‘The boy in the striped pyjamas ‘ by John Boyne

Would you be able to risk your child’s life, if it meant getting ahead in your career? The story of the Boy in the Striped Pajamas is set around 1942, during World War II. A large majority of the book is set at the family’s new house in Auschwitz, Poland, at the Nazi death camp. Bruno, the main character in this novel, is just an ordinary ten year old boy who wants to experience some fun and adventure. Moving away from his hometown in Berlin, his friends and family is a bit overwhelming, however he is able to come to terms with it when he becomes friends with a boy who is on the wrong side of the fence.

The young boy that Bruno befriended, Shmuel, was just one of many people who was treated inhumanely only because he was Jewish. Would you give your life, if it meant helping out a new friend? Ralf, Bruno’s father, who runs the Nazi camp, has got everybody bluffed. They are all under the impression the camp is something it’s not. Will it take something dramatic and awful for him to wake up and realise that what he is doing is wrong, or will it be too late? I personally have a soft spot for sad but real life issues like ‘The Boy in The Striped Pajamas.’ I see this as being the reason why this book, out of very few, was one I was able to read and really enjoy. I would recommend this, for both genders and for any age. A really great read.

Alana, Year 9

‘The Boy In The Striped Pyjamas’ is a story about a 9 year old boy who lives in Germany during the war when the Germans were killing all the Jews. His father is high up in the German army and they move out to the country to live next to the concentration camp. The boy, Bruno, is very innocent and knows nothing about the terrible things that are going on over his back fence. In fact, even his mother does not know what is going on. His father is a horrible man but Bruno does not think so as he knows nothing about what he is doing. He befriends one of the Jewish kids, Schmuel, and they spend a lot of time talking through the fence. Eventually Bruno goes under the fence into the camp in some borrowed striped pyjamas (actually a prison camp uniform) to help Schmuel find his Dad. He has no idea of the terrible place it is in the camp. It goes horribly wrong and Bruno is accidentally gassed with the Jews. It is quite a sad story.

Danielle, Year 9

‘The Boy in the Striped Pyjamas’ by John Boyne is a really intriguing, adventurous and sad book, but as I don’t read many books, this has really become a great read. The book is about a little boy named Bruno, who is the main character. He lives with his sister Gretel, his father Rulf, his mother, his maid and his butler. They are settled in their house, but Bruno’s father Rulf has been given a new job. For him to carry out this work, they need to move. What Bruno doesn’t know is what his father actually does for a living, and this is kept secret from Bruno by his family.

When they move to their new house, Bruno makes friends with Shmuel, but the twist is that Shmuel is inside a detention camp, which Bruno’s father runs. Sadly, Bruno doesn’t understand what Shmuel is doing inside the camp. He also doesn’t know what the camp is used for. Bruno gets himself into a lot of mischief, which causes great harm to himself and Shmuel.

The book is full of twists and puts you on the edge of your seat. I recommend this book for both genders. It can be read by people aged 13 and up to truly understand the meaning of this book.

Mae, Year 9

I really enjoyed The Boy in the Striped Pyjamas. The lead character is a boy nine-year-old boy called Bruno, who is the son of a very powerful man. The family is forced to move home out of town because of the father’s work.

Bruno loves to explore. One day on his adventures away from home he comes across a fence. This particular fence that Bruno discovered exists all over the world. At this fence Bruno meets a very confused, sad and lonely boy. Because of Bruno’s helping and genuine personality this little boy leads Bruno into a lot of trouble; life-threatening trouble. These kinds of fences everyone hopes to never ever come across.

I would recommend The Boy in the Striped Pyjamas to anyone from the ages 12 and over that have an imaginative mind and like books that are about real day troubles and explain another point of view of how others are struggling and we should be thankful for what we have. Aimie, Year 9

I enjoyed the book ‘Boy in the Striped Pyjamas’. The main character is a nine-year-old boy called Bruno, who is the son of a very respected man. The family is forced to move homes out of town because of the father’s work. Bruno loves exploring. One day exploring away from home he comes across a fence. On the other side of the fence Bruno meets a very lonely, confused and distressed little boy around the same age of Bruno. Because of Bruno’s helping and personality this little boy leads Bruno into a lot of trouble.

I would recommend ‘The Boy in striped pyjamas’ to anyone about 13 and over that like books that are really creative and really sad and the book message is that we have to respect what we have and be grateful. And don’t judge people before you know them. Naythen, Year 9

I really liked reading ‘The boy in the Striped Pyjamas’. It was a book for me filled with secrets and wonder of what is going to happen next. I would rate this book 5 stars out of 5.

This book is based on a little boy called Bruno who one day goes exploring into the backyard where his mother has told him not go to. He goes through the forest and finds a gate and a little boy in the striped pyjamas. Bruno gets to know this little boy, but what happens so bad that it affects the whole family?

This book is great for people from the ages of 13-elderly age. This book is filled with adventure and excitement. It will affect any reader I believe. I loved this book and just the trill of reading it. Bridget, year 9

The Boy In Striped Pyjamas is both enjoyable and emotionally distorted at the same time. The protagonist, Bruno, moved away from his home in Berlin to a small house in the countryside so his father could run a concentration camp for Hitler in the 1930s. At the new residence, Bruno finds a boundary gate to the camp and meets a new friend who he plays with everyday. One day he enters the camp and, along with his friend is taken to the gas chamber.

The boy in striped pyjamas is an extremely emotional book filled with amazing stories of survival, and eventually a devastating truth. The novel is a life-changing story of friendship through gutting mistreatment of the Jewish population. The hardship endured by the boys is truly one that nobody should ever experience in a lifetime.

The book is an amazing story told from the point of view of a young boy who doesn’t know exactly what is happening around him. It is enjoyable for an older more mature audience who understand the seriousness of the holocaust in its entirety. It has a very emotional ending, which sums up the book and leaves no loose ends, but is quite upsetting. I recommend the book very highly as it is well written and reminds the audience to appreciate what we are lucky enough to have, rather than what we do not have.

Oliver, Year 9

September 19

‘Fleshmarket’ by Nicola Morgan

Many of us know that if we had lived 200 years ago, we would not have lived for very long. Chances are that I would not have even survived my birth! ‘Fleshmarket’ by Nicola Morgan takes us back to life in 1822, providing a rare look at a time when many life conditions, including sanitation and medicine, were far more crude and rudimentary than they are today.

We are introduced to eight year old Robbie, the main character of this novel, in the prologue, where he is bystander at his mother’s breast cancer operation. Performed without anesthetic, the operation which is intended to save her life leads to her death from infection several days later, and Robbie blames the surgeon, Dr Knox, for her death. When family circumstances change for the worse, Robbie becomes fixated on Knox, trying to get close enough to him to work out how to get revenge. But morality is more complex than that, as Robbie’s own values are tested and he comes to understand more of Knox’s life mission.

Inspired by the author’s tour of Surgeon’s Hall in Edinburgh, this is a horrifying glimpse of life in the not-too-distant past. Both Robbie’s mother and Dr Knox are based on true characters, which intensifies the chilling reality and brutality of some parts of the story, including the prologue. For me, the accounts of surgery and post-mortems were almost unbearable, yet this is a true representation of life in that era. Morgan has captured early surgery so well that we quiver at the prospect of living in that era.

Although written with a teenage audience in mind, this novel could be read by adults. Morgan’s writing is powerful, the content definitely thought-provoking, lingering long after the novel is finished. It provides valuable reading to supplement studies of science and medicine in the early 19th century. It is definitely not a read for the faint-hearted! Mrs O.

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August 12

‘Lighthouse girl’ by Dianne Wolfer

Fay, a teenage girl, lives a lonely existence on an isolated island where her father is the lighthouse keeper. She has many chores to do looking after her father and the house, with a donkey as her only company. The outbreak of the First World War is greeted with excitement, as ships full of troops pass by the island. Kay is swept up in the nationalistic fervour, conveying messages to soldiers’ loved ones at home via signals sent from the ships. She even receives a personal message for herself from one of the departing soldiers, and we follow her friendship with Charlie through the story.
Beautifully illustrated by Brian Simmonds and enhanced by documents in many different genres, notes, diary entries and photographs, there’s an authentic historical feel to this novel. This realism is enhanced by the acknowledgment at the end of the book of the true life story on which its story is based.
Most striking for adolescents, I think, is the vast difference between Fay’s life and their own. Technology is very obviously missing. Fay must help hunt for food, amuse herself and must be grown up beyond her years to survive in such an isolated place. This would be very worthwhile as extended reading for a WWI unit of work, suitable for upper primary to mid secondary, rich in its view of the times through the eyes of one teenager. Mrs O.
Click here to reserve ‘Lighthouse Girl’.

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June 14

‘Brind and the Dogs of War’ by John Russell

This novel has an adventurous and exiting theme and can be enjoyed by all readers, boys or girls as well as adults. This story is set in a time long ago when men and boys went off to fight in wars for months or years. Brind is the main character and he is a boy of about 12 years old. His job is to look after the war dogs, mastiffs. He would become almost like a dog himself. The story is really exiting with lots of historical events included. I would recommend it to anyone.
Tahl, Year 8

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May 24

‘The Boy in the Striped Pyjamas’ by John Boyne

Bruno didn’t want to take the striped pyjamas off. He really like the look of them. When Bruno and his family moved to Poland for his father’s job, they didn’t know what they were getting themselves into. They were just a typical classy family, with no issues and no problems in their lives. Bruno was the youngest of the family and he was always looking for something to do. Gretel was his older sister. They didn’t really get along but whenever Bruno needed to talk, Gretel was always there for him. Mother was a well organized lady and carried herself well but her husband was a very strict man. He had to be because of the job that he had. In the mean time, Bruno looks for things to do, but sometimes there just isn’t anything to do but walk around and throw rocks. The mother and the father are always out. Will Bruno do something he and his family will regret for the rest of their lives?

I liked this book so much because it outlined things that you should be aware of and that you should always know what your family members are doing no matter what. I would recommend this story to older people or mature children because it may contain information and scenes that younger children should need to know. Tayla, Year 8

‘The Boy in the Striped Pyjamas’ is a great story to read because it could be based on a true story. It will make us realise what used to happen to people because they believed in something different than we do. ‘The boy in the striped pyjamas’ is a book that I would recommend to readers from the age of about 13. Bruno is the main character in the book. Bruno is a character who doesn’t want to move home until he finds a friend named Shmuel. He is a Jew in the big fence with the striped pyjamas on. Shmuel and Bruno become good friends until something happens and it can’t be replaced, something that will change the lives of Gretel, his mum and dad. ‘The boy in striped pyjamas’ is a great book and I would recommend it to read.
Isabella, Year 8

This is the book that you need to have an imagination for but if not it is a great book to read and any gender could read it and you get attached easily, well I did. The story is mainly set either at Bruno’s house or at the Jewish prisoner of war camp site. I haven’t finished the book yet but I am nearly finished. The beginning really interested me. Bruno and his family have a good relationship with each other, but sometimes Bruno wants some time alone so he goes to his swing and has fun. Later on during the book he goes on an adventure and he sees a big fence. He loves his adventures so he goes back to that big fence every day. I like the book because it has a great setting out for the actual characters and the whole camp and the house and basically everything. – Amy year 8

Bruno is a curious little boy with an active mind. He moves from his beautiful house in Berlin to ‘Out-with’ where there are strange people in striped pyjamas outside his bedroom window. His sister Gretel is regarded as the “hopeless case” and is constantly annoying her little brother. Bruno’s dad is a commandant soldier who is basically the leader of all the soldiers at the camp and his mum is just a housewife. At the start I didn’t know where the book was going but then in the end it was really interesting and sad. The boy in the striped pyjamas is a great book to read. Georgia, Year 8

‘The boy in the striped pyjamas’ is a interesting, exciting and mind blowing experience to see what other cultures are like as it is based on a true story and feels very realistic to read. It is a tear dropping and emotional novel, and is very heart touching. I would highly recommend this book, as stated above. It is a fantastic book for ages around 12 to any higher age. It will keep you entertained and restless as it is one of those books that you don’t know what’s going to happen next. I would like to say once again I definitely recommend this book and I think everyone should read it. By Valentina Year 8

‘The boy in the striped pyjamas’ is a very interesting novel and what makes it more entertaining is that it’s based on true events. The main character Bruno who is about the same age as me, has some experiences that would be very frightening, especially when the war began and he and his family had to move away from the city. It is surprising that even though the war is happening around them Bruno and his sister keep making the most of their childhood. The story has a lot of true facts and makes you want to keep reading. I would definitely recommend this book to all of my friends. Jariah, Year 8

Category: Historical fiction, Realistic fiction, Student Reviews | 1 Comment

May 24

‘Ties that bind, ties that break’ by Lensey Namioka

“Nothing could be as bad as having your feet bound”

“Ties that bind, Ties That Break” is a book written by Lensey Namioka. The story is set in China. The main character is a little girl named Ailin who is very energetic and likes to run around. She strongly believes in whatever she thinks is right and won’t lose without a fight. Ailin’s family all want to get her feet bound (to break your bones in your feet to make them very small) because in China it is a tradition that little girls get their feet bound when they are young because back then if you didn’t you were not classed as beautiful and were not eligible to get married. Ailin didn’t want to get her feet bound, which meant she wasn’t allowed to get married. I really like this book because it tells you about old Chinese traditions and the main character wants to fight against that. The book can also get very tense with arguments and fights. I would recommend this book to readers 12 years old and over. By Nicholas, year 8

“What could be more worse then having an arranged marriage and bound feet at the age of 5?”

“Ties that bind, ties that break” is a book written by Lensey Namioka. It is the tale of a very energetic 5 year old girl named Ailin. This story is set in China. Even at the age of five Ailin knows that if she gets her feet bound her life will not be the same. She will not be able to run around freely and play. With her family against her, Ailin still has the courage to stand up for herself and not follow her tradition. In China it is a tradition that little girls get their feet bound when they are young because back then if you didn’t you were not classed as beautiful and were not eligible to get married. Ailin didn’t want to get her feet bound, which meant she was not allowed to get married. I really enjoyed this book because it is about the old Chinese traditions and the main character Ailin doesn’t want to follow her tradition and she wants to fight against that. I would recommend this book to readers 10 years old and over. By Zania Year 8.

“Does it have to be this way? Going through so much pain… Knowing this is not right but can’t stop it.”

Ladies and little girls in China have been for many years in this pain and suffering, wondering whether and why this tradition has to be followed – getting their feet bound. This story is like all stories. It is placed in a scene, which the main character is involved in, but there is something else that stirs your emotions and makes you want to know more….

A little girl called Ailin and her very traditional family have now decided it is high time that Ailin gets her feet bound. This now puts Ailin into a situation of whether feet binding is good or bad? One night Ailin asks her second sister how her feet felt bound. Second sister told her to come to her room after dinner. This had Ailin confused. Why couldn’t second sister tell me? Why did she want me to come to her room? What was she going to show me? Years passed and Ailin had gotten older and understood the meaning of having bound feet. But she wouldn’t stand to have her feet bound and go through so much pain, and she wouldn’t want the feeling of never being able to run free again. What will Ailin do now? Will she face her tradition with bravery and refuse to get her feet bound? Or will she be forced to go through the pain? This book is very interesting and captivating. It shows the way a brave girl called Ailin has to face the traditions in China and the way she stands for her rights. I recommend this book to 12-14 years girls and boys. This book will really interest you and you will want to read more. By Daisy, Year 8

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May 18

‘POW’ by Martin Booth

The story ‘POW: Prisoners of War’ starts out on a battleship going out to war with a young 15 year old lying about his age so he could go to war. But then the Germans capture them and they become prisoners of war. I like this book so much because of the detail and it just makes you want to read more from the very first page. I would recommend this story for teenage boys from 12-18. Noah, Year 8.

The book ‘Pow: prisoners of war’ begins on a battleship with a young 15 year old boy named Ted Foley. Ted lied about his age so he could go to war and Ted enters the battleship HMS Nomad. The HMS Nomad is sunk in the great naval battle of Jutland. Ted is captured by the Germans and is thrown into a POW camp in Brandenburg. Ted suffers through the freezing winter and watches people die from the weather right it front of him. Any prisoners who tried to escape were killed. Ted is determined to make a run for home, but he needs maps, money and luck. This book tells you about the scary adventures of war which makes you want to keep on reading. I liked this book because it teaches you about the things that happened to very young kids in war. I would recommend this book for boys and girls between 10 -19. Sam, year 8.

Welcome to the HMS Nomad. ‘POW’ is based on a true story of the author’s grandfather. The Author is Martin Booth. The story starts in May 1916 when a boy named Ted Foley, aged 15, sneaked on to a warship. Ted was a recruit from HMS Ganges for training and went to his first ship (which was a new ship) called HMS Nomad. From there he was taken to a P.O.W camp in Brandenburg, which is deep in Germany. After seeing men die from being shot to dying from hunger he still wants to make the home run and he also thinks he has found a way out. I thought this novel was really well written and I recommend it for people aged 10-19. It is an off-your-seat book where the reader is anxious to find out what happens next. Nick, Year 8

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May 17

‘Chinese Cinderella’ by Adeline Yen Mah

Adeline Yen Mah was the last born of her family. Unfortunately for Adeline, her family dislikes her very much. When Adeline Yen Mah was born her mother passed away. Her mother either had the choice to stay alive and give up Adeline’s life, or give birth to Adeline, let her have a life and give up her own. So she chose to let her daughter have a life, and she gave up hers. Poor little Adeline is only four years old and goes to preschool, and her closest relationship is with her Aunt Baba. Adeline and her Aunt Baba have a very close relationship. Her Aunt Baba looked after her, as the rest of her family hated her. Adeline was always asking her Aunt Baba for photographs of her mother. She just wanted to know what her real mother looked like. But Aunt Baba would always tell her that her father made sure all photos of her mother were destroyed. All Adeline wanted to do was feel accepted in her family, and feel like she was a part of her family. So she spends years just trying to prove to her family that she is worthy of being a part of her family. Samantha, Year 8

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May 17

‘Percy Jackson and the Lightning Thief’ by Rick Riordan

“Percy Jackson And The Lightning Thief” is an awesome book, but it does have a very odd start to it. Percy Jackson is twelve years old and has been kicked out of six schools in six consecutive years and he is convinced his life is completely out of the ordinary. Each time he was kicked out on the school’s annual field trip, and on this year’s field trip he goes to the ancient Greeks’ museum. But this year he promises himself it’s going to be different (with the help of his best friend Grover) and it sure as hell was. After he pushes a bully into a little water fountain his maths teacher takes him into the museum for a little talk. And this is no ordinary talk. She asks him weird questions about “The thief of a lightning bolt” and other weird things, then she starts yelling at him. The other teacher on the field trip, Mr Brunner, throws him a pen for some mysterious reason. Then as soon as he catches that pen his maths teacher turns into a hideous bat-looking thing. Percy is confused and scared at the same time, but just as he thinks that, a voice in his head tells him to uncap the pen. When he does it suddenly turns into a sword. When his Maths teacher tries to attack him he slices the sword at her with all his strength and she just turns into a gold sparkle! If you don’t find that out of the ordinary I can assure you, you’re out of the ordinary. I would recommend this book for people who like fantasy books or like books about ancient gods. I would recommend this book for all ages if you are able to read it. By Connor, Year 8

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May 13

‘Dragonkeeper’ by Carole Wilkinson

In the Han Dynasty, A young slave girl, named Ping, works for a mean, old dragon keeper named Lan. The dragon keeper is in possession of the two imperial dragons. When one of them dies, Lan is quick to turn the dragon into a pickle for the Emperor and Empress’s meal. On the day of the meal, Lan runs out of wine, and Ping is sent to get more, but when she enters she finds the emperor. If she is seen here it is punishable by death. This is a thrilling tale of dragons and China. Dante, Year 8

The novel ‘Dragon keeper’ is based in Ancient China in the time of the Han dynasty. A little slave girl saves the life of a dragon and escapes her master. Getting chased by a dragon hunter, the slave and the dragon run all around China holding a mysterious stone that has to protected. It’s a novel about a young slave who thinks she’s not worthy for a name and finds strength and courage to make an epic journey with a dragon. Jon, Year 8

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May 13

‘Ranger’s Apprentice: The Ruins of Gorlan’ by

“Will waited in the shadows. Watching and waiting, as silent as the shadows themselves.Then he saw it. A brief flicker of movement but that was enough. In one smooth fluid movement he raised, drew and released his bow.”
The Ranger’s Apprentice books are just great! I don’t have a favourite one so I decided to write about the first one. In the first book, ‘The Ruins of Gorlan’, it comes to the day when the orphans are assigned to their jobs. Nobody chooses the main character Will – that is because he has already been chosen. As he is leaving, he sees the Ranger Halt hand a piece of paper with writing on it to the Barron. This is a test. When everyone is asleep he creeps to the castle, sneaks past the guards and climbs the tower to the baron’s office like a spider. When he gets there, Halt grabs him and takes him to the Barron. He finally gets to read the piece of paper. It says, “Will has the making of a Ranger. He will be my apprentice.” So Will is the new Ranger’s Apprentice. He goes through hours of endless training with Halt. He also gets a horse. But not just any horse – a specially trained Ranger’s horse named Tug. When it comes to the annual Gathering, they ride out and they find the camp to be deserted except for the leader and Halt’s former apprentice. They learn about the problem – which I won’t say anything about – and go to stop it. That is basically how it goes. It is a really good book and if you read it you must read the others – 10 books in all. Tiana. M, Year 8.

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May 13

‘Crispin, the cross of lead’ by Avi

“As a frowning Aycliffe began to fold the document, he turned away. When he shifted, he saw me. Our eyes met. My heart all but stopped.”

Crispin is a story set in England in the 1300’s. This novel is about a boy living in poverty as a slave. After the death of his mother, he is accused of a crime that he didn’t commit. He is then announced to be a ‘wolf’s head’. This means that anyone that catches him can kill him. He is forced to leave his village with his new name and his mother’s cross of lead. This novel at the moment is very interesting. I have not read all of it but at the moment it is living up way past my expectations. If you like books with a bit of mystery and adventure I strongly suggest you read this book. George Yr8

Crispin is a deep and meaningful book. I’ve only read half of it so far but it has got me hooked. Crispin’s mum has died protecting Crispin from evil. But why? Crispin is trying to discover why everyone wanted his mum dead and now is wanting him dead. Maybe it has something to do with his past or with his family. I’ve got to read more to figure that out. Crispin is a great book and I can’t wait to read the rest. Nicholas, Year 8

Crispin The Cross of Lead is a story about a young boy (Crispin) in medieval England. The book starts with the death of Crispin’s mother, which sets up a series of complicating events forcing Crispin to leave the village he has known his entire life and sending him out across the countryside. His journey goes on to see various layers of society. I liked this book myself because you can almost feel what Crispin is going through. Carlo, Year 8

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November 1

‘Witch Child’ by Celia Rees

‘Witch Child’ by Celia Rees is about a young girl called Mary who is thought to be a witch. She has never known her parents, only her grandmother. Then some men who torture and threaten Mary, take her grandmother away and set out to prove that she is a witch. They end up killing her and Mary has set out with some allies to the new world for a new life. The book witch child is a bit slow at the start, but after a while the book turns out to be very interesting. It’s quite the read I enjoyed, but really it depends on what kind of novels you’re into. If you like a bit of wonder and mystery, then “Witch Child’ is the book for you. I haven’t finished the book but I read it whenever I can. It’s a great novel. Mary inspires you, as she is basically an outcast being a witch, and she learns to fend for herself. Even without any family left, she accompanies a few people on her journey. I won’t say any more, you will have to read for yourself. I like ‘Witch Child’ so far and I recommend the book to other teens. by Emerson, Year 9

This book starts off by pulling you straight into the story of Mary, a witch child. Her grandmother is dead, hung against her will. People said she was a witch, but Mary knew better. Now Mary has to be careful of what she does and what she says because if she does anything out of the ordinary she will share the same fate as her grandmother. Mary has to run to get away and with the help of a veiled woman, she does just that. You think Mary’s life has come to an end but it has just begun, because in a time when superstition ruled the world and things go wrong, the first person they point to is the one who is mysterious, different. People around Mary believe she is just that – different. This book is set in the 1600s. I found the book interesting at the start, but it tended to drag in the middle until a very exciting end. Despite this, for a true story I found this book compelling overall. By Melissa Yr 9

‘Witch child’ written by Celia Rees is a book about a young girl, Mary, a suspected witch who has never known her parents and lives with her grandmother.

From what I have read so far I would rate the book 3 and a half stars out of 5, but that may change as I read more of the book. To be able to read this book, you need to be patient. It opens with a little bit of action but then dies down and I have not run into anymore action yet. Also the author of this book uses old fashioned language which I cannot relate to. On a positive note, this book goes into great detail when explaining certain events, such as the thunderstorm while they’re on the ship, which I enjoyed reading. Daniel, Year 9

‘Witch Child’ is an interesting book that captures the audience. It makes the reader feel as if he/she is travelling along the journey of the book with the main character Mary. Mary is a young girl who was cared for by her grandmother during her childhood. When suspicions arise about Mary’s grandmother Eliza Nutall becoming a witch she is killed, and Mary is taken away to sail on a ship to America. The main plot of the book is about Mary’s journey on the ship and the turnout of her life once reaching America. So far this book has swept my mind into the story of Mary’s journey. I believe this is because the author goes into great detail about the events that happen throughout the story. ‘Witch child’ is an inviting book to read and I am eager to read more. Jasmine, Year 9

‘Witch Child’ is not an ordinary book. The start of the book is about Mary, a witch child whose grandmother is being accused of witchery and is sentenced to death by the people in their community. At the execution of Mary’s grandmother, she is taken away by a strange woman whom she has never met. With the woman’s intentions to keep Mary safe, she sends Mary away to America to start a new life and reveals to her that she is her mother. This book explains Mary’s journey to America and her experiences once she has reached her destination. Meeting many people on the way, Mary builds relationships which will help her through many ordeals. I recommend ‘Witch Child’ to anyone who enjoys something out of the ordinary. Great effort is placed into the description of this book which makes it appear more real. I really enjoyed ‘Witch Child’ and I would be happy to read other books written by Celia Rees. Emily, Year 9

Category: Historical fiction, Student Reviews | 1 Comment

October 25

‘Hunter’ by Joy Cowley

‘Hunter’, by Joy Cowley, is a good book in which two stories are set two hundred years apart in time. The first story is set in 1805, which is about a boy named Hunter, who is about 15 years old. He is a slave to a tribe that he lives in and he dreams of running away to a white settlement, not too far from his tribe. Hunter frequently has visions about things that he can’t understand. When he has a vision about a Moa Bird in a valley not far from the village, he is told to track the bird with the help of three hunters and then kill it. The second story is set in 2005 where a young girl named Jordan and her two younger brothers, Robert and Baxter are trying to fly back home on a light air craft when they almost entirely run out of fuel. The pilot, Harold, makes an emergency landing on a small peninsula of land. Harold is able to land the plane but the plane’s exterior is badly damaged by branches and undergrowth that pierce through the cockpit and cabin on impact. The book is enjoyable to read for anyone between the ages of 11 – 16 years old. In all, I think the book was very interesting, suspenseful and enjoyable to read. Jacob, Year 9

‘Hunter’ is set in the south island of New Zealand. It is based on Hunter communicating with a young girl named Jordan along with her brothers Baxter and Robbie. Hunter has the unique gift of sight, which plays a big part later in the story. Jordan and her brothers had the best time of their lives on their holiday but then in a twist they land in the uninhabited part of southern New Zealand. Hunter is kept captive by a group of Maori warriors who hunt moa. During the story the Maori Warriors hunt him in the hope to get him back. He helps Jordan and her brothers get to safety, using his gift of sight while under constant pressure of being one step ahead of the Maori Warriors. Brad Year 9

The book ‘Hunter’ is a very complex and mysterious novel, just like the main character in the story. His journey through life is very confusing. He is at one moment being treated like a dog, a slave to a human tribe. Then he is stranded with a bunch of children struggling for survival. Throughout this novel it explains and tells the story about how he lived off the bare land and looked after his fellow friends. I would recommended this book for children ages 16-18 years of age. This book teaches and shows us how lucky we are to have what we have today. Chloe, Year 9

The book ‘Hunter’ is a mysterious yet exciting novel just like the main character ‘Hunter’. His adventure throughout his life is very perplexing, I mean at one moment, he is being treated like an overpopulated unimportant animal which deserves to die, but then he is thrown into a group with a bunch of stranded children struggling to survive. Throughout the novel, it tells the story about how he lived off the wild animals and the dry humid land, and how he looked after his amazing friends. I would most definitely recommend this book to many ages but the preferable age would probably be 14-18. This book shows that you are the most luckiest person that could live, because out there, they are not as privileged as you, so count yourself lucky. – Christian, Year 9

Category: Historical fiction, Student Reviews | LEAVE A COMMENT

May 21

‘Dragon Dawn’ by Carole Wilkinson

‘Dragon Dawn’ got me hooked from the very first word in the book; it is a very interesting and fascinating novel. It is about a dragon named Danzi who unfortunately meets a trickster named Bingwen. The book leads on and shows us how Danzi and Bingwen become great friends. They both go through various stages of challenges together but the main question is if Bingwen is truly Danzi’s friend or is he tricking him for his own benefits. Sage, Year 8

‘Dragon Dawn’ is an excellent book. It has lots of characters and when you read the book it feels like you are sitting right there and watching it happen. Carole Wilkinson has described the story so well that’s why you feel like you’re there. Danzi and Bingwen are the main characters. Danzi is a Chinese dragon and Bingwen is a trickster. In the story Danzi shaped changed into a old man and was walking until he came across Bingwen tricking some people into playing his trick so that he can get money but Danzi stopped it and that’s how the story began. By Madison, Year 8

‘Dragon Dawn’ is an excellent book and is also one of my favorites. The main character in the book is Danzi. Danzi is a dragon and his dragon keeper unfortunately passes away. While Danzi is flying around places he stops a trickster, Bingwen. Bingwen wants to be friends with Danzi but Danzi doesn’t really like him. But when they work together they can do really good things. Carole Wilkinson wrote a ‘Dragonkeeper’ trilogy. The books are, ‘Dragon Dawn’, ‘Dragonkeeper’, ‘Garden of the Purple Dragon’ and ‘Dragon Moon’. After reading ‘Dragon Dawn’, I can’t wait to read the next books in the trilogy and I’m sure it will be the same for you. Zoe, Year 8

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May 18

‘POW’ by Martin Booth

I enjoyed this book. It is based in the 1^st World War and is about a 14 year old boy named Ted Foley. He is enjoying his time on the battle cruiser when it all starts to go wrong. The ship sinks and Ted escapes and gets captured by the Germans and becomes a prisoner of war. By Tyson, Year 8

POW is about a 14 year-old boy, Ted, who says he is 15 to get into the Navy. After his training he boards the HMS Nomad, a small but powerful gunship. After just six days the HMS Nomad goes into battle and is sunk. Ted is then taken prisoner of war in a German prisoner camp in Brandenburg. Life for Ted from then on is routine and boring, especially in the winter. Escape isn’t impossible, just very hard. I thought this book was very good. It was very descriptive and kept the action going even during the winter at the POW camp. Sam. Year 8

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May 9

‘Hunter’ by Joy Cowley

I recently read the book ‘Hunter’, set in the South Island of New Zealand. It shares the story of a young boy, Hunter, from the year 1805 and a young girl, Jordan and her brothers from the year 2005. The book explores Hunter’s ability and gift of sight that enables Hunter to help Jordan and her brothers to safety after their rickety plane ride home for the holidays turns to disaster when it crashes on a wild and deserted peninsula in New Zealand. Meantime Hunter is faced with his own dangerous situation, being held captive as a slave to the Maori warriors who hunt moa. With his gift of sight, Hunter sees a strange silvery bird crash into the sea and a girl with blonde hair. He himself needs to escape the Maori warriors but is driven to help the girl and her brothers. Jordan and her brothers are terrified and alone, but Jordan keeps hearing a voice that is telling her what to do and guiding her to safety. Hunter, fighting to keep one step ahead of the Maori hunters searching for him, ready to kill him, sends messages to the young girl and directs her and her brothers to safety. The book was gripping and full of adventure and had a good ending for both Jordan and Hunter. Jordan and her brothers were rescued and Hunter managed to escape the Maori warriors. I enjoyed the book, it was easy to read and at times I couldn’t put it down. Kaide, Year 8

I have recently finished reading the book ‘Hunter’, set on the South Island of New Zealand. It tells a story about young girl named Jordan and her brothers Baxter and Robbie and a guy they meet named Hunter. This book has enabled us to read and unfold Hunter’s ability of sight to help Jordan and her brothers to safety after their terrible ride home for their holidays. They had the times of their lives but after this accident their trip turns into a disaster when their plane crashes on a wild and deserted part of New Zealand. Meanwhile Hunter is faced with his own problems, being held captive as a slave to the Maori warriors who hunt moa. With his gift of sight, Hunter sees a strange silvery bird (the plane) crash into the sea and a girl with blonde hair. He himself needs to get away from the warriors but is driven to help the girl and the brothers. Jordan and her brothers are terrified and alone, but Jordan keeps listening to a voice that is guiding her to safety. Hunter is fighting to keep one step ahead of the Maori hunters searching for him, ready to attack and destroy him. He sends messages to the young girl and directs her and her brothers to safety. The book was exciting and full of adventure and had a thrilling ending for both Jordan and Hunter. Jordan and her brothers were rescued and Hunter managed to escape the Maori warriors. This book was a easy but enjoyable book to read. Jayden, Year 8

Although I have not read the whole book I found this book great. I liked Jordan the most out of all the characters, not just because my name is Jordan, but because he is very grown up for his age. The two brothers are troublemakers, which makes the book funny and exciting. This book would be good for all ages I think but younger people might like it better. I give this book a 6/10 because it is not the type of book I would normally read but it was good and that I didn’t expect. Jordan, Year 8

I found that the book ‘Hunter’ was enjoyable and so thrilling I could only put it down when I was falling asleep or Mum had to nag me. I was thoroughly into ‘Hunter’. It was exciting how a slave hunter wanted to run off to the huhu and Jordan a 14 year old girl whose plane crashes and was being haunted by the Maori warriors. I just had to know what the end was like. It’s honestly one of the greatest books I have read and I’m inspired to find more books as exciting as Hunter. Naythen, Year 8

http://www.joycowley.com/

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May 5

‘Crispin: the cross of lead’ by Avi

The book I am reading is ‘Crispin’, but I am not sure I like it because it is a slow moving book that is set in the medieval times. The author has tried to use some middle age terms that are hard to understand and it sounds like we are in the 1300s. The reason I picked up the book is because the blurb sounds good. I am going to read the rest of the book because it is my literature circles book. As much as I don’t like this book my favourite part is where Crispin is on a high rock that looks over the village and the people are plotting against him. I am hope the book gets better as I am only up to a quarter of the way through the book. Fingers crossed. This book would best suit someone who likes reading about medieval times. Sam, Year 8 http://www.avi-writer.com/

The beginning of ‘Crispin’ is somewhat slow, yet stunning. The story is set sometime in the Middle Ages. Crispin is the narrator, and he tends to tell the story slowly, but he explains it in a lot of detail. You can see into all of his thoughts and emotions, and that makes it a little more interesting to read. I’d recommend this for older kids, because younger children will become a little reckless with the slow beginning. Oh, and I forgot to mention, there are some forms of action in this book, and that makes it really exciting to read. I’ve read a little more than a quarter of this book, and I’m enjoying it. It gets better the more you get into it, which can be a bad thing, because some people will put the book down before good parts come in. Overall, it’s a pretty decent book. James, Year 8

Crispin is the main character of the book. He has a very disturbed childhood and has a problem right at the start – he loses his mother. At the start of the book, Crispin gets accused of a crime he didn’t commit. As a result of this he gets the title of “A wolf’s Head”, which means he isn’t human. John Aycliff, the villain of this book, accused Crispin of this crime, and he has hated Crispin since the start. The start of this book is slow but the further I got into it, the more interesting it became. The start of the book is very gloomy and makes you feels sad. This book is about Crispin trying to discover his father, find out everything his mother had never told her about herself, his father and even himself, but this is hard due to the fact that his mother is dead. This book is about Crispin trying to discover his very own identity. Crispin is very confused and angry at the start. Crispin has no friends, and can only trust the village priest. This book is a great book for anyone who likes medieval times and likes action. This book will leave you on the edge of your seat for every second. By Daniel Yr 8

This book, ‘Crispin’, is about a boy of the age of thirteen who has a very unfortunate life. His mother has just died and the acting king of his city has framed him for stealing and put a bounty on his head. He is forced to go into hiding and on his travels, he finds a travelling entertainer who takes him in to be his apprentice. The author, Avi, has written this book very well and has used very nice words; it feels like I’m actually there when I’m reading this book. I enjoy this book because it has a lot of suspense and all of the characters are very mysterious, theses are the kind of books that I like to read. Sterling, Year 8

‘Crispin’ is a book with action, adventure and drama. I dislike this book because it doesn’t make much sense in the beginning. When Crispin was running away from Aycliff and the stranger I had a image in my mind of Crispin running away from them, but in the beginning I couldn’t imagine Crispin there at the cemetery when his mum died. This book’s interest is like a bouncy ball. It bounces high and falls back down again. If I had to rate this book I would rate it a four out of ten. I would recommend this book for people between 12 and 15. I wouldn’t recommend it to people who are having a bad time because this book is quite sad. Josh, Year 8

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April 28

‘Across the Nightingale Floor’ by Lian Hearn

‘Across the Nightingale Floor’ is about a boy called Takeo, who comes home to his village one day to discover that he has lost his family in a massacre. He is the last survivor in his village. In this book, in every chapter the characters change. The first chapter is about Takeo, the second about a girl called Kaede, and then back to Takeo. Sometimes it becomes unclear which character the story is talking about. There are also Japanese names in the book that appear hard to pronounce, therefore it is hard to remember who is who. Having read only half of the book, and thinking it has been a bit hard to follow, I’m guessing that the two characters and their stories will meet up somehow in the end. I would recommend this book for students in older grades of high school. If I could ask the author, Lian Hearn, any question it would be “What inspiration did you get to write this book?” It would be interesting to see how they got the idea for this fast-paced novel. http://www.lianhearn.com/ Ruby, Year 8

I have nearly finished the book “Across The Nightingale Floor” and it has been a very different story to what I was expecting. The chapters in this book are very long and can be quite confusing especially because in each chapter the main characters change. There are also a lot of other characters with confusing names in this book which can be hard to remember and also make it difficult to keep track of what is going on. This book is a heart felt novel with unexpected turns along the way. I felt upset for Takeo at the start of the book when he lost everyone he loved in a massive destruction by Lord Iida. I can’t wait to finish so I can see if Takeo ends up with his secret lover. If I could ask the author anything, I would ask him how he came up with the idea for this book. Because there are two different stories in the same book it becomes a fast-paced read which older students will enjoy. Hayley, Year 8

Even though I love two worlds in a story, this one is just confusing. One part is about a boy, Tomasu, who is left without a family and home after his tribe and land are destroyed by the country’s leader, Iida. Tomasu, being the only survivor, is spotted and chased into the forest where Lord Otori Shigeru saves him. The other part is about a girl, Kaede, who is traded into slavery at the age of seven to secure an alliance between her family and the Noguchi’s. Kaede experiences many troubles but always seems to avoid consequence with the help of her friend Lord Arai. I believe these two characters will cross paths and the stories will link. This book is for slightly advanced readers, as it requires thinking skills and a very good memory. Brodie, Year 8

This book is very confusing to read. There are two stories in the book and at some stage, they collide. Before the stories began to connect, I found it very complicated to understand which character the book was talking about. But as you get further into the book, it becomes much easier to know the story line. The first story is about a boy who loses his family and tries to begin his life again. The other story is about a girl who is troubled and having a hard time living her life. I have not yet completed reading this book but have absolutely no idea how it will end as there are many possible scenarios. At the end of each chapter you need to examine the hidden messages, e.g. what was the main part in the chapter, what helped you understand more about the book etc. This book is for quite mature readers as it uses a very descriptive writing technique. If you like challenges then this book is DEFINITELY for you! Ashlee, Year 8.

This book follows two people in ancient Japan. The first is a girl named Kaede, who has lived in the Noguchi castle for eight years, since she was seven. She only leaves the castle when Lady Maruyama takes her away. Takeo, the second person, is adopted; when he went back to his town he was shocked at what he saw. This book confuses me because it is constantly jumping between the two story lines without warning. This book is for more advanced readers because the traditional Japanese names can distract people from what they are actually reading. This book also talks about different clans and regions that can also perplex the reader. “Across the Nightingale Floor” is a well-written book but I tend to shy away from books when the narration swaps between characters. I thought this book was extremely eloquent and very descriptive but it didn’t really interest me. Susannah Year 8.

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

July 20

‘Scrimshaw’ by Nazam Anhar

Author Nazam Anhar has written a great read. It’s got what all pirate stories need – a captain who wants revenge, an untrustworthy first mate and a lost boy. The story follows a young man named Nathan who is captured by a pirate crew. As his trip with the pirates unfolds, Nathan finds that not all of them are murderous men bent on stealing and killing. Along his journey, Nathan discovers he can do things that he never thought he could. This book if full of mystery and intrigue. I recommend it. Sam, Year 9

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