Wish Me Dead by Helen Grant

The Blurb On The Back:

The funny thing is I never even meant the first one.
Now I bitterly regret visiting the cursed witch’s house, deep in the middle of the forest. It’s where I made my wishes.

I wished Kara Klein dead.
It came true.

I wished for the most gorgeous boy in town to finally notice me.
It came true.

I wished to be rid of the poisonous busybody who destroyed my family.
It came true.

I didn’t mean for this to happen. Not me, Steffi Nett, the shy one who never says anything. But as the body count increases with every wish I make … What else could it be?

( The Review (Cut For Spoilers): )

The Verdict:

Helen Grant’s thriller has creepy supernatural overtones and a good small town German setting, but the main character (though well written) was too passive for my taste and the plot itself was too slow and too predictable in developing. I would read more of Grant’s work, but this book didn’t do it for me.

WISH ME DEAD is released in the UK on 2nd June 2011. Thanks to Penguin for the ARC of this book.

Artichoke Hearts by Sita Brahmachari

The Blurb On The Back:

”What kind of someone could I let in to the mixed-up mind-maze that is me?”

Mira Levenson’s family is always chaotic – with a little brother and baby sister, busy parents and her artistic, outspoken grandma. She loves them all, but sometimes it feels like nothing is private. And the thing is … Mira does have secrets – her beloved Nana Josie is dying, she’s drifting away from her best friend, and she can’t stop thinking about mysterious, confident Jidé Jackson, who is definitely keeping some secrets of his own.

( The Review (Cut For Spoilers): )

The Verdict:

Sita Brahmachari’s debut MG novel is a beautifully written, warm and touching story about coming to terms with grief, first love and coming of age. It’s a brilliant story and I would heartily recommend reading it.

ARTICHOKE HEARTS was released in the UK on 7th January 2011. Thanks to the Amazon Vine Programme for the ARC of this book.