From What I Remember by Stacey Kramer and Valerie Thomas Electric Monkey PB/EB Out now The trials and tribulations of a group of
American high school students in the days
before their graduation are documented by Stacey Kramer and Valerie Thomas. Events take an unexpected turn when Kylie and Max, who despise each other, are thrown together by circumstance. Each chapter is narrated from a diff erent point of view, which reveals that even seemingly shallow characters have complexities and emotions. Although predictable in terms of plot, there is still enough spark to make the individuals seem unique and rounded.
Butter by Erin Lange Faber PB/EB Out March Butter is a
morbidly obese teenage boy. Online one night, he fi nds himself listed as
the most likely of his school’s pupils to have a cardiac arrest. In response, he announces that he will eat himself to death on New Year’s Eve, inviting others to watch via webcam. This makes him a hero to many at school, providing humour along the way as students come up with ideas for his last meal. Yet it also forces Butter to question his relationships – both with people (even his parents call him Butter) and with food. KF
Red Ink by Julie Mayhew Hot Key HB/EB Out February Fifteen-year- old Melon Fouraki has been brought up on The Story, a fairytale
about her mother’s life in Crete and how she came to live in London. But tragedy strikes when her mum is killed. Melon’s grief is all-consuming, and she begins to question The Story, delving into her family history to investigate the nature of truth, denial and superstition. On a visit to Crete, Melon discovers more than she expected, and fi nds her life has changed forever. Red Ink is heartbreaking and, ultimately, uplifting.
BP
The Last Minute by Eleanor Updale David Fickling HB/EB Out now A catastrophic explosion occurs in Heathwick, a town near an international
airport. The Last Minute relives the 60 seconds before the explosion. One minute can reveal a lot about people: their lives, hopes and disappointments. As well as believable characters, there is real suspense. We know there will be an explosion, but what causes it - the petrol tanker, the suspect package, the strange young man – is a mystery. Only some questions are resolved, leaving readers with an uneasy conclusion: those who die and those who live are chosen by chance.