I really liked this book.
It started off badly, Cammie being really stroppy, and not much of the fun spy stuff. But as the book went on, it got better.
I like these books, they're exciting and interesting and the main characters don't know what's going on, so neither do you, so you desperately want to find out what's going on. I also love the concept of the Gallagher Academy for Exceptional Young Women, I really wish that place was real. The characters in these stories are amazing, loveable people, maybe a bit stereotypical in some places. And maybe the humour is too forced sometimes, but sometimes it is funny as well.
My main problem with these books is actually the main character herself, Cammie, who seems to me to be quite stroppy sometimes. I mean, with Zach, I don't get why she was so mad all the time, and why every time she spoke to him, it was like an interrogation.
All the other characters are amazing, it's just Cammie I don't get on with particularly well with.
This book has left me feeling so frustrated, really wanting to read the next one. Although, I can see how the next book might go horribly wrong, as well, which is why I'm going to hold off and read a different book in between.

Read for Concorde Book Awards 2016.
Front cover thoughts: not what I would have chosen to read.
Last page thoughts: That was a good story, I maybe might read the next one.
Plot: Wild Boy is a boy covered in hair, condemned as a freak. As he grew up, Wild Boy learnt to observe. He sees things in a different way, can tell almost everything about a man by how he looks. When there's a murder in the travelling fair, and it's been pinned on Wild Boy, he has to work out who did it before he's hung for what he didn't do.
Characters: WILD BOY: short-tempered, always wants to appear strong despite how he feels inside. CLARISSA: tough, rough and athletic.
I would never have picked up this book if it hadn't been for the Concorde Book Awards, in fact, I was dreading reading it anyway. I'm not a huge fan of stuff based in 1800s Britain, because generally it was depicted to be a really dark era where everyone was drunk all the time, or was in great great suffering. To be honest, this book did do that to a certain extent. Sometimes the description was a bit gruesome but it was alright.
The mystery side of the book was what kept me reading, definitely. I did work out the mystery, but I wasn't completely sure, so it still had that element of excitement for me.
it wasn't one of those books that you're dying to get back to the whole day, just so you find our what happens, but it was good. Probably would recommend to people who like short mysteries or historical fiction.

Actual rating: 3.5 stars.
Read for Concorde Book Awards 2016.
Front cover thoughts: Oh no, not another Divergent, it was bad enough with one trilogy.
Last page thoughts: Could have been a much deeper story, but it was alright and quite exciting in some places.
Character analysis: CASS: A bit of a numpty, slow to catch on but overall portrayed as a strong character. MYO: Definitely my favourite character. SOL: Possessive, complaining teenager with no understanding of the cost of life. JORI: I've finished this book knowing less than an inch about Jori.

I feel that this book was definitely based more on the setting than on the characters; it just could have been so much better. In some ways, it was a nice break from all these emotionally-traumatising books - it was just an average adventure with very little emotional involvement from the reader (unfortunately, I don't think that was what the author was going for, but oh well).
An alright book. I probably will read the next one, seeing as the ending was so cut-off.
EDIT: just realised this is not officially a series, but it had better be - it would just make the ending even worse if it was a standalone.

Read for Concorde Book Awards 2016.
Front Cover Thoughts: Ooh this book will be interesting, especially with what's happening in the world right now, can't wait to read it.
Last Page Thoughts: Wow, another case of a great idea written so badly (flashbacks to The Maze Runner)
Characters: RICO: quietly angry teenage boy. KARIMA: angry teenage girl. STEFAN: angry dad. LENA: angry, tired mum. LOLA: not sure why she wasn't charged at the end?
Storyline: so basically this was a book about injustice. it was about a 15y.o boy who wants to change the world because everything is falling to pieces.
I didn't particularly like the attitude in this book, like the attitude was that in every city of every country people are protesting against the authorities. At one point, Rico watches TV and points out about all the protests going on - I'm not saying protests and things like it, rights and marches, don't happen (in fact, on Saturday the women in Saudi Arabia got to vote) it's just that Zephaniah was acting like its the only thing that happens, and its not.
also, did not enjoy the writing style, there was nothing to stir you up emotionally at all. as well, whenever there was dialogue, the characters only "spoke" or "shouted". there was pretty much nothing else.
Also, everyone in the book seemed to hate the police.. I didn't like that much. I understand that police do make mistakes, but on the whole they do a good job, and I respect them for that.
Another thing, there was no little bits in the story that are actually completely irrelevant but make you understand the character more. it was all just so.. factual (but fictional).
I guess it had a good message, which is why it's got 3 stars and not 2.
definitely not the book I'm going to vote for in the Concorde Book Awards.

Read for Concorde Book Awards 2016.
Front Cover Thoughts: I really can't wait until I get to this book, it looks so good!
Last Page Thoughts: Really does make you think.
So I'm not going to write a full review about this one, because I don't want to give it all away. It's basically a book about coincidences, to make a long story short. It's very informative with a very interesting POV. I have a few problems with it, hence the 4 stars rather than 5. (1). The POV is from a 16yr old - I felt that one of the major plot lines was proving she's not stupid. Nevertheless, the way she said things, it made her sound like a 12yr old. to me, it felt as if Mercus Sedgwick was like, "right I'm going to write a book from a child's point of view," and actually 16yrs old is not a child anymore. You're halfway between growing up at that stage, and I think Laureth should have been credited with a voice that shows that. (2). It was written too 'punchily'. Sometimes I felt like there was a lot more time passing than was written down, especially towards the end of the story when things got a bit more exciting.
Overall, this book was really interesting. It shows what we value in life, in a way, and how unimportant it really is. I think I would recommend this book to most people, to people who like YA, to people who like adventures, to people who like factual fiction, to people who like mystery, and to people who like to read about things they haven't experienced or don't know too much about. so it covers a wide spectrum :)

Read for Concorde Book Awards 2016.
Front Cover Thoughts: oh no.
Last Page Thoughts: Awww!
Plot: Stanley "Carrot" is someone who always feels left on the outside of life - adopted, ginger, nerdy, he just doesn't seem to fit in anywhere. The book begins with his fourteenth birthday, the day his life begins to change.
Characters: STANLEY: Average teenage boy, confused and not confident, quiet on the outside but full of noisy thoughts inside. CHLOE: Average teenage girl, not amazing wise for someone her age, not someone completely stupid, just normal. PAM & RICK: Two parents who are not quite sure about how to deal with a teenager, but overall loving, genuine parents. BRUNO: typical little brother, annoying but cute. EMMA: a lovely lady, confused and sad but still fighting through life.

This book was so much better than I was expecting. I think the title is probably the worst thing about this book, although there are a few bad jokes in it too. This book was surprising good, there was even a plot twist I had no idea was coming. It was well written, just not outstanding, hence only a 4 star rating. I really did enjoy it though, and I think it should be better publicised than it is - I would recommend this book.

"I've learned that families come in all sorts of shapes and sizes - like people - and there isn't a right or wrong arrangement."

Maybe I'm just overcomplicating things, but this seemed like quite a philosophical book to me (in a Patrick Ness sort of way, of course)
I think that Patrick Ness showed in a weird kind of way that actually, every story counts. Not just the main character, Every single story has an interesting story to it. I thought that was quite clever.
Although, I might be completely wrong with my interpretation, I mean Patrick kind of showed at the end of the story that things can mean so many different things to so many different people, and sometimes it might not mean anything at all.

okay so here is where I start blurting SPOILERS if you don't want to read those....

I don't know why, but I had some trouble relating to the characters, Henna in particular. She just bothered me, like she didn't know what she wanted, even though the tattoo and all was supposed to signify her choosing her own person (I think?) but she still confused me. Like, her and Mikey when she's in the car, saying "Um no what are you talking about you don't love me." then like a few chapters later, "oh well I had a brush with death and that made me realise that actually, I've never kissed you, which I think I'd like to do before I die. but, you know, unless this kiss is REALLY good, I'm still into this Nathan guy." and then when the kiss IS really good, "oh wow I think we were made to be together let's get together." then when they're together "do you know what, now that we're actually together, after all these years that I've been dating other guys but secretly wanting to kiss you, I realise that we're just meant to be friends. please excuse me while I explain that Nathan is actually gay and I get back together with my old boyfriend." ... why?!
so anyway, that was probably my main problem with the book. Also, I think Jared was the most random, but still relevant, character I have ever read about.

in conclusion, good book, but not 5 stars (well, for me anyway). probably 4.4-5 stars. Definitely enjoyed it.

this book was okay. Some parts were kind of childish, lots of forced humour, and I have to say that Cammie was probably the Worst part of the book for me. there's something about her that seems completely un-spy-like that it just doesn't fit with the whole storyline.
how many times did Cammie say something like "despite my excellent education, nothing had prepared me for this." I was beginning to wonder what on earth spy school does teach someone haha.
Overall, a good book, but not a fantastic book.

Very good.
Lots of plot twists and well developed characters. A nice ending which wrapped up most things but still leaves space for curiosity for the next book.
Definitely liked Tom a lot more in this book.
Took me quite a while to really get into the book, but the writing style followed the same course as in the last book, which meant that the end of the book suddenly got very exciting.
I will read the next book.