Notes to Self
‘Notes to Self’ by Avery Sawyer is a riveting story that
deals with adolescence and consequences. Sawyer presents a realistic plot that
comes to life through engaging characters, making her story one that teens can
relate to.
Sawyer’s plot is a very simple one. Robin wakes in hospital
to find that she has suffered head trauma after a fall and she needs to piece
her life and memory back together. To add to her angst, her best friend, Em, remains
in a coma. The character’s journey reveals the consequences of seemingly
harmless choices and the isolation of being different. However, this simple
plot is brilliantly revealed through Sawyer’s characters.
There is only a small cast of characters in ‘Notes to Self’.
The story is told by Robin and Sawyer has beautifully captured her confusion as
she struggles with her trauma. Robin’s mother is typical as she struggles to
balance nurturing with her teen’s growing independence, especially as she tries
to piece her own life back together. Reno
becomes a constant for Robin, accepting her with her injuries when some of her
friends do not. Their budding romance is very sweet and his character adds
strength to help Robin through her confusion.
Sawyer writes very well for a teen audience. Her novel deals
with most of the issues and insecurities adolescents face. While she portrays
consequences, it is not done in a condescending manner, making her message more
palatable.
‘Notes to Self’ is an excellent book for teens. It deals
with pertinent issues such as loyalty, friendship and self esteem. Sawyer
presents engaging characters who are dealing with the natural consequences of
their actions. It is the sort of novel I could see on a junior high school
English reading list.
4 Stars
And They Called Her Spider: A Bartleby and James Adventure
Michael Coorlim’s ‘And They Called Her Spider: A Bartleby
and James Adventure’ is an engaging steampunk mystery that is easy to devour.
The characters and plot are well presented in an alternative turn of the
century adventure.
Set in England,
‘And They Called Her Spider’ begins with a lyrical description of a female
assassin who has captured headlines. Bartleby and James are charged by Scotland
Yard to find her before the Queen’s Platinum Jubilee. In a partnership
reminiscent of Sherlock and Watson, Bartleby and James sort through the clues
to reveal Spider’s identity before it is too late.
The characters are quite dynamic. James, an engineer who
loves to tinker and prefers his own company, tells the story. He is quite out
of touch with society and relies on Bartleby, a rich aristocrat, to help him
avoid social faux pas. Bartleby has a quick mind and a very cheerful
disposition. Coorlim’s plot is well presented to allow each character’s
personality to shine.
Coorlim’s style is very easy to read. While the story
contains appropriate twists and turns, they are not difficult to follow. At
times, formatting of the ebook does detract from the story. However, I found
myself quite enthralled in Coorlim’s steampunk London.
‘And They Called Her Spider’ is an enjoyable read. As it is
quite short, I would prefer to read a number of Bartleby and James Adventures
as a collection rather than as standalone stories. As Coorlim’s characters are
engaging and the plot is entertaining, I will be looking for more Bartleby and
James Adventures in the future.
3 Stars
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