THE FORESHADOWING
by Marcus Sedgwick
Orion, £5.99

Sasha Fox, a young woman growing up in England in 1917, is already haunted by her ability to see death before it happens. Her life takes a drastic turnwhen she is forced to foresee the death of someone she loves, and, as her brothers are swallowed into the current wartime effort in France, tragedy ensues. In an act of desperation, she too ventures to the front line. Throughout her journey, she pretends to be a nurse, faces the devastation of war and befriends the mysterious Hoodoo Jack. Amongst all the chaos she never forgets her vocation, dodging death and suspicion as she goes.

This book will keep you hooked on every page, and concludes with a heart-stopping twist. You can’t help but admire Sasha, as she attempts the unthinkable, in her own war against fate and destiny.

EXCHANGE
by Paul Magrs
Simon & Schuster, £9.99

Simon is 16 years old. After the death of his mother and father, he ends up miles away, living with his grandparents.

Tormented by local yobs and by the constant memories of all he has lost, he longs for escape. Seemingly out of nowhere appears the “Great Big Book Exchange”, along with Kelly and Terrance, who begin to play large roles in both his and his grandmother’s lives. Over time, the book exchange becomes more than just a shop, offering an opportunity for Simon to escape from his current life and for his grandmother to return to her past.

This story reminds you why people love to read books, as well as why people long to write them. It gives us the comfort that no matter how things change, there will always be something to link the generations.

THEO TEMPLE, 14

HENRY TUMOUR
by Anthony McGowan
Doubleday, £10.99

Definitely the funniest, most obscenely wise book I have read in a long time. Henry Tumour, Anthony McGowan’s second novel for teenagers, is written from the point of view of Hector Brunty, a teenager who likes maths (?), whose mum is an ageing hippy and whose brain has been invaded by a chatty alter-ego called Henry T. Everything seems to be against Hector — even the comfort of his own thoughts have been taken over. However, this little clump of brain cells seems to be able to help him out.

Soon, Henry T. is giving Hector tips on fashion and snogging tactics; Hector seems to have risen to the school-break élite (if only for a short while). But how far will Henry T. go and how far will Hector let him before they both go under the knife?

BEAST
by Ally Kennen
Marion Lloyd Books, £6.99

This book reminds me of possible sequel to that famous book (and film) Kes. The plot is full of twists and turns. Stephen, who is 17 years old, and coming to the end of his time in care, tries to get rid of the “beast” he keeps in a cage at a nearby reservoir. The creature’s needs take control of Stephen’s life as he struggles to find hunks of meat to feed its ferocious appetite.

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