By Jennifer E. Smith
This book is about a seventeen year old girl who is (against her will) forced to go to her father’s wedding. Her father had left her and her mother about 1 and a half years ago after meeting a lady in England. Hadley is very angry with her Dad and has spent as long as she can to avoid him but now she must face him. Not only does she have to fly all the way to England for a wedding she doesn’t want to go to but she has to fly whilst having a fear of claustrophobia! Who would’ve thought that one boy would brighten up her day?
I thought that both of the main characters were very likeable. I thought that Oliver was quite believable as you think he’s perfect at the start but you get to see the other side to him towards the end – the more human side! I found the Charlotte (the Dad’s fiancée) a bit predictable because in most plot lines where someone gets a stepmother they think the stepmother will be horrible but she turns out to be nice. This is the same for this book, however I did like her character. Perhaps because all the characters in the book were likeable it would’ve been nice to have one unlikable person to make it stir up the plot a bit.
I absolutely loved the plot line! I think it was a great idea to set most of it in a plane, it makes the love between Hadley and Oliver seem more magical. I thought that I would’ve liked a little bit more dialogue between Oliver and Hadley because we only hear a few clips of them talking and I think it would add to the big picture to see how they talk to each other (relaxed, tense etc.). I loved the twist at the end with Oliver I think it makes the story line fit together nicely.
Overall I would happily read this book over and over again, it’s very easy to read yet its gripping and I enjoyed it thoroughly. My favourite part was when she poured out her troubles to her Dad; you finally know that everything will be ok between her and her Dad. I think this book would make a great film, it has the right plot line and feel to it. I would recommend this to any girl who wants a light hearted, romantic read.
By Louise Year 9
Monday 31 October 2011
Friday 28 October 2011
The Statistical Probability of Love at First Sight
By Jennifer E. Smith
When a boy and a girl meet, who knows what the result will be? When Hadley and Oliver meet in an airport, there is something special going on between them. Could it be love at first sight?
The characters in this book were very believable as they were well described and you could feel all of their emotions. As this was written in third person, it helped to give the view of a spectator and this allowed the author to describe more clearly how the characters were feeling.
This story gripped me all the way through as it ran very quickly and most of the scenes were full of action. The more calm scenes were full of emotion and this kept you reading on too. This book did begin to get obvious towards the end and I could guess what the ending would be. This meant that, for me, the ending was not as powerful as it could have been.
I think that the author wrote this book very well and was especially good at the description and the romance scenes. This was helped by it being in third person.
Overall, I really enjoyed this book and I think that other people could really enjoy reading this book too.
By Ben Mason, Year 9
When a boy and a girl meet, who knows what the result will be? When Hadley and Oliver meet in an airport, there is something special going on between them. Could it be love at first sight?
The characters in this book were very believable as they were well described and you could feel all of their emotions. As this was written in third person, it helped to give the view of a spectator and this allowed the author to describe more clearly how the characters were feeling.
This story gripped me all the way through as it ran very quickly and most of the scenes were full of action. The more calm scenes were full of emotion and this kept you reading on too. This book did begin to get obvious towards the end and I could guess what the ending would be. This meant that, for me, the ending was not as powerful as it could have been.
I think that the author wrote this book very well and was especially good at the description and the romance scenes. This was helped by it being in third person.
Overall, I really enjoyed this book and I think that other people could really enjoy reading this book too.
By Ben Mason, Year 9
Thursday 27 October 2011
The Statistical Probability of Love at First Sight
By Jennifer E. Smith
Hadley Sullivan was on her way to London for her father’s re-marriage, when she misses her flight by four minutes. She has to wait at the airport for the next flight, after which she will have to go to the wedding straight from the airport. While waiting at the airport, she meets Oliver, an English boy who will be sitting two seats along from her during the flight.
Let’s start with the characters. I thought both the main characters, Oliver and Hadley were really well developed. Something I find with most fluffy romance books like this is that the two main characters, especially the female one, are so PERFECT. It really annoys me. But Jennifer has managed to show there flaws, but still make them likeable people. It makes the book a lot more realistic, and by the end of the story I ended up relating to Hadley, feeling her pain and her happiness along with her. Smith has also managed to show Hadley’s changing opinions on the characters, and this manages to change your opinion on the characters too. All in all, while reading this book, I felt like I experiencing everything just like Hadley was, and that can be difficult to write.
The plot was a tiny bit predictable, but it was still gripping, and ran at a good pace. By the end of the book, all of the loose ends were tied up neatly. In the last few chapters I felt myself squeaking several times at the sheer cuteness of the storyline. It’s like a sort of modern day fairytale but the characters make more mistakes, and have more regrets, which makes for a more interesting read.
The book is set over the timeline of just a day, which is interesting but works really well, especially as I read the book in under a day. It keeps the story fresh, and has the impression of time running out, which keeps the tension.
In total, I really enjoyed this book. It’s a fluffy, sweet romance that would be perfect for holiday reading, or anyone looking for a light read. I think this book would appeal more to girls as it is told mainly from a girl’s point of view, but I think boys could enjoy it as well.
9/10.
By Elle, Year 9
Let’s start with the characters. I thought both the main characters, Oliver and Hadley were really well developed. Something I find with most fluffy romance books like this is that the two main characters, especially the female one, are so PERFECT. It really annoys me. But Jennifer has managed to show there flaws, but still make them likeable people. It makes the book a lot more realistic, and by the end of the story I ended up relating to Hadley, feeling her pain and her happiness along with her. Smith has also managed to show Hadley’s changing opinions on the characters, and this manages to change your opinion on the characters too. All in all, while reading this book, I felt like I experiencing everything just like Hadley was, and that can be difficult to write.
The plot was a tiny bit predictable, but it was still gripping, and ran at a good pace. By the end of the book, all of the loose ends were tied up neatly. In the last few chapters I felt myself squeaking several times at the sheer cuteness of the storyline. It’s like a sort of modern day fairytale but the characters make more mistakes, and have more regrets, which makes for a more interesting read.
The book is set over the timeline of just a day, which is interesting but works really well, especially as I read the book in under a day. It keeps the story fresh, and has the impression of time running out, which keeps the tension.
In total, I really enjoyed this book. It’s a fluffy, sweet romance that would be perfect for holiday reading, or anyone looking for a light read. I think this book would appeal more to girls as it is told mainly from a girl’s point of view, but I think boys could enjoy it as well.
9/10.
By Elle, Year 9
Tuesday 4 October 2011
Ready, steady, SQUEE!
The rights for Chaos Walking have been sold! Lionsgate can make a film.
I'm not sure if this is exciting or scary, I have such a clear image of what these characters look like, how they act, how they move. I know what they sound like, and I know you do too! So, can our expectations ever be met? I've started a thread on this in the Forum, so head on over and let me know what you think. Who would be your idea casting choices? Who on earth could play the Mayor?!
I'm not sure if this is exciting or scary, I have such a clear image of what these characters look like, how they act, how they move. I know what they sound like, and I know you do too! So, can our expectations ever be met? I've started a thread on this in the Forum, so head on over and let me know what you think. Who would be your idea casting choices? Who on earth could play the Mayor?!
Congratulations!
Well done everyone, your reviews for the Guardian Young Critics competition have been submitted, now we just have to sit back and see if we have any winners. Many of you have asked if we'll be judged as a group or if they'll be looking at individuals, when they'd announce the winners and when the trip would be if we won.
I don't know!
But I do know that your work on the longlist was amazing, and they have now announced the shortlist from that selection (yeah, I know, their idea of a longlist wasn't terribly long...)
The four shortlisted books are:
My Name is Mina by David Almond
Return to Ribblestrop, by Andy Mulligan
Moon Pie, by Simon Mason
Twilight Robbery, by Frances Hardinge
I know I was very surprised to see that My Sister Lives on the Mantlepiece didn't get through, but what do you guys think?
Read the announcement from the chair of judges, Julia Eccelshare, here.
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