Welcome to 2010 Infoblog - I had a Book Blitz over the summer holidays

Wow we are back into Week 2 at School already.  I covered up my computer keyboard over summer and read some fabulous books.  My teenage son who reads big-time kindly flicks me any books which he finds outstanding - his recommends always catch my interest.  There is so much brilliant teenage fiction around that I’m not sure I’ll ever get to the adult novels on my must-read list.

Boot Camp - by Todd Strasser - a novel set in an American boot camp where parents send their wayward teenagers to be well and truly sorted out - definitely for teenage students who like to read something gritty, gory, gutsy.  This book makes compulsive reading and at the end actually gives horrific facts, figures and casualty info on real-life American & Canadian boot camps.  Scary stuff!!

Bang, bang, you’re dead!  by Narinder Dhami - a teenage psychological thriller again more suited to older teenage students who like a chilling read - sort of a who dunnit with a twist.  This one made me think of Ken Catran’s Talking to Blue - both books took me slightly out of my comfort zone but that isn’t a bad thing.  Unusual and well written.

After reading six of the Alex Rider series by Anthony Horowitz ages ago I decided it was time to read one of the Cherub series - Robert Muchamore  and one of the Alpha Force series - Chris Ryan and yes I enjoyed them very very much and can understand why they are hot picks for so many students.  They are just so action packed, full of gadgets and gripping!!

I also returned to John Marsden and read Circle of Flight - the Ellie Chronicles .  I enjoyed wrapping up the story after reading the Tomorrow series years ago.  I was lucky enough to see John Marsden speak about his work a couple of years ago at the Tauranga Arts Festival.  I was just so impressed with his “very pro-young people - you go for it - you can make it happen” attitude.  The teenagers in the audience appeared to hook in immediately - they asked him a great range of fascinating questions - and he responded from the same headspace!!  No wonder his books are so well read.