Green Valentine (Lili Wilkinson, A&U)

Astrid and Hiro are at entirely different ends of the high school ecosystem—Astrid is the popular, pretty girl with top marks; Hiro is the quiet, rude and resentful boy in the corner of the classroom. But when their lives cross paths unexpectedly, sparks fly, and the pair realise that while they are from different worlds, they have very similar ideas when it comes to saving the world. Astrid and Hiro grow closer as they build a kitchen garden in an area in their community that is at risk of having a pool installed. But while they are doing good for the town, they are also hiding their relationship from their friends. With punchy writing and wit, Lili Wilkinson has created a fun read for girls aged 14 and up. But this is more than just another teen romance, with Wilkinson’s intelligent, sassy heroine and her passion for the environment and the world around her giving the story another layer of relevance. Fans of Wilkinson’s other books, especially PINK, will be similarly swept up in the fun of Green Valentine, as will fans of Jacqueline Wilson and Meg Cabot.

Sarah Coull is a freelance writer and reviewer who has worked as a children’s bookseller and an editor for an educational publisher

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Category: Reviews