Just For fun

DELIRIUM by Lauren Oliver

Before scientists found the cure, people thought love was a good thing.

They didn’t understand that once love -- the deliria -- blooms in your blood, there is no escaping its hold. Things are different now. Scientists are able to eradicate love, and the government demands that all citizens receive the cure upon turning eighteen. Lena Holoway has always looked forward to the day when she’ll be cured. A life without love is a life without pain: safe, measured, predictable, and happy.

But with ninety-five days left until her treatment, Lena does the unthinkable: She falls in love.

Delirium turns up consistently in the results of internet searches such as 'if you like the Hunger Games try ...' or 'most popular Y.A. dystopian novels', and it's certainly worth reading.  Although Delirium is similar to The Hunger Games with clear dystopian themes it is also different enough to make it appealing in other ways . I found the idea of love being a kind of disease or psychosis a fascinating concept to base the story on and Lauren Oliver develops the plot and characters, especially Lena, in a gripping and fascinating way.

Reviewed by Carolyn 

Just for Fun

DEAR VINCENT by Mandy Hager

17 year old Tara McClusky's life is hard. She shares the care of her paralysed father with her domineering, difficult mother, forced to cut down on her hours at school to help support the family with a part-time rest home job. She's very much alone, still grieving the loss of her older sister Van, who died five years before. Her only source of consolation is her obsession with art and painting in particular. Most especially she is enamoured with Vincent Van Gogh: she has read all his letters and finds many parallels between the tragic story of his life and her own. Luckily she meets the intelligent, kindly Professor Max Stockhamer (a Jewish refugee and philosopher) and his grandson Johannes, and their support is crucial to her ability to survive this turbulent time.

 Although this book has dark, depressing themes it is also uplifting and a story of hope as well as despair. It deals with some sensitive issues, including suicide, but Tara's story is captivating and moving. I highly recommend this book by New Zealand author Mandy Hager.

Reviewed by Carolyn

WRAPPERS Meeting

The next get together of the WRAPPERS is this Friday, 7th February, from 5:30 - 7 pm. If you are a teen who likes to read and meet other teens then join us at Paraparaumu Library on Friday.

Malala