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Review: Say No to the Dress by Keren David

Say No to the Dress

Keren David

Barrington Stoke, April 2022

Paperback, £7.99

ISBN 9781800900875

Say No to the Dress is decidedly unglamorous. Miri is struggling with the frustrations of being fourteen — and it’s not that easy when the mean girls in school become friends with your friends, and she’s lost control of her body as it goes through puberty. Nothing fits anymore, and Miri sticks to t-shirts and baggy jumpers, avoiding anything with the label ‘body-con’. A body-con dress does not make you feel body-confident.

Not only that, but her brother has decided to marry Toxic Tiffany’s older sister, and with Miri’s sister Alice getting married this summer as well, Miri is stuck in two weddings – which means two bridesmaid dresses she wouldn’t be caught dead in. Miri grapples with her family relationships, her self-confidence and sense of identity in an accessible and delightful exploration of body positivity and adolescence.

Keren David’s short novel for reluctant readers is refreshingly honest and authentic, capturing what it’s like to be a teenager and the familiar awkwardness of growing up so perfectly, it’s impossible not to relate to Miri. She lends Miri a voice that is irresistibly compelling and insightful about adolescence, and resonant with pretty much anyone who’s gone or going through puberty.

This is perfect for readers of Katie Kirby, Chloe Seager, Holly Smale and Dork Diaries, who should love the addition of this voice that makes them feel seen for their less-than-perfect experiences growing up.

Deirdre Power

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Review: I Kissed Shara Wheeler by Casey McQuiston

 

I Kissed Shara Wheeler

Casey McQuiston

Macmillan Children’s Books, May 2022

Hardback, £14.99

ISBN 9781529099423

Shara Wheeler is perfect: she’s popular, academic, and the principal of Willowgrove Christian Academy’s daughter. She’s also a natural threat to Chloe Green winning valedictorian and getting out of her small, judgemental town in Alabama for good. Then Shara kisses Chloe a month before graduation and disappears, leaving Chloe confused and reluctantly curious for answers.

Following a set of cryptic, well-designed clues Shara left behind, Chloe teams up for a scavenger hunt with the two main players from Shara’s life — her long-term boyfriend, and the boy-next-door. With the race to graduation on, Chloe is thrown into a world that was right outside her front door the whole time, where she learns that people shouldn’t be judged by who she thinks they are.

I Kissed Shara Wheeler is a necessary and timely queer YA rom-com that presents a fresh take on the ‘mean girl’ trope. McQuiston expertly weaves in an enemies-to-lovers plot and a loveable, well-drawn cast of teens. The book breathlessly shows this cast taking the next steps into adulthood, affirming or discovering their queerness across the full spectrum of the LGBTQ+ umbrella against the backdrop of an unaccepting small town, while also showing that people do not have to behave perfectly to be loved. There are some beautiful, affirming coming out scenes. The premise is deceptively complex, but neatly paced, and everything ties up satisfyingly by the end.  

Courtney Smyth

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Review: Needle by Patrice Lawrence

Needle

Patrice Lawrence

Barrington Stoke, May 2022

Paperback, £7.99

ISBN 9781800901018

Comfort is not a word that can be used to describe Needle. It tells an incredible story of a young girl pushed to the periphery after losing her mother and being separated from her sister. Her pain is eminent throughout. The tone of the novella is such that it is suitable for younger readers and yet this does in no way limit its audience. There is something to be taken away by readers of every age.

  Lawrence interweaves knitting and a moving tale of a young girl going through the system with an expert hand. The intermittent reminders of click, click, click serve as a therapeutic rhythm that allows the writing to flow. It is interesting that she chooses knitting as a thread throughout because the rhythmic pattern of activities such as knitting and crochet have been known to be helpful in anxious situations.

The police system from such a young voice is not one that is prevalent in literature or media. In fact, the reverse is usually the case as there are numerous stories from the other side. Surely, we should be listening to the voices of the kids that need to be listened to more than anything. Those are the stories that can help change the system. Lawrence opens up a side of the conversation that hasn’t often had its chance to speak up and be heard.

Clíona Hornibrook

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Review: Kiss & Tell by Adib Khorram

Kiss & Tell

Adib Khorram

Dial Books, March 2022

Paperback, $11.50

ISBN 9780593463116

Hunter Drake, acclaimed lyricist for boyband Kiss & Tell, has recently broken up with his first love, the brother of his best friend/bandmate. The two decided to keep the details of their break-up private, but that hasn’t stopped the public from speculating. On top of headlining a North American tour, struggling to write for the band’s upcoming third album, and dealing with a controlling label, Hunter’s under a lot of pressure. Things start to look up when he meets Kaivan, a member of the band opening for him and his friends, but Hunter’s ex isn’t done with him yet.

Every chapter of Kiss & Tell is punctuated by interviews with band members, social media chatter, and think-pieces, emphasising the cacophony of voices Drake and the other characters have to appease. For the most part these come off as accurate representations of celebrity-focused internet culture, and the book is better for them, as they help the reader understand just how Drake is able to internalise some of the crueller things said about him in the media. The romance in the book is sweet and realistic, and though moments in the necessary climactic fight seems slightly forced, it’s difficult not to root for the pair. Author Adib Khorram manages to explore the media’s simultaneous commodification and erasure of gay men through Drake without sacrificing specific characterisation, keeping Kiss & Tell both thought-provoking and entertaining. Good for fans of Mackenzi Lee’s The Gentleman’s Guide to Vice and Virtue and Ngozi Ukazu Check, Please!

Gillian Doyle

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Review: Things I Know by Helena Close

Things I Know

Helena Close

Little Island, May 2022

Paperback, £8.99

ISBN 9781915071033

Things I Know takes place over a summer in Cloughmore, a town you’d pass through in Clare on the way to the sea. Everything stays the same here. The setting near the seaside in Clare is evocative and wild in a very Irish way, in its portrayal of drinking culture, GAA and chippers.

Saoirse’s friend Jade is a larger than life character who visits occasionally from Limerick where she and her family used to live. Her father has thrown himself into new ventures since the death of her mother. Saoirse feels like everything is wrong, even before the shocking death by suicide of her ex-boyfriend, Finn.

This is a beautifully crafted story, taking us into Saoirse’s mind as she struggles to find something to cling to. Nothing seems to stick; counselling with Malcolm, flirting with Dylan, even hanging out with Jade becomes fractured over the summer months. Saoirse still feels like she’s on the outside. Her sister Eva seems to fit in but things only get more worrying for our protagonist.

Helena Close skews the plague that is social media for young people, feeding the rumour mill in the town. The author never allows the narrative to descend totally into a depressive state, but instead portrays the poignant story of a young woman trying her best. Trying to ignore the relentless waves of toxic friendship and the platitudes being thrown her way by her family, by Dylan and by her counsellor. Something has to give eventually and Helena Close approaches this with sensitivity and poise in her writing. Another engaging read from the writer of the successful The Gone Book.

Derek Carney

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You are invited… Issue 9 launch!

You are invited to our in-person issue 9 launch!

When? Thursday August 4th, 6.30-8pm

Where? MoLI – Museum of Literature Ireland 86 Stephen’s Green Dublin 2

With introductions from the editors & readings from our contributors

If you can’t make it, don’t worry – we will also be having an online launch.

Looking forward to seeing you there!

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Review: Golden Boys by Phil Stamper

Golden Boys

Phil Stamper

Bloomsbury YA, February 2022

Paperback, £7.99

ISBN 9781526643841

Phil Stamper’s Golden Boys is a coming of age novel that is to the current young adult market what The Sisterhood of the Travelling Pants was to readers in the early 2000s. The book is narrated by four young gay men as they embark on an auspicious summer that offers them their first glance of independence and life outside of their small town, before they return to high school for one last year.

The summer certainly expands their horizons, and they are each changed in some way, but the book fell a little flat for me. The first third of the book introduces the characters and the interesting part of the book comes after this, exploring how the boys navigate life away from friends and family. This takes a little too long to reach. It is difficult at times to be able to tell the characters apart, and I would have welcomed some diversity of experience or outlook to necessitate including four different points of view. While an interesting technique, the use of group chat messages to break up the chapters disrupted the flow of the otherwise straightforward and capable writing. I was consistently confused by the age of the characters, who at times seemed like they should be in college, but at least should have been leaving school and going to college to warrant the summer feeling like it has such high stakes.

I hope that readers enjoy the book as an easy summer read, and perhaps relate to the boys’ experiences, but issues regarding pacing and character authenticity and originality unfortunately hamper the book in achieving its potential.

Laura King 

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Teen Short Story Competition in Association with Tertulia Announced – Cash Prize!

Paper Lanterns & Tertulia Present Short Story Competition.
Theme: Belonging. Guest Judge Claire Hennessy!

We are delighted to co-host the Teen Short Story Competition with Tertulia Books in Westport, Co. Mayo.

Our theme for this competition is ‘Belonging’. Put your thinking caps on and start writing!

The competition closes on August 1st, at 6 PM.

We are absolutely thrilled to have YA author Claire Hennessy as our guest judge.

Submit your short story to: competition.paperlanterns@gmail.com

In the body of your email, please include:

  • Your name.
  • Your age.
  • Your county of residence (you must live on the island of Ireland).
  • Your school (if applicable).
  • A little bit about yourself!

Our guest judge will read and select the winning pieces (one from each age group) from the shortlist.

The winners will be published in Issue 10 of Paper Lanterns.

The winners will receive a cash prize sponsored by Tertulia.

The winners will also receive a copy of Issue 10.

Guidelines:

  • You must be a resident on the island of Ireland.
  • You must be aged between 13-18. We have two judging categories: 13-15 years and 16-18 years.
  • Your work must be an original piece.
  • Your work must be typed in a Word Doc or Google Doc.
  • Short stories must be between 1200 and 2000 words. Please do not exceed this word count.
  • All stories will be read blind. Do not include your name or contact details within the submitted document.
  • We will not consider work that is prejudiced in nature. We will not consider work that includes, but is not limited to: sexist, racist, homophobic, transphobic, or classist content.
  • We cannot accept work that has already been published.
  • The judge’s decision is final. Our guest judge cannot provide feedback on any submitted or shortlisted pieces
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Call for Art Submissions

Paper Lanterns - Art Submissions Open! Paint, Digital, Charcoal, Photography, Mixed Media Open internationally to artists aged 13+ including adults
Paper Lanterns – Art Submissions Open!
Paint, Digital, Charcoal, Photography, Mixed Media
Open internationally to artists aged 13+ including adults

Don’t forget, our art submissions are open all year round! All artwork will be considered for cover art too! 

Send us your photography, paintings, sketches, collages, digital illustrations, and mixed media. Open internationally to artists aged 13+ and adults! Artists will receive a fee for their work.

Take a look at our art and photography submission guidelines here