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Review: The Forevers by Chris Whitaker

The Forevers
Chris Whitaker
Hot Key Books, July 2021
Hardback, £12.99
ISBN 9781471410956

The Forevers is a YA novel that centres on human civilisation coming to an end. An asteroid is spotted and is set to destroy the world within 30 days. The novel follows a 17-year-old girl, Mae, who grows up during this societal emergency. I found the overall plot to be simple and easy to follow, but the ideas discussed are very complex and interesting.

As the world is coming to an end, consequences are no longer correlated to actions. I loved this concept, as it leads to a world of possibilities and allows the reader to ponder. This book asks the question: “what would you do if you only had 30 days left to live?” This book lets me imagine what I would do if I was in that situation. Sensitive topics such as bullying, abuse and depression are explored briefly.

One of my favourite aspects of this book was the characters. Each one is slowly built up throughout the book, but I especially found the protagonist to be memorable. Mae is portrayed as a weak character who is an orphan, has an abusive grandmother and a young, blind sister.

Overall, this is a novel that is extremely thought-provoking and emotive. There were many humorous scenes which added a lighthearted tone to the story. I would recommend this book to everyone over the age of 12 due to sensitive topics being mentioned.

T.C. age 15

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Review: Defy the Night by Brigid Kemmerer

Defy the Night
Brigid Kemmerer
Bloomsbury YA, September 2021
Paperback, £7.99
ISBN 9781526632807

In the land of Kandala a deadly fever consumes the citizens one by one, and only the rich can afford the cure. Here, we meet Tessa Cade, an outlaw who, with the masked Weston Lark, steals food and medicine from the rich and gives it to the poor. But when disaster strikes, Tessa believes that the only way to help everyone is to take down King Harrison and Prince Corrick, the rulers of Kandala. Tessa heads into the unknown, discovering things that may change her life forever.

The world that Brigid Kemmerer has set up is very intriguing. There are many interesting characters with different personalities and backgrounds. For instance, Tessa is strong and determined, yet she is also anxious and questions herself. Each character has an array of strengths and weaknesses making them feel more real.

When you first start the book, it takes a while to essentially remember which character is which. This can make the book slightly confusing. As you make your way through the story, you come across vivid explanations of suffering, which might upset some readers. One thing I enjoyed about the book is that it shares the perspectives of two of the main characters. This gives the reader a real insight into how they feel. This book is for those who enjoy really immersing themselves in a good story, filled with unexpected twists and turns. I certainly enjoyed it!

Lily Farrell, 14

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Review: The Gone Book by Helena Close

The Gone Book
Helena Close
Little Island Books, April 2020
Paperback, €9.99
ISBN 9781912417445

The Gone Book forces you to question the consequences of one decision: whether or not to abandon your family; to go on holiday; or to learn to skate. Each decision has a definite, and sometimes catastrophic, ripple effect that echoes in the lives of those close to you.

Matt’s life has drastically changed since his mother left five years ago. In order to process this monumental disruption to his life, he writes letters to his mother in his Gone Book. This journal gives the reader a chronological insight into Matt’s emotions in the days, weeks and years that follow. He keeps the Gone Book secret and hidden, tucked away from prying eyes. Entries to the Gone Book are artfully sprinkled throughout the novel and depict the highs and lows of Matt’s family life, and the consequences of his mother’s decision to leave.

The narrative of this book begins as Matt’s mother suddenly returns to Limerick and causes great upheaval. Helena Close expertly captures the varied effects of both the absence and unexpected return of Matt’s mother on all three siblings, as well as their father. The emotional push and pull of this novel is captivating and it really drew me in. Anger, suffering and violence simmer under the surface in each chapter, but we also feel Matt’s longing to have his mother back permanently. He wishes for stability not just for himself but for his brothers Jamie and Conor. I would highly recommend this book. It’s a chaotic read, full of twists and turns. It is gritty and realistic, and highlights the anguish of an absent parent and the strife of teenage friendships.

Emma Daly, 18

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Review: The Theft of Sunlight by Intisar Khanani

The Theft of Sunlight
Intisar Khanani
Hot Key Books, June 2021
Paperback, £8.99
ISBN 9781471410376

The Theft of Sunlight is a great sequel to the fairy tale retelling Thorn. The series is set in a Middle Eastern inspired fantasy world, and the stories largely take place in the kingdom of Menaiya. I really enjoyed the first book in this series, however, I think The Theft of Sunlight is even better.

Our protagonist, Amraeya (Rae), is recruited as an attendant to the new princess. She quickly begins working to uncover the dark secrets haunting her kingdom and to reveal the mystery behind the “Snatchers”, who have been taking children for decades. She must work with different people, from those highest at court to thieves working on the streets. Rae has many challenges to overcome along the way, particularly the way others treat her due to her country upbringing and club foot. She’s a really interesting character to follow as she grapples with themes of justice and moral codes.

On top of Rae being a great main character, the secondary characters in this book were also enjoyable. Rae’s charming allies and rage-inducing villains make you root for Rae even more. Seeing the banter she has with her friends and family helps break up some of the darker elements of the story.

Overall, I think this book is definitely worth a read for anybody who is a fan of fantasy. I can’t wait to read the next book in this series when it’s released.

Rachel Stephens, 17

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Join Us for the Online Launch of Issue 6

Paper Lanterns Issue Six is launching online next week and we’d love if you could join us as we celebrate its release!

Our talented contributors will be sharing their work which includes poetry, prose, book reviews, art and photography.

We’ll be discussing our 2021 short story competition with Tertulia Books in Westport and one of the winners will read an extract from their story.

The launch will be on YouTube Premiere and you can set a reminder here to make sure you don’t miss anything:

Everyone who pre-orders a copy of Issue 6 will be entered into a draw to win a selection of YA books by Irish authors.
The first 20 pre-orders will also get a bookplate signed by an Irish YA author. Find out more about this great giveaway here.

Pre-order your copy of Issue 6 here.

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Review: The Climbers by Keith Gray

The Climbers
Keith Gray
Barrington Stoke, August 2021
Paperback, £7.99
ISBN 9781781129999

It took several days to figure out what my issue was with The Climbers. I enjoyed it, so much so that I finished it in a single sitting. But I couldn’t shake a sense of dissatisfaction with the novel until I realised my mistake: The Climbers is a short story, or something very close, and that’s the best way to approach it.

The book is set in England and follows a group of young people who enjoy falling out of trees and watching other young people fall out of trees. They really love trees. Sully, our dubious hero, is the greatest tree climber (faller) in the village until Nottingham arrives, scarred and sharp-tongued and awfully good at climbing trees.

The book is fundamentally about mistaking trivial things, like being better at climbing things than other boys, for important things, like being a good friend. It’s also about growing up and growing away from a difficult family situation. It’s smart, and sometimes it’s funny. It’s unafraid to portray its protagonists as flawed humans, real people with dark thoughts and desires.

What a shame that the last act is so rushed. It’s true that it’s closer to a short story, but even a short story must stick the landing. Still — try it on for size, especially if you like trees. Here, they have names and personalities as distinct as any of the characters. Sometimes more so.

Luke Power

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Pre-order Issue 6 to win a selection of YA books by Irish authors

Paper Lanterns Issue 6 giveaway

Paper Lanterns Issue 6 is published on Wednesday 15th September. Thanks to lovely author Sue Divin and the wonderful people in Little Island Books and Currach Books, we have an exciting giveaway to celebrate its launch!

Just pre-order a copy of Paper Lanterns Issue 6 and the following YA titles could be yours:
Savage Her Reply by Deirdre Sullivan (Little Island Books)
The beautiful new paperback edition of this multiple award-winning, dark, feminist and hypnotic retelling of a popular Irish legend.

Guard Your Heart by Sue Divin (Macmillan)
A poignant exploration of the relationship between two 18-year-olds in Derry during the summer of 2016, signed by the author.

Baby Teeth by Meg Grehan (Little Island Books)
A unique verse novel of queer love, lust, and vampires, from the award-winning author of The Deepest Breath and The Space Between.

Banshee Rising by Riley Cain (Currach Books)
A spirited tour through haunted Ireland that features figures from mythology and an assortment of spooky characters, as they prepare for a battle that threatens our world.

Everyone who pre-orders a copy of Paper Lanterns Issue 6 will automatically be entered into a draw to win all of these fantastic YA books by Irish authors.

The first 20 pre-orders will also receive a free bookplate signed by an Irish YA author, thanks to Little Island Books.  

Pre-order your copy of Issue 6 now to be in with a chance of winning – closes midnight Tuesday 14th September.

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Issue 6 Cover Reveal and Contributor Announcement – Pre-Order Now!

Issue 6 – Pre Order Now

We are so delighted to share our cover for Issue 6! ‘The Ship’ by Nanthini Rajarethinam. Cover design by Eleanor Brayden

We are also thrilled to announce our contributors for Issue 6, coming out this September! We are honoured to share the work of these talented writers, artists and readers.

You can pre-order your copy today.

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Announcing the 2021 Winners of the Paper Lanterns and Tertulia Teen Short Story Competition

Announcing the Winners of the Paper Lanterns and Tertulia Teen Short Story Competition

Paper Lanterns Literary Journal and Tertulia Books are delighted to announce the winners of their 2021 short story competition for Irish teens. Young writers from all over Ireland competed for prizes of €250, sponsored by Tertulia in association with Spot-Lit EU. Acclaimed author Deirdre Sullivan was the guest judge, and there were two categories, 13-15 years and 16-18 years. Éabha Coghlan (13) from Dublin was the junior winner for her story ‘Waves’. Eavan O’Keefe (17) from Kildare took the senior prize for ‘Our Footsteps in the Sand’. 

The competition’s theme, ‘waves’, inspired entries of an extremely high standard. Grace Kelley, co-founder and co-editor of Paper Lanterns said, ‘We received excellent stories and enjoyed reading all of them. It’s exciting to have so many talented young writers living on this island and it was difficult to select a shortlist. Unfortunately, there could only be one winner in each category, but we would like to thank all who entered and encourage everyone to keep writing.’

With so many strong stories, bestselling YA author Deirdre Sullivan said choosing the winners ‘wasn’t an easy decision.’ According to Sullivan, Éabha Coghlan’s ‘interesting character study’ and skill for ‘observation and dialogue’ were particularly striking. Sullivan was impressed by Eavan O’Keefe’s ‘use of poetic language and imagery to communicate emotion’ and how their work ‘appeals to the heart and the senses.’ Both stories will be published in Paper Lanterns Issue 6, which releases on 15th September and can be pre-ordered here.