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Corey and her best friend (and possible soul mate,) Kyra didn't really fit in with the other kids (or the adults,) in Lost, a small and isolated community in Alaska. For Corey, it was a huge relief when her mother found a good job in Canada and she was sent to a prestigious boarding school, where she felt accepted. Kyra was left behind, but Corey knew that she would visit her friend soon. Then, shortly before Corey was due to visit, Kyra dies. What Corey finds when she descends upon Lost for the funeral is most certainly not what she expects. Told from Corey's perspective, Before I Let Go weaves between the past and the present to tell the story of a closed community and the devastating effect that their views have on a young woman who is suffering a mental illness. All signs of morality go out the window as the town fights to save their vision of Kyra as a kind of prophet and their belief that her entirely preventable death was meant to be. Meanwhile, Corey is in grea...

Based on true events, The Girl They Left Behind is a novel that will break your heart as it tells the story of the much-loved little Jewish girl who is left behind when her parents flee Romania--and certain death--during the Second World War. Adopted by a wealthy childless couple, Natalia wants for nothing. But war is closing in. First Romania will find itself bombed by the Allies and then, when it finds itself under Soviet rule, they are bombed again, this time by the Germans. And following the war, they find themselves in the Soviet Bloc, a place which is neither kind, nor welcoming to people like Natalia's parents. Over time, their circumstances become more and more bleak until Victor, a well-connected friend of the family, makes Natalia a surprising offer ... As I alluded to in my opening sentence, this novel did indeed break my heart. It is difficult not to feel for Natalia, Despina and Anton as their circumstances become more and more bleak. (These are, essentially, ...

In the third instalment of the DC Icons series we take a turn from heroes to one of DC's most beloved anti-heroes, Catwoman. Teaming up with those other two beloved anti-heroes Poison Ivy and Harley Quinn, the trio become the Gotham City Sirens and have a great time causing chaos in Gotham City, much to the vexation of Batwing, who finds himself falling for Catwoman ... Penned by beloved YA/NA fantasy writer Sarah J Maas, this is another winning story and a solid instalment in a series that has been pure fun from the start. Maas offers a sympathetic origin story for Selina Kitt/Catwoman, portraying her as a young woman desperate to help her chronically ill sister and lacking in parental support. (It's reasonably close to her contemporary origin story, whilst maintaining an original--and sympathetic--spin.) What I really liked about this one was that it was told in a way that was accessible to new fans, while also slyly adding a lot of characters and references that hard...

View this post on Instagram My cat decided to just randomly jump on one of my bookshelves #cats #catstagram #catsofinstagram #bookshelf #justforfun A post shared by Kathryn White (@kathrynsinbox) on Aug 2, 2018 at 5:12am PDT

No Normal  is a graphic novel from Marvel, that tells the story of Kamala Khan, an American teenager of Pakistani heritage who is a huge fan of Captain Marvel. (She even writes Captain Marvel fanfiction.)  In fact, she wants to be Captain Marvel aka Carol Danvers. And fate has a strange twist in store when, during a surprise supernatural event, Kamala is discovered to have supernatural powers. She takes on Carol Danvers previous role and appearance as Ms Marvel, but soon discovers that being a superhero means forging her own super identity, one that she is comfortable with. This is a well written, and well thought out, introduction of a new and thoroughly modern character into the Marvel universe. Kamala is portrayed as a teenager who is struggling with a lot of things--stereotypes, religion, over-protective and over-bearing family members and, ultimately, her own identity.  Initially, I wasn't going to bother with this one, as the comic and concept seemed to ...

The fourth standalone novel in CJ Duggan's Heart of the City series takes us to Rome. Twenty-two year old Sammi (who is the younger sister of Clare, whose story is told in Paris Lights,) has just impulsively booked a tour of Rome through a dodgy travel agent, but has no idea just how awful her stay in a backpackers hostel will be. While Sammi is a bit on the quiet side, the others on the tour are younger, heavy drinkers and worst of all, Jodie, the group's mean girl has it in for her. And then she meets Marcello, a handsome local. But what they have can only be a fling, can't it? And is Marcello the cause, rather than the solution, of her problems? Although this was enjoyable lightweight reading, this one felt to me like the weakest so far of all of the Heart of the City novels. The chemistry between Sammi and Marcello never felt quite as strong as it could--in places it felt as though the characters were simply going through the motions because this was a romance...

Recently, I was lucky enough to receive a copy this beautifully illustrated book to read and review courtesy of the author, Claudia Woods. Jacob's Toys is a wonderful story for children. When Jacob decides that he is too big to play with his toys, they soon find themselves on an adventure, first in the washing machine, then on the clothesline until the biggest--and scariest--adventure of them all occurs when the toys fall from the line and have to make their way home. Using, simple rhymes this book tells a story in a way that is both creative and engaging. I loved the unique illustrations that blended mediums. At the end there is a search and find challenge so that the fun can continue after the story is told. A great one for kids to read on their own, with friends or with a grown up. Recommended. Thank you to Claudia Woods for my review copy of Jacob's Toys.

After surviving the horrors of the Second World War, and the chaotic post-war occupation of Germany, Lotte, her husband Erich and their daughters travel to Australia with big dreams of new opportunities and starting a new and better life. Arriving in Australia, they discover that the future may not be as bright as what they were promised. Over the years Lotte works hard to create the life that she wants in Australia for her family though this won't be without many hardships ... If any reader isn't touched in some way by Suitcase of Dreams then they must surely have a heart of stone. It is nearly impossible not to get caught up in the story of Lotte and her family and the many disappointments that they suffer as they try so earnestly to make a good and happy life for themselves in Australia. Author Tania Blanchard based this story on the experiences of her grandparents and it shows though her attention to detail and the careful way that she retells the story. Recomm...

View this post on Instagram Spotted on the corner of King William Street & Halifax Street #streetart #stickerart #kingwilliamstreet #halifaxstreet #adelaide #southaustralia A post shared by Kathryn White (@kathrynsinbox) on Aug 17, 2018 at 1:19am PDT

View this post on Instagram I think I just found the other half of Grug #grug #southroad #adelaide #southaustralia #imnottakingthisseriously A post shared by Kathryn White (@kathrynsinbox) on Aug 31, 2018 at 7:36pm PDT

Lest We Forget

Garfield appearance has evolved somewhat over the years. It's amazing to think that this strip has been running for 40 years now. Garfield is still penned by his creator, Jim Davis.

For twelve years, Tillie Waldon was a competitive ice skater. Rising before dawn, she would practice each day, before going to school and then returning for more practice afterward. She entered many competitions. Then, eventually, she realised that she was more interested in art and illustration. Spinning is her first graphic novel and is an autobiographical account of her time as a competitive ice skater and why she chose to leave. I've enjoyed a number of autobiographies told in graphic novel format recently, and while Spinning is no exception, this one felt a little sadder than most. It's difficult to read about someone who works so hard and so diligently at something that makes her unhappy. Unlike a lot of kids in her situation, Tillie was not the product of stage parents, in fact, as soon as she was old enough she went to practice without her parents and they barely seemed interested in her pursuits. There are also a lot of other things that happen within this ...

After an excellent first instalment in the DC Icons series, I was a bit hesitant to pick up the second volume. After all, Bruce Wayne's personal history isn't well, quite as happy as some of the other DC superheroes. He was the classic poor rich kid, the one whose parents died and left him a fortune. What of his story then. Would I get one of a sulking teenager who is dragged into fighting crime kicking and screaming. Hardly. Author Marie Lu knows what she's doing. We meet Bruce Wayne as a newly minted adult, an eighteen-year-old who has just come into a fortune and who crashes the new car he's been gifted by Wayne Tech for his birthday by going after some dangerous criminals. It's an ill-advised move--the police are suspicious of his motives and he ends up getting sent to do community service at (where else) Arkham Asylum. There, he meets Madeline, a brilliant killer, but also the one person who may be able to help him save Gotham City from its latest t...

View this post on Instagram Spent the afternoon signing copies of my books for a private fundraiser. Thrilled to have signed so many and to make so much money for drought relief 😊#books #amwriting #authorsofinstagram A post shared by Kathryn White (@kathrynsinbox) on Sep 8, 2018 at 12:04am PDT

Gosh. How positively terrible.