Project and content management for Contemporary Authors volumes
WORK TITLE: Eden Summer
WORK NOTES:
PSEUDONYM(S):
BIRTHDATE:
WEBSITE: http://lizflanagan.co.uk/
CITY: Hebden Bridge, West Yorkshire, England
STATE:
COUNTRY: United Kingdom
NATIONALITY: British
RESEARCHER NOTES:
| LC control no.: | nb2012020704 |
|---|---|
| LCCN Permalink: | https://lccn.loc.gov/nb2012020704 |
| HEADING: | Flanagan, Liz |
| 000 | 00957cz a2200217n 450 |
| 001 | 9086503 |
| 005 | 20171005051033.0 |
| 008 | 120904n| azannaabn |n aaa |
| 010 | __ |a nb2012020704 |
| 035 | __ |a (Uk)008572848 |
| 040 | __ |a Uk |b eng |e rda |c Uk |d Uk |
| 046 | __ |s 20 |
| 100 | 1_ |a Flanagan, Liz |
| 370 | __ |a Hebden Bridge (England) |c Great Britain |c England |e Hebden Bridge (England) |f London (England) |f Brighton (England) |2 naf |
| 372 | __ |a Editing |a Young adult fiction |2 lcsh |
| 373 | __ |a Leeds Trinity University |2 nafg |
| 374 | __ |a Editors |2 lcsh |
| 375 | __ |a female |
| 377 | __ |a eng |
| 670 | __ |a The Egyptology handbook, 2011, c2005: |b prelim. (Liz Flanagan, editor) |
| 670 | __ |a Her website, viewed 4 October 2017: |b biography page (She grew up and lives in Hebden Bridge, West Yorkshire. Has lived in London and Brighton, used to work in children’s book publishing. Currently studying for a PhD in Creative Writing: Teen Fiction at Leeds Trinity University) |
PERSONAL
Married; children: two daughters.
EDUCATION:Leeds Trinity University, Ph.D. candidate.
ADDRESS
CAREER
Commissioning editor in children’s book publishing; Lumb Bank, Ted Hughes Arvon Centre, center director supporting its writing courses; Arts Council England, artistic assessor; New Castle University, Teaching Fellow in Creative Writing.
WRITINGS
Published the short story “Come Fly with Me” in the For Books’ Sake young-adult anthology.
SIDELIGHTS
British author Liz Flanagan has worked as a commissioning editor in children’s book publishing and writes books for very young children and young adults. She was also director at Lumb Bank, the Ted Hughes Arvon Centre, supporting its famous writing courses and hosting literary evenings, as well as serving as artistic assessor for the Arts Council England. She grew up and lives in Hebden Bridge, West Yorkshire. Flanagan is a Ph.D. candidate in creative writing, specializing in teen fiction at Leeds Trinity University, and is a teaching fellow in creative writing at New Castle University, where she researches the writer-as-researcher, creative writing pedagogy, and young-adult and children’s literature.
International Folktales
Flanagan has published two retellings of international folktales for young readers. The 2013 Cara and the Wizard is set in Ireland, where young Cara notices that her beloved sister, Caitlin, has disappeared. Embarking on a journey to find her sister, Cara collects some trinkets that can help her and then meets up with an evil wizard. The book is aimed at readers ages seven to nine.
In the Russian tale Starlight Grey, Ivan keeps his promise to his dying father to stay by his grave after he passes. His two older brothers are too scared to stay. As a reward, his father’s ghost gives Ivan a magical stallion called Starlight Grey, which he keeps secret from his brothers. When the king holds a contest to find a husband for his daughter, Ivan uses Starlight Grey in the competition. While the story is appropriate for young readers and the short chapters will help get them through the story, “sentence length, typeface and some vocabulary may prove challenging,” according to a writer in Kirkus Reviews. Nevertheless, the illustrations help the plot move along, and “the fresh fairy-tale content of the story will likely motivate readers,” said the reviewer.
Dara’s Clever Trap
In 2017, Flanagan published Dara’s Clever Trap: A Story from Cambodia, part of the “Princess Stories” series for readers ages seven to nine. Based on the “The Story of Princess Amaradevi,” the book follows the talented Princess Dara who excels in music, painting, architecture, and engineering. She soon falls in love with another architect, Rith, and they get married. However, three evil ministers trick Dara’s father, the king, into banishing Rith so they can each vie for Dara’s hand in marriage and confiscate her wealth.
Dara designs and builds a clever trap for the ministers, and she is reunited with Rith. Reviewers praised the book for its clever and scientifically minded princess. Sara Lissa Paulson noted in School Library Journal: “The clearly written and easy-to-follow plot makes this story a wonderful choice for struggling readers, with the added bonus of STEM themes.” Meanwhile, a Kirkus Reviews writer liked the brightly colored illustrations that reinforce the story and called it a “happily-ever-after with a STEM feminist twist: how very timely.”
Eden Summer
Flanagan published her debut young-adult novel, Eden Summer, in 2017. In Yorkshire, England, tattooed skinny goth girl Jess Mayfield and wealthy and tanned Eden Holby are sixteen-year-old best friends. Both girls are coming off traumatic events at the end of the summer. Jess was the victim of a brutal beating from gang members, and Eden’s sister died in a car accident and has been acting erratically ever since. When Eden goes missing, Jess is determined to find her and enlists the help of Eden’s boyfriend, Liam. In flashbacks, Jess realizes that the two girls have not shared all their secrets, and digging into the past may reveal unwelcome issues. “Part mystery, part romance, Flanagan surpasses the boundaries of these categories with finely crafted psychological portraits,” declared Debbie Carton in Booklist. In the book’s afterword, Flanagan says she wrote the book to show empathy and solidarity to those who have suffered a hate crime.
A Publishers Weekly contributor noted how the time-stamped chapters “add a sense of urgency while the author carefully fills in the gaps of the narrative,” and Flanagan reveals information slowly, leaving readers guessing until the end. According to a Kirkus Reviews writer, “While some readers will appreciate the straightforward winding up of the many loose ends, others may find the conclusion too neat.” Nevertheless, the writer said the book had high drama and was a riveting read. “Though the novel is suspenseful,” School Library Journal reviewer Suzanne Gordon believed the English setting and British elements will disorient American readers.
In a review in School Librarian, Joy Court called the book “an astonishingly accomplished debut novel that combines a page-turning thriller with a real emotional depth and truth,” adding that the characterization and dialog feel true and the book provides an emotional read that captures the power of friendship. Eden Summer “is a wonderful young adult novel about trauma and its effect on not only the traumatized person but on those around them,” said Barbara Cothern online at Portland Book Review. On the Bookbag website, Nigethan Sathiyalingam remarked that “it was refreshing to see a plot that didn’t rely on occasional spurts of terrible decision-making from the characters for direction. The story felt real and organic, and the emotional beats struck all the more strongly for it.” Moreover, the characters are vividly drawn out, and the plot offers a heartfelt exploration of friendship, according to Sathiyalingam.
Praising Flanagan’s writing style, Elisha Jachetti said online at YA Books Central: “Not only does her prose have a lyrical quality to it, but it also invokes vivid imagery, so much so that I had an easy time imagining all the various settings and people Flanagan describes in this book.” Jachetti also enjoyed the flashback structure of the novel and heightened suspense Flanagan generates by withholding certain information until just the right time. A contributor to the Books for Keeps website observed that “there is acute sensitivity in Flanagan’s insights into traumatic experiences; and also in the portrayal of the main male character (not often a feature of YA fiction focussing on young women).”
BIOCRIT
PERIODICALS
Booklist, May 15, 2017, Debbie Carton, review of Eden Summer, p. 49.
Kirkus Reviews, September 1, 2013, review of Starlight Grey; August 15, 2014, review of Dara’s Clever Trap; April 1, 2017, review of Eden Summer.
Publishers Weekly, May 1, 2017, review of Eden Summer, p. 59.
School Librarian, autumn, 2016, Joy Court, review of Eden Summer, p. 190.
School Library Journal, January, 2015, Sara Lissa Paulson, review of Dara’s Clever Trap, p. 71; June 1, 2017, Suzanne Gordon, review of Eden Summer, p. 107.
ONLINE
Bookbag, http://www.thebookbag.co.uk/ (February 1, 2018), Nigethan Sathiyalingam, review of Eden Summer.
Books for Keeps, http://booksforkeeps.co.uk/ (February 1, 2018), review of Eden Summer.
Liz Flanagan Website, http://lizflanagan.co.uk (February 1, 2018), author profile.
Portland Book Review, http://portlandbookreview.com/ (August 18, 2017), Barbara Cothern, review of Eden Summer.
YA Books Central, http://www.yabookscentral.com/ (August 9, 2017), Elisha Jachetti, review of Eden Summer.
Liz profile 2014 by Sarah Mason
book covers
Widdop girls
I grew up in Hebden Bridge, West Yorkshire, and moved back here ten years ago so my daughters could grow up in this beautiful landscape too.
Blake Dean panorama by Lee Richardson Foster
I am studying for a PhD in Creative Writing: Teen Fiction at Leeds Trinity University. I'm very lucky to have YA novelist Martyn Bedford as one of my supervisors. I get to work mainly at home, so I can spend tea breaks with my border terrier and the chickens in the back garden.
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Till recently, I ran Lumb Bank, The Ted Hughes Arvon Centre. This fantastic job meant supporting a fresh batch of writers every week, hosting literary evenings, talking books, making meals, and juggling all the unpredictable and varied tasks that come with managing an historic building. Witnessing the transformations that so often happen during an Arvon week was a real joy.
Lumb Bank with school children
south coast sunshine
Liz profile 5 super lo res.jpg
Before that I lived in London and Brighton, and worked in children’s book publishing for many years. The scariest moment as a commissioning editor was appearing on The Richard and Judy Show to promote a writing competition, in front of two million viewers. Other career highlights include working as an Artistic Assessor for Arts Council England; teaching English to Japanese women in Brighton; and waitressing in Paris while speaking fairly terrible French.
Eden Summer & Arvon – Liz Flanagan
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One evening in March, I found myself sitting in the guest reader’s chair at Lumb Bank, facing a group of teenage writers, with butterflies in my stomach. I was about to read from my debut novel Eden Summer. I was about to read a scene set at Lumb Bank: about my teenage character’s experience of reading in that very spot. It couldn’t get more cyclical if a novelist had made it up. You see, Arvon has been there, all through my writing life…
photo credit: www.sarahmasonphotography.co.uk
photo credit: www.sarahmasonphotography.co.uk
The story begins in September 1990. Just starting an English A-Level, I went to Lumb Bank, along with my friend Helen. Two students from each school in the area were offered the chance of an Arvon course, and by some lovely stroke of luck, we were both chosen. It was a wonderful week, taught by Berlie Doherty and John Latham. The weather was golden and perfect. In retrospect, I see how that has crept into Eden Summer – also set in September, with scenes at Lumb Bank… I remember the delight of writing all morning. I remember the thrill of hearing Berlie’s not-yet-published young adult novel Dear Nobody, which later won the Carnegie medal.
Then I seemed to forget about Arvon for a while – I wish I hadn’t! I lost writing confidence in my twenties, working as an editor and tending other people’s words. I want to go back and whisper in my ear, ‘You can write, too. Remember Arvon?’
I started writing again in my thirties, when I was on maternity leave. I wrote stories for my daughters. Now working as a freelance editor, I was commissioned to write texts for picture books and non-fiction books. Slowly, my confidence and my writing skills developed. In 2007, I went to Totleigh Barton to spend a week working on my first novel. It never got published, but I was inspired to keep going.
Then, in 2008, I went to work at Lumb Bank as Centre Director. I can honestly say I loved that Lumb.004job like no other. I loved opening that massive front door and welcoming a new group of writers every Monday. I loved meeting my favourite writers, and dreaming up courses and combinations that would appeal to Arvon’s writers at all stages of their careers. I loved listening to all that creative talk, breathing it in, and witnessing the transformations that happened for people there. I loved the building itself, and that green valley, constantly changing through the seasons. I even loved the astonishing variety of the work: how any given day might involve cooking a meal for twenty, fitting three fresh lightbulbs, finding lost memory sticks, and hosting a Q&A with the poet laureate…
And the Arvon courses I attended in that time! Magical weeks at all the other Arvon centres – writing poetry at Totleigh Barton with Jen Hadfield; working on a second novel at The Hurst with Maggie Gee and Jonathan Lee. There were setbacks too: novels rejected, false starts and misguided directions. But I simply would not have continued writing without the support and encouragement of Arvon tutors.
I left Lumb Bank in 2013 and focused on my writing full-time for a while. I had some children’s folktale retellings published with Barefoot Books, and I started a Creative Writing PhD at Leeds Trinity University, working on my third novel Eden Summer.
I’m very grateful to Natasha Carlish, Centre Director at The Hurst, for taking a chance on me and inviting me there as guest speaker last year for a Children’s Fiction week taught by Elen Caldecott and Jonny Zucker. By lovely coincidence, I’d just heard that Eden Summer would be published by David Fickling Books. That evening, I described all the stepping stones on my writing journey, very pleased to end the story with this good news!
And then, coming full circle, I went back to Lumb Bank this March, to meet a group of Year 9 Eden coverstudents from Northgate High in Suffolk. I walked up through the woods, re-treading what had once been my daily commute. I sat in the tutors’ cottage, very warmly welcomed by Stephen May and Rebecca Goss. I looked at the students round that huge dining table, through layers and layers of memory, remembering how I’d sat there with my friend back in 1990, remembering all the nights when I’d hosted the dinner and researched the guest speaker, ready to introduce them.
This time, it was my turn to read. I was nervous because it was the first time I’d read my book to the teenagers who are my audience. But the students’ reactions were fantastic. Their questions were insightful. I was more moved than I could say. This is why I write, I realised – for those readers, for that response. And the really exciting question is, what will they go on to write?
After the reading, I waited under a crisp starry sky for my taxi to take me down the hill, listening to the sounds of the valley at night: the river and the tawny owls. I savoured the moment, feeling extraordinarily grateful. Arvon has been there all my writing life, and I will look forward to the next chapter…
Eden Summer will be released on July 7th and is available for pre-order here.
Liz Flanagan
lizflanagan.co.uk
@lizziebooks
Liz Flanagan
Teaching Fellow in Creative Writing
Email: liz.flanagan@ncl.ac.uk
Personal Website: http://lizflanagan.co.uk/
Address: Room 2.05
School of English Literature, Language and Linguistics
Percy Building
Newcastle University
Newcastle upon Tyne
NE1 7RU
UK
Research
Teaching
Publications
My interdisciplinary research interests include creative practice and the writer- as-researcher; creative writing pedagogy; and young adult and children’s literature;
My practice-led doctoral research examined the process of writing creatively for young adults with reference to my novel Eden Summer. It went on to explore the defining characteristics of YA literature, and how they affect the process of writing it.
I am currently editing my second novel, for publication in 2018.
Flanagan L. Eden Summer. Oxford: David Fickling Books, 2016.
Flanagan L. Dara's Clever Trap. 2014.
Flanagan L. Cara and the Wizard. Bath: Barefoot Books, 2013.
Flanagan L. Starlight Grey. Bath: Barefoot Books, 2013.
http://www.ncl.ac.uk/elll/staff/profile/lizflanagan.html#publications
iz Flanagan
Picture
Liz writes young adult novels and is currently studying for a PhD in Creative Writing at Leeds Trinity University. She lives in Hebden Bridge with her husband, two daughters, a border terrier and a small flock of chickens.
Until recently Liz ran The Ted Hughes Arvon Centre at Lumb Bank, hosting creative writing courses at that beautiful house all year round – including some weeks when the snowdrifts meant sledging food down the lane so the writers didn’t starve.
Before that, she lived in London and Brighton, and worked in children’s book publishing for twelve years. Her scariest moment as a commissioning editor was appearing on The Richard and Judy Show to promote a writing competition, in front of two million viewers. Other career highlights include working as an Artistic Assessor for Arts Council England; teaching English to Japanese women in Brighton; and waitressing in Paris while speaking fairly terrible French.
Liz's debut novel for Young Adults EDEN SUMMER was published in the UK in July 2016 by David Fickling Books
Early praise for EDEN SUMMER:
“A breathless read”
Guardian’s ‘best new children’s books’ round-up
“Readers will be hooked by this raw and emotional read”
The Sun
“A truly gripping plot ... beautiful, emotionally rich writing.”
The Bookseller
“Flanagan has a real ability to write from the heart, frankly and honestly, in a way that teens will love.”
Book Trust
"A top notch contemporary read... The lush, lyrical quality of [Flanagan's] writing reminded me of Jandy Nelson”
The Bookbag
"A powerful exploration of the extraordinary power of friendship, both truthful and intense. It's that rare and wonderful thing, a thriller of the heart, written from the heart, and it hits home straight to the heart."
Melvin Burgess
"Dazzling, gripping, leaves you gasping for air"
Brian Conaghan
“Very compelling”
Crime Review
“Liz Flanagan plays a blinder in this stunning debut ... a beautiful, heart-rending tale ... The rugged, awe-inspiring countryside of West Yorkshire plays a starring role in this tense, highly-charged journey through adolescent friendship, loss, betrayal, bullying, tragedy and self-discovery ... A powerful, gripping debut from a talented new author”
Lancashire Evening Post
“A really outstanding debut”
Teens on Moon Lane
“The perfect fast-paced mysterious book to round off your vacation ... Think ‘Pretty Little Liars’, full of flashbacks, tension, and confusion in the best possible way."
United by Pop
"Bound to stick around in the back of your mind for months”
Sugarscape
Blog reviews:
“An excellent thriller with vibrant, emotionally driven characters and a superbly written backdrop” - Words from Darren blog and YouTube video
"I was gripped from the beginning and didn't put it down until I finished” - The Reader’s Corner blog
"A story that I needed to follow to the end” - Luna’s Little Library blog
"An incredibly powerful book” - JazzyFizzle blog
“A bittersweet but uplifting novel about how to go on after your world has been irreversibly changed” - Young Writers North blog
“Exceptional… keeps you guessing to the end” - Calderdale Libraries YouTube review
"A perfect example of the brilliance of UKYA” - Overflowing Library blog
"A compellingly, beautifully poignant read” - Crime Warp blog
“Told with a sure hand, an emotional heart, and a sense of conviction that doesn’t waver… an immensely strong debut novel” - Armadillo
“A beautifully gritty novel, which scrapes at your insides to hollow you out and then fills you back up again.”
“You can't quite help but feel changed ... This summer, this is the book you want by your side.” - Weaving Pages blog
Liz also writes short fiction - her short story Come Fly With Me was published in the For Books' Sake YA anthology (RE)SISTERS in January 2016 - and also for younger children - her early reader retellings of international folk tales: Starlight Grey and Cara and the Wizard are both published by Barefoot Books.
You can find out more about Liz at lizflanagan.co.uk and follow her on Twitter: @lizziebooks.
Rights Sold
EDEN SUMMER
Italian - De Agostini
North America - Scholastic Inc
Germany - Aladin
RIGHTS HELD BY DAVID FICKLING BOOKS
Evans, Kathryn. More of Me
Anne Keller
Voice of Youth Advocates.
40.1 (Apr. 2017): p69+. From Book Review Index Plus. COPYRIGHT 2017 E L Kurdyla Publishing LLC http://www.voya.com
Full Text:
2Q * 2P * M * J * S
Evans, Kathryn. More of Me. Amulet/Abrams, 2017. 320p. $17.95. 978-1-4197-2372-8.
Teva, sixteen, has a genetic abnormality which causes her to unwillingly clone herself each year when a new replica violently emerges from her body. The new Teva takes over the life of the previous version until the process repeats itself in one year. The younger sister versions, named by their age, live confined to their house where they never grow older. Teva's current boyfriend, Ollie, has no idea that his girlfriend last year was actually Fifteen. Her best friend, Mandy, does not know she has been friends with a different version of Teva every year since childhood. Teva struggles to keep her home life a secret while feeling guilty as she lies to everyone. When the newest clone shows signs of breaking free, Teva decides to finally seek help for her condition, even if it means exposing the truth.
While the storyline may attract readers, the lack of character development, Teva's uneventful life, and the simplistic writing style provide an unremarkable read. Readers wanting to know more about the sister clones will be disappointed. Throughout the novel, readers are waiting for the big reveal regarding the backstory, but it turns out to be anticlimactic. During a major storyline revelation, characters' reactions seem unconvincing and phony. The story is partially redeemed by Fifteen's determination to reclaim Ollie in the name of love which is entertaining and admirable. While the topic could make for an interesting conversation, the novel fails to deliver and should be considered a secondary purchase.--Anne Keller.
QUALITY
5Q Hard to imagine it being better written.
4Q Better than most, marred only by occasional lapses.
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3Q Readable, without serious defects.
2Q Better editing or work by the author might have warranted a 3Q.
1Q Hard to understand how it got published, except in relation to its P rating (and not even then sometimes).
POPULARITY
5P Every YA (who reads) was dying to read it yesterday.
4P Broad general or genre YA appeal.
3P Will appeal with pushing.
2P For the YA reader with a special interest in the subject.
1P No YA will read unless forced to for assignments.
GRADE LEVEL INTEREST
M Middle School (defined as grades 6-8).
J Junior High (defined as grades 7-9).
S Senior High (defined as grades 10-12).
A/YA Adult-marketed book recommended for YAs.
NA New Adult (defined as college-age).
R Reluctant readers (defined as particularly suited for reluctant readers). (a) Highlighted Reviews Graphic Novel Format
(G) Graphic Novel Format
Source Citation (MLA 8th Edition)
Keller, Anne. "Evans, Kathryn. More of Me." Voice of Youth Advocates, Apr. 2017, p. 69+.
PowerSearch, http://link.galegroup.com/apps/doc/A491949534/GPS?u=schlager& sid=GPS&xid=51d961c6. Accessed 27 Jan. 2018.
Gale Document Number: GALE|A491949534
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More of Me
Publishers Weekly.
264.19 (May 8, 2017): p62. From Book Review Index Plus. COPYRIGHT 2017 PWxyz, LLC http://www.publishersweekly.com/
Full Text:
More of Me
Kathryn Evans. Amulet, $17.95 (320p) ISBN 978-1-4197-2372-8
Almost every year around her birthday, Teva Webb's cells divide, and an older version of herself emerges, leaving behind a growing trail of dejected younger clones while the new Teva assumes life as usual. In this highly inventive look at the ever-evolving self, Teva's current 16-year-old incarnation is determined to stop the process; she's also dodging her doctor-averse mother and her manipulative 15-year-old self, who is demanding to be released to see their boyfriend (the clones are kept hidden at home to protect Teva's secret). Debut author Evans's visceral descriptions of the new Teva clawing her way out of the old give the physiologically bizarre premise credibility ("There, next to my bandaged little finger, the ring finger was sporting two nails. Nausea swirled through me"), and the tale serves as an allegory for mental illness while challenging social stigmas and bigotry. At its base, though, it's a relatable look at growing up, negotiating changes in one's body and personality, and learning to accept one's present self and honor one's past. Teva just has a more literal view of the subject than most. Ages 13-up. (June)
Source Citation (MLA 8th Edition)
"More of Me." Publishers Weekly, 8 May 2017, p. 62. PowerSearch, http://link.galegroup.com
/apps/doc/A491949165/GPS?u=schlager&sid=GPS&xid=802df148. Accessed 27 Jan. 2018. Gale Document Number: GALE|A491949165
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Evans, Kathryn: MORE OF ME
Kirkus Reviews.
(Apr. 1, 2017): From Book Review Index Plus. COPYRIGHT 2017 Kirkus Media LLC http://www.kirkusreviews.com/
Full Text:
Evans, Kathryn MORE OF ME Amulet/Abrams (Children's Fiction) $17.95 6, 13 ISBN: 978-1-4197-2372-8
Each year, a new version of Teva grows inside her and forces her way out, leaving her discarded self to join their earlier versions; this Teva, 16, won't let that happen. The blonde, blue-eyed, white Tevas live with their single mother. To maintain the fiction that Mom has just one child, only the latest Teva is permitted to leave the house and attend school. The younger girls are docile, but Fifteen is jealous that her successor has appropriated her South Asian best friend, Maddy, and boyfriend, Ollie, and, furious, schemes to reunite with him. Teva's consumed with guilt at the freedom only she has, while fearful of the time when she too will be displaced. Unlike Fifteen, she's drawn not to Ollie but to Tommo, a classmate whom she tutors in English in return for his help in a textiles project. (Both boys are attractive but racially ambiguous, implying a white default.) Teva researches her condition and, to that end, creates a blog under a fake name, to preserve the secrecy her mother insists on. At the same time, she's haunted by a growing fear that her younger versions might not exist outside her own mind. The promising high concept is hampered by slack pacing, an oddly flat emotional tone (more Gossip Girls than Carrie), and cliched, by-the-numbers romance complete with mean girls, college-application angst, and unwarranted focus on the minutiae of high school routine. The book is a British import, and both language and setting have been Americanized. A nifty premise that falls short of its potential. (Science fiction. 13-16)
Source Citation (MLA 8th Edition)
"Evans, Kathryn: MORE OF ME." Kirkus Reviews, 1 Apr. 2017. PowerSearch,
http://link.galegroup.com/apps/doc/A487668528/GPS?u=schlager&sid=GPS& xid=bc92fc87. Accessed 27 Jan. 2018.
Gale Document Number: GALE|A487668528
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More of Me
Caitlin Kling
Booklist.
113.17 (May 1, 2017): p71. From Book Review Index Plus.
COPYRIGHT 2017 American Library Association http://www.ala.org/ala/aboutala/offices/publishing/booklist_publications/booklist/booklist.cfm
Full Text:
More of Me. By Kathryn Evans. June 2017.320p. Abrams/Amulet, $17.95 197814197237281. Gr. 9-12.
Teva has more on her mind than the average 16-year-old. As she explains on her blog, "I've got a condition that doesn't even have a name, but eventually, it'll rob me of my future. Imagine all your friends growing up, moving on, and you being stuck in one year of your life." Each year on her birthday, a genetic anomaly causes Teva's cells to painfully split, producing a clone. But only the new clone ages, so all ofTeva's previous selves live together, resenting each new year's clone who gets to take over as the acting Teva at school. Fifteen is especially angry and will stop at nothing to get her boyfriend back from the new Teva. Evans' neatly packed narrative is unique among science fiction--it is foremost a profound, complex examination of how we relate to our own history. Teva finds accessible truth in the uncanny: we don't need to be defined by our past (or even current) selves, but we can be shaped and changed by them.--Caitlin Kling
Source Citation (MLA 8th Edition)
Kling, Caitlin. "More of Me." Booklist, 1 May 2017, p. 71. PowerSearch,
http://link.galegroup.com/apps/doc/A495035134/GPS?u=schlager&sid=GPS& xid=ca3c9f87. Accessed 27 Jan. 2018.
Gale Document Number: GALE|A495035134
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Evans, Kathryn. More of Me
Nancy Jo Lambert
School Library Journal.
63.5 (May 2017): p102+. From Book Review Index Plus.
COPYRIGHT 2017 Library Journals, LLC. A wholly owned subsidiary of Media Source, Inc. No redistribution permitted.
http://www.schoollibraryjournal.com/
Full Text:
EVANS, Kathryn. More of Me. 320p. Abrams/ Amulet. Jun. 2017. Tr $17.95. ISBN 9781419723728.
Gr 8 Up--Teva is 16 and on the 16th version of herself. Every year, a new and slightly older clone rips out of the previous version. In her house live her younger selves, Twelve, Thirteen, Six, Seven, and Eight. Fifteen was the last one, and she is angry that Teva has taken over her relationship with her boyfriend Ollie and her best friend Maddy. Teva is more than six months from the new iteration, but she is already feeling the new Teva stirring inside. She tries to determine exactly what her genetic abnormality is, find a way to stop it, and keep her teenage social life together. A romantic entanglement arises involving Teva, Fifteen, and Ollie as well as a new love interest. While the plot is engaging and Teva's problem is certainly intriguing, much of the story is wrapped up in the protagonist's social drama instead of in the more sci-fi elements. There are several threads in the narrative, and ultimately it ends satisfactorily. The writing throughout is excellent, and readers will easily be able to take in the story despite the Briticisms. Realistic fiction fans will connect to Teva and will be drawn in enough to want to read the conclusion. VERDICT A solid first purchase for larger collections looking to add a sci-fi tale with realistic fiction elements.--Nancy Jo Lambert, Reedy High School, Frisco, TX
Source Citation (MLA 8th Edition)
Lambert, Nancy Jo. "Evans, Kathryn. More of Me." School Library Journal, May 2017, p. 102+.
PowerSearch, http://link.galegroup.com/apps/doc/A491032162/GPS?u=schlager& sid=GPS&xid=7c2f4517. Accessed 27 Jan. 2018.
Gale Document Number: GALE|A491032162
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Evans, Kathryn: More of Me
Sue Polchow
School Librarian.
64.2 (Summer 2016): p118. From Book Review Index Plus. COPYRIGHT 2016 The School Library Association http://www.sla.org.uk/school-librarian.php
Full Text:
Evans, Kathryn
More of Me
Usborne, 2016, pp332, 6.99[pounds sterling] 978 1 4749 0302 8
[ILLUSTRATION OMITTED]
Teva is running out of time, she is fighting against herself for her future survival. On the surface she appears a normal teen with best friend, school work and a boyfriend, but at home hides an incredible secret. For there are eleven other Tevas living there who each represent one year of her life all hidden by their single Mum. Each year Teva must separate into two as a new Teva that has been growing inside her, fights painfully to break out. The host body Teva then stays at the same age and is forced to become a recluse at home with all the other Teva's in her case watching resentfully whilst the newly hatched Teva takes her identity and her boyfriend. But this time it's different and she will not give her old life up without a fight. Meanwhile the new Teva longs to have a future that lasts more than a year and begins to have career aspirations and looks for answers to what is happening to her. She finally discovers the horrific truth and the traumatic climax does bring about a resolution for her and her family but at a price. This thought provoking novel expertly weaves science fiction and genetics with romance whilst also exploring through strong characterisation of all the past selves what makes us different as we grow from child to teen.
Source Citation (MLA 8th Edition)
Polchow, Sue. "Evans, Kathryn: More of Me." School Librarian, Summer 2016, p. 118.
PowerSearch, http://link.galegroup.com/apps/doc/A457107172/GPS?u=schlager& sid=GPS&xid=0867f608. Accessed 27 Jan. 2018.
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Eden Summer
Debbie Carton
Booklist.
113.18 (May 15, 2017): p49. From Book Review Index Plus.
COPYRIGHT 2017 American Library Association http://www.ala.org/ala/aboutala/offices/publishing/booklist_publications/booklist/booklist.cfm
Full Text:
Eden Summer. By Liz Flanagan. June 2017. 288p. David Fickling, $18.99 (9781338121209); e-book, $ 11.99 (9781338121216). Gr. 9-12.
Gorgeous, wealthy Eden Holby and scrawny goth girl Jess Mayfield have been best friends since girlhood and have seen each other through wrenching experiences: Jess was attacked by a gang of bullies and badly beaten, and Eden's older sister, Iona, recently died in a car accident. But on the first day of their senior year, Jess arrives at their school in rural Yorkshire to discover that Eden is missing. So begins a series of cleverly constructed flashbacks, interspersed with the present-time search, which reveal both girls' backstories, leading to the current precipice of a triangular romantic entanglement with Eden's boyfriend, Liam. While the stories themselves are compelling, the writing reaches a deeper level when readers revisit a writing workshop held in a cottage once owned by poet Ted Hughes. Here we finally see the depths of Eden's grief and guilt, and fully understand the relationship between the girls. Part mystery, part romance, Flanagan surpasses the boundaries of these categories with finely crafted psychological portraits, slightly marred by a tonally jarring ending.--Debbie Carton
Source Citation (MLA 8th Edition)
Carton, Debbie. "Eden Summer." Booklist, 15 May 2017, p. 49. PowerSearch,
http://link.galegroup.com/apps/doc/A496084855/GPS?u=schlager&sid=GPS& xid=45395398. Accessed 27 Jan. 2018.
Gale Document Number: GALE|A496084855
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Eden Summer
Publishers Weekly.
264.18 (May 1, 2017): p59. From Book Review Index Plus. COPYRIGHT 2017 PWxyz, LLC http://www.publishersweekly.com/
Full Text:
Eden Summer
Liz Flanagan. Scholastic/Fickling, $18.99 (288p) ISBN 978-1-338-12120-9
Sixteen-year-old best friends Jess Mayfield and Eden Holby have enjoyed a lot of good times, but lately they've needed to support each other through some very difficult events. When Eden goes missing from their Yorkshire tourist town, Jess realizes that she may not know everything about Eden. Written like a mystery, Flanagan's tense debut novel interweaves the stories of two tortured girls, each with her own secrets, who use their unwavering friendship as a shield against the world. After Eden disappears, Jess must confront her own demons--a random attack that keeps her recoiling from human contact and a budding crush on someone who she knows is out of bounds--in order to find her. The story is structured over the course of a day, and the time- stamped chapter headings add a sense of urgency while the author carefully fills in the gaps of the narrative. Flanagan is careful not to reveal too much too soon, leaving readers guessing as to what really happened to Eden until the very last page. Ages 12-up. Agent: Ben Illis, Ben Illis Agency. (June)
Source Citation (MLA 8th Edition)
"Eden Summer." Publishers Weekly, 1 May 2017, p. 59. PowerSearch, http://link.galegroup.com
/apps/doc/A491575368/GPS?u=schlager&sid=GPS&xid=2ba0a4c8. Accessed 27 Jan. 2018. Gale Document Number: GALE|A491575368
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Flanagan, Liz: STARLIGHT GREY
Kirkus Reviews.
(Sept. 1, 2013): From Book Review Index Plus. COPYRIGHT 2013 Kirkus Media LLC http://www.kirkusreviews.com/
Full Text:
Flanagan, Liz STARLIGHT GREY Barefoot (Children's Fiction) $7.99 10, 1 ISBN: 978-1-84686-778-1
This early-reader adaptation of a Russian story reads like a "Cinderella" tale but casts a third- born son as its protagonist. Ivan does good on his promise to his dying father to sit by his grave after he dies, and he also takes the place of his older brothers in the vigil when they are too frightened to stay true to their word. As a reward for his bravery and loyalty, the father's ghost gives Ivan a magic bridle that ends up helping him win the princess's hand in marriage even though he isn't as handsome, rich or successful as his brothers or the other knights who compete in the challenge she sets forth. The story is broken up into short chapters, which will support new readers' progress through the text, but sentence length, typeface and some vocabulary may prove challenging. Illustrations will doubtlessly help clarify the story, though a key plot detail that has Ivan passing through the ears of his magical horse, Starlight Grey, is not depicted in the art. Ultimately, the fresh fairy-tale content of the story will likely motivate readers to puzzle through its delivery even if it's not just the right fit for their skills A title for confident emerging readers interested in new princess and knight stories. (Early reader/folk tale. 6-8)
Source Citation (MLA 8th Edition)
"Flanagan, Liz: STARLIGHT GREY." Kirkus Reviews, 1 Sept. 2013. PowerSearch,
http://link.galegroup.com/apps/doc/A341243601/GPS?u=schlager&sid=GPS& xid=d7b8f939. Accessed 27 Jan. 2018.
Gale Document Number: GALE|A341243601
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Flanagan, Liz: DARA'S CLEVER TRAP
Kirkus Reviews.
(Aug. 15, 2014): From Book Review Index Plus. COPYRIGHT 2014 Kirkus Media LLC http://www.kirkusreviews.com/
Full Text:
Flanagan, Liz DARA'S CLEVER TRAP Barefoot (Children's Picture Books) $7.99 10, 1 ISBN: 978-1-78285-103-5
Princess Dara is no damsel in distress. In this early reader chapter book based on a Cambodian tale, "The Story of Princess Amaradevi," the princess Dara is a Renaissance woman with talents in music, writing, painting, law, science and engineering. She meets her match in Rith, a young man who is "also very skilled at planning and drawing." They work on a project in Dara's father's kingdom, and they fall in love and marry. Unfortunately, three conniving ministers in the kingdom find the couple's surprise plans for a summer palace for the king, and while Dara is away, they falsely label them as "King Rith's Palace." The king is fooled by their ruse and banishes Rith. Dara is devastated when she returns and determines to clear her husband's name. When the three ministers each ask for her hand in marriage, she sees through their pretenses and conspires with her maid, Chenda, to trick them. Drawing upon her engineering skills, she succeeds and presents evidence of their malfeasance to her father, who sends them away and reunites her with Rith. Brightly colored acrylic-and-graphite illustrations reinforce the developing plot and have a naive quality that suits the folkloric sensibility of the story. Happily-ever-after with a STEM feminist twist: how very timely. (Early reader. 6-8)
Source Citation (MLA 8th Edition)
"Flanagan, Liz: DARA'S CLEVER TRAP." Kirkus Reviews, 15 Aug. 2014. PowerSearch,
http://link.galegroup.com/apps/doc/A378247321/GPS?u=schlager&sid=GPS& xid=75784aa7. Accessed 27 Jan. 2018.
Gale Document Number: GALE|A378247321
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Flanagan, Liz: EDEN SUMMER
Kirkus Reviews.
(Apr. 1, 2017): From Book Review Index Plus. COPYRIGHT 2017 Kirkus Media LLC http://www.kirkusreviews.com/
Full Text:
Flanagan, Liz EDEN SUMMER David Fickling/Phoenix/Scholastic (Children's Fiction) $18.99 6, 27 ISBN: 978-1-338-12120-9
A British teen still recovering from her own trauma is wracked with panic when her closest friend goes missing. Tattooed, pierced Jess and golden, tanned Eden are on the surface an odd pair. Yet the best friends have had each other's backs for years--even more so in the wake of a brutal beating Jess sustained at the hands of strangers and the recent death of Eden's older sister in a car accident. Flashbacks are strategically placed throughout the contemporary narrative, which takes place over the course of just one day, very effectively drawing out the suspense. Eden's binge drinking and wildly unpredictable behavior since her sister's death have left Jess very unsure of her friend's state of mind. Her quick decision to duck out from the protection of her loving and understanding mum and set out with Eden's boyfriend, Liam, to look for her propels the novel forward. While some readers will appreciate the straightforward winding up of the many loose ends, others may find the conclusion too neat. Main characters Jess, Eden, and Liam are white, and several secondary characters are black. Jess' mum is a lesbian; her dad has remarried, and Jess has two biracial (black/white) stepsisters. High drama and a breathless pace make this a riveting read. (Thriller. 14-18)
Source Citation (MLA 8th Edition)
"Flanagan, Liz: EDEN SUMMER." Kirkus Reviews, 1 Apr. 2017. PowerSearch,
http://link.galegroup.com/apps/doc/A487668574/GPS?u=schlager&sid=GPS& xid=de9cce08. Accessed 27 Jan. 2018.
Gale Document Number: GALE|A487668574
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Flanagan, Liz. Eden Summer
Suzanne Gordon
School Library Journal.
63.6 (June 1, 2017): p107. From Book Review Index Plus.
COPYRIGHT 2017 Library Journals, LLC. A wholly owned subsidiary of Media Source, Inc. No redistribution permitted.
http://www.schoollibraryjournal.com/
Full Text:
FLANAGAN, Liz. Eden Summer. 288p. Scholastic/David Fielding Bks. Jul. 2017. Tr $18.99. ISBN 9781338121209.
Gr 9 Up--Through time-stamped chapters, this British import focuses on one painful day in the life of its protagonist, Jess. She's back at school after a summer spent comforting her best friend Eden in the wake of Eden's older sister Iona's fatal car crash. Flashbacks reveal how lona was killed as well as other pivotal moments in the teens' lives, including Eden's frightening and unexplained disappearance. Only slowly does Jess come to understand why everyone in the school yard is gossiping and why Eden's mom drove by in tears. Readers will start filling in blanks about referenced incidents: Eden's party while her parents were away, Jess's guilt about Eden's boyfriend Liam, and the new boy with whom Eden heads off during the substance-infused party. The police have been mobilized, so Jess and Liam are both sent home to be interviewed by detectives trying to track down the erratic teen. Jess's mother expects her to wait for the police, but the girl laces her shoes and heads out in search of answers about her missing companion. VERDICT Though the novel is suspenseful, the use of Briticisms, the English setting, and other unfamiliar elements might deter American readers, who may feel as though they're driving on the other side of the road.--Suzanne Gordon, Lanier High School, Sugar Hill, GA
Source Citation (MLA 8th Edition)
Gordon, Suzanne. "Flanagan, Liz. Eden Summer." School Library Journal, 1 June 2017, p. 107.
PowerSearch, http://link.galegroup.com/apps/doc/A493916122/GPS?u=schlager& sid=GPS&xid=f37c0680. Accessed 27 Jan. 2018.
Gale Document Number: GALE|A493916122
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Flanagan, Liz: Eden Summer
Joy Court
School Librarian.
64.3 (Autumn 2016): p190. From Book Review Index Plus. COPYRIGHT 2016 The School Library Association http://www.sla.org.uk/school-librarian.php
Full Text:
Flanagan, Liz
Eden Summer
David Fickling, 2016, pp277, 10.99 [pounds sterling] 978 1 910989 07 4
[ILLUSTRATION OMITTED]
This is an astonishingly accomplished debut novel that combines a page-turning thriller with a real emotional depth and truth. Our flawed narrator Jess has been through a terrible life changing experience but survived thanks largely to the support of her best friend Eden. But now Eden has disappeared and because this follows shortly after the death of Eden's sister Iona there is the automatic assumption that she has taken her own life. Jess will not accept this: 'My best friend is too alive. Too everything. She can't just disappear. What happens to all her Eden-ness? What the hell happens to me without her?' Her physical search through the beautifully described countryside of West Yorkshire is matched by re-tracing the steps of the past summer. The reader and Jess discover together just what Eden's summer has been like and we also discover what happened to Jess and watch her gradual coming to life again. This is done so skilfully it makes for a mesmerising emotional read that really captures the power of friendships, the impact of loss and betrayal and the satisfaction of growing to self awareness. The characterisation and dialogue feel utterly true. A highly recommended read that performs the remarkable feat of appealing to your literary novel fans and to those who like crime and romance.
Source Citation (MLA 8th Edition)
Court, Joy. "Flanagan, Liz: Eden Summer." School Librarian, Autumn 2016, p. 190.
PowerSearch, http://link.galegroup.com/apps/doc/A463755558/GPS?u=schlager& sid=GPS&xid=f83c995d. Accessed 27 Jan. 2018.
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Dara's Clever Trap: A Story from
Cambodia
Sara Lissa Paulson
School Library Journal.
61.1 (Jan. 2015): p71. From Book Review Index Plus.
COPYRIGHT 2015 Library Journals, LLC. A wholly owned subsidiary of Media Source, Inc. No redistribution permitted.
http://www.schoollibraryjournal.com/
Full Text:
Dara's Clever Trap: A Story from Cambodia. adapted by Liz Flanagan. ISBN 9781782851035. LC 2013031137.
--. The Princess of the Springs: A Story from Brazil, adapted by Mary Finch. ISBN 9781782851011. LC 2013031107.
ea vol: illus. by Martina Peluso. 48p. (Princess Stories). Barefoot Books. 2014. Tr. $7.99.
Gr 1-3--Princess stories for emerging readers are high in demand, and refreshingly, this new series features a diverse cast of princesses from around the world. Dara's Clever Trap, set in Cambodia, is the standout title. Princess Dara is an architect and falls in love with another architect, Rith. Evil arises from the jealous ministers who frame her husband and try to marry her for her riches. Using her problem-solving skills, Dara creates a mechanical trap that saves the day. The clearly written and easy-to-follow plot makes this story a wonderful choice for struggling readers, with the added bonus of STEM themes. The chapter-book length will also appeal to readers who are ready to move into longer books. Digitally rendered illustrations, enhanced with a warm palette and deft shading, support the text and aid in comprehension. Both titles are well designed and include a visual table of contents. The Princess of the Springs, set in Brazil, has less of a sense of place and is a bit more difficult to follow due to the lack of proper names. Everyone except the princess is a giant or giantess, either of the Sun, the Moon, or the Wind. Three significant plot points occur--a kidnapping, a remarriage, and the abandonment and rescue of the princess's son. The events transpire too quickly and are not illustrated with the same attention to detail as in the first tale. While The Princess of the Springs doesn't quite hit the mark, Dara's Clever Trap is a solid choice for classroom or school libraries.--Sara Lissa Paulson, The American Sign Language and English Lower School, New York City
Source Citation (MLA 8th Edition)
Paulson, Sara Lissa. "Dara's Clever Trap: A Story from Cambodia." School Library Journal, Jan.
2015, p. 71. PowerSearch, http://link.galegroup.com/apps/doc/A443055277 /GPS?u=schlager&sid=GPS&xid=13eceef7. Accessed 27 Jan. 2018.
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BOOK REVIEW: ‘Eden Summer’ by Liz Flanagan
June 13, 2016 11:00 am
Out 7th July 2016
Click here to visit the author’s website
Reviewed by Elizabeth Gibson
Features 2The word ‘summer’ in the title of a YA novel is often an indicator of something sunny, fluffy and coming-of-age. Eden Summer is very different. In place of sun we have the ever-changing weather of Yorkshire and in place of fluff we have a sad but poignant story, one that is not a coming-of-age tale in the traditional sense. Jess, our protagonist, has already come of age, in a manner; she has survived a terrible incident that has led to her having a wisdom beyond her years. The novel’s aim appears to be to examine what happens after that; after a life-changing incident. This is what makes Liz Flanagan’s début really interesting.
Jess goes to school one day to find her best friend Eden missing. Soon a manhunt is underway, the level of concern of all involved no doubt heightened by the fact that Eden recently lost her sister. Jess is at first infuriated at how the school failed to support Eden properly following that loss, just as they failed Jess after her own life-altering event. After berating her teachers Jess decides the only thing she can do is search for Eden herself. A keen fell-runner, Jess scales hills, clambers up waterfalls and, most importantly, mentally retraces her steps throughout the last summer she and Eden spent together, looking for clues.
Jess is a fresh and believable narrator. Eden begins as a standard shallow school beauty but reveals other facets of her personality over the course of the novel. Eden’s late sister Iona is also an intriguing character. Past and present are blended together expertly, with nature and landscape playing a crucial role. The novel is bookended with snowy scenes – the same scene, really – that are among its most striking.
Love is a major part of the story: both the power of love and the different forms it can take. Jess’s mother is gay and has a girlfriend, and it isn’t a big deal – it’s just there in the background. It’s also refreshing to see friendship identified as being equally as potent as romance, perhaps at times more so. Jess appears to understand Eden far better than Eden’s boyfriend, Liam. The love between sisters is also explored, with a spotlight on the often fraught relationship between teenage sisters.
One element that jars a little are the views about writing and writers expressed by Jess. They aren’t the kind of thing a teen would say, and feel like the author using her protagonist as a mouthpiece. Jess shows no interest in writing most of the time but then says rather dark things about the likes of Ted Hughes and Sylvia Plath, which doesn’t really ring true. The section about tarot cards also seems out of place in the wider story. On the whole, however, Eden Summer is a bittersweet but uplifting novel about how to go on after your world has been irreversibly changed. I’m greatly looking forward to seeing what Liz Flanagan comes up with next.
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david fickling
eden summer
Elizabeth Gibson
Eden Summer by Liz Flanagan
Eden Summer by Liz Flanagan
Category: Teens
Rating: 4.5/5
Reviewer: Nigethan Sathiyalingam
Reviewed by Nigethan Sathiyalingam
Summary: The combination of emotionally intense prose, lush setting and cleverly structured narrative makes Eden Summer one of the top YA contemporaries of the year so far.
Buy? Yes Borrow? Yes
Pages: 277 Date: July 2016
Publisher: David Fickling Books
External links: Author's website
ISBN: 9781910989074
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Best friends for longer than they can remember, Jess and Eden have always been there for each other, through the good and the bad, though there's been a lot more of the latter over the last year. They've needed each other for support more than ever. But now, Eden is missing. The police are on the case, but Jess is wracked with worry. Overwhelmed by grief, Eden hasn't been herself all summer, her behaviour erratic and often veering towards the dangerous. Desperate to find Eden, Jess takes the search into her own hands. As she makes her way through the West Yorkshire countryside, she finds herself retracing the summer she and Eden spent together, digging up buried memories and secrets in the hope that they might yield some insight into where her friend might be.
The main storyline takes place over the course of the day Eden is reported missing, but there is constant flitting back and forth in time as the backstory is gradually brought to light through flashbacks, not necessarily presented in chronological order. We slowly learn more about the traumatic year that both girls have had, and how Eden's boyfriend Liam fits into everything. The cleverly structured narrative lends itself to a taut and riveting read that had me pretty hooked throughout its course.
While the overarching plot was perhaps a tad predictable, I was also pleasantly surprised at various points by how the author deftly avoided some of the classic pitfalls of the genre. In particular, it was refreshing to see a plot that didn't rely on occasional spurts of terrible decision-making from the characters for direction. The story felt real and organic, and the emotional beats struck all the more strongly for it. Jess is a hugely likeable and sympathetic protagonist, and I really adored the nature of her friendship with Eden. Both characters are vividly drawn out, and it's the beautiful and heartfelt exploration of their friendship that forms the beating heart of the story. Although the romantic aspect of the book doesn't quite hit the mark in the same way, the boys in the story do have a bit more substance to them than the typical Young Adult love interest cliché. Furthermore, the combination of the emotional storyline and lush setting of the West Yorkshire countryside could easily have veered the writing into the realms of purple prose, but aside from a few small patches, this wasn't a problem.
All in all, a top notch contemporary read, and a wonderful YA debut for Liz Flanagan!
Thank you to the publishers for sending a copy to TheBookbag.
The lush, lyrical quality of Liz Flanagan's writing reminded me of Jandy Nelson's style at times; her debut novel, The Sky is Everywhere remains one of my favourite YA contemporaries of all time, and I also adored I'll Give You The Sun. Meanwhile, Since You've Been Gone by Morgan Matson and Beautiful Broken Things by Sara Barnard both feature strong female friendships front and centre. Finally, I would also highly recommend Sarah Skilton's excellent teen contemporary, Bruised, which explores many similar themes to Eden Summer.
Buy Eden Summer by Liz Flanagan at Amazon You can read more book reviews or buy Eden Summer by Liz Flanagan at Amazon.co.uk.
Buy Eden Summer by Liz Flanagan at Amazon You can read more book reviews or buy Eden Summer by Liz Flanagan at Amazon.com.
Eden Summer by Liz Flanagan
by Barbara Cothern on August 18, 2017
Jess Mayfield’s Monday starts out as any other: rushing to school and looking to find her best friend, Eden Holby. But this Monday was not like any other – Eden had gone missing and it’s not clear whether she was taken against her will or left on her own. Soon Jess finds herself talking to police and revisiting every memory she has of Eden to try to find some clue to her whereabouts. She finds herself teaming up with Eden’s boyfriend – and Jess’s long-time crush, Liam Caffrey in the search for Eden. As they look, Jess learns some truths about Eden and about herself that will change things forever.
Publisher: David Fickling Books
Formats: Hardcover, Paperback, eBook, Kindle
Purchase: Amazon | IndieBound | iBooks
Eden Summer by Liz Flanagan is a wonderful young adult novel about trauma and its effect on not only the traumatized person but on those around them. Eden and Jess both have their own trauma and both deal with it in different ways. Jess’s trauma comes from something that was done to her, and Eden’s from what she did to her sister. Their reactions to the trauma are also different – Jess turns inward and into herself while Eden acts out. The book nicely examines the healing process and how it can look different for everyone. The writing is well done and the characters of Jess and Eden feel alive throughout the book. The reader is immediately immersed in their world and their story. Overall this is a very satisfying book about trauma, friendship, and, ultimately, hope.
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Rating
Our Rating
Overall Rating
Total Score
Mystery, Crime & Thriller, Reviews, Young Adult
Barbara CothernDavid Fickling BooksLiz Flanagan
About the Author
Barbara Cothern
Barbara Cothern lives near Portland with her husband and three cats. She is most often found with a book in her hand and several back-ups in her bag. She loves that her day job allows time for reading between projects. She has been passionate about books and a fan of the fantasy genre since her mom read The Chronicles of Narnia to her when she was five. When not reading, Barbara enjoys spending time with her husband, watching movies, going to concerts, cooking, knitting and playing video games. Her favorite part about reviewing books is introducing people to wonderful but less publicized books.
Eden Summer Featured
4.3
0.0 (0)
386 0
Eden Summer
Author(s)
Liz Flanagan
Publisher
David Fickling Books
Genre(s)
Contemporary thriller
Age Range
14+
Release Date
July 07, 2017
ISBN
9781910989074
IT STARTS like any other day for Jess – get up, draw on eyeliner, cover up tattoos and head to school. But soon it’s clear this is no ordinary day, because Jess’s best friend, Eden, isn’t at school . . . she’s gone missing. Jess knows she must do everything in her power to find Eden before the unthinkable happens. So Jess decides to retrace the summer she and Eden have just spent together. But looking back means digging up all their buried secrets, and she starts to question everything she thought Eden’s summer had been about ... A tense and thrilling journey through friendship, loss, betrayal and self discovery.
Editor reviews
1 reviews
Overall rating
4.3
Plot
4.0 (1)
Characters
4.0 (1)
Writing Style
5.0 (1)
August 09, 2017
Elisha Jachetti, Staff Reviewer Elisha Jachetti, Staff Reviewer
Top 100 Reviewer
View all my reviews (53)
Overall rating
4.3
Plot
4.0
Characters
4.0
Writing Style
5.0
Eden Summer
EDEN SUMMER by Liz Flanagan is a rollercoaster of a novel. In this contemporary young adult book, Jess’ best friend, Eden, has gone missing. Eden’s disappearance is the cherry on top of other devastating events Jess has lived through. Refusing to face any more heartache, Jess is determined to find Eden before the worst happens. Teaming up with Liam, Eden’s estranged boyfriend and Jess’ secret crush, the pair search all the places Eden could be. As memories from the past begin to resurface and new information comes to light, Jess wonders if she really knew Eden as well as she thought. Perhaps, she didn’t even know her at all.
Liz Flanagan is a masterful writer. It is obvious just from the first sentence of the book how strong her command of the English language is. Not only does her prose have a lyrical quality to it, but it also invokes vivid imagery, so much so that I had an easy time imagining all the various settings and people Flanagan describes in this book. Equally exciting is the structure of this novel, which is informed largely by lengthy flashbacks in time. By withholding certain information, Flanagan is able to heighten the suspense and the air of mystery. The flashbacks she wrote also always feel relevant and relate to the present storyline in a very synergistic way.
Though the bulk of the book is very exciting, the ending reads a bit anticlimactic. Honestly, I was hoping for a bigger twist in the final scenes. With that being said, the culmination of the story is still satisfying enough to forgive the lack of surprise.
Overall, EDEN SUMMER is a visually stunning novel with fun chapter headings, font, and page breaks that reads just as beautiful as its shell. It is a heavy story and not for those looking for a light and bubbly tale. Fans of whodunit mysteries and thrillers will be pleased.
Eden Summer
Liz Flanagan
(David Fickling Books)
274pp, 978-1910989074, RRP £10.99, Hardcover
14+ Secondary/Adult
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On the surface, they’ve got little in common. 15 year old narrator Jess shows up at school wearing ‘paint-spattered boots loosely tied with red laces, only slightly torn leggings, black hoodie with sleeves pulled down over my tattoos’; she’s a bit of a Goth. Eden’s all ‘shiny blonde hair and long tanned legs’; she even looks good in the ‘crappy green school shirt that makes everyone [else] look sick as a dog’. Yet they are the closest of friends; ‘Eden gave me what I needed, before I even knew what it was’.
Little by little, their friendship is explored. They have grown up in the same town; in all but name, it’s Hebden Bridge (Liz Flanagan’s home town), with its Yorkshire hills and local features such as the Ted Hughes Arvon Centre at Lumb Bank, where the author worked for four years. Jess and Eden attend a writing course at the Centre which is so revelatory to each of them that the experience needs 20 or more pages. They like the same lad too; Eden’s with Liam at the moment, while Jess is keeping quiet about her feelings. Above all, both wrestle with past and present. Within the last year, they have each had life-jolting experiences. Jess comes to see that they have both been 'stuck in pain and fear. Too stuck to speak up and be seen'.
Things start with the biggest of bangs. Eden disappears one night in September, just as the new school year is starting. She’d been out with Liam, but no-one admits to seeing her since. The kids at school, the Head, police, parents – everyone’s on at Jess, threatening her fragile stability; it will be a while before we learn the source of her issues. The pressure on Jess is intense; she can escape only through her fell running, roaming free over the moors. She’s convinced she can find Eden, knowing her ways, her favourite places, her history, her friends and enemies. This is powerful stuff and although David Fickling is marketing the novel as a thriller, it is a search of their inner selves for both girls, as much as a hunt for a missing person.
The anxious present is interrupted, and illuminated, by numerous extended flashbacks. This is Liz Flanagan’s debut novel, written as part of her PhD in Creative Writing. You’d hope her examiners rewarded her for the ambition of her narrative structure, even though its complexity may challenge some readers; I needed a second reading to be sure of the chronology of events. Within the flashbacks, there are some familiar YA ingredients; a couple of parties, some drugs and drink, viciously spiteful students at school, even the kind of empathetic English teacher we first met in Kes long ago. But there is also Flanagan’s impressively individual voice: an excruciating account of six or eight drunken youths, male and female, beating up their victim under a late-night railway bridge; sharply observed visits to a tattoo parlour and a reader of Tarot Cards; a chance discovery of a family secret that suddenly seems to make the inexplicable plain; a tragic death.
So, in contrast to the urgent search in the present, the story of how Jess and Eden have been damaged unfolds slowly. Sometimes, Flanagan delays explanations to the reader when her characters are already in the know – a technique which may please some readers while others might think the tension contrived, rather than the inevitable consequence of events. More importantly, there is acute sensitivity in Flanagan’s insights into traumatic experiences; and also in the portrayal of the main male character (not often a feature of YA fiction focussing on young women). The author’s afterword mentions that she ‘wrote this book from a place of empathy and solidarity for anyone who has experienced a hate crime’. A sense of such immediacy informs the novel.