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Something to be Proud Of by Anna Zoe Quirke: Review

When Imogen (she/they) attends their first Pride, nothing goes as hoped. Overwhelmed by the noise and masses of people, they are left by their “friends” to recover from a meltdown in a café. While her dad thinks this is exactly what she should have expected to happen, Imogen decides that it shouldn’t have to be, and they set up an activist society with the goal of putting on a Pride festival that is accessible to everyone.

The book’s narration is split between Imogen and Oliver, an initially reluctant member of the activist society. Their individual viewpoints and developing friendship are what really drive the plot. Watching Imogen and Oliver’s friendship grow as they learn to appreciate and support each other’s challenges and ambitions was my favorite part of reading.

Often, one character will set up a secret in their chapter, only for it to be revealed to the other (and to the reader) in their friend’s respective chapter. This device felt a little overused, but each individual reveal was still exciting, and I liked how the foreshadowing made the reading experience feel very safe without being predictable.

Apart from being queer, another important part of Imogen’s identity is that they are autistic, and that side of their characterization is superbly written. Imogen is a believable, relatable, 100% their own character, with no lazy stereotypes entertained.

Something to be Proud Of is an exciting addition to the LGBTQ+ centered YA lineup. If you want a queer book where the focus is friendship and activism, you should try this one.

Review by Camille Boelt Hindsgaul

Something to be Proud Of
Anna Zoe Quirke
Little Tiger, 2024
Paperback, £8.99
ISBN: 9781788956901

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Tomorrow We Begin: Poems to Find Yourself In by Matt Goodfellow: Review

Our protagonist Matt is 11 and about to start secondary school. He doesn’t know what his future holds or what to expect as he embarks on this new stage of life.

The poems cover the next five years, as Matt experiences the thorny lows that spike our teenage years: difficulties with his mum, the stress of schoolwork, and a nameless depression that makes his head feel like it is full of snakes. There are also glorious highs, such as discovering drama, playing with his mates, and that thrill of being out in the sun with people who make you feel alive.

There are moments that are delicate and touching, like clouds passing by before they fade away. Other moments are robust and peppered with humor, which are all the more powerful thanks to the chatty, youthful language.

Tomorrow We Begin has as many shades as a child growing into a teenager and then touching the edges of adulthood. It is undercut by a deep and clear-eyed understanding of what it means to be young today. I found this book of poetry more enjoyable than some of the classic poetry I was made to read at school. With this collection, Matt Goodfellow has captured the confusion, discomfort, and sheer joy of growing into oneself.

Review by Laura Marriott

Tomorrow We Begin: Poems to Find Yourself In
Matt Goodfellow
Bloomsbury Education, 2024
Paperback, £7.99
ISBN: 978180199339

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EchoStar Is Always Listening by Melinda Salisbury: Review

EchoStar Is Always Listening is a technological thriller that blurs the line between sci-fi and reality. A story surrounding the dangers of AI, we can all learn something from this tale. This book is about teenage friendships and navigating growing up in a world with powerful technologies at our fingertips.

Ruby is a delightfully interesting character, with real attitude. She is witty, determined, and at times, quite foolish, which makes for an entertaining read. This book explores themes of isolation and loneliness felt by many young people, and the damaging effect of relying on technology as a companion.

This is a very fast-paced novella, only 130 pages long, making it perfect for those who may not have the attention span for a longer book. The writing is simple yet effective. The atmosphere becomes more unsettling as the story progresses, bordering on creepy towards the end.

Above all, this story feels frighteningly realistic. It has real tension that builds up throughout, making it impossible to put down. It also serves as a warning about children’s innocence online and how they can be taken advantage of.

Review by Ava Palmer

EchoStar Is Always Listening
Melinda Salisbury
Barrington Stoke, 2024
Paperback, £7.99
ISBN: 9781800902701

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The Undying Tower by Melissa Welliver: Review

The Undying Tower is a gripping dystopian novel that excites and intrigues. Whilst the YA dystopian genre is heavily saturated, The Undying Tower manages to separate itself from the pack by harkening back to older dystopian fiction, such as George Orwell’s Nineteen Eighty-Four.

The world has collapsed and some people, known as Undying or Locusts, now have the ability to live longer and heal quicker. Unbeknownst to even herself, Sadie Abbott is one of those people. Framed for a terrorist plot that she did not commit and struggling to convince authorities of her innocence, she agrees to become a spy for the police force and get information on the terrorist organisation known as the “Alchemists”. While the pacing can be a bit all over the place, this is a solid novel and seems to be a book that could potentially become a cult classic, or even get an adaptation on the silver screen.

Welliver does a great job of keeping the reader on their toes, without making the suspense seem forced or drawn out, which is something that a lot of modern YA books are lacking.

Overall, this is a really good book and has potential to go very far. For fans of George Orwell, James Dashner, or Suzanne Collins, this book is a great way to revisit a genre that feels stale nowadays.

Lyric Moran, 18

The Undying Tower
Melissa Welliver
Uclan Publishing, 2024
Paperback, £8.99
ISBN: 9781915235862

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Contributors for Issue 15 revealed!

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Introducing our writers, reviewers and artists for Issue 15!


As always, we have an amazing selection of fiction and artwork to lose yourself in and some fabulous reviews of the latest teen and YA books that you can add to your ‘To Be Read’ piles.

What to expect from Issue 15: 

💜A platform for teen creative expression, supporting young artists by elevating their work

📖Short stories, flash fiction and poems by teenage and YA authors

🪁20 pages of book reviews to help chose your latest YA read

🌅The winners of our ‘Daylight’ Short Story competition, sponsored by Tertulia Books

🪻Our beautiful cover: ‘Flower Market Girls’ by Ana Graça

🟣An interview with Zainab Boladale, author of Braids Take A Day

☂️Our book club discussion of Wise Creatures by Deirdre Sullivan

🎆Intriguing art in a variety of media

💟Romantasy: What is behind the new phenomenon? : an essay by Méabh McDonnell

The perfect journal for teens who love to read, as well as older YA enthusiasts.

Issue 15 will be posted the first week of March.

We also offer subscriptions to schools and libraries – email us at paperlanternsjournal@gmail.com to find out more

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Issue 15 Cover …

✨Issue 15 Cover Reveal ✨


We’re delighted to reveal our cover for Issue 15, available 1st March!
Cover art: Flower Market Girls by Ana Graça
Designer: Eleanor Brayden

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We’re sharing our contributors and launch details this week, so watch this space…

Filled with art and writing, including our author interview with @zainab_boladale , article on all things Romantasy by Méabh McDonnell, and the winners of our short story competition with Tertulia Books.

As always, half our contributors are teenagers, making sure we platform young people’s voices!

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Resources for Teachers

Calling all teachers!

Do you have readers, writers and artists in your class that you think would be interested in being involved with Paper Lanterns? We are putting together a newsletter for teachers and other youth workers to help their students get involved.

Paper Lanterns is a great addition to any school library. With art, short stories, poetry, reviews and essays, there is something for any teenager. You can buy a subscription on our shop, or email us at paperlanternsjournal@gmail.com if you need a purchase order.

Still on the fence? You can check out past work here: From The Archives

Sign up to our teacher newsletter for more info –  https://forms.gle/4CxZJuSmyGfFADRR8

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