June 16

‘Six Impossible Things’ by Fiona Wood

Six impossible thingsIn ‘Six impossible things’ by Fiona Wood, courage is the main emotion that fourteen year old nerd-boy Dan Cereill ( the main character ) expresses. He is the biggest sweet heart who has six things that he has to do to set himself right for life.

The story is mainly set at home with Dan, his mum and Estelle, but it is also set at school. Dan is a smiley boy and not much seems to make him annoyed or worries him except the girl of his dreams, Estelle. He makes her out to be one of the most beautiful things on earth. He is going through a tough time in his life finding out that his dad is gay and that is tough on a teenager or anyone. Estelle? Well, she lives next door to Dan . She usually fights with her mum, and is trying not to believe that Dan has the biggest crush on her in the whole world. Dan’s mum doesn’t really seem to be coping with the whole ‘husband is now gay’ thing and keeps telling Dan stories about when times were good.

Dan’s mum decides to move away to try and hide the pain. They end up finding a house that an old lady they knew passed away in. Dan is being constantly bullied by this group of teenagers at school whilst he is falling madly in love with Estelle, of which Estelle has no idea of at all.

I liked this book a lot because it was interesting and very appealing to me and it is something that I would read. It was a bit romantic and all about Dan and what he wanted for his life which made me want to keep reading. I would recommend this book to anyone in high school, boy or girl. It is a very good book that mainly girls would enjoy.

Madison M.

June 10

‘Megan’, by Mary Hooper

Megan-by-Mary-HooperThe book I have read is Megan, written by Mary Hooper.

Megan is only fifteen. One day she finds out in the worst possible way some terrible news – that she is pregnant.

What will she do?

How will her friends react?

How will the father of the baby react?

But worst of all, how will her mother react?

Will Megan keep the baby?

In this readable story, Megan tries to make sense of something that whichever way she turns will change her life forever.

This book is a good read for teens preferably for 13 years girl and up. Boys could also read this book to teach them a lesson but this book it recommended mainly for girls.

I thought Megan was a great and easy read. It was very interesting and it didn’t have easy answers to the problems she encountered.  The book was difficult to put down and the ending leaves you wondering what will happen next. This book is first of the trilogy and once you finish it you just have to read the next one. I give this book a 5 star rating.

Ashleigh. L, Year 8

……

“Was one of those things really inside me? I put my hand on my tummy again. Could I feel something in there or was I imagining it? Was that just a bit of wobbly fat or something else? (Megan, p.18).

The novel that was read was ‘Megan’ by Mary Hooper. This book is a faction novel. Faction novels have information about possible events but it not true. The Megan Series are the other novels written by the author. They are about how Megan deals with her life and with her child. ‘Megan’ was simple and predictable but at the same time it was compelling and readers described it as though they needed to know what would happen next.

The novel was set in the 21st century in England. The characters in this book are legitimate. A character that stands out is the mother. The mother is a character that puts a lot of pressure on Megan as she wants her to have a good life and have a baby later in her life.

In Megan’s world, there are many dangers to her and her child. Some of these dangers include harassment, short teenage-hood, and the danger of never finding a partner.  Harassment is a danger to Megan as in high school she was harassed by some boys. After that Megan was extremely careful, as when she was harassed Megan felt terrible! Megan’s mother believes that she will only have a short teenage-hood as she will need to mature way too quickly. Not finding a partner is a huge danger for Megan as she has no one to rely on. Megan does not overcome these dangers but she is careful and tries to enjoy life with friends.

This story is engaging and powerful. At the end of the book it was extremely satisfying. Although satisfying it was almost expected that she would keep her child.

In conclusion, the book was interesting. The highlight of this book is extremely hard to decide. This book is recommended to be for young girls/women aged 13 years plus. This age group would most likely find it interesting and educational. This book could be rated 5/5 stars.

Rachel V, Year 8

……

“Everything in life is a reflection of a choice you had made. If you want a different result, then make a different choice.”

Megan was only 15 when she discovers during class that she is 5 months pregnant. Megan has to go through the troubles of being pregnant at a young age.

Megan goes through many challenges, from her close friend hanging out with others to her mum telling her what to do.

I recommend this story to a girl 13 years and up to read this book. The story taught you a good lesson to stay safe and that your choices may affect yourself and others.

Megan’s actions have changed how she thinks and acts. Megan’s mum transports Megan to her aunt’s. Megan’s aunt tells her what happened when she was pregnant around the same age and how her choices still come to her today. Megan meets many nice friends were her aunt lives and goes to a motherhood class to help her with the future.

Slowly Megan grows from her mistake and learns how to handle a baby with care and nurture. Megan’s mum starts to tell little white lies to her neighbours as to why Megan is missing, while Megan’s friend stars to drop hints while Megan is away. Megan writes to her father in Australia saying she might live with him with the baby because her mum wants the baby adopted. The book “Megan” has a great example that “Everything in life is a reflection of a choice you had made. If you want a different result, then make a different choice.” And that “The past can hurt but you can either run from it or learn from your mistakes.”

The book is quite a good book but not my style of reading. If you read and love the first book of “Megan” then you can read “Megan 2” and “Megan 3″ that will complete the whole story. I’d rate this book ” Megan” a 2.5 stars.

Sofia N, Year 8.

……

She was rambling on and I wasn’t taking all of it in and then she said, ‘Of course, it is possible to be pregnant and still have periods.’ I didn’t hear what she went on to after that, I was just stuck on that: of course, it is possible to be pregnant and still have periods (Megan Novel page number 8).

This novel was about a girl named Megan. The novel ‘Megan’ is a faction book written by Mary Hooper. Megan is a simple and predictable book, yet this story strikes reality first. ‘Megan’ was compelling because throughout the story you always wanted to know what would happen next.

The setting and characters in the book are based on reality. The story is set in the 21st century in Great Britain. The story brings excitement and danger at every corner. Megan is a book that involved doing research for all the characters. Writing this book, Mary Hooper made the characters pop out. The story line followed one character after another and this is what connected me to the characters.

“Without thinking, my hand moved on to my stomach. It didn’t feel any different. But was that because I didn’t want to? Was it just a bit bigger? Rounder?” Using this quote, Megan gives the character a feeling. Using this feeling, the book engages the reader.

Following Megan’s life, the story was powerful, heart-filling and overwhelming. The end of the story involved characters in an unthinkable decision. The story outline was interesting and truthful. The writer’s style gave me inspiration and this is because the theme of the story was about surviving and never giving up hope. The theme of the story changed every now and again.

‘Megan’ is a book that involves having bravery and courage. The highlight of the story was when Megan kept her child Jack. I recommend the story to pre-teens because the story was easy to read  and it was quite interesting. The theme changed every now and again and I rate the book about a 3.5 out of 5.

By Courtney D, Yr 8

June 10

‘Polar Boy’ by Sandy Fussell

polar boyThe title of the engaging and amazing novel that we’ve read as a class is cleverly named ‘Polar Boy’. ‘Polar Boy’ is a faction book as the story is incorporated with facts such as real places and real tribes of people. ‘Polar Boy’ is an action/adventure book as the tribe is on an action-packed  journey filled with twists and turns.

The author of ‘Polar Boy’ is Sandy Fussell and she has written many books such as the ‘Samurai Kids’ series and most recently ‘Sad the dog’. I haven’t read any of her other works. The illustrator of ‘Polar Boy’ is Wayne Harris and he has illustrated many books including ‘Going Home’, ‘A Bitter Company’ and ‘Edge of the World’. I honestly thought the book was oddly relatable because the main character, Iluak, was trying to earn respect and become a man by facing the polar bear. This can be associated with an adolescent’s journey.

The time period that the book was set in was the 14th century. The place or setting the novel was Baffin Island and Baffin Bay. The setting seems real and convincing as it isn’t a fictional place and it was a type of book where I was engaged in the story so I felt like I was actually in it. The characters also seem real as Eskimos are a real race of people. This may seem cliché but I feel that the main character Iluak stands out and appeals to me the most.

The novel is quite an engaging adventure because I enjoy action and adventure books. It is a convincing story and it sends a powerful message of unity by the Northmen and the tribe making peace with each other. The ending of the story was okay. I would have liked it if it was more action packed or had a plot twist. I personally didn’t like the author’s writing style in this particular book. The theme or overall message of the book is unity.

First of all the relevance of illustrations in a book such as a front cover are extremely important as it can do many things such as: if it has a visual representation of a character this can paint a mental picture of the character in the reader’s head. This also works for the setting and many other things. The front cover is simple but still amazing as sometimes simple is all something needs to be. The illustration on the front cover gives an identification of place and a indication of what is upcoming in the story but the illustration still doesn’t add to it.

I quite enjoyed ‘Polar Boy’ as it was engaging and action packed. My favourite part of the story was when Iluak’s grandma told him to put his ear to the ice even though his grandma lost half of her ear from being frozen. I would recommend ‘Polar Boy’ to children and teenagers from ages twelve to fourteen as I believe it would be more appealing and engaging to that age group. Overall I believe ‘Polar Boy’ is an amazing and engaging book and Sandy Fussell is a skilled author so I would rate the book a six out of ten.

Jack. O., Year 8

……

Living without challenge is no life at all?

It’s true. Life has many challenges. Some bad, some good, some we learn from and some we don’t. All part of life’s adventures.

In ‘Polar Boy’ by Sandy Fussell, Iluak needs to face his fears. Therefore it’s a huge challenge for him. He’s faced many along the way, like when he saw his first bear. Iluak found a bear in a cave. He was terrified and his feet were frozen to the snow when he saw it, only to realise it was a sick cub. The cub’s nose was crusted with dry mucus, its fur sodden in dirty patches and frozen saliva hangs from its partly open mouth. That’s when Iluak needed to face his fears and approach the bear and help him the best way he could.

Iluak’s other challenge was seal hunting which he went along to with his family and friends.

“Seal hunting became a near death experience for me. Still knowing the ice is thin I still try and catch the seal only thing is the ice cracks open and I go under like I was afraid of. It was so cold colder than I’ve ever been before. That’s when my body numbs and my clothes drag me down. I can feel water filling my nose. Nana knew this would happen. ‘Don’t be afraid’, she said.”

Therefore Iluak experienced a bad challenge but with a great outcome. The seal managed to push him out of the icy water and allowed him to live.

Another challenge in life is learning to get along with each other. But sometimes we find it difficult to get along with people we might not like. Tuaq was never one of lluak’s favourite people, in fact Iluak never got on with him. Tuaq was name calling his little sister and his friend, things Iluak didn’t like. Yet both were very much alike. Both were very competitive. They shared a bond throughout a whale hunting trip. Tuaq saved Iluak’s life just like the seal saved his.

“But Tuaq is still standing up front, arms raised, praying for us all. Horrified, I watch as a wave rises like a giant talon, to wrap itself around Tuaq’s waist and claw him into the ocean.”

Life throws many challenges our way but most challenges teach us things along the way. Whether they’re bad or good we need them to help us grow into adulthood.

James R., Year 8

…….

In a land of snow and ice, Iluak and his village try to survive this weather and enjoy their time with friends and family. Iluak’s journey has been difficult and life-threatening at many times but he was never killed. This made him strive to become a stronger person for his journey into a man. ‘Polar boy’ is a novel by Sandy Fussell. She has written many other books, such as ‘Samurai boy’, but I haven’t read other books by Sandy Fussell.

Iluak’s journey is to overcome his fears and the ancient ones whisper to Nana and she tells Iluak that they talk about him and that a bear is waiting for him. This challenge for Iluak’s journey has only begun – the journey for him to finally meet this bear who is waiting for him. This journey might kill him but it’s worth it if he survives because life without a challenge isn’t a life worth living. Through the life-threatening challenges, if he survives them this will make him stronger in intelligence and in physical appearance for the next challenges that come his way.

Iluak doesn’t like his life on the line but his resilience gives him strength and he is not afraid to put his life on the life. These type of quality makes him a brave and strong person who is trying his best in his journey. He could fail but it is better than not trying at all.

Though his journey is tough, he endures because he wants to meet the bear that’s waiting for him. On his journey a strange man comes to his village and says that his village has all been murdered by Normans but Nana and Papa don’t trust him and his knives and doesn’t allow him to stay.

What I liked about this book is when Iluak fell into the water and started to give up because the Raven was trying to steal his soul but Nana was protecting Iluak. When he was losing hope and he felt like he had died a seal comes up and brings him up to the top of the ice. I didn’t like it whenever he was going to die. Someone or something always came to save him so the story became predictable whenever Iluak went into a battle.

 I didn’t really like this book because it soon became predictable and got boring after reading for a while. At some points the book was good to read but at others it was really boring and not enjoyable.

Matthew K-H., Year 8

……

In the novel ‘Polar Boy’, a young boy called Iluak faces challenges that seem impossible to succeed in by his age but he finds a way to solve his problems and overcomes his fears. That makes him stronger.

In the book, Iluak finds himself having to unite two tribes:, a ruthless, violent tribe called the Northmen, in our time called the Vikings, and his own tribe, a peaceful group living in a cold environment that have no clue how to fight with previous warriors with children and elderly. Iluak is frightened and wants to drop out of this massive task but in the end he manned up and decided to risk his life in order to save his tribe from a brutal war. Iluak finds his courage afterwards and decides to head with the Northmen to explore the world outside his freezing home. This shows that Iluak has grown stronger, as few people decide to venture out and leave everything andeveryone behind to start a new life.

 The book ‘Polar boy’ is set in the 14th century, going back into the history of when Vikings were roaming lands claiming it as their territory through war  in the cold regions where polar bears and mammoths were a dangerous thing for the polar tribes. In my opinion, out of all the characters, Iluak stands out the most. His bravery is greater than any other character in the book, having to face his fears and overcome them. He also saves a dying bear cub and unites two tribes to create peace. All the characters have their role and personality and create your pet peeves and character preferences.

In my opinion this story did not entertain me. My choice of book would’ve had more drama, violence and romance. I would recommend this book to younger audiences who aren’t into such a depth of detail for a book.

Ximena C., Year 8

November 30

‘All I Ever Wanted’ by Vikki Wakefield

All I ever wanted“Should you keep moving forward, even if you don’t know where you’re going?”

Jemima, also known as Mim, knows what she wants, and where she wants to go: anywhere but home, that is. She’s stuck in the suburbs with her mother who won’t get off the couch, and two brothers in prison. Mim has set herself rules to live by, like: – I will finish school, – I will not take drugs etc. Does she sound like a goody two-shoes to you? Well she isn’t. Does she know everything? No she doesn’t. But she does know you don’t walk too close to the Tarrant house.

Mim lives in the ‘worst street in the worst suburb’, and what she wants in her life is the boy she has a crush on – Jordan. This novel really makes you see how the author paints a picture of the poorer Australian suburbs. She does so well in describing the scenes that it makes you seem as if you can actually feel the heat, sweat and mosquitoes of a summer blackout.

The main characters include Mim, a sixteen going on seventeen-year-old girl, who has set herself rules. The main one is ‘I will not turn out like my mother’. Tahnee is a girl who is best friends with Mim except they are nothing alike. Tahnee does whatever she wants whenever she wants and just doesn’t care. Lola is a girl who is 20 years old. She doesn’t have a very good reputation. She does anything for easy money and is squatting in a house. But Jemima supports her. Jordan is a guy who comes from a very well mannered and successful family, who Mim has a crush on.

Mim is sent a job by her mother to go and collect a special package and bring it home, but on her way home she runs into Jordan and he steals the package out of her hands and leaves. This was a very unusual thing for Jordan to do because he comes from a very well mannered and successful family. So now Mim had to think up a plan to get the package back and doing so she becomes friends with his sister to get into his house. This book is not just about romance, and the package, it is also about Mim and her place in the world, and about the people around her. Sometimes Mim breaks away from their expectations. In addition, her family and neighbours at first glance seem a disparate crew of drunks, criminals, child neglectors, sex workers and nasty old ladies, but they are not all who Mim thinks they are.

Then on her seventeenth birthday Mim wakes up and sees the package on her table, and it was not what she was expecting to be inside. It was her birthday present from her mother. What do you think was inside the package?

I really like this book, even though I’m not one to want to read, because it felt like it was real. The wording left you with images in your head, and it really grabs your attention making you want to keep reading. It was full of adventure, wonder and heart filled thrills which should really be your next book to read. I would recommend this book to be read by females, between the ages of 14-16.

Brooke B., Year 9

June 23

‘Starfish sisters’ by J.C.Burke

Starfish sisters“I liked the pain, it got the bad thoughts away.”

Do you like true, heart-filled, drama stories? Well, this is the book for you because it is full of drama and heart-filled moments and there is a lot in this book that happens in real life.

Starfish Sisters is a book by J.C.Burke based on four girls: Georgie (15), Kia (15), Micki (12) and Ace (17) who are at a surf camp and are struggling to get along with each other. Their dreams are to be the greatest surfer ever and get into the the surf boot camp. Georgie is a really good surfer who is trying to decide if she wants to be a surfer or a soccer player because she is starting to think that surfing is getting way too competitive. Kia is best friends with Georgie but she is starting to feel like she is a misfit to everyone, including Georgie and decides to self harm and struggles to stop herself. Micki is the youngest at the camp and is the first to find Kia self-harming. She lost her mom when she was little and doesn’t want anyone to know how her death happened.

I really liked this book because it is based on things that happen in real life. Kia goes through a really tough time with self-harming because she thinks that no one wants to believe in her and give her credit for anything. It is also a book about friendship because although not everyone is going to be friends, you need to find a way to get along because otherwise it just makes things even more difficult. I also like this book because it is very heartwarming and brings a lot of emotion.

Charlotte F, Year 8

———————-

“How could she have done that? She knew nothing about me and my life. I hated her. Perhaps now I hated her more than she hated me.”

Do you like books filled with drama, complications and you can relate to? Then this book is the one for you. It will keep you up past your bedtime just to finish the next chapter or two.

There are four main characters: Micki, Ace, Kia and Georgie. Micki is 12, turning 13 at the camp. She’s the youngest at the surf camp. She is shy and has many family troubles but still manages to focus on her surfing. Ace is 17. She is sponsored by one of the major surf stores in Australia, Ocean Pearl. She enters the camp in a relationship with Tim Parker, a world famous surfer. Kia is 15 and struggles with her self esteem. She wants to impress her dad and doesn’t want to be compared to her best friend, Georgie, or family friend Micki. Georgie is 15 and her best friend is Kia. Together they created a surf wear brand, Bikinia. They go to the camp hoping to make some sales. Georgie isn’t very confident but always sees the best in people. She’s not sure if she still wants to continue her surfing career. But she still goes to the surf camp anyway.

The book starts with all four girls on their own journey each with different reasons to enter the surf camp. Every girl at this camp is fighting for one of the four spots to go to the next level. It’s going to be tough, as each girl has been specifically picked to go to this camp. With fierce competition it’s not going to be easy. Will friendships last, or will they go down in flames? Not everyone is going to be good enough to make it to the next level.

I could relate to this book on many ways, and levels, which just made it so much more enjoyable. Even though this book was published in 2007 it is still very relatable, even more so today than it would’ve been eight years ago. This book falls under three genres: true, edgy and heart-filled, which are three genres that make a fantastic teenage girl book.

Olivia H. Year 8.

——————

“How could she have done that? She knew nothing about me and my life. I hated her. Perhaps now I hated her more than she hated me.”

Are books with friendship, a story you can relate to and filled with drama your kind of books? Then this is the book for you.

In Starfish are four main characters: Micki, Ace, Kia and Georgie. Micki is 12 and the youngest at surf camp. She is shy and not very wealthy, she has many family troubles but manages to focus on her surfing career. Ace is 17 years old. She is sponsored by one of the major surf stores in Australia, Ocean Pearl. She enters the camp in a relationship with the world’s most famous surfer, Tim Parker. Kia is 15 and struggles with her self esteem. She wants to impress her dad and doesn’t want to be compared to her best friend, Georgie. Georgie is 15 and her best friend is Kia. Together they created a surf wear brand. Georgie isn’t very confident but always sees the best in people. She is not sure if she wants to continue her surfing career.

The book starts as all the characters enter their dream surf camp very nervously. They get introduced to their roommates not having a clue that they would soon become best friends. It was time to have their first surf. Most of the girls were the most nervous they have ever been besides Ace. Ace has always known that she was the best surfer but participating in this camp may test her skills. Georgie has always struggled with her confidence so coming to the camp was a hard decision for her to make but knowing that only the best surfers in Australia get invited, gave her faith. Kia and Micki are having some troubles becoming friends but throughout the book they have a breakthrough.

Starfish Sisters is a great novel that is very easy to relate to for teenage girls. It has a fantastic storyline that has many complications to overcome which also creates drama. They were all thrown in together, and not being friends yet, there was jealousy, lies, secrets and insecurity to deal with. They then realise that they need to stick together as their friendship bring out the best in all of them.

Olivia L., Year 8

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“For the first time, three people knew who I was. The real me. And the best bit about it was that they still wanted to be my friend.” This is the reality for Kia, Georgie, Micki and Ace who are thrown together for a whirlwind of a summer and a once in a lifetime experience.

Four girls are chosen to take part in the Australian Elite Young Surfers’ Camp and by chance are put into the same bungalow, the Starfish Bungalow. Ace, also known as Courtney McFarlane, is the star of the camp and is always the centre of attention, after all her boyfriend is the one and only famous surfer Tim Parker. Carefree and confident, she never worries about putting in any effort. Although she’s Ace’s biggest fan, Kia lacks in all these traits. She never feels good enough for her dad and can’t stop comparing herself to others. Self-doubt is something that is also common with her best friend, Georgie. Georgie struggles to cope with the piling amounts of pressure and can’t seem to grasp the enthusiasm she once had. Whenever faced with competition she fails to reach her full potential. Micki is the youngest but far from the least mature. She’s been exposed to more than you’d think for her age, and hides many secrets about her past. Winning a place at the camp gives her chance to finally get away from her terrible home life and to be able to focus on surfing.

Throughout the book, the girls have to compete with eight others for just four spots on the junior training team. Expecting a summer of competition and hard work, they end up learning more about themselves and each other than they ever could’ve imagined. Discovering that there is more to each other than they thought, the girls leave with a bond of sisterhood and lifelong lessons.

I really enjoyed the book, ‘Starfish Sisters’ because it shows four girls coming together and putting aside their differences to help one another. There are many unexpected twists and turns in the plot that make it hard to put down. J.C. Burke does a great job of showing there are more layers to people than what meets the eye. The story also moves along at a great pace and never fails to catch your attention.

I recommend this book to teenage girls who love heart-filled stories that are slightly edgy and packed with adventure. This book addresses serious issues with youth today and sheds light on normally unspoken topics. It truly is a captivating book and I rate it four out of five stars.

Charli B, Year 8

June 19

‘Indigo Girls’ by Penny Russon

indigo girls“Three girls, one summer and a whole lot to learn from each other.

Two weeks every summer Zara, Tilly and Meike went to Point Indigo with their families, but this summer isn’t going to be the same because Meike wasn’t able to come for the first week so all that’s was left were Zara and Tilly. They both feel like Meike glues them together and when Meike is there they are called the Indigo Girls. These three girls are best friends but they all live different social lives. They say that if they all went to the same school they don’t think they would be such good friends.

Zara’s an ‘alpha’, the first letter of the Greek alphabet. She’s the popular girl.  Tilly is more of the nerdy kind of girl. She’s a very smart girl but also very quiet.  Then there is Meike. Meike is the kind of girl who is in the middle. She’s popular but she is also a nerdy kind of girl but she doesn’t really know what place she is at.

The Indigo Girls is a book about three girls who go to different schools and live in different social worlds. They’re best friends outside of school but they’re not the best of friends when Meike isn’t there to glue them together. This book was good. It told me that everyone can be friends no matter what, and nobody is perfect. I would recommend this story for girls under the age of 14 to 11, maybe even girls aged from 15 to 16.

Sara, Year 8

June 11

‘Six Impossible Things’ by Karen Wood

Six impossible things“So keep your head high, keep your chin up, and most importantly, keep smiling, because life’s a beautiful thing and there is so much to smile about.”

Meet Dan Cereill, a young fourteen-year-old Australian nerd. His life has just been turned on its head as he has just been told that his dad is a homosexual. Dan and his Mum have had to move out of the house because of the findings. They move to hide the pain but it never goes away. Dan’s mother is struggling with her business. She owns a wedding cake business that is failing. Dan is not worried. Instead, he just carries on.

Dan has one concern: the girl next door named Estelle. Estelle is the girl of Dan’s dreams. Dan has never approached or talked to Estelle. Dan constantly tries to talk to Estelle but he becomes too nervous and backs away. Dan searches through Estelle’s attic to find out more about her. Dan finds her diary and decides to read it. Eventually Estelle finds out and decides never to talk to Dan again. He blew it. That might have been the only chance he would ever get.

Dan has some friends in the story. The main characters include Dan, Estelle, Frank (Dan’s Best Friend), Janie (Estelle’s Best Friend), Harold (Dan’s Dog), and Dan’s Mum.

Dan’s life is a mess so he has narrowed it down to six impossible things that he thinks would never happen.

I enjoyed the book because it talked about issues that happen in everybody’s life. The book also has humour and some young love. I would recommend the book to mainly teenagers but anyone can read it as well. I’m sure you will love reading it just like I did.

Finley, Year 8

——————-

“‘Guys, please, one life-changing shock at a time,’ I felt like saying.”

Six impossible things is a heart-filled novel that is about a fourteen year old dorky kid named Dan, who is having a very tough life. His parents are going through a divorce, his mum’s business is failing, he is going broke and is moving into his great aunt Adelaide’s house that smells of animals, and is dealing with his dad coming out of the closet. His life isn’t the best, but the one thing that he is not upset about, is Estelle, the gorgeous girl that lives next door who doesn’t even notice him. Apart from the drama at home, Dan also gets bullied at school. Now Dan’s life is left up to six impossible things…..

  1. Kiss Estelle
  2. Get a job
  3. Cheer up his mother
  4. Try not to be a loser at his new school
  5. Talk to his father and ask why he left
  6. Find out how to be a good person, and don’t be the person that leaves his family out of the blue

I think that this is a heart-filled book. Some of the events that Dan overcomes in the novel are realistic and some people also face those situations. But I also liked the book because I can relate to it in some parts. However, as I was reading the book, I realised that the story lines were well written and engaging. When I got near the end of the novel, I thought that is was a bit predictable, because other stories are similar.

I would recommend this novel mainly to girls above the age of ten who like heart-filled, realistic stories. I would give this book a 3/5 because in some chapters of the book, I found them thrilling, extreme and some were tension building, but I found some other parts a bit predictable and tedious. Overall I think that it was a great, realistic book that is suitable mainly for teenage girls.

Rhyannon, Year 8

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”Invisible behind sheer curtains I stood in the bay window at the front of the house wishing to be anywhere but here, wishing it were two months ago and I had a mutant power that let me change the course of history, when she walked up the street, dreaming, completely unaware of the seismic shift in my heart she was creating with each step”.

A boy called Dan moved to a new house in a new town. Coming from a broken family, Dan and his mum were bankrupt because of his Dad’s bad choices. At first Dan hated everything until he laid eyes on the most beautiful girl in the world – Estelle his neighbour. Dan started to become a bit obsessed with this girl and in Estelle’s eyes Dan was a bit of creep. In the end Dan and Estelle started to talk and get along very well. Dan made a really bad choice and broke Estelle’s heart. At the end everything comes together for Dan and he lives a very happy life with Estelle.

The main characters in the book are Dan, Estelle and Jazo. The book is set in a small town. Dan didn’t like going to a small town from having lived in a big city, however in the end he started to like it. Dan was a 15-year-old boy who was shy and he was also a very good runner. Dan started to work out and became stronger physically and mentally.

Unfortunately I didn’t like the book as I believe that it was best suited for young ladies, not a boy of my age. Even though the book wasn’t my pick, I did like the part when Dan and Jazo had the big fight at the end of the book. I would recommend this book to young ladies of the age of about 12 to 16.

Michael.S Year 8

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Six impossible things is a very eye-opening and very enjoyable book for many young and older readers.

The beginning on the book is very intriguing and catches you right away. It is based on real life problems that could happen to anyone.

This story is set in a little town with Dan as one of the main characters and he is quite shy but outgoing at the same time. Estelle is also another main character and is Dan’s best friend. She is also quite shy but is very nice and caring.

Dan is from a broken family and has no place to go due to how his family business went broke and the bad decisions his dad made. Dan is really hating his life at the moment and will never answer the phone when his dad calls. A couple of days later the most beautiful girl in the world turned up at school. His eyes glimmered and his heart became one again. This young girl named Estelle thought Dan was a creep every time he wanted to talk to her. This love hate relationship turned out for the best in the end.

I really I enjoyed this book because I really connected with the characters and the way the book just turned in a blink of an eye. This book also kept me on the edge of my seat and made me want to keep reading the book. I recommend this book to teenagers and some adults between the age of thirteen to twenty.

Kyle V. Year 8

May 18

‘Looking For Alaska’ by John Green

“She loved mysteries so much that she became one.”

looking-for-alaskaJohn Green is one of my favourite authors and his recent book that I have read (Looking for Alaska) is definitely one that I will be reading again.

One of the main characters in the book is Miles Halter, often referred to by his friends as Pudge, just an ordinary smart teen who has the average couple of friends and is keen on getting good marks in school. He never thought that just by meeting one girl it would change his life and his perspective on things.

Alaska is definitely not a person that you would expect to meet every day either. She’s a go-getter, keen to accomplish anything that might stand in her way. She is always getting herself and others into trouble. You could say that she doesn’t really listen to other people’s opinions and she’s not the sort of person where you’d want to be on their bad side.

Miles and Alaska have a connection through poetry and together they go through a number of different obstacles. Life for Pudge and Alaska seems to just keep on going up and down all the time.

The minute I started reading this book I felt as if I had to force myself to put it down. I read it whenever I could, in bed, during TV; I’d even try to sneak a few pages in during dinner. I have to say if there isn’t a book that I like the look of I don’t really look very far into it but John Green is an exceptional writer and poet.

I would definitely recommend this book to people the ages of 13-18 and especially if you love a little romance with a dash of laughter and a sprinkle of poetry. If you loved “The Fault In Our Stars” (By John Green) then I can guarantee you that once you get your head into this novel, you just won’t be able to put it down.

Emma H., Year 9

May 18

‘Recovery Road’ by Blake Nelson

“That’s the thing: You can change things. You can repair mistakes. You can restart your life if you have to.”

RecoveryRoadEverything was getting better for Madeline in the Spring Meadows Rehab Center. Stewart, a boy from rehab was due to join Madeline in the outside world once again shortly following her departure from Spring Meadows. After leaving this rehab facility, Madeline and Stewart were both faced with many important decisions, contributing to Madeline getting back on her feet, both of them moving towards their futures. Together they both had their ups and downs on the way, and whether they could keep a relationship posed more of a question than an answer.

During the rest of Madeline’s schooling life, she met new people, made new friends and even some enemies, which helped her in realising who her true friends were. Many tough decisions, an assurance that “Mad Dog Maddie” wouldn’t reappear and a change in lifestyle had to be made for Madeline to strive towards her goals.

I really enjoyed the book, “Recovery Road” because it is about a 16 year old girl who had faced addictions, went to rehab, met some new friends and changed her life for the better. The way that Blake Nelson defined the characters and scenes throughout the novel had my eyes glued to every page. The descriptive language the author used in this novel made it easy to imagine the scenarios as they were happening in my head. As the story advanced, there were many unexpected twists that held my attention, making me not want to abandon the book. The ending of the book “Recovery Road” was unexpected yet satisfying; it has made me want to read a sequel.

I would recommend this book to teens and young adults between the ages of 13 and 20 who would be interested in reading about people’s addictions and how they make their lives better for themselves, or reading into how some people spend their lives on an everyday basis. This book is honestly a great read. I’d rate “Recovery Road” 4 out of 5 stars.

Gen P, Year 9

May 18

‘Brotherband: The Outcasts’ by John Flanagan

BrotherbandThe Brotherband series, written by John Flanagan, is a five-part series of books about a group of eight outcasts and their journey to retrieve a holy item that was taken from their village.

This book is set in the times of the Vikings and is about a group of boys who come from the country of Skandia where, in order to become known as a warrior, you must face three months of training in groups called brotherbands. This book follows the adventure of Hal and Stig, two boys turning 16 and their journey through three months of weapon training, battle skills and ship handling, along with their six companions. These eight were all outcasts because they were regarded as different.

During their training, they are under the watchful eye of the ex-drunk Thorn, who is Hal’s guardian by the request of Hal’s father, Mikel, who died in battle. Thorn was also regarded as an outcast because of his right arm being lost the same day as Mikel lost his life.

This novel also partially follows the pirate Zavac, who captains the raven, a large black war ship. Zavac, along with his 50-man crew, attacks traders for their gold and wares. During the months of training, Hal’s brotherband, the Herons, raise to the top of the challenges to become the victors, only to have their victory ruined by an attack from raiders, seeking the mysterious amber artefact, the Andomal.

I quite enjoyed this book and have enjoyed what I have read of the rest of the series. I would recommend this book to a teen audience and rate it 4½ out of 5 stars.

Lachlann N Year 9

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Blood spilling, waves crashing and swords slashing. In Brotherband The Outcasts, you will find all this and more. In this book you will see the tales of an old sailor by the name of Hal, being set to the challenge of making a Brotherband out of five outcasts: Thorn, Ulf, Wulf, Jesper and Edvin.

The story is set in an old town by the name of Skandian. It’s an island where young boys are chosen to be apart of a Brotherband and fight in wars.

Hal is an old sailor who saw is dad die when he was still a young child. People think of him as a drunk living on the streets. Thorn and his misfit friends have all been declined from a Brotherband. One day Thorn gets a job as a craftsman building boats. Halfway through a build, the man paying for the ship dies. Thorn pays the rest of the money so he may have the boat. He makes a brotherband out of himself and his friends with the leader being Hal.

The book has an amazing storyline that hooks you straight away. If you like action you’ll like this book. This book combines fighting, sailing and a good story all in one.

The novel would be good for teenage boys who like action, fantasy, a good story, hardship and friendship. Nicholas L., Year 8

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Do you like adventure? Do you like action? Well this is the book for you! Will Hal and Stig survive the Brotherband training?

Set in the Viking times, this story happens to be twelve years after Mikkel, Hal’s father’s death. Erak, captain of the ship, called for an attack so when they reached their destination, he sent his two best warriors to invade and inspect first: Mikkel and Thorn. Mikkel was a taller and skinnier man and Thorn was a shorter more solid man. Best friends, these two went in for attack. Out of the blue, they were seen. A spear was thrown, hitting Mikkel in the heart, a nightmare, witnessed for Thorn. He fell over and as he died, Thorn promised him that he would take care of his family (his ten-year-old son and his wife). He rushed back to the ship and they had to leave immediately before they were attacked. On the way back home things weren’t too good either. There was a massive storm with heavy rain and thunder. This caused a big stress on the ship. Thorn’s right arm got tangled in rope and then it snapped and ripped off. This made Thorn even more depressed. He couldn’t fight, attack or do any of his daily tasks.

Six years after this incident Thorn became a drunk. Every night he tried to drink his depression away until Mikkel’s wife told him to deliver what he had promised to Mikkel, to look after his wife and son which he was way off doing. She let him work around the house for a minimum wage.

Another six years later he had become what he’d used to be. Hal had got a job with Anders, the local ship builder. Anders had a ship that he wanted to sell so Hal bought it. He later named his ship the Heron. He had to get ready for Brotherband training. During Brotherband training in Skandia, sixteen-year-old boys are taught the basics of ship navigation and fighting. A total of twenty-eight boys are divided into three for each Brotherband: the Herons, the Sharks and the Wolves. Hal, finding himself the unready leader of the Herons, must push and challenge his team to the limits to survive the Brotherband training.

I liked this book because it’s interesting and intriguing because it’s adventurous and set in the Viking times. I would recommend this story for 12 – 17 years boys to read.

By Jake B., Year 8

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A bunch of misfits trying to be warriors… What do you think they will do? To achieve their goal of becoming a warrior they must be chosen and placed in a particular team and complete a hard course that goes for months. It targets their skills in seamanship and fighting.

This is a fantasy and action based book that is set in the Viking age, which means there are frequent wars that come and go. It is hard to make money, so Thorn and his colleagues work at a boat shop where they make boats and sell them to the public. One day Thorn and his colleagues were coming back from a raid and the sea got very rough. The boat started it sink but Thorn, being the brave person everyone knows him as, tried to save the boat and a bit of vine got caught around his arm and ripped his hand straight off his arm. Twelve years after Mickle’s death, his son Hal has been training and a person who builds what he wants to with the help of his good friend Stig. But he also has another friend he hangs out with called Anderson a local ship builder. A while after helping Anderson, Hal buys a ship and names it Heron. He learned to sail it and after training he chose to beach the Heron and start training for the brotherband. The young men aged 16 were put into a group, The Herons, alongside The Wolves and The Sharks. Hal found him the leader of the Herons, which was made up of a group of outcasts who were friends.

This book was a good read but in my opinion this book is more for older kids from 12 to 19 to really understand it. In conclusion, the book is a great book but the younger kids wouldn’t understand most of it and would probably get bored very quickly.

By Lochie, Year 8

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Will he be chosen or not? In Skandia, there is only one way to become a fierce warrior. Only the brave and threatening men can be chosen for the Brotherband. The men are chosen for teams called Brotherband and must be trained for months and months of hard and terrifying training. The hard men train with sharp and frightening weapons and battle with tactics. Hal Mikkelson is the leader of the Brotherband.

There are two brothers Thorn and Mikkel who are the most frightening warriors. All of a sudden Mikkel gets a spear thrown right through his back, going through his heart out the front of his chest. That day Mikkel dies being a brave and fierce warrior saving the people in need. After that Thorn was heart broken. He didn’t know what to do in his life. Thorn was not in good shape. He turned into an alcoholic. Mikkel’s wife was heartbroken because of what happened to Mikkel but still stayed strong. She wanted Thorn to teach some kids how to battle so he could get back into shape. Mickel’s wife convinced Thorn to do it. After all Thorn’s experiences with battling and training hard he would have had to be an amazing trainer. Thorn trained Mikkel’s son for him to protect his mother seeing she has no one else.

After sailing the Heron, Hal beaches the ship and gets ready for Brotherband training. During Brotherband training boys who are 16 in Skandia are taught the basics of fighting and ship navigation. While Brotherband training continues, a Skandian fleet is attacked. The leader of the pirates, Zavac, demands to know about the secret treasure of Skandia. The leader of the trading fleet vows not to tell until he sees that one of the pirates had grabbed his nephew. Knowing that his nephew shouldn’t die for his mistakes, the head of the trading fleet begins to tell about the treasure, the abnormal, knowing that it is well guarded. As he talks he remembers that one night every year it is not so well protected.

I liked this book because there was lots of action and there was always something going on that wasn’t boring. I would recommend this book to males aged from 12 to 16.

By Seth W., Year 8

 

November 28

‘All I Ever Wanted’ by Vikki Wakefield

All I ever wanted       If you like romance, a little bit of humor and if you have a soft spot then you will definitely love this book.

The story is set in a small town in a very rough neighborhood, where family businesses are drug dealing and loan sharking. All the neighbors are either very strange or very terrifying and they don’t all get along. Mim is a young girl who lives in this neighborhood and dreams of a different life – a life where she is far away from where she lives now. She has always dreamed of a better life and she clings on to the idea of leaving where she is now and going off somewhere else nicer and better. She sets some strict rules for herself and she is determined that if she follows these rules she might be able to leave her life and not turn out like her mother.

But Mim struggles to follow these rules because of her mother and some of the things her mother does. She struggles and when they are broken her life changes forever.

I did enjoy the book but I didn’t. I enjoyed the characters but I did not enjoy the plot of the story. The characters were really realistic to teenagers in today’s society but the plot didn’t grab my attention. It seemed a little bit boring at the start of the book and I was waiting for something to happen and something did happen but I wasn’t thrilled or shocked, I was a little disappointed. I would have to recommend this book to teenagers around the age of 14 – 16 or 17-year-old girls, which is about the age Mim is, and it relates to those ages in today’s society.

Ashley, Year 9

November 25

‘Before I Die’ by Jenny Downham

Before I dieI hopefully never have cancer because in Tessa Scott’s eyes it doesn’t seem fantastic. But you know what is fantastic? The book Before I Die by Jenny Downham. This book is about a 16-year-old girl named Tessa and her need to do something with her life before she dies of cancer. With that, she creates a list of things she wants to do with her best friend named Zoey.

The book starts out with a very lazy Tessa in desperate need for a boyfriend. This lazy teen, who doesn’t feel the need to do anything because she’s about to die, has her friend take her to a club where they meet two boys. The boys they meet take both girls back to their house where they attempt to achieve the first thing on Tessa’s list: sex. Other things on Tessa’s list include things like: saying yes to everything for a day and taking drugs.

Another main theme of the book that is mentioned many times throughout the book and is why Tessa is unmotivated to do anything is that she is going to die. Tessa has been diagnosed with a form of terminal cancer known as acute lymphoblastic leukemia. It doesn’t sound very good! This makes her tired and lazy and very apathetic.

Tessa would not have been able to achieve some of the things on her list if it weren’t for some of the amazing people in her life like: her best friend Zoey, her little brother Cal and her neighbour Adam. These three people, along with her dad, play major roles in Tessa’s life.

I would recommend this book to teenagers, particularly girls, because many people of that are group would be able to relate to many of the themes of the book and most themes would not be suitable for younger kids. I would give the book ‘Before I Die’ a 4 out 0f 5.
~ Laura, Year 9

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What would it be like to be sixteen and dying?

Tessa is sixteen and dying of leukaemia. She only has a few months to live and wants to create a list of things to do before she dies. Some of these include sex and drugs. While trying to complete her list with her best friend Zoey, she meets Adam. Adam shows her the beauty of life and herself. While Tessa is busy fitting in her dates with Adam between going to hospital and having fun with Zoey, her mum, dad and brother are trying to cope with the news of her dying. Cal, Tessa’s brother, is extremely funny and loves to perform magic tricks, even though they almost never work out. Tessa has the time of her life as she goes motorbike riding with Adam, shoplifting with Zoey and shopping with Cal.

 

This is a superb book because it shows that happiness can be found in everyone, even in people who are expecting the worst. I really enjoyed the book, “Before I Die” because there were no boring moments. The story was always introducing something new and keeping the story up-beat! I recommend this book for mature young adults or older as it contains adult themes.

Makayla N, Year 9

November 21

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

  mac slater 1 The wing hit the ground and BAM!

       Cool Hunter is set in Australia in a small town where Mac and Cat are trialing for the position for cool hunters to win a trip to New York. Cool Hunter is a website that features four cool hunters around the world to suggest what’s cool.

       Mac Slater is a nerd. He and his best friend Paul are coming up with new inventions. Mac and his best friend Paul invested a whole year to build their flying bike. After they finished their invention they crashed it while they were testing this new bike. Speed and Tony are the website creators of Cool Hunter and have asked Mac and Cat to trial for the new Cool Hunter position to win a trip to New York. In this trial they have to upload five daily vlogs to suggest what things are cool. These videos get uploaded on the Cool Hunters website and the viewers have to vote what ones they think are cool.

      I suggest this book, Cool Hunter to a younger boy between seven and 13 who likes building and creating stuff. I liked this book because Mac is very creative and he is kind of a daredevil. I would rate this book 7 out of 10, I really enjoyed the book and it was interesting throughout the whole book.

      Tristan Year 9

 

November 19

‘Starfish Sisters’ by J.C.Burke

Starfish sisters“Starfish Sisters” written by J.C. Burke, is a story about four girls who all love to surf. Their names are Georgie, Kia, Micki and Ace. The four girls meet at a surf camp and that’s when the happiness, tears and adventures begin. “Starfish Sisters” is a book about the heart and mind. There are boys, breakups, surfing and most importantly the four discover the meaning of friendship.

      Ace is the eldest of the four girls and also the most confident as she is a beautiful model and is also sponsored. Then there are Georgie and Kia who are best friends before the camp and then Micki the youngest of the four. Georgie loves surfing but the pressure of competition is becoming too much for her. Kia can be very unpredictable as she battles with insecurities, jealousy, and having to live up to others’ expectations. Micki also has her own problems as she has to deal with family back home and Kia giving her the most unwelcome arrival. All four girls share the same goal of being selected to be included in the National Training Team.

      This is a book about true friendship, acceptance and a common bond of sharing the same dreams. Will all the girls make it into the team and stay friends? Find out as you read about the Starfish Sisters’ achievements and battles along the way.

Gabriella, Year 9

November 19

‘Silent to the Bone’ by E.L.Konigsberg

Silent to the Bone“911 what’s your emergency?”

Who knew one call could change so much? When his best friend Branwell is charged with injuring his baby sister and refuses to speak, Connor takes it upon himself to prove him innocent. ‘Silent to the Bone’ is mysterious tale of fighting for what you believe in and never giving up on your friends. Does this sound like the book you?

 

During this story, E.L Konigsberg examines the communication between people without speaking. It is intriguing and somewhat interesting but after time the book becomes repetitive and dull. The overall style of the book is good, the writing contemporary and is more suitable for young adults. The novel delves into mystery and suspense, which I personally think wears off quickly.

 

Branwell’s family is slightly dysfunctional, so when his Father remarries and a new child is brought into the family, many suspect the 13-year-old of being jealous and purposely hurting his younger sister. But Connor doesn’t believe his quiet friend would be capable of such a thing and makes it his responsibility to prove Branwell’s innocence.

 

I do not mean to sound harsh, but I have only rated this book two stars. There is no doubt that others would find this novel enjoyable, but it is not the type of book that I would usually pick up. I would recommend it for students fourteen and older, ‘Silent to the Bone’ is only a story someone can read if they find it interesting. The audience type is not gender specific and there are no obvious traits that would suggest whether you would enjoy such a book. Some of the themes I was slightly uncomfortable with, but I did find the whole concept predictable. I would recommend this book to people who enjoy crime and mystery novels, but not to those who relish adventures and fairytales. All in all, I didn’t hate this story. There was times when I found it interesting and others when I found myself struggling to turn a page. But I cannot recommend this book.

 

Chelsea, Year 9

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Branwell used to be normal until the 911 call that changed him. Now he’s fighting for his innocence, refusing to speak, so Connor takes the lead, in clearing Barnwell’s name. The book opens with the mysterious 911 call. This call reveals that 13-year-old Branwell Zamborska is struck dumb during the same accident that puts Nikki, his little sister, into coma. Questioning Branwell’s innocence, he is put into a juvenile detention centre. As they question different people in Branwell’s life, the reader begins to see what is hidden beneath Branwell’s silence. The truth.

 

The book “Silent to the bone” by E.L. Konisgsburg is a story about the true determination of friendship and the fight for innocence. I didn’t really enjoy this book; it lacked adventure and was very predictable. The book was boring for me. I found it hard to come to terms with a character who never spoke. The book dragged on. However, the style of writing was okay, and the plot could have been more interesting if it had been written better.

Olivia, Year 9

 

November 18

‘Fighting Reuben Wolfe’ by Markus Zusak

 fighting ruben wolfe      BAM! WACK! And his opponent is down. Ruben Wolfe wins again. Fighting Ruben Wolfe, written by Markus Zusak.

      Ruben Wolfe is a young boy in a kind of poverty-stricken family, but he has an awesome brother, Cameron Wolfe. This story is about the two brothers, who try a lot to help their family through their financial struggle. Their dad can’t get a job after a work injury, their mum is the only person who gains income. Their big sister is ‘common’ and is always hung over. Their big brother is actually successful; he has a well-paid job, a girlfriend and is now living on his own. The two brothers can see that they really need to do something to help out their family with their financial problems. The brothers begin to do boxing. Ruben Wolfe is well known at his school as a hard fighter, as for Cameron, not so much. In the ring Ruben can get up to $50 per fight, but Cameron can only get the change that is thrown at him when he loses. Ruben is now getting the girls, the money and the power of their family. This power is changing him. He is becoming grubby and disrespectful. Will Cameron be able to persuade Ruben that he is being bad, or will he continue his dangerous road to the Bad Lands? This book is more of a dramatic type of a book.

       This book would probably be recommended for boys from the ages of 14-17 years old. I would rate this book a 3 out of 5 stars. This is because I wouldn’t usually read this type of books and would rather not read these types of books. By Liam, Year 9.

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If your family was struggling for money and you knew you could make a difference, would you? Would you consider taking up boxing to earn the money?

       This story is based on two young boys who get recruited to a boxing club. The boys get told that they get money for wining. They think it over and realize that they could earn the money for their parents. Even though the boys’ family is poor and they are willing to make any money they can, their parent refuse to give them money to help out. Even when they know they’re not allowed to, they still try to help out the family without them knowing that they’re fighting for money.

       The main characters in this novel are Cameron and Ruben. Cameron and Ruben are these two kids who are raised in a poor family. Ruben is the older brother of Cameron and is Cameron’s role model. Ruben is the popular kid at school and Cameron is his nerdy brother. When they both get signed up for the fight club it really changes them both in their heart and spirit.

        I like this book so much because it’s a book I haven’t read before. For example, I have always read books that have been given to me by my teacher. For this book our group chose it and it was different because it was a book we all liked and were willing to read. I would recommend this book to people who like an action-filled thrilling books.

Taylor, Year 9

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This very humorous novel by Markus Zusak is based on a family that is quite poor and desperate for money but it’s mainly about the two brothers of the family, Cameron and Ruben. Ruben is the older of the two being the big, strong, buff, popular kid in high school, whereas Cameron is the younger nerdy brother that isn’t very well liked. Since the father of the family won’t accept the dole, the two brothers of the family decide to do something about it. At first they babysit dogs until an illegal boxing manager who holds illegal boxing fights comes to talk to the older brother Ruben after a fight with someone who called his sister this and that. The manager signs both of the boys up and the fighting begins.

 

Some issues include fighting above their weight against people that are the favourites in their local fighting joint. Other issues show that in most of the fights the brothers are in, they are the underdogs of the whole boxing match. Reading about their fights from the different perspectives of the brothers makes an absolutely fantastic read.

 

This book is great for teenage males as it is very humorous and has an Aussie slang swing to it. Also it is very fast moving and about hitting other people, which the teenage audience loves. This book is similar to a typical Hollywood boxing blockbuster such as Rocky. The boys fight for money to help their whole family out; they put their bodies on the line and get really busted up in some of their fights, which are electrifying to read. I would rate this book a definite 9 out of 10.

 

By Lochie, Year  9

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Fighting Ruben Wolfe is a compelling book about brotherhood, family values and sticking together.

 

In this inspiring book by Marcus Zusak two brothers take up boxing to help their family out with monetary issues but the fight in boxing becomes much more. It goes from a fight for a win to a fight for life, a fight to feel like a winner and a fight to believe that it’s all worth it. Would you let a seedy guy talking about boxing into your house when no one’s home? Would you accept a dodgy deal to box in an unsupervised environment? Well that’s exactly what Ruben and Cameron Wolfe do.

 

The two brothers take up a deal to box to help out their family, proving they will do everything and anything to help their family but when they realize what it all means, their fight in the ring suddenly means nothing. They realize that their fight is insignificant in comparison to their fight to be someone and help make their brotherhood grow into something amazing.

 

Fighting Ruben Wolfe is about family, brotherhood, loyalty and, obviously, fighting. Fighting Ruben Wolfe would suit teenage males as it has a lot of fighting but also has relevant themes in teenage boys’ lives. I would rate this book 4 out of 5.

 

Ryan, Year 9

 

November 12

‘Go Ask Alice’ by Anonymous

 

   Go ask Alice   Drugs. Sex. Boys. A troubled teenage girl. Interested? Then the novel ‘Go Ask Alice’ is for you.

      Although we never get to learn her name, this fifteen- year old girl wrote a secret diary for just over a year about her hardship with drugs, sex and boys. It all started when someone slipped LSD into her drink at a party. From there her whole world went downhill… steeply…. Throughout these diary entries she sells drugs to young children, hitchhikes to Colorado, lives on the streets and much, much more. No, this is not a glamorous story but it gives us an insight into the world of heavy drugs, which is certainly not glamorous.
I found this book thrilling to read with all of its twists and turns. The sense of truth behind it was remarkable. To think that this actually happened to a girl so close to my age and continues to happen today captured me. The narrator describes the high of the drugs, which may sound nice but she also describes the down afterwards. You can picture everything that is going on in her head and around her through her language. This is book is so inspiring that I wish I was able to meet her and really get to know her as a person and not just a drug addict. I would recommend ‘Go Ask Alice’ to students my age because this can generally be when the drug scene kicks in, therefore they can be educated on the possible outcomes of substance abuse. I would gladly give this inspiring book 4.5 out of 5 stars!

Zali S. Year 9

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Drugs. Addiction. Acceptance. ‘Alice’, was the 15-year-old girl drowning under the pressures of life. We don’t know her real name or where she lives. We do know she had a passion for life’s beauty, boys and was wild and loving. One mistake sent her in a downward spiral into depression, loneliness and the seductive world of drugs. She was sucked into mistakes that would change her life forever. This was due to her need for acceptance.  Although Alice never planned for this to happen, she became trapped in a world from which she couldn’t escape.

 

Innocent Alice takes a dive into the world of drugs. She loved it. She first fell victim to the effects of LSD at a party. Drugs became the only priority in her life. She forgets school, family and friends. Her continual need for drugs caused a need for money. Money drove her to do things never expected for Alice. Her life was slowly spiraling out of control. She was entering the nightmarish world of drugs. It wasn’t long before Alice found herself imprisoned in a mental hospital.  She was vulnerable and not emotionally resilient. These personality traits gave her horrible consequences in life.

 

I would recommend ‘Go Ask Alice’ to teenagers and young adults. The book is good for high school students. It relates to teens through the struggle for acceptance, family issues, body image, sexuality, friends and boys.  It describes social pressures, the world of drugs and the struggle with addiction. This book opens the reader’s mind to the devastating effects on drugs and it is extremely intense.  I would rate ‘Go Ask Alice’ 4 out of 5 stars. Sophie, Year 9.     

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One teenage girl. One life. One diary. Partying. Drugs. Sex. Boys.

‘Go ask Alice’ is a book about a teenage 15-year-old girl who writes a secret diary about her life. This innocent girl gets introduced to partying, boys, drugs, sex and, from there on, her whole life turns upside down. It all started on the holidays when Alice went down to her grandparents’ house for a couple of weeks. Her life started to go downhill when she went to a party and someone put LSD into her drink.

 

Alice’s diary is very personal and she writes in it every day: what she does, her feelings, selling drugs to not only older people but little children, she also lives on the streets, gets addicted to drugs and so much more. Alice’s life will never be the same again as she is keeping everything a secret. Her parents start noticing her changes but they can’t help her because they don’t know what’s happening and think she is still their perfect daughter.

 

Why I liked this book so much was because this relates to our society and generation nowadays. Many teenagers are under the influence of drugs, having sex, going partying, being peer pressured into doing things we don’t want to do and lives going downhill from then on. This book is really inspiring and very relevant to many teenagers. This book is influential and shows teenagers how bad drugs really are and what the outcomes are of any abuse towards drugs. Many teenagers now keep secrets, hide things from their parents and do illegal things that Alice does. I would recommend this book to teenagers over the age of 14 and also young adults and rate this book very highly.

 

Monet J., Year 9

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      Have you ever wondered what goes through the mind of a troubled teenage girl, whose only escape is drugs? Well, ‘Go Ask Alice’ is the book for you!

      ‘Go Ask Alice’ is the diary of an anonymous 15 year old girl in the 1960s. It all started when her drink was spiked with LSD at a New Year’s Eve party with her friends. She enjoys the high; it was nothing she’d ever felt before. Little did she know the substances were more addictive than she’d ever thought. Throughout the book, she admits to taking and selling drugs, running away and sleeping with older guys. The owner of the diary tells us that she feels like no one else accepts her unless she is with these boys or selling the drugs. She runs away with her friend and experiences what she thought would be a glamorous Brooklyn life, but it turns out to be a dangerous and saddening trip.

      This book was a very intriguing read and I also found it relatable and interesting, as she is the same age as me, but also I found it exciting and exhilarating because of all the commotion with the owner of the diary and with the people that surrounded her in her life. This book was also a learning experience about the dangers of drugs. I would give this exciting book a 4 out of 5 stars.

      Alex, Year 9.

                              

November 8

‘Six Impossible Things’ by Fiona Wood

Six impossible things   ‘GUYS, PLEASE, ONE LIFE-CHANGING SHOCK AT A TIME.’

      Six Impossible Things by Fiona Wood is an extraordinary novel about adolescent issues. Dan Cereill is a 14-year-old boy whose Dad announced that he is gay and walks out, and from then on everything just gets worse. Would you consider reading this interesting book but beware… once you start, you won’t stop!!

     The book is set mainly at Dan’s house and at his new school. After his dad left, Dan and his mother were forced to move due to the bank repossessing their house. Dan left his private school and they moved to their recently passed auntie’s house.

     Here at the new suburb, Dan moves to a state school where he meets the girl of his dreams. Her name is Estelle, and coincidentally she lives next door to him. His mother’s wedding cake business is failing but for now, Dan has just narrowed his messed-up life down to six impossible things…

1.  KISS ESTELLE

2.  GET A JOB

3.  CHEER HIS MOTHER UP

4.  TRY NOT TO BE A LOSER AT HIS NEW SCHOOL

5.  TALK TO HIS FATHER AND FIND THE ANSWER OF WHY HE LEFT

6.  BE GOOD. BE THE PERSON WHO DOESN’T DITCH HIS FAMILY OUT OF THE BLUE

     I enjoyed the book but at some stages I found it a bit weird/disturbing. The reason for this is because of a few cases of stalking. At one stage of the book Estelle slept in Dan’s bed without him knowing and Dan snuck into her attic and read her diaries.

     Fiona Wood said that ‘Six Impossible Things’ would make you smile and cheer for the underdog. Dan Cereill coped with life well. Considering the changes he has made, it makes it impossible not to be interested and continue reading. I recommend this book to people aged 12-20; this book is suitable for readers who enjoy books about life-changing experiences and some romance. I would rate ‘Six Impossible Things’ 3.5 stars out of 5.

Samson B, Year 9.

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There’s this girl I know. I know her by heart. I know her in every way but one: actuality. Her name is Estelle. I yearn for her. ” (Six Impossible Things, p.1)

 

      ‘Six Impossible Things’ is set around the life of a 14-year-old boy, Dan Cereill, as he starts a new life with new friends at a new school. The book tells how Dan has to complete a list of six somewhat impossible challenges, some of which include Dan kissing Estelle, a girl he has never meet before, trying not to be a complete nerd/loser and trying to talk to his father the next time he calls.

      Dan Cereill is a nerdy 14-year-old boy who lived a normal life until his parents go bankrupt, the bank sells everything this family owns and to put the cherry on top his dad anounces he is gay and leaves. Dan also has to cope with moving into his Great Aunt Adelaide’s house, which wouldn’t be a bad thing if it didn’t smell of animal urine and looked like an old museum. Estelle is the girl next door who Dan falls in love with without meeting her. Throughout this book, Dan and Estelle go on an emotional rollercoaster ride where Dan does something to gain her trust and later on loses it. Estelle somehow finds a way to do things her parents don’t allow her to do, some of which involve a large tree.

      I enjoyed reading this book because all the different characters made it an interesting read, especially Dan and Estelle, even though they are two different people from two very different worlds, Dan is a nerdy underdog who falls head over heels for Estelle, the beautiful and popular one that every girl wants to be and every guy wants to win.

      I would rate this book a 4/5 because even though it was exciting, thrilling and romantic it had some chapters that made you ask yourself what the author was thinking. I would recommend this book to girls aged 14-18 because girls around this age would be able to relate to Estelle as she and Dan go through this romantic journey.

       Ashley G, Year 9

November 8

‘Outcasts’ (Brotherband #1) by John Flanagan

 

brotherband-1-the-outcasts      Mighty Viking raids, awesome battles and fierce warriors. Brotherband, Outcasts by John Flanagan has all of this and more.

      This book begins twelve years prior with a Skandian Viking raid of a small town. Mikkel and Thorn are the mightiest warriors in the raid and deal with the village’s horsemen easily. As they turn to leave, a terrified villager kills Mikkel. It then goes on to tell of his son, Hal, twelve years later, who is struggling with fitting in because of his Araluan heritage living in a small Skandian town.

      Hal then becomes part of the brotherband program, a training program where three ‘brotherbands’ compete against each other in various challenges such as wrestling and a sprint. He finds himself leader of the Heron brotherband, which is made up of outcasts who weren’t chosen for the other brotherbands. Hal somehow has to attempt to build his brotherband’s confidence to beat the Sharks, a brotherband made up of Tursgud, who bullies the Herons, as well as his followers.

      Meanwhile, there is the mystery of Thorn, who somehow went from being a mighty warrior to a crippled drunk. The book ended with a cliff hanger that will make the reader want to read the rest of the series.

      I enjoyed the plot of this story as well as the characters however I found that it doesn’t do a good job at keeping the reader interested and there aren’t many twists and shocks; the story is a little predictable. This book would be suitable to a male pre-teen to early teen audience who like an adventure. People who enjoyed this book might also like the Rangers Apprentice series and the rest of the Brotherband series. I gave this a four out of five as I thought it had a good plot and some interesting characters.

      Anthony M. Year 9

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Drunken one-armed warriors and angry spear throwing villagers is what you might expect in Brotherband: Outcasts by John Flanagan.

 

The beginning of the book is set twelve years before the main story begins its course. Two Skandian warriors, Mikkel and Thorn, have set sail on the ship the Wolfwind to raid a small village. The raid was carried out successfully and everything was going according to plan, but out of nowhere, a spear thrown by an angered villager impaled Mikkel and killed him within minutes from blood loss. The story then pans to his best friend Thorn, who after Mikkel dies, loses his arm in a ship related accident, and his life slips away. Before Mikkel died, he requested that Thorn look after his wife Karina and son Hal, who later becomes the main character in this tale. Hal is not the strongest boy and is more of the type to be a ship builder but like any other Skandian boy he wanted to join the Brotherband program to learn how to fight like a warrior. As most books with a scrawny hero, there is a girl involved that he likes very much. This causes problems with Tursgud, his bully.

 

I give this book a 4 out of 5 stars because it is a very moving story of a boy who becomes a man. It has all the elements of a great fiction/Viking book. It describes every scene and character with great detail and doesn’t skip a beat in any action scene.

 

I would recommend this book to fiction lovers in their teens from about 13-16. It is a boy book with a lot of the main characters being male, and it has a little male humour touch. It has a Viking or pirate sort of feel, with a bit of adventure in there. If you like books like Deltora Quest or the movie Pirates of the Caribbean you would definitely be interested in this book.

Aryan S, Year 9.

November 7

‘Tall Story’ by Candy Gourlay

Tallstory              “Call me the second he keeps growing,” said Bernardo’s Mum with a worried face.

      Meet Bernardo, a regular man with one unusual difference, a tumor on the gland that regulates his growth. Bernardo lives in San Andres, with his Uncle and Aunty and his mother lives in the Philippines. This book involves family, sports and travel and if you like that, then you’ll like this book. This book includes many positive aspects but also has a few negatives. Whilst Bernardo is having his own ‘growing’ problems, one of the weaknesses is that the book can sometimes become confusing because the chapters are always changing from one family member to another. Apart from this, this book is an easy read and really intriguing.

       The story is set in two different countries, one being the Philippines where Bernardo and his auntie and uncle live and the other country being the United States, namely San Andreas, where Andi and Bernardo’s mother lives.

      Without giving too much away, the story is about a young teenage boy who cannot stop growing. That is not the only problem though. The community that Bernardo is a part of relies on him to stop earthquakes in their village. In the U.S. is Andi, Bernardo’s half sister who lives with her mother and step-father. They move houses and Andi joins a new school. She goes to try out for the school basketball but realises that it is an all boys team and she is not allowed to join. Bernardo then moves to San Andreas and gets along with Andi quite well through his humor and quirkiness.

       This is a very likeable book because it has all the characters and routines of an everyday family but at the same time still has some not so normal aspects. This book would be a great read for a male aged about 13 years old who enjoys sports and travel. I rate this book a 6 out of 10.

Molly, Year 9