Inkheart, by Cornelia Funke

-Synopsis

Meggie is the daughter of a revered bookbinder called Mo whose peaceful existence is one night shattered by the arrival of Dustfinger - a shadowy, scarred man with a mysterious link to Mo's past. Mo and Meggie are soon on the move, running from something that threatens everything they hold dear. But the past inevitably catches up with them and Mo is forced to reveal to his daughter for the first time his terrible secret. He has the ability, or curse, to breathe life into any story he reads and make the characters come alive, this is why he has never read aloud to Meggie since her mothers curious disappearance. Just such a character, the sinister Capricorn, is after Mo to ensure that he stays alive and is never returned to the pages from which he sprung. And, of course, he''ll stop at nothing to guarantee success.




-Review

'Meggie is the sort of girl that younger readers can relate to and the way the other characters are described from the looks to their habits is so inventive and original that you end up feeling like you have met a whole host of new people by the end of the book. The storyline is far fetched but fantastic, being set in modern day, but using characters from another place creates a charasmatic combination! So in short if you are eleven years or plus I recommend you read this book.'

-Rating

3/5

Website - http://www.corneliafunkefans.com/en

Scottish Children's Book Awards

The Scottish Children's Book Awards allows young people across Scotland to vote for their favourite book in a number of categories. The winners will be announced at a special awards ceremony in Edinburgh in February. Within our school, Mrs Gibson's second year class will be taking part, in the older reader category.

The three books that are in the running are as follows;

-Prisoner of the Inquisition, by Theresa Breslin

Zarita, only daughter of the town magistrate, lives a life of wealth and privilege. Indulged by her parent, she is free to spend her days as she pleases, enjoying herself in the company of an eligible young nobleman, horse riding, or leisurely studying the arts. Saulo, son of a family reduced by circumstances to begging, witnesses his father wrongfully arrested and dealt with in the most horrifying way. Hauled off to be a slave at sea and pursued by pirates he encounters the ambitious mariner explorer, Christopher Columbus. Throughout his hardships Saulo is determined to survive - for he has sworn vengeance on the magistrate and his family. As Zarita's life also undergoes harsh changes, the formidable and frightening Inquisition arrives in the area, bringing menacing shadows of suspicion with acts of the court of Queen Isabella and King Ferdinand in the splendid Moorish city of Grenada, betrayal and revenge...

-Wasted, by Nicola Morgan

Jack worships luck and decides his actions by the flip of a coin. No risk is too great if the coin demands it. Luck brings him Jess, a beautiful singer who will change his life. But Jack's luck is running out, and soon the stakes are high. As chance and choice unravel, the risks of Jack's game become terrifyingly clear. An evening of heady recklessness, and suddenly a life hangs in the balance, decided by the toss of a coin. In the end, it is the reader who must choose whether to spin that coin and determine: Life or Death?

-The Blackhope Enigma, by Teresa Flavin

When Sunni Forrest's stepbrother accidentally transports himself into a Renaissance painting, she and her friend Blaise set out to bring him back. They find themselves in a strange world of labyrinths, monsters and pirates. Can the evade their greedy pursuers? And will they ever find their way home?

The Book Thief, by Markus Zusak

-Synopsis

Nine year old Liesel lives with her foster family on Himmel Street during the dark days of the Third Reich, or the Nazi regime. Her Communist parents have been transported to a concentration camp and during the funerals for her brother, she manages to steal a grim book: it is, in fact, a gravediggers' instruction manual. As a foster girl, Liesel scratches out a meager existence for herself by stealing when she encounters something she can't resist - books. With the help of her accordion-playing father, she learns to read and shares her stolen book with her neighbours during bombing raids as well as with the Jewish man hidden in her basement before he marched to Dachau. Both Liesel and her fellow inhabitants of Himmel Street will find themselves changed by both words on the printed page and the horrendous events happening around them.

It's just a small story really, about among other things: a girl, some words, an accordionist, some fanatical Germans, a Jewish fist-fighter and quite a lot of thievery.

-Review

'Death takes the reader by the hand and leads us through the lives and deaths of people in Liesel's world. This is an astonishing book - the writing is great - with an unusual style - that fits perfectly with the voice of Death - and that of the unforgettable Liesel'

-Rating

5/5

Website - http://www.booksattransworld.co.uk/thebookthief/

Percy Jackson and the Lightning Thief, by Rick Riordan

-Synopsis

Percy Jackson is about to be kicked out of boarding school...again. And that's the least of his troubles. Lately, mythological monsters and the gods of Mount Olympus seem to be walking straight out of the pages of Percy's Greek mythology textbook and into his life. Worse still, he's angered a few of them, Zeus's master lightning bolt had been stolen and Percy is the prime suspect.

Now he and his friends have just ten days to find and return Zeus's stolen property and bring peace to a warring Mount Olympus. But to succeed on his quest, Percy will have to do more that catch the true thief: he must come to terms with the father who abandoned him, solve the riddle of the Oracle, (which warns of a betrayal by a friend), and unravel a treachery more powerful than the gods themselves.

-Review

'I loved this book, before reading it I had my doubts about whether this type of story would appeal to me and I found it surprisingly good. Highly recommended for young readers in search of an original and imaginative series. The plot is extremely unique and keeps you fascinated throughout the entire course of the story.'

-Rating

4/5

-Media

A movie has been recently released of this first book, and was popular with families and teenagers.




Website - http://www.percyjackson.co.uk/site/pj_main.php

Death Note, by Tsugumi Ohba/Takeshi Obata

-Synopsis

Light Yagami is an ace student with great prospects - and he's bored out of his mind. But all that changes when he finds the Death Note, a notebook dropped by a rouge Shinigami death God. Any human whose name is written in the notebook dies, and now Light has vowed to use the power of the death note to rid the world of evil, using the name Kira. But when criminals begin dropping dead, the authorities send the legendary detective 'L' to track down the killer.


With L hot on his heels, will Light lose sight of his noble goal....or his life? Light tests the boundaries of the death note's powers as L and the police begin to close in. Luckily his father is the head of the Japanese National Police Agency and leaves vital information about the case lying around the house. With access to his father's files, Light can keep one step ahead of the authorities.


However, L seems to figure each of Kira's plans and quickly suspects Light to be the murderer, how can Light guard against enemies whose name he doesn't know?

-Review

'I seriously recommend this to anyone new to manga looking for a good introduction as well as hardened veterans, or anyone looking for a dark read. It was fantastic, brilliant story, and I would definitely read the whole set of books.'

-Rating

5/5

-Media

Accompanying the manga, is the anime series and the live action movie, using actors instead of animation, as is usually the case. All of which are extremely popular and Death Note now has it's own huge franchise around the world.





Website - http://deathnote.viz.com/

Eldest - Christopher Paolini

- Synopsis

Picking up from the exact point where Eragon, the first title in the Inheritance series, gave way, Eldest begins with dragon rider and now shade slayer, Eragon, on the battlefield of his greatest triumph. He is saddened by the death and carnage before him, and fearful for the future. King Galbatorix is, despite the battle won, still the cruel ruler of the Empire and must be defeated. Together with the beautiful and elegant, Saphira, with whom he can communicate without speech, they must travel to Ellesmera - fabled land of the elves to undergo further training in magic, swordsmanship and other worldly necessities.

Meanwhile, in his homeland, in the village of Carvahall, Eragon's cousin Roran faces challenges of his own. The King's men, and the dark creature that instructs them, lay siege to the tiny mountain community, in the hope of finding Roran , and thus lead them to Eragon. After fierce resistance, Roran leads the villagers on a long, arduous journey, to salvation (hopefully) with the community known as the Varden.

Will the King's dark hands strangle all resistance? Eragon may not escape with even his life...


-Review

This book grabs your attention immediately, and the chapters from Roran' point of view refreshes the plot. You learn a lot more about the elves than you do in the first, and about the the Riders themselves. I personally recommend this book to any dragon-loving teenager.


-Rating

4/5



Website - http://www.alagaesia.com/eldest.htm

Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows by J.K. Rowling

Synopsis -

Harry has been burdened with the dark, dangerous and seeminly impossible task: that of finding and destroying Voldemort's remaining Horcruxes. Never has Harry felt so alone, or faced a future so full of shadows. But Harry must somehow find within himself the strength to complete the task he has been given.

Review - This book was magnificent! I loved this book; all the different places they had to hide, all the times they almost died, all the twists and turns. This book was absolutely astonishing, Rowling does it again!

Rating - 5/5

Website - http://www.jkrowling.com

Artemis Fowl: The Arctic Incident by Eoin Colfer

Synopsis -

Artemis is at a boarding school in Ireland when he suddenly receives an urgent video e-mail from Russia. In it is a plea from his father, who has been kidnapped by the Russian Mafia. As Artemis rushes to his rescue, he is stopped by Captain Holly Short of the LEPrecon fairy police. But this time, instead of battling the fairies, he is going to have to join forces with them if he wants to save one of the few people in the world that he loves.

Review -

Very interesting, it was full of plot and detail and it also had some very unexpected twists in it. The writer has definitely done a good job.

Rating - 4/5

Website - http://www.artemisfowl.com

Atonement by Ian McEwan

Synopsis -

On a fateful day, a young girl (who aspires to be a writer) makes a terrible mistake that has life-changing effects for many people. Consequently she seeks living atonement - which leads to an expolration on the nature of writing.

Review -

Very interesting, it was good how it gave two sides of a story and how it changed character to give their view too.

Rating - 4/5

Website - http://www.ianmcewan.com

Room by Emma Donoghue

Room by Emma Donoghue

Synopsis -

To five-year-old Jack, Room is the entire world. It is where he was born and grew up; it's where he lives with his Ma as they learn and read and eat and sleep and play. At night, his Ma shuts him safely in the wardrobe, where he is meant to be asleep when Old Nick visits. Room is home to Jack, but to Ma, it is the prison where Old Nick has held her captive for 7 years. Through determination, ingenuity and fierce motherly love, Ma created a life for Jack. But she knows it's not enoguh... for her or for him. She devises a bold escape plan, one that relies on her young son's bravery and a lot of luck. What she does not realise is just how unprepared for the plan to actually work.

Review -

This is a really hard book to review without it being a complete spoiler! What makes Room a great book is the fact you never know what is going to happen from one page to the next, and that even though you are given a lot of clues throughout the book, a lot of the real world is guess-work from what Jack sees. By using Jack as the narrative, the book is made almost fairy-tale like. It's definitely a good read, and it's almost as if you are in Room with Jack and Ma.

Rating - 4/5

The Illustrated Mum by Jacqueline Wilson

The Illustrated Mum

Synopsis -

A powerful novel of two sisters and their tattoo-crazy mum who has real difficulty coping. Dolphin adores her mother. She's got wonderful clothes, bright hair and vivid tattoos all over her body. She definitely lives a colourful life. Dolphin's older sister, Star, also loves her but is beginning to wonder if staying with a mum whose temper can be as flashy as her body-art is the best thing for the girls...

Review -

Definitely in my top 5 favourites Jacqueline book! It's an awesome book, and so touching! Makes you laugh and cry all the way through. A perfect book for both younger and older readers since it deals with older material but in a user-friendly way.

Rating - 3/5

Website - www.jacquelinewilson.co.uk

Fat Boy Swim by Catherine Forde

Synopsis -

What would folks say if they discovered that big blob Kelly had one special talent and it involved food? God's sick joke that. Cooking is 14 year old Jimmy Kelly's secret gift. Bullied viciously at school, the kitchen is his haven. But even he doesn't know his real secret. He can't start living, until he stops hiding.

Review -

A gripping and heartfelt story about a boy who is only seen as fat. His one true talent keeps him sane though, stops all the bullies getting to him, and he's an inspirational character. Twist after twist in plot keeps the story interesting from page to page.

Rating -
3/5

The Lion, the Witch & the Wardrobe by C.S Lewis

 The Lion,the Witch & the Wardrobe

Synopsis-

1940, during the Blitz of World War II, four children are evacuated- Lucy, Susan, Peter & Edmund Pevensie. They are taken under the care of an old Professor Digory Kirke. While at his house, the four children quickly become bored but soon find adventure in the strangest of lands- the magical land of Narnia.

Review-

The Lion, the Witch & the Wardrobe is the second novel in the Chronicles of Narnia book series and has inspired many children around the world. I love this book because it completely takes you into another world where evil is winning and good is reliant on four small children. My favourite character is Edmund because he goes through the most and becomes a hero at the end.

Verdict - 5/5

Marked by P.C & Kristin Cast

Synopsis -

When 16 year old Zoey Redbird gets Marked as a fledgling vampyre, she must join the House of Night school where she will train to become an adult vampyre. That is, if she makes it through the Change. But Zoey is no ordinary fledgling. After discovering some very unique gifts, and that the leader of the Dark Daughters, Aphrodite, is mis-using her Goddess given gifts, Zoey must look within herself to find the courage to embrace her destiny - with a little help from her new vampyre friends (or Nerd Herd as Aphrodite calls them).

Review -

Once you've picked up the book, it's extremely hard to put it back down! Reading about Zoey's emotional journey, it feels like you are there with her in the House of Night. The added plot twists add to the suspense, overall making this an extremely fascinating book. Definite thumbs up! :)

Rating - 4/5

House of Night Website - http://www.houseofnightseries.com/

Goodbye BenSter001

For the last year BenSter001 has been dedicated in updating this blog every couple of days with fresh and exciting book reviews which have been written by fellow students at St. Margaret's Academy. Without his hard work this review blog would not be as full or as colourful! We wish BenSter001 the very best in his future plans.

However, do not worry this is not the end of the Reading Room. We will have new reviewers and updaters by September - so watch this space!!

Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets by J.K.Rowling

Synopsis-

Harry Potter is a wizard. He's in his second year at Hogwarts school of witchcraft and wizardry. Little does Harry know that this year will be more eventful as the last.

Review-

This second installment to the extremely popular Potter series and is more a exciting than the first and has proven to be a popular read amongst Harry's fan nationwide.

Verdict- 4/5

Beautiful Creatures by Kami Garcia

Synopsis-

Lena Duchannes is unlike anyone the people of the small town Gatlin has ever seen. She has wavy black hair, big green eyes and wears a necklace made of junk and carries an old battered journal. She is picked on and neglected because she is the niece of local town shut in- Old man Ravenwood. Lena is struggleing to cope with a power and a curse her family have carried for generations. But as Lena discovers- You cannot hide from your secrets forever.

Review -

This book was full of mystery, drama and emotion. You fall in love with the book when you feel connected to the characters.

Verdict - 5/5

Doctor Who Files: The Doctor

Synopsis-

Who is the 10th Doctor?

Find out all about the Doctor, his friends and enemies, technology and travels, then join him on a brand new adventure in "The hero factor".

Review-

Having read this book myself a few years ago, I enjoyed reading it but met an expected disappointment (as the book's knowlage only goes as far as to the middle of David Tennant's first series as the Doctor). Nevertheless, this book is enjoyable and should not be disreggarded.

Verdict - 3/5

Casino Royale by Ian Fleming

Synopsis-


"Bond... James Bond". MI6 sends distinguished agent 007 to play in a glitzy poker complex known as Casino Royale to recover millions of dollers from a demented madman known as Le Chiffre. Bond then aquires the help of Vesper Lynd who has been assigned to assist him on his mission to retrieve the money. But as events unfold it seems there is a lot more at stake than winning a poker game.. Love, treachery, action and sacrifice are part of this cocktail which Bond prefers "Shaken not stirred".







Review-


This book inspires the 2006 Bond film of the same name. An enjoyable, action packed read based around the card tables of Casino Royale. This book divulges into the concept of the card games and Vesper & 007's love interest more than the movie.Vesper's love affair with Bond is more convincing and moving compared to the film. A great read for any Bond fan!

Review submitted by Mr. MacGregor (Physics)

Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince by J.K Rowling

Synopsis-

It is the middle of the summer, but there is an unseasonal mist pressing against the window panes. Harry is waiting nervously in his bedroom at the Dursley's house in Privet Drive for a visit from Professor Dumbledore. One of the last times he saw the headmaster was in a fierce one- to- one duel with the evil Lord Voldemort, and Harry can't quite believe that Dumbledore is actually coming to the Dursley's of all places. Why is the Professor coming to visit him now? What is it that cannot wait until Harry returns to Hogwarts in a few weeks time? Harry's sixth year at Hogwarts has already got off to an unusual start, as the worlds of Muggle and Magic start to intertwine.

Review-

Harry's sixth year at hogwarts begins with a BANG! And ends with an even bigger BOOM!! This book is a joyride of thrills and spells.

Verdict - 4/5

Doctor Who: The Monsters Inside by Stephen Cole

Synopsis-

The TARDIS takes The Doctor and Rose to a destination in deep space- Justica, a prison camp stretched over six planets, where Earth colonies deal with their criminals. While Rose finds herself locked up inside a teenage borstal, The Doctor is trapped in a scientific labour camp. Each is determined to find each other and soon both Rose and The Doctor are risking life and limb to escape. However, their dangerous plans are made complicated by some old enemies. Are these creatures fellow prisoners as they claim or simply staging a takeover for their own sinister purposes?

Review-

I'am reading this book at the moment and I must admit, it is a very enjoyable book. The author of this book has clearly understood the emotion of the setting and the characters and has made this book tie in very well with the "Christopher Eccalston Doctor Who era".

Verdict - 4/5

Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix by J.K Rowling

Synopsis-

Harry if furious that he has been abandoned at the Dursley's house (yet again) for the summer, he suspects that Voldemort is gathering an army, that he himself could be attacked, and that his so-called friends are keeping him in the dark about the whole situation. Finally rescued by wizard bodyguards, Harry discovers that Dumbledore has reformed the Order of the Phoenix- a secret society that battled against Voldemort and his forces when Voldemort first rose to power. However, the Ministry of Magic is against the Order and has started spreading lies about Harry, Dumbledore and the rest of the Order. As time progresses, Harry begins to wonder if he will have to fight the lurking evil of Voldemort and his Deatheaters... ALONE.


Review-

Rowling may have outdone herself with this book. The characters, the backbone of the story and the big stone halls of Hogwarts and the messy rooms of Grimauld place, not to mention the gleaming green halls of the Ministry of magic. All make this book a magical read. Harry Potter & the Order of the Phoenix is a really great book and it is no wonder why it is among the shelves of britains best libraries.

Verdict - 4/5

Candyfloss by Jacqueline Wilson

Synopsis -

Flora Barnes lives with her mother and stepfather but wishes she could see more of her real dad. On her birthday however Flora gets the chance to do just that. Flora's mother and stepfather are set to move to Australia for six months due to Flora's stepfather's job and Flora begs her mother to let her stay with her dad.

Review-

I liked this book because it was really funny and it reminded me of my family, so I knew exactly how the character felt.

Verdict - 4/5

Pig Heart Boy by Malorie Blackman

Synopsis-

Cameron is quite a normal boy whoo loves nothing better than participating in sports. However when a fatal virus affects his heart, Cameron has no choice but to have a heart transplant. But for the heart transplant to be a succsess, Cameron is forced to recieve a pigs heart as there are no human doners available. All seems to be going great for Cameron after the operation but when he tells his best friend about his new heart, Cameron is then targeted by the media and given a new nickname- Pig heart boy.

Review-


It was interesting and there was lots of good twists to it . It was a bit sad at the end but left you wondering.

Verdict- 5/5

Charlotte's Web by E.B. White

Synopsis-

OnZuckerman's farm, there is a new litter of pigs. One of these pigs is a runt and Mr. Zuckerman decides to kill it, however his daughter Fern begs Zuckerman to spare the little pigs life, Zuckerman agrees and allows Fern to look after the piglet who she names Wilbur. Many months after this Wilbur has increased in size and as a result Zuckerman is forced to give Wilbur to his brother Homer who also runs a farm. As time goes by Homer considers killing Wilbur for christmas dinner, Wilbur does not want to die and is extremely upset at this thought. Then out of the blue, a friendly spider offers to help Wilbur change his fate and make Homer see that Wilbur is worth much more than a simple roast.

Review-

I enjoyed this book because its interesting and moving. I enjoyed the relationship between the young girl and the animals on the farm.

Verdict - 4/5

Twilight by Stephanie Meyer

Synopsis-


Bella and her father have moved to the small town of Forks in Washington. As Bella attends the local high school, she attracts attention from many boys (much to her dismay). However there is one boy Edward who seems to spark Bella's interest. After Edward saves Bella's life she becomes determined to find out how he did it. Bella then discovers that Edward is an animal - blood sucking vampire. Just as Bella & Edward's relationship peaks, a new Vampire arrives, James, he is tracking Edward's family and seeks to hunt Bella for sport. After a daring rescue Bella is nearly killed but Edward saves her once again and Bella announces her devotion for him.

Review-


I enjoyed this book because it is well written especially the characters and is full of excitment and mystery. I really enjoyed reading about the Cullen family particularly Alice who can 'see' into the future. Will be reading the next book in the series!

Verdict - 5/5

Eagle Day by Robert Muchamore

Synopsis-

Hitler has conquered France. Now he intends to cross the channel and defeat Britain before winter arrives . A group of young refugees led by British spy Charles Henderson faces a stark choice. To head south into the safety Spain, or to go north on a risky mission to sabotage the German invasion plans.

Review-

The book is very exciting, if you start reading it you won't be able to stop. It tells the history of WW2 in a really exciting way plus the children are the heroes!

Verdict - 4/5

Diggers by Terry Pratchett

Synopsis-

A bright new dawn is just round the corner for thousands of tiny nomes when they move into an abandoned quarry. Or is it ? Soon humans appear and start to really mess things up.

Review-

It was very fun and gripping. This made me read it the whole way through to the end. I am definitely going to search for more Terry Pratchett to read.

 

Review - 4/5

Danny the champion of the world by Roald Dahl

Synopsis-

Danny lives with his father in an old caravan and Danny's father owns and runs a garage they both thrive for somthing a little more exciting in life. When Danny comes up with the idea to sabotage a wealthy tycoons pidgeon compitition, Danny's father is first to help him.

Review- 

I enjoyed this book all the way through because it was eye catching and it had a good story.

Verdict- 4/5

Inkheart by Cornelia Funke

Synopsis-

Inkheart follows the adventures of a 12 year old girl named Meggie Folchart. Meggie's life changes forever when she discovers her father Mortimer can brings items and even characters from books to become real. Meggie and her father then travel all across Europe (spending a lot of time in Italy) where they meet an assortment of strange creatures.

Review-

It was a very action packed book which has a good plot and very interesting characters.

Verdict - 4/5

Twilight: Eclipse by Stephanie Meyer

Synopsis-

As Seattle is plauged with a mysterious series of muders and a vicious vampire out for revenge, Bella once again finds herself in danger and at the same time conflicted by intense feelings of love and friendship. Torn between Edward and Jacob, Bella realizes that her choice could ignite an endless war between vampire and were-wolf kind.

Review-

I enjoyed this book because it was about vampires & werewolves in the 21st of century. I also liked it involves a lot of romance between Edward and Bella and Jacob. Onto in book three!

Verdict - 5/5

Pretty little things by Jilliane Hoffman

Synopsis-

After a date on Halloween, Lainey Emerson and her boyfriend suddenly disappear. The boyfriend only known as El Captain is the prime suspect. Bobby Dee, the tenacious special agent of Florida's "Crack Crimes Against Children Sqaud" is the only person who may be able to find her. But all of Dee's resources are called upon by a nemisis who always seems to be one step ahead and time is running out fore the missing girl.

Review-

I enjoyed the cliffhangers and was entranced by the mystery of this book.

Verdict- 5/5

Doctor Who: Clockwise Man by Justin Richards

Synopsis-

The TARDIS takes The 9th Doctor and his companion Rose Tyler to 1920's London, where which it happens, a (not so human) killer is on the loose. While The Doctor and Rose attempt to find the person/ persons responsible for the strange murders happening in the night, they meet an odd woman who will not show her face and a cat that can return from the dead. It is all connected but The Doctor must find the answer to this dangerous riddle before the whole of London is destroyed!

Review-

This is the first Doctor who new series novel.. so critics have read it with a lot of expectations.. I myself have never liked the 9th Doctor but this novel was enjoyable and at times, intreging.



Verdict- 3/5

The tales of Beedle the Bard by JK Rowling

Synopsis-

"The tales of Beedle the Bard" contains five richly diverse fairy tales, each with its own magical character, that will variously bring delight,laughter and the thrill of mortal peril.

Review-

A uniquely magical volume, with illustrations by the author JK Rowling, that will be treasured for years to come.

Verdict-

3/5

Harry Potter and the Goblet of fire by J.K Rowling

Synopsis-

It is the summer holidays and soon Harry will be starting his fourth year at Hogwarts School of witchcraft and wizardry. Harry is counting the days: new spells to be learnt, more Quidditch to be played and more of Hogwarts to explore. But Harry needs to be careful- there are unexpected dangers lurking...

Review-

From start of the last page to the end of the last, "The goblet of fire" is said to be among Rowling's finest work to date and if you like wizards,dragons, battles and danger, then this book is for you!

Verdict- 5/5

Charlie and the great glass elaevator by Roald Dahl

Synopsis-

' We've gone into orbit!' cried Mr.Wonka.

Charlie has won Willy Wonka's chocolate factory and is now on his way with his family to receive it. He, his parents and four grandparents plus Mr. Wonka himself, are travelling by Mr.Wonka's great glass elevator!

However, not all is going according to plan for the elevator has flown to far upwards and out of the Earth's orbit and into space. To add to things,the Choclate maker and his friends are not the only ones in space. There is a very large outer space hotel in orbit with them.

Review-

Roald Dahl's great method of storytelling is amazingly popular among children and adults alike. This is a phenomanel example as to why..

Verdict-

4/5

The life of Robert Burns by Catherine Carswell

Background-

First published in 1930 to an unprecedented storm of protest, Catherine Carswell's "The life of Robert Burns" raemains the standard work on its subject.

Review-

Catherine Carswell's "Life of Robert Burns" is still apart from Burns' own account, the best

TEACHER REVIEW - The Island by Victoria Hislop

Synopsis-

On the brink of a life changing decision, Alexis Fielding longs to find out about her mother's past. However Sofia has never spoken of it. All she admits to is growing up in a small Cretan village before moving to London. When Alexis decides to visit Crete,however, Sofia gives her daughter a letter to deliever to an old friend and promises that through her she will learn more.

Arriving in Plaka, Aleixs is astonished to see that it lies a stone's throe from the tiny, deserted island of Spinalinga - Greece's former leper colony. Then she finds Fotini, ans at last hears the story that Sofia has buried all her life: the tale of her great-grandmother Eleni and her daugheters, and a fmaily rent by tragedy, war and passion. She discovers how intimately she is connected with the island, and how secrecy holds them all in its powerful grip...

Review-

This book has it all- Its educational, historical and emotional . It follows the lives of three women and is set on the island of Crete and the leper colony Spinalonga. The book tracks their lives through illness, war and love. A fantastic read!

Verdict- 5/5

Review submitted by Mrs Rafferty (P.E.)

If you want to find out more about the author then click on the link - Victoria Hislop 

Harry Potter and the prisoner of Azkaban by JK Rowling

Synopsis-

Harry, Ron and Hermione are about to start their third year at Hogwarts school of witchcraft and wizardry. Harry can't wait to go back to the wizarding world after the summer holidays. However, when he returns to school the atmosphere is tense.. There's an escaped wizard prisoner on the loose and the errie dementors (prison guards of Azkaban, the wizard prison) have been summond to search the school.

And to make matters worse, the escaped prisoner Sirius Black... Seems to be after Harry!

Review-

When JK Rowling wrote this exciting addition to the Harry Potter series, she probablly had no idea how eagerly awaited it was to the Harry Potter fans. As the third installment to the ever popular wizarding series, "The prisoner of Azkaban" offers its reader a whole new look into the wonderful world of Hogwarts and a few new surprises about Harry Potter and his terrible past.

Written with such wit and charm, "Harry Potter and the prisoner of Azkaban" is just.... magic!

The outlaw Varjak Paw by SF Said

Synopsis-


The second Varjack Paw tale- this time the plucky little cat with mysterious fighting skills finds himself drawn to a vicious turf war as cats loyal to super-scary Sally Bones try and take over the city.

Varjak and his friends make many new enemies as things turn nasty. A fateful battle against Sally Bones seems to be the only way to bring things to an end.

But who can Varjak trust?!

Review-

I enjoyed''The outlaw Verjak Paw'' because it is just so amazing and adventurous and I couldn't put it down.

Verdict-

5/5

Skulduggery Pleasant By Derek Landy

Synopsis-

Meet the great Skulduguggery Pleasant: wise-cracking detective, powerful magician, master of dirty tricks and burglary (in the name of the greater good of course!)

Oh yeah and he's dead!

Then there's his sidekick Stephanie. She's... Well, a twelve year old girl. With a pair like this one on the case... Evil better watch out !

Stephanie's uncle Gordon was an author who wrote horror fiction. However when he dies and leaves his estate to Stephanie, she learns that while he may have been writing horror, her unle may not have been writing fiction.

Pursued by evil forces intent on recovering a mysterious key, Stephanie finds help from an unusual source - the wisecracking dead wizard- Skulduggary.

Review

It was really cool & funny. It is one of my favourite books and I love the whole series

Star rating - 5/5

TEACHER REVIEW - The Book Thief by Markus Zusak

Synopsis -
The Book Thief by Marcus Zusak was the best-selling debut literary novel of the year 2007, selling over 400,000 copies. The book's narrator is nothing less than Death itself, regaling us with a remarkable tale of book burnings, treachery and theft. The book never forgets the primary purpose of compelling the reader's attention, yet which nevertheless is able to impart a cogent message about the importance of words, particularly in those societies which regard the word as dangerous.

Nine-year-old Liesel lives with her foster family on Himmel Street during the dark days of the Third Reich. Her Communist parents have been transported to a concentration camp, and during the funeral for her brother, she manages to steal a macabre book: it is, in fact, a gravediggers’ instruction manual. This is the first of many books which will pass through her hands as the carnage of the Second World War begins to hungrily claim lives. Both Liesel and her fellow inhabitants of Himmel Street will find themselves changed by both words on the printed page and the horrendous events happening around them.
 
Despite its grim narrator, The Book Thief is, in fact, a life-affirming book, celebrating the power of words and their ability to provide sustenance to the soul. Interestingly, the Second World War setting of the novel does not limit its relevance: in the 20th century, totalitarian censorship throughout the world is as keen as ever at suppressing books (notably in countries where the suppression of human beings is also par for the course) and that other assault on words represented by the increasing dumbing-down of Western society as cheap celebrity replaces the appeal of books for many people, ensures that the message of Marcus Zusak’s book could not be more timely. It is, in fact, required reading -- or should be in any civilised country.

Review-

This book appeals to me because it is beautifully written with such unusual expression, This is by far my favourite read this year.

Verdict- 4.5/5


Review submitted by Miss Holiday (Drama)

Want to check out more on this author?? Follow this link - Markus Zusak