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

June 21

‘Rat Catcher’ by Chris Ryan

Rat catcherDo 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

November 26

‘Through the Zombie Glass’ by Gena Showalter

51Qmec1oHoL._SY344_BO1,204,203,200_Zombies stalk the night. Forget blood and brains. These monsters hunger for human souls. Alice Bell, also known as Ali in the book, has lost everything: her family, friends and her home.

Ali’s family was killed in a car crash and she is now left to live with her nan and Mr Ankh. Mr Ankh was a doctor that Ali and her nan lived with. He offered to have them after they could not afford to live anywhere else.

Ali is not an everyday teenage girl. She can go into spirit form to hunt zombies and she can see her dead sister in spirit form. Ali’s sister gives everyone warning when there is a zombie attack coming by putting a rabbit cloud in the sky. All the zombie slayers can see the zombies and can go into spirit form to fight the zombies and save the town.

After a new zombie attack, strange things began to happen to Ali. Mirrors started coming alive, whispers of the dead assaulted her ears. But the worst? A terrible darkness blooms inside her, urging her to do very wicked things and she has very sudden urges of hunger. What is happening to Ali? No one knows but how long can she stay like this?

I really enjoyed this story as it was full of action and there were no dull moment in the book. The book was very well written to keep the audience entertained the whole time. I would recommend this book to anyone who enjoys a good fiction read. This book would be aimed at teenagers rather than young adults. I would rate this book a 7 out of 10.

Madison, Year 9

November 14

‘Roxy’s Baby’ by Catherine Macphail

Roxy's_baby“Roxy was shaking with fear. She drew in a deep breath. She would not let her fear take over. She couldn’t. She had too much to lose. She had to be strong. To be brave. For once in her life she needed to think of someone other than herself.”

Much of the story of ‘Roxy’s baby’ is set in London, in a little house a drive away but in the middle of nowhere.

Roxy is a 14 year old that has had too much fun at a party and is afraid to tell her mother about her pregnancy. She turns to the Dyces who take in girls just like her, girls who are pregnant and have nowhere to go. What could possibly be bad about them? Roxy finds them suspicious. No newspapers or contact with the outside world, no TV except for movies, no visits from former housemates and no babies. In the house she makes best friends with a fellow future mother Anne-Marie, who thinks of the Dyces as saints. This makes Roxy dismiss her concerns for a while, but deep down she knows that the Dyces are definitely not how they seem to be.

The storyline of this book grasped me from the very beginning. It jumps straight into the action and then traces back to where it all began. I believe this is one of the best ways of starting off a book. As well as this, the storyline is very interesting. It’s suspenseful and shows many different common attitudes of teenagers. The scariest part of it is the fact that it is based on a true story. It is very unbelievable and no one could ever imagine of the cruelty shown by the Dyces.

I recommend this story for girls or women, as it is a cruel story about a girl that I believe boys would just not enjoy. Girls and women can partially relate to how Roxy has trouble telling her parents about her pregnancy; they might sometimes even run away and not having anywhere to go. It would suit girls, of 13- 14 years as a novel or for a quick, exciting read for a lady of older age.

Erin T, Year 9

……

“Roxy could hear her heart beating in her ears. The floorboards creaked and doors slammed below her. She could hear the angry death threats from the demons that ran the Dragon House.”

If you love reading books with bone chilling thrills balanced with heroism and love, then ‘Roxy’s Baby’ is just for you.

Roxy is a wild 14 year old who never listens to her parents. When Roxy falls pregnant, she runs away thinking her family doesn’t love her anymore. She runs to London where she finds a care home for girls in her position but she is turned away as she is under aged. She meets a mysterious couple in a café who claim that they are in a business that helps girls and their unborn children. Roxy observes them as nice but are they really? The couple takes Roxy to a mansion outback called the Dragon House where Roxy uncovers horrifying secrets. Read ‘Roxy’s Baby’ and find out.

I thought this book was exciting, thrilling and relatable to teenage struggles. I rate this book 4/5. I recommend this book to 14-18 year old teenagers.

Victoria, Year 9

……

-Roxy’s Baby – Catherine McPhail

“Go home. I’m telling you. That’s all I’m going to say. More than my life’s worth to even say that.”

Roxy is an immature fifteen year old whose relationship with her parents is strained because of her constant defiance. One party, one kiss and more is all it took for Roxy’s life to turn upside down. She soon finds herself out in the cold searching for a safe haven for herself along with her unborn child. Then arrives the Dyces, who sweep Roxy away to a place for girls like her, away from the searching eyes of the police and the public. The Dyces are accommodating and kind, providing all the girls with whatever they require. Roxy soon meets Anne Marie and a close friendship forms, the girls relying on each other to get through the struggles of pregnancy. The days are carefree and joyful, but is it all too good to be true?

When the truth is unleashed, for once in her life, Roxy will have to think about someone other then herself.

I thoroughly enjoyed ‘Roxy’s Baby’ because it was a heartrending story of trust, friendship and lies. The book is based on a true story; this element creates an even more suspense filled plot. The one fault that let this book down is the lack of educated language as the writing is too simple. This book could have been improved by more descriptive language however it was still a very enjoyable read. This was a suspense filled story that left me wanting to always know more, however the story finished with a terrific ending.

I would recommend this book to teenage girls between the ages 13-18 who enjoy reading about the themes of teen pregnancy as well as family troubles. If you enjoy books that you cannot put down, then ‘Roxy’s Baby’ should definitely be on your ‘To Read’ list. I would rate ‘Roxy’s Baby’ 3 out of 5 stars. Kian, Year 9

June 6

‘Roxy’s Baby’ by Catherine MacPhail

 

Roxy's_baby      Roxy crouched in a corner listening to sounds of Dragon House in darkness. A door swinging shut, the creak of a floorboard. Every sound made her jump. Were they looking for her?

     Does this book sound like your type of book? If you love reading books with a little bit of thrill and a little bit of heart and mind, then this is the book you have been waiting for.

     Roxy is a girl who gets pregnant at the age of 14 years old and runs away. She goes out to the city of London and finds a place to stay called Mayflower House where they help girls who have run away from home and are pregnant. Roxy is a little spooked out by this place and was asking if there was another place, before she met a girl who said there is and she knew the owners. Roxy called the owners to see if there was a way for her to go to that house. She ended up going to a coffee shop and meeting up with the people – Mr. and Mrs. Dyce. They talked and Roxy went in the car and went to their place called the Dragon House. Roxy slept all of the way to the Dragon House. Once they got there she was amazed to see that a house could be so big. Then she realised that Mr. and Mrs Dyce weren’t as nice as they said they were. The rest is for you to find out.

     I would say this book is for girls in their teenage years (from 13+) who would love this book. There are lots of twists in the story. You will want to keep reading all through the night. I would give this book a 4 out of 5 stars.

     Aimee-Rose, Year 8

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“Roxy was shaking with fear. She drew in a deep breath. She would not let her fear take over. She couldn’t. She had too much to lose. She had to be strong, to be brave. For once in her life she had to think of someone other than herself”.

     I am the type of person that doesn’t really enjoy reading, however in my English class I was given the opportunity to read the book called ‘Roxy’s Baby’, by Catherine MacPhail. Although this book is for girls that are in the teenage years and who have a good experience of books and on life stories that make you feel like you are right next to them, I enjoyed it highly and it was one of the best books I have ever read and I think this is the book for you. 

     The book ‘Roxy’s Baby’ is about a disobedient girl that falls pregnant by an unknown man and is faced with telling her mum. She couldn’t deal with it and ran away from home and travelled to Paris. She once read an article about a place that took girls who were having problems at home. She finally arrived and realised that she was too young to go there. She gave up and her last hope was to go live with Mr and Mrs Dyces. They seemed like very lovely people but they are hiding a horrible secret and their secret might be too desperate to hide.

I loved reading this book because it shows what can happen in people’s everyday life. Along the way Roxy made many new friends, which made this book very exciting. It shows that if you never give up and you never stop trying you can get to where you want to go. If you are interested in what I have told you then this is definitely the book for you. I truly believe that this book is a four out of five and I suggest you read ‘Roxy’s Baby’. Aidan M. Year 8.

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     Roxy is a wild and out of control teen. She hates her life and her prissy little sister. Her only comfort is her equally rowdy friends Pat, Tracey and Jacqueline. They swoop through life defiantly. She wants to be one of them.

     One night, while at a party, she lets a drunken boy kiss her … and now she’s pregnant. She won’t tell anyone about her secret, her friends, her family, even her own mother. She runs away to London. There, Mr and Mrs Dyce find her, a kind and loving couple who promise her a way out of her troubles. They take her to a place where she meets other girls like her in the same position: Anne-Marie, Babs, Agnes and Sula.

     There’s no going back home now because the Dyces won’t let her contact home. She lives her life in their mansion, looking after her unborn baby. For some reason, she doesn’t trust the Dyces. Though sympathetic and understanding as they may seem, eventually she works out the dark secret the Dyces have kept hidden for years. Can she stop them? There is only one way out – and it’s risky. But now Roxy has her baby to protect.

      I really had a good time reading this book ‘Roxy’s Baby’ because it captured my attention straight away and then I knew that I had to keep reading. It was a very interesting story and I enjoyed every minute of it. The attention to detail was very precise and that made it very easy for me to imagine the scenes in my head.

     I would recommend this book to teenage girls ages 13 – 20 that like very daring and thrilling novels. I’d rate the book ‘Roxy’s Baby’ 4 out of 5 stars.

Morgan W, Year 8

 

 

May 9

‘Shark Attack’ by Anthony Masters

Shark Attack is a very adventurous book at the start but then falls down and get boring.

The novel has a very good start but it gets more interesting the more you get into the book. There are four main characters: Tom, Mum, Dave and Carnie. What would you be thinking if your boat capsized, the skipper gets eaten alive in front of you and you also have no sense of direction. They have no food or water. After nearly three days at days at sea, they find a deserted island and Tom gets a severe cut to the foot and needs urgent medical help and they all have no idea if they will get out alive.

At the end, the novel makes you read more and more. It is suited for adolescent readers and you have to be persistent and keep reading it. I give it a 6/10.

Jordan, Year 8

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Shark Attack by Anthony Masters

 

I really don’t like books in fact there have been a times when my mum had to bribe me. Shark attack by Anthony Masters had a good story line and I did read it

 

Shark Attack begins with a family on a holiday taking a day trip out at sea in the hope of seeing a few whales. However, when the weather deteriorates all hell brakes loose. As the story continues the family finds itself lost at sea experiencing a number of life threating events before being rescued. Finally this broken family is coming together.

 

For people between the age of 9 and 15 years who enjoys reading novels I would recommend this book although it was a good story I would like to see this in a movie.

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What would you do if a shark attacked you?  Don’t know? Then read Shark Attack by Anthony Masters.

Manuel, Jack and Carrie go on a whale-watching trip and while they’re on it a giant storm comes and everyone starts panicking. The boat starts to tip over and Manuel falls out. Manuel can’t do anything and gets eaten by a 3-metre great white shark.

I think this book would suit young 11 – 15 year old males. I give this book a rating 8 out of 10.  I really enjoyed this book.  I enjoy learning about sharks so this book was really interesting.

Brodie  Year 8

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Shark Attack by Anthony Masters

I really don’t like books in fact there have been a times when my mum had to bribe me. Shark attack by Anthony Masters had a good story line and I did read it

Shark Attack begins with a family on a holiday taking a day trip out at sea in the hope of seeing a few whales. However, when the weather deteriorates, all hell breaks loose. As the story continues the family finds itself lost at sea experiencing a number of life threating events before being rescued. Finally this broken family is coming together.

For people between the ages of 9 and 15 years who enjoys reading novels I would recommend this book. Although it was a good story I would like to see this in a movie.

Dominic, Year 8

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How would you like to be stuck in the middle of the ocean on a little dinghy with no food or water? Your stepfather is crazy and drinks all your water and doesn’t share. Could you survive? Can they get back to Ensenada? Who will get eaten by a shark?

In the novel, ‘Shark Attack’ a family boat called the Mexican eagle has capsized in a storm and they are stranded in a little dinghy that has no food or water. There are four main characters: Tom, Mum, Dave and Carnie. What would you be thinking if your boat capsized? The skipper gets eaten alive in front of you and you also have no sense of direction. After three days they eventually find a deserted island. Tom gets a bad cut and needs medical attention. Will they get out alive?

I’m not a big reader but this book really wanted me to keep reading it. I really want there to be a part 2. I recommend this book to teenagers and young adults.

Liam, Year 8

August 16

‘Alone’ by James Phelan (Chasers #1)

If you found John Marsden’s ‘Tomorrow, when the war began’ series scary, then this book is definitely NOT for you.
Jesse and his three friends’ school trip is interrupted by a massive explosion. They find themselves stranded in New York, a city in chaos, abandoned except for zombie-like ‘chasers’ infected with a virus which turns them into predators, thirsting for any liquid including human blood.
The four teenagers have a desperate struggle to survive, using every skill they’ve developed and finding more strength than they knew they had.
This book is highly accessible to teens and would be most suitable for middle teen boys who are reluctant readers. While not MY favourite read, I can think of a few boys who’d just love it. It’s a cut above some other horror stories presently available, with a nice twist at the end which leads into the rest of the series. 3 1/2 stars. Mrs O.

“You sound like you think this is it, Dave said. Like you think we’re the only survivors who aren’t infected and it’s up to us to start things over again.
Like a new earth, Anna said.
I looked at her. A new earth?
It’s like the planet has reset, she explained, to create a new earth full of hope. Those of us who are left will become the adults of a world that’s changed, a world where things like wars and greed are just a memory…It’s like a torch has been passed to a new generation.” (p.156)

Reserve ‘Alone’ by clicking HERE.

August 4

‘Tell Me What You See’ by Zoran Drvenkar

tell me what you seeAlissa and Evelin sneak out in the night to visit Alissa’s father’s grave because it is the anniversary of his death. While searching for it, Alissa falls through the snow into an underground crypt, where she comes across a tomb. Inside is a small child with roots growing out of her stomach. This encounter sets off a series of frightening events that send Alissa’s life into chaos.

I would recommend this book to teenagers who are interested in books with mysterious storylines and a bit of action. The book is written in a unique way, as each chapter is from a different character’s point of view. This unique style of writing is quite interesting and lets you get to know each character and understand the story more. I liked the first chapter best because you are being introduced to all the characters and it describes well the fear and confusion the girls feel while searching for Aliss’a father’s grave. A suitable alternative title for the book would be ‘The Gift’. Sam, Year 9 http://www.doublecluck.com/authordetails.php?aname=Drvenkar,+Zoran&btype=fiction11