Again Again
E. Lockhart
Hot Key Books, June 2020
Paperback, 320 pages, £7.99
ISBN 9781471407291
After saving her brother from a drug overdose, Adelaide Buchman and her family agree that they all need a fresh start. So, Adelaide and her father Levi move to a new city – six hours away from her mother and brother – to Adelaide’s new school, where her father takes a job teaching. Adelaide is thrown into a summer of falling in and out of love all the while presenting a sophisticated and charming personality, which can sometimes expose how vulnerable she can be.
In a beautifully structured novel by E. Lockhart, Again Again is full of heart-wrenching storylines. Almost every situation has a few alternative endings before you actually read the real one and I loved this because I had never read
anything like it. It was a very refreshing way of reading, where you think you can see which outcomes the author considers using.
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.
Aoibhe Toft, teen reviewer
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. 
Reid’s writing is clever, sophisticated and perfectly suits this coming of-age story. Using variations of typeface and font, the placement and size of the words on the page are used to reflect emotion and action. At times, the narrative is possibly too fast and could do with more expansion, but this simultaneously asks the reader to slow down while reading Wrecked in order to savour its literary craftsmanship. If it is coming-of-age novels you enjoy, this one has all of the traditional themes, although it is in an unconventional format, both in form and in perspective. This is a young-adult novel that can be enjoyed by both young and old, and should be making its way onto all school reading lists.
Tanya Landman’s retelling of Emily Brontë’s Wuthering Heights brings a new sense of accessibility to the classic story. Told in first-person from Catherine’s viewpoint, this novella allows the reader to form a deeper connection with the young adult heroine as the motivation behind her thoughts and actions is clearly identified. Although shortened, this retelling captures the dark tone of the original and retains the sense of impending doom. 
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This fast-paced, engaging read is an excellent stepping stone for readers new to the story of King Arthur. It has enough dragons, magic, and prophecies to please any fan of high fantasy, but is also a story about growing up. Arthur is very relatable as a mischievous ten-year-old boy who cuts classes, fights with his cousin, and disobeys his guardians. His curiosity and restlessness as he explores and has adventures will speak to middle-grade readers, as will his butting heads with Cai and his foster parents. Meanwhile, Arthur’s growth as a hero – the empathy and courage he shows in rescuing a friend from an enemy sorcerer – makes for a realistic and satisfying character arc. Matthews brings to his writing a keen expertise in Celtic mythology, and his interpretation of Arthur’s childhood will surely inspire a love of the Arthurian legends in a new generation of readers.
There are some moments, however, where it seems the story is progressing in a certain direction only because it is how these stories are expected to develop. This makes the second half of the book seem disjointed.
This is a book about the depths of friendship and love. It is about coming to terms with your past to build a better future, and about accepting the love you feel undeserving of in order to heal. If you’re looking for magical Korean folklore in a modern, vibrant setting, a character-driven plot and a dash of romance and danger then this could be right up your alley. But read Wicked Fox first!
Twenty years after the publication of 
Another strength is the characters. Feasey’s primary antagonist is sympathetic and likeable despite his nefarious aims, the elusive and charismatic High Priestess is a particular highlight, and even minor characters like King Brundorl and Magorlana jump off the page despite brief appearances.
