Kids' Book Review is delighted to introduce a new member to their dynamic reviewing team, Layla Ahern. Layla is the young author of her own blog site and devours books the same way I consume ice cream, with unmitigated abandon and pleasure. As a Junior Reviewer, Layla will be bringing you reviews on nearly every genre of children's literature, all from her unique and uncompromising point of view. Welcome Layla!
1. Tell us something hardly anyone knows about you.
I have managed to successfully maintain a steady flow of lollies ALL year round and plan to save some Easter eggs from last Easter to this Easter.
2. What is your nickname?
My sister sometimes calls me Lay, Lake or Lay Bay.
3. What is your greatest fear?
The high ropes course at school camp!
4. Describe your writing style in ten words.
Descriptive, creative, fantasy, action packed, mainly short, imaginative starts, twists.
5. Tell us five positive words that describe you as a writer.
Inventive! Addicted! Passionate! Discerning! Flexible!
6. What book character would you be, and why?
September from The Girl Who Fell Beneath Fairyland and Led the Revels There by Catherynne M Valente because she is bound by magic to return to fairyland once a year, has wonderful adventures and enchanting friends.
7. If you could time travel, what year would you go to and why?
I would travel to the year when humans first walked the Earth, so that I could see how they survived Earth and how they evolved. (And maybe spot the odd dinosaur!)
8. What would your ten-year-old self say to you now?
Well, because I am ten- eleven VERY soon I would probably say to me, you are AMAZING! Keep expanding and experimenting and one day you’ll have your very own published book and hopefully a HUGE crowd of fans!
9. Who is your greatest influence?
Mum and Dad are my biggest influences, and the authors I look up to are Lemony Snicket , Catherynne M Valente and Roald Dahl.
10. What/who made you start writing?
Before I started school, I taught myself to read and write, and as I became older I discovered a passion and talent for writing.
11. What is your favourite word and why?
I have a few favourite words - in no particular order… zest and tang because they make me think of vibrant and alive things and are fun to say. Elephantine because I love the way it sounds and it is an extremely effective word to use in writing, and finally splendid, (I have no idea why I love this word, I just do!)
12. If you could only read one book for the rest of your life, what would it be?
The Girl Who Fell Beneath Fairyland and Led the Revels There by Catherynne M Valente because it is a spectacular story and I notice something new every time I read it.
Layla lives on the Gold Coast. Anything to do with reading and writing sets her heart racing. She is also mad about photography, food, animals and is a keen observer of everyday life which she likes to share on her blog, Life with Layla. Layla will be reviewing any and every genre of children's literature in the weeks to come as KBR's Junior Reviewer.
