‘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

Category: Student Reviews | LEAVE A COMMENT

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

Category: Student Reviews | LEAVE A COMMENT

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

Category: Student Reviews | LEAVE A COMMENT

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

Category: Student Reviews | LEAVE A COMMENT

May 29

‘STAR WARS: Episode 1 Journal’, by Todd Strasser

Do you have the force within you?

This is the story of young Anakin Skywalker living on the planet Tatooine. It is a hot planet with two suns and homes are built with thick walls to keep out the heat. Pod racing is the main event of the township which everyone comes to watch as life is hard for slaves and owners working in the desert.

Anakin is a child slave who lives with his Mother under their owner Watto. As a slave, Anakin was responsible for looking for spaceship parts that had crashed into mountains so that Watto could sell them in his junk shop. At the age of 9, Anakin had already learned advanced skills in mechanics. He could even build robots which they called droids.

As Anakin has grown up in Tatooine, he became a fan of pod racing, the most popular sport event. He always wanted to make one so that he could race. Now at 9 years old he has made his own pod racer, life was about to get better!

Anakin had plans to become a pod racer for his career but little did he know that his destiny would soon be somewhere else.

One day Anakin greeted customers in the shop and knew that they were not local. He felt connected to them immediately without knowing why. Soon he would discover his young sensors were what Jedis were made of!

I love this book because it makes me feel that in the future we will travel to other planets and have spacecraft of our own like cars today. Having your own robot would be cool so they could do your chores and homework….I wish!

I recommend this book to anyone who enjoys futuristic books and adventure, but most of all the battle between good and evil.

By Lachlan P., Year 8

Category: Adventure stories, 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

November 30

‘Ice Station’ by Matthew Reilly

“Now they were back…and they had brought the rest of the pack with them.”

This book is set in Antarctica. The main character is Shane ‘Scarecrow’ Schofield, a US marine who ventures off into dangerous places with mysterious treasures, but in this book, he ventures off to his Antarctic station. Together with his fellow marines, he finds a mysterious metal object deep in the Antarctic Ocean. Schofield’s US marine crew have set up a station in Antarctica, sending a pair of divers to go down to the diving bell. It all goes wrong when the operator finds that the pair aren’t responding to their transmissions.

This book was a really great read, with plenty of action and mystery. My favourite part was right at the beginning, when the divers have been down for more than four hours with their oxygen tanks having only a wisp of oxygen left. I was so surprised that there was so much action already. I would recommend this book to all of the young men out there who are looking for an interesting read, with plenty of action, along with mystery. The approximate age group for this book would be 14+, because there are a few swear words in the book and I personally don’t want anyone below the age of 14 reading this book. –

Angus W., Yr 9.

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

November 30

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

“I used to be someone…

Someone named Jenna Fox

Well that’s what they tell me.”

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

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

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

Arabella G, Year 9

Category: Dystopian fiction, Student Reviews | LEAVE A COMMENT

November 20

‘Maximum Ride: The Angel Experiment’ by James Paterson

Have you ever wondered what it would feel like to fly? To float in the sky and feel the wind flick across your hair?

Well for 14-year old Max, this is her daily life. At a young age Max and five other kids were taken to “School”(a laboratory where humans are tested and injected with animal DNA). These six children were all injected with a bird DNA, allowing them to fly. Max is the eldest, so she looked over the kids. Fang is the second eldest. He is a quiet one but can get protective at times. Iggy is the next eldest. Due to some experiments he became blind, but even if he is blind he is still able to make bombs and even cook. Then there’s Nudge who loves talking. She is a stickybeak and likes looking at things that she is probably not meant to see. Gasman is next, the others call him Gazzy for short and he loves food and eating. Lastly there is Angel. She is not only the youngest but also the most special as she can read minds and is the one who is the closest to Max. These children got so close that they were known as the “Flock”.

Max and her “Flock” were held captive in the “School” for what seemed a long time. Eventually, they escaped with the help of Jeb Batchhelder, a scientist who took them from the “School” and protected them from further harm. Over the two year span he acted like a father to them. He clothed them and fed them until he disappeared and was thought dead by the “Flock”.

After the disappearance, the “Flock” had to learn to protect themselves and fight as Erasers (a creature with a mixture of Wolf and Human DNA) would occasionally attack them to try and take them back to the “School”. One day, the erasers captured Angel, the youngest of the “Flock,” and took her back to the School. Now the remaining Flock try to go back and save Angel before it’s too late.

Come and experience the journey with these six kids as they face problem after problem, heartbreak, and betrayal.

Maximum Ride is a book filled with action, adventure and fantasy. Due to the way the story is written, it draws the reader in and provokes them to wanting to read more. This story really inspires me with how deep the bond the “Flock” have with each other and much they would go to protect the ones they love. I recommend this book to people of the age between 13-18. It is also suitable for both male and female.

Katelyn G, Yr 9

Category: Adventure stories, Student Reviews | LEAVE A COMMENT

November 13

‘Divergent’ by Veronica Roth

What would you do if you had to make a life changing decision that could change your life completely? Would you play it safe and stay or would you leave and never come back? Imagine living in a world where you are judged and put in a category, a faction. It’s sixteen year-old Beatrice Prior’s turn to make this decision and what she chooses will surprise everyone.

If you love mystery, action and adventure then Veronica Roth’s novel Divergent is definitely the book for you.

Divergent is set in a post apocalyptic world that is divided into five factions: Amity, Candor, Erudite, Abnegation and Dauntless. It’s Beatrice and Caleb Prior’s turn to take the aptitude tests, then after comes the life changing decision of which faction to choose. Beatrice learns she is Divergent and doesn’t fit into any of the five factions so it is up to her instinct to choose the right faction. She comes to realise that the world she lives in, that’s meant to be safe, is not. In fact it is filled with mystery, lies, plots and secrets. She learns more about what she is and that it is not safe for her. Through the initiation into her chosen faction she experiences many challenges as well as romance, trust and tests. What faction does she belong to? Why is being Divergent so dangerous? And what secrets are faction leaders hiding from society?

I enjoyed reading Divergent, as I just couldn’t take my eyes off the page. From the second you open the book and read the first sentence you don’t want to put it down. It is intriguing, enthralling and definitely one of the best books to read. The book is also about fitting in, discovering who you are and fighting for who you are, very relatable to teenagers as it is also about romance. It takes you along the journey of Beatrice’s and Four’s romance story. It is a very intense book with lots of ups and downs, twists and turns and emotional and action packed moments. I would recommend this book to people between the ages of 13-40 that are at a higher level of reading as some context may be hard to understand and also people that love to read action/adventure and romance books. I would rate it 4/5 stars, as it is by far one of the best books I’ve ever read. What faction would you chose?

Mila, Year 9

……

Action.

Drama.

Romance.

One choice decides your friends, defines your beliefs and determines your loyalties… Forever.

“One choice can transform you.

One choice can destroy you.

Once choice will define you.”

“You nearly died today,’ he says. ‘I almost shot you.’

‘Why didn’t you shoot me, Tris?’

‘I couldn’t do that,’ I say. ‘It would have been like shooting myself.’

He looks pained and leans closer to me, so his lips brush mine when he speaks…..”

Do you long for excitement, and out of this world experiences? Suspense and heart filled wonder?

The Divergent series encompasses these emotions, leaving you awake ‘till all hours of the night unable to put the book down.

Set in a post-apocalyptic world, the main character lives in a deteriorating city, run by the Government. People are split up into different groups according to their skills and moral values. Tris and her brother, along with the rest of the population, are forced to choose what life they will live, once they turn 16. It‘s a choice that will determine their fates, and possibly their survival. In order to help them make this choice they undergo a test. Through this test Tris discovers that she is different, and therefore in danger.

Tris is Divergent, a fate that if she is not careful will get her killed. She is told by an unsuspecting ally to keep this true identity a secret, although she is clueless as to why. She discovers that the world around her is not what she thought. People are lying, plots are being created and the people she loves most are not who they say they are.

On an enchanting and thrilling adventure, Tris meets new friends, overcomes obstacles and fights for her survival.

Personally I enjoyed this book, filled with suspense it transported me to a different world. With twists and turns on every page Divergent keeps you on the edge of your seat. The main character is relatable to teens and most people in modern society, as she fights to find who she is and fit in, but eventually realises that everyone is different. This book deserves a rating of 7.5/10 as it is exciting and captivates the audience.

Divergent is a fictional novel recommended to young adults as it is easy to read and relatable. It is action packed with guns and violence for the thrill seekers and sentimental appeal for the romanticists. A gender neutral book that can be enjoyed by anyone, Divergent is definitely at the top of my booklist.

In conclusion, this enthralling story transports you to a world of romance and adventure, it is a riveting, read relatable to teens but readable by everyone. If you can read, this is a book for you.

Piper, Year 9

……

Imagine living in a world that is split into five factions. Where your whole life is determined by one test and the results from this one test could change your life forever.

The book Divergent by Veronica Roth is about a girl called Beatrice Prior who lives in a futuristic world that is split into five factions according to their personal qualities. Amity – the kind, Erudite – the intelligent, Candor – the honest, Abnegation – the selfless and Dauntless – the brave. Beatrice has come to the time in her life where she has to take the Aptitude test and make a decision whether she will stay with her family in Abnegation or leave and go to another faction. Despite the pressure from the test, Beatrice also has a secret; a secret that changes her life, and if the secret got out she would be killed.

I thoroughly enjoyed the book Divergent as it was filled with thrill, action, adventure and even a little bit of romance. As soon as I started reading this book, I was hooked and couldn’t put it down, as it was such an engaging story with a lot of cliffhangers. This book relates to teenagers as it teaches you that not everything is easy and there are going to be tough decisions in your life that you will have to make. It also relates to teens as it focuses on “Tris” discovering who she is and following her own heart. Teenagers can relate to this as they are in the stage of their life where they are still discovering who they are. Beatrice teaches you that you don’t need to follow everyone else, not even the ones you love. Trust yourself and go with your heart.

I would highly recommend this book to anyone between the ages of 13-40 as it has a great storyline and is packed with action, adventure and romance. I definitely would recommend reading Divergent if you liked any of the Hunger Games or Maze Runner books. Divergent was such a good book to read and I really enjoyed it so I would rate it 4 out of 5 stars.

Makenna, Year 9

Category: Dystopian fiction, Student Reviews | LEAVE A COMMENT

June 23

‘I am Number Four’ by Pittacus Lore

“In the beginning there were nine, they found the others, now they are coming for me…… I AM NUMBER FOUR.”

I am number four is an action packed book that still fits in a little bit of romance, set in Paradise, Ohio. John Smith and Henri are in hiding. They are hiding from the Mogadorians, the hunters of their kind, moving to another town every couple of months, a new town, a new identity, a new life, any records or any trace that they were there, gone.

John Smith aka number four is a teenage boy who is living pretty much on the run from the Mogadorians, a race of aliens who are trying to kill him. After number three was killed, he moves to Paradise Ohio where he meets Sam who becomes his best friend and Sarah who he falls deeply in love with. John and Henri appear to be the perfect father and son but not everything is as it seems, as they aren’t even father and son and they aren’t even from Earth. With the Mogadorians tracking them, Henri and John must be cautious of their surroundings and Henri must train John to use his “special abilities.” This book is a mix of Action, fiction, romance, adventure and science fiction/fantasy.

I liked this book so much because it related to real life teenagers in that John and Sam were being bullied at high school by the popular boys. This book was also appealing because every time you turned the page there was more action, more excitement and more drama. Every new chapter brought something more interesting into the story, something extra about what happened to Lorien and the Loric people. Throughout the book it would give little bits of information so you had to keep reading to find out the rest of the information, for example the book mentions a second ship early in the book but you have to keep reading to find out what was on the second ship.

I would definitely recommend this book to both genders and any age from 12yrs to 16yrs. Most people over the age of 16 will probably find this book boring and most under the age of 12 will highly likely find this book too hard to read or not understand what is happening. I thoroughly enjoyed reading this book. I rate “I am number four” by Pittacus Lore 4 out of 5 stars.

Hannah R, Year 8

——————-

Imagine being unable to recognise the few people you had to leave behind. It wouldn’t be good, would it?

The novel ‘I am number four’ was just like this and was written by Pittacus Lore. It was very interesting because it had the element of surprise in it a lot which was thrilling. The first chapter of the novel was going straight into the action so it started with a hook which caught my attention.

The genre in this book is adventure and action but it also has a bit of romance. It is not based on a true story so therefore it’s fictional. This novel is about a guy called John Smith, that can’t live a normal life. His home planet (Lorien) was destroyed by aliens called Mogadorians. These destructive aliens took away everything he had and loved. He was sent away with others to a safe planet called Earth, well it was safe then but not now. John found a stranger called Sarah who could be his love interest but that may not last long.

John will go through pain, hurt and many obstacles on the way to find out who he really is. John Smith has gone through many things but he’s always had a helping hand from his mentor Henri. Henri has always been a father figure for him because he wasn’t able to meet his parents. There are nine chosen kids that have a special gift that is used to save their plant and earth from extinction but has all hope been lost when he is faced with someone that took everything away from himself or will he not see the light of day again?

This novel is really fascinating and really hooks the reader, which I love. It’s is a good length book and won’t take long to read unless you decide it’s not something you’re interested in. The novel reaches out to teens aged 12-15 years. I would not recommend this to any person higher or lower than this age because it will not interest them or hook them. ‘I am number four’ is truly a great book that is a part of a series so you can continue to read them to see what happens next.

Lili S., Year 8

——————————

John Smith is not a normal teenager. He can’t run forever. But why is he running in the first place?

The novel ‘I am number four’ by Pittacus Lore grabs you from the first chapter, as it gets straight into the action. The story is set in modern day, in Paradise Ohio, a small town where everybody knows everybody. Maybe it’s a great place for an alien to hide away and live a ‘normal’ life.

John Smith aka Number Four is the main character of this book. He was chosen as one of nine kids to escape from the war that was happening in his home planet, Lorien. He is next in line to be hunted and killed by the Mogadorians (the aliens who started the war and intend on continuing it). As he is being chased, he decides to settle in Paradise Ohio. His guardian, Henri, finds out about some mistakes John has made and tries to make them leave, but as John’s legacies/powers grow he gets stronger and learns how to stand up for himself. Along the way John meets a girl with blonde hair, named Sarah. She is kind-hearted, similar to John in many different ways (except for the fact they come from different planets).

I really enjoyed this book because of the diversity that the pages of the book has in store. Also the action: it’s really grabbing and it’s too graphic yet still gives you a clear picture of what is happening. In the more peaceful times, the author uses very explanatory language, although leaving some details up to the reader, which it’s really great because everyone has a different look for Sam, John and even the heartless Mogadorians.

The genre of this book is definitely action and adventure, although it has some romance. I would recommend this book for girls and boys ages 12 – 15, as it is quite a diverse book that everyone would enjoy. With aliens, fire-resistance, relationships, and a tag-along dog Bernie Kosar, this book is enjoyable for both genders.

Will John learn to trust another person besides himself and Henri or will he block out everyone that comes close to finding out his secret?

Serayna N, Year 8

—————————–

Have you been waiting for superpowers so that you can escape from evil aliens and save all your friends as well?

All of his life, 15-year-old John Smith has moved from place to place, never staying in the one area too long in fear that the Mogadorians will find him. They could kill him. John is protected by a magical spell that was placed on nine children from the planet Lorien, John’s home planet. An elder of the planet placed a spell on them that gave each child a number, and the only way the Mogadorians can kill them is to kill them in order from one to nine. Henri, John’s Cêpan or guardian, starts to get very worried when the first three have all been killed because John is number four. The Mogadorians will be after John next so they decide to move to Paradise, Ohio, a small town that they hope the Mogadorians wouldn’t look in, but when John moves to Paradise, Ohio, he wants things to change. John is sick of not being allowed to make friends and settle into a place so this time he’s going to act a bit differently. John meets the beautiful Sarah Hart and he’s awestruck. Suddenly John is very glad that they moved to the small town of Paradise, Ohio.

I really liked this book because it was such a good combination of adventure and fantasy with heart filled moments that show what true friendship is.

This story is most suited to boys but girls will also enjoy it and it is directed at ages 12-15 who like action, sci-fi. Fans of Harry Potter and Percy Jackson, who would like this book.

Savannah F Year 8

Category: Adventure stories, Student Reviews | LEAVE A COMMENT

June 17

‘Pandora Jones: Admission’ by Barry Jonsberg

“’Do you remember what happened out there?’ he asked. Pan considered the question. Sudden images flooded in and she closed her eyes against them. ‘I see you do,’ said the man. ‘You have been through a lot, Pandora Jones.”

Do you like mystery, an element of danger, dystopian adventure, action and romance? Well, Pandora Jones: Admission is the book for you.

The start of the story is set in a city where it all began. Further into the story the scene starts to become a school separated by a wall to keep the survivors safe from the plague epidemic that is affecting and wiping out the population.

The main characters in the story are Pandora Jones, Nate, Wei-Lin, Karl, Cara, Jen. These characters survived the plague and were taken to a school by doctors and some other people who also survived. Pandora Jones becomes good friends with Nate, Wei-Lin, Jen, Karl and Cara, but becomes very close to Nate, so much so that it becomes something more than friends.

Each one person in the group has a special talent, which becomes useful in the mission they have set themselves. Pandora Jones is one of the survivors who has been admitted into the school. They learn survival skills that help them regain their strength so they are prepared for what is come. But, will their skills pay off outside of the secure walls of the school? And what happens if it leads Pandora to where her truth lies on the outside…

I really enjoyed this book because it’s exciting and when you’re at the end of the book you want to know what happens next. Also, I like the mystery and also some of the romance that’s going on. I would recommend this book for a male or female, probably the age of 13-15 who are interested in mystery and enjoy some horrific scenes filled with danger. The book is a really good book to keep your mind active by creating scenes in your head. I’d rate this book ” Pandora Jones” 4 out of 5 stars.

Sierah, Year 8

……………………….

“It took slightly under eight hours for Melbourne to die.”

The story of Pandora Jones is set in a bleak, mundane setting. Pandora’s life soon gets turned on its head when she hears the news on the radio. When all she knows is wiped out by a mysterious virus, Pandora is stuck wandering the streets of Melbourne all alone, trying to find her family. After she blacks out, Pandora is brought to “The School,” where the survivors learn survival techniques to stay alive in the outside world.

When she wakes up, she is put in a group with other people a lot like herself: Nate, Jen, Samantha, Wei-Lin, Cara and Sanjit. All of her group members are good at something useful but Pandora has a gift of insight, precognition and she can find hidden things. When Cara has found something out, she vanishes leaving Pandora, who becomes the weak link. Everyone is waiting for her to mess up. Will her insights be enough? Can she find out about The School? Or is it just one big massive lie? Continue reading to find out more! I guarantee that you won’t stop flicking furiously through the pages trying to find out more.

This story is a great read which kept me reading into the wee hours of the morning. I really enjoyed the adventure themes and action scenes linked together with a gripping storyline. I would hands down recommend this book to a boy or girl audience of the ages 12 to 16 years of age, especially to anyone who has read “The Hunger Games,” “Percy Jackson,” “Maze Runner,” or “Divergent.” If you are the kind of person who easily attaches themselves to dystopian, fantasy or sci fi scenes, then this is the book for you!

Julia T, Year 8

—————-

“What I can’t cope with is the other dreams, the nightmares that make more sense. I don’t even trust my memories . . .”

Pandora Jones is one of the lucky ones, a survivor of a deadly plague, a pandemic that nearly swept out the human race entirely. When she wakes up in a hospital, her body is weak and her memories are proving to be untrustworthy as they only provide horrific flashes of death. She is told that her family has succumbed to the plague and that she has been relocated to a quarantined survival skills facility called ‘The School’. But being told that her family is dead along with most of the human race and that she is a prisoner in this facility in the middle of nowhere isn’t easy to handle and suspicion quickly arises, especially for Pan. With Pandora’s remarkable skill of intuition, the suspicion that had made her constantly wary quickly grew into something much more, a need for answers, a need for escape. But finding answers between the weaving lies is hard, especially with the heavily-guarded and prowling School always getting in Pan’s way. But for Pan, finding the truth is the only thing on her mind and she’ll do anything to unravel the web of lies she and the other students of the school have been stuck in…

Pandora Jones Admission is a mystery/action/thriller that will keep you on the edge of your seat every turn of the page. With suspense and cliffhangers always leaving you guessing, this book will keep you reading all night, and if you haven’t had enough of Pandora Jones and her comrades, you’re in luck! This is book one of the trilogy! Personally, I really did enjoy this book. It had enough mystery, detail and thrill to paint a clear picture of the situations in your head. In my opinion, the ending was the best part as it came as a complete and utter shock to me. I didn’t expect it at all! Although some parts of the book were slightly over-detailed for my liking, this book instantly drowned the boredom and grabbed my attention with more mysteries and suspenseful circumstances urging me to read on. The story instantly captivates the reader. I was enthralled by the first sentence: “It took slightly under eight hours for Melbourne to die.” I would strongly recommend this book to anyone but I believe this book is aimed at an audience that enjoys thrill rides, suspenseful mysteries and action as well. Personally, I would give this book four out of five stars. Barry Jonsberg certainly did his job well!

Paige, Year 8

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

June 12

The Eye of Minds by James Dashner

Ever wondered about a game so realistic it’s almost real life? Wonder what it would be like to hack a game and do whatever you want in a game without a consequence? If you do, then be sure to read the book known as The Eye of Minds.

The story is mainly set in the “coffin” aka the terminal that brings you into the lifeblood game. The coffin is a protection type machine that keeps you from harm in Lifeblood and whilst you’re in it. Lifeblood is an alternate reality game where you can be whatever you want. The time of the book is in the future because you read about technology that doesn’t exist yet.

There are three main characters: Michael, Bryson and Sarah, who are best friends in the Lifeblood game. They are all great hackers and mould the game into a way they want it.

The story is based around the three main characters who need to stop a cyberterrorist known as Kaine. Kaine’s goal is to take over the Lifeblood game and hurt people. The only way for the three to find Kaine is to get to “the path” that will lead them to him.

The Eye of Minds is a series set in a world of hyper advanced technology, cyber terrorists, and gaming beyond your wildest dreams . . . and your worst nightmares.

The reason I liked the story is because it is really interesting to a younger audience because it involves games, and children love games. It is really interesting because it tackles a new topic of books, that is game hacking and adventure, which makes a really great combination. The author, James Dashner, has also shown himself to be a great storywriter with other big hits known as The Maze Runner series.

I would recommend this story to 13+ considering it can have some grim moments within the story but it still isn’t too grim for under 18’s. 13+ is also the perfect age group because children nowadays are all playing games and getting into the fun of it all.

Eric Year 9

Category: Adventure stories, Student Reviews | LEAVE A COMMENT

May 19

‘Legend’ by Marie Lu

Day is a renegade from the streets, a criminal on the run. June, on the other hand, is a student at the university training to be part of the republic. Her first task is to hunt down Day.

Do you like the ultimate game of cat and mouse, with action and romance on the side? Then ‘Legend’ is the book for you.

Set in a post-apocalyptic styled Los Angeles, June and Day are on opposite sides of a raging war. June is from a good family, training to become a military star. She is on a mission of revenge to find her brother’s killer; she will find him at all costs. Day, the ultimate outlaw, steals money and goods to support and take care of his family. June anticipates that Day is the killer, which makes the book so much more interesting as she is on the hunt for unsuspecting Day.

The story picks up pace when the two protagonists cross paths at a fight where June saves Tess, a close friend of Day’s. They become close even sharing a kiss one night but June doesn’t realise who he is. When June finally realises, she contacts Thomas, a soldier who served with her brother and they raid Day’s family house taking Day into custody.

While in custody, Day and his brothers are interrogated and tortured. June starts to have doubts about Day being the killer and after reading her brother’s journal she finds out that the government are corrupt and that the soldier Thomas actually killed her brother. She helps Day escape and they travel to the colonies to get ready to fight against the Republic.

I thoroughly enjoyed this book as it kept me drawn in from the very start. The action, the romance, the corruption, the controversy – its all there! I would recommend this book to 12-16 year old teenagers because the book uses mature content and language. The book is definitely worthwhile. I’d rate this book 8/10.

“A must read.”

Trey, Year 9

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

May 19

‘Ender’s Game’ by Orson Scott Card

They thought his brother was the one, but he failed. His sister did not make the cut either. Instead, he was the chosen one. Ender is his name.

Does this intrigue you a little? If so ‘Ender’s Game’ is the book for you? Not only is this a New York Times Best Seller, but it has also been made into a movie.

Ender’s journey is set in many places. He starts off at The Battle School where he battles many bullies, then his journey takes him into space to The Lake House where he goes on to battle many teams. Being so successful in defeating all teams, Ender is then promoted to Command School. While at Command School the adults manipulate Ender into thinking he was playing a game but really they where setting him up for battle to defeat the species called the Buggers.

Throughout Andrew Wiggins’ (Ender) mission you get to meet many characters, from his ruthless, power driven and deceiving brother Peter, to his lovely intelligent and caring sister Valentine. While in Battle School Ender becomes friends with Alai, Bean and Petra.

I really enjoyed the story of ‘Ender’s Game’, because I found the story to be very interesting. It’s about a boy who lives in a game and shows the trickery of adults to get young people to do their dirty deeds in the games. I found the battle scenes to be very tense and physical. The scenes were described by Orson Scott Card in great detail and it made you feel as though you were there.

I would recommend this novel for the range of teenagers to young adults or maybe even the young at heart Sci Fi followers. I really enjoyed this book and I would rate the book ‘Ender’s Game’ 4 out of 5 stars.

Zac.C , Year 9.

Category: Adventure stories, Student Reviews | LEAVE A COMMENT

May 18

‘The Hunger Games’ by Suzanne Collins

“Here’s some advice, Stay alive.”

The Hunger Games were set in a place of confinement. Between the thirteen districts, people died of hunger, thirst and sickness yet the games engulfed all. There was no mercy of the Capitol’s rage and torturous ways against them. The ones who survived were the soldiers.

Before the Hunger Games began there had been a rebellion by the districts against the Capitol, however it failed and the final district, District 13, was destroyed. The Capitol won and to terminate all chances of another rebellion they developed a game to terrify all districts, The Hunger Games.

Two tributes’ names were pulled out of a bowl during a celebration called the reaping in each district, one boy and one girl, from the ages of twelve to eighteen each year.

Katniss, a loving, strong willed girl, was left alone with her mother and sister Prim after her father’s unexpected passing, which left her dazed and fending for her sister and mother. Before her father died he taught her how to hunt with homemade weapons, which were hidden in the woods, away from the gamekeepers and Capitol’s grasp. She used these skills after his death to kill and trade for food and other much needed goods. Katniss’ mother on the other hand had zoned out, unable to cope without Katniss and Prim’s father. As a result, Katniss looked after nearly the entire household, and Prim managed milking and caring for her goat.

Peeta, the quiet baker’s boy, was kind and caring, never thinking of himself. He helped Katniss when she lay in the rain, cold, starving and tired, by donating a small amount of bread. Peeta also supposedly had had a crush on Katniss since the first time he had laid eyes on her. He was, however, too loving for the Hunger Games and even for District 12.

When Prim (Katniss’ sister) was selected to be tribute at their district’s reaping, Katniss was definitely in shock.

She jumped at the opportunity to save her sister, immediately volunteering, which surprised the districts as well as the Capitol!

When Peeta Mellark’s name was pulled out, without even looking Katniss recognised his name. Peeta on the other hand had bad luck in a whole other concept, a way that’s hard to explain and hard to come by in the District of 12.

When Peeta and Katniss are to be thrown into an arena for the 74th hunger games, to kill one another, all for the entertainment of the Capitol and to scare the people of the districts, you would definitely ask, what would they even say to one another? Would you even talk to the other tributes at all? Would you try to attract or become friends with the other tributes, so in the games you might have a higher chance of surviving?

When they become crowd favourites, everyone either wants to kill them or to be them.

Although Peeta and Katniss knew that they had to survive, they had to show the Capitol that they did not own them and if they were going to die it would be as themselves and no one else.

The story of the Hunger Games, I believe is bewildering, breathtaking and a definite hair-raiser. The book itself leaves you in a daze which you can’t break out of; it’s as though you just can’t stop reading. It is a great read and I recommend it to anyone in his or her teenage years onward.

Jessica R., Year 9.

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

November 19

‘Divergent’ by Veronica Roth

“Her heart was beating out of her chest and her lungs tightened as she struggled to let out a breath. I stare at her. ‘Two?’ I ask. My throat is so tight its hard to talk.”

A world where your life and its future is judged by a test, the possibility that you could leave your family lays in the balance. From the moment you turn 16… your life will change.

Do mystery, heroism and hardships intrigue you? If so, Divergent by Veronica Roth is the book for you.

The story takes place in a futuristic world where a large portion of the planet has been influenced by destruction and thus the remaining population was divided into five factions: Dauntless, Candor, Erudite, Abnegation and Amity. A young girl, Beatrice, at the age of 16 must make a decision that will in truth change her future. She soon learns that she is Divergent and doesn’t fit into any of the specific categories. Each of these factions values a specific trait in a human being. These five traits are bravery, intelligence, honesty, selflessness and peace.

I found this novel good as it has a general good plot concept and characters. Like several books in this era, we see a relationship develop between Beatrice and another male character. I would say that the novel comes under the category of a Love and action book due both the continuous action we can see in the novel and the tentative relationships we see. I would personally recommend this book to readers between the ages of 12 and 16 as it has an appealing story to teenagers as they feature in the story. Overall I found the book to be intriguing and mysterious as each key scene in each chapter had me on edge and it is by far one of my favorite reads.

Daley, Year 9

…………………..

What if you had to make one decision that will change your life forever? A decision that would change your beliefs, friends, family and way of life for the greater good of society. 16-year-old Beatrice Prior is at the age when she has to make the decision of choosing a faction to join. But after an inconclusive test reveals she may be ‘Divergent’, Beatrice realizes that the safe and controlled world she lives in is full of plots, scandals and secrets and she becomes a threat to the order of society. Beatrice stumbles and falls as she faces the challenges of her new faction as well as having to deal with untrustworthy friends, lethal tests, a dangerous faction leader, an unlikely romance and trying not to reveal her secret of being a Divergent. On top of that she must try and protect her family from a growing threat that has yet to surface. How will she survive? Will she be able to overcome her fears? Can she stop the threat before it destroys everything she loves? What does it mean to be Divergent?

Divergent is a thrilling sci-fi novel perfect for teenagers or young adults. It has drama, action, and romance packed into the pages and it will keep your eyes glued to the print from the moment you turn the first page. It definitely is a must read for fans of the Hunger Games series as well as books like Tomorrow when the War began and I am Number Four. It has an exhilarating pace that has lots of twists and turns and spirals up and down on dramatic levels of tension, emotion and action. The book is so good it has been made into a popular movie that has had rave reviews and is a favorite of almost every teenager at the school. I would recommend the novel Divergent to many of my peers and to many other students who may take an interest in these types of books. I would rate Divergent a 4 out of 5 stars.

Joseph, Year 9

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

November 18

‘Delirium’ by Lauren Oliver

What if love were a disease, killing you from the inside out, taking every breath, hoping, praying it wouldn’t be your last?

Delirium, a book written by Lauren Oliver, is set in the small town of Portland, Maine. This novel consists of very few characters, one of which is Lena Haloway driven towards the thought of falling in love, but persistent to not end up like her mother.

Delirium is a difficult novel based upon the belief that ‘love is a disease’.

“There was a time when love was the most important thing in the world. People would go to the end of the earth to find it. They would tell lies for it. Even kill for it.”

You would wait until your 18th birthday before you could receive the procedure, to be cured from love forever. Until then you would have to avoid any contact with an uncured male. But Lena, unknowingly meets a guy called Alex, who she thought was cured, only to find out weeks later that he indeed wasn’t cured at all and in fact was falling in love with her. Shocked and afraid ,she tries to avoid all contact with him, to find out that she herself may be falling for him also.

I enjoyed this book because I have never thought love to be a disease and this statement honestly intrigued me enough to continue reading. As I continued reading, it didn’t fail to disappoint, with constant drama and delusion throughout. I recommend this book to a female aged between 14-30 with sound reading ability, who is interested in fantasy/sci-fi. This is because the themes displayed in this book I believe only a female would enjoy or be interested in. Eve. B Year 9

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

November 18

‘I am Number Four’ by Pittacus Lore

“In the beginning we were a group of nine.

Three are gone, dead.

There are six of us left.

They are hunting us, and they won’t stop until they’ve killed us all.

I am number four.

I know that I am next.”

Three are dead and I am number four. New York Times Bestseller novel ‘I am number four’ written by Pittacus Lore is a novel you will never want to put down.

Number four, Daniel Jones, John Smith. Whatever you want to call him, he isn’t who they think he is. He was one of the nine aliens that escaped from his planet ‘Lorien’ as a group of Mogadorians (from a planet of their own) invaded and attacked Lorien. The Mogadorians were in need for more supplies for their own planet. Fortunately, he and eight other children were sent away to Earth as he watched Lorien slowly die. Mogadorians followed the children to Earth and cursed them with a charm giving each of them their own number from one to nine. As each of them is hunted and killed by a Mogadorian, a whirl is engraved into their skin, burning their flesh. The first three are dead and Number Four is next. As the years pass, Number Four is constantly moving places and changing identities and eventually he gets fed up with it. So, Number Four and his guardian settle down in the small town of Paradise, Ohio. Here, Number Four receives his legacies that will assist him with fighting the Mogadorians when or if they ever find him. He also meets two friends that he doesn’t want to leave behind, if he was to unexpectedly leave again.

I have absolutely loved reading this book and its unexpected events as I turned each page. I imagined what the characters all look like and where they are as Pittacus has described every scene so intensely. This novel has kept me on the edge of my seat on every page and the thrills keep me continuing reading more.

If you love reading an adventurous, heart-filled, fantasy/sci-fi novel then ‘I am number four’ is definitely the best novel for you! I didn’t want it to end! It can capture an audience of either teenage boys or girls, as there is adventure and action but also some romance to top it off. As this novel is the type of story that I absolutely love reading, I have given it a rating of 4 stars.

Montana, Year 9

…………..

‘Nine escaped and retreated to Earth. Now three are dead, I am number four. I know that I am next.’ – John Smith (Number Four)

John Smith was just your average teen, right? Wrong. His home planet, Lorien, was burdened with an unforeseeable attack from the Mogadorians, who invaded Lorien yearning for its resources. The Mogadorians were evil creatures that set out to eradicate Lorien’s inhabitants, known as Lorics, and wouldn’t stop until they were all dead. The Lorics appeared to have no hope, but they managed to save nine children along with their guardians, who then retreated to Earth. There, they lived seemingly normal lives, except for one thing; the children had a curse placed upon them, which meant they could only be killed in numeric order. Number one through three were dead, and John Smith was number four. He and his guardian, Henri, dedicated their lives to trying to find ways to limit detection by the Mogadorians. They move to a small town in Ohio, and John becomes very attached, and makes some really good friends, which soon becomes an issue for their original plan of keeping a low profile wherever they went.
This is a great novel expressed by a narrator. It is well written, fast-paced, suspenseful, and extremely hard to put down once you’ve begun reading. I was completely engrossed in this story and I couldn’t wait to uncover what happened next. This novel is also relatable to teenagers, as it illustrates matters that are dealt with everyday such as trying to fit in, relationships, and bullying.

I did, however, find one fault with this novel, which is that the author didn’t use very descriptive language. For example, there wasn’t a clear description of what, exactly, the Mogadorians were; therefore I found it extremely difficult to envisage their appearance. Despite this, I still appreciated this novel and would recommend this riveting tale to anyone around the ages of 12-18 who enjoys stimulating, attention-grabbing, action-packed fiction novels with a captivating storyline. I rate this novel 4/5 stars.

Millie L., Year 9

…………….

‘I am Number Four’ written by Pittacus Lore is a captivating story filled with fantasy, thrill and romance.

This book is out of this world as you go on a journey with John Smith, also known as Four. A few years ago John travelled on a spacecraft with his guardian Henri and eight other children to come to Earth. The nine had to leave their planet Lorien as it was under attack by the Mogadorians, who were stealing their resources. They left their planet but they aren’t safe. The Mogadorians have followed them to Earth and are hunting them down number by number. A curse was set on the children making it that they can only be killed in numeric order.

After finding out that Three was dead Henri and John fled to Ohio, in hope of not being found by the Mogadorians. The plan had been the same everywhere they moved: don’t make friends, don’t go out and don’t draw attention. But as soon as John has his first day at school in Ohio, the whole game has changed. Suddenly John finds that he doesn’t want to blend in and be alone. Could the photographer at school Sarah Hart change his mind about falling in love? Or is it the bully Mark who makes it hard to stay in the shadows? Is it the space geek Sam who won’t make John such a loner? Will these things have horrible consequences for John or will he come to his senses and carry on with what he’s meant to do. John’s decision will change his life and the life of Lorien, for better and for worse.

I enjoyed the book ‘I am Number Four’ written by Pittacus Lore. I thought the plot and storyline of this book were extremely intriguing and there was never a dull moment. I usually dislike Fantasy/ Sci FI books but this novel has surprised me as I thought it was a good book. I thought it was interesting when there were flashbacks to the planet Lorien. The only downside of this novel was the description used. The description about the Mogadorians wasn’t very good and I couldn’t picture what they looked like. I would recommend this book to girls and boys aged 11-16 years old. I would also recommend it to people who enjoy reading Fantasy/ Sci Fi. I rate ‘I am Number Four’ 4 out of 5 stars.

Leisel L, Year 9

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

November 14

‘Incarceron’ by Catherine Fisher

(Incarceron is a prison like no other, it gives life, it deals death and it watches all)

Heard of Incarceron? No? Then you’re missing out on a great book! If you’re a person who likes reading science fiction or things on advanced technology, mystery, action and adventure then “Incarceron” written by Catherine Fisher is just the book specifically designed for you!

Incarceron is an artificial intelligence that was built on an artificial world during a time of advanced technology. Incarceron was originally meant to be a utopian paradise on an artificial world giving free education, health care and protection to those who decided to enter, however due to people who insulted Incarceron, its intelligence was corrupted which led to changing the utopian paradise into a massive prison with no escape, unless you possessed the crystal key. The Incarceron known in the book now is a prison like no other, as it preserves life and deals death at a time of its choosing. It is also known that Incarceron watches all due to the mysterious cameras following the prisoners.

Finn is the protagonist along with Claudia; they both seek to escape Incarceron along with the rest of the prisoners. Finn is a cell born child that claims to be from the outside; sometimes he has seizures and visions of a young boy who is living in a distance place. Finn believes that these are vision of how he once lived. Claudia is the second protagonist, a young girl who is living in the realm as another prisoner. It’s known that Claudia is exasperated with the secrecy of the Warden of Incarceron, which is her father. Claudia became so fed up with her father that she broke into his office and found something of great value that could lead the prisoners to escape Incarceron.

I personally enjoyed “Incarceron” because of its detailed techniques of writing, which really creates the scene of the characters Finn and Claudia along with the rest of the prisoners…

I recommend this book to those who enjoy reading about science fiction, advanced technology, action, mystery or adventure and are above the age of thirteen as the book does detail some scenes, which may be too mature for younger readers.

Altogether, I rate this book 4 out of 5 because I was thoroughly connected with the story, however there were a few too many characters to follow along with their stories in “Incarceron” which occasionally made the story confusing. Altogether, this is a fantastic book that you should consider reading in the near future. – Josh, grade 9

……

“Who can chart the vastness of their own imprisonment, its halls and its chasms? Only a man who has tasted the sweet nectar of freedom can define his prison… ”

Does this sound like the book that you will become entrapped in? If so, this is the book for you.

The world of Incarceron is a dull and poisonous place that is run by an artificial intelligence. It houses all of the world’s criminals where they are to be trained and reprogrammed to by good, honest and just members of society.

Fin is just one of the prisoners in this god-forsaken place. The warden’s daughter, Claudia, is “imprisoned” for she is just a tool for her father to gain more and more power. The story follows these two poor souls as they go through the same thing but in different way. There are all kind of things that happen in Incarceron, most of which are not very nice and this is the perilous journey that Fin has to go through to escape his imprisonment. The main characters in the story are Fin and Claudia.

I myself didn’t enjoy the book because it took too long to pick up the pace and the lack of detail made it hard for me to picture it in my head which took me off the story a bit. I would recommend this book to teens to adults who would be interested in a sci-fi fantasy book. This book is good for the people that would like it. Personally I would rate “Incarceron” 2 out of 5 Stars.

William Year 9

……

‘Incarceron’ will captivate you and make you forget everything else happening in your life with its gripping storyline and plot progression.

‘Incarceron’ is a fantasy, fiction novel about a guy named Fin who doesn’t remember anything of his past. To make matters worse he is trapped in a prison country called “Incarceron” without the slightest clue as to who he is and why he is in the prison. As a result of losing his memories he cannot remember if he was supposed to do anything and because of the fact he had no direction other than to find out who he is. He struggles to find out why he is there, and what he has done to deserve to be trapped in the prison. Many obstacles lie in his path of both redemption and of discovery. Fin meets many interesting characters on the way and he learns so much, as well as how he should approach different situations within the Incarceron community and what the others have done to end up in the same situation as he is in.

Personally I like the book because of its themes, and because of the character’s struggles between what is right and what is wrong, as he discovers who he is and why he is. This book is meant for teenagers because it gives the feeling of entrapment, which is a general feeling most teenagers begin to feel. It also gives the sense of having no direction which is another feeling teenagers have. I recommend this book to teenagers around the ages of 15-17 because that is the part of their lives where they would feel they have the most in common with the themes of this book. I’d rate the book ‘Incarceron’ 3.5 out of 5 stars. Luke F, Year 9

…………..

A prison shrouded in mystery. A prison of incomprehensible size trapping those inside, with no chance of escape. A prison, which lives. Incarceron is this prison, which the warden’s daughter distrusts and an inmate by the name of Finn is held within.

Finn resides within the dark damp prison sewers, surviving with the bare minimum in the company of criminals. Claudia is living outside the prison with her father, the warden of Incarceron. This is because the governing power enforces a law keeping a 17^th century setting to prevent the dangers associated with change.

Finn had no idea who he is or who he was. He awoke shuddering violently, drenched in sweat within a closed room until he was let out to the vastness of Incarceron. For… what? He doesn’t know. He only knows how he must escape Incarceron. Claudia might as well be an inmate the same as Finn. She feels so trapped by an arranged marriage, lies, mystery, rules and regulations. She is positive her father is holding information back from her regarding the happenings inside Incarceron. Claudia is determined to find out about and escape the life she doesn’t want.

Finn finds himself raiding a group of people only to find that a person who falls for the trap knows what a mysterious tattoo Finn has on his wrist might mean. As the surroundings explode with combat and fighting, Finn struggles to save his ticket to answers. As the group floods back to their hiding place where they are compromised with the destructive powers of the prison, Finn drags the woman down with him. He must then somehow keep custody of her against the group’s will. Meanwhile, Claudia is set on exposing the mysteries of Incarceron and her father. After faking the persona of a lovely well mannered little girl, abiding the strict etiquette of a forced 17^th century life, she breaks the law in search of proof her father is not who he seems to be and that there is more to Incarceron than concrete walls and rusted iron.

I loved this novel as the mysterious and unpredictable aspects in the book keep you thinking about the story the whole way through the day. The untold strange and weird happenings inside Incarceron perplex the reader and force them to keep reading and uncover the secrets in Finn’s, the warden’s and Incarceron’s backstory. As the story progresses following Finn and Claudia, you can imagine yourself in their positions and you start to feel the detailed, accurately generated emotions written.

I would recommend the novel to a mature teenage demographic that is comfortable reading a story involving a 17^th century setting and those who love mystery. The book follows through with a relatively high vocabulary needed and describes in detail the setting of a 17^th century era which would require a knowledge of what these times are like. With these aspects in mind, the average age of those who would enjoy the book will increase to be around the 14-19 year old range.

Wesley N. – Year 9

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