Teen Books - Martyn Pig by Kevin Brooks

'Martyn Pig'

When you accidentally kill your own father it means nothing but trouble, heart break, guilt and confusion. But when a whole lot of money is involved, everything becomes ten times worse...

Martyn never meant to kill his dad, it just happened. But unsurprisingly after being left as an orphan, calling the police was the last thing on his mind. It seems all he has is Alex, the girl next door. Alex, the girl who helps dispose of the body and accidentally tips Dean off about Martyn's inheritance. Martyn thinks she'll be right by him. But with her crazy ambitions and wild ways, will greed get the better of her?

Martyn Pig was one of the best books I read this month. It takes an experience not many people understand, and turns it into a book that touch's most peoples hearts. This book is true to life and shows complex emotions in a way everyone can learn from. Incredible.

Massive by Julia Bell

'Massive'

Carmen's mum is obsessed with the idea that thin equals beauty, success and a way to get what you want. So it's not surprising that weight has always been a big issue in Carmen's life. But things get too much when Carmen is whisked off to Birmingham and forced to leave her father, her home and her friends. Her old life is starting to disappear.

With her mum's diets getting out of hand and her family secrets are being revealed, Carmen wonders whether if she was thin, really thin, would all this be happening?

This book made me think about making the right choices and about how much people think about their appearance. It was written from Carmen's point of view. I would not recommend this book to anyone under the age of ten.

First published at: http://www.guardian.co.uk/childrens-books-site/2011/sep/22/massive-julia-bell-review?INTCMP=SRCH