Never Evers

Two coachloads of Year 9s are setting out on school skiing/snowboarding trips in France.  With a group of girls from London, Mouse (real name Matilda) has just come back after two years at a special ballet school.  She’s been asked to leave and is finding it hard to come to terms with the end of her dreams of being a dancer.  She’s also finding it difficult to get acceptance from the friends she left behind.  With a group of boys from Winchester, Jack and his friends are would-be rock stars who are desperate to use this opportunity to get to know some girls – and experience their first kiss.  But Jack is struggling with his self-confidence, having succumbed to stage fright in a recent band competition.  The girls and boys meet up at their ski resort, and Mouse and Jack like each other at first sight, but there are lots of misunderstandings and adventures to get in the way before they can finally admit their feelings.

In this new writing team, Lucy Ivison writes from Mouse’s point of view, and Tom Ellen writes from Jack’s.  Once the characters are established it’s a thoroughly enjoyable read, especially when Bieber-like pop star Roland comes on the scene and both Mouse and Jack get caught up in the world of celebrity. Often hilarious, but also a touching romance, Never Evers captures the excitement (and also trepidation) of going on a school trip.  Crazy things happen, and the pressure to be accepted by peers is intense, but there’s nothing like that freedom of being with your funniest friends, away from home.