Library Loot: UK YA Bests
This week’s library loot includes a book which I picked up just because it looked interesting (Help the Witch), The Quiet at the End of the World by Lauren James (after I read and loved The Loneliest Girl in the Universe) and three from the shortlist of the UK YA Book Prize.
I have already read The Surface Breaks, Only Love Can Break Your Heart and I am Thunder and I have a copy of The Sky Painted Gold on my shelf. So I decided to pick up a few of the others on this list!
Previous winners of the YA Book Prize are Louise O’Neill’s Only Ever Yours (2015), Sarah Crossan’s One (2016), Patrice Lawrence’s Orangeboy (2017) and Will Hill’s After the Fire (2018). I have read and loved all of these so I figure that anything on the shortlist is definitely worth reading, if I haven’t already! Find out more about all those on the shortlist by clicking here.
The Quiet at the End of the World by Lauren James
How far would you go to save those you love?
Lowrie and Shen are the youngest people on the planet after a virus caused global infertility. Closeted in a pocket of London and doted upon by a small, ageing community, the pair spend their days mudlarking for artefacts from history and looking for treasure in their once-opulent mansion.
Their idyllic life is torn apart when a secret is uncovered that threatens not only their family but humanity’s entire existence. Lowrie and Shen face an impossible choice: in the quiet at the end of the world, they must decide who to save and who to sacrifice . . .
Everything about this summary just cries out that I will love it! This might just bump itself up to the top of the TBR list!
Help the Witch by Tom Cox
Inspired by our native landscapes, saturated by the shadows beneath trees and behind doors, listening to the run of water and half-heard voices, Tom Cox’s first collection of short stories is a series of evocative and unsettling trips into worlds previously visited by the likes of M. R. James and E. F. Benson.
Railway tunnels, the lanes and hills of the Peak District, family homes, old stones, shreds fluttering on barbed wire, night drawing in, something that might be an animal shifting on the other side of a hedge: Tom has drawn on his life-long love of weird fiction, folklore and nature’s unregarded corners to write a collection of stories that will delight fans old and new, and leave them very uneasy about turning the reading lamp off.
Anything with ‘witch’ in the title will probably end up on my shelf at some point and this both looks and sounds really interesting. Although I did initially think that the title was ‘Tom Cox’ as it is so large and thought ‘That’s an odd title’ lol.
I love folklore and looking at the familiar through fresh eyes so I am hoping to enjoy this!
Big Bones by Laura Dockrill
The latest teen novel from the sparkling Laura Dockrill, introducing Bluebelle, and her moving, hilarious take on food, body image and how we look after ourselves and others
A heart-warming teen story from the unique voice of Laura Dockrill, about Bluebelle, aka BB, aka Big Bones – a sixteen-year-old girl encouraged to tackle her weight even though she’s perfectly happy, thank you, and getting on with her life and in love with food. Then a tragedy in the family forces BB to find a new relationship with her body and herself. Moving, memorable and hilarious.
I probably wouldn’t have picked this one up, but I joined a chat with the author on Twitter and so much of what she said really made sense to me – ot made me really want to read this book! I’ve also been hearing good things from other bloggers and we could all do with a bit more body positivity in our lives!
White Rabbit, Red Wolf by Tom Pollock
Peter Blankman is afraid of everything and must confront unimaginable terror when his mother is attacked.
Seventeen-year-old Peter Blankman is a maths prodigy. He also suffers from severe panic attacks. Afraid of everything, he finds solace in the orderly and logical world of mathematics and in the love of his family: his scientist mum and his tough twin sister Bel, as well as Ingrid, his only friend.
However, when his mother is found stabbed before an award ceremony and his sister is nowhere to be found, Pete is dragged into a world of espionage and violence where state and family secrets intertwine. Armed only with his extraordinary analytical skills, Peter may just discover that his biggest weakness is his greatest strength.
This just sounds so original and twisty – I need to read this!
Outwalkers by Fiona Shaw
Set in an England in the near future, Outwalkers follows a gang of kids and their perilous journey to make it through a country where the government is tracking everyone and their every move is analyzed and controlled. They must live on their wits, and must work together to survive and escape.
I am a big fan of dystopian books as , when well done, they can explore all aspects of a perfect and imperfect society. This sounds fascinating so I am looking forward to it.
What did you think of my choices this week?
Did you spot any you might read?
Library Loot is a weekly event co-hosted by Claire from The Captive Reader and Linda from Silly Little Mischief that encourages bloggers to share the books they’ve checked out from the library. If you’d like to participate, just write up your post-feel free to steal the button-and link it using the Mr. Linky any time during the week. And of course check out what other participants are getting from their libraries.
See my previous library loots here:
Feminism, Folklore and Body Positivity
Gymnastics, Mermaids and Achieving Your Dreams
Fantasy, Intrigue and Misunderstandings
What do you think of the books I have chosen?
Would you like to read any of them?
Or are there any you would recommend me moving straight to the top of the TBR list?
Do you have a library near you?
How often do you borrow books?
Do you ever buy books after having already read them?
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Thanks for reading!
Chrikaru Reads 
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