November 20

‘Stormbreaker’ by Anthony Horowitz

Stormbreaker“You’re never too young to die.”

The novel Stormbreaker by Anthony Horowitz has won many awards, and has sold more than nine million copies worldwide. From this, it has become very successful since its publication in 2000. Now there is a series that contains 10 books, but Stormbreaker being the first has become very popular with teens.

The story takes place in London, England. It is about a fourteen year-old teenager, Alex Rider, whose parents were killed in a plane crash when he was an infant. Since then Alex has lived with his uncle, who has just died. As Alex tries to figure out who killed his uncle, he realizes there was more to his uncle than what he thought. Alex’s world gets turned upside down as he goes from a schoolboy to superspy within days. He was recruited into MI6, and now the government wants Alex to take over his uncle’s mission.

Stormbreaker is easy to read and hard to put down. I would recommend it to ages 12+. Both girls and boys would enjoy this novel as it is filled with lots of twists and turns. It has a thrilling and adventurous storyline. Many people can relate and look up to the character Alex plays, as he comes across as brave and courageous.

Stormbreaker was an enjoyable book because it really kept you wanting to continue to read and find out what happens next. But what I didn’t like about it is that it seemed unrealistic and I prefer books with realism. If you love spy books then Stormbreaker is the one for you. I would rate this book 3 out of 5 stars.

Michaela P, year 9

November 20

‘The Secret Hour’ by Scott Westerfeld

the-secret-hour-midnighters-book-1There are 24 hours in a whole day, right? What if I told you that there are actually 25 hours but you just can’t see the Secret Hour? Or what if I told you that there are only a few people who can see it and they are the people who you would least expect?

When Jessica Day moves to Bixby, Oklahoma, she finds out about The Secret Hour. When midnight strikes, time is frozen for one hour. Jessica has this one whole hour to do anything she wants but she is also in grave danger. Monsters who are bloodthirsty killers called ‘darklings’ roam around during the secret hour.

Jessica finds out that she’s not alone. Rex, Melissa, Dess and Jonathan are with her and they all have certain powers. Rex is a seer, who can see things that others don’t. Melissa is a mindcaster who can see darkest secrets from a touch of her fingertip. Dess is a polymath who can figure out any math equation that could be thrown at her. Jonathan is an acrobat who can defy the laws of gravity. They are called ‘the midnighters’. They have gifts that can be used against the darklings but Jessica doesn’t know her power. For Jessica, it’s a mystery but she knows something is special about herself. The darklings finally pounce after decades when Jessica arrives. Why? What is her great power that could possibly arouse the darklings in fear?

The Secret Hour’ is an amazing book that I have really enjoyed. There is this kind of mystery because you really want to know about Jessica’s power. Sometimes throughout the story, you can relate to some of the characters. It is this which gives this book its strength.

I would recommend this book to teenagers from the ages 13-18 because the characters in this book are around a similar age. It’s also suitable for both males and females. If you liked Percy Jackson, Heroes of Olympus or Keeper of the Lost Cities, and you all enjoy a bit of thrill, wonder and adventure in novels, then this is a book that is guaranteed to make you read throughout the night.

Joshua O, Year 9

November 16

‘Switched’ by Amanda Hocking

switched“‘You are a monster. You aren’t my child,’ my mother said as she held a butcher’s knife at me on my sixth birthday. My mother tried to kill me that day.”

Eleven years later Wendy doesn’t fit in, has no friends and has a bad temper.

A mysteriously hot new kid, Finn Holmes, comes to her school. One night she hears a knock on her window. She opens her blinds and she sees Finn Holmes there on the windowsill, which happens to be two stories high. She opens the window to talk to him but he climbs inside to Wendy’s horror and delight. ‘Come with me,’ he says, ‘you belong to the Trylle, a world where you fit in. Come with me. I’ll take you.’

Switched is an amazing book, the characters’ passion and the passion felt between the characters is so intense it is mesmerising. The passion flows off the page and flows straight into the soul. Wendy is easy to relate to because she isn’t perfect. In many books directed at girls the main character is usually perfect or almost perfect. But Wendy is a stubborn, short-tempered girl who has never really fitted in, however she finds that in another world her skills are considered a specialty. I was able to clearly picture the landscape of the scenes as the description of the places was vivid.

The only downfall of the book was that there was not much action but the book made up for that by having such high tension. The tension throughout the book kept me turning the pages

I recommend ‘Switched’ to teenage girls who like fantasy, adventure and romance books. It is an excellent book with amazing characters. I give this novel 4½ out of 5 stars as it kept me glued to the page wanting more. I can’t wait to read the rest of the trilogy. Pearl H, Year 9

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“It was my sixth birthday, and my mother was wielding a knife. Not a tiny steak knife, but some kind of massive butcher knife glinting in the light like in a bad horror movie. She definitely wanted to kill me.”

Do you enjoy reading books about fantasy being and hot guys? If so, Switched by Amanda Hocking is part of the New York Times best selling Trylle series. This book is a great read that has you hooked and waiting for every new chapter. The characters are blended together in a unique type of fiction that has never been seen before as Amanda Hocking pulls you into the matchless world of the Trylle. The story is about a 16 year-old girl called Wendy Everly whose mother tried to kill her when she was six. She is a troublemaker, perhaps a testament to her attempted assassination, and is different to the other kids. She can’t stand processed food, has unruly hair and can persuade people to do things that she wants just by thinking them. She knew she was different, but never thought much about it until Finn Holmes shows up at her school one day. He is dark and mysterious and has an unusual fascination with her. As she becomes closer to Finn he pulls her into a world she never knew, the world of the Trylle.

I genuinely enjoyed this book, though I did find Wendy a bit bratty and immature. The concept of the Trylle was a refreshing change from the stereotypical vampire books, and had me thoroughly hooked as I learnt more about the tribe. The characters, setting and Amanda’s special writing style added to enhance the brilliance of the story, along with the romantic interest between Fin and Wendy leaving me to award it a 4 star rating. I would recommend this book to female young adults because of the love interest, or anyone else who enjoys this type of supernatural/romantic fiction or anyone who enjoyed Immortal by Lauran Burd or Uglies by Scott Westerfeld. This is definitely a book you want to add to your collection!

By Charlotte, Year 9

November 13

‘Brotherband: The Outcasts’ by John Flanagan

BrotherbandImagine you and your friends are on a splintered ship sailing through the treacherous, rough and unforgiving seas. Well that is what Hal, a young Viking in training has to face in order to get his victorious title.

This amazing novel is only one of many of John Flanagan fictional quests and is certainly a thrill to the reader. It is filled with challenges, raids and extraordinary adventures that leave you in cliff hanging suspense. John Flanagan has started an extremely enjoyable series and his endless thought and amazing plot lines make this book impossible to overlook.

Life for Hal has never been great. He has had to grow up without a father figure to look up to, which is difficult when you live in a town best known for its warriors. He is also known as an outcast due to his heritage, a slur that will stay with him for the rest of his life. But Thorn, Hal’s best friend, slowly shakes him out of that thought and helps him become the leader and warrior he always wanted to be and, in the future, needed to be.

The cruel and harsh trial of the Brotherband training is the only way anyone in the town can become a fierce warrior. Teams are put head to head and try to survive the fierce environment that the Brotherband’s training has to offer. When the rules change and a third team is allowed to participate, Hal finds himself with the role of captain of the ship Heron and a crew of outcasts like himself who have barely even seen each other. It is up to Hal to show his team what the Brotherband training is really about and train them harder than they have ever trained before so as they can have even the slightest chance of winning.

This is an unbelievable novel and I have read nothing like it. In every corner you are given close calls and kept in cliff hanging suspense. John Flanagan’s amazing skills of writing thrilling adventure, action and fantasy novels have really excelled in this book especially. He sets the scene perfectly and with such attention to detail, so much so that it actually feels like you are in the action.

I highly recommend this book, especially to teenage boys looking for an amazing adventure. This is definitely one of John Flanagan’s best and he keeps you on the edge of your seat till the very end. I give this book a 5/5 as it kept me in the thrill and action of a real medieval Viking journey from beginning to end and is a fantastic start to a series that I am now looking forward to reading.

Caillin, Year 9

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Are you a person who loves adventure books filled with challenges and fighting? Well Brotherband: the Outcasts is the book for you with many adventurous challenges involving navigation and battling. The story is set in the times of the Vikings on an island called Skandian where groups of boys are placed into bands where they must complete challenges for points.

Hal is the main character in the story who unwillingly finds himself the leader of the Herons whose guardian is his friend Thorn who was requested to protect Hal by Hal’s father when he died.

I liked the book because the book has interesting challenges and makes you not want to put the book down. This is also a good book because it had heaps of action to keep the book exciting and the book is easy to read and people can easily relate to some characters.

I would recommend this book to males aged between 12 and 17 who are interested in action-adventure books because teenagers can relate to some characters.

I would rate Outcasts a 4 out of 5 stars because it is an enjoyable book to read.

I personally don’t know why you haven’t read this book yet if you haven’t read it. You won’t regret it. It’s a ‘must read’ book.

Jack, Year 9

July 15

‘One Piece’ by Eiichiro Oda

coverWealth, fame, power.

Gold Roger, the king of the Pirates, obtained all this and everything else the world had to offer and the last words he said sent all pirates around the world to the seas. ‘You want my treasure? You can have it. I left everything I had to offer in that place, now you just have to find it!’

Now pirates all over the world are in search of his great treasure ‘one piece’; the world is truly in a great era of pirates!

These are the first words ever uttered in the highly popular series, ‘One Piece’, an ongoing trilogy that was first published by Eiichiro Oda in 1997 and boasts over 320 million sales over its current 77 volumes. It is a Japanese shōnen jump which means that the target demographic is teen boys. However, more than 80% of readers are adults which shows that it is a series that almost anyone can enjoy. Its title, ‘One Piece’ refers to the name of the legendary treasure that Gold Roger left behind prior to his execution. It focuses around the genres of adventure but branches out to areas such as romance, deep emotion and mystery. It also has an anime (TV show) that is nearly up to Episode 700.

The main focus of the story is around pirates and the adventures that they have. The protagonist is a teenage boy named Monkey D. Luffy whose body was turned to rubber after he ate the Gum Gum Fruit, one of the mysterious devil fruits that give someone strange and interesting abilities upon consumption but cause them to be weakened when they come into contact with the ocean. There are three types of devil fruits: paramecia which gives the user an ability such as a body made from rubber, zoan which allows the user to transform their body into an animal such as a lion, and the most powerful of all, the logia type devil’s fruit that turns the user’s body into a substance such as fire or lightning.

As Luffy travels around the world, he encounters new friends who join his crew. These include Zoro the swordsman, Usopp the sniper, Nami the navigator, Sanji the chef, Chopper the doctor, Robin the archeologist and Brook the musician. The geography of the world involves four quarters. The North, South, East and West Blue which are separated by the red line, a giant wall travelling the circumference of the world and the grand line, the terribly dangerous ocean which is the location of the one piece. As the Pirates travel the world, they are always perused by the marines, the main enforcers of justice that run the world. As the Straw hat pirates (Luffy’s crew) go on more adventures, their bounties get raised and Luffy’s is currently at 400,000,000.

This is truly a great story with many different adventures. I enjoy reading it so much and have been doing so for over two years. The sense of adventure and freedom is a highly enticing experience that will always keep you wanting to continue reading. I recommend it to anyone who enjoys the previously mentioned genres that is looking for a new, and highly original story to read.

Age group: young teens to adulthood

Rating: 10/10

Sage M Year 8

June 23

‘Ship kings: The Coming of the Whirlpool’ by Andrew McGahan

The coming of the whirlpool‘When he was a great mariner of his day and famous through out the Four Isles, he was to be known by many names. He would be called the last of the Ship Kings.’

The ‘Ship Kings’ is a book that takes place in the Four Isles in the past somewhere around the 18th century. It is set around a boy named Dow Amber who is a descendant of Honous Tombs. He goes to the Claw to fish and to learn more about the sea.

The book has very dramatic parts but it has time skips that usually skip boring stuff. Instead of having those time skips they should’ve added something more exciting like if he met someone new or he went somewhere. It would be way better than some time skips.

The book doesn’t tell much detail about the characters. It doesn’t tell some of the characters’ backstories or why they are even there. There could’ve been a little more improvements to the book but I still enjoyed the story. I recommend this book to both genders but mostly to boys who are 12 – 15 who enjoy a fantasy world in the past who loves a band of characters with different personalities and it’s for people who love the sea.

Andrew S., Year 8

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Ship kings-the coming of the whirlpool is an exiting adventure novel that would be enjoyed by kids from 11-14. The book begins with Dow, an ordinary kid who works with his father as a logger in the wet forests of the New Island plateau, but this all changes when Dow first sets sight on the sea. As soon as he sees it, he knows that is where he belongs. The story takes its first twist when Dow decides to give up his life as a logger and leave his family behind to go to the Claw, a massive bay to the south of New Island.

Dow has many adventures working as a fisherman on the Claw, and meets a mysterious, bad tempered man called Nathaniel who teaches him the way of sailing. One day, a large fleet of ships come into the bay and docked in the main city of New Island, Dow hears of a mysterious device which allows the ship kings to navigate the sea, and also hears that this device has been lost to his people for centuries…

Ship Kings- coming of the whirlpool is a generally good book with decent plot twists and some exciting parts. But as with most books, there is room for improvement. Some parts of the book were slow and even slightly boring. Adding more content and/or action could fix this and make the book more enjoyable. Another problem is the explanation of characters. The book doesn’t give the reader much information about Dow and the other characters, leaving the reader clueless about some of the features of characters such as personality and appearance. This can be a real let-down as it is sometimes difficult to understand the characters’ thoughts and decisions.

Harvey D., Year 8

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‘If you go to sea, you will come to the attention of the Ship Kings. If they discover who you are, they will kill you.’

Located on the small island of Yellow Bank is a young timber cutter with the name of Dow Amber. Dow Amber is an average teenage boy. He is the descendent of a powerful ship king. Dow realises he is to leave his loving family and to sail the unforgiving depths of the sea and travel to Stromner to further seek his future. But to do so he would need the help of an old, grumpy, lonely and drunken man who no longer enjoys his life because of his son and grandson’s passing after the tragic Maelstrom incident. While in Stromner, Dow encounters the Ship Kings. Dow is intrigued by their presence and fascinated by the vessels and crew members. But the worst is yet to come…

The reason why I enjoyed this book is because it is the story of a teenage boy who is an unsuspecting hero who moves to Stromner to seek his future. Dow realises that he’s not cut out to be what he’s meant to be. The story was engaging and appealing because of the way Andrew McGahan describes the adrenaline-packed scenes and the personalities of each and every character which made me want to read even more of the book. Whilst reading I could picture every scene in my head which made the book even more enjoyable. The story ended with drama, which made me want to read the rest of the series to see what else happens.

I recommended this book to 12-15 year old boys who enjoy the world of fantasy and adventure. This book is truly a must read. The rating I give this book is 4 out of 5 stars.

Liam B, Year 8

June 23

‘Legend’ by Marie Lu

legend_coverWould you steal and would you help a criminal? Day is a criminal who steals to help others and family; June, a high ranking officer helps the Republic… Day murdered June’s brother, and she has sworn to avenge his death.

Set in the future in the Republic of America there is a war between the Republic and the Patriots and a fatal plague spreading.

June is a very smart young girl who was raised by her older brother and not her parents. People know her for her perfect trial (test) score, a feat no one had previously achieved. Her brother works in the Republic as a captain. June couldn’t live without him, as he takes care of her and misses awards presented to him to take care of her when she is sick. June is the smartest person ever in the Republic and uses her skills in her training and new job in the Republic.

Day is a 15-year-old boy born in the poor areas of America. His family struggles for money an his mother think he’s dead, however he lives his life stealing from the Republic and providing his family and friends with the things he can give. Day has two brothers, a mother and a father who is gone. Now that his youngest brother has caught the plague, a disease with a cure that costs a fortune, Day’s only chance to save him is by stealing a vial of medicine that is in a guarded hospital. Day’s best friend is a girl named Tess who he found in the slum.

Metias, June’s only brother, is at the hospital guarding the newly delivered cure but Day manages to trick others into letting him in. When Day steals the medicine he ends up on the street with Metias who pulls out his gun, but Day throws his knife and kills him. He manages to escape but once June finds out she has sworn to have revenge.

I liked this book because it was so full of twists and had a whole set of adventure, action, mystery, bit of romance and 100% mind blowing.

I recommend this book to 12+ because it has some parts that only older people would understand.

Christopher O (Yr 8)

June 23

‘I am Number Four’ by Pittacus Lore

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

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

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

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

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

Hannah R, Year 8

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

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

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

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

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

Lili S., Year 8

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

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

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

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

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

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

Serayna N, Year 8

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

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

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

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

Savannah F Year 8

June 19

‘Boy Soldier’ by Andy McNab and Robert Rigby

boy soldierIs Fergus Watts a traitor or a hero?

This book is an action filled, thrilling adventure about an ex SAS hero that does something very bad, so is turned down and is then looked at as a traitor and his orphaned grandson Danny who gets mixed up in a crazy mess! Danny is a 17 year old orphan who had a dream to join the army. Danny is a smart boy, about to join the Sandhurst Military Academy, when everything went upside down because of what his long lost grandfather had done!

Danny set off on a journey, determined to find his grandfather, Fergus Watts and to see why Fergus was called a traitor and to find out why he couldn’t join the army. On his journey he thought he was alone not knowing someone else was following him, also wanting to put a end to Fergus Watts’ life. This book is set in many places because when Danny caught up with his grandfather they had to keep running away from everyone.

I really liked this book because it has a great story line and is an action filled adventure that makes you feel like you are on the journey with them. I really like all the characters stories and how they featured in the book. My favourite character was Fergus because he was strong and a really good fighter and even though he was much older than everyone, he still beat them in a fight.

I would mainly recommend this book to boys, but if you like action and adventure, then you will enjoy this book. I think this book would be suitable for teens between 12 and 16 years. It may be a little bit confusing and rude for under 12 year olds. This book has many interesting but sometimes difficult abbreviations and different types of military jargon to decipher. Over all I give this book a 7 out of 10.

If you want to find out if he was a traitor or a hero, then you need to read this book!

Jake H, Year 8

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A high octane fuelled adventure awaits within the pages of “Boy Soldier”, a novel filled with suspense, action, and heart warming moments.

McNab pulls us into the world of military-based action as 16-year-old Danny Watts is searching for his long lost grandfather, Fergus Watts. An SAS explosives specialist turned traitor, Fergus was framed for supplying information to Columbian drug lords, forced to live his life in secrecy in his own country.

As Danny tracks his grandfather down through a intricate network of phone lines, Fergus’s home is besieged by a team of agents and is forced to flee his home with Danny. A cross-country pursuit follows as the same agency Fergus had once worked for, is now trying to kill him.

What I found great about this particular book was McNab’s detail to SAS tactics and acronyms to bring a real military feel to the book. Another is the man’s talent to simulate fast pace and suspenseful moments and shortly afterwards settle the reader’s tension by describing how Danny or Fergus are feeling, as well as his writing about what regular people such as Danny find comfort and safety in.

I would recommend this book to teen boys who find interest in the subject of the military and enjoy fast pace scenes with little description and transitioning chapters between settings of the book where emotional and heartfelt moments reside.

Written By Samuel B. Year Eight.

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Will he be shot dead or captured alive? Find out in Boy Soldier. A series of breathtaking events occur that will leave you clueless. This book takes place in many different areas like the dense bush jungle and the endless city.

One of the main characters, Dannie, is trying to clear up his future as his Grandfather Fergus Watts was a drug dealer. Dannie is a young boy soldier trying to survive from a mole trying to kill him. His world is flipped upside down when he finally finds out Mole is trying to kill him who was from the FARC. Read this spy novel to find out what happens to Dannie and Fergus.

I loved this book as whenever you put it down you were wondering what was going to happen next and there were so many different possible outcomes from the storyline. I would recommend this book to a 10 – 16 year old audience as it is exciting and the book is never at a halt. This book is exciting and takes adventure and excitement to the next level. This book gives you an experience that will have you on the edge of your seat for the whole book. You won’t be able to stop reading and put the book down. You will be anxiously waiting for the next book in the series to come out. I definitely would recommend reading this book.

Jacob B, Year 8

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Fergus Watts has many secrets; too many actually. But his biggest secret is about the SAS and if he were to share it he would be hunted down.

Boy Soldier is an explosive fast-moving action-packed thrilling adventure. Boy Soldier is set in a small town, Foxcroft. Danny is being watched by the F.I.R.M but lucky his special ops trained grandfather who is retired helps move constantly through England so they cannot be caught. Fergus Watts is an SAS veteran. Fergus joined as a boy soldier before being promoted into the SAS. He is a highly trained military spy and was framed for betraying his country.

Danny Watts is 17 years old and has lived his life wanting to be in the army. Danny finally has the chance but is told he cannot join because of what his grandfather did in the past. In anger he looks everywhere for his grandfather and wants to hear the full story. He finally finds his grandfather Fergus, and he was being followed by spies called MI6.

I really liked Boy Soldier because it is an action-packed book which is what I prefer. I also like it because the majority of the book is based on military manoeuvres and fighting, such as Danny and Fergus hiding and running from the F.I.R.M who want them dead. The F.I.R.M catch up Danny and Fergus many times but luckily Fergus is trained and knows how to get out of bad situations.

I recommend this book for people aged 12- 13 year old males and for people who like action packed thrilling adventure and military themed stories. Another reason the book is so good is because the action never stops so the story never goes boring.

Jacob K., Year 8

June 19

‘White Fox’ by Gary Paulsen

white foxIt’s 2057 and America is at war with the Confederation of Consolidated Republics (CCR) who are trying to take over America. Cody Pierce, age 14, is held in one of the CCR prison camps. He breaks out of prison with his friend Luther, with a captured air force recruit named Toni McLaughlin. The trio ventures across the desert fighting for their survival.

The Main characters in this book are Cody Pierce, Major Toni McLaughlin, and Sidoron (leader of Cody’s camp) and Rachel, a young girl Cody meets half way through the story. Cody Pierce is the main character. The CCR gave him the nickname White Fox because of his long white hair. Major Toni was captured at the start of the story and both the Major and Cody built a relationship and they escape together from the prison. Rachel is Cody’s friend and she ends up helping Cody when they were out in the hot empty desert desperate for water and about to die.

There are three parts to this book starting at Cody’s time at the prison camp and his escape, to the parts when he was desperate for water in the desert and was about to die, and the final part when they found the rebels’ base and returned to the camp to free all the other inmates and innocent children.

I really enjoyed this book, as it is full of action and all about their adventure. I was really addicted to this book and was always reading it and really enjoyed. I hardly ever read books but I read every single word in this book. It was really fun to read.

I would recommend this book to ages 13-14 or people who just like action/adventure books. The story was very interesting and I was hooked into this book from the very first sentence.

Griffin P, Year 8

June 18

‘Incarceron’ by Catherine Fisher

“Walls have ears, doors have eyes, trees have voices, beasts tell lies, beware the rain, beware the snow, beware the man, you think you know.”

Incarceron-1a4o3juIncarceron is a modern, technologically advanced prison hiding many secrets. It is a place of harsh imprisonment controlled by strict regulations and managed by a mysterious watchful eye. Prisoners are lead through the vast unknown areas of this futuristic prison. This is a place where uncertain, terrifying conditions are merely the beginning. First designed to have been a place of security and a supposed ‘heaven’, this prison is far from enticing. With metallic forests and dangerous beasts, the only limitation on this prison’s capabilities is the imagination.

Meet Finn: a prison born inmate with no recollection of the outside world. He holds in his hands the future of the prisoners who escape. Having experienced several years in isolation under Incarceron’s demands, he prepares to do whatever it takes to discover the harsh reality of the truth. But will it break him to realise the inevitable?

Knotted in flashbacks from a past life and his coincidental stumble upon a crystal key, Finn unlocks the hidden secrets of Incarceron and discovers the darkest of secrets, one including communication between himself and a girl from the outside world…

Claudia is a girl living in a past era where a 17th century world is maintained. With an undesirable future planned for her, she tackles the expectations of her father, the Warden of Incarceron, and undergoes personal investigations as she unravels the mystery behind the suspected assassination conspiracy. Against all odds, Finn and Claudia communicate through the worlds with them both carefully monitored by people they thought they could trust.

Incarceron by Catherine Fisher is an unforgettable book that will leave you attached to the characters well beyond the final page. This book provides a confusing blend of mystery and suspense as the reader journeys with the characters through an escape plot like no other. With astoundingly realistic constructed descriptions, you will find yourself exploring the depths of the misleading labyrinth of Incarceron. This is a captivating book that intrigued me with every page and I began connecting to the characters and experiencing the many ups and downs of their chaotic, action-packed lives. I would rate this book four out of five stars and would highly recommend this book to boys and girls aged 12 and above based on the confusing nature and complexity of the storyline which is both perplexing and intriguing.

Chaos, diversity, corruption, isolation, terror… Welcome, to Incarceron.

Antonia H, Year 8

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Imagine one inside, one outside. But both imprisoned. Imagine Incarceron.”

Incarceron, written by Catherine Fisher, is on the New York Times’ bestseller list.

Finn had been flung onto his face and chained to the stone slabs of the transit way. Noises were coming from the darkness, vibrations on the ground, hearing the rumbling of migration trucks and the slow clang of wheel rims are coming closer and closer towards him. Then suddenly lights were coming through the darkness.

Claudia is living in a manor house with her very secret and mysterious dad, who is spending most of his time in his study room with locks surrounding the door. She is doomed to an arranged marriage, searching and finding ways that can get her out of it. Claudia finds a way into the locked study room, investigating every drawer and cupboard, finding new and interesting things, as well as one special item that she has never seen before. What does she learn and find from this special item?

Two worlds, completely different, one in darkness and one in modern time. What will bring these two worlds together and out of the darkness? What happens to Finn, Keiro and Claudia? How do they meet?

One of the reasons why I like this book is because it’s different to some of the other books that I usually read. In this book there are two different sides to the story, one being about a girl and the other about boys trapped in a prison. This book is about adventure, mystery and surprise, leaving with you suspense.

I believe that this book would be rated for teenagers and adults as it’s a bit confusing for young kids to comprehend. This book starts off quite confusing, although when you read further into the book it becomes more interesting and easier to understand. Once you begin this book you won’t want to put it down.

By Rebecca R., Year 8

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Incarceron, a separate world in which criminals were imprisoned with their oath brothers, demonstrates the struggles of helpless people trying to free themselves from the traumatising place they live within. The criminals grounded inside are only left with the dream of what could be waiting on the outside. A place of harsh treatment and strict rules, Incarceron is not the place you would want to get imprisoned in, or would you?

Finn, a teenager who remembers little before coming to consciousness within the walls of Incarceron, plans his daring idea to escape from the walls of the monstrous prison. When Finn finds he is in possession of a crystal key, his life changes dramatically. He discovers that he has the ability to talk to a young and elegant girl through the key whose name is Claudia and finds clues to help him get out of Incarceron.

Claudia, a young and witty lady whose father is the warden of Incarceron, befriends an intelligent, young man named Jared, who just happens to be Claudia’s tutor. Together they get to the bottom of the mysterious room Claudia’s father always lurks into when no one is watching. When they finally break into the perplexing room, Claudia also comes in possession of the same crystal key and this is when the communication arises between these two determined children.

The question is, will Claudia be able to help Finn escape from the unpredictable place, or will they fail miserably and discover that they are divided by two separate worlds??

If you are the person who enjoys a whole lot of mystery and action then Incarceron is the book for you. I would probably recommend this book to ages 13+ simply because it is quite difficult to comprehend and it can get a little confusing at times. I loved reading Incarceron because it always left me hanging and wanting to read more.

Sarah M., Year 8

June 17

‘Dragonkeeper’ by Carole Wilkinson

dragon-keeper“He grabbed the old woman and shoved her in the direction of the food store. You go with her, rat-girl, he shouted.”

The novel Dragonkeeper is about a slave girl, a dragon and a mysterious stone. Ping, the main protagonist, finds herself in a village with an evil master, Master Lan. Master Lan makes her a slave to look after the dragons though Ping is not interested in feeding the dragons and usually takes their food for herself. After one of the dragons dies a cruel death, Ping realises she needs to look after the last dragon in the village. Ping and the dragon start to grow fond of each other and she finds a stone in the dragon’s pen. After Ping lets the dragon out of the pen, Ping gets in huge trouble. She needs to escape or she will be executed but then she realises that the stone means heaps to the dragon and it won’t leave without it. Ping and the dragon named Danzy escape with the stone on a big journey across the land to the sea.

The book is an unbelievably great fictional fantasy/adventure novel. It as an amazing story of Ping. The start of the book drags you into the story, which you cannot leave until you have read the whole book. The story leaves you in suspense making you want to read on and on. I cannot tell you enough how good this book is. Even without illustrations the book is so well worded that you can just imagine everything happening. This book has been extremely thought out. It leaves me wanting to read more of Carole Wilkinson’s books. I would recommend this book to everyone because every age and gender would love this book.

Max D. Year 8

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“Dinner time,” she said. One dragon stirred. She could barely make out its shape. It lifted its snout to sniff the food, then turned its head away.’

Did this sentence sound interesting? This book is called the Dragonkeeper. It is a fantasy tale of a nameless slave girl and a dragon who travel through ancient China to reach the ocean, carrying a purple dragon stone with them and encountering many dangers on their strange quest, a journey of friendship and self discovery.

Danzi (the dragon) gives Ping her name and they escape together with Ping’s friend Hua who is a rat and they make their way out of palace of Huangling carrying the dragonstone towards the ocean. They face many trials, dangers and distractions along the way. Pursued by both Diao and The Necromancer on their journey, they overcome these evil men, and also meet The Emperor.

The protagonist Ping is brave, kind and courageous. I think Dragonkeeper is an amazing written book. Its vocabulary is very rich and full of descriptive language that helps build an image of the towns and villages of ancient China, where the story takes place. I recommend this book because it is a terrific book, and I want to share the joy it gave me. It is an exciting book and it is hard to put down, and it makes you want to read to the bitter end. I think that this book is well suited for people who like fantasy and fictional novels, I believe it is suitable for readers aged 10 and above because of the difficult vocabulary. And I rate this book 8/10 because I enjoy the way the characters act and have emotion and I enjoy the setting of the book.

Ethan P., Year 8

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” A bamboo bowl flew through the air, aimed at the slave girl’s head.”

The book is set in the far western mountains of the Han Empire in ancient China, where an ageing dragon and a young slave girl named Ping are abused and neglected by the cruel Master Lan. Nameless and alone, the slave girl is without hope. Ping’s only friend is her pet rat, Hua. Long Danzi gave Ping a stone which he said to keep safe. After that Hua, Long Danzi and Ping escape the Palace. Master Lan is Ping’s master. He is a lazy and cruel man and he lies about himself being an Imperial Dragon Keeper. Ping is a slave girl who gets abused by Master Lan and has a friend called Long Danzi. Long Danzi is an ancient green dragon; the last wild imperial dragon in the Han Empire. He travels with Ping.

This is a good read for people who like fiction books because it is about a dragon and a slave girl Ping. Ping has to look after something that looks like a stone. I have enjoyed reading Dragonkeeper because I like fictional books with weird and amazing things and plot twists. I don’t like reading books but this book was a great book. I don’t read books but l liked this book. I just got stuck into this book like I do with caramel chocolate. This book is not like any other book I have read. This book was amazing. I definitely recommend this book to young adults or elderly between the ages of 13 to 25 and 60 and over. If you read the first paragraph you will want to keep reading it. I’d rate this book ‘Dragon keeper’ 7 out of 10.

Lachlan H., Year 8

June 17

‘Pandora Jones: Admission’ by Barry Jonsberg

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

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

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

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

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

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

Sierah, Year 8

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

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

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

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

Julia T, Year 8

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

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

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

Paige, Year 8

June 17

‘Point Blanc’ by Anthony Horowitz

Point blanc“Very soon, we’ll have Alex here at the academy. And then, at last, the Gemini project will be complete.” (In British accent)

One of the protagonists, Mr Blunt, has discovered a young spy in London. His mission is to go under cover in a school for troubled schoolboys who have very rich parents. Mr Blunt and MI6 have a feeling that there is something going on in there. The kids’ parents are being killed and whoever is doing it makes it look like an accident. MI6 thinks it may have something to do with the headmaster Mr Grief (Antagonist). The spy will have a new identity with the name of Alex Friend, son of Mr Friend, a rich business man, very well known to one of the characters. This boy recently undertook a last mission (Stormbreaker) with good results. He is highly trained in mountain climbing, he has a black belt in martial arts and he is a good guns man. He is the nephew of Ian Rider (deceased uncle and old spy). You may know him as ALEX RIDER!!!!! (protagonist). Is this the type for story for you? Then it is the type of book for you!! Bam!

The book Point Blanc is a really good book for all ages. It has many qualities for different audiences. The reason why I liked it is because the main character is a young schoolboy such as myself so I had some connections. I recommend this book for young audiences such as thirteen to seventeen as it is a good strong read. For example the book might be good for an older audience because of the drugs and the murders, but it is not suited for readers under the age of twelve because it is a big book with over two hundred pages. Also it has murders, drug use and gore, so watch out! This is an ‘in your face’ book. It will keep you up till midnight. I know it did for me.

Kiefer L., Year 8

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The novel Point Blanc by Anthony Horowitz starts off with millionaire Michael J. Roscoe’s death. Alex Rider gets in trouble with the police for damaging the new police headquarters. Alex is assigned by M16 to investigate the death of Michael J. Roscoe. Alex’s cover is as the son of a supermarket magnate. Alex has to spend a week as a member of a friend’s family and has to remember as much detail as he can. He arrives in Paris and he has to take his clothes off to be photographed and examined. Michael J. Roscoe starts off as the main character. Continuing on, Alex is introduced and as the story goes on he meets Dr Grief, Paul and James. Arriving at Point Blanc, Alex meets Dr Grief and a student whose name is James Sprints. Alex thinks something’s wrong with the academy because of the other boys. James reveals to Alex his plan to escape the academy after sneaking out of his room.

I liked this story because it had a lot of action and it taught me to take more challenges and be more confident. I’d recommend this book to boys ages 12-16 although some girls that are looking for a good adventurous book to read will also enjoy it.

Paul J, Year 8

June 12

‘Cool Hunter: The Rules of Cool’ by Tristan Bancks

cool hunterHunt for cool as you follow Mac and Paul through their journey to become cool hunters.

This story is set in a little town called King’s Bay where Mac and Paul live. Mac is a brave, non complaining and ‘willing to do anything’ boy in Grade 8. He lives in a hippy van with his mum and goes to school with his best mate Paul. Paul is a smart, scared and friendly boy in Grade 8 who loves to invent new things.

Mac and Paul are just ordinary boys with ordinary lives until they crashed their homemade flying bike in front of basically the whole grade. Just as they think they have made complete fools out of themselves, something very strange happens. Two boys offer Mac a job to hunt down all the cool things in his town and then maybe, just maybe, he will get chosen as one of the four cool hunters and travel to New York. At first he thought they were crazy to have picked him but then after a while he decides to go for it and starts filming all of the cool things he finds in King’s Bay. But Paul is very upset that he can’t do it as well, so Mac goes and talks to the boys that offered him the job and says that he is not doing it without Paul, so the boys make an arrangement that Paul can help Mac.

I enjoyed reading this book because it is adventurous, interesting, unpredictable and funny but I think this book would be better for boys that are a bit younger than me.

I would recommend this book for boys aged 6-10 because boys at this age are all about being the coolest boy in the grade and this story is just perfect for them.

Sterre, Year 8

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“Cool or uncool? Geeks or revolutionaries? The votes are in.”

     – Tristan Bancks

How often do people “fly a bike” and land with a job? Well that’s what happened to Mac, a teenager from Kings Bay whose dream was to invent something legendary. With his friend Paul as the brains, and Mac as the guts, they were inventors of random cool stuff that usually didn’t work. After they crashed their latest prototype in front of the whole school, Mac was approached by the creators and producers of “Cool Hunters” and offered a job as Kings Bay’s first ever Cool Hunter.

Mac Slater, Cool Hunter was written by Tristan Bancks. It is a very lively book that takes you on an adventure whilst reading. It is unpredictable and funny and would be highly recommended for boys from ages 8-10. With the story centred around Mac, a 13 year old boy, young male readers can relate to the need to be cool and the fun of adventure. In the story Mac, who is anything but cool, is chosen by the creators of Coolhunters, an online site dedicated to finding the coolest things on earth. Readers may relate to Mac as an everyday boy who has the chance of doing extraordinary things. During Mac’s trial, he is competing against Cat DeVrees, who not only is the hottest girl around, but is also desperate to win and get the gig of travelling the world reporting and working for Coolhunters.

I personally did not enjoy the book because I felt it was slow moving and being female, it did not appeal to my personal interests. I feel the book would appeal more to young males interested in adventures, inventions and trying to be cool. It was well written and easy to follow and I would rate this book 6 out of 10.

– Rachel C Year 8

June 12

The Eye of Minds by James Dashner

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Eric Year 9

May 19

‘Ender’s Game’ by Orson Scott Card

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

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

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

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

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

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

Zac.C , Year 9.

May 18

‘Holes’ by Louis Sachar

HolesStanley Yelnats’ family has a history of bad luck, so he isn’t too surprised when something bad happens to him.

Stanley Yelnats, the main character, is an innocent boy who is very nice to all his family and friends. He was framed of stealing and was sent to Camp Green Lake for 18 months aka detention camp.

The story is set somewhere in the desert where no one will find them. It’s a place called Camp Green Lake. It’s supposed to be called this because of the lake, but there’s nothing there now except for a dried up hole with a few buildings and trees surrounding the town. At Camp Green Lake the boys must dig a hole a day, five feet deep, five feet across, in the dried up lake bed.

Stanley’s friend Zero is very quiet. He never speaks and doesn’t know how to read but Stanley helped him and taught him how to read. Mr Pandanski, co-owner of Camp Green Lake sometimes can be nice but is also sometimes really mean. The Warden is really strict and doesn’t like kids. With big nails, she likes to scratch people.

HolesI really enjoyed this book for many reasons. The text and the language is simple but descriptive enough for you to get an idea of what Camp Green Lake looks like. The book isn’t really long so it’s good for a younger reader to read. It doesn’t just skip to the point, it takes you through the book and explains the story to you. There are plot twists so you don’t always know when a surprise is going to come up. Holes wasn’t just about digging holes all day. It really made me happy because there was a whole lot of friendship in the movie when Stanley’s guardians adopted Zero because they were such close friends. Holes was also very exciting when they would find treasure after digging holes.

So to sum up my review, I think that Holes would really catch your attention and get you sucked into the book like it got me. It’s just an all-rounder book and I would never regret reading it.

Cooper, 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

 

May 18

‘Ice breaker’ by Lian Tanner

ice-breakerSailing the ice and cold, trying to disappear in a lonely world, the rumbles and creaks of the dimly lit ship are her only comfort, but she is unaware that she will be an instrument in the revival of knowledge.

An isolated ‘Ice Breaker’, the Oyster sailing the Southern Pole on an ancient voyage long forgotten by the feuding crew holds secrets millennium old. Petrel, ‘The Nothing Girl’, despised by the three tribes of crew, is twelve years old. She has never known who her parents are but it doesn’t bother her. All that changes when she spots a ‘Frozen Boy’ on an iceberg. Did he fall from the sky? What will happen? To find this out you need to read ‘Ice Breaker’.

This book is a real page-turner. There is a bit of a build up introducing the characters and plot, but once that was out of the way the pace of the story really picked up with treachery, murder, and secrets.

I recommend this book to people who enjoy tension in their books and a bit of mystery. But I found it surprisingly easy to understand too. You would think a book like this, with all its little guessing games and plot twists, would be hard to comprehend at the end. But I discovered it to be wrapped up in a nice neat package, but leaving me wanting more. So I am reading the second book in the series ‘Sunker’s Deep’. It’s a follow on from the first and is just as good but it does reveal some more answers and questions that can only be solved by Petrel and her newly acquired friends on the Oyster. I still have no idea what is in store for them in the next book but it looks exciting.

I would rate ‘Ice Breaker’ 9 out of 10 stars.

Jack, Year 9