The Cousins
Karen M. McManus
Penguin Random House Children’s UK, 2020
Paperback, 321 pages, £7.99
ISBN 9780241376942
The book I’m reviewing is called The Cousins. It’s an epic tale of family, inheritance and lies. The storyline is straightforward: Mildred Story disinherited her children with no cause except a letter saying “You know what you did.” Twenty four years later she invites cousins Jonah, Aubrey and Milly Story to Gull Cove Island where nothing is as it seems.
The plot is very engaging and unpredictable. The author has a way of throwing you a curveball each time but eventually you catch it in the end. The characters are easy to relate to and also believable. The story is told from the viewpoint of three cousins; Aubrey, Milly and Jonah. We also have a few flashbacks from the life of Milly’s mum, Allison Story. You get to see the way they think and an in-depth insight into their personalities.
The author’s idea was to show the importance of family and friends, and how acts of betrayal can affect the family. The author brings us on a rollercoaster of a journey filled with twists and turns and leaves you teetering at the edge of your seat. It is a tremendous book. However, at the beginning she starts too abruptly without any background information, leaving the reader to piece the puzzle together until the middle of the book. I would definitely recommend this to people who love a juicy mystery and thriller, and I can’t wait to read her next book.
Daniel Akande, teen reviewer
This is an emotional page-turning tale about the passions of youth and friendship and the bitter disappointments of betrayal. Roberts is a powerful storyteller with incredible imagination bringing to life a period of history steeped in myth and fable. The reader will get lost in this fascinating tale which the author has created weaving the scraps of surviving poetry with her own powerful vision. Perfect for fans of Celine Kiernan, Finbar Hawkins and V. E. Schwab.
The way Garrett writes about family, race and sexuality is so real and heartfelt. Each character has a unique set of circumstances which are handled delicately. There is so much diversity in this book, be it through race or sexuality. Representation of minorities is really important, especially at a YA level. Having someone to relate to in the content that we consume helps us realise that we are not alone. If anything else, it’s educational too. There is a character in this book who is asexual and has a girlfriend, and though the situation isn’t always pretty, it’s handled so honestly and openly that it teaches people what it’s like to struggle with this. The main character’s illness also does a lot to teach about HIV and what the stereotypes are around it and how that perception can be harmful. But instead, people should be looking to educate themselves. The book has some resources at the end about HIV which I found to be incredibly useful.
This is for fans of (or an introduction to) McCabe’s Butcher Boy and E.M. Reapy’s Red Dirt. Depression, addiction, faith and love are all thrown in the pot and discussed frankly by Shaw, as well as severe mental illness – the book is dedicated to her brother, who was diagnosed with schizophrenia. He died aged twenty. Not for the faint of heart and certainly not for the squeamish, Thrill Seekers is a bloody, harrowing, all-Australian tale which is well worth grappling with.
I truly relished this read. As an Irish person, I also feel very connected to my roots by the story, as many Irish words are used and many other Irish legends referenced, including some that I had never heard of. This book was a learning experience. Deirdre Sullivan really manages to pull the reader into the enchantment and poignancy of the story. It feels like being read an old tale by a familiar voice.
Adelaide and Toby Buchman’s brother-sister relationship really appealed to me as well because, although they keep things from each other, they are always there for when the other is in need. I loved this book! I would recommend it to anyone who likes romantic fiction that includes real-life situations. Again Again is a wonderful story that shows us the reality of loving and losing the right and wrong people.
Both of the stories in Star Trek: Discovery – Aftermath are highly appealing in terms of plot, but also carry a nuanced discourse on human nature and emotion. The Klingon narrative aptly suggests that peace and equality between races should be a very real and achievable goal, and yet a hopeful future is threatened by those who are dangerously narrow-minded. The stories within this graphic novel comment on the importance of unity in the face of danger from a common enemy. 
