Because of You by Eve Ainsworth (Young Adult, 10E/10E)

July 2019, Barrington Stoke, 112 pages, Paperback, Review copy 

Summary from Barrington Stoke

Poppy’s having a nightmare at home. Her parents have split up and her mum’s new boyfriend is moving in. Dad is the one who’s always been there for Poppy, but now he’s drifting further and further away. It seems like things can’t get any worse until it all goes wrong at school as well and Poppy finds herself being targeted by spiteful bullies. As the vicious online comments keep coming, who can Poppy turn to for help?

 

Nayu's thoughts

Any book published by Barrington Stoke is an excellent one. I'm not paid to say that, it just happens to be every single book I read from them is brilliant, and Poppy's tale is no different. I actually like how they are printed on off white paper in an easy reading format to make it dyslexia friendly, with short chapters to encourage reading. 

I like how realistic the drama in Poppy's life is: unfortunately a lot of parents get divorced, and there are issues like Poppy has with her step father (that's essentially what her mother's boyfriend is). That on it own is a lot to deal with. Add bullying into anyone's life and you've got chaos that threatens to bring Poppy down. I promise life looks up for her by the end of the story, you just have to keep reading and watch her life crumble before it improves.

I wish nobody could relate to Poppy's plight, but unfortunately many will. They will learn there is hope if they reach out for help. The online bullying storyline is well played out, making it clear that it invades every aspect of life but, with a lot of help, it can be defeated. Life will get better. It is firmly on my reread shelf.  

Find out more on Eve's website.

Suggested read

Another read from the Barrington Stoke YA selection is True Sisters by Keren David (Young Adult, Reading Age 8, Dyslexia Friendly, 10E/10E)

Car Wash Wish by Sita Brahmachari and Louise Wright (Young Adult, Reading Age 8, 10/10E, Dyslexia friendly, short 'n' sweet review)

January 2016, Barrington Stoke, 80 pages, Paperback, Review copy 

Summary from Barrington Stoke
Hudson is a skilled reader of books but not so much of people. Mum’s new bloke Louis is keen to help, but the triple whammy of news about a wedding, a funeral and a baby announcement is a lot to deal with in one day, especially for Hudson!

 

Nayu's thoughts

A touching tale of how a teen with Aspergers copes with several major life events in one go. It's touching to see how Hudson feels and thinks to his grandad dying, because he uses some skills he has been taught on how to understand people who don't always mean what they say. Through his thoughts Hudson figures out how he feels to the idea of a new sibling, and his mum getting married. 

I felt sorry for his mum when Hudson didn't understand why she wouldn't let him wear the funeral suit to the wedding, and for Hudson because so much is implied by expression, tone, and what is left unsaid. I felt sorry for him since his dad doesn't acknowledge he sees the world differently to most, but in some ways his view point protects him from being hurt or overly sad. 

The car wash scene was sweet too-it's amazing how easy it is to offload to someone when in certain situations (talking in the dark isn't in the book, but it is like being in a car wash gives a sense of privacy (or of dying which is how I feel about them!). This book has a lot to think about! 

Find out more on Sita's website and Louise's website.

The Girl With The Sunshine Smile by Karen McCombie (Children’s, Reading Age 8 years +, Target age 9 years +, Dyslexia friendly, 9/10E, short 'n' sweet review)

Cute cover!

October 2014, Barrington Stoke, 64 pages, Paperback, Review copy

Summary from Barrington Stoke

Everyone misses Meg’s sunny smile, but is it any surprise it’s gone when Mum has moved them onto her new boyfriend’s grotty barge with his three sons? 

Nayu's thoughts

I'm already a fangirl of Karen's work, so seeing that she'd written a title for Barrington Stoke who provide stories for those who can struggle a bit with reading made me squee a lot. It was sad having to watch Meg be so reluctant to adjust to her new life which gets thrust upon in such a way that she becomes rather grumpy. I can understand how significant a change it is to live with boys & on a boat, but to some extent she was being a grumpy little madam who could have appreciated the effort Danny put in to trying to make her smile. 

Don't fret, Meg does smile by the end of the book, as did I. I think this story deals with complex emotions which come from when a parent finds someone new they wish to spend their life with, and how children can seemingly have so little say in where they move to. This is a keeper which I'll be rereading many more times in the future!

Find out more on Karen's website.  

Suggested read

Another of Karen's books for Barrington Stoke is Sweetness and Lies (Children's, Dyslexia Friendly, 8 years +, 10/10E)

Jet Black Heart by Teresa Flavin (Young Adult, Reading Age 8, Dyslexia Friendly, 10/10E)

August 2014, Barrington Stoke, 72 pages, Paperback, Review copy 

Themes: ghosts, historical items, time travel, holidays, family, unrequited love

Content: mega creepy parts, mild teen romance, 

Summary from Barrington Stoke

Dory is on holiday on the moors with her family when she stumbles across a Victorian walkers’ ‘letterbox’ and a faded message for a boy called Eli. The message opens a slip in time and soon Dory is battling alongside Eli to help save his sister from her cruel father. But is there more to Eli - and his gift of a Victorian heart pendant - than meets the eye?

Nayu's thoughts

Rest assured thanks to Twitter Teresa knows my thoughts on this book. It is brilliant! But extremely creepy. It's not one I could read in the dark, or on my own. If you get freaked out easily by the supernatural stay away! It's great if you love time travel, with key objects used throughout the story to do the travelling. There's family drama too of being on holiday together, and teen desires to avoid younger siblings & parents. 

Like Dory I thought the pendant on the front cover was beautiful. I wanted one until certain facts were revealed to me. I couldn't look at it in the same way at all! *shivers* The creepiest part is when a big plot is revealed near the end. After that I was terrified for Dory, because it was all down to her to save the day, and she was battling not only a scary ghost from the past but the forces of nature too. 

I love Barrington Stoke books because they tailored for those who may struggle with reading. I like the off-white page colour, which is sometimes easier for me to read (got to love choosing it as an option on my e-reader), and how much is packed into the story despite it being fairly short compared to the books I usually read. 

Check out more of Teresa's work on her website. 

Suggested read

For a less creepy but still with thrills reads try another Barrington Stoke read, Saved by Eleanor Update (Young Adult, Reading Age 7 years +, Dyslexic Friendly, 10E/10E)

Burn Out by Robert Swindells (Young Adult, Reading Age 8 years +, Dyslexia friendly, 9/10E)

January 2014, Barrington Stoke, 72 pages, Paperback, Review copy

Themes: getting into crime, exhileration of breaking the law, addicted to arson

 

Content: Arson,

Summary from Barrington Stoke

Josh can’t seem to do anything right - until he is suddenly invited to join the area’s most infamous gang. They light fires and cause some serious damage – and Josh is hooked from the first flame. But when things start getting out of control, who will get burned?

Nayuleska's thoughts

Wow. This is an incredible read. You're probably wondering why I haven't given a book that had me hanging on to every tense word full marks. I feel I can't, because I wanted Josh to get caught. I know he ends up with the harshest sentence at the end, but that isn't enough. I wanted the people whose property he wrecked get some compensation. His so called logic with the lure of setting things alight being wonderful didn't make sense to me. 

I can see how so many teens can easily get into trouble with one simple unknowingly wrong decision which Josh's friend makes for him. It was interesting to get into an arson's mind, as well as being scary for how passionate Josh is about his 'hobby'.  for sure will be reading more of Robert's work in the future!

Suggested read

Another thrilling read from Robert is Snapshot (Young Adult, Dyslexia Friendly, Reading Age 8 years +, 10E/10E)