June 6

‘I am Number Four’ by Pittacus Lore

Imagine your home planet had been destroyed by aliens. You are living on earth still being chased by those aliens. Although you can leap buildings, run faster and punch harder than any human you can’t defeat them. Imagine you’re running away from them but no matter how fast you run you can still feel their breath on your neck, their hands reaching out for you. What do you do?

This is what the book ‘I am Number Four’ written by Pittacus Lore is all about. ‘I am Number Four’ has mystery around every corner and will keep the reader hooked.

It takes place mainly in Ohio and is seen through the eyes of John Smith, the fourth out of nine Lorien that have escaped their dying planet. They can only be killed in order, and the first three are already dead, killed by the Mogadorians who are responsible for killing Loric (the planet which John came from). Some other characters in the book are Henri Johns, John Smith’s guardian, Sam whom he befriends and Bernie Kosar. The Mogadorians track John to Ohio and bring a beast with them to kill John. A final battle breaks out that will decide the fate of the world.

The theme in the novel is good and evil. Many times in the book we see good go up against evil. The novel also tells the reader that even if you are different, people will help you.

In conclusion, I think that ‘I am number Four’ is a great book that has mystery, science fiction, aliens and good versus evil and will keep the reader hooked. This is a great book and one that I would highly recommend to read no matter how old or young you are.

Jack S., Year 8

…..

Aliens with super human powers flee to the earth but an evil one sees to it that they are sought out and the future of the Loric race hangs in the balance. This is the sci fi thriller by Pittacus Lore ‘I Am Number Four’. ‘I Am Number Four’ is an interesting book which follows the story of an alien boy called John Smith accompanied by his older, but loyal companion Henri, his protector. They transverse the asphalt of the USA running from a constantly lurking enemy.

‘I Am Number Four’ is a slow paced action suspense drama where any disaster could occur. The book engages the reader while keeping a very real and modern theme. This keeps the book believable and doesn’t turn into simply fantasy wandering into the impossible like many other sci-fi books like ‘War of The Worlds’ and ‘Divergent’. How the book develops and bonds the characters together is done well with memorable characters that feel realistic, especially Sam, a conspiracy theorist with a knack for aliens along with a very memorable and likeable personality. While the book does follow a decent storyline, its ending is quite generic. It may leave the reader disappointed, wanting something more interesting and different.

Throughout the story it addresses the theme several times about overcoming adversity while always remaining hopeful.  John saves his friends from a threat that destroyed his people. Hope is shown from the start to the end of the book and it leaves the reader with a morale of the story, that gives the book more of a memorial note.

To tie off the end of this review, the book contains a lack of original thoughts and plots.  It heavily suffers from a lack of quality and descriptive writing and the predictable plot fails to maintain the interest of the reader. On a good note the interactions and dialogue between the characters was done quite well, especially between Sam and John later in the plot. If you enjoyed books like the Percy Jackson series, you will likely also enjoy this sci-fi adventure which has an interesting but predictable plot.

In my total score rating, I scored ‘I Am Number Four’ 7/10. This book may only appeal to some readers more than others, so opinions may change between each individual.

Samuel P., Year 8

……

“IN THE BEGINNING THERE WERE NINE OF US. We left when we were young, almost too young to remember”.

“Almost”!

“I am told the ground shook, that the skies were full of light and explosions. We were in that two-week period of the year when both moons hang on opposite sides of the horizon. It was a time of celebration, and the explosions were at first mistaken for fireworks. They were not. It was warm, a soft wind blew in from off the water. I am always told about the weather: it was warm. There was a soft wind. I’ve never understood why that matters”.

This amazing Sci-fi thriller full of action about aliens with all kinds of superpowers has even been given a review by the Director of the Transformers, “Number Four is a hero for this generation.”

– Michael Bay.

The story is set in a world where aliens and intergalactic wars have been fought. This book is set in the country America. It is about the war on Lorian, the former home planet for a good alien race. With their whole population gone it is up to the nine Lorians left to protect their race. Number 4 is the alien that we see the most in the book. With his guardian Henri also from Lorian, they flee from city to city seeking safety from the alien race that destroyed their home planet, but that is difficult if you’re next in line to be slaughtered by the violent and evil aliens.

John Smith (AKA Number 4) is what was known as a Garde on Lorian. He can develop legacies (powers) that no other man or woman on earth can. He uses these abilities to kill the Mogadorians (the aliens that destroyed his race) to regain his freedom and live a normal life.

Henri on Lorian is called a Cepan (Guardian). They each are assigned a Garde. The Cepan train them on how to use their powers, and to teach them about their planet’s history.

I would recommend this book to people ranging from 10-23 years as it is a book more for mature audiences. The book involves lots of killing and a few violent sections that people under the age of ten may not like or be able to read, but is an amazing read because of the way the book was very carefully made so that it made me feel like it was actually real and it is a perfect example of a science fiction novel. I would also recommend I AM NUMBER 4 THE MOVIE also for people mainly between the age of 11-25 years as the same examples above apply for the movie as well. I give this book a rating of 5/5 stars.

– Jarome S., Year 8

June 6

‘Tomorrow, When the War Began’ by John Marsden

“We believed we were safe. That was the big fantasy.”

Wirrawee, the setting in the book, is covered by large farmlands, a small amount of industry and well known town residents.

Ellie, the main character, is a caring innocent teen who wants to go on a camping trip to Tailors Stitch with her six friends during the school holidays for a week. They found Hell, as the locals call it, a secret campsite that’s unspoilt. It can be accessed by the Steps of Hell.

During a quiet, damp, cold shivering night, Ellie is woken by the loud growl of hundreds of jets flying by at a low height leaving her and her friends confused the following day. Not long after, they slowly walked back up Hell’s Steps to the Landrover to return home to what they thought was going to be a normal afternoon. They first arrived at Ellie’s house to find her dogs dead, no connection to any radio or power, which left them unable to call anyone. Wirrawee was a ghost town. Do you think the town has been over run and in conflict? Are they in War? Is the life of many people dependent on them? Will there be another living day for anyone?

Tomorrow When the War Began most certainly is one of the best books I have read. It’s the touching story of an overwhelming experience, romance, action and friendship, a story that made it hard for me to put the book down whilst sitting on the edge of my seat the whole way through. This book teaches you the meaning of friendship, and how important it can be for you and your friends to stay together in times like this.

This book is not gender specific. Anyone who reads the book will enjoy the adventures, the breathtaking moments that will keep you hooked. The suitable age for this book would be from twelve years of age to eighteen. If you have read John Marsden’s books you’ll find this similar. I rate Tomorrow When the War Began a definite 5 out of 5 because it has been written very maturely and was so enjoyable to read.

Lilly-Rose H., Year 8

June 6

‘Ship Breaker’ by Paolo Bacigalupi

Imagine you’re in a world divided in two. There are those who are rich who sail around the world in huge clippers trading spices and making more money, and there are others who live in shacks made of anything they can get their hands on, tearing apart ships for a living. 15-year-old Nailer is the shortest person on his light crew which gives him the job climbing through the power ducts collecting as much copper wire as he can.

Are you the kind of reader who is interested in action-packed sci-fi novels? If you are, this is the kind of book for you.

This book is set in a dystopian world on the Gulf Coast of New Orleans where oil is limited and uncommon and stripping beached oil tankers is a common sight for 15-year-old Nailer Lopez and his light crew who work hard and endless hours to make a quota, until a massive storm hits the coast. With Nailer only just surviving, he finds a clipper ground and untouched by anyone and its only survivor, a young girl, could be his ticket out of his job. He would never have to go in or out of an electrical duct again.

Overall I enjoyed this book ‘Ship Breaker’, because of its interesting and bizarre plot and with its mysterious characters. I recommend this book for people who enjoy dystopian stories and are aged 10 – 15. I would rate this book 5 stars.

Seth O., Year 8

…..

“Killing isn’t free. It takes something out of you every time you do it. You get their life; they get a piece of your soul. It’s always a trade.”

Nailer is running out of time. He is getting too big for his work. Once he is sent off the crew he will be on his own, left with his drug driven, violent father in a beach shack with no food or supplies. One day a deadly hurricane hits the coast killing three of Nailer’s crew, but did this hurricane also wash up the “lucky strike” he was wishing for?

The novel is set in a dystopian future on the Gulf Coast of New Orleans, stripping old, rusty oil tanks that leak all over the beach. Nailer Lopez at the age of 15, and the rest of his crew, work long, hard hours to make quota and stay alive. Nailer and his crew struggle to survive off the tiny wage of pay and forever-lasting hours of work.

Since Nailer is small, he works in a dangerous environment, stripping copper wire from the old, ruined ship vents. Nailer knows he will soon be too big for his job and his only hope for survival is hitting a lucky strike.

A disastrous hurricane strikes and leads him to an unknown clipper ship, which has on board a young, rich girl. Nailer has two extremely hard decisions: should he proceed to live a bland, boring life, stripping ships, or should he take the biggest risk of his life and save the strange girl (Nita), to live an adventurous and wealthy life?

The novel “Ship Breaker” is an awesome read! The strange characters and amazing plot is what caught my eye. The suspicion kept carrying on page by page which is why I just could not stop reading.

This is definitely the most eye-opening novel I’ve read yet! If you’re into a book packed with action, quirkiness and darkness, this is most definitely a book that your heart will treasure.

I definitely recommend this book for teenagers (aged 13-18) who show interest in Science Fiction and strange, dystopian novels. This is one of my favourite books yet!

– Jay W, Year 8.

…..

‘Ship Breaker’ is an amazing Sci-Fi yet romantic book. It also has a lot of adventures and troubles along the way.

This Sci-Fi fiction book is about Nailer, his crew and drug addicted Dad, going on a big adventure on Nailer’s boat. On their trip Nailer leaves his violent, drug driven dad on a beach with absolutely no food or water and he had to figure a way to live.

If you love Sci-Fi and love action packed adventures and problems, then ‘Ship Breaker’ is the perfect book for you. It includes amazing things that nearly everyone could possibly like! ‘Ship Breaker’ is also about romance, loyalty, braveness and more. In the book the characters are very brave and smart because they do quite a few difficult things along their journey around the world.

I really enjoyed the book ‘Ship Breaker’. It’s really a good book about all kinds of themes, moods and set in different places, although it’s not my type of book.

I would recommend ‘Ship Breaker’ to people who absolutely love books set in different places, with variable themes and mood changing chapters. I would recommend it to readers over 10 years of age.

Kayla J, Yr 8

……

‘Ship breaker’ is a book that is action packed Sci-fi. Somewhat romantic, and mysterious, this book is also to do with engineering and craft ship.

A good quote from ‘Ship breaker’ would be “I’m a chess piece. A pawn,’ she said. ‘I can be sacrificed, but I cannot be captured. To be captured would be the end of the game.” This quote signifies that Nailer never gives up and he is determined to win the ‘game’.

This book is set one hundred years from now and trouble is happening with the ice. It is a very gripping and suspenseful book as in some parts of the book it makes your heart beat a little faster.

This novel is set one hundred years from now when the ice is melting, oil is scarce and work is tough. The 15-year-old boy Nailer and his crew work hard hours from day to day, willing themselves to live another day. Nailer is getting too big for his work as a copper stripper who works on wrecked ships, but he doesn’t want to let his friends down as he knows if he stops his work he and his crew will be struggling to survive. Later on in the story, Nailer finds a young and wealthy girl that was the only survivor from a terrible hurricane that happened to a ship. He is torn apart as to which road he should take, whether it is to go with the girl or to stick with his crew and help them survive.

‘Ship Breaker’ is very interesting and in some places gripping and suspenseful. This book was really good because of its plot, having mysterious characters and its brilliant way of describing the experiences the characters are having. The book has a confusing but exciting start because you can’t really tell where it is going until the characters start to get involved. During the middle of the book it was so gripping that I didn’t want to put it down because there was something that made your heart race from page to page. It is a really good book for readers around 12-15 because it involves romance, suspense, thrill, survival and family.

In conclusion, this book was amazing and a really good experience to read. I recommend people to read it from the ages of 12-15 who are interested in a mysterious book that can take them places they thought they would never go. I rate this book a Four out of Five stars.

Olivia H., Year 8

June 5

‘Maximum Ride: The Angel Experiment’ by James Patterson

Have you ever felt the urge to just fly, to escape all your worries, doubts and problems and feel the wind rush through your hair?  For some, it would be a dream come true. For the Flock, it is all they have ever known.

The Angel Experiment is the first novel of the Intriguing Maximum Ride series by James Patterson, a series jam-packed with life-threatening adventures and a whole lot of saving the world. The main focus of this series is Maximum Ride and her flock, featuring Angel, Iggy, The Gasman and Nudge. Iggy is blind, although he still manages to keep up with the remaining members of the Flock. The Gasman and Angel are siblings.

The themes explored in this novel include good and evil, monsters, genetic engineering and superpowers. These apply to teenagers, as they excite and encourage teenagers with a good imagination.  The themes also make them aware of the less than honorable people in the world and the caution teenagers need to take when dealing with people of the said description.

The Flock has been assigned one task, to save the world, which in theory seems simple enough.  However, there is one particular group that makes the task much more complicated: the Erasers, blood thirsty hounds eager to track down the Flock and stop them in their tracks. Whilst saving the world, Maximum Ride acts as a motherly figure to the children aged six to fourteen. She is currently trying to locate the biological parents of each member of the Flock, rescue Angel from a bunch of crazy scientists in lab coats, protect her Flock and discover who she is in the process.

This novel is set in the future in various locations across the United States, including New York City and California. It was very enjoyable because it has the characteristics that all brilliant novels should have: adventure, intrigue, fascination and action.

Another reason I enjoyed it is because it appealed to my interests and made me think what living in an alternate universe would be like. I loved the characters, particularly Maximum Ride, as she portrays the image of fearlessness and knowing when it is the right time to be emotional and to be brave. This is a story that requires your full attention therefore you begin to deeply engage with the characters.

I would definitely recommend this novel to both boys and girls interested in Science Fiction and action packed books between the ages of ten and later teenage years.  I have thoroughly enjoyed reading this book and hope to see what the future will hold for the remainder of this series. This first novel is truly deserving of a five out of five-star rating.

Charlize O, Year 8.

……

With no home, no family, they are running for their lives. This is the incredible story of six kids, the oldest only being 13, running for their lives when captured by Erasers, (human werewolves) the  fastest predators around.

Does this captivate you? Are you the type of reader that would read the rest of this to see what’s about to happen?

The style is an action is a science fiction novel. I love this book because of the story it tells the reader. James Patterson, the author, has used such loving imaginative words to create the perfect scene in the reader’s mind.

What’s wrong with these kids? Why did they meet at a ‘school’? These very special six kids have angel wings; they were all normal kids just growing up in a ‘school’. Were these special kids designed to save the world? Or are they going to destroy the world we all live in.

James Patterson is the author of ‘Maximum Ride: The Angel Experiment.’ This books is about a girl, Max, who is trying to keep her family safe. This book is an amazing piece of work.  James Patterson captures the attention of those wanting to know what being a teenager is really like without a family.

The scaffold of this book is a little confusing as in one chapter Angel gets taken by the evil side (I then thought the book was going to stay with her missing) but a couple of chapters after Angel comes back because Max saved her.

The recommended age for reading this book is 13.

June 5

‘The Giver’ by Lois Lowry

(Undertaking an incredible & impossible journey)

In an isolated and futuristic society, twelve-year-old Jonas lives with his father, a Nurturer of infants, his mother, who works at the Department of Justice, and his eight-year-old sister, Lily. They are all awaiting December, for the Ceremony of Twelve, when Jonas will be given his assignment as a new adult of the community. “But for Jonas, things are different. While his friends are selected to be doctors or teachers, Jonas is sent to an old, tired man (The Giver), where Jonas discovers the dark secrets that lie beneath the surface of his world.”

Are you the kind of reader that takes interest in action-packed, dystopian literature with fantasy? If so, you must read this intriguing story!

The novel is about a world that has removed pain, war, emotion, fear and hatred. Everyone must look and act the same. At the age twelve, every member of the community is assigned a job based on their abilities/interests. At the Ceremony of Twelve, Jonas is given the assignment – The Receiver of Memory. The Receiver is the keeper of the community’s memory of the past, so the community can avoid making mistakes. As Jonas receives memories from the Giver, memories of pleasure, pain, colours, weather, excitement, terror, hunger and love, he realises how boring and empty life is in his community. The memories make Jonas’s life much more meaningful. Jonas grows more and more frustrated with the members of his community, and the Giver, who has felt the same way for many years. They plan for Jonas to go to elsewhere. So, the memories of the past can be released to his community. Once Jonas crosses the boundary of memories, all of them flow back into his society.

I really enjoyed the story ‘The Giver’ because of the engaging plot, interesting characters and Lois’s way of explaining pain and pleasure. After a thrilling and intense beginning, the story and its characters started to develop. This fantasy novel soon became impossible to put down. With eagerness carried from page to page, each answer developed new questions.

The themes of this book that young people are dealt each day is the importance of memory, the relationship between pain and pleasure and the importance of individuality.

I would recommend this book to capable readers 12 and above, who are interested in action packed science fiction, fantasy and dystopian literature.

I truly enjoyed reading this book, and it is easy to see why it won a Newberry Medal. I rate ‘The Giver’ by Lois Lowry five out of five stars.

H.M. Year 8

……

Imagine a world where no one is different or in pain. There is no war, no fear or competition between anyone. This will also mean that love, compassion and laughter do not exist.

This science fiction book is based on an imagined scientific world that deals with human existence without emotions. How does that affect life and how will the main character Jonas learn to live his chosen life?

Through the book, we follow the life of Jonas, an 11-year-old boy who experiences his life-changing job at 12 years old. He meets his mentor The Giver and life is not the same.

The society that Jonas lives in is not complicated and this leaves Jonas wanting to change his people through the life calling he was given. As Jonas learnt to adapt his thoughts as the receiver of memories, he was able to take control of his emotions. His life changes once he becomes a leader and makes an impact on the life of his family members when entering different worlds. The author takes us on an imaginative concept of different reactions that humans can have and shows us that society really does need emotions good and bad to function suitably.

This book would be suitable for readers of the age from 12-14 as it is easy to read and keeps you interested to know what will happen next through the journeys it takes you on. The Giver was not your typical science fiction book dealing with aliens, monster and fighting. This supernatural world used what we have as humans and changed it to give a thoughtful story which allowed the reader to question and understand more about our human aspects of life.

By Trent L., Year 8

June 5

‘Elsewhere’ by Gabrielle Zevin

‘Sorry, but nothing of much importance ever happened to me… I’m just a girl who forgot to look both ways before she crossed the street.’

Are you the kind of reader who enjoys drama, fantasy and a bit of romance? If so, then ‘Elsewhere’ is the book for you!

The novel is set in the afterlife, where a young girl named Elizabeth had been hit by a car while riding her bike to the mall. She wakes up and finds herself on a cruise ship thinking that it’s all a dream, but when she watches her own funeral, she is forced to realize the horrible truth. The ship takes her to Elsewhere, a place where the deceased age backwards until they become babies and return to Earth to be reborn. Liz meets her grandmother, Betty, who died months before she was born. She also meets Owen Welles, a boy who died from smoke asphyxiation many years ago, and the two quickly develop a friendship. Elizabeth continually struggles to accept the fact that she can no longer turn 16, or get her driver’s licence and go to college. She endeavours to find a way to get back to Earth, so she can finally be with her friends, family, and go back to her normal way of life.

I really enjoyed the story ‘Elsewhere’ because it had a fascinating and riveting plot, with hilarious characters. I especially enjoyed Gabrielle Zevin’s creative way of describing and expressing the character’s thoughts and emotions. After a confusing beginning, the story became very interesting and this developed further throughout the book. This was a whimsical, enthralling take on life and death, and made me really appreciate my life, family and love. This book consists of certain themes that teenagers struggle with on a daily basis, such as grief, family and relationships. It shows us that even when things seem terrible, there will always be people that care enough to help.

I would recommend this book to capable readers from the ages 13 upwards who take an interest in fantasy, science fiction, romantic and humorous novels. I truly enjoyed this story and it’s easy to see why it has won various awards.  I rate ‘Elsewhere’ by Gabrielle Zevin five out of five stars.

Skye M, Year 8

 

 

June 5

‘Pandora Jones: Admission’ by Barry Jonsberg

Pandora Jones wakes up in a hospital feeling sick and weak. Pandora jJnes doesn’t remember much, but she knows there is something wrong. She realizes that there is a plague that has nearly ended humanity and the world. Pandora is one of the lucky people who has been moved to a quarantine facility called the school.

She has been told that only 10,000 people are alive. The school is a very heavily guarded facility. Most of the people alive don’t know what’s hidden inside it walls. Pandora finds out that the school is in Asia and there is something outside that the guards are protecting. The people in the school are all teenagers and when they are in the facility they are taught survival techniques and how to find food supplies. Pandora thinks the food in this facility is disgusting and not quite right. Pandora Jones Admission was created by Barry Jonsberg, an Australian author and teacher who has written 13 books. He was brought up in Liverpool NSW.

I Liked this book so much because it was so engaging and I thought I was there. In the book, they used descriptive language. I recommend to this book to teenagers and young adults because the if you are younger than a teen you might get a bit scared and if you are older than a young adult you might think the sci-fi is a bit junior.

Judge B., Year 8

June 2

‘Four: A Divergent Collection’ by Veronica Roth

Do you like books about bravery, and facing your fears? Do you like Sci-Fi books about dystopia and utopia? Then you would love the Sci-Fi Book Four: A Divergent Collection, by Veronica Roth. If you have ever read any of the Divergent series then you would love this book. It is set in the same world, but instead of Tris Prior being the main character, the fan favourite from the Divergent series Tobias Eaton, is the main lead. This novel is very addictive and interesting and, after reading it, you will want to read all the books in the series.

Four is about a young man named Tobias Eaton, who is living in a society where people are put into five categories called factions: Abnegation (the selfless), Erudite (the intelligent), Amity (the peaceful), Dauntless (the brave) and Candour (the honest). Tobias is in Abnegation where people are selfless, then Tobias transfers to Dauntless, where people are loud, wild and brave. This is a big change for him. When he is in Dauntless he changes his name to Four, and he must learn the way of a Dauntless member.

I really liked the ending of the book, because it ended off where Tris from the Divergent series comes into Dauntless. I thought the book was very engaging and well written.

I think the theme in Four is skill and strength. In the book, Four has only four fears, and his biggest fear is his father Marcus, and Four must get the strength to face his father, and his other fears. Also, Four must get the skill to make it through to Dauntless, and eventually have the skill to be one of the Dauntless leaders.

I really liked this book, because I found it very engaging, and I never found it boring. I think the highlight of the story was the main character Four. I found him interesting, and I thought he was very strong and brave. I think the book is a good example of dystopia and utopia, because one of the big things the book is about is population control (the five factions). I would recommend this book to anyone between the ages of 12 and 18. Four sometimes feels out of place, and I think a lot of teens could relate to that, and they could learn from Four that you can face your fears. I rate this book 4/5.

Madeline M., Year 8

…..

One choice will free him.”

Four’ is the dark and interesting backstory of the main character in the Divergent series, Tobias Eaton, commonly known as FOUR. This book is full of action and suspense making you want to read more and more. The story is told from Tobias’ perspective and throughout the book you will see many different sides to him.

The prequel to the Divergent series, Four delves into the role of Tobias Eaton, a troubled boy whose father abuses him. His mother is deceased and because of the treatment by his father it has left him shy and afraid. After so long, Tobias is sick of all the abuse he receives from his father and at the age of 16, to escape his father, he transfers over into the Dauntless faction. This faction is dedicated to bravery, courage, strength and physical skills. The Dauntless faction was formed by those who blamed cowardice for society’s problems.  When he gets to the Dauntless facility he struggles to fit in with everyone else. They are unknown to him. Tobias becomes known as Four because he has four fears which is unusual in this world because most people have ten or more fears, however Tobias’ fears are quite significant. Slowly as the story unfolds, Four adapts to the ways of the Dauntless world and he starts to make friends. But what will come next when Four meets the new initiates coming in? Will he find love? Or will his world still be as lonely as it is now? That is up to Four as he journeys through his life growing up without anything but his few friends.

I would strongly recommend ‘Four’ to people age 13 plus as it deals with problems teenagers can relate to. It has an interesting and thrilling story of how one boy can rise to the top, but still be humble and fair. I would rate ‘Four’ by Veronica Roth, 5 out of 5 stars for its thrilling story and relatable characters.

Thomas K., Year 8

June 2

‘The Wind Singer’ by William Nicholson

Do you enjoy reading a catchy book or science fiction/adventure fiction? I suggest you read ‘The Wind Singer’ by William Nicholson.

The Wind Singer was quite a slow book to get into however; you need to persist as it is an exceptionally good book. The Wind singer is part of a trilogy called ‘Wind on Fire.’ This book was a type of book that you always want to read and never put down. The Wind Singer wasn’t very predicable, which I enjoyed because you never know what is going to happen.

I personally think that ‘The Wind Singer’ setting adds another aspect and take on the book. The characters in the book seem realistic, however I personally think the story line of the book could happen in our everyday life.

In the Wind Singer, there are two characters that I personally think stand out the most. They are Kestrel and Bowman. These two character are brother and sister. I am so pleased and happy that I was read this book, as it was teasing because you didn’t know what was going to happen when you turned over to the next page, which I enjoyed. Although at the start of the book it was a little bit confusing, when you get to the end it all makes sense and adds up.

The theme of the book is science fiction/ adventure fiction. What I took out of the book is that if you do not do something wrong or illegal and you know you are going to get into trouble, then don’t do it in the first place!

Overall, I truly enjoyed the Wind Singer as it was excellent and really catchy. I think that the book was more adventure fiction than science fiction, however it did go under the Science fiction category. Out of five, I would rate this book a 3.5!

Daniella F., Year 8

…..

Sagahog! Pomparune! Saga-saga-hog!

I have not read any book by The Wind Singer’s author, William Nicholson. I think the book is a fantasy book. I found this story hard to understand because they could be talking about one thing but then skip straight to something else.

The story was convincing, but the setting didn’t really help to make the story convincing. I think that the characters do seem real. Pinpin stands out because she is such a sweet little girl, and seems to have a good personality. I think that the ending was good because it had some really good explanation words.

I think that the author is trying to say that you can’t give up on anything, and that you can’t always trust everyone. Also it could be saying to always take time with your test.  I think that because there were a lot of tests in the book and Pinpin was there to support the others. I didn’t really like the book because it was kind of boring as there wasn’t a lot of action, but I love how the characters are so bright and loving towards each other.

I don’t think that it was a science fiction book because there wasn’t much in there. 13 year olds and above should read this because it is more easily understood by that age group. The rate I give this book is a 6/10.

Mya H., Year 8

May 31

‘LEGEND’ by MARIE LU

June and Day both live in a world where the republic and colonies are at war. A deadly plague has taken Day’s brother, and now he is the only one who can save him. June is a girl who has sworn to avenge her brother’s death. June and Day meet by chance. They have romantic feelings towards each other, but neither know each other’s past.

Are you into intense drama with a bit of romance? Are you already dying to read the book? If so, then this fantastic book is the perfect choice for you!

Legend is set in a futuristic United States of America. Day is on the run from the corrupt government as he is supposed to be dead. His mother does not know that he is still alive. His younger brother is suffering from the plague and is slowly dying. Day is on the hunt to do whatever he needs to do to keep his brother alive.

June, on the other hand, has recently lost her only beloved family member. She has sworn to avenge her brother’s death and is on the hunt to find the killer. June and Day meet by chance not knowing who each other are. They share a kiss and a romance grows between them. That is, until they find out who they both are. Then things get difficult.

This story is intense and things are always changing, you never see what is going to happen and you always want to keep reading. ‘Impossible to put down and even harder to forget’. This very much explains the book. It is so interesting and mysterious you just want to keep reading to get to the end to find out what happens.

I would personally recommend this book to 14+ as it is for mature audience. Anyone younger might not understand the book.

Brodie J, Year 8.

May 30

‘Gathering blue’ by Lois Lowry

Kate’s mother is gone. What will she do now?

Now that Kate’s mother is gone, the village is ganging up on Kate because she is crippled. If one goes, they all follow. Kate doesn’t feel as comfortable as she used to, but her magical talent might save her.

Are you a kind of person who loves drama, mystery and action packed novels? Well this is the book for you. You must read this amazing story!

This novel is set in a small village where there are many people and jobs. Kate’s mother just died from an illness and her dad was attacked by crazy beasts while he was doing his job. Vandara likes to gang up on Kate and when she does, everyone follows. Kate is crippled and this makes it hard for her to do her job as a weaver although she is very good at this. Her mum has been teaching her weaving since she was little. Vandara and Kate don’t get along because of all the hate Vandara puts on Kate, but Kate’s special talent is there to prove everyone wrong.

I enjoyed this novel because it was interesting and full of surprises. It had a very creative plot which was very enjoyable. It is full of special and crazy characters. After a confusing beginning with Kate’s mother’s death, it started to get interesting. This novel was impossible to put down. This book also effectively tackles the theme of standing up for yourself and not worrying about what people think, but also the importance of doing what you love. This was very relatable for my age group.

I would recommend this book for readers aged 10+ who enjoy reading books that go back in time and have a little drama to them. I enjoyed this story and I rated ‘Gathering blue’ by Lois Lowry three out of five stars. It is not a book I would usually go for, but it is still an amazing story.

Marlee C, Year 8

June 20

‘Ship Breaker’ by Paulo Bacigalupi

Do you like dystopian novels?

Ship breakerDo you like intense action?

Do you like adventure?

If the answer is yes to all of these questions, then Ship Breaker is the book for you. In this dystopian novel the world is a cruel place. The rich are born to ride through the seas in massive ships, while the poor are left to break down ships and sell their findings. The two crews that operate on these ships are light crew and heavy crew. The heavy crew are the big, strong people that remove iron panels off the ships and pretty much anything too big and heavy for the light crew. The light crew are the smaller people who are usually young. The light crew search the inside of the ship to try to find things such as wire. But both crews are looking for one thing: oil.

In this world if you find oil, and a lot of it, say goodbye to ship breaking, and welcome to the life of the rich.

Nailer, the hero of our story, is a light crew worker breaking ships with his crew: Pima, Sloth, Moon Girl and Tick Tock. Nailer’s father, Richard Lopez, is an angry drunk who is abusive and deadbeat.

I thoroughly enjoyed this book. The story had enough twists and awesome breakthroughs to keep anyone glued to this book. Paulo Bacigalupi wrote this book very well, with amazing descriptions. The characters were diverse and colourful, the scenes and places were described perfectly and the plot was structured very well.

I would recommend this book to young adults and teenagers who enjoy action packed, survival, dystopian style novels. This book is definitely a worth the read. I’d rate the book 5 out of 5 stars.

Kai B, Year 8

June 20

‘The 5th Wave’ by Rick Yancey

5th waveMy finger yanked back on the trigger, the rifle kicked against my shoulder hard, and the barrel bucked in my hand as I emptied the clip.

Meet Cassie. She is an ordinary high school girl; well that was before Earth was invaded by aliens. Cassie is a girl on a mission. The only thing keeping her alive is her will to find her brother.

The 5th Wave by Rick Yancey is a fast paced book that will keep you hooked right to the very end.

Things are no longer as they seem on Earth since the aliens arrived. They have wiped out 97% of the population and are disguising themselves as humans. Cassie has to do what she can to survive after her mother was wiped out by the sickening red death, a disease the aliens released to control the population of humans. She continues on her quest to find her brother, who was taken by the aliens, and tries to avenge her dad after he died fighting. Can Cassie save the Earth from the aliens before the human race ceases to exist?  Along the way Cassie is shot and is unable to move. Fortunately she is saved by a mysterious stranger. But can the stranger really be trusted? Evan Walker acts as if he is to be trusted, but Cassie begins to do some investigating and something about him just doesn’t add up.

I totally enjoyed this book because it really engaged me and I started to think about whether this thing could happen to us. Evan’s mysterious nature kept me guessing about the person he was.

The 5th wave is action packed and fast moving and is incredibly hard to put down.

I recommend this book to anyone from the age of 15 and up, as it does get a bit complicated throughout parts of the book and has some coarse language. Anyone who is interested in mysterious, action packed and adventurous novels will really enjoy this book. The 5th wave. I rate 8 out of 10 stars.

Riley S, Year 8

June 17

‘World Shaker’ by Richard Harland

World ShakerHave you ever thought the world is unfair? Well our world is nothing compared to the world of the Juggernauts. Do you like a book about character development, action and adventure in a steampunk setting? Then World Shaker is the book for you!

Meet Colbert Porpentine, grandson of the leader of the Juggernaut known as “World Shaker”. He wakes up in the middle of the night to a noise outside his room and some guards inform him that a “Filthy” (primitive humans living at the bottom of the ship) has escaped to the upper decks. He then looks under his bed and surprise! Two eyes are staring back at him. The Filthy girl, Riff, refutes everything Col has ever known about the people at the bottom of the ship, that they can talk, make civilisations and most importantly, that they are just poor humans who had been exiled so they do not mix with the rich people. The main characters in this story are Col, the grandson of the leader of the ship and Riff, the Filthy girl who escapes to the upper decks.

I really enjoyed World Shaker despite its slow start due to the captivating writing and setting of the book, as well as the likeable characters who change a lot over the course of the story. I also really like the alternate timeline it was set in, with major countries creating movable cities and the smaller villages being crushed underneath because it created a sense luck inside me. I personally would hate it if I was stuck inside a city for the rest of my life with basically no way to leave safely. It wouldn’t be any better if I lived inside one of the villages as the juggernauts would pay no attention to our area and chances are I would be crushed. The character arcs in the story really helped me to understand the characters, from Col learning how to fight and basically becoming a Filthy himself, to Riff accepting that not all rich people are horrible and unkind. World Shaker ended with the story being tied up, but also leaving room for a sequel.

Overall, I recommend this book to anybody who has an interest in dystopian, steampunk books and enjoys reading about a lot of action and adventure. I would rate “World Shaker” by Richard Harland a 4 out of 5. Will. B., Year 8

……..

Picture a world where mechanical mountains ruled over land and sea, travelling at crazy speeds and also being a home for many wealthy families. This is the setting for the bestselling book ‘World shaker’. The story of the book follows Colbert, a teenage boy around 17, who is just about to be made the successor to the Supreme Commander of the juggernaut. But something goes terribly wrong…

‘World shaker’ is a story set in the Victorian era and the characters we meet live on a giant metal juggernaut that goes across land and ocean called ‘World shaker’. The only time that the juggernaut stops is to refuel every 18 months in ports around the world. The main characters in this story are Colbert Porpentine and Riff. These two characters are complete polar opposites of each other. Col is a prestigious young man living with his wealthy family in the upper floors of the ‘World shaker’ and Riff is a filthy that escaped captivity living on the lowest floor of the juggernaut down the food chute. Col was always taught that filthies were savages, didn’t know how to speak and they were not smart like the propers. These teachings were all wiped away when he finds that Riff is really smart and not a savage like he was told.

During the book Col is destined to be the successor to his grandfather and be Supreme Commander of the ‘World shaker’. He was informed of this at a family gathering in the Porpentine hall room. Some events during this book make this choice a very hard one for Col. Col’s family is an extremely wealthy family and their surname is Porpentine. Col has one older sister who does not like him one bit. She thinks that he is a spoiled brat who always gets his own way. Her name is Gillabeth, but to be fair she does have a point… Colbert has indeed led a very nurtured life. He does not know many things about the outside world nor does he have any real curiosity. He is told things about the filthies and menials that aren’t true to make them appear as objects for them to use. But the moment that he meets Riff, everything was about to change…

I really enjoyed ‘World shaker’ because it has many qualities about it that not many other books have. I like that kind of uniqueness to the book, as you would never expect those genres to go together but Richard Harland pulled it off extremely well. However, the start of the book was very slow and made me quite bored during the first few chapters but after that, things are happening left and right and all becomes very entertaining. But the reason I enjoyed it so much is because you really felt for the characters. You really wanted Col to make the right decision and you also want Riff to show him what filthies really are and how menials are ‘made’ and treated. I would recommend this book to people looking for something new, that hasn’t been done before and that are between the ages of 13-17 and most likely boys would enjoy this book but I’m sure there are many features of this book that girls would enjoy as well.

Ronan O. Year 8

June 14

‘Incarceron’ by Catherine Fisher

Incarceron-1a4o3ju“What can be wrong in a perfect world?” -Claudia, Incarceron.

Do you want to see how a ‘perfect’ world can be something totally different from what it seems?

This book is set in Incarceron, where there is a prison and an outside world. There are many different groups in the prison and everybody will do anything to survive even if that involves risking their own life or killing others. Meanwhile, outside of the prison, the warden is the person who rules. There are also royals who live in a palace.

There are two main characters in this story: Finn and Claudia. Finn lives his life in the prison with his friends and group. Claudia, the daughter of the warden, lives outside the prison, but she likes to do things that are more challenging especially when her father doesn’t want her to do those particular things. Where Claudia lives, she is stuck in the 17th century and she’s not free to do things that she wants.

Claudia and Finn have a crystal key which lets them communicate with each other. Finn wants to get out of Incarceron but it is a problem because the prison has many areas that contain corridors, cells, forests and more. Claudia is a help to Finn but many different events occur in Incarceron and things get tricky for the two of them.

This book is interesting because it is an original story in its structure. Some of the chapters change narrator from Finn to Claudia. This is good because it gives a different point of view from different areas, places and personal view. By reading the beginning of the book, you need to keep on reading to see what happens next. It makes you keep reading and reading until it gets to the most interesting part. There is lots of descriptive language which makes it easier to see a picture of the scenes in your head. Even though the story wasn’t interesting in the beginning, it got more interesting towards the end of the book. This book would be recommended for teens and young adults ages between 11 to 18 who enjoy an adventure, fantasy and sci-fi novel. The rating I would give Incarceron would be 3 out of 5 starts.

Jazmin. P, Year 8

……

‘Incarceron’ is an exiting young adult, fantasy, dystopian novel jam packed with mystery and adventure.

In the beginning the novel seemed slow yet filled with a lot of important information, and I found it difficult to enjoy it. This was until I continued reading and got captivated. Firstly I would like to say Catherine Fisher’s writing style is beautiful, in my opinion. It has elegance and shows an experience of the past within her writing.

‘Incarceron’ is about a futuristic prison and an artificial world. It follows two main protagonists, Claudia and Finn. Finn is a prisoner inside Incarceron. He has a tattoo of an eagle on his wrist. Claudia is a teenage girl living in the realm. Her father is the warden of Incarceron. She sneaks into his office and finds a key with a holographic eagle on it. This key has direct communication to the key inside Incarceron, which then allows Finn and Claudia to communicate and devise an escape plan for Finn.

Throughout the book I was enticed. It was an absolute page turner, however when I reached the end I just stared wide eyed and mouth opened. It was an incredible finish to an incredible book. This book had flare and personality. I’ve never read anything like it. It’s different, it’s original and the book itself is simply breathtaking. I loved how the characters are all so different and they all have unique personalities. The whole plot and concept of the book is magnificent.

I really loved this book and I would rate it 4.5 stars. The one thing stopping me from giving it at full 5 stars is that some of the twists in this book were quite predictable, however the plot itself made up for that. I would recommend this book to readers 14+.

Tuscany F., Year 8

……..

Incarceron is a story that takes you into the 18th century that is locked in the past.

“Imagine a living prison so vast that it contains corridors and forests, cities and seas… Imagine Incarceron.”

Incarceron is an amazing story about a world where time and technology have been forbidden even though their science in so advanced. This is a classic story of a utopia turned dystopia. When the prisons of the land became overcrowded, the King decided to make one gigantic prison that could easily house all the prisoners. To make a prison as large as the world would be perfect, as it would leave to prisoners no choice but to live in peace and harmony as everything anyone could ever need would be provided, he thought.

Finn is a boy who woke up one day inside the prison with no memory and no one to help him. He wandered the prison until he found a pack of thieves who became his cheating allies. Claudia was a girl raised in the care of the Warden of the prison. Raised in luxury and tutored by a Sapient, she grew defiant of her Father and wanted anything but what was forced upon her.

Incarceron is a story about how a girl named Claudia sneaks into her father’s study and steals a crystal key. Claudia is doomed to an arranged marriage and her only way out of it is to prove that Finn, a boy who lives in the prison, is in fact the long dead prince. Finn has always known he is not from the prison, always known he came from outside, but his only evidence of that are moments when he experiences dream-like hallucinations and the eagle print on his wrist. But when he finds a key that bears the same mark as the one on his wrist, he is more sure than ever. He sets off with his oath brother Keiro and a sapient by the name of Gildas to find the way out of the prison. With the crystal keys the two are able to communicate and work together to find the way out.

This was a great book because of the different spin on the future. It was a lot different to the sort of future story most are used to because of the laws that have been set out in this make-believe world. The story was intricate, detailed and there were many twists and turns in the plot. The only flaw was maybe the lack of animation in the characters. This was an amazing book.

I recommend this book to teens and above because of the complicated story line. Younger children will definitely have a hard time understanding what’s going on.

Daniel P., Year 8

June 13

‘A Single Stone’ by Meg McKinlay

asinglestone_hires

‘The Mothers’ words echoed in Jena’s mind as she eased into the crevice, flattening herself against the rock. When she was through, she paused, waiting for the next girl. They were deep now, in the heart of the mountain. Around her, the earth pressed so tightly it was hard to tell where her body ended and the stone began.’

The story of ‘A Single Stone’ is set in a village next to a mountain that holds mica, a mineral which the village uses for energy. Jena is a strong leader who comes to question her own determination to do the work she was raised to do. It’s every girl’s dream of being part of the line of seven young girls chosen to crawl deep into the mountain to collect the precious mica which will ensure the village’s survival.

Jena is the leader of the line, and believes passionately in all that her mother tells her. She doesn’t question and doesn’t doubt. A Single Stone is a thoughtful middle fiction novel. The isolation of the village and the process of mining the mica creates a fascinating background for an engaging story. Meg McKinlay’s writing is thoughtful, deliberate and breathtaking. It is the underlying themes and ideas and the questions they provoke, however, that will remain with readers after the book ends.

‘A Single Stone’ is a beautiful and delicate novel that tackles some big questions about gender and power in an interesting manner, entertaining the reader but in my opinion the story wasn’t easy to understand and wasn’t suitable for my age. However people who like to read about adventures would really enjoy this book. I would recommend this book for teenagers and over.

Ella C., Year 8

June 9

‘First Light’ by Rebecca Stead

First LightThea has never seen the sun. Her world lies deep within a glacier. Peter, a city boy, has arrived at Greenland with his parents. There he is troubled with strange visions that lead him to a crevice in the glacier. What happens when these people from two very different worlds meet? If you enjoy adventure and fantasy books then First Light is the book for you!

First Light is about Thea, a girl who lives deep within a glacier, and Peter, a boy who goes to Greenland with his parents while they study climate change. Thea has always wondered what it would be like above the ice, and her curiosity takes over her as she and her friend Mattias explore a tunnel, leading them to the unknown. Peter is no stranger to adventure, so one day he goes exploring in the snow and soon discovers a red light. The red light turns out to be a glowing ring, but before he can find out anything else about the ring, he becomes temporarily blinded. When he finally regains his vision, he knows his life will never be the same.

I really enjoyed the book First Light by Rebecca Stead because of its marvellous storyline about a boy and a girl from two very different worlds that eventually meet. This particular plot really intrigues me because it is like nothing I have ever read before, making it very unique. I was drawn to the way Stead wrote because it was very descriptive and made me picture the characters and scenes throughout the book. The descriptive language made it very easy for me to imagine the scenes in my head. The story progressed perfectly with just enough suspense and plot twists to keep my full attention. I just kept wanting to read more and more. I couldn’t put the book down!

I would recommend this book to girls and boys aged between 10 and 15 who enjoy adventure and fantasy books. This book is medium difficulty and suitable for both genders. This book is truly a great read. I would rate the novel First Light 3 out of 5 stars.

Ashley R., Year 8

……

First Light by Rebecca Stead

Thea has never seen the sun. Her whole entire life she has been living deep down within icy glaciers. Peter, a 12 year old boy, is about to leave New York City on a journey to assist his father in studying Greenland climate change.

Shortly before they leave for Greenland, Peter experiences irritating headaches that lead him to seeing scary visions. At the same time, Thea dreams of a path to the Earth’s surface. She hopes that one day Grace-Hope will return above the ice and she will find out the truth behind her mother’s death. Peter’s search for answers brings him even closer to Thea’s hidden home. Does this sound like a book that you would like to read? Then First Light is the book for you!

First Light by Rebecca Stead has to be one of the most gripping stories I have ever read. Stead has described the amazing adventures that Thea and Peter embark on during the novel in an intriguing way. Once I had picked the novel up I couldn’t put it back down. Each page led you deeper into the story unravelling the secrets of Grace-Hope. Each scene was detailed and made me feel as if I was there myself. Stead kept the excitement running through the entire book and made me want to read her other novels, which I did and they were just as amazing as First Light.

I do recommend this novel for anyone with a great imagination who enjoys adventure fantasy books. This novel is versatile for both genders and is a great read but not too difficult to understand either. I would rate this novel a 4 out of 5 stars. Trust me, once you read the first line of the novel you won’t be able to put it down.

Holly. M // Year 8

November 30

‘The Adoration of Jenna Fox’ by Mary E. Person

Jenna Fox“I used to be someone…

Someone named Jenna Fox

Well that’s what they tell me.”

If you are into futuristic novels, The Adoration of Jenna Fox written by Mary E. Person is one of the best books to read. Jenna Fox was just a normal teenage girl until the accident. After being in a coma for a year, Jenna is about to discover who she really is, gradually putting the pieces together. With Jenna’s family having to hide secrets and move far away due to the use of illegal medical research and sources to keep Jenna alive, Jenna slowly discovers that she may not be a normal teenage girl after all. With that knowledge her life will change forever. Memories documented on video from nearly every day of her life help her try to remember what life was before the accident.

This book makes you question everything like: Why does Jenna’s Grandmother Lily have so much hatred towards Jenna? What is her family keeping from her that could be so bad? Why does Jenna’s neighbour know so much about her? Will he inform Jenna how and what he knows about what happened to her?

I enjoyed this book very much, because the plot was amazing with its intriguing twists and perfect amount of suspense. It just made you continue turning the page wanting to know more and more about the life of Jenna Fox. I like how we are thrown into the story right away, knowing as much as Jenna, the story not being dragged on and boring. You follow her story right until the end, knowing her fears, what she learns and experiencing what she experiences. I recommend this book to anyone who loves a good read associated with fantasy/Sci-Fi and a hint of romance thrown into the mix.

Arabella G, Year 9

November 27

‘Legend’ by Marie Lu

legend_coverSet in the future when plague spreads the land, war is ongoing between the republic and colonies and the government is corrupt, an unlikely story occurs.

Day is a most wanted criminal, raised in the poor suburbs. His mother thinks he is dead, nonetheless he does all he can to protect his family. But when his youngest brother, Eden, falls ill with the plague, Day has to do whatever he can to raise enough money to buy expensive plague cures.

June is the highest ranking in her class scoring the only perfect score on the trial (test). Her beloved brother, Metias, who is the captain of the republic’s army, raises her. When Metias dies, all the evidence points to Day. June sets out to avenge her brother’s death. When June and Day meet by chance, they both end up falling for each other and once June discovers the truth about the government and what really happened to her brother and parents, June risks everything to save Day.

This novel is one of an exciting trilogy. Legend is a book that’s impossible to put down, incorporating romance, adventure and lots of twists. The book is perfectly written to suit teenagers between the ages of 12 and 16.

Madison, Year 9

……..

Day is the most wanted criminal, providing for his family on the streets; June is a student at the university, training to become an agent for the Republic. Day murdered June’s brother and she has sworn to avenge his death.

Set in the future, two colonies are at war: the Patriots and the Republic. This book is mainly set in the Republic of America, where a fatal plague is spreading throughout the communities.

June Iparis is an intelligent young girl who doesn’t follow the rules. She is most famous for her perfect trial (test) score, which no one has ever achieved. Her older brother Metias, who is a military officer for the Republic, raised her as her parents died when she was young. June and Metias have an unbreakable bond, and if anything were to happen to either of them, they wouldn’t be able to live without each other. June is the smartest person in the entire republic, and shows her skills when she is appointed to a new job: going undercover for the Republic to locate the Republic’s most wanted criminal.

Day is the Republic’s most wanted criminal. At the age of fifteen he steals and manipulates people to provide for his family who live in the slums of the Republic. Day has two brothers: one older – John, and one younger – Eden, who has been diagnosed with the fatal plague that has been spreading among the slums of the Republic. The plague has a cure, with a cost of wealth, something that Day and his family do not have. The only way to save Eden is by stealing a vial of the cure from the guarded science labs in the hospital.

Metias is at the hospital on one fatal night guarding the cure, but Day manages to convince other guard to let him into the labs. When Day steals the vial of medicine, he ends up on the streets being chased by Metias. When Metias pulls out his gun to shoot Day, he throws a knife at Metias’s shoulder that should have only injured him, but ends up killing him. Day manages to escape, but June has sworn to avenge Metias’ death, and was given the task to hunt down and kill Day.

This book is amazing and it really captures your attention and makes you not want to put the book down. It is filled with plot twists and it is the ultimate game of cat and mouse. This book captivates the audience with a perfect balance of action, adventure, mystery and a little bit of romance. I would recommend this book for teenagers of both genders between 12 and 16. If you liked the Hunger Games Trilogy, then you will love this epic book.

Sienna K., Year 9

……..

“Brave thoughts, but am I ready to follow through on them?”

In the future country we now know as The United States of America, government has divided the population into two groups according to their wealth. People’s statuses define who they are in society and where they stand. Fifteen-year-old June Iparis, born into one of the richest sectors in the country, is known as the first ever Republic Military Prodigy. They worship her and her abilities even though her attitude can get in the way of the goal they would like to reach. They would never risk losing such a talented being, especially in their society. She lives with her older brother Metias and can sometimes push his patience as he constantly finds himself being pulled from his work to save her from troubles. But on the day of her brother’s murder, June finds herself looking for vengeance against the city’s most wanted criminal – Day.

Day was born into the poorest sector. He lives for his family and if anything gets between them, he goes so far as to risk his life for them. He does not live at home and instead provides for them at a distance. His unlawful status was achieved by many different crimes, none of which included murder, until the night of an attempted hospital break in.

June is put in charge of her brother’s murder investigation due to her hunger for justice against the killer, who is suspected to be Day. She is so determined to find Day that when she does, she is forced to rethink what she wants compared to what she needs.

The story progression in this book was very intriguing and grabbed your attention at every turn of the page. It had a unique feature and that was that it was written from the perspectives of both of the main characters, June and Day. This really gave the book more facts and details compared to other novels. The dual points of view also mean that you don’t have to necessarily assume what happened between the other characters or even what they were thinking. The transitions between the two characters were very smooth. When switching narrators, the story either repeated the event from another totally different perspective or it carried on from where it had left off. There was never a part where it jumped to another different scene. Overall the book was amazing and filled with high suspense, energy and even some romance.

Other book series that are very close to this trilogy are the ‘Hunger Games Trilogy’ and the ‘Divergent’ series. If you found you liked these two very much then I would highly advise you to read Legend, along with Prodigy and Champion. These are the other novels in the series, and both continue the story very well.

Jade J., Year 9

November 26

‘The Young Elites’ by Marie Lu

17984141Malfettos are survivors of the plague known as the blood fever, cast aside by everyone, even their loved ones, hunted down by inquisitors, all because they are marked, but some of these malfettos have manifested powers. They are called the young Elites.

The Young Elites is set in a medieval fantasy world at a time after a tragic plague has struck the land and follows one of the survivors named Adelina Amouteru on her journey. Adelina grew up with an abusive father a mother and a little sister, Violetta, in a wealthy home. When she was young, her mum, her sister and she were all infected with the blood fever. Only she and her sister survived costing Adelina an eye. Because her little sister and she were marked, her father’s business suffered, which would lead to her father constantly hurting and teasing her.

The story starts off showing Adelina eavesdropping on her father having a conversation, were he bargains her off to a man. This was the last straw for her. She ran off starting the adventure that is The Young Elites. Without spoiling too much of the story, Adelina is captured by the Inquisitors and the leader of the Young Elites saves her life. He reveals himself to be the son of the king, Enzo, who was banished from the kingdom for being a malfetto. He reveals to her his plans to overthrow the new king who has ruined the kingdom. From this point Adelina is trained by the Young Elites to use her powers of creating illusions as part of Enzo’s master plan.

The story of The Young Elites was different and more entertaining than my usual reads, and although it is set in a fantasy world, the characters’ interactions and emotions were very grounded. Everything they did had an affect on the main plot. The main character also made this story very interesting. Instead of having a cliché protagonist they have a realistic and dark hero with a tragic past. I would recommend this book to people who like good character interaction, a little edginess from their books, fantasy and action.

Gil T., Year 9