Review – Trouble by Non Pratt

Hannah’s smart and funny … she’s also fifteen and pregnant. Aaron is new at school and doesn’t want to attract attention. So why does he offer to be the pretend dad to Hannah’s unborn baby? Growing up can be trouble but that’s how you find out what really matters.

Publisher – Walker

Date Published – 6th March 2014

Pages – 384 pages

Format – Paperback

Category – UKYA

Source – Bought

** Please note Tales Of Yesterday Reviews are written as spoiler free as possible**

Firstly I have to start of by saying…shame on me for not reading this book any sooner!  I loved it!  I loved the story, I loved the alternating writing style, I loved the different font styles dependant on who’s view you were reading and I loved the character of Aaron so much!  Basically, as you can tell, I have much love for this book as do so many other people who have read it!

Trouble is the story of a girl called Hannah who is smart,funny and at fifteen finds herself pregnant and a boy called Aaron who is the new boy in school with a secret past who doesn’t want to attract attention.  Hannah and Aaron form a close friendship so much so that Aaron offers to be the pretend Dad of Hannah’s baby to help keep the real father of the baby a secret.  The story is told in alternating view points from Hannah and Aaron which captures the teen voices perfectly and realistically.  The voices of the two characters were that distinct that I never once got confused whilst reading and also the alternating view points came with an alternating font for Hannah and Aaron which I found perfect.

For me this book is so much more than it initially appears to be.  In Trouble you have a humorous and also sensitive story of friendships new and old, bullying, depression, teen pregnancy, death, life and growing up.  I also felt a lot of love for both sets of parents in the book and I feel they brought their own storyline through the eyes of Hannah and Aaron especially coping and dealing with the situations that arose in the book.

This book for me was both humorous and often heart breaking and really made me route for Hannah as a character.  I struggled a little bit at the start with Hannah’s character just because she reminded me of the type of girls I used to dislike at school, but throughout the book I saw her grow and in turn she really grew on me as a character so much so that I wanted more after the book had finished.

Aaron, for me, was my favourite character in this book.  Just like John Green got is right with Gus in The Fault In Our Stars Non Pratt really got it so right with Aaron, his voice, his presence, his likability even his secret (that is not revealed until near the end).  I adored him!  I loved how Aaron forms friendships and really cares about his friends even his care for Neville an old man with a passion for the ladies who Aaron spends time with in a retirement home is heart warming.  Even after Aaron’s secret was revealed I wanted to give him a huge hug!  A really great character.

I cannot finish this review without speaking about the cover of this book!  What a brilliant cover!  I left this book on my desk at work and every one who passed were intrigued by the sperm book often picking it up and having a read of the blurb!  I have never seen so many amazed faces!

All in all I urge every one to read this book!

I had the absolute honour of meeting Non at a book event at Waterstones Birmingham High Street back at the end of October.  She was so lovely and funny and gave fab hugs!  I was lucky enough to get my book signed and a picture with her which was fab!  Non spoke about Trouble and made us all laugh when she was asked about what her favourite scene was to write which she simply, enthusiastically said was the sex scene….making every one laugh.

Non also spoke about her new book due out in 2015 which it titled Remix….apparently many research trips to a festival was needed for this book and sounds fabulous and I cannot wait to read next year!

Also check out my Q&A with the lovely Non Pratt here!

 I award this book 4 out of 5 Tales Of Yesterday Books

You can buy Trouble here

If you would like to know more about Non Pratt and her upcoming second book check her out on her website http://nonpratt.com/ or follow her on twitter using @nonpratt

Have you read this book?  What did you think?  If you haven’t read this book has this review persuaded you to read?  Have you met Non Pratt at any book events?  I would love to hear from you!  Please feel free to leave a comment by clicking on the reply button at the top of the page or why not tweet me on twitter – @chelleytoy .  I would love to hear from you!

Happy Reading