“Looking for Aurora” is about a fourteen year old influencer called Aurora Kutti, whose life seems like every teenager’s dream; her mom is her manager, her dad sets up photo shoots in their sitting room and her brother Dami, the most care-free member of the family, a gamer. Life couldn’t be better right?
We soon learn that Aurora holds a devastating secret and when the pressure gets too much, she decides to leave and go to the only place that might be remotely safe. The book takes us through Aurora’s experience with social media, highlighting the risks and dangers of being a social media influencer.
I enjoyed reading this book immensely. My favourite part of the book was when Aurora was taking the train to Cobh, Cork to visit her friend Daisy. I loved the excitement of it all, also their relationship, and the fact that they bonded over books and art. I found that the title “Looking for Aurora” had two different meanings, one being that she ran away, and the other that Aurora was trying to find who she is as a person, behind all the fame.
I felt that the book was meant for people who use the internet and social media regularly and, as I don’t, I found it difficult to fully understand and connect with Aurora and the situations that she was in.
Overall, I really enjoyed reading this book and finished it in three days. I would recommend it for age 12+. I rate this book an 8/10, and would definitely recommend it to anyone who wants a short, fictional but educational read.
By Olive (11), 5th Class, St. Brendan’s NS, Loughshinny, Co. Dublin.
“Looking for Aurora” by Zainab Boladale, published by O’ Brien Press, is now on sale for €11.99 (P/B).
Disclaimer: This book was provided by the publisher, O’ Brien Press, free of charge to Seomra Ranga for the purposes of this review.
