Jo’s Reading Challenge 2024

Set in 2018 Northern Ireland, this YA tells the story of a romance between two Year 11s who seem to be polar opposites. Mel loves Science and is a straight A student, whereas Sid is always on the verge of being expelled, and dreams of being a musician. Forced to share a desk, a romance begins...and all goes well until... well immediately really, first date - they get pregnant.
They are faced with the added difficulties of living in a small town where everyone knows everyone's business, negotiating difficult family dynamics, religious parents on one side, and feisty feminist single mum on the other, plus lack of information available, and the fact that abortion is illegal in their country.
The story is written with warmth humour and honesty,and has great characterisation, (see the awful brother in law)
The narrative switches between the two main characters' point of view and follows what happens next, and what this means for their dreams, their relationship and their future.

Juniper Mae, small girl, lonely and ingenious inventor (especially the self heating socks, can we have some?) is also an avid reader of fables about the Guardian Knights. Juniper Mae lives in Tykotech City with it's amazing wifi power system . When a series of mysterious power outages threaten the city, Juniper investigates, and finds what lies outside the city walls... and who is behind the power attacks. Gorgeous pastel colour palette, clever layout and great characterisation.

This book is deep! All about maps, and what a map can be.
Full of big concepts simply drawn in line.
'A map can be a way to help someone understand something.' says the main character.
Cue lots of different maps of different things - I particularly like A Map Of What Humans Are Like, A Map of My Feelings, and A Map of My Future.
A lot to look at and discuss, I loved it!

The tiny tailors have a tiny workshop in the garden. Help them find treasures to make their beautiful costumes for the Spring Parade. Gorgeous illustrations combe collage and drawing and play with scale to create a wonderful alternate reality.

'Alberta did all sorts of dreadful things...but she never got into trouble' - Why not? because she had lots of tricks for getting her own way. Until one day, she meets Little Red Riding Wolf...Very funny and with a satisfying ending - (one of her misdemeanours was chewing books! ) Definitely one for fans of Hilaire Belloc type stories.

Only Ida has noticed the lion (he is busy pretending to be a hedge) Ida tries everything to coax him out, and eventually succeeds, but then his roar scares away the creatures who live in his beard. Scratchy pen and ink drawings simply coloured, full of details in the background (spot the nappy change) Important message for us all about letting go of your ROARS before they get too big!

A boy remembers spending time with his grandmother at her tiny chicken coop house behind the sulphur mill.They don't speak much but they communicate with food and love and laughter and growing things. Later she moves in with the boy and his family and he takes care of her, and remembers that she used to collect worms in the rain...Poignant story with exquisite watercolour illustrations by Sydney Smith, including the best depictions of rain and backlighting...Beautiful book.

Keedie by Elle McNicoll. A prequel to A Kind of Spark, but can be read by itself or afterwards, as it has lots of 'ah, I see...' moments where things become clear.
Keedie is almost 14, she is one of Addie's older sisters, and this book takes place several years before A Kind of Spark.
Keedie is autistic and is the sort of girl you would want on your side. Independent, loyal, resourceful. Keedie is a great observer of others actions and motivations.
She is also on a personal mission to deal with bullies.
After she is asked for help she sets up an agency to deal with bullying in her school, and finds she has lots of customers. Trouble is, her twin sister Nina is part of the toxic friendship group that rules the school.
When Keedie realises that her younger sister Addie is autistic too, she vows to look out for her, and shield her from the bad experiences she has had in her education, and in the small town they live in. She also has to navigate the changing relationships within her family, her bond with her twin, and a new friendship, or maybe more than a friendship.
Great story with neurodiverse protagonists at the centre - wonderful characterisation and empathy.

There's a Tiger on the Train by Mariesa Dulak.
A fantastical train journey. Dad is too busy looking at his phone to see what is going on...first a tiger gets on, then a parade of other animals as the train heads towards the seaside.
The rhyming story has the rhythm of a train journey. Lively illustrations by Rebecca Cobb, full of energy and various quirky typefaces, all contribute to the chaotic atmosphere. Great fun, and I think you'll put your phone away when you read the last poignant line.