Guest Post: My Favourite MG Books by @aimee_louise_l

Hello everybody! 

Today, I have a brilliant guest post from my amazing friend Aimee, all about her favourite MG books! Enjoy!

Amy xxx

Thank you so much Amy for having me on your wonderful blog. I am so excited to be sharing my favourite MG books with your readers. I’ve had a fab time writing this. So without further ado, onto the books!!

The Dream Snatcher trilogy by Abi Elphinstone

Obviously this is on my list. I’d need my head examining if I was to miss out this feisty, bold spirited trilogy. With Old Magic, the wilderness and a wild spirited heroine, this MG trilogy stole my heart when it burst onto the bookish scene back in 2015.

Winter Magic curated by Abi Elphinstone

With 11 short stories celebrating the magic of Winter, these stories are perfect for sitting by a fire with a cup of hot chocolate. I absolutely love these stories and how they add that extra magic to some of the most wonderful aspects of Winter.

Sky Song by Abi Elphinstone

Are you surprised? Really? If this didn’t make it onto my favourite MG books list then I’d have been shouting about this book for absolutely NO reason. Hope. Friendship. Courage. Loyalty. A sprinkling of love. This book really does have it all. I’ve never been on a more atmospheric adventure that literally has magic spilling out of it’s pages.

Eren by Simon Clark

A tale of a gargoyle that feeds on stories. Erm yes please. Seriously, feed me with ALL of the stories and I’d be happy too. Dark, eerie and filled with glorious story-telling, this MG book has the right dose of dark magic sprinkled amongst its pages.

The Great Chocoplot by Chris Callaghan

Imagine a world without chocolate? Nope. Neither could I until I read this book. There’s some serious work to be done to save chocolate, and that is not because Chris is going to eat it all himself (though I’m sure he’d LOVE to).

Matilda by Roald Dahl

Oh how I love this book. Oh how I love to read. Matilda for me captures the very essence of why books are so important. Without books, we’d not be able to escape reality. Without books, we’d not be able to become more educated and knowledgable. Without books, we wouldn’t know the hidden stories and wonders of the world and universe.

Harry Potter by J.K. Rowling

Hogwarts is my home. The Harry Potter books found their way into my heart at the age of 11 years old, Hogwarts letter recipient age to be precise, and have been with me ever since. These books have literally helped me to deal with so much in life and have always been the light in the darkest of times. I am so proud to be a part of the Harry Potter fandom and a Gryffindor at heart.

A Girl of Ink and Stars by Kiran Milwood-Hargrave

I truly fell in love with Kiran’s story about a cartographer’s daughter who goes on an adventure to save her best friend. Maps. Ink. Stars. That is all this girl needs. Extra bonus if you get to discover the hidden secrets at the heart of the island.

Boy X by Dan Smith

An adventure that follows a boy called Ash who wakes up on a remote tropical island after being kidnapped and drugged. WOW. Hard-hitting stuff right? Well…there’s more. Ash has to trek through the jungle in order to find his mum, who has been imprisoned and infected with a deadly virus. IS THIS NOT ENOUGH FOR THE POOR LAD? Seriously though, a pretty action-packed adventure that tests Ash’s strength and stamina whilst the animals watch on as he crosses the jungle in a bid to save his mum.

The Giraffe And The Pelly And Me by Roald Dahl

Possibly one of the most underrated Roald Dahl books out there. I loved reading this as a child and I still love it now. Basically a small boy who dreams of owning a candy shop (watch out Willy Wonka, I think you’ve got competition on your hands) meets a giraffe, a pelican and a monkey. What’s so special about that I hear you ask. Well, the giraffe, pelican and money are window cleaners. So if you think that the people who clean your windows do a terrible job, then maybe you should consider these guys. They not half do a decent job. Just saying.

Roald Dahl’s Revolting Rhymes

You have not lived, if you haven’t read these absolute delightful and revolting poems which put a twist on the fairy tales that you know so well. So if you wanna find out why you shouldn’t mess with Red Riding Hood and how your other favourite fairytale characters are getting on, then seriously please give these a read.

I have so many more MG books which I love, but I’d be here all day if I was to continue talking about them all. So if you’d like to recommend some MG books that I should look out for then please do tell me, even if my TBR won’t forgive me,

Aimee Louise

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A Q&A : Books, Music and TV

Hello everybody!

A little (a long), while ago on Twitter, I asked for some questions for a Q&A post, so today I’m going to answer them all. I was so pleased with all the questions, and I already can’t wait to do another one of these (especially if anyone enjoyed it; please let me know what you think in the comments!)

Onto the post!  

First and last crush on a fictional character?

The first was Aiden from Pony Club Secrets, last was probably Étienne from Anna and the French Kiss. The two biggest are Nick from Geek Girl and Sirius Black.

Favourite show/musical? And favourite character from it?

My favourite musical is Sunshine on Leith, which is based on the music of the Proclaimers, and I also loved Joseph and the Technicolour Dreamcoat

If you were a Disney character, which one would you be and why?

This is SO hard. I asked my mum who she thought I’d be, and she said Belle as I’m almost always reading! I’d say Rapunzel, but I don’t think I’m optimistic enough in all honesty. In a dream world, I’d like to be Olaf.

How do you plan/write your reviews?

Badly 😂. I try and write notes on as many as possible throughout the month, then sit down at the end and write them all up (and usually put it off till the night before I want the post to go up).  If I forget to write notes, I wing it.

 If you could be any animal, what would you be and why?

I’d love to be a dog (probably either a cocker spaniel or a golden retriever, though really any breed as I adore them all).

Peter Pan or Tinkerbell?

Tinkerbell. Peter Pan is FAR too whiny for my taste.

What’s your favourite guilty pleasure snack?

I try not to be guilty about treats, but I do indulge in quite a bit of chocolate…

 Do you think words have the power to change us and if so do you think this is a good thing?

Absolutely, and yes. Words shape who I am, and my knowledge.

What book have you had on your TBR forever, that you still haven’t read yet?

Loads! Based on the person who asked me this (hey Aimee, if you’re reading) I’ll say Abi Ephinstone’s books. I read the Dreamsnatcher and enjoyed it, but have still never got round to books 2 or 3.

If you could only read one author or genre for the rest of your life who/what would you choose?

I’d read mysteries, because you can find a mystery in most books and could therefore read almost everything!

 What was your first favourite book?

A picture book called Second Best.
What are your pet bookish peeves/things you can’t stand?

I’m not keen on selfish or whiny main characters (or those I perceive to be those things, anyway), unless it’s clear it’s been done on purpose. For example, I really rooted for Olivia in Close Your Pretty Eyes by Sally Nicholls as she’s not conventionally likeable but we can see why. I’m 50/50 with animal deaths, and I detest any poor treatment of animals. 

 What do you really love to see in a book?

I personally quite like instalove if done well, but I also like slow-burn romances. I love characters who are so brave but don’t really know it, if that makes sense. I love seeing a foreign country, or fantasy worldbuilding. I love a good mystery, of course. And a really nice friendship!.

Three elements for a perfect story?

A middle grade mystery, with fab friendships and an exciting, excellent plot.

What’s your fave mythical creature?

I love a good dragon, and also unicorns.

If you could live in one bookish world, which one would you choose?

Stoneybrook in the Babysitters Club. I’ll be nice and safe, be able to look after lovely children and go on fun adventures to places like New York.

What got you started with blogging?

I had wanted to for ages, and decided in June that I might as well give it a shot.

Most underrated book?

Boy in the Tower by Polly Ho-Yen, which will most likely not come as a surprise. I’m planning a whole new feature this year about other books I love which are underrated and why I think everyone should read them. The first will be my favourite Enid Blyton series…

Most underrated Disney film?

I think I’ll go for Oliver and Company! I also bareky ever see love for Zootropolis, which I adore SO much.

Favourite t.v. show?

I love lots, but Suits is probably my all time favourite. There is literally nothing I dislike about it.

Best thing to binge watch on Netflix?

I have only ever binged the Good Wife on Netflix, which I adored. On DVD, I got through Suits, Grey’s Anatomy, Scandal and the Mentalist VERY quickly.

Your ideal cosy night in?

A nice film or boxset, Maltesers and Counters, mint choc chip ice cream, crisps, a blanket, pillows and dog cuddles please.

Favourite genre to read?

Mysteries!

Who are your top 5 singers?

George Ezra and Into the Ark are my joint absolute favourites then Tom Odell, Taylor Swift, Shawn Mendes and Coldplay.

Who are your top 3 favourite Grey’s Anatomy characters?

Meredith, Christina and Alex.

 What underrated book do you wish everyone would read?

Boy in the Tower by Polly Ho-Yen, or the 39 Clues series.

What classics do you plan to read in 2018?

I have a few I want to read, but I’d especially love to get to Anne of Green Gables, A Little Princess and the Wolves of Willoughby Chase.  I’d also like to give some Jane Austen a go!

What is your daemon? 

I‘ve never read Northern Lights, so I’m not really sure. According to the quiz I just took, a terrier. 

What was the last book you DNF?

I think it was Things a Bright Girl Can Do. 

What’s your favourite and least favourite genre?

MG- Mystery and fantasy, YA- contemporary for favourites. Not big on horror or dystopia at all, and I’m not that into sci-fi.

If you were a book character, what type of book would you be most likely to end up in? (Mystery, adventure, etc)?

I’d like to feature in a mystery, seeing they’re my favourites. Realistically it’d probably be very dull! My life would not make a good book.

Which characteristics in a protagonist really make you connect with them?

I love really brave characters that have to work hard to be so, e.g. Hazel from Murder Most Unladylike or Ade from Boy in the Tower. And those who love animals are always lovely too!
 Which fictional character would you most like to marry?

In what may come as no shock whatsoever at this stage, Nick from Geek Girl. Or maybe Airen from Pony Club Secrets. Outwith books, it’s even harder. Patrick Jane from the Mentalist, Harvey Spectre from Suits and Caleb Rivers from Pretty Little Liars (and also Jackson or Derek or Mark from Grey’s Anatomy). And film wise, Duckie from my all time favourite Pretty in Pink or Andrew from the Proposal, a new fave from this year.Thank you so much for reading! Do we share any answers? Let me know in the comments or on Twitter @GoldenBooksGirl! 

Amy xxx 

5 Children’s Classics I Think You Should Read

Hello everybody! Happy weekend!

Today, I’ve decided to write about my top five children’s classics that I think everybody should read. I really got into classics a year or so ago, but over the past few months I’ve barely read any, so with this post I want to spread awareness of some amazing books, and also remind myself why I love reading them.

Let’s get started!