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Book Review: Frankie by Shivaun Plozza

May 5, 2016

Frankie by Shivaun Plozza

Pages: 314
Publish date: March 23rd 2016
Publisher: Penguin Teen Australia
ISBN: 9780143573166
Purchase: Book Depository – Amazon US – Amazon AU – Dymocks

Frankie Vega is angry. Just ask the guy whose nose she broke. Or the cop investigating the burglary she witnessed, or her cheating ex-boyfriend or her aunt who’s tired of giving second chances…
When a kid shows up claiming to be Frankie’s half brother, it opens the door to a past she doesn’t want to remember. And when that kid goes missing, the only person willing to help is a boy with stupidly blue eyes … and secrets of his own.
Frankie’s search for the truth might change her life, or cost her everything.

Frankie:

Frankie by Shivaun Plozza was one of my most anticipated books this year by an Australian author, it just sounded like my kind of book and it was. Frankie was a heartbreaking, heart-warming and absorbing contemporary that captures the reader from the first page.

Frankie follows protagonist Frankie Vega as she goes on a journey of self-discovery, more heartbreak and finding her place. Frankie is a usual protagonist, she is mean, rude, hard-headed and feisty, but not in the way that makes you want to put the book down and stop reading, no it is quite the opposite, her attitude makes you want to keep on reading.

When a kid shows up saying that he is Frankie’s half-brother, she doesn’t know what to do. Does she trust him and let him in her and let him break her like everyone else? Or she let him go now? But it’s Frankie we are talking about and she cannot let things, so when he goes missing, she does everything in her will power and power to find out where he is.

I adored Frankie, I would not want her to be my best friend because we would clash all the time, but she was such a fascinating protagonist. Frankie is fierce and strong and if I went missing, I would want her out there looking for me. She has had a tough life and she channels that and comes off as this ‘bad’ girl that is always getting into trouble.

She lives with her Aunt Vinne above her aunt’s Kebab shop, she has been kicked out of school and doesn’t want anyone to know and her supposed brother has just gone missing, oh and you know what this gorgeous boy with stupidly blue eyes comes into the mix. Lets’ just say that Frankie has a lot on her plate.

There were parts in the book where all I wanted to do was hug Frankie, but I feel that she might punch me in the face if I did that. There were parts that also made me cry, right near the end – arrg my heart.

I enjoyed the relationship between Frankie and her Aunt. Even thought at times it was a bit strained, it worked quite well for the situation that they were both in.

The romance was such a little piece of Frankie, but it was beautifully done. There wasn’t a need for a bubbling romance, but the way that Plozza handle it was perfect. Nate was intense and intriguing and capture Frankie in a way no way else had before. It was slightly there, but it did add to both the story and the characterisation of Frankie.

I adored that Frankie was set in Melbourne. It’s my home, and sometimes it does get boring when books are all set in the same place or places that I have no clue about. Even though I don’t live in Collingwood, I know how it looks and feels so it was truly interesting. Plozza has captured Melbourne perfectly.

Overall, Frankie by Shivaun Plozza is a brilliant debut novel that captured my heart. It’s a story of heartbreak, belonging, finding yourself and what it is to be a family. It captures Melbourne as Melbourne from the language to the setting, it brings to light that sometimes when you think that you are alone, you are not alone and all that you need to do is let them in. Frankie by Shivaun Plozza is a must read.

Have you read Frankie? Did you love it as much as me? Are you going to read it? Why not also check out my interview with Shivaun Plozza where we talk her writing journey, Frankie and more.

#LoveOZYA Interview: Gabrielle Tozer

Apr 29, 2016

I love Aussie YA. I love reading books from authors that live in the same country as me, that know things that people out of Australia might be so confused about. I love how sometimes they can incorporate this into their book and it is fabulous.

So in saying that, I have decided to start a new feature on Angel Reads spotlighting Australian YA Authors. Each Friday for the next couple of months, I am going to interview an OZYA Author. I thought it would be a fun way to share my love for Australian Young Adult authors with not only fellow Aussies, but everyone around the world. I want more Australian YA books to be read, because they are amazing.

First week I interview Sarah Ayoub, then Fleur Ferris, followed by Will Kostakis, then last week Shivaun Plozza. This week we have Gabrielle Tozer. Gabrielle is the author of The Intern (HarperCollins, 2014), Faking It (Harper Collins, 2015) and Remind Me How this Ends (HarperCollins, 2017).

Hi Gabrielle, and welcome to Angel Reads. First can you introduce yourself to everyone? Tell us a little bit about yourself.

Hello and thanks for inviting me to stop by! My name is Gabrielle Tozer and I’m an author and journalist from Wagga Wagga in regional New South Wales, but I now live and work in the heart of Sydney. My first YA novel, The Intern, won the State Library of Victoria’s 2015 Gold Inky Award, and its sequel Faking It came out last year. It’s been a busy few years! My third novel Remind Me How This Ends – a contemporary YA standalone set in regional Australia – and my first picture book, Pip and Pop (illustrated by the marvellous Sue DeGennaro), both hit shelves in 2017.

I also work as a freelance writer, editor and sub-editor and have contributed to publications including Dolly, Girlfriend, Cosmopolitan, TV Week, Who, Cleo, Woman’s Day, Bride to Be, The Canberra Times and news.com.au. When I’m not working on my next project, I love relaxing with my husband, friends and family, speaking at schools and writers’ festivals and watching too much television.

What has your writing journey been like? Where did you start? Why?

I often describe it as a roller-coaster. There have been plenty of ups and downs, laughing, screaming and some nausea. I’m one of those annoying people who’ve known what they want to be when they “grow up” since they were little. My love of writing stemmed from my love of reading (thanks, Mum and Dad!) and by about six years old, I announced I wanted to be an author – not that I really knew what it involved. But I suppose it shows my love of storytelling has been there from a young age.

What was the process of getting your first book published?

First things first, no journey to publication is the same. I realised that early on after meeting a few of my author idols – and no writer journey is the same either. The cool thing about it? There’s no “one way” to become an author, so anything is possible! All of my writer buddies have different stories to tell on how they got their break – it’s an important reminder not to compare, methinks.

Mine came about 12 years after my first stint of journalism work experience – and, for those 12 years, I was taking part in writing competitions, studying journalism and creative writing, staying up writing short stories and some (truly terrible) poetry, and working fulltime as a magazine journalist and sub-editor. I also did the occasional course to stay inspired – and it was at one of these courses that I met a lovely non-fiction publisher. We stayed in touch for years and one day I received an email out of the blue from a publisher at HarperCollins asking me whether I’d like to pitch them some ideas – the non-fiction publisher had recommended me! I nearly fell off my bed during that call. I pitched them three YA ideas – one of them was The Intern, not that it had a name back then – and they encouraged me to write a few sample chapters. I ended up writing a novel on spec, which means I didn’t have a contract locked in, but once I’d written my manuscript (and edited it about four times!) I sent it off. The rest, as the cliché goes, is history.

Was it different when getting your proceeding books published?

Yes. Like I mentioned, no author journey or path-to-publication journey is the same – that goes for each book’s journey, too!Faking It was part of the two-book deal I signed for The Intern. After Faking It came out, I pitched another YA novel idea, which got close but didn’t quite make it over the line, so I kept brainstorming until I came up with the story for Remind Me How This Ends. I also wrote five or six picture book drafts and they were all rejected except for one… Pip and Pop, which comes out next year. Rejection is part of the process, whether you’re working as an author or a journalist. I’ve been getting stories rejected since I was 18 so I’ve had a lot of practice at failing, picking myself up again and repeating.

What was the difference between getting your books published here in Australia and internationally?
I haven’t attended overseas writers’ festivals or schools to promote my books yet, so that’s probably one of the biggest differences. I love doing those events in Australia! Maybe one day I’ll get the call: “Gabby, we need you in America / New Zealand / Germany now!” Imagine that. A gal can dream, I suppose…

You are an OZYA author, what are some of your favourite Aussie YA books?

I love Australian literature and my shelves are heaving with it. In the interest of stopping myself from listing every #loveozya book on my shelf, it might be safer to reveal the two books that officially locked in my love of YA all those years ago: Looking For Alibrandi and Tomorrow, When The War Began.

You can find Gabrielle at @gabrielletozer on twitter, gabrielletozer.com and add her book to your goodreads.

The Intern by Gabrielle Tozer

Pages:227
Publish date: 2014
Publisher: Harper Collins
ISBN: 9780732297053
Purchase: Book Depository – Amazon UK – Amazon US – Amazon AU – Dymocks

Josie Browning dreams of having it all. A stellar academic record, an amazing journalism career – and for her current crush to realise she actually exists. The only problem? Josie can’t get through twenty-four hours without embarrassing her sister Kat or her best friend Angel, let alone herself.
Josie’s luck changes though when she lands an internship at the glossy fashion magazine Sash. A coveted columnist job is up for grabs, but Josie’s got some tough competition in the form of two other interns. Battle lines are drawn and Josie quickly learns that the magazine industry is far from easy, especially under the reign of powerful editor, Rae Swanson.
From the lows of coffee-fetching and working 10-hour days, to the highs of mingling with celebrities, scoring endless free beauty products (plus falling for her cousin’s seriously gorgeous flatmate James) this is one year Josie will never forget

***

Thank you Gabrielle for joining me at Angel Reads. That is it for this week’s #LoveOZYA Interview. What did you think of Gabrielle and her books? I know that I am in love. I hope you enjoyed it. Let’s Chat!

Come back next week for some more Aussie fun. If you want to know more about the #LoveOZYA movement check out the website for all the details.

Book Review: The Things I Didn’t Say by Kylie Fornasier

Apr 24, 2016

The Thing’s I Didn’t Say by Kylie Fornasier

Pages: 320
Publish date: May 2nd 2016
Publisher: Penguin Teen Australia
ISBN: 9780143573630
Purchase: Book Depository – Amazon US – Amazon AU

I hate the label Selective Mutism – as if I choose not to speak, like a child who refuses to eat broccoli. I’ve used up every dandelion wish since I was ten wishing for the power to speak whenever I want to. I’m starting to wonder if there are enough dandelions.

After losing her best friend that night, Piper Rhodes changes schools, determined that her final year will be different. She will be different. Then she meets West: school captain, star soccer player, the boy everyone talks about. Despite her fear of losing everything all over again, Piper falls in love – and West with her – without Piper ever speaking one word to him. But will it last?

The Things I Didn’t Say:

The Things I Didn’t Say by Kylie Fornasier was one of my most anticipated books for 2016. I adored her previous book Masquerade and when I heard Kylie was writing another book, I knew that I need to read it, and let me tell you it didn’t disappoint.

The Things I Didn’t Say is quite different from her first novel. Firstly it’s not historical fiction and it’s set here in Australia. It’s a contemporary novel that includes a protagonist with Selective Mutism.

The Things I Didn’t Say follows protagonist Piper as she starts at a new school after an event that made her lose her best friend. The thing is, Piper has Selective Mutism. Selective Mutism is a condition that causes someone not able to speak in certain situations or with certain people. For Piper, the only people that she speaks to is her family and people that she is really close to.

I really enjoyed Piper as a protagonist. Her growth throughout the book was really well done and we are able to see that she has changed from the start of the book. I also enjoyed her character arc.

Kylie Fornasier dealt with Selective Mutism exceptionally well. There is quite a lot of YA novels that deal with characters not speaking – but because of something that has happened to them. Selective Mutism doesn’t work like that and we are able to see that in The Things I Didn’t Say.

We also see how other characters deal with this and it’s interesting to see how her family, who have known her, her life think that it’s just a phase that she is going through. But someone who has just found out about the condition is totally accepting.

Nevertheless, we also get to see how people who don’t know Piper’s situation deal with her especially, teachers because of her move to a new school.

There was something very real about The Things I Didn’t Say. The conversations felt real, the events that happened felt real, the way that the characters deal with things, felt real.

The romance in The Things I Didn’t Say was adorable. I enjoyed West both as a character and as a love interest for Piper. It was so cute the way that West dealt with the knowledge when he found out about Selective Mutism. I wanted to squeeze him. I did feel at times that it moved along a little too quickly, but it was also slow burning – if that makes any sense at all.

However, I did have a problem with the pacing. The book spans over about a year and I felt that there was no real sense of time and the next thing I knew we were at the end of the school year. This did confuse me and I just wanted to be made aware of the jump lapse.

The Things I Didn’t Say packs a punch, there are things in the novel that will rip your heart apart and all you will want to do is hold Piper. Kylie Fornasier’s writing is beautiful and so easy to delve into and read.

Overall, The Things I Didn’t Say is a gorgeous novel that breaks you down. It pulls at your heart and slowly rips it. With beautiful writing and a slow burning romance that starts off quick, but takes it’s time.