Margot & Me

Description

Fliss's mum needs peace and quiet to recuperate from a long illness, so they both move to the countryside to live with Margot, Fliss's stern and bullying grandmother. Life on the farm is tough and life at school is even tougher, so when Fliss unearths Margot's wartime diary, she sees an opportunity to get her own back. But Fliss soon discovers Margot's life during the evacuation was full of adventure, mystery... and even passion. What's more, she learns a terrible secret that could tear her whole family apart...

Queen of Teen 2014 Juno Dawson is the multi award-winning author of dark teen thrillers Hollow Pike, Cruel Summer, Say Her Name and Under My Skin, written under the name James Dawson. In 2015, she released her first contemporary romance, All of the Above. Her first non-fiction book, Being a Boy, tackled puberty, sex and relationships, and a follow-up for young LGBT people, This Book Is Gay, came out in 2014. Juno is a regular contributor to Attitude, GT, Glamour and the Guardian and has contributed to news items concerning sexuality, identity, literature and education on BBC Woman's Hour, Front Row, This Morning and Newsnight. She is a School Role Model for the charity Stonewall, and also works with charity First Story to visit schools serving low-income communities. Juno's titles have received rave reviews and her books have been translated into more than ten languages. In 2015, Juno announced her transition to become a woman, having lived thus far as the male author James Dawson. She writes full time and lives in Brighton. Follow Juno on Twitter: @junodawson or on Facebook at Juno Dawson Books.

Beautiful, moving and witty * Cecilia Ahern, author of P.S. I Love You * Completely captivating and full of emotion * Lisa Williamson, author of The Art of Being Normal * Witty, intriguing and heartwarming * Non Pratt, author of Trouble * Dawson deftly intertwines stories from two generations to make an immensely readable whole...Dawson's understanding of adolescence and her attention to the details of different periods bring both protagonists stories sharply into focus and provide a satisfying emotional core, while a large cast and a busy plot drive the story along at a cracking pace. * Julia Eccleshare in The Observer * A family drama set in the not-so-far-away 1990s leadsto profound insights into our relationship with history when Fliss illicitly readsher grandmother Margot's Second World War diaries. Margot was once much likeher granddaughter: a bright, bossy, fashion-conscious young Londoner adjustingto life in rural Wales after a catastrophe . . . An account of Margot'spersonal losses make the wartime death toll real to Fliss, while the wise butspiky grandparent finds it easier to build bridges on paper than in person * Guardian * Is one of those stories that makes you feel special, like the author is sharing a secret with you. I would highly recommend this story to YA readers but also to historical fiction readers. Actually, scratch that. I highly recommend this story to everyone. I finished this story a couple of weeks ago already and I still find myself thinking about it constantly. A beautiful novel that will move many hearts. * Alba In Bookland * Margot & Me is Juno Dawson's best book to date. It was emotional and moving, I was sucked into the story and unable to put the book down. I loved the diary entries, it felt like they truly transported me back in time. It explored so many issues of the time; the racism and homophobia, as well as the everyday struggles of living during a time of war. * Reviews from a Bookworm * The perfect read for a Sunday afternoon * 100 Or Less * A well paced novel with adventure, mystery, tension and above all, love and hope. * Armadillo Magazine * Margot and Me is a book that should be read by the older generation, as well as the Young Adult audience that it's intended for. It'll open the eyes of those thinking teenagers are superficial and moody and make the younger audience realise that the older generation have experienced situations just like themselves and that they were young once! * A Book and Tea * When I was done reading, I just sat there clutching the book. I was tangled up in so many emotions, it took me a while to recover. It was such an intense book that buried so many secrets, I felt overwhelmed. That wasn't a bad thing, though. It means that Margot & Me truly embodied complexities of family, love, life, and more. The most poignant reminder I walked away with was this: We try so hard to steel ourselves and be numb to our feelings, that we end up forgetting what it means to feel anything at all. * Word Revel * There's depth to this book - I'm hesitant to spoil the story by revealing the many layers but there's so much to enjoy in there and think about. But be warned - this book is MOVING. I dissolved into sobs at chapter 26 on public transport. You will definitely need tissues. Juno Dawson's Margot And Me is a terrific, page-turning book for senior school kids and beyond. * My Book Corner * Margot & Me is a heart-wrenching, poignant novel, and I can't recommend it enough. If you enjoyed reading How Not to Disappear by Clare Furniss or Wing Jones by Katherine Webber, you should add Margot & Me to your TBR immediately. * Written Word Worlds * A brave and emotional novel covering topics such as family, love, death, bullying and more. I read Margot & Me in one sitting during a rainy day, and it was honestly the best book to curl up with. I became completely sucked into Margot's story, a bit like Fliss! With a few more bank holidays left this year, make sure to get your hands on a copy of Margot & Me, block out all non-urgent life commitments for a few hours and enjoy the journey you're taken on. * Famous in Japan * From the very first page of Margot and Me I was hooked by the main character, Fliss, and the smattering of nostalgic 90s references and I knew that this would be a book I wouldn't be able to put down. Sure enough I finished it in two epic sittings. In writing Margot and Me Juno set out to write a book that you would read curled up on the sofa, that would make you cry but leave you feeling rosy inside - and I can tell you that Juno has most definitely succeeded. * Sarah's Chapter * The people in both girls' lives are beautifully drawn and rounded, and their friendships, loves and heartbreaks make for an engrossing read. This is a wonderful book, suitable for readers of 12+, but it will be enjoyed just as much by adults as younger readers. I cannot recommend this book highly enough. * Historical Novel Society * Margot and Me had me laughing out loud (a rare feat) and ugly sobbing by the end. I can tell that this is going to be one I'll be rereading in the future, it was such a cosy read at the same time as being heart-stabbingly emotional. Grab a mug of tea and a box of tissues and you'll be all set to read my favourite release of 2017 so far. * Sarah's chapter * I highly enjoyed this read, not only did I laugh, I cried, I cringed and overall LOVED this book. Margot was a fantastic character because she wasn't your usual sweet and cuddly grandmother stereotype. She was tough as nails and had a real grit about her. Overall, I loved this book because of the heartbreak involved and the beautiful relationships along with the hard and negative ones. Another amazing book from the fabulous Juno Dawson, long may she reign as a YA must-buy author. * The BookMoo * Another fantastic book by Juno Dawson! Highly recommended. * Chrissi Reads * 'In equal parts hilarious and tearjerking, this beautiful coming of age story set across generations is recommended to all lovers of contemporary and historical fiction.' * School Librarian Journal * In equal parts hilarious and tearjerking, this beautiful coming of age story set across generations is recommended to all lovers of contemporary and historical fiction. * School Librarian Journal * Dawson is a marvellous storyteller, and the book is unputdownable * INIS Reading Guide * Delightfully nostalgic * Inis Reading Guide *