Jenny Downham - You Against Me

Released : 2nd December 2010 (UK - Hardback) 
Started : 15th December 2010
Finished : 18th December 2010
Plot : 4/5
Cover : 4.5/5
Page Turner : 4/5
Characters : 5/5
Ending : 4/5
Over-all Rating -
 

The Blurb :
If someone hurts your sister and you're any kind of man, you seek revenge, right? If your brother's been accused of a terrible crime and you're the main witness, then you banish all doubt and defend him. Isn't that what families do? When Mikey's sister claims a boy assaulted her at a party, his world of work and girls begins to fall apart. When Ellie's brother is charged with the crime, but says he didn't do it, her world of revision, exams and fitting in at a new school begins to unravel. When Mikey and Ellie meet, two worlds collide. Brave and unflinching, this is a novel of extraordinary skillfulness and almost unbearable tension. It's a book about loyalty and the choices that come with it. But above all it's a book about love - for one's family and for another.
My Review :
For me when l started this book it was important Jenny explored the characters as much as she did in her previous book 'Before l die', even the characters which weren't in 'Before l die' much were explored and you felt like you knew them. This book is exactly the same, every character has their own personality and feelings which makes you feel like you are getting to know people as you read this book. l fell in love with Mikey who just wanted to do the best he could.
Jenny's writing style is very unique and this writing style continues into 'You Against Me', some sentences are written in a very relaxed, simple way but this seem to suit the book. It's hard to explain unless you have read it yourself!
The ending is left quite open l guess but l think this was actually very clever as the main storyline within this book changes as the book gets further in and l felt as a reader the end included the most important part for me.
I loved how the relationships changed as the book went on and the choices which the different characters had to make. l felt it was all very 'real' and never did l feel 'That's unrealistic and wouldn't happen at all'. Jenny dealt with very intense situations in this book but because of how they were written l felt this book was suitable for younger readers such as 12/13 even though the topic which is wrote about.
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My Next Read :

Stoned Kissed - Keri Stevens


Other reviews you might like :
Mystify - Artist Arthur (Books with Bite)
Revolution - Jennifer Donnelly (By Icey Books)
If you have a review you think l should post with my next review please email me (booksforcompany@gmail.com)