Catherine MacPhail (1946–2021)

A short book purchased for the EAL/Dyslexic readers, this surprised me by being a very good read.Told from Chantelle ( a "cool" girl's point of view it is about the perils of both conforming and being an individual at high school. Chantelle takes frumpy new girl under her wing to make her in her image but after she does this, Mimi does not follow Chantelle's plan and instead starts taking over from her spot as the tough,cool girl. At 76p. with illustrations that are not too primary, it will show more appeal to readers who want something short to read. show less

This is a wow, I need to recommend this to a friend kind of book. It tells the story of a 15 year old girl called Roxy who gets pregnant by accident and sees running away as her only option. She finds herself taken in by a friendly couple who live far out in the countryside and open their home to numerous young girls who have run away pregnant. But... suspicions start to rise.
Roxy is astounded by the generosity of this couple who ask for nothing in return... well, that is, apart from banning show more TVs and newpapers, but that's just because they don't want the girls to get upset if their parents appear on the news - isn't it? And the fact that none of the girls should leave the house, but that's just to give their babies the best protection - isn't it?
This becomes an increasingly dark and frightening tale that will have you chewing your nails in anticipation and fear... because the friendly couple just have the girls' best interests at heart - don't they? show less

Book 195 - Cathy MacPhail - Another Me

In another life…l was fortunate to be allowed to take my class to Portpatrick in Scotland and on to the Wigtown Book Festival. As we sat, fresh from The Cocoabean Chocolate Factory…we were mesmerised by the wonderful Scottish lilt of Cathy MacPhail. She had the students in the palm of her hand as she released a few little snippets of her terrifying teenage novel ‘Another Me’. As for the movie that starred a young Sophie Turner in her first show more starring role that came out in 2014 based on the novel…oh dear…don’t…just don’t.

On writing this I realised doing some research that MacPhail sadly passed away in 2021…if this novel is part of her legacy then it will be one that will last for many many years.

Fay is a quiet, slightly awkward teenage Scottish schoolgirl. She isn’t the popular one…she isn’t even the pretty one…but what she is…is determined. When one of her teachers drops the part of Lady MacBeth in her lap for her to play in the school production…she thinks now might be her chance.

However…who was the girl who brushed by her in the school library wearing a similarly green sweater..why is she hearing footsteps behind her on the way home…and most worryingly for Fey…why are friends and others saying they have seen her..,even spoken to her and she has no recollection of the conversation…the climax is terrifying…so much magnificence that would be perfect for so many parallels with MacBeth.

It is so good…so scary…so brilliant…another properly scary novel for young people. It is superb. show less

A car accident has left James in a wheel chair and his father dead. He is a very angry and bitter teenager. He is not only angry about the accident, he blames his mother for being asleep and not sharing more of the driving with his father, but also about being in a wheelchair and specifically how people now treat him. It is as though he is invisible to many and others act like he is stupid. He feel s that most people treat him in a patronizing way and he hates that most of all.
James is show more being treated not only for his physical injuries but also seeing a psychologist for a loss of memory. His mother is over compensating for walking away from the crash without a scratch by trying to protect him from the world and excusing any type of behaviour which only exasperates and frustrates James.
He becomes even more frustrated when he believes that he has seen the driver of the van that caused the accident. The supposed driver is dead and no-one believes him, not even his mother.
How can a boy in a wheelchair prove his case against this man, solve the mystery about who might have really been responsible and bring a guilty person to justice?
This is an exciting and suspenseful story. James' character is difficult and not always easy to like but the reader will admire his tenacity. show less