Book Review: 'She is not Invisible' by Marcus Sedgwick

Firstly, I hope you all had a brilliant Christmas! I was unfortunately ill with a sickness bug on the night of Christmas Eve and most of Christmas Day but enjoyed it all the same!

'She is not Invisible' is a book which was shortlisted by The Guardian Newspaper when they ran a young writers book review competition earlier this year.

Despite never finding the time to actually get the books read and reviewed prior to the deadline, I did prepare for possible entry by reading the blurbs of the handful of shortlisted books and selecting two to read, in the end only for pleasure.

I ordered 'She is not Invisible' from my local library back in August and renewed it an embarrassing number of times before ever getting started on it! But, on Saturday morning, I finally finished it.

Without giving too much away, the story follows a 16 year old blind girl and her peculiar younger brother as they travel across the globe unaccompanied in search of their author father who has a weird obsession with the concept of 'coincidences' and who they believe to be missing.

Their quest is aided by snippets from their father's notebook, which are scattered throughout the book and which include 'research' (presumably factual!) which, as a current student of some philosophy at school, I actually found fascinating!

But as a story it was also excellent. Manageable sized chapters which, as I have mentioned previously on this blog, will always please me to begin with and a really excellent concept.

While elements of the storyline were a little unrealistic, particularly towards the end as the book tactfully picked up pace in order to tie up loose ends and reach it's conclusion, the entire theme made me question why I found them to be so, and the characters, or at least principle character Laureth, were certainly believable.

I liked that I was reading, although in 3rd person, predominately from the perspective of a blind girl because it presented the characters with challenges which aided the excitement element and also allowed for personal trains of thought that developed into relatable messages-How far can I push my own barriers? Why should I not do something someone else can? Not so different from the unanswerable philosophies I present myself on this blog from time to time I suppose!

Overall, a gripping and at times amusing read which is definitely worth a shot!

GCBA Shortlist, Book #1: 'Blood Family' by Anne Fine

(For information on what the Grampian Children's Book Award is and why I am spending time reading and reviewing books aimed at 12-14 year olds, check out my previous post here! )


So, the first book I picked up was by a familiar author to me, Anne Fine. I read her work quite a lot when I was much younger.

This novel is about the life of a young boy named Eddie/Edward, who's mum is domestically abused and his life after being taken away from the home and into foster and then adoptive care.

The book is written from the perspective of several different characters, with the perspective changing to someone different for each chapter, although the perspective of Eddie himself is used most often. This is a technique I first came across in Sophie McKenzie's book 'Blood Ties' and went on to use once in my own writing. Over the years, I have noticed it used as a literary technique far more frequently.

I thought the concept of the novel was excellent and not over complicated, as multiple narrators can cause. It had me gripped from the start, I only began reading on Friday night and was finished by this morning. This was partly due to the fact that the language was easy for someone used to reading adult literature, but not any disrespect to the quality of writing, which was excellent.

Characterisation was well formed, and I took a particular shining to a couple of character's including Eddie's foster mum Linda and his adoptive sister Alice.

As well as each chapter being told from a different character's point of view, a positive of the layout was the short chapters! A very common occurrence in junior fiction, but not in senior/adult fiction as much. I love short chapters because you can squeeze one in in a very short space of time without having to stop in the middle of a chapter!

The book was also split into sections, I think there were 5 in total. The first two sections were my favourite, followed by the final section. Sections 3 and 4 were not my favourite due to the fact that the storyline tuned to a direction I really hoped it wouldn't, but, admittedly, some action had to occur or the book would have lead nowhere.

I would say, if I was going to give one piece of critique, that the 'event' which caused to character's emotions to change and events to turn, happened almost too quickly and without much emphasis until later. But otherwise, I thoroughly enjoyed it.

Overall, a great read- for any age to be honest. Sometimes nice having an excuse to go back and see what's new in  the junior fiction world, and I've always loved being told what to read too!

I retuned the book to my school library this morning and swapped it for another of the shortlist to keep over Christmas... but it looks awfully scary! Suppose there's only one way to find out! (maybe not right before bed!)

15 Festive Favourites!

Well, Christmas is fast approaching with less than 2 weeks to go!

My presents are wrapped, tress decorated and cards written!

School is super busy at the moment but we do have our Christmas Concert on Tuesday which is always great fun!

I am starting to get a bit stressed about prelims (Mocks) but I should be fine, it'll just be a busy Christmas holidays revising!

Anyway, I wanted to spread some festive cheer on here so I've stolen a Youtube Tag! Instead of a video, it's just gonna be a post and I don't think I'll tag anyone in particular, but if you're reading this and you fancy giving it a go I'd love to read it!

1) Festive Food?

Without a moment of hesitation, PIGS IN BLANKETS! I actually love Christmas Dinner in general tbh, but the roast tatties are amazing too! (Especially if my dad makes them!)

2) Favourite Reindeer?

I have no idea! I discovered recently that I can in fact name all of the reindeer, but I would say, as popular a choice as it is, I would choose Rudolph because he's the outsider!

3) Favourite day of Christmas?

5 Gold rings! Definitely! Even if you don't know the other words you can belt that one out. Plus we're playing "The 12 days of Christmas" at our Christmas concert and that part has a really cool trumpet solo.

4) Favourite Christmas Song?

Ah I have so many favourites that I like for loads of different reasons! I should have thought this through! I'm going to say Fairytale of New York, because it's just timeless and magical!

6) Favourite Christmas Present?

Ooohh I have received so many awesome gifts over the years. My "Main" present from my parents is usually something I've asked for but actually I quite like the little stocking fillers that are surprises!!

7) Favourite Christmas Film?

Nativity! all the way...

8) Favourite Christmas Cracker Toy?

Haha well some of them are just awful aren't they? And others are ok. I think I'd have to say the pen, or keyring notebook because I love stationary!

9) Favourite Christmas Cracker joke?

The Big Chimney said to the little Chimney "You're too young to smoke".. Fairly sure that's a joke my mum told me when I was little and then I saw it in a Christmas cracker later, but it's the only one that comes to mind!

10) Favourite Decoration?

It's not really a decoration as such, but I really love this penguin shaped lamp we have that always goes on in our living room at Christmas!

11) Favourite Christmas Candle scent?

Ok, so I haven't really got into Yankee Candles, and the only Christmas candle we have in my house is our advent candle! So I will just say my favourite Christmas scent: The smell of my mum's carrot and coriander soup- that's what Christmas smells of to me!

12) Favourite Christmas TV advert?

Remember that John Lewis one a few years ago with the boy counting the days down til he could give his parents the gift he'd wrapped for them? Yup, made me teary every single time!

13) Favourite Christmas Tradition?

I really like our Christmas day routine. Like how we open our stockings first thing, then have breakfast, then go to church/enjoy our gifts, then have soup and have some more family time and then have Christmas dinner and THEN we open the gifts under the tree- not til evening! Then we watch tv. Or maybe that we always have After Eights!!

14) Favourite place to spend Christmas?

Home, 100% <3

15) Favourite Christmas fact (pretty sure this is supposed to be a loose interpretation of the term 'fact'!)

If you peek your head out the window, very early ion the morning on the sunny day that takes the snow away, you will see your snowman fly away, and if you wave, he will wave back! ;)










And so there's some festive nonsense! I hope to post a bit more over the next few weeks but I will say here, Merry Christmas to every single person who's reading this. It is amazing if anyone is! And thank you, I'll be posting throughout December and into the New Year! Please let me know if your festive faves are the same or different in the comments!

Catriona xx

3....2.....1....BLAST OFF!!!

A couple of weeks ago, an event happened which sparked a train of thought, which became a blog post idea, and which then got filed away into a far corner of my mind until I had the time to sit and write it. This morning, I switched on my laptop, with the intention of finally writing what I wanted to write, but firstly decided to read some of the new posts from the blogs I follow.

And I saw that one of my good friends and fellow bloggers Holly's latest post was, in many ways, similar to what I want to say. She was talking about the future, the pressures of having to decide what we, as young people, want to do with our lives and how she's been getting help to make her mind up! So please check out her blog www.hollymaae.blogspot.com , and then come back and read what I have to say haha, because, while we're obviously both thinking along the same lines, our trains of though are quite different...

Holly was really positive about what she'd like to do with her future and, for the most part, I am too.

But now and then it just hits me that 'the future' is never really that far away and my future seems to
be hurtling towards me at rocket speed.

The event I mentioned right at the beginning was my driving test which I sat (AND PASSED, 1ST TIME!!) a fortnight ago. Knowing that I can now legally drive, just like my mum or my dad or my grandparents is so bizarre.

And then there's been loads of talk about Uni and my 18th birthday party and all of these things are things that always seemed so far away that they were barely worth mentioning. But now they're a matter of weeks and months away and it seems like I've jumped on a rollercoaster ride of life and the stops are too brief!

 

 

 

 

"I'm on a rollercoaster that only goes up, my friend"

 

~ Augustus Waters

The Fault in Our Stars (John Green) ~

 

 

 

 

 



As TFIOS indicates, maybe being on that rollercoaster isn't such a bad thing? I know I'm ready to leave school, for a start. I'm ready for a new adventure and I'm ready to try new things and passing my driving test not only boosts my confidence for jumping into the unknown but also opens up opportunities to be whatever and whoever I want to be in the future. Yes, it's a little scary (ok, A LOT scary) but I just need to enjoy right now and not fear next week, or the week after, or the weeks after that....

 

So yes, at times I feel like Buzz from Toystory, zooming off. But I'd much rather that than for time to stand still. And I'm very lucky to have a future worth being excited for.

 

So, for the moment, I want to do as much as I can with what remains of 2014... but when 2015 arrives

(which at this rate won't be long!), I'll know that there's nothing to do but to be happy with resigning myself to opening my eyes wide and saying, with confidence, "3....2....1....BLAST OFF!!!"

 

 

The Liebster Award

Ok folks.. A couple of months ago I was nominated by the wonderful 'Don't Burst My bubble' (Check out her blog here) to do the Liebster Award. Not 100% sure what it is but it seems like a really cool way of appreciating each other's blogs so I thought I'd finally do it as an extra post this rainy Monday morning!


So here are the rules :

1.  Post the award on your blog
2. Thank the blogger who presented you with the award and link back to their blog
3. Write 11 random facts about yourself.
4. Nominate 11 bloggers who you feel deserve this award and who have less than 500 followers.
5. Answer 11 questions posted by the presenter and ask your nominees 11 questions.

 

 

Ok, 11 facts about myself....

 

1) My top talent is probably procrastination

2) I have lived in 6 different houses since I was born

3) When I was little I had a Peter Rabbit themed bedroom

4) As a kid, I has super straight hair and always wanted curly hair.. Now my hair's curly and I often straighten it!

5) My favourite season is winter, and I love the build up to Christmas equally as much/more than actual Christmas day

7) I am someone who adores re-watching films and re-reading books which is why I am never caught up on the latest books/films 

8) I have played violin for 10 years.. holy moly

9) I bought a guitar 4 months ago and am yet to play it..

10) I am a hopeless romantic for the most part and love cheesy musicals and rom-coms

11) My parents changed my name from Catrina to Catriona when I was little, have originally left out the 'o' because they thought it was too confusing and later changing their mind!

 

DontBurstMyBubble's Questions

 

1. Where is the one place you want to go ? New York, at Christmas or New Year!
2. How do you define love ? Feeling so happy around a person that they make you feel like yourself.. whether that's a relative, friend, or girlfriend/boyfriend!
3. What's your favourite thing about blogging ? Being able to put into words little trains of thought in my mind and see them published as a proper piece of writing, sort of...
4. What's your favourite shop ? Erm, I don't know! Waterstones, maybe! Or Primark!! Haha
5. Who's your fictional crush and why ? Oooh good one! The first one I think of is Jam from Sophie McKenzie's 'Girl Missing' because he just seems like the ideal boy best friend turns boyfriend kinda guy...
6. If you could be a Disney princess or prince who would it be ? Not being the most Disney-minded person this is hard, but I'd have to say that being Elsa from Frozen would be cool, but mostly because, in the end, she's accepted for being her. But I wouldn't want *SPOILER ALERT!!!!* my parents to die. That would be the most horrific thing ever.  
7. What are three things you like about yourself ? I like my kindness, intelligence and creativity
8. If you could have one magic power would it be ? Oooh another tough one! I'd love all the cliché ones like being to fly.. or maybe being able to speak any language in the world without any effort would be good, if that counts?!
9. Where are you happiest ? At home, in my living room with my family around me and horrible winter weather outside, watching TV or playing a board game
10. What do you want to do with your life ? Have a successful career as a journalist/author and also meet a great guy and have a family
11. What's your favourite quote ? It's a quote from a song, if that's ok? "I could have been someone, well so could anyone." from Fairytale of New York because it just reminds me that ifs and buts won't get me anywhere and if I want to be someone, I have to do something about it.

My Questions!

1) What's your favourite flavour of ice-cream?
2) If you could spend the day with anyone in the world, who would it be?
3) If you could only listen to one song for a month, what would it be and why?
4) Do you play any instrument(s). If so what?  
5) Team Edward or Team Jacob (or neither.. I may forgive you!)
6) Team Peeta or Team Gale? (or neither, I suppose!)
7) Guilty pleasure?
8) Favourite quotation from a book?
9) Chocolate or crisps?
10) Who is your idol/who inspires you?
11) Favourite place in the world?


My Nominations!

1) Lou's World

2) Holly Mae

3) Katie Cup of Tea

4) Books n Biscuits

5) Kim Jade Louise

6) EyeZedZedWhy

7) The Halfway Point

8) Teenage Londoner

9) Professional Daydreamer

10) The House of Rambles

11) imogengracee.



All of these are blogs that I like to follow/read or that I think have really good potential, so I hope you'll check them out!

I'll probably write some more really soon, especially if this awful weather keeps up! Please feel free to comment what you'd like me to talk about!

Catriona xxx

 

 

Grampian Children's Book Award 2014/15

At school, I do a period a week of what is called 'peer support' which is basically just helping out in a junior class. I help in a first year English class who have been selected by our librarian to take part in something I used to love doing when I was in 1st and 2nd year: The Grampian Children's Book Award (GCBA).



Basically, it's a local award which comprises a long list of books, has this whittled down to a shortlist y  asking young people to vote, and then gets as many young people to read as many of the 6 shortlisted books as possible, before announcing the winner in May next year.

The first year I ever took part, Sophie McKenzie won with 'Blood Ties'. She couldn't make it to the
event, but that was what began my love for her books.

Anyway, the books are aimed at a much younger audience than me, because only juniors participate, but, in an attempt at motivating the kids in the class to give reading a good go, I promised to read the books too.

So I'd run my opinions on the books as a sort of 'series' on this blog. Might be interesting since I never voted for the shortlist, so have absolutely no say in what I'm going to read! So the books are quite likely to be ones I wouldn't normally choose, particularly in terms of difficulty!

I look forward to getting started reading them now!

"Thank my Lucky Stars".... For what?

I've noticed that, in my blog, I often refer to hard work. I think the reason for this is because I like to think that, in my writing, I express the very best side of me for the most part, more for my own benefit that in an attempt to hide my faults. When people are just getting to know me, I'd rather they knew what I am good at that what I'm not, and by being positive and encouraging, I provide inspiration to my own mind too!

But, I don't want this post to become another hard-work ramble, so I will try very hard to make sure it's not.

I do a morning paper round, and that hour that I'm walking on my own is my main thinking time. I think things over that are worrying me and try and reason them out in my head, I make up little stories (which I always subsequently forget to record and later forget!) and fantasies and I think about school things and mentally revise or practice something in my head. But I also mull over things that interest me, or make me curious or confused. And, one morning last week, I was thinking about the concept of luck- what it is and where it comes from?

When things happen to me, or don't, and I take a moment to appreciate how lucky I am, sometimes I think I was deserving of luck and sometimes I think I was just, well, lucky! And I wonder if there's


some being who decided that my "wish" will be granted, or if the power always lies with me and my actions.

There are some things which we would all argue lie purely with luck. For example, there is nothing in the world you can do, no act of goodness big enough, which will give you a greater chance of winning the lottery than anyone else with the same number of tickets, is there? But sometimes things that are lucky happen just as you need them too, making them particularly lucky, and I reckon this is coincidence but I'm not sure.

When people say "Thank my lucky Stars" what do they mean? Is life a game of luck in which we all have little pockets of luck and its just luck who's luck is lucky for them? Wow my head is spinning now...

Or do we "make our own luck", another common phrase? Is that possible?  Or is that not luck at all, is that just a way of saying that positive actions can achieve positive results?

I'll be honest, I do feel lucky in life. I have people who love me, and more luxuries than I deserve. But when I make mistakes, there are consequences and I pay for that, and I don't feel so lucky anymore. Does that mean that my luck lasts as long as I deserve it? Or that I'm still lucky when I don't feel lucky but the fact that I don't deserve the luck is what makes me feel less lucky?

I'm going to quit the questions now because if you've got this far and are still following then I applaud you. My posts tend to be quite advice based, but this shows you that, in actual fact, I have very little clue and an annoying habit of questioning things which I would, before now, have just accepted (and will probably just go back to doing so!).

So I wish you all good luck in what ever you're doing today and continue to sit here, waiting for enlightenment on whether my wish for your luck, and mine, will ever make a difference.

~ I'd love to here everyone's thoughts on luck in the comments below~

Catriona xx