Raven's Gate, by Anthony Horowitz

-Synopsis

Long-since orphan, Matt is being punished for an act he saw, but didn't commit. Instead of being locked up, he is being sent to live in the middle of nowhere to live in a new foster home, as part of a government scheme called The Leaf Project. But Matt's new surroundings provide anything but peace and quiet. Stuck to deal with a crazy new guardian in an even stranger part of the old English countryside, he begins to realise that fate has its hand upon him. He finds evidence that his 'foster mother' is involved in very sinister things....and the whole town seems to be on her side. Everybody who tries to help Matt winds up disappearing...or dead. Matt begins to realise that he must fufill more than ever expected of a fourteen year old before. An ancient prophecy remains to be proven at his hands. It is up to Matt to stop an ancient evil from rising into the world, against all odds.

The first of a five book series, Matt is not alone, four other teenagers are waiting to be discovered.


- Review

"I think this book is awesome! Once you start reading you can't stop, it has a twist at every turn. I recommend this book to anyone interested in the Harry Potter books - it's just so magnificent. Can't wait for the whole series to be finished!"

- Rating

4/5

Website - http://www.powerof5.co.uk/flash.html

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)