Review: Oliver and the Seawigs by Philip Reeve and Sarah McIntyre

Title: Oliver and the Seawigs

Author: Philip Reeve and Sarah McIntyre

Publication Date: July 22nd, 2014 (First published September 5th, 2013)

Publisher: Random House Books for Young Readers

Genre: Middle Grade Fiction

Pages: 208

ISBN13: 978-0385387880

Source: ARC from Publisher

Rating:

Synopsis (from Goodreads):

A lively step up from early chapter books, this seafaring romp is packed with hilarious art, lovable misfits, meddlesome monkeys, and tons of kid appeal. 

When Oliver’s explorer parents go missing, he sets sail on a rescue mission with some new, unexpected friends: a grumpy albatross, a nearsighted mermaid . . . even a living island! But the high seas are even more exciting, unusual, and full of mischief than Oliver could have imagined. Can he and his crew spar with sarcastic seaweed, outrun an army of sea monkeys, win a fabulous maritime fashion contest, and defeat a wicked sea captain in time to save Mom and Dad?

A | B&N | Gr

Philip Reeve was born in Brighton in 1966. He has one younger sister. He wrote his first story at the tender age of five; it was about a spaceman called Spike and his dog Spook. He went to St Luke's School in Queens Park, Brighton where he enjoyed writing, drawing, history and acting, and didn't enjoy maths, P.E. or getting duffed up. Philip Reeve - Biography His early influences included Oliver Postgate, Jackanory, Blue Peter, Asterix, Look and Learn, Swallows and Amazons, Airfix models, Whizzer and Chips, Rosemary Sutcliff, Action Man, JRR Tolkein, Star Wars, biscuits, bikes and boats.

Later he went to Stanley Deason Secondary School in Whitehawk, next door to, and largely indistinguishable from, Brighton's municipal tip. There he continued to enjoy writing, drawing, history and acting and quite liked science but still wasn't keen on maths, P.E. or getting duffed up. During his stay he became interested in illustration, Arthurian legend and making ultra-low-budget films on Super 8mm cine film. As a teenager he went on to study for A Levels at Varndean Sixth Form College where he persisted in his enjoyment of writing, drawing, history and acting, but still didn't like maths. No P.E. or getting duffed up was involved.

Then it was Ho! for art college; a Foundation Course at Brighton followed by a two year diploma at Cambridgeshire College of Arts and Technology which has since changed its name to something else, possibly in an effort to shake off the shame of ever having sheltered him. Three years as an art student having rendered him basically unemployable, he returned to Brighton, there to work in a small independent bookshop while pursuing various non-paying sidelines as writer/producer/director of low budget film and comedy projects in his spare time. Towards the end of this time he co-wrote a musical, The Ministry of Biscuits, with writer and composer Brian Mitchell, but was eventually forced by lack of funds to track down some cartooning work and finally entered the wonderful world of the freelance illustrator in the early 1990s. There he was to remain for several years, providing the pictures for several Horrible Histories, lots of Murderous Maths and sundry other hilarious and improving books.

Since his spare time was no longer big enough to accommodate film and comedy projects he turned to writing novels, the first of which, Mortal Engines, was published in 2001. It won the Smarties Gold Award, the Blue Peter Book of the Year Award and the Blue Peter ‘Book I Couldn't Put Down’ Award, a surprise which prompted him to say ‘Bl**dy H*ll!’ to Jaqueline Wilson in front of millions of viewers, offending any among them who could lip-read; small wonder that he never got a Blue Peter Badge. Four sequels to Mortal Engines followed, the last of which, A Darkling Plain, won both the Guardian Children's Fiction Prize and the Los Angeles Times Book Award. There has also been a trilogy of steam-powered Victorian space adventures, Larklight, Starcross and Mothstorm, and a novel set in Dark Age Britain called Here Lies Arthur which won the Carnegie Medal 2008.

Philip's 2009 novel, Fever Crumb returns to the world of Mortal Engines. Along with its sequels A Web of Air and Scrivener's Moon, it tells the story of how the Traction Era began.  His latest book, Goblins, introduces a new world, the Westlands, a land of magic and adventure dominated by the ruined fortress of Clovenstone. A sequel, provisionally entitled Goblins vs Dwarves will be published in 2013, and Philip is also preparing a series of shorter books co-written with the illustrator Sarah McIntyre.  He is currently at work on the final novel in the Fever Crumb quartet.

Philip and his wife Sarah moved from Brighton to Devon in 1998, and now live on Dartmoor, where their son Sam was born in 2002.

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Illustrator and writer Sarah McIntyre is easy to spot in her pointy glasses and hats. She makes picture books and comics with two other artists (Gary Northfield and Elissa Elwick) in an old police station – complete with jail cells! – in Deptford, south London. Right now she is collaborating with Philip Reeve to create at least four highly illustrated chapter books for Oxford University Press, starting with Oliver and the Seawigs, and the new Cakes in Space this autumn. She also has a collaborative picture book coming out with David O’Connell, Jampires, which they both wrote and illustrated, and which began as a Comics Jam.

Sarah also writes her own books, including There’s a Shark in the Bath, and she’s currently working on her second solo picture book for Scholastic UK.

Her comic Vern and Lettuce appeared weekly in The Guardian and in the DFC; in September 2010, David Fickling launched it as a book as part of the DFC Library, winning the Leeds Graphic Novel Award. Her picture book with Giles Andreae, Morris the Mankiest Monster, introduced the world to a loveable monster with stomach-turning personal habits. Morris sold out in its first month and has won both the Sheffield and Bishop’s Stortford Children’s Book Awards, as voted by children. Sarah loves to get both kids and adults drawing, particularly drawing comics.

Sarah updates her blog on LiveJournal nearly every day with drawings and event photos. You can follower her on Twitter, on Facebook, on Tumblr and on Instagram.

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      Oliver Crisp has lived quite an adventurous life at a very young age. His parents are explorers, and they have decided that it's time to settle down. However, a group of mysterious islands have made their way into the body of water that surrounds their home, and Oliver's parents must explore them right away! Suddenly, Oliver's parents go missing...and so do the islands! In this entertaining tale, Reeve and McIntyre introduce the perfect hybrid between graphic novel and middle-grade chapter book that will charm and amuse the whole family!

     When I first received this book, I had no idea what a "seawig" was. I thought it was some kind of sea creature that the author had made up. I was most pleasantly surprised when I discovered what a "seawig" was just that! A wig...made from the sea! Add a nearsighted mermaid, some rudely sarcastic seaweed, enough sea monkeys to fill an entire village, and you have Oliver and the Seawigs. 

 

     This book is so many levels of cool that I ran out and bought myself a copy! This is the perfect book for the child transitioning from picture books to chapter books. They will enjoy illustrations on almost every page, and the lines are spaced out enough that they will breeze through the book in no time. The entire layout and design is esthetically pleasing and easy for young eyes to look at. It reminded me a lot of Brian Selznick's The Invention of Hugo Cabret and Wonderstruck. The storyline and artwork is embellished with levels of creativity that will keep the reader turning pages with anticipation.

     I. love. this. book. I cannot stress how much I love this book. I've already recommended it to several people. I'm sure that it's release here in the US will vie for several awards (deservingly so!). 

     Be sure to grab yourself a copy and join in on the fun! While you're at it, here are some activity sheets that can be found on Sarah McIntyre's website for some added entertainment:  Oliver and the Seawigs Activity Sheets

If I were voting, I'd say Ms. McIntyre is definitely in the running for Best Seawig:

Review: Thirteen Reasons Why by Jay Asher

Title: Thirteen Reasons Why

Author: Jay Asher

Publication Date: October 18th, 2007

Publisher: Razorbill

Genre: Young Adult

Pages: 304

ISBN13: 978-1595141712

Source: Purchased eBook
Awards: New York Times Best Seller Publishers Weekly Best Seller, California Book Award Winner, Best Books for Young Adults (YALSA), Quick Picks for Reluctant YA Readers (YALSA), Selected Audiobooks for Young Adults (YALSA), Borders Original Voices finalist, Barnes & Noble - Top 10 Best for Teens, International Reading Assoc. - Young Adults' Choices, Kirkus Reviews Editor's Choice, Book Sense Pick - Winter, Chicago Public Library Best Books, Association of Booksellers for Children - Best Books, State Awards - Winner (voted on by students): Florida, Kansas, Kentucky

Rating:

Synopsis (from Goodreads):

Clay Jensen returns home from school to find a mysterious box with his name on it lying on his porch. Inside he discovers thirteen cassette tapes recorded by Hannah Baker, his classmate and crush who committed suicide two weeks earlier.

On tape, Hannah explains that there are thirteen reasons why she decided to end her life. Clay is one of them. If he listens, he'll find out how he made the list.

Through Hannah and Clay's dual narratives, debut author Jay Asher weaves an intricate and heartrending story of confusion and desperation that will deeply affect teen readers.

A | B&N | Gr

Jay Asher was born in Arcadia, California on September 30, 1975. He grew up in a family that encouraged all of his interests, from playing the guitar to his writing. He attended Cuesta College right after graduating from high school. It was here where he wrote his first two children’s books for a class called Children’s Literature Appreciation. At this point in his life, he had decided he wanted to become an elementary school teacher. He then transferred to California Polytechnic State University in San Luis Obispo where he left his senior year in order to pursue his career as a serious writer. Throughout his life he worked in various establishments, including as a salesman in a shoe store and in libraries and bookstores. Many of his work experiences had an impact on some aspect of his writing.

He has published only one book to date, Thirteen Reasons Why, which was published in October 2007. He is currently working on his second Young Adult novel, and has written several picture books and screenplays. Thirteen Reasons Why has won several awards and has received five stars from Teen Book Review. It also has received high reviews from fellow authors such as Ellen Hopkins, Chris Crutcher, and Gordon Kormon.

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      Thirteen Reasons Why, Jay Asher's first published book, should probably be read in every High School in America at least once. Is it the absolute best book out there tackling the topic of teenage suicide? No. And I'm sure there are others like it that I have yet to read, but until that happens, I think this could be a very useful tool in our High Schools. There are also Anti-Bullying tours and resources on the website, but I'll get to that later.

     In the book, Hannah had committed suicide two weeks ago. Before she died, she recorded a series of tapes explaining 13 reasons why she did it. Each person the reasons are about has to send the tapes along to the next person. The reader enters into the story when the tapes arrive into the hands of another unlucky person whom Hannah blames for her choices, Clay Jensen. 

     When I was in High School, my school went through a year where we had about 5 suicides. This was really uncommon for us, so it was really shocking for our entire community. After I graduated, at least 3 more of my classmates had committed suicide. I wish we had a book like this as a required reading in English (of course, this wasn't published until a year after I graduated).The way the book was written makes it easily readable and relatable for teens. Although it's not the best developed plot I've read, I think it could keep the attention of High Schoolers of different reading levels if it was brought into the school system. It introduces the topic of teenage suicide for discussion and just may open some eyes to see that although their negative actions toward others may seem small to them, the person on the receiving end may be blowing it up 5 times bigger.

     Did I feel like Hannah fully justified her reasons? Honestly, no. At first, I didn't really like her. She sounded self-centered and bratty, and like she had taken normal everyday things that people do to each other way too seriously. I had to stop and tell myself "this girl is obviously sick. There's a reason why all these things added up in her head to being so big that she felt she needed to kill herself." I was then reminded of a few articles I had read in 2012 about a teenage girl from Canada who committed suicide as a result of bullying. To her, the things her peers were saying about her and the way they treated her were maximized, and the good things in her life (including friends she spent time with often) were minimized. It was like there was a voice in her head that kept feeding her insecurities and weakening her will to live. But also, the rumors going around about her also made her a target for the boys just like in Thirteen Reasons Why. In the book, the character of Hannah mentions briefly that many other things were going on in her life, but they weren't important enough to put on the tapes. I think this can easily be identified as the things she minimized because that voice in her head was speaking too loudly for her to hear them.

     I think some of the reasons could have been better ones. There are plenty of examples you can pull up in articles on the internet about different horrible ways that kids bully each other. Some of them are pretty terrible, but unfortunately are very common. Granted, this book is a few years old so it wasn't as common in 2007 for people to post YouTube videos and whatnot before committing suicide like they do now. However, I felt like the story was slightly underdeveloped and could've gone so much further than it did to bring the reality of this issue even more to readers.

     I would recommend picking up this book and reading it at least once. It had a good anti-bullying message and could be used as a good introduction to suicide awareness. However, if you're a teen and you look deeper into the context, you can probably see that Hannah's decision was a permanent solution to a temporary problem. Sometimes, the feelings of hopelessness caused by peers traps people into thinking they're inadequate and unloved, and that their lives will never be anything more than what it is at that moment. But that isn't the case. I remember feeling like that sometimes, and I've been graduated for about 8 years now...and I'll tell you, none of the negative people or situations from High School have followed me. I don't even know who that girl is anymore, and I'm so glad I pushed through any bullying I experienced.

Check out these websites based off the book for more resources and info about Jay Asher's Anti-Bullying Tours in schools:

THIRTEEN REASONS WHY WEBSITE     THIRTEEN REASONS WHY FACEBOOK

Review: The Pilgrims by Will Elliott

Title: The Pilgrims

Author: Will Elliott

Publication Date: March 18th, 2014
Publisher: Tor Books

Genre: Fantasy
Pages: 448
ISBN: 0765331888

Source: Purchased from B&N

Rating: 

Synopsis (from Publisher):

Eric Albright is leading a normal life until a small red door appears under a train bridge near his home. Then a ghostly being wakes him in the dead of night, with a message from another world: You are Shadow. In Levaal, the world between worlds, the dragon-gods grow restless in their sky prisons, and the Great Spirits struggle to contain them. Vous, the worlds Friend and Lord, simmers in madness as he schemes to join the ranks of gods. He and the Arch Mage have almost won their final victory over the Free Cities. A dark age dawns. But Eric and his friend Case are now Pilgrims, called to Levaal for a battle more ancient than the petty squabbles of men. And they will learn why some doors should not be opened. 

A | B&N | Gr

Will Elliott (born 1979) is an Australian literary horror fiction writer who lives in Brisbane, Queensland.

His debut novel The Pilo Family Circus was published in Australia in 2006 after winning the inaugural ABC Fiction Award (sponsored by ABC Books). The novel went on to win the Aurealis Award (co-winner: Best Horror novel, plus the Golden Aurealis Award), the Australian Shadows Award, the Ditmar Award (Best Novel), the Sydney Morning Herald's "Best Young Novelist Award" for 2007 and the 'Premios Nocte' Best Foreign Book Award 2011.The Pilo Family Circus also short-listed for the 2007 International Horror Guild Award for Best Novel.The Pilo Family Circus has been picked up for North American distribution by Victoria Blake's new publishing company,Underland Press and was scheduled to be one their debut novels in 2009.

Elliott dropped out of a law degree at 20 when he developed schizophrenia. Although The Pilo Family Circus is about a young man struggling with a psychotic alter-ego when he dons clown face paint, Elliott has said the novel is not autobiographical.

Elliott has written some short stories. His first published story "Ain't no ordinary ham" (Griffith Review, Sept 2006) was reprinted in Best Australian Stories 2006, ed. Robert Drewe (Black Ink, 2006).

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  can be accused of judging a book based on the genre it’s from.  Fantasy is one of those genres for me.  Apart from a few exceptions and classics, fantasy is one of those genres that is littered with busty elves and all powerful Gandalf knock-off wizards and talking dragons acting out one trope after another with shameless regularity.  The beauty of The Pilgrims by Will Elliott is that he uses a lot of the same set pieces that make up trashy dime-a-dozen fantasy,  but his vision and imagination make it seem like this is the first book I have ever read with wizards and talking dragons. 

     The scope of the world he invents and the depth of the characters immediately draws you in to the story.  As expansive and detailed as the characters and setting are, Elliott never fails to keep you tightly focused on the individual details of the world and the personalities of the characters without getting bogged down with colorful and drawn-out descriptions.  Most fantasy novels use pretty much the same system of magic, and it almost always ends up getting overblown and ruining the plot in one way or another.  One of the greatest pieces of praise I can give Elliott is that his system of magic and casting is all his own.  Some of the finer elements as to its mechanics aren’t revealed until the second and third books (yes it’s a part of a trilogy), but from the beginning you can tell it is something different than what you are used to reading about.

The plot revolves around a young, normal man named Eric and his homeless, alcoholic friend Case.  They find a door to another world and when they enter (with little more than a handgun that Case pilfered) they come to realize they may have been a bit too hasty jumping into a world very different from their own.  They find themselves in a world of magic and unbelievable beauty juxtaposed by remarkable cruelty.  Their arrival comes at a time of upheaval and civil war in the land of Levaal.  In no time at all they are forced to fight for their lives in a war that is not their own.  Eric and Case try to find their feet but find themselves at the center of everything.  From homicidal mages to horrifying creatures, a mad king to hidden foes, they have their work cut out for them before things even get really dark.  It pains me to give such an incomplete description, but any more could steal the journey away from any would-be readers.

I will just go ahead and say that this is one of the best books I have read all year (aside from the second book in the series that I’m currently reading).  It isn't an intricately wrought Pulitzer contender, or a classic work of literature. The Pilgrims is, quite simply, an enjoyable, well thought-out, interesting story.

 I am saddened to hear that Will Elliott has distanced himself from the series after the completion of the trilogy. He has said that it isn’t the type of fiction that he should be writing and I can totally see where he’s coming from. His other works are of a deeper and more personal timbre and I can understand him feeling that his evocative voice is wasted on this brand of fiction but what might be his gain is certainly a loss for the genre.  I found myself being really drawn into caring for the characters and what happens to them. The world and the setting are equally intriguing and interesting. I never once felt that I was being sentenced to sitting through yet another ”Portal to a fantasy realm”, “fish out of water” carbon copy. The story felt fresh, gritty and real without losing the sense of fantasy and adventure that you expect from a fantasy novel.

The only criticism I can really give stems from the fact that this trilogy so far (again I am still on the second book, Shadow) seems like it is one long book cut into three parts almost arbitrarily.The ending of The Pilgrims doesn’t resolve as much as I would have hoped before picking up right where it left off in Shadow. Normally this wouldn’t be such a bad thing, but the second two books are increasingly hard to find in the U.S., especially in E-book format (legally). I would hope that wouldn’t turn anyone away from giving it a try though, because The Pilgrims and The Pendulum Trilogy this far are extremely worthwhile reads for any sci-fi, fantasy, or general fiction fan. Younger readers should avoid, because of some very adult content and violence. This shouldn’t be a follow up to Lord of the Rings as a bedtime story. When the kids are asleep, put on your wizard cap and your reading lamp and read yourself a bedtime story you’ll enjoy.

Review: Willo Mancifoot and the Mugga Killa Whomps by Valerie Hubbard Damon

Title: Willo Mancifoot and the Mugga Killa Whomps

Author: Valerie Hubbard Damon

Publication Date: July 1st, 1985

Publisher: Star Publications

Genre: Children's Picture Book

Pages: 36

ISBN13: 978-0932356079

Source: Purchased from Amazon & Author

Rating:

Synopsis (from Goodreads):

In the beauty of nature’s realm exotic, magical creatures, wearing incredible costumes, enact the opposing philosophies; “peace, harmony and cooperation” and “might makes right.” Willo Mancifoot, a dragonfly-like creature and his friends have light. The Mugga Killa Whomps do not. A conflict arises when the Mugga Killa Whomps kidnap the Light Wings. You will enjoy the creative nonviolent solution and delight in the inspiration of this exceptional tale.

Willo Mancifoot, written in the tradition of high fantasy, has rich, sensuous visual imagery, verbal humor, important selection of words and choices of characters’ names, concern with a universal theme that appeals to all ages and the inclusion of several layers of meaning the reader may recall at a later time. And as in all “good” children’s fantasy, the story holds the adult’s attention as well as that of the child’s.

A | Gr

“I create to inspire, to laugh, to empower and to initiate social change.”

Valerie is an author, illustrator, publisher and has been expressing her inner voice of conscience and humor over 40 years. The BFA, teaching degree, Hallmark artist left corporate America in 1973 and founded Star Publications with her husband Dave. They created children’s books, teacher’s guides and related products that made a difference while raising three children.

Creative Projects

A series of teapots, ceremonial presentations of water, began in the 1990’s to bring a sense of reverence to water. Her character dolls are varied in personalities, species and media. Her clay Fleeker Houses (circa 1976) have influenced generations of art students toward a future thinking mindset and ecological responsibility. She created the Fleekers, a bird family in her first book, Grindle Lamfoon and the Procurnious Fleekers. Fleeker thinking is creative thinking that is in tune with nature. Valerie’s body art of face painting and costuming transcend to yet another world.

Gallery Representation

Valerie is represented at Iris at the Basin Park, Serendipity at the Crescent, Keels Creek Winery and Eurekan Art in Eureka Spring, AR.

Etsy Shop | Eureka Springs Art Wall | Keels Creek Winery - Gallery

     I happened upon this book when the gang and I went to the Books in Bloom Literary Festival down in Eureka Springs, Arkansas. After attending the festival, we decided to browse the shops downtown and stumbled upon this adorable shop with the most whimsical souvenirs, and lying in the front was this book. After observing the gorgeous illustrations and reading some of the poetry, I knew I had to find myself a copy! I also purchased one for my BFF (who was part of the BBLF gang), and she loves it!

      Willo Mancifoot and the Mugga Killa Whomps is a wonderful little picture book that will tickle your imagination and encourage readers to recognize the value of peace and harmony. In a flowery poetic design, Valerie Hubbard Damon takes readers into Willobee Land where fascinating creatures of many kinds dwell:

Now come with me to Willobee,

A land both small and grand.

Come down on your knees

Below root trees,

Softly across the sand.

There you can see by a mushroom tree

A village of strange creations,

With fright things, Light Wings

And fly-in-the-night-things

Partaking in grand celebration. 

     Willo Mancifoot and his friends live in light, while the Mugga Killa Whomps live in darkness. The Mugga Killa Whomps want the light, but instead of trying to obtain it peacefully, they cause quite the ruckus for the others and disrupt Willobee Land. Damon offers a solution that inspires the reader to "Change for Light" and "Light for Change." 

      Willo Mancifoot has all the elements of story through fantasy and morale. Damon uses the idea of light and dark to encourage readers to be the "light" in an otherwise dark world. Children will enjoy the beautiful, fanciful illustrations and poetry, while adults can appreciate the symbolism and flow. The entire mood of the book is the idea of peace, love, and harmony through cooperation.

      Damon is also the illustrator of the book. The watercolor illustrations are my favorite part. They're esthetically pleasing for both children and adults. Through the author's Etsy shop, fans of the artwork can purchase 18"x21" paintings that were created using hundreds of layers of translucent watercolor glazes, airbrush, and a brush that comes to a one hair point. Damon also provides a Teacher's Guide for educators upon request.

     If you're looking for a whimsical adventure with poetic rhythm and a lesson that both you and your child can enjoy, then you'll enjoy Willo Mancifoot and the Mugga Killa Whomps. The illustrations will easily keep your attention! Damon has also written another book, Grindle Lamfoon and the Procurnious Fleekers, but I haven't gotten my hands on that one quite yet. If it's anything like Willo Mancifoot, then I'm sure it's fabulous.

Do yourself (and your kids) a favor and give the gift of a whimsical adventure that will leave you chasing the "light" that "makes right"!

 

Also, be sure to check out Valerie Hubbard Damon's other book:

Spotlight & GIVEAWAY: The Boogieman by Claire Amber

Title: The Boogieman

Author: Claire Amber

Publication Date: May 12th, 2014

Publisher: BookBaby

Genre: Paranormal Romance

Pages: 372

Synopsis (from Goodreads):

We follow 6 young women into a collaborated dream sequence hosted by the urban-legendary Boogieman.

Who will stay and who will wake up in cold sweat after witnessing such abominations of imagery called "nightmares"? Our host thus accompanies the girls to 6 different worlds and the final 7th world in their dream where he will claim what he was promised to receive. They shall venture through the past events of the USA's 1950s, the future, a lone island in the middle of the Pacific Ocean, the lost tomb of pharaoh Aswadbomani, a haunted mansion, the Middle Ages and finally those who are left shall see the gardens of Eden. Meet our lovely ladies: Sarah, the self-proclaimed detective, Giselle, the smart one, Natalie, one gritty b***h, Elizabeth, the cunning explorer, Lucille, that one character who is prone to getting into dangerous situations and then the others have to rescue her, and Hellen, the cheerful Miss Goody Two-Shoes who went to sleep only asking for one simple sex dream. They are each given a chance of a lifetime. A chance to unlock secrets to their salvation, hidden within the symbolism of their dreams... and a few very steamy encounters.

How this creature that brought the girls together came to exist and what his motives and goals are will all be revealed. He has nothing to hide, but he finds amusement in letting people figure some things out for themselves.

Think what you like, but you have been warned. The host of dreams in not only mystical, cryptic, perverted and fun-loving, but has also been proven to be quite dangerous if not approached with caution. We do not share the same definition of "fun".

With all of that in mind, I ask you this... Would you shake hands with the monster that lives in your closet?

A | Gr

Claire Amber is a young artist and literature enthusiast that seeks to perfect her craft and share her visions with the world. Her out-of-the-box way of thinking and immensely high levels of imagination will leave you wondering how someone was even able to think up the things you will see in her work. 

Having a thing for monster erotica, mystery and adventure, she mixes all three of those ingredients to bake some weird and high calorie cupcakes of literature and art.

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Review: The Boy Who Could See Demons by Carolyn Jess-Cooke

Title: The Boy Who Could See Demons

Author: Carolyn Jess-Cooke

Publication Date: May 10th, 2012

Publisher: Delacorte Press

Genre: Psychological Thriller

Pages: 288

ISBN13: 978-0345536549

Source: ARC from Publisher

Rating:

Synopsis (from Goodreads):

Bestselling author Carolyn Jess-Cooke has written a brilliant novel of suspense that delves into the recesses of the human mind and soul—perfect for fans of Gillian Flynn and Lisa Unger. The Boy Who Could See Demons follows a child psychologist who comes up against a career-defining case—one that threatens to unravel her own painful past and jeopardizes the life of a boy who can see the impossible.

Dr. Anya Molokova, a child psychiatrist, is called in to work at MacNeice House, an adolescent mental health treatment center. There she is told to observe and assess Alex Connolly, a keenly intelligent, sensitive ten-year-old coping with his mother’s latest suicide attempt. Alex is in need of serious counseling: He has been harming himself and others, often during blackouts. At the root of his destructive behavior, Alex claims, is his imaginary “friend” Ruen, a cunning demon who urges Alex to bend to his often violent will.

But Anya has seen this kind of behavior before—with her own daughter, Poppy, who suffered from early-onset schizophrenia. Determined to help Alex out of his darkness, Anya begins to treat the child. But soon strange and alarming coincidences compel Anya to wonder: Is Alex’s condition a cruel trick of the mind? Or is Ruen not so make-believe after all? The reality, it turns out, is more terrifying than anything she has ever encountered.

A rich and deeply moving page-turner, The Boy Who Could See Demons sets out to challenge the imagination and capture the way life takes unexpected turns. In the best storytelling tradition, it leaves the reader changed.

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Carolyn Jess-Cooke was born in 1978 in Belfast, Northern Ireland – right around the corner from C. S. Lewis’ birthplace. She started writing as a child, producing first a book of illustrated short stories at the age of seven, then a series of novels and poetry collections. After years of pestering publishers she finally saw her work in print at the age of seventeen; since then her work has appeared in such prestigious publications as Poetry Review, Poetry London, Ambit, Magma, Poetry Wales, The SHOp, Poetry Ireland, and The Stinging Fly, and on a variety of non-print media, including a poem that has been set into a 700m ribbon of steel at the Roseberry Park Medical Facility in Middlesbrough – currently the largest piece of public textual art in the UK. Carolyn has performed her work at the Sydney Writer’s Festival, the Ledbury Poetry Festival and at the Irish Writer’s Centre, and has received numerous awards, including an Eric Gregory Award from the Society of Authors, a place in the Cardiff International Poetry Competition, an major Arts Council of England Award, the Tyrone Guthrie Prize for Poetry, and she has twice received a Northern Promise Award.

Following a first class honours degree in English Literature and Classical Studies at the Queen’s University of Belfast, Carolyn received a scholarship to study for a Masters degree in Creative Writing, during which she developed the first drafts of what would later become her debut poetry collection, INROADS. Working as a piano tutor, pianist, photographer, and the occasional acting stint, Carolyn travelled the world during this time and lived for several years in Sydney, Australia. Later completing a PhD in Shakespeare on film, Carolyn took up an academic post in film studies at the University of Sunderland in 2005 followed by a senior post at the University of Northumbria in 2009, where she was Programme Leader for the degree in English and Creative Writing.

Carolyn has published four non-fiction books in the areas of Shakespeare, film, and sequels, a poetry collection (INROADS [Seren, 2010]), and her debut novel, THE GUARDIAN ANGEL’S JOURNAL, about a woman who dies and goes back in time as her own guardian angel, was published in the UK & Commonweath by Piatkus/Little, Brown as their 2011 superlead title and immediately hit the Bookseller’s Heatseeker’s chart. The Guardian Angel’s Journal is published in 22 languages. Carolyn’s second novel, The Boy Who Could See Demons, was published in the UK by Piatkus and in the US by Bantam Dell/Random House, as well as in 10 other languages to date. Carolyn’s second poetry collection, Boom!, about motherhood, is being published by Seren in 2014.

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      The Boy Who Could See Demons is a phenomenal psychological thriller written with a fluent rhythmic prose and a storyline that will haunt you in the most delectable ways. Carolyn Jess-Cooke has emerged from a background of poetry and created a novel-sized masterpiece that will leave you breathless. This is one of those books that will cause you to slowly and carefully turn the last page and soak in the richness of everything you just experienced. It's one of those books that requires a "moment of silence" after you've finished reading it. I don't think I can stress how brilliant I found this book.

     Dr. Anya Molokova is a psychiatrist who is treating a young boy with a troubled disposition and the ability to see demons. However, Anya is also fighting with demons of her own kind after acknowledging the 4 year anniversary of her schizophrenic daughter's death. For those who are fascinated by psychological thrillers, the journey through the boy's treatment and the family dynamics integrated into the story will leave you reeling with questions and eager to turn the next page.

     There were so many elements of The Boy Who Could See Demons that I devoured while reading. The consistency of the text was spot on, and the reader has something to learn in the process. It was enchanting to absorb the mind of someone who suffers from mental illness. The author clearly did her research and opened a whole new territory of reality to her readers who may not have experienced situations such as these. I love books that keep me curious and asking questions.

     I will note that there are two versions of this book. There is a UK version and a US version. The two are similar other than their covers, and most importantly, their endings. They are the same book until you reach that final chapter. Apparently, the author rewrote the ending when it was released in the US. Now, I haven't read the UK ending, but I've read about it. I won't give any spoilers, but there are some controversies about how the book ended. My opinion? I LOVED the US ending. I thought the book was brilliant before, but after that...it raised to a whole new level brilliance that I could barely even comprehend. I hope to somehow get a chance to read the alternate ending so I can compare.

     If you like to delve into the mind of those suffering from mental illness, and enjoy a good mystery and suspenseful plot-twist written by a true word-painter...then you need to grab yourself a copy of this book! I had received a copy for my eReader, but I've already purchased the hardcover for my own personal library and recommended it to several of my Social Work friends. 5 bright, shiny, red giant stars!

Here's the UK cover. Which one do you like better?