Jessica's Ghost by Andrew Norriss

I found Jessica's Ghost in the 'new books' section in my library, so I got a brand new copy. I wasn't sure about the storyline of this book at first because I'm not that interested in supernatural/sci-fi books anymore. I wasn't sure if I would like a book about a ghost.
BUT, it was awesome. It was not the usual type of ghost story and did not even seem like a supernatural book AT ALL! I'm so glad I was not totally put off and I decided to read it.

Jessica is indeed a ghost, who befriends outcast Francis and they have a great friendship. Jessica feels like she is really alive to us readers and not like a ghost at all, just as she does to Francis. They soon make friends with two other very different outcasts and the book follows their friendship, adventures, and secrets.

The book reveals an extremely sad underlying story - a sad secret problem shared between the group of friends. They open up together and find unique ways to solve their problem, only possible by the help of Jessica.

The story also about being different and that being different to most of the other people your age is ok, which the friends learn in the book. They are able to be great friends with each other even though they are all totally different.

Despite being sad, the book is also sometimes unexpectedly and subtlety comical, which made me smile.

I related to the sad story and it made me feel a lot of empathy for the characters and I felt really sad during the book. The theme was so sad and serious that I almost thought the book should come with a warning and maybe not appropriate for younger readers.

It was an amazing, heart-warming book and it made me feel less alone. It was a sad-but-happy book. Please read it!

(The picture is not my picture. I forgot to take a picture of the book before I returned it to the library, so I found one on Google!) 

A Library of Lemons by Jo Cotterill

I was excited to read A Library of Lemons because it had been recommended to me. I got it from my library as a brand new book. I loved the beginning section of the book, with it's book and literary references, especially the Anne of Green Gables references because I'm a huge fan of those books. I really thought Calypso and Mae were like a modern-day recreation of Anne and Diana which made me smile and excited! I am now reading Black Beauty after Calypso was reading it and I have never read it, so there are book recommendations in it too!! I love books so it was perfect for me.

I enjoyed the friendship between Calypso and Mae and I was so happy Calypso had made a friend who understood her and shared her interests in books because I know it can be difficult to find a friend who appreciates books too!

I felt really sad for Calypso with her relationship with her grief stricken father. The book was really good at conveying the empty, sad and cold feeling of their house and her own feelings.

I thought the lemons theme in the book was so different to any other book I've read and made it really interesting. The book was easy to read and I really enjoyed it.

I just wish I had found out more of what happened with the social services and how else they helped Calypso and her father. I kind of thought they could have done more to help but I suppose it was probably at appropriate level for a childrens' book.
This is a great book for anyone who loves books and I will definitely look forward to her next book.