‘Reboot’ by Amy Tintera

She was once just a person like you and me. Now, her life is way different than she had have ever imagined. She kills with no regret and is considered the perfect soldier and the ‘Golden Girl’ of the facility. But, how long can she keep up her scary yet infamous reputation without ruining her chances with Callum?

Are you that type of person who loves a book that has a meaningful yet action-packed story line? What about one which has its own science fiction sagas with a hint of romance? If, so I am certain that this book is for you!

“Reboot” by Amy Tintera was published in 2013 by Harper Teen and is set in the Republic of Texas. Basically, five years ago, Wren Connolly was shot three times in the chest and after 178 minutes, she came back to life as a Reboot. A super human, you could call her. She is stronger, able to heal, and faster. But, as a result, she is also emotionless. This seemingly irrational situation occurred after a deadly virus swept over the entire Earth and life as she knew it collapsed. Hence, Wren, who is now seventeen years old, serves as a soldier for HARC (Human Advancement and Repopulation Corporation) as a reboot. As you get further into the book, we find out that Wren trains new Reboots that come into the facility. But, Wren normally takes the more skilled and less emotional reboots. Just like her. But her newest reboot is the exact opposite. Callum Reyes had only rebooted for 22 minutes, and is practically still human. Despite this, there’s something about Callum that Wren just can’t ignore. Later in the story, when Callum refuses to follow an order given by HARC, Wren is given one last chance to get him to follow it, or unfortunately, she has been instructed to eliminate him herself. Wren has never disobeyed an order before, and knows if she does, she’ll be eliminated too. But, she has also never felt as alive as she does around Callum. This perfect soldier is done taking orders.

I thoroughly enjoyed this novel because it has an engaging and unique storyline, and the author has created a reality for the reader which you can easily slip into. Amy also had this brilliant way of portraying her characters and the dialogue of each one, matching each character’s personality so perfectly. After an unpredicted and intense beginning, the story evolved, and I felt like I was there with the characters and experienced everything first hand. This amazing novel was quickly my favourite and I found it impossible to put down. With thrill and suspense that was conducted on every page, there was one main message that anyone could experience from time to time, and I believe that the author was trying to depict that. This message was that the book attempts to prove that often in life you don’t notice things about yourself and it takes someone else to show you. The majority of the novel was based around this as Callum showed Wren that she could feel emotions and that she just wasn’t a cold-hearted killer. He wasn’t fazed by the tough, untouchable act that she had going on and instead was intrigued and got her to feel something, to feel alive again. Thus, I believe this message is strongly shown and used in this book, and that is what makes it to be such an awesome and intricate novel and story line.

In conclusion, I would recommend this book to ages 12-18 and to someone who is a capable reader and is interested in science fiction, action, and drama packed storylines with a little bit of romance. I was truly entertained and enjoyed this book. Hence, I rate “Reboot” by Amy Tintera five out of five stars.

Taylah F Year 8

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June 2

‘The Silent Invasion’ by James Bradley

“Because Gracie had begun to Change.”

This quote, from the novel ‘The Silent Invasion’, started the whole intensifying and extraordinary adventure. This science fiction themed novel is excellent for people who love the adventures of living life on the run and survival Are you one of those people?

‘The Silent Invasion’ by author James Bradley takes place in a world where all plant, animal and human life is being infected by spores from space with a horrible disease. 16-year old Callie discovers that her little sister Grace has been infected by the disease and is ‘changing’. Callie runs away from home with her sister, fleeing to the zone whilst avoiding quarantine, ruthless officers who take people away who are changing. On their mission to the zone they meet many strangers. Who can they trust? Will they make it to the zone? Or will they get hunted down by quarantine? This novel’s main protagonist Callie wants nothing more than to protect her little sister Gracie, so the determination to get her to the zone is what keeps Callie going.

‘The Silent Invasion’ is a perfect example of a science-fiction themed novel and it has a very interesting and intense story. Many times I could not stop turning the pages! This book really reminds me of The Maze Runner: The Scorch Trials because the protagonists in that novel are fleeing from Wicked, soldiers who are trying to hunt them down. When reading the Silent Invasion, the feeling of being on the move all the time and living life on the run was what I loved in The Maze Runner.

I definitely recommend this novel to anyone of 13+. Since the main protagonist is a teenager, there are a few coarse words so it would be better for people 13+ to read this. Also, the novel is in first person and goes through the story in Callie’s eyes, so other teenagers are able to live the experience as well! It is quite boring at the start, but after a while it does get interesting with many twists and new faces. If anyone loves science fiction and survival, then you should definitely read The Silent Invasion!

Taku S, Year 8

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June 1

‘The Young Elites’ by Marie Lu

“I am going to die tomorrow.”

That was the opening sentence of the outstanding book ‘The Young Elites’ by Marie Lu. The author of the book did an amazing job describing the character’s energy and emotions.

The Young Elites is a science-fiction, dystopian story with a touch of supernatural. The book in general was an entertaining, enjoyable novel with many twists and turns that were slightly predictable but still shocking and engaging.

The story is set in a disease-swept continent. The people affected and branded by the illness were called malfettos and were outcast. The plot is an engaging one that shows how Adelina (the main character), deals with the power that she fuels with her fear, anger and darkness. Adelina’s character was the only one that stood out to the author as she showed relatable human struggles about her mental state. The writing style was interesting and unique. Although the ending wasn’t exactly satisfying, it hooked me into the series that the book came from.

The theme for the novel was energy and emotion, and how the characters used their powers to connect with one another, as well as playing with the other character’s emotions. This theme subtly represents peer pressure and political manipulation.

In conclusion, the book was very engaging and interesting to read. It showed a new perspective on the ‘villain’s’ story. It is not the best example of a science fiction in the author’s opinion, but they would recommend it to other people of their age.

Chloe W., Year 8

…..

“It’s my turn to use. My turn to hurt.”

The Young Elites by Marie Lu is an amazing fantasy or science fiction story. This novel is an engaging book about the struggles the main character, Adelina Amoutera, and a group called The Young Elites. A memorable moment in the book is when Adelina is about to be burned because she is a survivor of the blood fever. She is known as a ‘malfetto’, an outcast and is about to be burned, when The Young Elites show up and save her from a fatal death. This is where she uses her powers for the second time, but she realizes that she can create illusions.

This is a powerful engaging story. There is not one moment that you don’t know what the main character is feeling, not one moment where her emotions are not expressed. Most of the characters in the story are all very powerful themselves which creates a powerful setting for the whole book. The book is set in a place where a disease has spread called the blood fever. Everyone who is diagnosed with blood fever, will either die or be scarred from an operation. But the blood fever survivors are also left with something more than a scar. Sometimes they can be left an extra ability. All the characters are quite convincing. It shows that in the story there are still people from all over the world in a place where they can stay almost like migration or refugees. The writer’s style is quite intriguing and interesting the way she lays out the story, although the ending is not satisfying.

The theme of the book is mainly power and emotion. The power side is that the malfettos are seeking for power and are the soldiers. But the emotional side is how the young elites connect with their powers and other people emotionally. If there was a message portrayed in the book and aimed towards young people, I didn’t understand it.

In conclusion, I really enjoyed the book. The adventure the characters must go on is intriguing and thrilling. The highlight of the story is the escape from the burning of the malfettos, towards the start of the book. I would recommend it to someone who enjoys a real science fiction novel and who enjoys the supernatural. This book is an excellent to portray science fiction. I rate this book 4 stars out of 5.

By Roma T., Year 8

……

“I’m going to die tomorrow.”

This is the opening sentence to the science fiction novel The Young Elites. This story is about Adelina Amouteru, who has a plague-like disease called ‘The Blood Fever’, which started a few years ago (when the story was made). The people who catch it gain silver hair and, instead of transparent, pink tears. The Young Elites is a spectacular science fiction book which is recommended for all ages and genders by the author herself, Marie Lu.

This science fiction themed novel delves deep into the experience that Adelina has during this harsh time of having the disease, trying to be sold away by her own father and trying to run away and start a new life for herself (that’s as much information that should grab your attention without giving away too much of the book).

Overall, I recommend ‘The Young Elites’ to all people that enjoy a long read with heaps of detail and information throughout the entire book. Although the book goes through a first-person view, it’s a great experience for everyone to have.

Caleb N, Year 8

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June 1

‘The Declaration’ by Gemma Malley

“Because no one needs to live for ever. I think that sometimes you can outstay your welcome.”

Do you love action books with a little bit of romance? Does this quote make you want to read more? If so, you must read this amazing novel!

‘The Declaration’ is set in a dystopian world in the year 2140. A teenage girl named Anna is a surplus, living at Grange Hall, a home for surpluses. What is a surplus you ask? A surplus is a child whose parents have signed The Declaration and are not allowed to have children, but then have had them anyway. These children become Illegal, and if they are found, they are taken away and sent to a surplus hall.

Anna was brought to Grange Hall when she was just a baby. She was found in an attic, crying and alone. In Grange Hall, the surpluses are taught to be ‘useful’. They are taught that they are a burden on mother nature and they are lucky they’re able to live. They are taught that their parents hated them and don’t love them. Anna believed this, until one day a boy named Peter was brought to Grange Hall. He said that he knew her parents and that they loved her and he was here to help her escape.

I really enjoyed ‘The Declaration’, because it has a very engaging and interesting storyline and characters. The beginning of the book is a bit confusing but makes you want to keep reading to find out who Anna is. As you read, questions you had are answered but replaced with new questions. Every page is riddled with suspense and it was impossible to put down.

I would recommend this book to capable readers aged 13-20, who are interested in an action-packed romance novel. I really enjoyed this book because it had a strong message that young people are the future and it made me look at the world differently.

Charlotte D, Year 8

…

A haunting and suspenseful page turner, ‘The Declaration’ by Gemma Malley is an intense and interesting book that will make you desperate to find out what’s on the next page.

Living in a home where you have no rights, you are physically hurt and have never been outside before since you were born is all Anna Covey knew. Living with other children with ages up to eighteen in a place called Grange Hall, a place made for surpluses. If you’re wondering what a ‘surplus’ means, you’re a leftover, you are useless. Your whole life people tell you you’re nothing and you believe it, until a boy called Peter entered Grange Hall declaring he knew Anna’s parents. Anna had been lead to believe they were horrible people. He told her that they had to run away together to meet her parents. Anna could not believe the statement he had made, and tried to ignore him. Everywhere she went he was always close by.

Anna hated Peter at first. She was disgusted that he even mentioned her parents in the first place. Peter was very naughty and did not fit in with the rules at Grange Hall. Anna started to see the bright side of him and noticed he wasn’t such a bad person when she started to get to know him. They break out of Grange Hall and Anna takes a look at what it is like to live in a real world.

This book has an exciting storyline and is a definite ‘must read’. The plot is fascinating and I have never read a book like this before. I recommend this book to readers aged twelve and over because some of the words included in the book are more advanced. The book is impossible to put down and shows us how lucky we are to live in a free country. I rate ‘The Declaration’ five out of five stars.

Caitlyn H., Year 8

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June 1

‘Ender’s Game’ by Orson Scott Card

Are you into war and alien stories? Good! Ender’s Game is the book for you!

Orson Scott Card is the author of Ender’s Game and is also the author of many other great and interesting books, such as Ender’s Shadow and Ender in Exile which like Ender’s Game are great reads.

This novel is a science fiction genre story about a smart boy who goes to battle school to learn how to battle in space against the aliens or buggers. This is an intense book that keeps you hooked throughout the whole story. This book is memorable and compelling story and has interesting characters.

Ender’s Game is a great in-depth book with an engaging story line that keeps the reader guessing throughout the whole book, which adds an intense element to this book. Not only does Ender’s Game have a great story line, its setting or atmosphere is thought-out well by Orson Scott because the setting is out in space which is futuristic and I can’t think of one child who thinks space isn’t cool, which I think why Orson Scott chose this. A character that I think stands out in Ender’s Game is Ender. I think this because he is so smart and knows what do in various situations. I also think this because he is only young and can lead the military into battle against the buggers. These are some reasons why Ender stands out to me.

I love the ending of Ender’s Game and it satisfies me. The reason I love this ending so much is because Ender is manipulated into thinking he’s in a battle simulator but he wipes out the entire race of buggers. I like Orson Scott’s style of writing because there are lots of unexpected twists throughout the story.

I think the novel’s moral is to do what’s right. Ender goes to battle school and enters the war against the buggers and saves the world, instead of staying at home and possibly losing to the aliens and Earth getting destroyed. This novel says to young people to do the right thing and not get caught up with bad situations.

I personally liked this book and therefore I scored it a four out of five. I liked this book because of the in-depth story line of Enders life through battle school. My highlight of the book is the setting; I like this because it suits Ender’s Game so much because Ender and the military go to war with the buggers which are an alien race. I think this book is a great example of sci-fi because there are space crafts and aliens. We at an age where space ships could only be a decade or two away plus having space ships we could find an alien species which could happen but it’s unlikely which is what sci-fi is. I would recommend this book to teenage boys who like alien war stories. Ender goes to war with the aliens and as a boy I love this book. This is an intense book that keeps you hooked throughout the whole story. This is a memorable and compelling story and has interesting characters. I rate Ender’s Game four out of five.

Max K., Year 8

…..

The book I am about to write about is beyond amazing. It’s gripping and emotional storyline makes it known as one of the best science fiction novels ever written. Ender’s Game is set in Earth’s future where a recruit in battle school named Ender Wiggin thinks he is playing a simulated war game but he is engaged in something far greater. You may recognize the writer’s name, Orson Scott Card, from other award winning Science Fiction books that he has written such as Ender’s Game sequel novel Speaker for the Dead. Both Enders Game and its sequel won Hugo and Nebula Awards, making Orson Scott Card the only author to win both science fiction’s top U.S. prizes in consecutive years. (Wikipedia)

Ender’s Game is about a boy genius named Ender Wiggin, who was selected by international military forces to save Earth from destruction. Ender was transferred to a battle school which is located on a ship far from Earth. Whilst in battle school, Ender manages to get further in one of his training exercises, called the “mind game”, then anyone ever had before him. The military commanders take notice of this. This is one of the ways they found out Ender was the man that would save the world from the “Buggers”, an insectoid alien species threatening Earth’s survival.

Ender’s Game is set far into the future (2086), however it is evident that there are many similar aspects of Ender’s life that correspond with modern society. In the novel Ender is physically and verbally abused by a gang of bullies. Eventually he’s forced to brutally beat the leader of this gang to protect himself. One in four students in Australia, ranging from Year 4 to Year 9, claim they are regularly attacked by playground thugs. This proves that despite the differences in time, bullying always remains relevant to society.

As this book contains the depression of Ender after he has ended the race of aliens that searching for a new home I do not recommend it to readers under the age of ten. However, it is perfect for years 10 and over because of the adventure that Ender takes part in. The book will also widen children’s imagination by far because of all the fictional features in the book, such as space travel, extra-terrestrials, space ships, and the unknown information about our universe that is predicted in this book. I rate this spectacular, spell-binding, spine tingling novel, a nine out of ten.

By Logan M., Year 8

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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.

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May 31

‘Aliens: The Female War’ by Steve Perry and Stephen Perry

Is this the end or is Ripley finally going to terminate the aliens species on Earth?

Aliens The Female War is a memorable ending to the Aliens Ripley saga story, with many frightening and unpredictable moments, keeping the reader alert and engaged in the fantastic story line.

This story is set in a distant future, being 2386 AD on planet Earth, at a time when Earth has been taken over by the aliens. The aliens are continuously breeding and looking for hosts in order to preserve their species and their queen, who is capable of controlling the minds of humans. Ripley, the main character of the Aliens saga, is a strong and powerful female determined to save humanity by destroying the aliens that have controlled Earth. The Aliens saga is written in a very convincing and intense way, ensuring that the reader is engaged to the point where the book cannot be put down. The ending of the book is satisfying and leaves the reader with a feeling of accomplishment and relief.

Aliens The Female War is a perfect example of a science fiction and horror book written in such a detailed way that the story appears very convincing to the reader. The story’s message for a teenage audience is that determination and persistence are the keys to succeed in life.

I truly enjoyed reading this story and I would recommend this book to readers from the ages of 13 who are interested in science fiction or horror. The reader will finally discover whether Ripley succeeds in her mission to save planet Earth. I rate Aliens: The Female War a four out of five.

Kent A.R., Year 8

Category: Horror stories, Student Reviews | 1 Comment

May 30

‘The Interrogation of Ashala Wolf’ by Ambelin Kwaymullina

Imagine that you were all alone in a place you have never seen before. That’s what it felt like for Ashala Wolf, the main character in the novel The Interrogation of Ashala Wolf. The author of this fantastic novel, Ambelin Kwaymullina has written some amazing books, such as the other two books in the Tribe series, Georgie Spider and Ember Crow. The themes of this book involves the battle between good and evil, utopia/dystopia and it even has supernatural creatures in it. This specific novel has a very compelling storyline and will make you want to read it all the time.

The story this novel tells is about a supernatural girl, Ashala Wolf, trying to find her way back to her tribe but she appears to be trapped in a detention centre along with other creatures like her and her friends. The setting in this book is dark but also powerful. It’s very convincing and you can imagine that you are there with Ashala trying to find your way back to your Tribe. So many characters stand out in this story but Ashala stands out the most because she is brave and fearless and knows how to handle herself when it comes to bad circumstances. The ending of this story is very interesting and Ambelin’s writing style is dramatic and suspenseful which makes you want to read all her books.

The book’s main genres are supernatural and fantasy. The novel speaks to young people in a certain way because it teaches young and old people not to trust everyone and gives out a good message. All books like this one have impacts on kids, teens and adults.

The Interrogation of Ashala Wolf is a spectacular book because it has a lot of suspense and makes you want to read more and more. The highlight of this book was the climax, which will leave you on the edge of your seat. The novel is an example of a sci-fi book. I would recommend this book to teens or adults and to people who love action and mystery. The story is compelling and interesting. I give the book a 5-star rating because of how much of an amazing novel it is. So, what do you think? Will the tribe survive The Interrogation of Ashala Wolf?

By: Allana M., Year 8

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May 30

‘Star Wars’ by Paul Davids

“I am your father.”

Have you heard this before? Of course you have. It’s Darth Vader from the book Star Wars! Paul Davids has written multiple Star Wars Books and I’ve found them extraordinary books. He uses a great hook in his latest book “it was an era of darkness, a time when the evil empire ruled the galaxy.” This starts the book off with a bang and draws you in for more. The Stars Wars series is in the science fiction genre including aliens, space travel and genetic engineering. One of the things that sticks in your head after you read this amazing novel is the super galactic space battle between the evil empire and the rebel alliance. It’s one action-packed chapter all about how two rebels and the empire fight to the death.

The story engages you from the very first sentence. Star Wars is not a realistic book because I can’t imagine weapons like light sabers, or a superpower called the force happening in the real world for quite some time.

One of the characters that stands out to me is Luke Skywalker. He is a part of the rebel alliance and is the first ever human Jedi who can control the force. Even though there are a couple of humans in the novel that are believable, there are some characters that are unbelievable such as Chewbacca and Zorba The Hutt, a giant talking slug who is the chef of his tribe. At the end of the novel Han Solo and Princess Leia get married. Leia sees the future of a peaceful world and Han with two children on his knee telling them stories about the Millennium Falcon in the days of the great battles.

The theme of Star Wars is science fiction. Paul Davids has conveyed this in his novel very effectively by telling the reader about a mysterious plant called Tiki Hava with giant space galactic aliens trying to kill Luke and his team. The novel involves some life lessons like peer pressure when Darth Vader tells Luke to join the dark side and Luke says no because Darth Vader did not put enough peer pressure on Luke.

Overall the book that Paul Davids has written is a phenomenal read. I enjoyed the book because of the easy way the author has written it and because I enjoy Star Wars movies and novels. The highlight of this book is when the Evil Empire and the Rebels have a giant space galactic battle to fight for the galaxy. Yes, Star Wars fits under the genre science fiction because the book involves aliens, space travel and super powers like the force. I would recommend this book to people of any ages, both adults and children alike. The book does not contain any gruesome parts, swearing or anything else inappropriate for children to read. The action-packed story as well as the characters and spaceships interest children but would also interest adults because of the action and it always keeps you interested. After reading the book and watching the movie, I’ve come to the conclusion that Star Wars is one of the best sci-fi books ever written. I would rate this book an eight out of ten.

Rhys L., Year 8

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May 30

‘The Carbon Diaries 2017’ by Saci Lloyd

‘The Carbon Diaries 2017’, a book that stresses the issues of the future, was written by the 49 year old British author, Saci Lloyd in 2009. This book is a 3.4/5 rating on Goodreads.com and has a large audience that enjoyed the book overall. Although this book is about issues in real life, it is very unpredictable. Many feelings throughout this book engage the audience in a certain way such as some situations give nervousness and agony. Some of these issues many people find interesting throughout the novel.

The setting of the novel is about a dystopian world that suffers from climate change. The world has become unnaturally filled with carbon in some areas. As we find out in the first couple of pages, this book is based in London. The main character in this novel is a teenage girl named Laura Brown as well as her friend Adi. In fact, the concept of this story is based around her diary. One thing that is very noticeable in this text is that there is more slang language then needed. Some older aged audiences can find this hard to read. Imagery in the book is what most people would expect to find in a diary: photos such as random business cards, scrunched paper and even paper clips provide detail to the story.

To conclude, I mostly enjoyed this story. The only thing that holds back this book from being greater is that many other books are similar. I would recommend this book to many audiences such as humanitarians and people who enjoy mystery. Overall I would like to rate this book as generously as possible, 4/5.

Hudson L., Year 8

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May 30

‘Lifespan of Starlight’ by Thalia Kalkipsakis

Lifespan of Starlight by Thalia Kalkipsakis is an incredible book. It’s like moving within time!

The story is set in the year 2084 when three teenagers discover a secret to time travel. There are three main characters. One of them is Scout and he’s ‘illegal’. In their society they need special chips to have access to food and water, so Scout uses a bit of her hacking skills to be able to survive in a futuristic era without being caught by the authorities for 14 years. She steals a special microchip from a deceased person but two other teenagers have been tracking her movements. Their names are Mason and Boc.

They discover time travel and soon enough that she’s illegal and can be arrested but she has to do something unthinkable to avoid jail time.

I like the story because it’s set in a sci-fi futuristic era where needing special things is required to do ‘special stuff’. Scout is really fluent in the coding language they use for coding their chips. She uses this ability to hack into microchips and change their code to do some other special type of commands. She soon discovers that time travel is possible with the special chips and they use it to travel days and weeks into the future. Things soon take a turn for the worst when they have to travel ten years into the unknown.

I’d recommend this story for a younger audience with an interest in future things, such as having microchips implanted in people and keeping really close surveillance on their citizens to prevent people from doing illegal things. Life in the future is much different to what it is now.

DYLAN R. Year 8

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July 13

‘The Secret Hour’ by Scott Westerfeld

‘The Secret Hour’ is the first book in Scott Westerfeld’s intriguing Sci-fi trilogy, ‘Midnighters’. ‘The Secret Hour‘ follows the adventures of four high school students, Rex, Dess, Melissa and Jonathan, as they encounter the new girl to the town of Bixby, Jessica Day. Though appearing to be a little less-than-average during the day, the Midnighters each hold a secret power, and have the ability to be awake during one hour of every night, when their world is plunged into a dark and mysterious state known as the ‘blue time’.

Throughout the book, the ‘Midnighters’, as they call themselves, must discover more about Jessica’s power in an attempt to defend the town against perilous creatures, ‘darklings’ and ‘slithers’ that live in the blue time. Jessica discovers more about herself during the time she spends in Bixby than any other time in her life. The characters also learn more about true friendship, trust, and Jessica discovers what it truly means to be a Midnighter.

We enjoyed reading ‘The Secret Hour’, as its story line was interesting, unusual and unique. There were a few unexpected twists, which added to the story and greatly influenced the effect of the book.

Scott Westerfeld uses impeccable descriptive language in ‘The Secret Hour’, which helps the scenes of the book really come to life in the imaginations of readers. The characters of the book are also well-developed and have distinctive personality traits.

The book is overall an enjoyable read and a very descriptive novel. It definitely kept us on edge whilst reading it. The book was certainly action-packed and well thought out, which appeals to many types of people. We would recommend this book to teens aged 12 – 18, and rate the book 3½ out of 5 stars as a group.

Lily P, Peter A, Jade T, Year 8

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July 13

‘Boy Soldier’ by Andy McNab and Robert Rigby

Fergus Watts. Supposed traitor to the SAS, but is he really guilty?

Do you like books that excite you and keep you guessing as to what will happen next? Then Boy Soldier is the book for you, an action-packed novel filled with mystery and suspense that will keep you questioning throughout the whole book. An ex-SAS hero Fergus Watts is captured because he is considered a traitor to the SAS and to his country. His grandson Danny, rejected from the army because of what his granddad did, is determined to find him and bring him to justice, but there is another person he must watch out for, a person is watching him, but who? Read Boy Soldier and find out!

I absolutely loved this book because of the fast-paced action and slow plot development all rolled in to one book. I love how Andy McNab and Robert Rigby have used real S.A.S code words and abbreviations to provide a military style setting to the book to bring the book to life a little bit more. I like how this book always kept me guessing and it only gave me the answers I needed at the end, but even then, I had to piece everything together and figure out what happened. I was glued to the book the whole way through and loved every moment of reading it because of the intense scenes and cliffhangers.

I would recommend this book for 12 – 17-year-old boys who like fast paced action books, and if you have read and liked The Hunger Games, Divergent or any other action fighting style books with thrills, twists and turns, then Boy Soldier is definitely the book that I recommend for you.

Joe S. and Nic P., Year 8

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June 21

‘Liar’ by Justine Larbalestier

Micah Wilkins is a liar, a good liar too. She can’t stop lying, covering up from the secrets, or is she lying to you now? No one is certain, until her secret boyfriend Zachary (Zach) dies from unknown conditions. Micah’s lies begin to overwhelm her. Classmates snickering saying she’s the brutal killer, though she says she didn’t do it. She’s a liar and everybody knows it. She told the teachers she was a boy. That lie lasted two days. Micah then said she was born a hermaphrodite. That was a lie too.

Micah Wilkins is an abnormal girl living in New York with her parents and younger brother. The story is told switching from ‘before’ to ‘after’ the death of Zach. Throughout the story Micah can’t help but lie to the reader referring to these lies as corrections. Whatever she says don’t entirely believe her. Micah’s an unreliable narrator, never telling the truth, covering up what she really knows. Maybe she did kill Zach? Maybe she knows who killed him? Zach had a beautiful and popular girlfriend at school. Would Micah be jealous?

‘Liar’ is a thriller mystery that grabs the reader in right from the beginning. With the twisted main character, mysterious death and secrets beneath your bones, ‘Liar’ will surely have you questioning the truth. Micah’s mixed up storytelling definitely has theories flying. If you enjoyed ‘Life of Pi’ or ‘Flipped’ you must read this book. I recommend ‘Liar’ to anybody from 14-30.

Jessica V., Year 8

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

June 21

‘Rat Catcher’ by Chris Ryan

Do you like a book that ignites and excites you? If so, I think that the book ‘Rat Catcher’ by Chris Ryan is the book for you. This book is set in South America in the city of Quito. Poverty is a big problem in this city and many kids are roaming on the streets. These kids have to deal with even worse problems because there is a very evil, bad man named Rat Catcher and this man thinks that these streets kids are worth nothing. Team Alpha are a bunch of the most intelligent kids in the world who protect kids on the street from the Rat Catcher.

This book was thrilling and exiting because it made you sit on the edge of your seat. I got glued to the book when the kids were in danger because it was entertaining, such as when Paulo, one of the members of the Alpha team, goes undercover as a homeless child and she meets a girl named Eliza who get abducted and she then decides to go with her. This part of the novel was very exiting because the team has to stop the rat as well as save Paulo.

I really liked this book because it was full of action and thrills and if you like that you would definitely love this book. Chris Ryan does a great job in this book to keep the reader entertained. When more books are released I think that they will be very entertaining and fun to read.

By Nash A., Year 8

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

June 21

‘Pig Heart Boy’ by Malorie Blackman

The book ‘Pig Heart Boy’ by Malorie Blackman provides a story of a great life struggle. Would you take the chance to live a normal life but go through an operation that has never been performed before? This book shows how far a person will go just to keep on living. That is the case for Cameron Kelsey, a boy with a dying heart and the only one way to change it by getting a pig’s heart. If a heart-throbbing story with twists and turns is your ideal book, then ‘Pig Heart Boy’ is the book for you.

Cameron Kelsey is a 13 year old boy who lives in London wishing to have a normal life, but with his dying heart he can never enjoy time with his friends. His friend Marlon is constantly making sure Cameron is OK but that makes Cameron ticked off. Being the friend that always has to be careful about what he does and being the one everyone is worrying about is annoying and stressful. Cameron wishes to touch the bottom of the deep end at the swimming pool, to run and to play football with his friends. Cameron longs to play and enjoy life to the fullest with his friends, but he can’t, so when he is offered that opportunity to live life, he takes the chance with open arms. But this opportunity will be a 50/50 chance against life or death for this opportunity has never been preformed before. He needs to live, he wants to live to see a new piece of joy coming into his life.

I really enjoyed this book because it shows that anyone can have a bright future even when you think that future is slim. This book showed me what is important about a person and what isn’t. This book also showed new creative ways of modern medecine and how it can truly save lives yet take them away. This book made feel involved with the tough decisions made within the book and the exciting surprises.

I recommend this book to 12-18 year olds for this story can provide help to those needing a bit of light and hope for their future. This book can show others what other people have to deal within their own lives.

This blog was written by Mary B in grade 8.

Category: Realistic fiction, Student Reviews | LEAVE A COMMENT

June 20

‘Ship Breaker’ by Paulo Bacigalupi

Do you like dystopian novels?

Do 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

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

June 20

‘Mac Slater Cool Hunter: The Rules of Cool’ by Tristan Bancks

He soars through the sky like a bird and then all of a sudden “crack”, “bang” the wings start to malfunction. Mac is falling to his own certain death. This is one of the many things that happen in Mac Slater Cool Hunter. This book is good as it takes you on an adventure and it shows how anyone in life can face very challenging things and that you should never give up on something you truly want.

The story is about a boy named Mac Slater and he is an inventor who gets invited to a group of people that are called “Cool Hunter” and he has to choose to either ditch his friend and go into Cool Hunter or deny the invite and stay with his friend. Later on he faces many challenges that he has to overcome. Mac Slater is a very exciting book and if you liked books that take you on an adventure then this book is for you. If you have read other books such as Lockie Leonard and you liked them, then you should definitely get this book.

In the book Mac Slater the main character is Mac Slater and he is a 13 year old boy with scruffy hair. He has a friend who also likes to invent as well. During this book Mac Slater and his friend get invited to go to a club and he has to invent one of his greatest inventions of all time to get in.

I liked this book a lot because it was very intriguing and it took me on a great adventure and I would definitely recommend this book to anyone who likes adventure books or they are either 12-15 years of age as it is a bit childish but not that serious at times. This book is very good and I rate it 4/5 stars.

By Dallas B., Year 8

……

Let me ask you a question. Do you like FLYING bikes and good comedy? Well, look no further, because “Mac Slater Cool Hunter” is the book for you, with its flying bikes, amazing ideas and comedy that is appropriate for all ages. So why not read Tristan Bancks’ “MAC SLATER COOL HUNTER”? I guarantee that you won’t regret it.

This is one of the best books for the ages of 5 to 14 years old and older. This novel is powerful in ideas, imagination and a creative mind from the main characters Mac and Paul. Mac and Paul have an idea which involves a bike that can fly. A bike that can fly is their invention that they want to go viral. Mac and Paul have been working on their flying bike for weeks. When it is finally finished, they test out the crazy invention at a cliff face in a small town in Australia where there were a lot of people such as school friends and students and a girl that Mac liked. This was a tough crowd for Mac and Paul. They didn’t expect this type of crowd, so It was going to be tough for Mac and Paul to pull off this stunt.

This book is one of the best books I’ve read so far. It is the best book that shows that when you put your head to things you want to achieve anything is possible. This novel has one of the most inspiring characters if you enjoy fantasy and humour, this novel is appropriate for the ages of 5-14 years old. I would recommend you to read this book for your enjoyment. Trust me you won’t regret it. Mac Slater Cool Hunter.

Thomas F, Year 8

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Have you ever wanted to invent a flying bike.?

Well, these kids have and they tested it by being normal kids and riding off a cliff face and almost killing themselves because they’re just normal kids. But one of the kids who was actually riding the bike after landing/crashing suddenly fell in love with one of the girls who came to watch the travesty. I’m sorry to say, though, that she’s one of those weird mean girls who will smile at bad things that have happened.

Honestly I think that this book is a 4 out of six stars because its a good book but it is not my style. I recommend this book to people who like the normal lifestyle kind of books. All in all that is only my opinion and I know that other people will like it. I hope that you boys and girls will like it because the writer has worked really hard on this book and many others so I hope you all like it.

Matthew C., Year 8

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

June 20

‘Skulduggery Pleasant’ by Derek Landy

“With his sunglasses gone there was no denying the fact that he had no face. All he had was a skull for a head.”

Skulduggery Pleasant is a fantasy/mystery tale set in the modern day where a half-Millenia old magical war is kept secret from the world. The story focuses on the adventures of Skulduggery Pleasant, a 400 year old undead magician who lives today as a detective, keeping his identity and skeletal body secret, and Stephanie Edgley, a teenage girl who has an absence of friends and believes her normal life is somewhat boring.

The story begins with the death of Gordon Edgley, Stephanie’s uncle, who has made his wealth as an author of best-selling books. At the reading of Gordon’s will, a mysterious man, who would be revealed as Skulduggery, arrives covering all parts of his body showing no signs of abnormality from the rest of the attendees. When Stephanie is left home alone, she encounters a dangerous and threatening man who, after a revolving argument, breaks into the house attempting to harm Stephanie. He is stopped by a fireball cast by Skulduggery. The scene develops into a brawl resulting in the reveal of Skulduggery’s face to Stephanie. After explaining the occurring events, Skulduggery exits the house, only to be stopped by Stephanie who then convinces him into letting her come with him on what will become their greatest adventure yet. The discovery of a villain plotting for world domination and a weapon of immense power will lead the pair on a thrilling and exhilarating quest for the greater good.

I enjoyed the book as I thoroughly enjoy the genre of book that this title portrays and how well the story is written. The way suspense builds through the book to the climax provides an exciting tale of a magical, secret world having a great effect on the world we live in today. I would recommend this book to adolescent people who are lovers of fantasy/mystical novels and who feel as if they can relate to one or more of the characters of the book as the story is also a moral lesson on finding your true self and showing bravery and ambition. I would rate this an 8.5/10

Deacon B., Year 8

……..

“Skulduggery Pleasant at your service.” This is a quote from the book Skulduggery Pleasant.

The main characters in the book are Skulduggery Pleasant and Stephanie Edgley. Skulduggery Pleasant is an undead immortal man, cursed for an immortal life of pain as a skeleton, however he does have magic to battle the evil in the world. Stephanie Edgley, also known as Valkyrie Cain, is a normal teenager in a normal life. After facing the death of her uncle, her world turns upside down as she is introduced to Skulduggery Pleasant after a man broke into her uncle’s house with her in it.

Skulduggery Pleasant is set in the modern day era, however there are wizards and witches secretly living a normal life. Stephanie Edgley, a normal teenager, claims her uncle’s house after his death, with her uncle’s permission. Whilst her parents were stuck in a storm, Stephanie stayed in her uncle’s house but was later on broken into by a deranged man, threatening to kill Stephanie. Skulduggery busted into the house saving Stephanie life by shooting fire balls and bullets at the man. Skulduggery later on revealed himself as a skeleton with magical powers. Skulduggery revealed that there was a secret war happening in the war with wizards against wizards, witches against witches. The story continues as Stephanie and Skulduggery battle against an evil sorcerer named Nefarian Serpine to stop him from releasing a weapon on the world.

I liked this book because it drives you into the book. It makes you lean into the book. It isn’t boring and it’s full of suspense and action. I would recommend this book to teenagers of ages 13 to 16 who like books with mystery, fantasy and action.

Dominick C., Year 8

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

June 20

‘The 5th Wave’ by Rick Yancey

“My 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 5^th 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 5^th wave. I rate 8 out of 10 stars.

Riley S, Year 8

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