June 5

‘Star Wars Jedi Apprentice: The Hidden Past’ by Jude Watson

“When you look at the Dark Side, careful you must be. For the Dark Side looks back.” –Yoda.

‘Star Wars: The hidden past’ involves a Jedi Knight by the name of Qui-Gon Jinn and his apprentice Obi-Wan Kenobi. This book is set on a planet called Phindar.

Upon arrival Obi-Wan meets up with an old friend called Guerra. Little did they know, Guerra’s brother Paxxi was the driver of the ship that flew them to Phindar. Upon spending time on Phindar, Obi-Wan and Qui-Gon discovered that the planet was ruled by a dictatorship called the Syndicat, who use an evil technology to punish the citizens of Phindar.  This technology wipes all the memory from a person’s mind. The people who have their memory wiped are called the renewed. The renewed are then sent to another planet, and dumped in a random area. They are then followed around by a camera and bets are placed on how long they will survive. Without being on Phindar long Obi-Wan runs into trouble. Will his memory be erased forever?

I liked this book because it gave some insight into the relationship between Obi-Wan and Qui-Gon before the major motion picture, Star Wars episode 1: A Phantom Menace. The book also sets the scene very well. I often felt while reading this book, that I was walking through the streets of Phindar. This book has many fight scenes that children would find enjoyable.

I would recommend this book to anyone from the ages 7-11, as it provides words that some children of these ages would find hard or challenging. Any ages over this may find this book boring or unwholesome. Although this is a very good book, I believe that it is missing that spark that makes a book great.

“Peace over anger.

Honour over hate.

Strength over fear.”

(A quote from the book.)

by Kobi H., Year 8

June 5

‘Maximum Ride: The Angel Experiment’ by James Patterson

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Charlize O, Year 8.

……

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

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

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

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

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

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

The recommended age for reading this book is 13.

June 5

‘Extinction: The day the world ended’ by Lizzie Wilcox

“‘I don’t think that was an Earthquake,’ Mac said. ‘TSUNAMI!’ the twins screeched together.”

The amazing, action packed book that I am reading is ‘Extinction: The day the world ended’. The author of this amazing book is Lizzie Wilcock.

The story is set on planet Earth when humans are extinct, or are they? The main characters in the story are Mac and Annie. They are twins, and Mac is the oldest. Mac is a boy and Annie is the girl. Mac is around 13 years old and Annie is about 12 years old. The story starts when Mac and Annie wake up to an empty town with no one in it. Mac and Annie are scared and don’t know what to do. They go and try to find their parents but they are nowhere to be found.

They soon discover that someone is out to get them and they must act quickly to save their lives. I liked this book because after I read about ten pages it started to get super interesting and adventurous and every page kept getting more interesting. It is one of my favourite books that I have ever read in a long time. If Lizzie Wilcock made a series of these books I would buy her books to read. This is one hundred percent one of my favourite books that I have read in a long time.

I would recommend this story to boys and girls aged between 11-15 years old, because children at this age love reading books that are adventurous. This is the perfect book for them to read because it is adventurous, thrilling and exciting. I would highly suggest that adults read it too because it has so much action and it hooks you straight from the very first page. I would rate this book a ten out of ten because this book is full of entertainment, action and suspense.

Charlie C., Year 8

June 5

‘The Giver’ by Lois Lowry

(Undertaking an incredible & impossible journey)

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

H.M. Year 8

……

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

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

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

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

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

By Trent L., Year 8

June 5

‘Elsewhere’ by Gabrielle Zevin

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

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

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

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

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

Skye M, Year 8

 

 

June 5

‘Pandora Jones: Admission’ by Barry Jonsberg

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

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

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

Judge B., Year 8

June 2

‘Four: A Divergent Collection’ by Veronica Roth

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

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

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

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

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

Madeline M., Year 8

…..

One choice will free him.”

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

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

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

Thomas K., Year 8

June 2

‘The Wind Singer’ by William Nicholson

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

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

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

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

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

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

Daniella F., Year 8

…..

Sagahog! Pomparune! Saga-saga-hog!

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

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

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

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

Mya H., Year 8

June 2

‘Reboot’ by Amy Tintera

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

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

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

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

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

Taylah F Year 8

June 2

‘The Silent Invasion’ by James Bradley

“Because Gracie had begun to Change.”

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

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

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

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

Taku S, Year 8

June 1

‘The Young Elites’ by Marie Lu

“I am going to die tomorrow.”

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

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

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

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

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

Chloe W., Year 8

…..

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

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

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

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

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

By Roma T., Year 8

……

“I’m going to die tomorrow.”

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

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

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

Caleb N, Year 8

June 1

‘The Declaration’ by Gemma Malley

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

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

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

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

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

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

Charlotte D, Year 8

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

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

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

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

Caitlyn H., Year 8

June 1

‘TUCK EVERLASTING’ by Natalie Babbitt

“Don’t be afraid of death, be afraid of an unlived life. You don’t have to live forever; you just have to live.”

Why doesn’t everyone face their fear?

Meet the Tucks. They look like a young family, well that’s what a girl named Winnie thinks until she finds out that they are over 100 years old.

This book will make you think twice about everything that you have either wanted to do or haven’t ever thought of doing. If you love science fiction, then Tuck Everlasting is definitely for you.

The book is about a ten-year-old girl named Winnie. She doesn’t like her life. Her family is very strict and don’t let her go out of the gate. One day she heads off into the woods and meets a boy named Jessie who was drinking from a spring that apparently makes you immortal. Winnie is kidnapped by Jessie, his mother and brother. She doesn’t know what to do. She’s scared, until she gets to know the Tucks and realises that they are all very kind. Jessie is 17 and he finds himself having feelings for Winnie, therefore he gives her some water from the spring and said “drink this when you turn 17 so we can be together forever”. Winnie thinks about the offer but doesn’t ever drink. She wanted to live her life and not be afraid of death.

You definitely must read this book if you are 10+ however I don’t recommend this book to 9- as there is violence and can be boring and have a bad influence on them.

I would rate this book 3 stars out of 5, The book got my attention at the start and finish. I lost interest in the middle but who knows? Tuck Everlasting might be for you.

Nicholas E, Year 8.

June 1

‘Ender’s Game’ by Orson Scott Card

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Max K., Year 8

…..

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

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

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

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

By Logan M., Year 8

May 31

‘LEGEND’ by MARIE LU

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

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

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

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

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

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

Brodie J, Year 8.

May 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

May 30

‘The Interrogation of Ashala Wolf’ by Ambelin Kwaymullina

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

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

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

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

By: Allana M., Year 8

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

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

May 30

‘Gathering blue’ by Lois Lowry

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

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

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

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

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

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

Marlee C, Year 8