Kate O’Donnell’s debut novel, Untidy Towns, sets up an escapist fantasy, and then fills it with the reality of running away from your troubles.
Who hasn’t dreamed of abandoning school and clinging to the safety of home? When Adelaide walks out of her suffocating boarding school, she thinks she’s free to live her life however she chooses. However, she’s quick to find that reality isn’t that easy to hide from, and she isn’t as sure of what she wants as she thought.
Untidy Towns is a coming-of-age story that describes that turbulent time between childhood and adulthood. Adelaide returns home to discover that her hometown wasn’t frozen in time, waiting for her to come home; she’s changed, but so are the people she’s known her whole life. She has to learn to fit back into a world that has moved on without her.
The sense of doubt felt by everyone facing life after high school is prominent in this novel, with the disapproval from Adelaide’s family becoming almost tangible. Addie is in constant limbo between feeling scrutinised by her loved ones, and sticking to her decision. It’s a feeling familiar to anyone whose dreams are different to the expectations of the people around you.
Untidy Towns comments on the unique experience of adolescence. Ambitions change, and sometimes the path laid out isn’t always the right one. Adelaide’s journey is one that forces her to face the consequences of her own actions, but she does find rewards for staying true to herself.
O’Donnell encapsulates the adventure of first love in a way that’s rare for the young adult genre. The romance in this novel is not explosive or poetic – it starts off with two people who like each other, and simply keep finding things to like. It’s an honest reflection of how sometimes, love can be awkward and clumsy, but it’s worth it as long as both parties are willing to work for it.
Following a character who is trapped simultaneously in the past and the future, Untidy Towns is a great read for anyone who’s ever felt unsure of themselves.
Rick Riordan’s Percy Jackson series played a huge role in my love of Greek mythology – the modern take on heroes and myths make them easier for a young audience to understand, and there are plenty of Easter eggs for those who already know their myths. The Lightning Thief kicks off the series wonderfully, introducing …
Eoin Colfer’s bestselling middle-grade adventure mystery novels chronicle the lives of twelve-year-old Artemis Fowl. In the first Artemis Fowl novel, we meet our eponymous character, who is more devious and clever than most adults. The novel follows Fowl after he attempts to catch a fairy in order to obtain gold for ransom. His main motive …
Astrid Sholte’s novel combines urban fantasy and murder mystery in a setting that echoes the popular dystopian-style factions of young adult fiction, but with enough unique elements to make it stand out. The world of Four Dead Queens is reminiscent of fantasy, but instead of magic, there is strange and interesting technology that serves as …
Cally Black’s In The Dark Spaces is an immersive sci-fi thriller that features some incredible aliens and insightful thoughts on human nature. While it’s full of action and danger, the heart of the story revolves around family, morality, communication, and love in all its forms. Exposition is scarce, but this works in the book’s favour. [...]
Contagion by Teri Terry is a ticking time bomb of a novel, each chapter bringing the reader closer to the point of impact. This pre-apocalyptic dystopian novel set in Scotland follows two unique and compelling viewpoints; Shay, whose world is about to be changed forever, and Callie, who has seen everything but can communicate nothing. …
Courtney Summers’ well-written murder mystery is a modern take on the genre. Following the sister of a missing girl and the journalist trying to find her, Sadie’s format is unique, if a little confusing at times. The chapters written from Sadie’s perspective are in first person, but every second chapter is written as a script …
Book Review – Untidy Towns by Kate O’Donnell
Kate O’Donnell’s debut novel, Untidy Towns, sets up an escapist fantasy, and then fills it with the reality of running away from your troubles.
Who hasn’t dreamed of abandoning school and clinging to the safety of home? When Adelaide walks out of her suffocating boarding school, she thinks she’s free to live her life however she chooses. However, she’s quick to find that reality isn’t that easy to hide from, and she isn’t as sure of what she wants as she thought.
Untidy Towns is a coming-of-age story that describes that turbulent time between childhood and adulthood. Adelaide returns home to discover that her hometown wasn’t frozen in time, waiting for her to come home; she’s changed, but so are the people she’s known her whole life. She has to learn to fit back into a world that has moved on without her.
The sense of doubt felt by everyone facing life after high school is prominent in this novel, with the disapproval from Adelaide’s family becoming almost tangible. Addie is in constant limbo between feeling scrutinised by her loved ones, and sticking to her decision. It’s a feeling familiar to anyone whose dreams are different to the expectations of the people around you.
Untidy Towns comments on the unique experience of adolescence. Ambitions change, and sometimes the path laid out isn’t always the right one. Adelaide’s journey is one that forces her to face the consequences of her own actions, but she does find rewards for staying true to herself.
O’Donnell encapsulates the adventure of first love in a way that’s rare for the young adult genre. The romance in this novel is not explosive or poetic – it starts off with two people who like each other, and simply keep finding things to like. It’s an honest reflection of how sometimes, love can be awkward and clumsy, but it’s worth it as long as both parties are willing to work for it.
Following a character who is trapped simultaneously in the past and the future, Untidy Towns is a great read for anyone who’s ever felt unsure of themselves.
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Rick Riordan’s Percy Jackson series played a huge role in my love of Greek mythology – the modern take on heroes and myths make them easier for a young audience to understand, and there are plenty of Easter eggs for those who already know their myths. The Lightning Thief kicks off the series wonderfully, introducing …
Book Review – Artemis Fowl by Eoin Colfer
Eoin Colfer’s bestselling middle-grade adventure mystery novels chronicle the lives of twelve-year-old Artemis Fowl. In the first Artemis Fowl novel, we meet our eponymous character, who is more devious and clever than most adults. The novel follows Fowl after he attempts to catch a fairy in order to obtain gold for ransom. His main motive …
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