Carnegie 2012 Shortlist: The Verdict

Need some strong reads over the Autumn? Look no further...
As strange as it may seem to think, the cold nights of our Fall months are on their way. Aside from all of the TV programmes, movies and video games that you can find on your screens in the final third of 2012, though, there are always brilliant novels out there for you to check out. I've said for a while now that I would compile together verdicts on each of the eight books on the CLIP Carnegie shortlist for this year in a feature article, and this is precisely that aforementioned piece. Without further ado, then, here are the definitive reviews of eight teenage fiction works that could really use your attention...
MY NAME IS MINA- David Almond's prequel to Skellig uses its initial simplicity of premise as a shroud of deception over what turns out to be a fascinating, thought-provoking and philosophical piece of literature. The ending scenes feel a little forced to tie the links between novels, yet Mina's tale is hugely compelling and strongly told. 4.5/5
SMALL CHANGE FOR STUART- A weak magical narrative isn't backed up here by lacklustre writing and bland characterisations. Much as Lissa Evans appears to hope that readers will give in to their inner child and forgive her for the blatant plot holes, there really isn't much reason to when there's so little justification to stick around for the basic conclusion. 2/5
THE MIDNIGHT ZOO- Despite some vivid depictions of scenes and characters, Sonya Harnett's Midnight Zoo is by far the worst book of the Carnegie 2012 shortlist. Its narrative seems to think it's much more intelligent and literary-worthy than it actually is, and the misjudged period setting does little to represent the true horrors of war beyond the somewhat intriguing opening. 1.5/5
EVERYBODY JAM- Ali Lewis does a great job of depicting the hardships of the Australian outback environment in Everybody Jam. Beyond that...well, let's just say that the storyline leaves a lot to be desired, lacking memorable moments and seeming convoluted in its misbalanced set of character arcs and setpieces. This one's only for those who need a real insight into another community without a compelling main plot. 3/5
TRASH- Well, sufficed to say this is just about as strong as its title. Perhaps it's a bit harsh to toss Andy Mulligan's at first compelling look into the life of the lower classes into the trash without a second thought, but once again Trash suffers from a massive narrative complacency and does very little to back it up thanks to major pacing issues. 2.5/5
A MONSTER CALLS- Now this is by far the best piece on the shortlist, and a strong contender for my Book Of The Year 2012 (I'll be including novels which have only come into the public eye this year in my selection). Patrick Ness does something totally different here to the Chaos Walking trilogy, taking a conceptual premise from the late and great Siobhan Dowd and turning it into a masterpiece that deserves to be entertained by readers of all ages. 5/5
MY SISTER LIVES ON THE MANTELPIECE- A beautiful first effort from Annabel Pitcher, Mantelpiece is a hugely compelling children's drama that benefits from wonderful characterisation and a simple yet emotional narrative. Initial impressions make this seem as if it'll be your basic tale of terrorist-based prejudice, yet to dismiss this as such is to do disservice to a brilliant authorial debut. 4.5/5
BETWEEN SHADES OF GREY- Set to the backdrop of the Second World War, Ruta Septys' Between Shades Of Grey provides a stunning depiction of the intense conflict and its ramifications outside the well-known European communities. Its ending feels rushed and overly optimistic, but Shades Of Grey is by far one of the best historical novels I've ever had the pleasure of reading. 4.5/5
THE FINAL VERDICT- The average rating I've given this shortlist is 69%, indicative of the odd misbalance of brilliant and weak novels that make up the roster. I would definitely recommend A Monster Calls to everyone looking for a great read, as well as My Sister, Shades Of Grey and Mina for those who have the time to spare for more compelling tales. Here's hoping that the 2013 shortlist will provide a more consistent set of fiction for us to dig our teeth into, though!