Children’s / Teenage personal and social topics: Body and health

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Book Synopsis

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Book Synopsis

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Book SynopsisA groundbreaking picture book on depression with stunning and powerful illustrations.Trade ReviewI'm not sure how to review Night Shift without making it personal. Stories that focus on depression are, much like depression themselves, deeply personal. I can't read this book, look at the illustrations, without making comparisons to my own experiences. So sometimes I will think "yes this is me" and other times "no I don't feel like that". Depression is unique to the individual and while traits can be shared or similar for many I don't think it's possible for one story to ever be universal. This might come across as negative but it really isn't. Debi Gliori's has written and drawn a beautiful and dark map. It is because of the illustrations (which I think have a bigger impact because they aren't tied down by words) that this book connects so much. Night Shift is very effective and for a book so contained it's powerful. * Luna's Little Library *In only a few pages, with beautiful black and white drawings, Gliori brings home the misery of her existence in the grip of depression. Much like Haig's book, it helps convey how it feels to be depressed. The unrelenting nature of it, the desperate feeling that nothing matters. The book has a hopeful, forward-looking ending. It's perfect to give to somebody when you can't put into words how you are feeling. * Geek Dad *I thought this was a beautiful, brave and poetic book. With exquisite brevity, Debi Gliori articulates the struggle of living with depression, in stunning black and white illustrations, punctuated by a single burst of the dragon of depression's fire. Books like this are immensely important, so that the many children, teenagers and adults going through similar night journeys through the fog of illness, can feel that they are not alone in their struggles. The spread where 'something shifted' and the depression lifts, is moving beyond words. * Cressida Cowell *Gliori's words and illustrations capture something that 'there is no language for' and include a reminder that there might not be a knight in shining armour but at some point, there will be a shift. So creatively diverse and clever books like Night Shift are a great way of communicating the effects of depression through metaphor. * Sarah's Chapter *A hugely personal book drawn from Debi's own experiences, and putting her amazing writing and illustration skills to brilliant use. Do not miss this one. It's a vital addition to your bookshelf * Read it Daddy *such a creative way of sharing what depression is like... she makes visible the invisible and I for one want to thank her for that. * Kit Kats Can Read *a beautiful and important picture book for older readers...this is a book that instantly feels special and appropriate to the subject. A poignant, empathetic and ultimately hopeful book * School Library Journal *it finishes with a little message of hope that the depression will not last forever as she stops seeing dragons but starts to see seabirds flying overhead instead. Despite its small size and only taking a few minutes to read, the book is quite a powerful and moving personal expression of depression and a worthwhile quick read. * British Journal of General Practice *Gliori uses stark language and somber charcoal-like artwork to reflect on the weight and intensity of depression. * Publishers Weekly *A picture book about depression? Sounds like a terrible idea, but Gliori's slim volume vividly elucidates her "dragons" and the "night skills" she uses to cope. * People Magazine *In a small-format picture book aimed at a teenage and adult audience, Gliori (Side by Side) uses stark language and somber charcoal-like artwork to reflect on the weight and intensity of depression * Publishers Weekly *this little book stands out as being astoundingly poignant and sincere...This small (nearly pocket-sized) book is gorgeous-from the cover to the silver feathered endpapers to every dark-hued illustration and perfectly chosen word. Just gorgeous. This gentle, hopeful, deeply affecting book shows how all-encompassing, devastating, and difficult to articulate depression can be....For those of us who battle our own dragons, this book is a delicate and empathetic reminder that we're not alone and that, somewhere in all this darkness and fear, there is a strand of hope and a way forward. Profound in its simplicity and its honesty. * Teen Librarian Toolbox *I really thought this book was beautiful. Gliori's illustrations were not only beautiful, they were impactful and inspiring. As someone who does not have depression and has never experienced the full impact of what it can do, I thought this book really informed me of what others face everyday. Her journey through her hardships really spoke to me and her message of hope and healing was so beautiful * Liv The Book Nerd *Night Shift is a rare beast, a picture book aimed at young adults that functions somewhat as a guide through difficult times. This book is a novel weapon for banishing the darkness * INIS Reading Guide *Night Shift by Debi Gliori is an impressive, well considered articulation of what it means and how it feels to be depressed. A sophisticated picture book forged from fog, shaped from shadows and drawn out of darkness, it gives voice to that which often remains voiceless and can isolate. Listlessness and lack of colour is captured by the black and white illustrations, punctuated occasionally by volatile red. There's a looming, oppressive mood as muscular, hollow-eyed dragons - almost parasitic in nature - become metaphors for the condition. The triumph of the book is the way it uses verbal and visual language to shine a light onto the condition, enabling this to be better explained, shared and to contribute an endpoint to some of the loneliness and stigma that often accompanies it, offering some hope without losing power or falling into platitudes * Books For Keeps *Illustrated perfectly to match what the book is about * Teen Titles *

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Book SynopsisThe heartwarming new novel from the sparkling Laura Dockrill, introducing Bluebelle, and her moving, hilarious take on food, body image and how we look after ourselves and others. It's a food diary.Trade ReviewLaura Dockrill is a very talented writer -- Mhairi McFarlaneBig Bones is the book I wish I'd had as a teenager and Bluebelle is a friend I wish I had today. Laura has written a beautiful love letter to some of the most important things in life: friends, family and food. -- Lindsey KelkA celebration of food sisterly love and what it means to be teen today, Big Bones had me laughing out loud * The Sun *I loved this character so much, she is a total breath of fresh air, an inspiration and we could all do with taking a lesson from her. I recommend this for every single person * Edel's Book Blog *As energising as a super food salad, as satisfying and nourishing as your favourite home-cooked meal, this delectable novel about feeling comfortable in your own skin has been prepared with sisterly love and comes served on a bed of inspiration. Stuffed with lashings of laugh-out-loud loveliness (just wait until you read about Bum Tills...), relatable real-life truths and love in all its complicated, dizzying forms (food-love, friend-love, sisterly-love, boy-love, self-love), this is, quite simply, the best YA book about self-esteem and body image I've ever read * Lovereading *this book is a real lesson in loving yourself and ignoring what people thing! BB's confidence is inspiring! * Shout Magazine *It was so deeply refreshing to read about a young woman who had utter confidence in how she looked, seeing sexy in muffin tops and belly rolls. It shows how ingrained it is, for me at least, to be in a space where we expect young women to hate how they look, as I found myself continually having my head pulled up but this novel surprise. Bluebelle is a pleasure to spend time with, and the story of her family, the navigation of the 'from child to adult' years, and be relationship with food are all equally absorbing. Pull up a seat at her table and tuck in! * Dogeared Reads *Laura Dockrill has such a unique writing style and her poetic freshness is a joy to behold. One second, you are laughing big belly laughs at her turn of phrase, and the next, you are crying There is so much food for thought in Big Bones, making it a book for teenagers to savour, and, above all, enjoy. Adult readers may wish they'd had the book to accompany them when they were teenagers, too * Booktrust *Big Bones is a book with a big heart * The Skinny *First of all, I LOVED the body positivity in Big Bones. It's a topic that I feel isn't addressed enough in YA fiction and it should be. Why shouldn't we all learn to love our bodies? Bluebelle's admiration for her own body was inspirational - young girls will read this book and hopefully realise that they don't need to be stick thin to be beautiful. Granted, BB was a fictional character but in my mind she is a beautiful young woman. Big Bones was an entertaining read and shows you the importance of loving yourself, looking out for family and friends and finding out what really matters. It's a book that helps bring out body positivity in a unique way and the character of BB will certainly stick with me for a long time * Amy's Bookish Life *An excellent story celebrating food and health and body positivity from the witty and relatable Bluebelle * Emily Jade Books *Overall, this is a great read... great for all young adults, yet also for people of all ages who just love food. The body positivity messages which stem from this book are simple: love your body, treat it well and feed it well * Romantics, Rebels and Reviews *Dockrill, who is also known for her performance poetry, captures the cadences of contemporary teenage life brilliantly * Irish Times *this book touched me in a way that I wasn't expecting. Don't let the light hearted cover fool you, this book will hit you hard. But I'm so glad that I read it, there is an overwhelmingly body positive message spread by Dockrill's novel which I think is important for many to read * Yorkshire Post *As energising as a superfood salad, as satisfying and nourishing as your favourite home-cooked meal, this delectable novel about feeling comfortable in your own skin has been prepared with sisterly love and comes served on a bed of inspiration * LoveReading 4 Kids *This book's message- about not only being yourself but about the importance of being comfortable in your own skin and knowing your own worth- is one that, as a feminist and a young woman myself, I strongly feel that every young girl needs to hear in a world increasingly dominated and torn apart by Photoshop, Instagram filters, eating disorders, self doubt and self hatred. Everyone should be a little kinder to themselves, and a little more BB. Take my advice, and read this book not only for its empowering message, but also for its humour and its heart * The Fairy Dust Book Blog *A love song to food and the acceptance of your own body . . . Moving and hilarious -- Beth Goodyear * The Scotsman *Glorious... a paean to feasting, family and good care of the self... Irresistibly hilarious and original, it shows Dockrill's enormous rhapsodic charm * The Guardian *A love song to food and the acceptance of your own body... Moving and hilarious * The Scotsman *Laura's writing is fabulous, it flows well, is beautifully descriptive - even foods I don't like/haven't tried I wanted to - and so so funny! * Bulletproof Scarecrow *I loved this book from beginning to end. I wish I'd had it to read as a teenager because Bluebelle would have been my absolute hero. This book was fun to read from beginning to end, I cared deeply about every character and I loved feeling like part of Bluebelle's family for a short while. I would recommend this book to anyone who has been a teenager concerned about their body (so probably most people!). Bluebelle's confidence is infectious and inspiring * Cosy Reading Nest *Teens will love BB's authentic, frank, funny tone, and inspirational levels of self-confidence, self-love, and self awareness. Young adults will love the no-shame approach, immersive narrative, and real, honest feel. Parents will love the related struggle of BB's mother who feels responsible for her daughter's weight, health and emotional wellbeing * Happiful Magazine *A body-positive book for the next generation, Big Bones follows Bluebelle, aka Big Bones, aka BB. A bold, beautiful, confident girl who accepts herself for who she is - wobbly bits and all - Dockrill's most recent novel presents teens with an inspiring young woman we all wish we had been * Happiful Online *I love how 'Big Bones' took me on this journey of self-reflection while also providing a very honest and refreshingly real story to read. Y'all should also pick it up. Plus, it gets bonus points for being SO BEAUTIFUL to take photos of. * The Copper Boom *Bluebell is extremely confident (something i wasn't) and she adores herself, which is great to read. However there are comments to her being wary people are looking at her and judging her and a little bit of paranoia. That was a really great touch that normalizes those thoughts but also shows that you can be confident and happy with yourself * The LIttle Contemporary Corner *BB's devil may care attitude and all round swag made her a bonefide girl crush character for me. She could teach us all a few tricks on upping our body confidence * The Book Geek Boutique *I would recommend picking this up and giving it a chance to grow on you if you're looking for something that really celebrates food and bodies, being a girl and growing up * Scriven Books *I honestly loved reading this book. It feels like a real lesson on self love and you feel like BB is really a part of your life for that short time. It was sad, happy, enlightening and heartwarming to read and I wish that I had read it when I was younger * Max and Mummy *Such a hilarious and thought provoking read, with the most amazing descriptions of food that I've ever read. It's a great contribution to the discussion on body image and body positivity, and I highly recommend giving it a read * Julia's Bookcase *Beneath the humour and bravado there's a lot for readers to think about, and valuable cues for discussions about self-esteem, body image and differing societal expectations for girls and boys * Armadillo Magazine *Big Bones is a fun filled novel about body image, delicious food and the 21st century lifestyle of a teen. It has the perfect amount of body positivity and self-worth * Library Looter *Brilliant and funny and delicious. I loved it -- Jade Anouka * Big Issue *I loved Big Bones because of the message it had to say about body positivity and being true to yourself. It made me laugh a lot. If you do read this be prepared to read with snacks because every page will make you hungry * The Overflowing Library *An awesome read * Teen Titles *

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Book SynopsisA groundbreaking picture book on depression with stunning illustrationsTrade ReviewNight Shift is a category-challenging book and this, I think, is one of its most important qualities. Giving permission for adults to engage with difficult and emotionally draining issues through the medium of a picture book is both innovative and oddly enough a piece of plain common-sense - if this is the best way to confront the topic at hand then there's no good reason not to use that format. * The Letterpress Project *Beautiful illustrations highlight the pain of depression... it's so important that books like this exist * Morley Observer *

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Book SynopsisMost teenagers worry about their body and appearance at some point, and some may try to alter their eating in order to change their weight or shape. If you are spending a lot of time worrying about how you look or what you are eating, it can become overwhelming and have a big impact on your life. The aim of this book is to help you to understand a bit more about these worries, what you can do about them and, most importantly, how you can develop a healthy relationship with your body and with food. If these worries take hold, there is a risk of developing an eating disorder or becoming depressed. Eating disorders can have a huge and negative impact on your physical health, your emotional wellbeing, your relationships and social life. They can take control of your mind and body, which makes it difficult to feel motivated to recover, and it can be a long and difficult journey to get back on track, so it''s better to tackle these worries early on. Written

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Book SynopsisHani''s spent her whole life training to be a great athlete, just like her grandma. But what if that''s making her ill? Join Hani and her friends as she tackles her Bulimia and tries to figure out who she wants to be. One thing''s for sure: the girls of Hopewell High will take on everything boarding school can throw at them... together!Bloomsbury High Low books encourage and support reading practice by providing gripping, age-appropriate stories for struggling and reluctant readers, those with dyslexia, or those with English as an additional language. Printed on tinted paper and with a dyslexia friendly font, Eat Cake and Run is aimed at readers aged 12+ and has a manageable length (80 pages) and reading age (9+). Produced in association with reading experts at CatchUp, a charity which aims to address underachievement caused by literacy and numeracy difficulties.Book band: Grey

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Book Synopsis''I''m just a nitwit girl who''s sort of stumbling through life learning that we all have our own roads to walk - but that it''s still valuable, and rather lovely, to hear about other people''s journeys...''Filled with honesty, wit and wisdom, Fully Functioning Human (Almost) - part memoir, part life guide - will show you the real Melanie Murphy: warm, fun, positive, honest, a girl who''s got this whole adult thing down. Almost. Irish YouTuber Melanie Murphy regularly chronicles the ups and downs of her life on her popular channel, discussing topics such as sexuality, skincare, social media and self-esteem. Now, in her first book, she looks with her trademark humour and down-to-earth honesty at the experiences that have shaped her.From learning how to manage her online life, to giving up on the idea of perfection, living with anxiety and the lessons she has learned about relationships, Mel shows us that difficult times can teach us

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Book Synopsis''I''m just a nitwit girl who''s sort-of stumbling through life learning that we all have our own roads to walk - but that it''s still valuable, and rather lovely, to hear about other people''s journeys . . . '' Growing up in an online age, becoming an internet sensation with half a million followers on her YouTube Channel, Irish girl Melanie Murphy''s journey has been far from ordinary. Here, in her first book, she shares the ups and downs of her life. From dealing with online bullying, to living with anxiety and eating disorders to coping with acne and coming to terms with her sexuality, Melanie shows us how through difficult times we can learn the most about ourselves. And that, by learning to value and love ourselves, we can overcome whatever life throws at us.Trade ReviewA perfect guide to life for teenagers. Open, honest and comprehensive * Irish Examiner *

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Book SynopsisDid you know that Ancient Egyptian priests ate food that damaged their hearts? From cannibals to rations, fasting to tapeworms, this book uses fascinating facts and stories to help children understand the historical, scientific and social aspects of our weird and wonderful diets.

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Book SynopsisMatthew writes books for Usborne about all sorts of subjects, including history, science and Planet Earth. Before he did this, he studied English at university and worked for the BBC where he made funny radio programmes. He lives in London and spends his weekends visiting its many museums and exploring different parts of the city.

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Book SynopsisWhether diagnosing diseases, performing life-saving surgery or fighting a pandemic, doctors do a huge variety of jobs. Join them in remote research stations, operating theatres, medical laboratories and hospitals to discover what they do and why it's so important. From heart transplants to investigating a crime scene, you'll encounter all kinds of examples of doctors' extraordinary everyday work. And at the back of the book, there's a glossary of medical terms, diagrams of the body's bones and organs, plus information on what to do if you want to become a doctor yourself one day.

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Book SynopsisTrade Review“When hope is a fragile thread, love is a miracle.” —Tammara Webber, New York Times bestselling author of Easy “Raw, honest, unflinching and unforgiving, Barely Breathing will take your emotions for a ride and deliver an ending you didn’t see coming” —Tracey Garvis Graves, New York Times bestselling author of On the Island

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Book SynopsisGlory is a Deviant. That is what she was always taught, growing up in the domed city of Haven. She has the power to kill with her gaze, but she's learned to control this power and use it only against the monstrous Shredders, who survive on the asteroid dust that mutated their DNA. Now living in a settlement Outside, Glory has the chance to embrace her Gift and reunite her remaining family. But she can't hide from the threat of Shredder attacks or the knowledge of what Management is doing to the employees of Haven. Can she face losing everything she has left to bring freedom to Haven? Will she choose the familiar safety of Cal's love or risk Burn's dangerous passion? Ultimately, Glory must decide how far she is willing to go to keep her family safe, and what it really means to be a monster. This is the thrilling finale to The Dust Chronicles trilogy.

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