‘DIEGO, RUN!’ by Deborah Ellis

‘Madre de Dio,’ she prayed, ‘how will we survive?’

Meet twelve year old, Diego, a hardworking Bolivian boy doomed to live in the cold cells of a Bolivian Women’s prison. Placed there for a crime they didn’t commit, the members of Diego’s family were wrenched away from each other, his father destined to live out the rest of his days in a men’s prison, whilst his little sister doesn’t even know what home looks like. Diego works now as a human taxi running errands and selling things, but when his little sister wanders off on his watch, his mother is set to receive a hefty fine. Diego is offered a job he can’t afford to miss. Leaving his family behind, Diego leaves with his trusted friend Mando to face an unknown path that could lead to either complete fortune or death. What will he choose?

Diego is an adventurous character who enjoys discovering new information and new strategies to aid both himself and what’s left of his family. For his young age, Diego is quite clever when it comes to accomplishing goals, collecting new information in his photographic mind to change new tactics of getting through the daily struggles and to him, every piece of information counts. His mother tries to cope with the days, always worried that one night they will end up sleeping on the dirty, cold floor. Diego’s sister, on the other hand, is the complete opposite. Crawling around and creating mischief is her key goal according to Diego. But as for his father, living in the men’s prison with Diego’s best friend Mando, all he would love to do is be with his family once again.

I think this book is for individuals from the age twelve to eighteen. It has real, worldwide problems in its pages and wouldn’t be understood or even appropriate for anyone under the age of twelve. But to compete with this, this book is also extremely easy to read and so may not exactly appeal to adults due to its limited vocabulary.

I loved this book. It’s been written exceedingly well and really gets you addicted to the story line, especially when it reveals its plot twist. The characters and culture are unique and the situation is realistic and can even appear to be educational. This novel really makes you appreciate what a lovely and lucky country we live in.

Reviewed by Scarlett, Year 9

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“The first breath made his lungs and throat burn, and he wanted to punch the men who had given him this horrible thing.”

Working as a young child, taking multiple drugs so you don’t fall asleep on the job that depends whether you’re going to live your life outside or inside the jail walls…

Inside a jail in Cochabamba, Bolivia, lives Diego, his mother and sister Corina. When Diego went out to work as a taxi one day, he didn’t realise that day was going to change his life. Mando, his best friend who lives outside the jail, asked him if he wanted to work in the jungle under the control of many men. Given very brief information he chose to go the next morning with just a satchel and a water bottle and take the chance of making loads of money or never coming back home to his family.

This novel was great and I was intrigued because it is an actual problem in Bolivia that people have to do as a job. It was tremendous to read, as it was easy to visualise, giving that it had immense detail about the feelings of Diego and how he was being treated with disgust from the men. This would be a great book for kids above the age of 12 as they would really understand the problem in detail and be more aware of drugs and what happens throughout the book. They would also take it more seriously.

Nicole C., Year 9

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How would you feel if your parents were just taken away from you? Your life suddenly changes, and what you know of life doesn’t exist for you. Diego is a child that has been brought up in a third world country. His parents have been put into a prison in Cochabamba, Bolivia. With his family being ripped away from society, only the children can leave through the gates.

To be able to have a living within the prison, Diego’s mother knits and Diego sells the goods and does taxi jobs for people. When life can’t seem to get any worse for Diego a dreadful event occurs. A hefty cost comes out from it and Diego is forced to pay it back. He feels great shame for what he has done and it doesn’t help the fact that his mother is now ignoring him.

Diego’s friend Mando pressures him to come on a job that will have a reward of lots of money. It is Deigo’s choice to come or not, to come on an adventure, to save his family, have great fortune or will it just be a great failure? He only has a few days to decide. Does he pick the right choice? Will his brilliant mind of judgment and knowledge help him? Will his family ever be together and happy again?

Diego Run is a well-written novel reaching out to younger teens around the age of 12 – 14. The author’s use of language is suited for around people around this age. Having easier use of language also makes the novel appealing to readers who aren’t very strong in this area allowing them to have an easy read. Misfortune is greatly showed in the novel with the poverty in third world countries. What makes the novel a great read is the mix between real world issues, adventure and uncalled events that you would have never expected to happen to always keep you on your edge.

Jeremy, Year 9

Category: Adventure stories, Crime fiction, Realistic fiction, Student Reviews | LEAVE A COMMENT

November 19

‘Silent to the Bone’ by E.L.Konigsberg

“911 what’s your emergency?”

Who knew one call could change so much? When his best friend Branwell is charged with injuring his baby sister and refuses to speak, Connor takes it upon himself to prove him innocent. ‘Silent to the Bone’ is mysterious tale of fighting for what you believe in and never giving up on your friends. Does this sound like the book you?

During this story, E.L Konigsberg examines the communication between people without speaking. It is intriguing and somewhat interesting but after time the book becomes repetitive and dull. The overall style of the book is good, the writing contemporary and is more suitable for young adults. The novel delves into mystery and suspense, which I personally think wears off quickly.

Branwell’s family is slightly dysfunctional, so when his Father remarries and a new child is brought into the family, many suspect the 13-year-old of being jealous and purposely hurting his younger sister. But Connor doesn’t believe his quiet friend would be capable of such a thing and makes it his responsibility to prove Branwell’s innocence.

I do not mean to sound harsh, but I have only rated this book two stars. There is no doubt that others would find this novel enjoyable, but it is not the type of book that I would usually pick up. I would recommend it for students fourteen and older, ‘Silent to the Bone’ is only a story someone can read if they find it interesting. The audience type is not gender specific and there are no obvious traits that would suggest whether you would enjoy such a book. Some of the themes I was slightly uncomfortable with, but I did find the whole concept predictable. I would recommend this book to people who enjoy crime and mystery novels, but not to those who relish adventures and fairytales. All in all, I didn’t hate this story. There was times when I found it interesting and others when I found myself struggling to turn a page. But I cannot recommend this book.

Chelsea, Year 9

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Branwell used to be normal until the 911 call that changed him. Now he’s fighting for his innocence, refusing to speak, so Connor takes the lead, in clearing Barnwell’s name. The book opens with the mysterious 911 call. This call reveals that 13-year-old Branwell Zamborska is struck dumb during the same accident that puts Nikki, his little sister, into coma. Questioning Branwell’s innocence, he is put into a juvenile detention centre. As they question different people in Branwell’s life, the reader begins to see what is hidden beneath Branwell’s silence. The truth.

The book “Silent to the bone” by E.L. Konisgsburg is a story about the true determination of friendship and the fight for innocence. I didn’t really enjoy this book; it lacked adventure and was very predictable. The book was boring for me. I found it hard to come to terms with a character who never spoke. The book dragged on. However, the style of writing was okay, and the plot could have been more interesting if it had been written better.

Olivia, Year 9

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November 6

‘The London Eye Mystery’ by Siobhan Dowd

“What goes up most come down…” unless you are Salim.

Imagine you or a family member boarding the London Eye and not knowing that you weren’t going to return again. Does the sound of this mystery make you want to read this book to find out what really happened in the end? Then “The London Eye Mystery” is the book for you!

Life is very hard for young Ted and his family. His cousin has gone missing and no one knows where or how. It was a cold morning in London and the doors of the specific capsule Salim was supposed to be in on the London Eye opened and the passengers came out. They walked off in different directions and they never saw each other again. But Salim wasn’t amongst them. Where has he gone?

The main characters are Ted, Kat and Salim. Ted is such a fascinating and captivating narrator. The novel is written in his perspective and it is very amusing to follow his lines of thinking as we readers try to discover clues that will help us find out what actually happened to Salim.

I really enjoyed the book “The London Eye Mystery” because it is a story about a young boy who goes missing and no one knows what has happened to him until the end. I was very interested in this book by the way Siobhan Dowd described the characters and scenes throughout this novel. In the beginning the plot was difficult to understand, but as you kept reading you began to understood the novel’s storyline better. The language the author used throughout the book allowed it to be very easy for me to visualize the scenes in my head. The way the author wrote the plot was very unique and creative.

This book seemed to be a heartfelt mystery with much realism. The story progressed exceptionally well with a lot of different twists that gained my full attention. Once I picked up this book, I found it quite difficult to put back down again. The ending was very constructive and unexpected by the way Siobhan Dowd had solved the mystery. I would personally recommend this book for teens of both genders in the age range of 12-16, or to anyone that enjoys reading thrilling and mysterious novels. This book was a great quick easy read. I would rate the book “The London Eye Mystery” 4 out of 5 stars.

Alana S, Year 9

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What goes up must come down… mustn’t it? The pod lands and the doors open. People exit the ride, but where is Salim? When Aunt Gloria or also known as Hurricane Gloria and her son Salim visit London to see their cousins, what could have been scarier then the London Eye?

Is this an immediately appealing book, an adventure to London you would like to read? Then “The London Eye Mystery” is the book for you.

When Salim is riding 100ft off ground and disappears mysteriously into thin air from a closed pod, questions are raised. The police are puzzled and the parents are way too worried to even think straight. This is when Kat and Ted set off on a journey investigating clues and ideas, overcoming their complicated relationship to find Salim. As Ted’s unique self, he and his Asperger’s syndrome are racing against time. He reads between the lines to solve the key to the story.

The way Siobhan Dowd keeps the story going with enough suspense and thrill throughout the novel kept me engaged with the story line. The description of the characters gave me a clear idea of what they looked like, making it easy for me to picture them. The scenes had heaps of description and power to them which kept my full attention at all times. The perfect progression through the story kept me glued to it. From the start of the book to the end I was already thinking about reading more of Siobhan Dowd’s stories.

Once again, does this adventure sound like the unput-downable spine-tingling thriller for you? I recommend this book to young teenagers from the ages of 11- 15 who enjoy mysterious, thriller detective genres. I rate the book “The London Eye mystery” a 3 out of 5 stars.

‘Jacob F., Year 9’

Category: Crime fiction, Mystery, Realistic fiction, Student Reviews | LEAVE A COMMENT

November 6

‘Thieves Like Us’ by Stephen Cole

“This will end well,” said Nathaniel.

This book is about Nathaniel Coldhardt and how tries to set up kids to do dangerous and illegal jobs for him. If you are interested in wonder books, this is definitely the book for you. Jonah Wish, a magnificent computer hacker, is the newest addition to an exclusive group of teen criminals all hired by the same mysterious person, Nathaniel Coldhardt. They all have a unique talent: Patch is a one-eyed locksmith who can pick any lock in town; Motti can undo any electrical system; last but not least, Tye can sense a lie with more accuracy than a detector. Together these talents could do anything. Nathaniel has studied these kids for years to find out what their talents are and what their background is.

In this story, Nathaniel Coldhardt tries to set up all the kids to do dangerous and illegal jobs so he doesn’t go to jail again. He has hired all these kids so he can get what he needs. Nathaniel would stuff up all these kids’ lives just so he can get what he wants. He is lying to them; he will get karma.

I did not like this book because it was slow and it has no action. Other people may have different opinions but I do not like this book, but if you are into wonder books you will certainly like this book.

I would personally recommend this book to people over the age of 50 because it is a relaxing book and it isn’t really an action filled thriller.

This book could also be for kids or teenagers that like wonder books.

This book is set in a jail. It is also set in a house. Kayden, Year 9

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Thieves like us. As it says, there are no other thieves that can imitate those five thieves. They are very young but very skilled and very strong. These kids might be the only key to stop someone from becoming immortal.

Jonah was not the normal kid you would normally meet. He was a genius at solving any puzzle and could decode anything. Because of this he ended up in a young offenders’ institution in Germany. But, after three months, he escaped and got taken to a big mansion in the middle of nowhere. The mansion had an underground base, perfect security and a room for each person. With Con, Pat, Motti and Tye, Jonah goes on several missions set up by Coldhardt to uncover the mystery and lies of the thirteenth Zodiac symbol Ophiuchius, the serpent Bearer. Like Jonah, the others kids have their own unique techniques to successfully complete the missions that Coldhardt sets. Con can do hypnotism aka mesmerism that can make anyone do the things he says, Pat can unlock any doors and security systems, Motti can shut down and identify any security system, and Tye can drive any vehicle.

I really enjoyed the book, ‘Thieves Like Us’ because it has some action and mysteries of the thirteenth Zodiac symbol. Coldhardt tells many mysteries and lies that the kids don’t even know and the author brings out the best of the mysteries. The ending of the story was very satisfying and made me wonder what would happen next. I would recommend this story to teenagers who are interested in the Zodiac symbols and mysteries novels. This book is a really good book to read. I would rate the book ‘Thieves Like Us’ 4 out of 5 stars. Takuto , Year 9

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November 5

‘Skulduggery Pleasant’ by Derek Landy

“Gordon Edgley’s sudden death came as a shock to everyone.”

This was the starting line of this in depth, fantasy/sci-fi thriller. The story is set in a suburban area, and then moved into the city and countryside during the novel. Skullduggery Pleasant is like no average human. He has no muscle or flesh; all he has is bone. Skullduggery is just a skeleton. He was defeated by evil and turned into a skeleton but he has magical powers. Will he use those powers for good?

Stephanie Edgley was a normal girl until she found out who killed her uncle and why. She decides to follow on with what her uncle did and that was follow and help Skullduggery. Will she last or will she suffer a death just like her uncle’s?

Stephanie would have never thought that the death of her Uncle Gordon Edgley would be the start of something completely amazing in her life. She met Skullduggery, and found out what her Uncle did, and ever since that moment she wanted to continue what her uncle was doing, fighting evil with magic.

I enjoyed reading this novel because it was the type of sci-fi/fantasy that I enjoyed. It also kept me on the edge of my seat. Even though the story did drag on at times, there was enough action in the novel to keep me wanting to read more. The characters in this novel were not too boring but also were not too loud and annoying. For me this was a perfect novel.

I recommend the novel Skulduggery Pleasant to mostly boys between the age of 13 and 17 that are interested in Action, Sci-fi and fantasy novels. I also recommend this novel to any reader that has an interest in magic.

Max H, Year 9.

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November 5

‘Son of the Mob’ by Gordon Korman

Vince Luca is trying to live a normal teenage life, but when his Dad’s ‘business’ gets involved in his love life and everything he tries to do, he feels he has no choice but to get involved in his dad’s ‘business’… Do you think he will?

Vince Luca is on his first date and it’s going so well, until he finds a surprise in the trunk of his car… A dead body! He then realizes that his dad’s business is going to ruin his last high school year. Vince can’t even play football, or create a website or even go on a date without his dad’s business somehow getting in the way.

Vince Luca, aged 17, is trying to finish his last year of high school without anything going bad in his life, but when your dad is a mob boss it’s very tricky.

This is a very pleasant book to read because from the first page I was engaged in it. The author has done a fantastic job at describing the characters, from their personalities to how they are thinking and feeling, which is quite effective because you can get a better understanding of what’s happening throughout the book.

The novel “Son of the mob” is an exceptional read. If you are really into books about mobs and romance at the same time you’ll fall for this one. This book is very descriptive so you can imagine what’s happening. I recommend this book to teens and young adults, around the ages of 13 to 21. This book was truly a fantastic read, and I would definitely read it again! I rate this book 3 out of 5.

Shannon F., Year 9

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Say hello to the ‘Luca family’; they’re a close but also public mobster family in the heart of their local community. The Luca family has an absent-minded control over people; their son Vince doesn’t want a part of it. He wants to be in the social and study theme instead of violence. If you are into mobsters’ unsolved crimes and discovery, then this is the book for you!

Vince wants to stay out of his father’s business but he seems to be getting caught up in a ruckus. On his first date he finds a dead body in his trunk, all the way till he gets forced off the football team because his team’s mates think they’ll get a run in with one of his uncles if they even lay a finger on him!

This book has razor fast dialogue and bullet fast pace. It’s a definite page-turner! ‘Son of the mob’ could get any teen reading because it was a thrilling read. I rate this novel 4 out of 5 stars.

Cooper, Year 9

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The book, ‘Son of The Mob’, is about a teenager named Vince. Vince was not a normal teenage boy; his dad is the boss or the head of the biggest Mafia group in New York. The other teenagers treated Vince differently. Vince has recently got a girlfriend called Kendra but then things get more complicated; Kendra is the daughter of the head of the FBI who is trying to catch Vince’s father. Vince’s best friend Alex is trying to score vicariously through him, his brother annoys him and his dad is trying to get him motivated to join the mob.

‘Son of The Mob’ is a thrilling book to read because the suspense that is between the FBI and Vince’s dad is incredible but with this book you have to be patient and keep reading because it takes a few chapters for the book to get interesting. At the start of the book it doesn’t introduce all the characters. In my opinion, I did not enjoy the book ‘Son of The Mob’. It would be better for an adult to read this book because the author has made ‘Son of The Mob’ a bit tricky to read.

Daniel, Year 9

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Son of the Mob is an action, adventure book written by Gordon Korman. The story is basically about a boy named Vince Luca. Vince’s dad runs a mob, sort of like a Mafia, but Vince wants nothing to do with it. Vince’s brother, who is older than him, joined his dad’s mob. There are a lot of other people who are in the mob and they are all coded with secret names that start with ‘Uncle’, for example Uncle Pampers and Uncle Big Nose.

Vince gets caught up in a relationship with the school news reporter Kendra Bightly. Kendra’s dad is an agent that goes by the name of Agent Biteme according to the Luca family. Agent Biteme is in charge of keeping watch on the Luca family. He has cameras set up in the Luca family home and he listens in on all their conversations.

The main characters in Son of the Mob are Vince Luca, Anthony Luca who is Vince’s dad, Kendra Bightly (Vince’s girlfriend), Alex Tarkanian (Vince’s best friend) and Jimmy Rat, who is basically a low life that owes money to the mob.

All up, I think the Son of the Mob by Gordon Korman is an exciting adventure that leaves you not wanting to put the book down. Son of the Mob has humour, action and some nail-biting scenes. Son of a Mob is a book that is for ages 13 and up. It is a great book that deserves some huge recognition. I give the book a 9 out of 10 for its humour, action and the feeling you get when you just can’t put the book down. Gordon Korman is a great author who I think gets a huge round of applause for creating such a wonderful book that is Son of a Mob.

Alby, Year 9

Category: Crime fiction, Funny books, Realistic fiction, Student Reviews | LEAVE A COMMENT

November 1

‘A Pocketful of Eyes’ by Lili Wilkinson

‘Just because the world was simple, it didn’t mean there wasn’t any room for the occasional mystery.’ (p.311)

These are teenagers with a mystery to solve and they won’t give up until they get to the bottom of it, even if they have to stay back at the taxidermy lab until midnight looking for clues. Does this sound like the type of book you love to read, the type of book that you can’t put down and you have to keep reading? Then ‘A Pocketful Of Eyes’ by Lili Wilkinson is the book for you!

It all starts when a teenage girl named Bee is working at a taxidermy laboratory in the Melbourne Natural Museum’s Department, ‘but her summer job turns out to be full of surprises’ (back cover), especially on the day her mentor suddenly dies and a mysterious handsome boy named Toby begins to work at the taxidermy lab with Bee. Everyone thought that Bee’s mentor Gus died because he committed suicide but Bee and Toby are on a quest to find out if Gus really committed suicide, or did someone murder him?

I really liked the book, ‘A Pocketful Of Eyes’ because it is a story about a girl and boy who begin to have feelings for each other and they are on a quest to find out who murdered their mentor, Gus, and during the process of getting clues and investigating they have some fights but the story concludes with them making up.

Bee is very quirky yet mysterious in a way. When Bee was young she always liked reading detective books and always liked to be a detective. Bee’s co-worker Toby was a good-looking boy who is in university. He knew a lot about animal history and was always trying to charm Bee with quirky and strange facts.

I particularly enjoyed this book because each page you found out something new, either about the characters or the investigation. I was glued to the book. When I was reading ‘A Pocketful Of Eyes’, each page felt like you were getting closer and closer to finding out how Gus died. I strongly recommend this book to teenagers and young adults from the ages of 13- 18 who are preferably girls who are interested in a good mystery and romance. I rate this book 4 stars out of 5.

~ Kate, Year 9

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Bee is part time working in a taxidermy department at her local museum. School starts up again in a few weeks and she is preparing for her last year of school. Her mother is a complete geek and her so-called boyfriend is nowhere to be seen or heard of.

It was a normal day for Bee when she entered the taxidermy department, until she saw police officers and investigators around the place. The head of the Taxidermy Department, Gus, died that night. The investigators say that he killed himself but Bee thinks differently. Will Bee find out who really killed Gus or is she just imagining her childhood fantasy of becoming a detective?

The main characters are interesting: Bee is a girl working in the Taxidermy Department as a part time job before school; Toby is a boy who randomly appeared one day without a word. He said that he needed extra credit as he failed an exam in university, but the problem was that he is very mysterious but knows many animal mating habits. Gus seemed like a very peaceful man that knew what he was doing, but Bee knew something was different the day he died.

This book is exciting, unique and it puts you on the edge. The story line was interesting as there are many detective books where you can guess the ending but this book was different. As soon as I picked up ‘A Pocketful of Eyes’ I couldn’t put I down, and when I did put it down I could not stop thinking about the book. I would recommend the book to girls between the ages of thirteen and fifteen. This is truly a wonderful book that puts you on edge. 4 out of 5 stars.

Morgan B, Year 9

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‘Just because the world was simple, it didn’t mean there wasn’t any room for the occasional mystery.’ (p. 311)

It was a normal day for Bee; well that’s what she thought, anyway. Bee is a senior high school student working at the Museum of Natural History in the Taxidermy Department for a summer job. This normal day suddenly was filled of surprises, including Bee’s mentor being found dead and a handsome boy showing up. Bee had many questions but was too shocked to say, after working with Gus, her mentor at the Museum, since the beginning of the summer break. Bee found it odd that the police would say that he had committed suicide and from that moment forward, Bee was convinced that he was murdered. Bee has some help from what she calls her sidekick Toby, the handsome boy. Together they try and solve what they believed was murder.

I truly enjoyed the book, “A Pocketful of Eyes” because it is a story about a girl who has grown up enjoying mystery books and thought she would never be involved in one herself, but during her summer her small dream comes true.

The way Lili Wilkinson described the scenes and characters was wonderful; I didn’t want to put the book down. Her descriptive language really made it easier to imagine actually being there. The story had many twists to keep me on my feet and it had my full attention, as I just wanted to keep reading to find out what was going happen next. The ending of the book was very pleasing because all of the small clues had suddenly came together like a jigsaw to revealed the amazing ending to the mystery. After reading “A Pocketful of Eyes” I truly hope that Lili Wilkinson will be writing a second book.

I would recommend this book to teenagers between the age of 13 and 17 who enjoy reading about mystery and romance. This book is a delightful read. I’d rate the book “A Pocketful of Eyes” by Lili Wilkinson 4 out of 5 stars.

Caitlin, Year 9.

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“The world is full of obvious things which nobody by any chance ever observes.”

(Arthur Conan Doyle, The Hound of the Baskervilles)

Bee thought it was just an average day at her summer job in the Taxidermy Department at the Museum of Natural History, but she soon finds out that it wasn’t. Her mentor Gus was found dead in the Red Rotunda. Bee also had made a new friend called Toby, who quite frankly turned out to be very handsome but much older then her.

Bee didn’t believe that Gus committed suicide; she thought that he had been murdered. Bee and Toby go on a quest to try and figure out what happened the night Gus was found dead. They decide to make a list of suspects and start questioning each of them. Not everything goes to plan, whilst questioning the suspects. They then discover more clues that could answer the main question as to whether Gus was murdered or if he committed suicide?

I really enjoyed the book ‘A Pocketful of Eyes’ because it is a story about a girl and a boy who solve a mystery together to come to the conclusion as to whether their mentor was murdered or committed suicide.

I was totally engaged in the book and could not put it down, as I was curious as to what would happen next. The descriptive and captivating language made it simple for me to picture the characters, scenes and also what they might have been thinking. The book was full of surprises and always kept my full attention. I recommend this book to teenagers of the ages of 13-16, who are interested in mystery novels and also a bit of romance. I rate this book 4 stars out of 5.

Georgia S, Year 9

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October 25

‘Point Blanc’ by Anthony Horowitz

Courage is one thing, but determination is another level of mind strength. These are two of many qualities evident in the personality of Alex Rider, junior spy.

Imagine living life with no parents, alone and forced to risk your life for an organization of people you have never met before. This is the life of Alex Rider, the main character in Anthony Horowitz’s book ‘Point Blanc’. This novel is an intricate yet teeth-clenching story about a young boy with the maturity of an adult, the courage of a soldier and the smarts of Einstein all combined to create one unstoppable kid spy.

Anthony Horowitz writes this book to perfection, his wording makes you feel as if you are part of the book and the structure of the storyline keeps you questioning yet intrigued from start to finish.

The start of the book is set in the gloomy city of London, when an average schoolboy becomes Alex Rider, kid spy. As the story goes on, you will find that Alex is used to living a tough life but finds himself out of his comfort zone when he is forced to change identity to solve the mystery of two deaths related to a schooling academy that goes by the name of ‘Point Blanc’. Alex must pretend to be a troubled schoolboy to attend this isolated, guarded school. He finds himself up against an evil duo, Dr. Grief and Mrs. Stellenbosch, two undercover teachers running a dark mission to take over the world. Alex must use his quick wits and athletic abilities to solve the mystery and get out of the academy before he is hunted and killed.

The reason why I have been drawn to this novel is because the action packed chapters, the suspense of the mysteries and the tension of the characters combine to create this marvelous novel that is definitely worth reading. This excellent book will captivate most but I recommend this book for any person that is interested in mysteries, spies and action, particularly young teenagers. I rate this book 4 out of 5.

Matt. M, Year 9.

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Meet Alex Rider. He is a 14 year old MI6 special agent back at school trying to adapt to his new double life and double the homework. But the MI6 has other plans for Alex. Does this sound like a book that you will never put down?

Investigations into the “accidental” deaths of the world’s most powerful men have revealed just one link. Armed with only a false ID and a collection of excellent disguised gadgets, Alex must infiltrate the academy as a student to expose the truth to the rest of the world before it’s too late.

The book will grip you with suspense, daring and cheek and that’s just the first page! I would recommend this book to 12-16 year old boys who like reading about secret agent stories. I am giving this book four out of five stars only because the book isn’t at its full potential.

Ryan, Year 9

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Meet Alex Rider, a hesitant teenage spy who now works for Special Operations, MI6, who has just come back from his first secret mission. Witty, intelligent, patient and mischievous, he can get himself out of any situation.
Two of the world’s most powerful men have died and the only link is that they both had a son at Point Blanc. MI6 intelligence suspects this isn’t just coincidence, and Alex is chosen to investigate Point Blanc Academy. Put under disguise as the son of Sir David Friend, a worldwide supermarket owner, and a worthy candidate for Point Blanc, he is sent in with only a few discreet gadgets to aid him and no way to directly contact HQ.

`It’s going to be risky…’

Point Blanc is a thrilling, riveting story and is sure to please, especially if you enjoy any other of Anthony Horowitz’s books including the famous prequel “Storm Breaker”(which is now also a major motion film). I recommend this book to people around the age of 14, particularly boys. This is because the main character is also this age plus gender, and the readers associated with this audience can relate easy and may enjoy the genre more than others. Overall the book is great, and is definitely worth a read.

Thanks, Asher

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Alex Rider is a spy. He works for Alan Blunt in MI6, special operations. In the beginning of the story there was a conference meeting going on for the police. Soon then Alex got up into a crane. The crane had a boat attached to the hook and then he dropped the boat on the conference building, which put many lives at risk. He was arrested and taken to jail. Later the next day he was bailed out and taken to an MI6 base in a building. He went into an office room to talk to his boss and another lady.

They then discussed about what his actions had caused and what could have happened. Then he was told that he had a second mission. It was about a rich man who has been claimed dead but some clues say otherwise. There is a boy that Alex needs to befriend so he can gain as much information as possible. Alex hesitated a lot and didn’t want to do the mission. He was then told that if he didn’t then he would have to go back to jail and also get an interview from the police. So Alex had no choice but to continue with the mission.

On his second mission Alex travels to a school high in the Alps called Point Blanc. He has to pretend to be a boy named Alex Friend, the son of Sir David Friend, owner of some supermarkets.The school is right on the Swiss border. When he is there Alex finds that Dr Grien along with Eva S. Stellenbosch is cloning the students at Point Blanc. His intention was to make sixteen copies of himself. He calls it The Gemini Project.

Alex in great danger even though he has lots of gadgets from Smithers the gadget expert at MI6. Dr Grien makes up a horrible death for Alex when he finds out that really he is a spy come to investigate Point Blanc. But will he die or will he survive? Even if he escapes he will have to make the journey down the mountain.

I really enjoyed this book! It was adventurous and had a lot of action. I felt that in some parts of the book it did get a bit boring and cliché but the rest was really good and I would definitely recommend it to boys and girls from the age of 10 to 15.

Tom, Year 9

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June 12

‘Down the Rabbit Hole’ by Peter Abrahams

How far should one go to discover the truth about someone’s death?

Ingrid is a normal girl living a normal 13-year-old’s life. In Echo Falls many secrets are kept, and Ingrid is eager to discover a secret that gets quite dangerous the more and more she unravels it. Down the Rabbit Hole has a very clever plot that makes you never want to put the story down!

The story begins when Ingrid is trying to find her way to soccer practice but she somehow finds herself lost, in the house of the town’s crazy lady, Katie. People call her ‘Crazy Katie’. After a bit of a chat with her, Ingrid gets in a taxi and drives away, thinking that that would be the last of any Crazy Katie drama. But, the following day in the newspaper she finds that Crazy Katie has been murdered, and soon Ingrid realizes that she left her red soccer shoes at Crazy Katie’s house the day before. She has to get them back, unnoticed before they find out they’re her shoes. Soon, Ingrid finds herself discovering the mystery of Crazy Katie’s death. Follow Ingrid on her exciting journey as she discovers the truth and on the way finds strong friendships.

Famous author, Stephen King, says that Down the Rabbit Hole was “One walloping good suspense yarn…” He couldn’t put it down!

Ingrid slowly starts putting the pieces together and you will never guess what she finds!

I would definitely recommend this book for 10-15 year olds that love mysteries and suspense. I thought that Down the Rabbit Hole had an exciting plot that has great suspense. The book is full of exciting twists, turns and game changes. Ingrid is a fun, entertaining young girl that loves a bit of a mystery and I definitely recommend it.

Isabelle, Year 8

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Meet Ingrid Levin-hill, an ordinary 13 year old living an ordinary life, until one day she runs into the town crazy lady, known as ‘Crazy Katie’. One day Ingrid finds refuge in Katie’s home, and when Ingrid has to leave, she leaves her soccer boots, which she had with her, behind. A series of unfortunate events happen afterwards when Ingrid’s boots are simply left in the wrong place in the wrong time and getting them back means getting involved in a murder investigation.

This book is a great story full of mystery, surprise and suspense. Follow Ingrid on her journey down the rabbit hole, as things just become curiouser and curiouser and to unlock the mysteries of Echo Falls. I think that the book displays great surprise and suspense. It is a book for the ages from 12-20 in my opinion.

Jeannie, Year 8

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Have you ever read a book that got you so intrigued that you couldn’t put it down and loved reading it? Then here is the book for you. It is an amazing mystery/ crime novel that anyone could love.

Ingrid Levin-Hill is a thirteen-year-old girl who loves her sport and acting. She is brought into a big mystery of Echo-Falls after leaving her red soccer boots at the crime scene. After seeing that the local police are completely off track with the murder investigation, Ingrid decides to conduct her own investigation.

I think that the book ‘Down The Rabbit Hole’ by Peter Abraham is a great read full of excitement and mystery. The book’s author Peter Abraham did an excellent job at keeping people guessing right down to the last second.

I recommend this book for girls aged 12-15 years old who enjoy a good mystery. This book is a good read and I rate it 3½ stars out of 5.

Connor, Year 8

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June 11

‘Mission: Rat-Catcher’ by Chris Ryan

A.L.P.H.A FORCE

RAT CATCHER by CHRIS RYAN

“He opened the compartment in the dashboard and took out dull, black, snub-nosed pistol with a silencer screwed onto the end of the barrel.” – Rat Catcher by Chris Ryan.

Do you like books that get you on the edge of your seat? If so, this may just be the book you’ve been waiting for. The book ‘Rat Catcher’ is set in the great marvelous city of Quito. The city Quito is amazing as a city but has major poverty problems especially with street kids.

But now street kids have to deal with more than just hunger. They have to deal with a man known as the rat catcher. The rat catcher is an evil mad man who believes street kids are rats and have no right to live but not only is he the rat catcher he’s also someone alpha force trusts and someone who is their nemesis.

Alpha force is a professional team made of some of the most intelligent kids on earth; these members are Alex, Li, Paulo, Hex and Amber. Together they are the alpha force. Alex is the one with great leadership skills. Li is fearless and determined. This is shown very well when Paulo goes missing. Paulo is the one who goes out solo. Hex is the hacker for alpha force. Amber’s the one who keeps the team together because alpha force is all she cares about after her parents died. Together the alpha force goes on a terrifying mission to catch the evil drug baron but then they find out the rat catcher is linked to this.

Overall this book was fantastic and it would be hard to find another action packed thrill that’s better than this so I’m giving this book five stars.

Reporting in Daniel D., Aquinas student

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‘Five kids form an elite team of youngsters brought together to battle injustices in the world. Together they join a covert SAS operation in south america, fighting to catch an evil drugs baron. And together they infiltrate a tight-knit community of street kids to gain information, then head up into the isolated mountains where a terrifying and twisted hunt is to test their individual skills to the max. The team is in action…’ – (Blurb of ‘Rat-Catcher’ book.)

Join Alex, Li, Paulo, Hex and Amber as they fight an evil drugs baron that kidnaps children. When the capital city of Ecuador, Quito is threatened, the ALPHA force decides to step in and save the city. Their own special skills will be put to the challenge as they spy on street kids to find out who the rat catcher and the drugs baron really are. The rat catcher is a dangerous killer, and must be stopped before he annihilates all the street kids in the large city of Quito. These youngsters must grow up fast if they want to stop the drugs baron from kidnapping street kids, or put a stop to the ‘rat catcher’ that kills street kids without a second thought of what he might be doing. The ALPHA force must use each of their special abilities if they wish to stay alive during the mission, let alone complete it. The question is – will they make it without the help of an adult?

This epic book by Chris Ryan is one of his best so far. And, like all his other great books, has the awesome thrill all through the book. I recommend this book to children and teens of 10 to 18 years old who like thrilling, action packed books. This was a great book. I would rate it 4 out of 5 stars.
– Rod Oliver, year 8

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June 5

‘Point Blanc’ by Anthony Horowitz

Do you think that you would have what it takes to be the youngest M16 agent in history and still manage to be one of the best and most requested operatives in the world? To completely abandon your somewhat valuable and memorable life to fulfill the role that your father had set for himself? And, if so, then maybe you should meet Alex Rider, the boy who was forced to achieve the above and way beyond even that. But even someone who is as talented as Alex can be overwhelmed and scared to death. If you are interested to see what could possibly bring Alex Rider down, then you should definitely read the rest of Point Blanc, a novel by Anthony Horowitz.

Point Blanc is based on Alex Rider, a 14-year-old boy, completely normal to one side of society, and completely deadly and feared to another. At a young age, Alex’s father was killed in a freak accident. While coping with this shock the fact that his dad was an M16 operative and that Alex had to fulfill his role as one of the best spies in the nation didn’t help. Over time, Alex was forced to complete several brutal missions, having to completely discard and let go of his normal life, and by doing so, had become one of the best and most sort after operatives in the nation, due to his skills and young age. The fact that he was so young made it almost impossible for criminals to suspect that he was working for the M16. But in Point Blanc, he is faced with a mission which at first seems easy, but as a deep and dark secret unfolds, Alex Rider feels that he may never live to see the light again.

I definitely recommend this book to ages 14 and down so that the readers can relate to the tasks that are forced upon Alex. This book is for people that like to read murder/mystery novels and enjoy constant, faced-paced action and suspense. This book is a natural thriller and should belong on everyone’s shelf. Anthony Horowitz should be credited for his fantastic work on his amazing Alex Rider series, and his other thrillers that he has taken the time to write.

Jessy, Year 8

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Have you ever wondered what it would be like to be a teenager working as a secret agent for the British National Intelligence?
If so, this book is for you. It’s about a fourteen year-old boy who is recruited by England’s most famous agency, the MI6. Alex Rider is sent on his second mission to infiltrate Point Blanc. He is told to be very careful for his stay because this mission may be his last.
If you’re into action, adventure and thrillers, even sitting on the edge of your seat, this is your book. In stores now!
By Josh – Year 8

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For young active adventurers who like to have a great read, this is a book for you. Alex Rider is a fourteen-year-old boy, who got sent away on a secret mission by the MI6. He is sent to a school for bad boys, Point Blanc, because there were a few deaths linked to the school. He only has a few cleverly disguised gadgets to find out what’s going on, before it’s too late.

However, it doesn’t work out as easily as it should, as Alex runs into some dangerous situations with some of the students acting different.

I would recommend this book for teenagers and I would rate it 4/5 stars.

Cameron J Year 8

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June 3

‘Diego, Run!’ by Deborah Ellis

‘Save those we keep in cages.’

Deborah Ellis’ Diego, Run! is a brilliant book about young people who live in prisons and try to make money in the poorest countries. This awesome book is filled with action, adventure and thrills!

The novel Diego, Run! is about a young boy named Diego who grows up with his mother and sister in San Sebastian women’s prison in Bolivia. His father lives in San Sebastian male prison. His parents were accused of smuggling the drug cocaine on the bus they were traveling on where someone had planted a bag of it under their seat. Diego now lives a hard life in the prison, having to travel to school, having a job of a taxi, running errands for the prisoners, but not making much money, until his friend Mando finds something to earn them more money, more than they could ever imagine.

While Mando was staying in the male prison he overheard some prisoners saying some things about getting drugs to the prison and getting lots of money. Mando joined in on the conversation and told Diego all about it. Diego didn’t agree with the idea but in the end he decided to join in. Diego left the prison with Mando and they met up with the dealers and headed off for the jungle.

After finding all of the cocaine in the jungle, Diego and Mando were ready to head back to Bolivia with all of their money, but the dealers made them stay and work. If they couldn’t work any more they would be killed.

I loved this brilliant book by Deborah Ellis, filled with action packed adventure. I rate this novel 4 stars out of 5. I would recommend this book to mainly male teenagers around the age of 13 to 16 as it relates to some people of this age, or anyone who are looking for an action-packed adventure story.

By Max, Year 8.

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Diego isn’t running away from anything but his own bad decisions. Diego is a thirteen-year-old boy living in prison cells with his family in Cochabamba, Bolivia. His parents are separated and locked up but he and his sister are free to come and go in and out of the cells. Diego goes to school and earns money by doing other kids’ homework and working outside of school as a ‘taxi’ delivering messages and doing tasks for other prisoners. But these little jobs are still not enough money to support his family. His prison friend Mando introduces him to bad things and says it will help them earn money quicker and easier. Diego does not understand what he has got himself into and before long he and Mando end up stomping coca leaves in cocaine pits in the jungle working for two men. Diego has to risk everything if he wants to get out of this big, ugly mess and if he wants to ever see his family again.

This is a very interesting story by Deborah Ellis which made me reflect and think about how some children in other poor countries have to go and earn money just to survive. I would recommend this book for older students and adults only because the book would not make sense to someone of a young age and the way the author has written the book is in a very mature way. I would rate this book a 3 out of 5 because it’s a very interesting book to read and makes you want to keep on reading but I only rated it a 3 because I wouldn’t have an interest in this book just for a free read, but I’d definitely recommend it for older teenagers/adults.

Chloe, Year 8

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May 31

‘The Billionaire’s Curse’ by Richard Newsome

Would you like to become a billionaire?

The pleasure of having so much money that you can’t spend it also comes at a price… Gerald Archer, who has now become the richest thirteen year old in England, is overwhelmed at the thought of being a billionaire. What devious plans will be put into motion to steal his money? Will Gerald overcome the dangers of being a billionaire?

Gerald was just an ordinary boy living an ordinary life, until one day he was invited to the principal’s office. That was the start of his trip to England to become the richest boy in all of England. This may seem great, but there are many unseen threats to Gerald’s life. Gerald unexpectedly makes some new friends in his time in England who help him throughout his struggles in the book. The main characters in the book are Gerald Archer, Sam and Ruby.

I really enjoyed the book, ‘The Billionaire’s Curse’ because it’s a novel about a young thirteen year old boy who has to grow up over a couple days to make the right decisions, stay out of danger and solve the mystery of the murder of his Great Aunt Geraldine, and find the missing diamond. Could it all be related? Will Gerald find out the answers before it’s too late?

I recommend this book to teens between the ages of 12-17 who are interested in action packed adventure books and those who like not knowing what will happen next until it ‘hits you in the face.’ The book is a must read, and when you start reading you will be hooked and you won’t be able to put it down. I’d rate the book 4 out of 5 stars, as it is a great book and enticed me from the moment I picked it up.

Lachlan C., Year 8

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Gerald Wilkins is an ordinary boy planning to go on a ski trip with his friend, but little does he know that he would soon become the richest boy in the world.

Gerald Wilkins has to miss his snowboarding trip to attend his sick Great Aunt’s funeral on the holidays. Oddly enough, Gerald does not know his Great Aunt at all. He has not even seen a picture of her. How could he know that he would inherit all of Great Aunt Geraldine’s money, shares, servants and houses? But does Gerald know that he would soon embark on an exiting adventure?

Gerald is now living in London with his great Aunt’s fortune, trying to find out why his Great Aunt has been murdered in connection to a gem that has gone missing. Gerald meets Sam and Ruby when he is looking for the head of the foundation that he now supports. With his new friends’ help he starts looking around for clues to her murder, walking in a subway and snooping around. Richard Newsome describes the scenes and characters very well. Richard describes them so well it is as if you are there watching them the whole time.

The Billionaire’s Curse is a fantastic, gripping novel that you just get glued to. It is action-packed adventure reading with lots of great moments. I would recommend this novel for ages 8-13 who love action and adventurous books like the ‘Alex Rider’ series. This novel would also suit people who don’t like reading books that much. It is an easy read that you can read within one day. I would give The Billionaire’s Curse 4.5 stars out of 5.

Jeremy, Year 8

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May 30

‘Conspiracy 365: January’ by Gabrielle Lord

Conspiracy 365: January is one of those books that gets you hooked from the very first sentence.

“It was the wild, billowing black cloak, the streaming behind the menacing figure, that first caught my eye.”

Congratulations, Gabrielle Lord, not only did you manage to accurately explain what captured the main character’s eye with great description but you also managed to capture my attention, put it in a jar and ship it around the school for everyone to see how excellent this book is.

The main character in this novel is Callum Ormond, a 15-year-old teenage boy who lost his father a few months back to a mysterious virus that no one has really explained to him. That’s because, supposedly, the Ormond Singularity, which threatens to kill Cal as well if he doesn’t stay out of sight until midnight of December 31st next year, killed his father. This is all explained to Cal in the first few pages of the book by a crazy loon of a man, who caught his eye in the first line of the book. Cal thinks nothing of this at first but soon he starts to feel and see the effects of being exposed when his boat sinks, leaving him stranded at sea. Callum is rescued and recovers some drawings that his father left him when he was in hospital with the “Virus” which left him mute.

Conspiracy 365: January is a the first in the series of many books which I am sure to read, based on the fact that the novel is one big mystery and when Cal works out a piece of the puzzle or you do yourself, you feel a sense of achievement knowing that you could be the next Sherlock Holmes, mystery solver.

Oskar L. Year 8

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Do you like action books that you can’t put down, mysteries that will make you go to the shops at the middle of the night and buy the next part? Then this is the book for you. “Conspiracy 365” is a novel by Gabrielle Lord about a boy whose father has a big secret that people would kill to know about.

On New Years Eve Callum Ormond was followed by a mysterious man with a warning: “They killed your father. They will kill you. You have to survive the next 365 days.”

Callum Ormond has a life on the run. Everyone is looking for him – deadly criminals, the police, and the only person he can trust is his best friend Boges.

This would have to be one of my favorite books. I was mesmerized and couldn’t put it down. I would definitely give this book a 9/10. It is just one of those books that keeps you on the edge of your seat throughout the whole story and is described so well by Gabrielle Lord that you believe that you are there. Overall this is a great book which you would enjoy, so why don’t you go buy one now! What are you waiting for!

Brody, Year 8

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May 30

‘Stormbreaker’ by Anthony Horowitz

If you like adventure and action, then this is the book for you.

The author of Stormbreaker is Anthony Horowitz. The story of Stormbreaker is based in London, England.

Stormbreaker is about a boy called Alex Rider. He is only 14 years of age. He is trying to investigate who killed his uncle Ian Rider. Alex sets off on an adventure across the world and becomes a secret agent. Now Alex is a secret agent, the company gives him special gadgets for the missions and Alex also gets special weapons.

Alex has been sent to investigate the world-famous storm breaker because the company that Alex works for thinks it’s a bit strange that every student gets one. Harold Sayle is the inventor of storm breakers so Alex will be staying at his house. Alex soon finds out that he is in trouble with the company and the military. Will Alex Rider find out who killed his uncle?

Jyle, Year 8

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Alex Rider you’re never too young to die…

Alex Rider, from the novel ‘Storm Breaker’, is a fourteen-year-old teenager boy who is well built, with a body of an athlete. His parents were killed in a plane crash when he was a baby. Now he lives with his uncle who has just been killed in a car crash. His friend Jack is a American. She came to England seven years ago. She is Alex’s baby sitter and a housekeeper for Alex Rider’s uncle. There are some other people that Alex runs into like Mr. Crawly, Alan Blunt and Mrs. Jones who is head of M16. The story is set in the depths of Cornwall, a cold English place with a population of 536,000.

Alex Rider tries to find out who killed his uncle, who appears to have been killed in a car crash but was it really an accident? Alex Rider finds out there is more to his uncle than he knows.

I really enjoyed this book. It was good fun to read. I enjoyed the adventure and mystery most of all. It had a really good story line, which was very adventurous and thrilling. It was a very interesting novel to read mostly because of the story line and the main character Alex Rider. He’s got a very interesting personality, which really goes well with the story line.

I would recommend the novel ‘Storm Breaker’ to a particular age group around nine year olds all the way to fourteen year olds. It would be more suited to males that like adventure and mystery and a bit of a thriller. I would rate this book a seven out of ten stars, because of the great story line. Korey B. Year Eight.

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May 20

‘Stolen’ by Lucy Christopher

‘You saw me before I saw you!’

“Stolen” is a novel, written by Lucy Christopher, about a 16 year old girl named Gemma who lives in London. Gemma and her family are at the Bangkok airport, preparing to catch a flight to Vietnam. As Gemma waits for the flight, she steps away for just a second to get a cup of coffee. Suddenly she meets a man named Ty, in his mid twenties. He pays for Gemma’s drink and drugs it. Their fingers touch, and before she knows what’s happening he kidnaps Gemma and takes her away to dirt and danger, out in the Australian isolated outback, where she is held prisoner.

If I had to rate this book 10 stars out of 6 I would, as I believe that Ty really didn’t mean to hurt Gemma the way he did. The novel itself is beautiful and full of heart and soul. Overall I thought ‘Stolen’ was a unique and charismatic

novel. I really want to find out what happens in the sequel to this book.

‘Stolen’ is a true story of survival, of how Gemma has to come to terms with where she has to live in a nightmare existence or to risk death while trying to fight for freedom.

By Nicole, Year 8

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“You saw me before I saw you. You had that look in your eyes, as if you wanted something. Wanted it for a long time.”

– Lucy Christopher, Stolen.

He did want something…Ty I mean. He wanted Gemma and that’s all he’s ever wanted. He’s prepared everything, down to the last detail; now its time for Gemma’s story. A letter from nowhere. A letter from the one who was stolen.

16 year-old Gemma is a city girl, living a city life, being brought up in London. Her mother and father are city dwellers as well, with ordinary city jobs. Everything is just perfect in the city – that’s Gemma’s opinion anyway – but little does she know that it’s going to come crumbling – no not crumbling – crashing down.

You could say that Ty was the complete opposite of Gemma, but that would be an understatement. Being raised in the Australian desert by his father, he never got to spend any time with kids his own age. His past is full of mysteries waiting to be uncovered. His love for the desert is deep; his opinion of the city is that it is fake, just like everyone living in it.

Gemma’s just getting a coffee at Bangkok airport while on her way to Vietnam when surprise, surprise, she spots Ty at the coffee shop. One thing leads to the next and before Gemma knows it, he’s drugged her coffee, dragged her out of the airport, disguised her and they’ve hopped on a plane to Australia. She wakes up, panics and tries to escape; but she soon realises that leaving will be no easy task when you’re stuck in the middle of nowhere.

Ty claims that he’s saved her from the city life and he expects her to love him. Gemma is torn between reality and the prospect of falling in love. Will she ever be able to love Ty? Ty, with his mysterious past, gorgeous eyes and unusual personality? She gradually realises that to survive the desert her imagination will be her only hope.

“Stolen” is not your ordinary love story, and that’s why I think it intrigued me so much. Its mesmerizing descriptions allowed me to get lost in every scene. It gave me a perspective of the world we live in and how we should take more notice of the environment around us. We often take things for granted while spoiling the nature of our world.

This is a very emotionally confronting book as it discusses many of the issues young people face, for example; depression, loneliness and of course, love. It also made me realize how far families will go for their loved ones. I therefore recommend it for teenagers through to adults who enjoy a ‘straightforward romance with a slight bit of action’ book.

It was a fantastic read that I couldn’t put down; therefore I rate “Stolen” 4 out of 5 stars.

Kian, Year 8.

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November 2

‘Down the Rabbit Hole’ by Peter Abrahams

Have you ever read a book and just couldn’t put it down? A mystery book that changes what you will think every page? If you do then the book ‘Down The Rabbit Hole’ by Peter Abrahams would be a perfect book for you.

Ingrid Levin-Hill, a thirteen year old girl who loves soccer and acting, and her football boots just happened to have a bit of bad luck. Getting her football boots back without becoming a suspect for committing murder is a hard task. The police are completely off track on who was the killer so it’s up to Ingrid to solve this case herself.

I really enjoyed the book, ‘Down The Rabbit Hole’ because of the story line of how Ingrid had to find out who killed Crazy Katie all by herself. Peter Abrahams really knows how to write an excellent book that always keeps you guessing on what is going to happen next. He used descriptive language explaining the characters and scenes.

I highly recommend this book for teenage girls between the ages of 13 and 16 who enjoy mystery and crime novels. This book is worth reading and I would rate it 4 out of 5 stars. Steph, Year 9.

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November 1

‘Thieves Like Us’ by Stephen Cole

Jonah, Con, Tye, Motti and Patch. By themselves they’re outsiders either abandoned by their parents or locked up in juvie, living lonely lives. But together they are a top-notch group of teenage thieves… If you like mystery and action packed books this is the book for you…

Jonah is the main character of this book. He is a lonely computer nerd that is locked up in juvie for hacking his foster parents’ bank account. He was a very skilled boy that said “I want to work somewhere with computers” (page 8). While Jonah is in Juvie he tries to kill time by going to classes and helping other inmates learn to read. Even though he did all these extra activities there was still so much time on his hands, which was the worst part of all. But little did Jonah know there was a special team assigned to release him from jail. When Jonah is released he and the others – Con, Tye, Motti and Patch – are all set to do missions for a man that goes by the name Coldhart.

I really enjoyed this book ‘Thieves like us’ because it is about a teenage boy who is a computer hacking whiz who is joined up with four other exceptionally talented teenage thieves.

I would recommend this book to any persons from the age of 12 to 17 who enjoy a mysterious and action packed book and for people who generally love to read. I rate ‘Thieves like us’ 3 out of 5 stars. Nicholas, Year 9

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In the novel “Thieves Like Us,” Jonah Wish is broken out of jail by a team of talented criminals and asked to join them. They value his computer skills, although Jonah is unsure that a life of crime is what he wants for himself. He soon bonds with the other team members: Motti, the security expert; Con, the fighter; Tye, the human lie detector and Patch, a gifted thief with one eye. All are employed by a mysterious benefactor called Nathanial Coldhardt.

Coldhardt sends the five teens on a mission involving stealing priceless artefacts and formulas for eternal life. They break into buildings and crack open an ancient tomb. Flying around Europe and the Middle East they witness high-speed car chases, fights, kidnapping and supernatural sects.

This book is fast paced with plenty of action. It would appeal to all ages, especially those teenagers who enjoy the Young Bond series by Charlie Higson. The book also deals with a child’s need to feel loved and secure. I enjoyed this book and look forward to reading other books by Stephen Cole. Brandon, Year 9

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Are you into teenagers with incredible skills or the secret to everlasting life? If so “Thieves like us” is definitely the book for you.

After Jonah Wish, a brilliant computer hacker, is broken free from a juvenile detention centre by two teenagers, the excitement begins as Jonah and his team set off on a journey to discover ancient Egyptian artefacts. They will have to travel to exotic places all around the world and all under the watchful eye of their mysterious benefactor “Nathanial Coldhardt”. The main characters in this story are Jonah, Con, Patch, Tye, Coldhardt and Motti.

By Corey, Year 9

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October 29

‘In it up to here’ by Jim Schembri

Two teenagers, who love to play videos games and ignore their parents’ curfew, go to drag races and get involved with the police and doing illegal trades. Does this sound like the type of book you would like to read every night? Well then. In it up to here is defiantly the book for you.

Things started off as usual, the lives of two teenage boys playing video games. Alex and Nigel were at the arcade playing video games and got so caught up playing that they forgot their curfew. They rushed to the train and headed back to Riversdale. They both went their separate ways after they got off the train. Alex normally got home to the lecture of his mother and father yelling at him for being late again. But they weren’t up this time. He went inside and jumped flat on the bed. Alex had always told his parents that he wanted a CD-ROM but they said that it was too expensive and he had to earn the money to pay for it himself. And from that point on it leads to illegal drag races, the illegal selling/dealing of CD-ROMs.

I really enjoyed the book because of the characters and how the writer set the scene. That is what made me so engaged with the book. The main characters were the two boys Alex and Nigel. The scenes and characters were set out nicely and were easy to understand throughout the book. I recommend this book for teenagers and young adults between the ages of 14 – 19. This book would be great for people who are into thrill and action books. I would rate the book ‘In it up to here’ 3 out of 5 stars. Jarrod, Year 9

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This book is terrible. Kids, crime and video games. This book is a complete exaggeration and it has no gripping storyline whatsoever. The two main characters are Alex and Nigel. Alex is a leader and does things in more detail and with care, while Nigel is more reckless and doesn’t really care. The boys stay up late playing video games at arcades. The two boys live in Riversdale.

The start of the book begins with the boys staying up late at night playing video games in an arcade. The boys pass their curfew and rush to get their train. The boys started walking home and Alex was scared of his parents getting angry at him for getting home after curfew. They continued getting up to rebellious events and also getting in trouble with police. I would recommend this book to teens between the ages of 10-15 that like corny books.

By Sam Yr9

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This book ‘In it up to here‘ is about two very rebellious teenagers who get into a lot of action involving drag racing and illegal trades of video games with the police and many more. It’s a very exiting book once you get into all the action.

The book is set in many different places because the two boys travel around all the time to play video games. They are really into games and are willing to go anywhere and do anything to try out the new ones.

The two boys named Nigel and Alex are the main characters. They go around disobeying everything and everyone including their parents. They just do whatever they want even if it includes breaking the law.

I liked this book because once you read a couple of paragraphs what the boys do gets interesting and fun to read. I recommend this story to mainly the generation that were teenagers in the 1990s because it is an older book that uses slang words but once you get into it any generation could enjoy it.

Mikey Year 9

Category: Adventure stories, Crime fiction, Mystery, Realistic fiction, Student Reviews | LEAVE A COMMENT

October 15

‘A Pocketful of Eyes’ by Lili Wilkinson

“‘Don’t you know?’ he said. ‘Gus is dead.’”

In the National History Museum in Melbourne, Australia, Bee is going to another normal day of work in her normal life. That is until she sees an unfamiliar face in the Department of Preparation. And it’s a boy. There are no boys in her department. Except for Gus, of course, but Gus has been there since the beginning.

Beatrice May Ross, a Year 12 student, is in her element in the taxidermy department. Since she was a little girl, Bee has been obsessed with detective novels – Miss Marple and Nancy Drew. And then she has her own mystery thrown her way. Along with Toby – a walking encyclopaedia, who is getting extra credit for university, or so he says – and the new guy in the lab, Bee goes on her own detective adventure, solving the case of Gus’s presumed suicide. Bee and Toby think it’s murder, though. Together the real life Sherlock and John, go around town collecting clues and evidence to prove that Gus was murdered.

I really liked this book because I love detectives and mysteries, and the way that Lili writes is really interesting and the story line is fantastic. I would recommend this book to anyone that has read the ‘Gallagher Girl’ series by Ally Carter. Ally writes like Lili and the Gallagher Girl series is all about young spies and detectives so these books are fairly similar.

Tiana M, Year 9.

This is the publisher’s book trailer for the novel:

Lili Wilkinson talks about writing:

“A Pocketful of Eyes” by Lili Wilkinson

A mysterious silhouetted figure, a sudden slam of the door and dead silence in the darkness.

It’s the summer holidays and it’s an opportunity to be refreshed, ready for Year 12. Well, that’s what Bee thinks anyway. Beatrice May Ross is working in the Taxidermy department at the Melbourne Natural History Museum and the last thing she expects is that the Head Taxidermist, Gus, will die. It is believed that he committed suicide but Bee thinks that there is something else behind this tragedy. A second-year med student from university begins work at the museum and helps Bee to solve this mystery. While they both work hard to find out what really happened, Bee encounters some bizarre but interesting conversations about animal mating habits with this cute boy, Toby. They try to work out the clues and unravel the bits and pieces towards finding out what happened to Gus. Could Gus really have been killed? Or is Bee trying to solve a mystery that never really happened?

Lili Wilkinson’s novel, “A Pocketful of Eyes” is more like a pocketful of puzzle pieces. Each clue that is given leads to several conclusions and allows the reader to be able to have a chance at being the detective, as the book doesn’t give away so much information at once. This is why I really love the book. You get to be a part of the story, gathering information, thinking about who the suspects could be and taking notice of every detail. It all adds up to become one great story full of adventure, mystery and suspense. I recommend this story to people aged from 13 and onwards, who are interested in thrilling, mystery novels.

Rose, Year 9

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A pocketful of Eyes – Lili Wilkinson

“Don’t you know”, he said, “Gus is Dead”

The story is set at the Melbourne Natural History Museum where Bee works as an intern in the taxidermy labs with her boss, Gus. She is quite comfortable at her job when, one day, Toby, a new mysterious uni student obsessed with animal mating habits comes into work and Bee starts to develop possible feelings for him. The next day, she comes into work to find out that Gus has committed suicide on the Museum floor. Bee and Toby try and prove that his death was in fact a murder.

I enjoyed reading this fast-paced, unexpected book. The mystery about it kept me turning the next page. Once you pick up this book it is quite difficult to put it down. I would rate this book 3 and ½ stars out of 5 for the reason that it was exciting and full of mystery. I would recommend this book to teenagers because the main characters are that age so it is easy to relate to them. Enjoy Reading. Harley – Year 9

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What would you do if your boss had been murdered and the police won’t listen?

A Pocketful of Eyes is an original novel that takes you on a journey through intriguing events, that leaves you hooked and left in suspense right from the word go.
A taxidermist-in-training, Bee works at the Natural History Museum during her holidays to find that her boss has died to an apparent suicide… she doesn’t fall for it.

It is a story that entails a young girl on a mission to find her boss’s killer. It involves her story and her feelings that are carried on from the moment that she started to investigate, her personal emotions, relationships and her mother living with a Celestial Badger.

The main character’s name is Bee, and on her quest aspiring to be more like Sherlock Holmes and Nancy Drew, she realised that life is not always like the movies in her quest to find a killer. Once the cute and confident new assistant, Toby, arrives on the scene, she has a partner to help her in with the mission, and soon realises as the story goes on that there are some things that she cannot control. Toby helps her on the journey, and when all the suspects’ stories and alibis don’t match, they are forced to revaluate all their situations and look at the circumstances from a different angle, making them turn to each other.

Full with plot twists and successfully blended elements of a traditional mystery with a contemporary Australian setting, I highly recommend this book to teens and young adults of both genders, ages varying from 13-19 for a light-hearted mystery with pinches of sarcasm and humour that adds to the addiction of this wonderful novel.

With my rating of 4 out of 5 stars, if you are looking for a novel that holds fast action-packed moments with thrilling mystery, slight romance, excellent cast of characters, and a story that keeps you on the edge of your seat right from the first page, A Pocketful of Eyes is the book for you.

By Savannah, Grade 9

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When you imagine a summer job at a taxidermy lab in a museum, the first words that spring to mind aren’t exactly “murder” “suicide” “hot guy”. But then again this book is full of surprises. Bee, a taxidermist in training, works in the Natural History Museum. Boring right? Wrong. She arrives to work on a normal day to find her boss and mentor dead in the Red Rotunda room, apparently a suicide. Bee doesn’t believe it. In fact, she thinks it was a murder. She goes to great lengths to find what really happened, or if she is overreacting, maybe even she’s just dealing with the grief a different way?

This book is immediately engaging, very entertaining and has a cast of great characters, suspects, accomplices and sidekicks alike. It keeps you second-guessing the whole way through and is very unpredictable. This is a perfect book for the girls (and boys) who like their fiction to have a little of an edge to it (alongside some romance). I would recommend this book to readers of 13+ as I found there was quite sophisticated vocabulary but a very well written book.

Tayla, Year 9

Category: Crime fiction, Love stories, Student Reviews | LEAVE A COMMENT