Noughts & Crosses Series ~ Started: 26.12.13 ~ Finished: 14.01.14
Titles of Books: Noughts & Crosses (Bk1), Knife's Edge (Bk2), Check Mate (Bk3), Double Cross (Bk4)
Name of Author: Malorie Blackman
Editions: Paperback
ISBN-10: 0552555703 (Bk1), 0552548928 (Bk2), 0552551945 (Bk3), 0552559601 (Bk4)
Number of Pages: 512 (Bk1), 416 (Bk2), 528 (Bk3), 448 (Bk4)
I enjoyed this series immensely from the start of book one to the end of book four. I was engrossed as the story of Callum & Sephy began, their relationship, their families and the world they lived in was explored.
Malorie Blackman is one of the best YA authors I have read in quite some time, each chapter is shown from the point of view of the different characters and they are written so well you get to know the character on a different level, their thoughts and feelings, great to read.
There were a few moments in all of the books which I did not particularly enjoy, I did not like Sephy at all in book one but as the series progressed I grew to like her, you see her growing up, changing, learning to love herself. The female characters were all strong, independent, well written characters, easy to identify with and respect.
One of the best YA series I have read.
Highly recommended.
Rating: 4/5
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Coraline by Neil Gaiman ~ Started: 14.01.14 ~ Finished: 16.01.14
Title of Book: Coraline
Name of Author: Neil Gaiman
Edition: Paperback (Anniversary edition)
ISBN-10: 1408841754
Number of Pages: 208
Synopsis ~
There is something strange about Coraline's new home. It's not the mist, or the cat that always seems to be watching her, nor the signs of danger that Miss Spink and Miss Forcible, her new neighbours, read in the tea leaves. It's the other house - the one behind the old door in the drawing room. Another mother and father with black-button eyes and papery skin are waiting for Coraline to join them there. And they want her to stay with them. For ever. She knows that if she ventures through that door, she may never come back.
What I thought of 'Coraline' ~
I saw the film adaptation of 'Coraline' during the Christmas season and I absolutely loved it, it was also a stop motion film which I love too. On the basis of the film and how much I enjoy reading books by Neil Gaiman I bought 'Coraline' with the added bonus of illustrations by Chris Riddell.
'Coraline' is the story of a young girl called Coraline (not Caroline as she is mistakenly called throughout the book) who has recently moved into a new flat with her parents, who are both busy people so Coraline spends a lot of time on her own whilst getting to know her new neighbours. Coraline is exploring when she discovers a door in the sitting room, behind the door is a brick wall following the renovations of the house into flats but when Coraline opens it again later she finds a tunnel, a tunnel to a flat the same as her home but slightly different and her new mother, who doesn't have eyes, just buttons for eyes.
I really enjoyed 'Coraline', the story is dark story which I liked, Coraline finds herself in a strange world where she has to faced different strange things and has to be brave, which Coraline does very well.
Fantastic read which I will read again and again. The perfect story for young and old alike.
Rating: 5/5
