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Book Reviews
We have a lot of very keen readers and they have reviewed some of their favourites
along with new books to help you choose where next to loose yourself...
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Kiss of
Death by Marcus Segdwick
‘Death comes in many forms but in Venice, death comes by
water.’ This book tells the story of a young girl and boy
called Sorrel and Marcus. They set out on a quest to find out the
mystery surrounding the disappearance of the father of Marcus,
and the incurable illness of Sorrel. Although aware of the corruption
of the Venetian government, they don’t realise what they
have gotten themselves in for until a murderer tells them the person
behind their adversity is the Queen of Shadows, the ultimate vampire.
This book is recommended for those aged 10 or above.
Holly B yr 9 |
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Crocodile
Tears by Anthony
Horowitz
Crocodile Tears is the gripping eighth instalment of the Alex Rider
series in which Alex becomes reluctantly entwined in a plot to
kill billions. The twisted ex-boxer, Reverend Desmond McCain, manufactures
this clever plot.
This thrilling novel is filled with dry humour, mystery, debonair
characters and a slick James Bond style of fighting. However, it
has a lot of parallels with the other novels in the series, particularly
Eagle Strike. This doesn’t make it bad; just slightly predictable.
Otherwise it is utterly enthralling, even though you know that
Alex will prevail.
Crocodile Tears is written in that incredible style that only Anthony
Horowitz, and maybe Ian Fleming, can dish out.
Jonah yr 7 |
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Cherub by Robert Muchamore
A series of books about a group of orphans that are selected to
be part of a top secret organization of under cover children
that plan to plot the downfall of terrorists and there schemes.
CHERUB kids are trained professionals, working in everyday situations.
Their essential advantage: adults never expect children to be
spying on them. Lets say there was a situation were an adult
spy went up to a house and said “my car’s just broken
down can I come in”, as opposed to a child spy crying on
a doorstep saying “I just fell off my bike” who would
be a lot more likely to get into the house?
A very good book I definitely recommend to everyone my age or above
(12+) one of the best books I have ever read.
Rowan yr 7 |
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A Song
for Summer by Eva Ibotson
I’ve decided to write about this book because although it’s
jolly and tells a story of a young woman, Ellen and a boarding
school, it has an underlying story of danger. The war is approaching
and Marek, the school gardener, is involved in rescuing his friend
Isaac from a concentration camp. It is a well written book and
the author handles the extremely complicated plot well, making
it an easy and enjoyable read. If you liked ‘Journey to the
River Sea’ also by Eva Ibotson then this is a book for you.
I would recommend it to ages nine and up.
Holly B yr 9 |
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Airhead by Meg Cabot
So, I started reading this book thinking it would just be a fun,
easy, girly book. You know, the kind you read to de-stress after
(or even before) exams. I got a couple of chapters in and suddenly
everything changed. It was about brains merging and characters
being inside the body of another person. Not what Iwas expecting
from a book with a pink sparkly cover and the title ‘Airhead’,
by the author of the famous Princess Diaries!! There was a pretty
high dosage of high school, make-up and teenage boys, just like
I was expecting but that was sort of neutralised by the weird
sci-fi input. It was a great opportunity for the author to merge
two strong genres (girly and sci-fi) together and create something
even better, but it was a total fail. In fact, it is an insult
to the fans of both genres! The mix just didn’t work.
i would not recommend this book, though it was a good advertisement for ‘don’t
judge a book by its cover’. Weird, but not wonderful. If I were you I would
give it a miss!
Maddie yr 9 |
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Three’s a crowd! By Sophie
McKenzie
Imagine, you are a 16-year-old boy who’s life is
perfect. You have the hottest girl alive as your girlfriend and
the holidays have just started. You are on your way to Spain with
your sister Chloe, your best mate Ryan and of course your lovely
Eve, things can’t get any better! Unfortunately, they can
get worse. Eve’s dad “Jonno” is still treating
Eve like a six year old and any boy who so much as holds her hand
gets beat up. To make matters worse he owns the hotel and is making
sure they stay as far apart as possible. Will they find a way to
be together and have the hot summer action Luke wants so much?
Millie G yr 7 |
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Skulduggery
Pleasent by Derek
Landy
Magic, mystery, monsters, and a witty, fire-wielding skeleton are
all elements that make up of Derek Landy’s Skulduggery
Pleasent. It all begins with the mysterious death of Gordon
Edgley. He was a noted author of fantasy novels that captivated
his niece, Stephanie. His death triggers Skulduggery’s investigation
of the Scepter of the Ancients, an all-powerful relic that exiled
the old gods. But Stephanie is now the target of forces in search
of the Scepter that are looking to take over its power to their
own evil needs.
The first thing that caught my attention with this book was the
cover: a picture of a skeleton wearing a suit with a fire
ball being conjured in his hands. Of course I’m going to
check it out and see what this is about! Skulduggery Pleasant,
a living skeleton who has the power of magic: creating fire and
controlling it and I guess holding his body together. Stephanie
Edgley, a stubborn twelve year old. Nefarious Serpine, an evil
sorcerer desperate on obtaining ultimate power.
Miles yr 7 |
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History
of Space
by Tracey Turner and Sally Kindberg
Did you know that we are all made out of the same particles as
stars? Or that it takes you over 2500 years to get across the
whole Milky Way? History of Space by Tracey Turner and Sally
Kindberg is a comic strip book about the universe and the Milky
Way. When I read this book I thought it was the best book I read
this year. You should buy it too. I think it’s best for
age 8 and over.
By Cecile yr 6 |
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Madame Pamplemousse and her
Incredible Edibles
by Rupert Kingfisher
Madeleine is sent every holiday to work in her uncle’s restaurant
in Paris. One day the head chef sends her to the market but Madeleine
ends up following a white cat into a shop, where she meets Madame
Pamplemousse. Madame Pamplemousse sells incredible edibles; her
most incredible edible is in a small jar, which has no name and
no ingredients.
Her uncle tries to steal the recipe of the most INCREDIBLE EDIBLE
EVER!!!!
Madeleine, with the help of Madame Pamplemousse, Camembert the
cat and a little magic comes out on top in the end.
Star rating 5/5
By Effie Boo yr 3 |
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The Enemy
By Charlie Higson
The Enemy is the first book in Charlie Higson’s new series.
It begins in London where all adults are either dead or have turned
into zombies. This book shows the harsh reality of what it would
be like with no adults. The Enemy is about how the children deal
with daily struggles. Characters Arran and Maxi, leaders to their
group are responsible for the safety of the children but it gets
increasingly hard to keep them safe. The Enemy has a bit of everything;
it has moments of amusement and action and violence where valiance
shines through; there are also moments of love and faith. The Enemy
doesn’t have an exactly happy ending but ends in great audacity
and adventure and also reminds the reader that there is a relentless
Enemy. But most of all, this book leaves you craving for more.
By Jonah Yr 7 |
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Pastworld
by Ian Beck
Welcome to the future, 2042 to be exact. Global warming has been
cured, peace has been made and they have created an old Victorian
London theme park called Buckland’s that takes you back
in time.
Prisoners, volunteers and enemies of Mr Buckland are thrown into
a city and forced to live like Victorians. Of course not all the
people in Buckland’s theme park were thrown in, some poor
souls were born there.
Meet Eve. She is seventeen going on an adult, she completely believes
that she is a living under the reign of Queen Victoria but when
her nearly blind guardian, Jack, lets something slip she runs away
leaving just a letter to console dear Jack.
Dear Jack,
I am going away. Do not worry about me.Do not look for me. Protect
yourself.
Your loving Eve.
By Millie G yr 7
Ages 10 + Star rating: 5/5 |
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Mikey
Helps Toot-Toot & Tiggle
Takes Off
By Umaymah yr 4
Yo waz up, Umaymah here! I’m here to tell you about two stories
that I read to my younger sister and brother. The first was called:
Mikey Helps Toot-Toot, where an elephant called Toot-Toot learns
how to make himself happy. My brother got a little bored and went
to bed (he’s a lazy little chap). On the other hand my sister
was interrupting quite a lot with questions to ask; I’d say
she was enjoying it. I thought the book was boring and so were
the drawings.
The second book was called: Tiggle Takes Off. In the book Mikey
the monkey needs to learn to say ‘thank you’ to Tiggle
the tree. My brother participated more this time and actually said
that he liked it. My sister also liked it. I didn’t but it
did have a good meaning at least.
Recommended to kids from 2-4. WARNING:not suitable over 4s.
Available from www.kidz4mation.com |
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Hiding Edith
by Kathy Kacer
This is a story about a Jewish girl called Edith living during
the holocaust. It is really exiting and sad and it keeps you
reading the whole way through.
The most interesting thing about this story is that it is a true.
There are real photographs of all the characters that Edith meets
throughout her journey as well as ones of herself and her family.
This really helps you visualize Edith’s life.
I would recommend this book to someone who is researching the holocaust
but doesn’t want to read a non-fiction book about it because
this book has a lot of facts and sources in it as well as a heart
warming story.
By Maddie yr 9
I would give this book 5/5 |
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DIARY OF A WIMPY KID - DOG
DAYS
by Jeff Kinney
Dog Days is the latest in Jeff Kinney’s brilliant Diary of
a Wimpy Kid series which follows the ups and downs of this young
lay-about called Greg. He has two brothers who annoy him all the
time. You cannot put this book down. The author has sold more than
25 million copies internationally.
By Jack yr 5
Start rating 5/5 |
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Reviews from Issue 1 |
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The
Curious Incident of the Dog in the Night-Time.
Author: Mark Haddon
This book is humorous, yet a believable and intriguing story. The
main character, Christopher Boone suffers from Aspergers Syndrome
which (since it is written in 1st person) means the writer must
put himself in this position and I believe he has done this perfectly.
Christopher lives with his father as his mother has passed away.
He hates yellow, brown, jokes, and being touched, he loves lists,
the truth, patterns and maths, but when the neighbours dog is murdered,
the past comes back, lies are exposed and unanswered questions
come up buzzing. Who did it? Why did mother die? What to do now?
And the boy who never left the house alone goes on the most exiting
journey ever!
By Millie G year 7
Rating: 4
P.S. Rated over 8’s as there is swearing. |
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Hetty
Feather
by Jacqueline Wilson
Published October
This is a story about Victorian foundlings. Hetty Feather, a small
victorian is about to go on a lifetime adventure. Jacqueline Wilson,
also known as the author of this book, got the inspiration to write
this story from the Foundling Museum.
By Eve yr 3
Rating 4 Stars
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Revolver
by Marcus Sedgwick
Review won The Guardian Young Reviewer Award
“Revolver” is an intriguing and fast paced novel about
Sig Andersson in a cruel cold place north of the Arctic Circle.
Sig is alone apart from his father’s lifeless and frozen
body and his father’s most prized possession: a Colt revolver
in the store room.
Then a tall stranger comes. He starts asking questions. He goes
from calm to forceful. Sig learns that this intimidating man has
played a major part in his and his sister’s lives. But the
man has a gun and is very dangerous. What can Sig do to ensure
his survival? Then he remembers what lies in the store
room: his late father’s beloved, burnished revolver.
Can Sig bring himself to do it? Can he kill the man? What if he
can’t get it without the man noticing? What will Sig do?
This captivating novel is written by a writer with great bravura
and writing style. “Revolver” is an intense and stimulating
book that is brilliant and proves that it really is quality, not
quantity that matters. This novel is a truly memorable story of
courage, faith and the links that a family share. Marcus Sedgwick
really is a formidable author
By Jonah year 7
12+ |
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Sleepovers
by Jacqueline Wilson
Illustrated by Nick Sharratt
Sleepover is about five girls called Amy, Bella, Chloe, Daisy and
Emily. It is written as if Jacqueline W. is Daisy.
Amy is best friends with Bella, Chloe is best friends with Emily
and Daisy doesn’t have one yet. They all have birthday sleepover
parties.
Daisy has to beg and beg and she does get to have one in the end
but that means she’ll have to let them meet her SISTER!!!!!!!!
She’s fine with Amy, Bella and Emily but not MEAN SCARY MOODY
CHLOE!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Will Chloe meet Daisy’s sister?
If you want to know read the book!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
A funny and moving story for younger readers from
7—11
Rating 4 and a half
By Effie year 3 |
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