whale, Bathsheba, above the sea becomes the "Abyss" and below the sea becomes "up". Bathsheba and her pod fight in the never-ending war against men, but when they find the trail of a myth they know as the devil himself, they follow that trail and embark on their final hunt.

I found this such an interesting read for obvious and less obvious reasons; it's told in the perspective of whales (yet still engaging), it has  
undoubtedly tense moments, and there are many captivating quotes, "'Maybe it takes a devil to fight a devil' ... 'But at the end of that  
fight...don't only devils remain?'" You can't forget the chillingly  
beautiful illustrations by Cai either!

4/5 stars! I recommend it for year 8 and above.

Mykee, Year 11