Guard Your Heart
Sue Divin
Macmillan Children’s Books, April 2021
Paperback, £7.99
ISBN 9781529041675
Guard Your Heart by Sue Divin is a romantic tale which centres around two teenagers living in Northern Ireland. Aidan and Iona come from very different backgrounds and have different beliefs. When they meet on the Northern Irish border, their worlds collide and they begin to learn a lot about each other, and themselves as well.
The book alternates from both of the main characters’ points of view, giving us an insight into their thoughts. I found this writing style particularly gripping, as I could understand the opinions of the two protagonists from their perspectives throughout the book. I really enjoyed the way that this book was written and the language used. It is very modern and realistically portrays what a teenager would do and say, so I found the characters easy to relate to which is very important while reading a novel.
As soon as I picked up this book I felt that it was glued to my hands and I couldn’t put it down. It kept me interested the whole way through and I enjoyed reading every page. I would definitely recommend this book to anyone looking for a beautiful romance novel or to learn more about the history of Northern Ireland and the Troubles. I would rate the novel an eight out of ten.
Juliet Russell, teen reviewer
afterword, there are not many stories for queer teens about a happy character with a nice family and with a satisfying ending.
decisions.
inventive and immersive.
premise, and it kept me entertained with its excellent and teen-friendly depictions of the climate crisis, racism, and LGBT+ love. The protagonists get what they need by the end of the book, but not necessarily what they want. The story emphasises that this is okay. While aimed at readers aged twelve and up, this novel is a mesmerising science-fiction story perfect for children, teens and adults alike who like to step into a new world.
audience between ages 12-14 especially enjoying it. To me, it was evident that the characters portrayed classic stereotypes: the nerd, the prankster, the popular girl and the troublemaker. The most entertaining character was the prankster Jason, Ashley’s childhood friend. A key characteristic to this book is the references to Taylor Swift songs as they complement moments that happen to Ashley and describe her feelings. This adds a soundtrack to the book which I thought was a nice addition. I believe this book would be an amazing introduction for young readers into contemporary YA!
feels written rather than said. Set at a summer camp for eight- to ten-year-olds, Camp Pine Lake provides the perfect mix of a sunny home-away-from-home and a stifling settlement of strangers.
There is a lot of story within this novella, with a number of threads and mysteries to unravel that on occasion detract from the pacing and the development of some of the character relationships. In terms of the supporting cast, Mya’s flatmate Lynne is vibrant and jumps off the page, and Mya’s sister Zhara is aloof and intriguing enough that I was excited whenever she reappeared. Throughout the book, Mya’s determination and need to survive ring true.
Consequently, the people on this small island speak English, French, and Mauritian Creole, and this blend of cultures and languages across a troubled history is bound to result in fertile ground for creativity. However, this multitude of languages is not always an advantage; Ananda Devi’s characters struggle to express themselves fully with all of these borrowed languages, phrases and multicultural influences. On several occasions they say that there is “no escape” from the limitations placed on them by their upbringing in their neighbourhood — apart from turning to violence and crime which further traps them in the cyclical “nasty history” of their country. They are constrained by the cultural memory of violence and slavery, and can barely imagine a life outside of this extistence. Only fiction and stories from other places provide a glimpse of a world where “possibilities shimmer”, just as this novel helps readers to understand the lives of these disenfranchised youths.
