Minty by Christina Banach: GIVEAWAY+INTERVIEW+REVIEW

Author: Christina Banach
Publisher: Three Hares Books
Publishing Date: April 8th 2014
Blurb Description: Fourteen-year old twins Minty and Jess are inseparable. Maybe they bicker now and then, even crave a bit of space once in a while. But they have a connection. Unbreakable. Steadfast. Nothing can gear them apart. Until a family trip to the coast puts their bond in jeopardy. As Minty tries to rescue her dog from drowning she ends up fighting for her life. Will Minty survive? If she doesn't, how will Jess cope without her? Only the stormy sea has the answer.

**GIVEAWAY**

a Rafflecopter giveaway

**INTERVIEW**

We would love to know more about you:

The spookiest things that have ever happened to you:

--I’ve had a few spooky things happen to me in my lifetime. The most memorable is the incident – or incidents - that gave me the idea for the book. After my father died at the end of 2005 I began to smell a strange, yet comforting, aroma around my house. It was a combination of sugar and flour, the sweet distinctive scent that used to cling to my dad’s overalls when he worked as a baker-confectioner when I was a young child. In the months that followed I experienced this smell time and again. Then early one summer morning in 2006, just as the sun came up, I thought I sensed it again. It was perplexing. Unable to get back to sleep, I sat in the sunroom contemplating what was happening to me. Whilst doing this I heard my dog panting and put out my hand to stroke her. Until I remembered – my pet had died the month before. That's when Minty's story came to me. 

This or that:

-- Roman or Greek    Greco-Roman – or is that a cheat of an answer?

-- Apples or Bananas   Definitely bananas

-- Brothers or Sisters   Sisters – but then I would say that because I have an awesome sister who’s also one of my closest friends.

And now onto your masterpiece:

Do give our readers a brief outline of Minty:

Minty is a contemporary young adult (YA) ghost story told from the point of view of the ghost. It’s a cross between The Lovely Bones (without the grim murder!) and Ghost, with elements of The Sixth Sense threaded through it too. I’m told that it’s a real weepy with heart and warmth at its core. It’s the story of fourteen-year-old twins Minty and Jess who are completely inseparable. But then a day trip to the coast puts their bond in jeopardy. As Minty tries to rescue her dog from drowning she ends up fighting for her life, desperate to survive. And survive she must - because if she doesn’t, how will Jess cope without her?

It’s a book about friendship, loss, and coming to terms with consequences. Above all it’s about love and hope.

5. Your favourite character and scene from Minty:

Although I love all of my characters my favourite has to be Minty. Why? Because she’s feisty, brave, loyal and loving with a quick wit and a sarcastic sense of humour. There are several contenders for my favourite scene but, on balance, I reckon I’ll opt for the one where Minty enters Jess’s dream. For me it has a lovely ethereal quality, is full of hope and promise but is ultimately heart-wrenching. 

6. If Minty were turned into a movie: 

-- your dream cast 

Jess and Minty

Jess and Minty: Hailee Steinfield of True Grit fame: 

Iona

For Iona I’ve chosen Malia Obama (US President Obama’s daughter)

For Kirsty I chose Chloe Moretz:

Kirsty

 

If Australian pop singer, Cody Simpson, grew his hair he would make a fantastic Jack.

**MY REVIEW**

What a lot of fun it must be to have a twin- I have always wished, pined after, dreamed of having somebody that I could pull of look-alike stunts with (I must thank The Parent Trap for this) and pretty much everything that comes with having one!

The Jess and Minty ‘show’- they feel each other’s pain, look like looking at yourself in the mirror (Or the front camera of your phone) literally finish each other’s sentences and even share the same dreams! Want a twin yet? Oh, and they’re best friends- of course they bicker, but who doesn’t?

When I read Minty’s synopsis and glanced through certain reviews, I had some sliver idea of what I was picking up. But, as usual, my idea was wrong! Minty was different. Not different bad, and not entirely different good either (though it mostly was) - but just different. And I can honestly say- I liked it just fine that way!

I absolutely loved the way the book opened, diving right into it! The very first beach scene was breath-taking, and had me hooked before I even realised it! I could feel the pain Minty felt, her fear, desperation- all of it just wafting out and hitting me through the pages!

A little into the book, I found it dragging. Just a bit, nothing much- but that phase got over in two chapters I think, and I found myself falling in love again! The ending was simply BRILLIANT! I even felt a tear or two rolling off from my eyes…

Okay- my favourite things about Minty (apart from the whole twin thing, of course):

--Jack (Minty’s ghost buddy who teaches her how to get through to Jess- flawed but simply brilliant all the way!)

--The Roman Aspect (I know a bit about the Romans- Heroes of Olympus fan here) and I loved the way it was a constant regardless of what was going on.

--The Dialogue- it was unusual, and a little strange when I began reading but it grew on me pretty fast!

*Okay, that’s it*

 My Verdict:

A Brilliant new voice to the YA genre!