sarah_faichney's reviews
891 reviews

Zombies are not my usual cup of tea at all but I was persuaded to read the book and I am so grateful for that. This book is beautifully written and is Mark's best work to date, in my opinion. Fans of The Hunger Games will love this. dEaDINBURGH fits perfectly in the young adult genre but is a book that transcends the barrier of age. Give it a go. I defy you not to love it. Excellent read.

Judging by the reviews, some people seem to miss the point of this book. It is a very tough read but it's one that should be pushed upon every adult in the country. The issues in this book are very real. There are many abused children in our midst. My hope is that this extremely well-written novel makes each of us more aware and alert. Many children don't have a voice. Many children just like Jude. Another important point is that bereavement in children is very often overlooked which can have far-reaching consequences. This novel is realism at its finest. Thank you for writing it, Caroline Smailes.

This is a 5 star novel with a 4 star rating because there are some issues with the editing which, I feel, need to be addressed. I felt that two of the characters names were mixed up at one point in the book and I found that really confusing (Jed and Jake). I'm frustrated to rate this only 4 stars as I really loved the story. It provided a fresh perspective on Thatcher's Britain (for those too young to remember her reign), the Miners' Strike and a stark look at the issues faced in communities across Scotland today, and throughout the world. The exploration of youth apathy is important and much-needed in the current climate. I am unsure as to whether this book was self-published as I couldn't find much info on Glenmill Publishing, but in the right hands this could be a big hit. I look forward to reading more of this writer's work.