Toffee
Sarah Crossan
Bloomsbury, February 2020
Paperback, 416 pages, £7.99
ISBN 9781408868133
Marla is a witty elderly woman with dementia, who keeps a stack of paperbacks in the fridge, and enjoys dancing to John Lennon in her kitchen. Allison, a bright 16-year-old, hops on a bus to Bude in search of a new life, free from an abusive father and unsupportive friends. When Allison is caught fleeing from Marla’s shed, she is mistaken for an old childhood friend called Toffee and is invited in for something sweet. Allison takes on the role of Toffee for a while, and enjoys dancing, building sandcastles, and Marla’s great sense of humour. What begins as Allison taking advantage of a confused woman with a safe spare room blossoms into a caring, reciprocal friendship both characters desperately need.
The touching verse novel explores complex family relationships, and themes of identity and loneliness. Both Allison and Marla struggle with finding and accepting themselves as they are, but as their bond grows it becomes obvious that understanding, patience, and dancing are the key to a healthy, supportive relationship. Few people take her idle talk seriously, but Marla’s honest words enable Allison to realise her self-worth and in return Marla is rewarded with a genuine friend, and the patience a woman struggling with dementia deserves. Winner of the Honour Award for Fiction in the KPMG Ireland Children’s Books Awards 2020, Toffee is lyrical and compelling, with Crossan’s style beautifully balancing trauma and frustration, with heart-warming moments and glimpses of humour.
Danielle Hudson
This, the sophomore novel of Collins, was a truly emotive piece of writing. The prose was gorgeous and the development of Vetty as our main character from beginning to end was a privilege to be a part of. The author tackles important issues like the struggle of being bisexual and how it often feels like you’re trapped between two different things. This was a bit slow to start, but once the story really started to unfold it became quite an engaging book. With strong characters, Collins does not shy away from serious topics, so much so that it’s impossible for her characters not to resonate with you. They all had well-developed, contrasting personalities. This was a really enjoyable read, with a stunning coming-of-age storyline at the heart of the book and a powerful message about learning to love yourself as you are and being confident in all aspects of you – both positive and negative.
Inspired by The Wizard of Oz and Dante’s Inferno, Canto provides us with a whimsical and modern twist on an otherwise standard tale of a knight embarking on an adventure to save the princess. With a fresh spin added to it, the storyline is grasping, and the somewhat darker themes explored in it are done tactfully, with humorous breaks in between. The characters are charming and our brave, little hero is one that a lot of us will be able to relate to. The artwork and dialogue complement each other nicely and are used effectively to convey timeless ideas, values, and virtues. I will be looking forward to reading Volume 2, whenever it is out. I enjoyed this first one tremendously, however, I think there is potential to improve upon the world development and key scene delivery within this series.
The Wickerlight caught me and held me captive in a woven room of its own, refusing to release me, from the mystical start to the bittersweet end. It delicately and realistically deals with issues such as adultery, death, racism, truth and war, and brings up uncomfortable but necessary questions about family loyalty. It shows a clear understanding of each issue addressed and splits them into manageable portions for all readers. It also offers a unique twist on ideas on the Tuatha Dé Danann, draoithe and spells that will cause any Irish folk-lover to re-examine their view of Irish mythology. It convinces the reader that maybe, just maybe, magic can bleed into their life too.
The narrative is witty and sparse and allows the reader to make what they will of a lot of the plot, although in other areas things are spelled out pointedly for the reader, for instance the way in which the girls’ – incessantly repeated – physical traits correspond to their specific role in the Brodie set. The story hinges on Sandy’s journey from adoring pupil to suspicious and aloof young woman, the eventual betrayal of Miss Brodie clearly something that will haunt the Brodie set for the rest of their lives. 
The Oracle Code is a thoughtful graphic novel with beautiful artwork, dominated by blue and orange colours. It shows how the determination of just one person can affect and help many others. Barbara is an extremely likeable, brave teenager, portrayed realistically. Her emotional outbursts and the way she reacts to situations all felt authentic. In comparison, the side characters could use more development. Their purpose within the story was clear, however not much was explored with regards to their personalities. Regardless, I have still found this read to be thoroughly enjoyable.
Catchpole sprinkles a variety of characters through the story, a favourite being independent, tough Lacey. Dead Ed in my Head is told by Tod and Ed, often through their thought processes. This technique is enjoyable as Tod often gets sidetracked, and it also allows the reader and Tod to learn more about Ed’s past. Through Tod, Catchpole shows what teenage life is like: the things they get up to, the struggles they face and what is happening on the inside. 
Julie Kagawa has succeeded in creating a textured and tangible world overflowing with culture, tradition and history. Destiny and fate are a major focus in the book, an acceptance and willingness to sacrifice themselves if they were destined to do so. As the team travels across various territories on their perilous and violent quest I could truly connect with each individual character. I also really enjoyed the startling contrast between Tatsumi, who is mistrusted and struggles to co-exist with a savage and bloodthirsty demon and Yumeko, who is a hero in every sense of the word, selfless and good. I would highly recommend this book, a great read with some exciting plot twists.
While reading this book, I found myself reminiscing for the ‘good old days’ of going to the cinema, the joy of pulling a sickie, and the importance of BEST friends. The book also introduces different forms of poetry (haiku and limerick). At the end of the book, there is a wonderful section titled ‘Get Writing’ for young poets with tips to get them started on their own poetry.
