Estelle Francis's Reading List

"This has got to be one of my all-time favourite books. As you say, Crichton manages to incorporate countless scientific details without it becoming too overwhelming. One of the ways in which Crichton makes this read so compelling is his writing style. He doesn’t create many long flowery passages of description, but rather gives the readers just enough to visualise his scenes in the amount of detail necessary. His characters are one of the elements which help drive the plot—the group dynamic creates passages of tension as well as humour which you just can’t help but laugh at! The main character, Norman, a psychologist, adds humour that is relatable despite the situations that he’s put in, and Ted, a physicist, helps explain some of the very complex scientific ideas, making them easy to follow as well as intriguing. This book is just as much a psychological thriller as it is a sci-fi novel: there were so many places where I had to put the book down and just think over everything that was happening, and this makes the book such a page turner. It’s really addictive and that’s what I think makes it so compelling."

"Yes, and I thought it was very interesting that Ness had taken the idea of interconnectivity and increased access to personal information to the very extreme. The idea of the ‘noise’ virus makes us wonder how different our personal relationships would be if everyone around us could hear our constant buzz of thoughts. The story follows Todd, who on the verge of his thirteenth birthday is told by his guardians to run away. With no knowledge of the world outside his town, Todd is surprised to find a girl (there are no girls in Prentisstown) who has no ‘noise’. It was such an intriguing idea, and together with Ness’s way of unraveling the mysterious plot around the Mayor of Prentisstown and Aaron, the maniacal preacher, the book was a fast paced and emotional read. Yes, I can definitely see this as a coming of age novel! The novel begins with Todd almost making the transition from boy to man, but running away before he can, and embarking on a journey that uncovers the remarkable flaws of his troubled society. As this is a young adult book, I think the people who read it will instantly be able to connect with the narrator and Viola, as they are both subject to the same emotions as the readers, including the fear of learning the truth, and developing both sense of self and morality, both things universally relatable."

"Even though both the Patrick Ness novels on this list are sci-fi, they are intriguing in completely different ways. Personally, I think whilst the plot drives the story forward in The Knife of Never Letting Go , I feel as though it’s the characters in More Than This . The story begins dramatically with the main character, Seth, falling unconscious whilst seemingly drowning in an icy ocean. He then wakes up in a haunting rendition of his childhood town, complete with coffins which are all filled apart from his own. This book tackles the themes of guilt and facing the skeletons in your closet, as well as the sci-fi elements that unwind as the book moves forward with plot twists and turns at every corner. We learn of the crippling truth of the main character’s situation as the memories from his former life return in flashbacks."

"I completely agree; before reading Cinder I would never have thought about the tale being retold as a dystopian thriller with the main character being cyborg! I think it could also reflect the changing ways of the world as we become increasingly more capable with technology. Not only does the main character have mechanical parts, but she also owns an android which is able to have its own characteristics thanks to its personality chip. I think Meyer was clever in including this, as it essentially has us being able to relate with a robot. Sign up here for our newsletter featuring the best children’s and young adult books, as recommended by authors, teachers, librarians and, of course, kids. The tale does follow the classic Cinderella story to some extent, but has so many more elements that make it seem very original. Prince Kai commissions Cinder to fix his very old android, which is the beginning to the unfolding of secrets concerning the ‘Lunar’, a species that live on the moon. As pressures involving the formation of an alliance between Earth and Luna weigh down on the Kingdom, as well as the letumosis virus becoming more and more of a threat, the story weaves politics, technology, and fantasy with the classic fairytale that we all know and love."

"Whenever I think of sci-fi I think of The Hitchhiker’s Guide to the Galaxy —it is, as you say, a tale with countless humorous moments, and is so bizarre that I instantly fell in love with it. Even the smallest details have some humorous content: take Ford Prefect, for example, Arthur’s best friend, whose name itself holds comedic value as it refers to a car. Adams is also capable of creating such tension and suspense before relieving it with such a ridiculous outcome that the reader is left laughing and laughing. He’s also able to execute his wacky ideas in such a convincing fashion. Arthur, the main character, helps with this, as he is merely an unsuspecting human being caught up in the whirlwind of space. As readers, we are able to laugh at his reactions and sympathise with his denial and ridiculous behavior."