Remember Remember
Remember, Remember is a short story set in London, Carla - the principle character with in the novel - is a typical teenager, desperate to fit in, and make it work in a popular group of children her age. Her biggest joys in life were make-up and fashion. However, the traumatic events that follow November 5th changed her life forever. The events that unfolded that faithful night are described by Carla in such a way that make you feel involved, and a part of the days that follow that night.
With the support of her family, doctors, counsellors, and an unexpected love interest, Carla begins to overcome her need for revenge and channel it into something more positive thus helping to sustain her recovery.
It is a story filled with emotions in just a short number of pages. It shows how one persons life can change in just a matter of seconds, and how difficult the road to recovery really can be. Within the subtext of this novel, real life instructions are portrayed, and the importance of staying safe on Bonfire Night is apparent.
The writing style employed by Whitaker throughout this novel is verging on infantile, however I later came to understand that this particular novel is aimed at teen's and young adults, and therefore was something I might not have particularly picked up to read for myself. That being said this novel would be an excellent piece of writing in which to be studied throughout schools to discus the importance of fire safety but also as a great bit of literature.
Shannan Knights :: 13 Nov 2016, 19:20
Amazing Book!
This book had me gripped at every page, it’s what you would 100% call a page turner, I couldn't put it down. There was so much emotion in the book, from happy to sad, confused, scared, loneliness to inspiration, you really feel involved and that’s really important to me when I buy books. Although this book is aimed at young adult/ teens I still thoroughly enjoyed reading it and know that teens and many other generations will too. It’s a thrilling ride of emotions that will have you hooked on every page. Sometimes books can be really slow at the start and it feels like forever until it gets to an interesting bit and I can get very bored very easily. However I found with Remember Remember that it wasn’t like that, it led up to the point fairly quickly without the book being over within a few pages. I found that the author, Sue Whitaker, made you really feel like you were involved in the book and described the scenes so well that I could picture it all and picture the characters very clearly. It was almost like you were feeling Carla’s emotions with her. This is a story of heartbreak, but not in the usual lovey way that you normally read, this is a story of heartbreak to a girl and her life changing circumstances. It is a really inspirational book that looks at how a young girl and how her views on life changed so quickly. I really loved this book and would 100% recommend it to anybody who is looking for a quick read with a roller-coaster ride to it.
Amber Gray :: 11 Oct 2016, 14:31
Remember, Remember
I really wasn't sure what to expect from this book- but it really leaves an impression. It's a very short book but would be a really powerful tool for senior schools to cover firework safety and bullying in general. A young girls life is changed forever by the really stupid criminal actions of a young lad.
Carla enjoys her life as a young 14 year old girl , enjoying make up and hair and shopping.
The very traumatic events following Bonfire Night are vividly described and make you very involved with the after effects and hoping that things will improve for the girl.
She encounters medical people and counsellors who try to help her through the immediate period following the trauma and although she can't comprehend how life can go on, provide her with the tools to forge ahead and try to find the positives in a new life.
It shares support from unexpected quarters which show the value of kindness making the biggest diference you can imagine in coping with an unimaginable existence- but also in the strength that you can find from deep within. Life, although dramatically altered, does go on- and the outlook you had before will be changed forever. But your experiences can make you instrumental in helping someone else through the darkest, bleakest times.
The book explores how a stupid, thoughtless action can change lives forever- as family members share in your pain and fears for the future.
If this book can make just one person stop and think about fireworks being personal hand grenades in the wrong hands and encourage maybe the sale of fireworks to be limited to public displays only, it will be a wonderful outcome.
This made me keen to search out more work by Sue Whitaker and although this one is aimed at the YA market I feel it has a widereaching appeal. It's a painful read, but really draws you in turning the pages.
Kim Feasey :: 09 Oct 2016, 10:03
