At Yellow Lake by Jane McLoughlin

Etta, Peter and Jonah all find themselves at a cabin by the shore of Yellow Lake, and flung together in the terrifying series of events that follows. 

Jonah has come to Yellow Lake to try to get in touch with his Ojibwe roots. Peter is there to bury a lock of his mother's hair - her final request. Etta is on the run from her mother's creepy boyfriend, Kyle, and his dodgy friends. 

But as the three take shelter in the cabin, finding surprising solace in each other's company, they soon realise that they have inadvertently stumbled onto the scene of a horrifying crime, and Kyle and his cronies have no intention of letting them escape. 

What to say about At Yellow Lake that the handy synopsis doesn't give away? Not much, actually.  

What I found interesting about At Yellow Lake is that the author used three very distinctive voices to tell the story - the three points of view came from the three main characters.  And yes, they are all main characters rather than one main with a side of two secondary characters - this surprised me.  I felt for Etta and Peter and Jonah, their voices were fresh and new but it also made me cringe.  Especially Jonah's voice - there was this naivety about his expectations (go live in the woods and live off the land like his ancestors did) that made me deeply uncomfortable.  Not just because of his innocence but because you kind of know that things are going to go tits-up sooner or later. 

Because of this, my own hesitancy, I don't think I enjoyed At Yellow Lake as much as I should have.  And it's weird - I think it's because I knew A Bad Thing was going to happen, that I expected it to happen, so rather than looking forward to it, it made me worry for the characters - again, not necessarily a bad thing, but it did hamper my enjoyment of a book that is technically well written and in some places running amuck with achingly beautiful prose. 

Also, I think the overall plot, the danger the kids are in is actually incidental to the actual story - bear with me as I explain what I mean (it's not a criticism).  The story for me is about three kids, who are terrifically alone in this crowded world of ours, who for reasons of their own, go to great lengths to be cut off from society.  It's about kids who don't see themselves as part of a community or family and they feel weak and powerless because of their loneliness.  But once they find one another, there is conflict and tension, but a bond of camaraderie forms and they stand together in the face of adversity.  And that's what this book is about.  It's also about survival and how doing the right thing for the wrong reasons sometimes turn out to be the better thing to do, rather than inaction. 

I enjoyed At Yellow Lake, I'd recommend it as a thoughtful read for strong independent readers from say 12+ who are maybe a bit more mature in their reading tastes.  Personally, I would have liked a longer book and I felt that the ending was exactly as it should be, but again, there were scenes, especially when Etta, Jonah and Peter were together, that I would have liked to have been deeper, less rushed.  

Find the author, Jane McLoughlin's website here and At Yellow Lake's been longlisted for the Carnegie.  Find the whole giant list here.   

MFB chats to Cristy Burne, author of Takeshita Demons and The Filth Licker

I fell for Cristy Burne in a big way when I was sent Takeshita Demons to review last year. I loved that it made use of a mythology I knew so little about, apart from the anime Hellboy movie: Sword of Storms, I had not heard or read much about Japanese folklore and mythology, which, considering that folklore and mythology is totally my "thing" is actually embarrassing.

I received Cristy's second book: The Filth Licker to review too (review here from yesterday) and I have to say, the stories are going from strength to strength.  But, before I ramble on too much like the fan-girl I am, here is the blogpost Cristy did for us about writing and research for Miku's world.


Cristy and her friend, The Head


1) Can you tell us your route to publishing?

I don’t have an agent and I have never been plucked from a slush pile, but I have always entered writing competitions, even when I was at school. Although I’ve long-forgotten the competitions in which I got nowhere, I will never forget the buzz of being short-listed or winning other competitions. Getting feedback on my writing in this way was really important: just hearing someone who wasn’t my Mum tell me that my writing had promise was invaluable. It gave me courage to keep writing through the times when I’d think, ‘this is rubbish, why do I bother?” And then one day, in 2008, I spotted the Frances Lincoln Diverse Voices Childrens Book Award (http://cristyburne.wordpress.com/2010/05/27/the-frances-lincoln-diverse-voices-childrens-book-award/). I knuckled down to write Takeshita Demons and entered it into the award and voila! I was short-listed and won. Part of the prize was publication, and that was my foot in the door. Since then I’ve pitched six books to Frances Lincoln Publishing and they’ve signed three of those books so far.

2) What kind of research did you do for the various creatures?

The creatures featured in the Takeshita Demons series are mythological Japanese monsters, called yokai. I began researching yokai while living in Japan, nearly ten years ago, but I didn’t ever plan to put them in a book. I was just asking questions about some of the weird and wonderful ghost stories and traditions in Japan’s history. When I decided to write Takeshita Demons, I began my research in more earnest, using websites and texts in Japanese and English, as well as traditional art, stories and general chat with Japanese friends.

3) How did you make sure the demons fit into your story?

I am a plotter, not a pantser, which means I drafted the plots of each Takeshita Demons book before I started writing them (while sitting pregnant in a Starbucks at Angel station, to be precise!). In each case, the plot is driven by the needs of the human characters – Miku Takeshita and her pals – and the yokai they meet along the way also influence what happens. I find that if I don’t draft the plots, I write myself into boring spots or dead ends and end up very stressed and unhappy. Pre-plotting means I love the book right from the start.



Cristy at a signing with some fans!

4) What was it like bringing this "exotic" culture to British readers?

It has been fabulous! Many British kids already know some of the Japanese yokai, from manga and movies, and they’ve loved the books, which is great. It’s really fun to find other yokai fans out there. Some yokai are so quirky that even Japanese people haven’t heard of them, and that’s been fun too. But I think the best bit is that Miku Takeshita is seen as just like any other kid. She speaks Japanese at home and eats Japanese food in her school lunch, but she still freaks out when her supply teacher turns out to be a cut-throat demon. I think there’s something of Miku in every kid. We can all relate to her adventures.

5) What is the best advice you were given as an aspiring writer?

“Read, read, read”. I think it’s useful to read great books at any time, but if you want to be a writer, you need to read, read, read from a young age, so the love of words and stories is a solid, breathing part of you.

6) What is your advice now to aspiring writers?

Enter writing competitions! Pick and choose the competitions you enter (I would only enter if they interested me, seemed reputable, and had a low or zero entry fee) and then forget all about your entry. Just move on with your next writing project. That way, if you get no news or bad news, you’re already engrossed in a new, more exciting project anyway. And if you get good news, well…that’s just a wonderful surprise! Good luck!

And, because Cristy is cool and she knows what big fans we are, we get to show a sneak preview of the cover for Takeshita Demons: Monster Matsuri, released in June 2012:

Isn't it fabulous?

Takeshita Demons: The Filth Licker by Cristy Burne

Miku is going to School Camp in the forest, with her friend Cait and the rest of her class. It should be fun. But Miku has premonitions of danger, and when Oscar goes down with a festering rash, and a rushing wind blows out the bonfire she's sure something bad is going on. Then Alex finds the frog-like Filth-Licker in the boys' toilets, and all at once Miku, Cait and Alex are on a secret mission to overcome the vengeful Shape-Shifters or Super Demons before it's too late… Later that night, with Alex kidnapped by a pyromaniac fox, and Cait possessed by some angry sickle weasels, it's up to Miku and the Filth-Licker to save them all from disaster.

This is the second instalment of Cristy Burne's series about a young Japanese girl called Miku who has moved to London with her parents.

In the previous book - Takeshita Demons - Miku and her best friend Cait discover that the legends Miku's grandmother told her about demons and creatures from mythical Japanese lore does in fact exist. And that they are only too happy to cause chaos in young Miku's life.

In this, the second book, Miku and Cait are off to Summer Camp. They are good friends but it is odd as Cait seems to not quite remember what's happened to them not so very long ago. Added to this is the peculiar goings on, on their way to the camp, and also, at the camp. Is someone playing a rubbish trick on Miku or is what they are experiencing another attack by supernatural creatures?

The artowrk by Siku is wonderful - it's dotted throughout the novel and enhances Ms. Burne's text, showing us what these creatures Miku and Cait and their newly made friend, Alex has to face. And, as previously in Takeshita Demons, the creatures they face may not always wear a demonic or critter-like face, so once you become used to this, you can't help but wonder who are the bad guys.

The book is slender - giving younger readers the sense that they have read quite a bit - but do not let its slenderness put you off. The story is twisty and turny and told in a great voice and pacey way. I really liked it and think that Ms. Burne's has created a wonderfully feisty character in Miku and that I am happy to read Miku adventures till the cows come home.

The folklore is superbly researched and given a modern twist. I love that we are, without realising it, taught some great bits of mythology and Japanese culture. It never gets preachy and reads very natural. It really is one of my favourite series for younger, confident readers.

As full disclosure, I was asked by Amazon Vine to review this book and as a geeky fan girl, I of course said yes!  The review above appeared on Amazon's site several weeks ago now, but I knew I wanted to feature Cristy on the site for #u14so, so I thought I'd re-post my initial review back on the blog and urge you to give it a try.  The artwork really is so great and it does compliment the story wonderfully.  Do visit back tomorrow as we chat to Cristy Burne about writing the two Takeshita Demon books and Japanese mythology

The Taming of Lilah May by Vanessa Curtis

Lilah's Anger Diary, March 26th 
Anger levels: 11/10




I'm Lilah May and I'm ANGRY. 
So angry that I'm about to be excluded from school, my parents can't control me, and only one person in the world understands me. And that's my best friend, Bindi.
I haven't always been this way. It all started with my brother Jay. And what no one realises is that it's all my fault.

The Taming of Lilah May is a well written contemporary novel by Vanessa Curtis who gave us the Zelah Green books. In Lilah May we meet the main character, Lilah, as she goes through a particularly tough time at school and at home.  She's a troubled teen and it's actually quite obvious as to why she's troubled: her brother's disappeared and has been gone for several months.  Her parents tip-toe around the white elephant in their lives and hardly mention his disappearance.  Lilah feels angry, scared, betrayed and also repsonsible for him leaving the house and not coming back.

She keeps an Anger Management Diary that is wonderfully telling of her outlook.  We understand her actions and why she acts the way she does.  Her parents seem to have forgotten about her, each other and live past one another.  Her mother is a children's entertainer and dresses as a clown to do so.  Her dad is the keeper of the lions at the local zoo and seems to be the one who has some clue as to how to deal with Lilah.  He instigates Taming Lilah afternoons and they are humourous and real and makes the reader realise how much he too hurts as a parent.  Lilah's mum is far more of a mystery and to be honest, I really didn't like her all that much.  I can understand where she comes from but it doesn't mean I have to like her.

The story is a very quick read - there is some swearing and temper tantrums, but none of it feels gratuitous which is great.  Although the novel is aimed at teens, I think younger, more mature readers will probably identify with Lilah far more than older teens.  The story really is told in this closed space, if you can say that.  Completely about Lilah, how she's feeling, what she's going through.  There is very little intrusion from the outside world, so when it does happen, you are startled.  Especially when the one boy Lilah does quite like turns to her and reprimands her that the world does not evolve around her and that, to be honest, things are pretty crappy for a lot of people and that she should stop being selfish.

I enjoyed Lilah May but would have liked more - I already mentioned it's a quick read, and it is both in respect of the size of the book, as well as the size of the story.  It doesn't end with a happily ever after but it does end on a note of optimism which is great.  Lilah's character undergoes some change which is equally well done and we get a glimpse into the lives of others around her and see that just as Lilah pulled through, other events have become resolved as well, and some in a surprising way.

I'd recommend The Taming of Lilah May for a lazy afternoon's summer reading.  Vanessa Curtis has done well and I really hope that she'll give us bigger books in the future - she writes great characters and I'd like to spend more time with them!

Find Vanessa Curtis's site here.  The Taming of Lilah May is out in May from Frances Lincoln.

When I was Joe by Keren David

Synopsis:

When Ty witnesses a stabbing, his own life is in danger from the criminals he's named, and he and his mum have to go into police protection. Ty has a new name, a new look and a cool new image -- life as Joe is good, especially when he gets talent spotted as a potential athletics star, special training from an attractive local celebrity and a lot of female attention. But his mum can't cope with her new life, and the gangsters will stop at nothing to flush them from hiding. Joe's cracking under extreme pressure, and then he meets a girl with dark secrets of her own.

Wow - what a corker of a book.  The storytelling is ace but it is Ms. David's characterisation here that pulls us as readers into Ty/Joe's story. 

We are thrust into Ty and his mum's lives during an unpleasant time.  Joe was a witness to a knife crime and he told the police about it.  And everyone knows that this is not something that happens - hence the family being taken into care by the police for protection.

Under their new identities they should be safe.   The operative word here is "should" because there is no mollycoddling in Ms. David's world.  Joe and his mum are not glamourous people from CSI or from any other glossy tv show.  They had to leave their entire lives behind and go on the run and hope that they remain safe. Can you imagine doing something like that?  I can't - no contact with your friends and family, cut off from the world as you know it.  And worst of all is the fact that no matter what you do, you must try and keep under the radar because if you don't, there is no telling what might happen.

I genuinely fell for Ty.  His struggles became my struggles - will he cope at his new school today, will he remember to be Joe?  Will he remember to keep it on the down low and to not be noticed by anyone, including the teachers.  Hard enough to do in a normal situation, even harder still when you are purposefully trying to disappear!

His new friendship with a paraplegic girl, Ellie, raises all sorts of problems.  Ty already has so much to remember about his new life, and should he reveal to Ellie what's going on, her life may end up in danger too.  Ty is not a born liar, he finds being secretive hard.  Initially it's quite cool - a bit of James Bond going on, a bit of Goodfellas and that, but the reality of it is that lying and lying all the time, is very hard and it takes its toll.

Ty's personality permeates the book - he's moody, annoyed at the ruckus, irritated by his mum but he's also trying to make the best out of a bad situation.  As the story plays out, I find myself squeezing my eyes shut on occasion thinking: any minute now, any minute now it's gonna happen, he's going to blab.

The author has tackled a deeply disturbing and very prominent aspect of crime in the UK - that of knife crime.  It's not going away - no matter what the reports say.  And it is in this reality that When I was Joe is set.  It doesn't shrink back from the awfulness of the matter, it's not made glossy or glammed up either.  It is what it is, a dark gripping novel written by an author who has such great skill, that I'm impatient to get to the follow-up novel: Almost True.  Which I will review next week, when I'm back from holiday.

Find Keren David's website here.  When I was Joe is out now from Frances Lincoln publishers.

Boy vs Girl by Na'ima B Robert

Synopsis:

Farhana swallowed and reached for the hijab. But then she saw with absolute clarity the weird looks from the other girls at school, and the smirks from the guys. Did she dare? And then there was Malik... What should she do about him? Faraz was thinking about Skrooz and the lads. Soon he would finally have the respect of the other kids at school. But at what price? He heard Skrooz's voice, sharp as a switchblade: "This thing is powerful, blud. But you have to earn it, see? Just a few more errands for me..." They're twins, born 6 minutes apart. Both are in turmooil and both have life-changing choices to make, against the peaceful backdrop of Ramadan. Do Farhana and Faraz have enough courage to do the right thing? And can they help each other - or will one of them draw the other towards catastrophe?

I "discovered" Na'ima B Robert via Keren David (author of When I was Joe and Almost Ture) .  I knew I had to read Boy vs Girl and was lucky enough to be sent a copy.  I read it during the month of Ramadan, which is also the time during which the story takes place.   I was particularly aware of what Farhana and Faraz were going through as I work with two Muslimsso I could identify in one aspect of the characters' lives by observing my work colleagues abstaining from food for the duration of the day.

I'm not a particularly religious person yet Na'ima B Robert's novel drew me in to such an extent where I understood the concepts of her characters' religion and the internal struggle they face when it comes to making various choices within themselves and how those choices are reflected to the outside world.  

Before I get to deep and you fall asleep, Boy vs Girl is such an interesting novel.  It is about family, heritage, religion but mostly it is about choices and trust. It is an intelligent modern novel that really hit me hard when it showed me teens in situations I recognise from being a teen, but added to that are the (more) strict religious aspects of their daily lives and the importance of family in this instance.  The sense of community the novel portrays is both endearing as well as scary.  There is a luxuriousness to the descriptions of family meals and spending time together that is so exotic that you can close your eyes and smell the spices.

The synopsis gives an adequate description of what happens within the story and anything more will be spoilery and to be honest, it is such a great book, I would recommend it to be read by as many people as possible.  For its story and its heart, Boy vs Girl is one of the most difficult stories I have read because it has taught me a lot about the way I was brought up to perceive the world.

You can tell that the author has put so much of her heart into the novel and her characters.  Their dialogue and language rings true, as does the way they act around each other and towards their friends and family.  This unexpected little book is a true gem and I hope it gets a wide audience.  I'd recommend Boy vs Girl to the upper ranges of our Under 14's Only readers, along with some parents.  It makes for very interesting reading.

I've not been able to find a website for the author, but find the Francis Lincoln website here.

I thought I'd add these other reviews for Boy Vs Girl too, to show that it's not just me who is smitten with the books.

From Fluttering Butterflies

From Keren David's Website

Takeshita Demons by Cristy Burne

Synopsis:

Miku Takeshita and her family have moved from Japan to live in the UK, but unfortunately the family's enemy demons have followed them…Miku knows she's in trouble when her new supply teacher turns out to be a Nukekubi - a bloodthirsty demon who can turn into a flying head and whose favourite snack is children. That night, in a raging snowstorm, Miku's little brother Kazu is kidnapped by the demons, and then it's up to Miku and her friend Cait to get him back. The girls break into their snow-locked school, confronting the dragon-like Woman of the Wet, and outwitting the faceless Nopera-bo. At last they come face to face with the Nukekubi itself - but will they be in time to save Kazu?

The winner of the first Frances Lincoln Diverse Voices Award, this is the first of a new trilogy, Takeshita Demons, with the second, Takeshita Demons: The Filth-Licker due to be published in 2011 and Takeshita Demons: Monster Matsuri in 2012.

I read Takeshita Demons in a few gulps. My first impressions were: "wow, this is pretty damn good" and then "holy smokes, this is actually quite scary" and then "I love kick ass girls!".

Can I leave my review as this? Surely these soundbites work for you? No, well, okay then.

Takeshita Demons is a slender offering that packs a punch that's full of action and cameraderie. It's a lot of different things to me as a reader: a buddy story / a quest story / an overcoming the monster story / a journey story.

Miku's voice throughout the novel is positive and true - I loved her descriptions of her grandmother and their life in Japan, how their small superstitions were important to them and how she now frets that neither of her parents are overly concerned about continuing them now that they live in London.

The story takes place over a few hours only and although it's a lot of action, Miku's storytelling is measured and thoughtful. She brings us up to speed with the family, where they used to live in Japan, with her grandmother's passing and teachings. Then we have her crazymad adventure with Cait as they outwit a variety of nasties to succeed at the end of the day, by accomplishing the tast they set themselves.

I liked the fact that the girls were always moving forward in the book - they never took a step back. They were tough and clever and were capable of standing against the Nukekubi, the Woman of the Wet as well as the very scary Nopera-bo.

Out of the three, the draconic / reptillian Woman of the Wet really scared me and it amused me no end that the author decided to twist my fear on itself and to give me a truly scary character that was maybe not as bad as I thought but it's done really well.

I think Takeshita Demons works so well because we are fully immersed in Miku's life. She uses Japanese words with little of few explanation and yet we actually know what they mean because of the context it's used in. I think this is a very valuable way of introducing younger (and older) readers to a new culture or a culture we only know of as people who do sushi really well. Miku also has to explain the superstitions and the demons to Cait, which is handy to us. I adored Cait and would love to have her as a friend - tough and sweet and most of all, very brave, she comes through in the end and saves Miku's day. Also, Cait has freckles (I have freckles) so there is an immediate connection right there. I'd like to think I'm also brave but probably not brave enough to face down some scary critters.

Cristy Burne has this magical way of writing where with the slightest bit of explanation you completely suspend your disbelief and can totally believe that these monsters are hunting the Takeshita kids. In modern day America. She's a very talented writer and as I said on twitter earlier to day, I really can't wait to read her other books in this sequence. I need to know what's going to happen to my two new friends!

Takeshita Demons is a spooky story, mild on horror with no gore, for those readers who like to be thrilled but not be mindlessly scared. It also asks to be read out loud to a class or at bed time, if your young folk is tough enough!

Find Cristy's very cool website here and this is Frances Lincoln, her publishers' site.