Do you think that you would have what it takes to be the youngest M16 agent in history and still manage to be one of the best and most requested operatives in the world? To completely abandon your somewhat valuable and memorable life to fulfill the role that your father had set for himself? And, if so, then maybe you should meet Alex Rider, the boy who was forced to achieve the above and way beyond even that. But even someone who is as talented as Alex can be overwhelmed and scared to death. If you are interested to see what could possibly bring Alex Rider down, then you should definitely read the rest of Point Blanc, a novel by Anthony Horowitz.
Point Blanc is based on Alex Rider, a 14-year-old boy, completely normal to one side of society, and completely deadly and feared to another. At a young age, Alex’s father was killed in a freak accident. While coping with this shock the fact that his dad was an M16 operative and that Alex had to fulfill his role as one of the best spies in the nation didn’t help. Over time, Alex was forced to complete several brutal missions, having to completely discard and let go of his normal life, and by doing so, had become one of the best and most sort after operatives in the nation, due to his skills and young age. The fact that he was so young made it almost impossible for criminals to suspect that he was working for the M16. But in Point Blanc, he is faced with a mission which at first seems easy, but as a deep and dark secret unfolds, Alex Rider feels that he may never live to see the light again.
I definitely recommend this book to ages 14 and down so that the readers can relate to the tasks that are forced upon Alex. This book is for people that like to read murder/mystery novels and enjoy constant, faced-paced action and suspense. This book is a natural thriller and should belong on everyone’s shelf. Anthony Horowitz should be credited for his fantastic work on his amazing Alex Rider series, and his other thrillers that he has taken the time to write.
Jessy, Year 8
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Have you ever wondered what it would be like to be a teenager working as a secret agent for the British National Intelligence?
If so, this book is for you. It’s about a fourteen year-old boy who is recruited by England’s most famous agency, the MI6. Alex Rider is sent on his second mission to infiltrate Point Blanc. He is told to be very careful for his stay because this mission may be his last.
If you’re into action, adventure and thrillers, even sitting on the edge of your seat, this is your book. In stores now! By Josh – Year 8
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For young active adventurers who like to have a great read, this is a book for you. Alex Rider is a fourteen-year-old boy, who got sent away on a secret mission by the MI6. He is sent to a school for bad boys, Point Blanc, because there were a few deaths linked to the school. He only has a few cleverly disguised gadgets to find out what’s going on, before it’s too late.
However, it doesn’t work out as easily as it should, as Alex runs into some dangerous situations with some of the students acting different.
I would recommend this book for teenagers and I would rate it 4/5 stars.
Conspiracy 365: January is one of those books that gets you hooked from the very first sentence.
“It was the wild, billowing black cloak, the streaming behind the menacing figure, that first caught my eye.”
Congratulations, Gabrielle Lord, not only did you manage to accurately explain what captured the main character’s eye with great description but you also managed to capture my attention, put it in a jar and ship it around the school for everyone to see how excellent this book is.
The main character in this novel is Callum Ormond, a 15-year-old teenage boy who lost his father a few months back to a mysterious virus that no one has really explained to him. That’s because, supposedly, the Ormond Singularity, which threatens to kill Cal as well if he doesn’t stay out of sight until midnight of December 31st next year, killed his father. This is all explained to Cal in the first few pages of the book by a crazy loon of a man, who caught his eye in the first line of the book. Cal thinks nothing of this at first but soon he starts to feel and see the effects of being exposed when his boat sinks, leaving him stranded at sea. Callum is rescued and recovers some drawings that his father left him when he was in hospital with the “Virus” which left him mute.
Conspiracy 365: January is a the first in the series of many books which I am sure to read, based on the fact that the novel is one big mystery and when Cal works out a piece of the puzzle or you do yourself, you feel a sense of achievement knowing that you could be the next Sherlock Holmes, mystery solver.
Oskar L. Year 8
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Do you like action books that you can’t put down, mysteries that will make you go to the shops at the middle of the night and buy the next part?Then this is the book for you.“Conspiracy 365” is a novel by Gabrielle Lord about a boy whose father has a big secret that people would kill to know about.
On New Years Eve Callum Ormond was followed by a mysterious man with a warning: “They killed your father. They will kill you. You have to survive the next 365 days.”
Callum Ormond has a life on the run. Everyone is looking for him – deadly criminals, the police, and the only person he can trust is his best friend Boges.
This would have to be one of my favorite books. I was mesmerized and couldn’t put it down. I would definitely give this book a 9/10. It is just one of those books that keeps you on the edge of your seat throughout the whole story and is described so well by Gabrielle Lord that you believe that you are there. Overall this is a great book which you would enjoy, so why don’t you go buy one now! What are you waiting for!
If you like adventure and action, then this is the book for you.
The author of Stormbreaker is Anthony Horowitz. The story of Stormbreaker is based in London, England.
Stormbreaker is about a boy called Alex Rider. He is only 14 years of age. He is trying to investigate who killed his uncle Ian Rider. Alex sets off on an adventure across the world and becomes a secret agent. Now Alex is a secret agent, the company gives him special gadgets for the missions and Alex also gets special weapons.
Alex has been sent to investigate the world-famous storm breaker because the company that Alex works for thinks it’s a bit strange that every student gets one. Harold Sayle is the inventor of storm breakers so Alex will be staying at his house. Alex soon finds out that he is in trouble with the company and the military.Will Alex Rider find out who killed his uncle?
Jyle, Year 8
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Alex Rider you’re never too young to die…
Alex Rider, from the novel ‘Storm Breaker’, is a fourteen-year-old teenager boy who is well built, with a body of an athlete. His parents were killed in a plane crash when he was a baby. Now he lives with his uncle who has just been killed in a car crash. His friend Jack is a American. She came to England seven years ago. She is Alex’s baby sitter and a housekeeper for Alex Rider’s uncle. There are some other people that Alex runs into like Mr. Crawly, Alan Blunt and Mrs. Jones who is head of M16. The story is set in the depths of Cornwall, a cold English place with a population of 536,000.
Alex Rider tries to find out who killed his uncle, who appears to have been killed in a car crash but was it really an accident? Alex Rider finds out there is more to his uncle than he knows.
I really enjoyed this book. It was good fun to read. I enjoyed the adventure and mystery most of all. It had a really good story line, which was very adventurous and thrilling. It was a very interesting novel to read mostly because of the story line and the main character Alex Rider. He’s got a very interesting personality, which really goes well with the story line.
I would recommend the novel ‘Storm Breaker’ to a particular age group around nine year olds all the way to fourteen year olds. It would be more suited to males that like adventure and mystery and a bit of a thriller. I would rate this book a seven out of ten stars, because of the great story line. Korey B. Year Eight.
Have you ever read a book and just couldn’t put it down? A mystery book that changes what you will think every page? If you do then the book ‘Down The Rabbit Hole’ by Peter Abrahams would be a perfect book for you.
Ingrid Levin-Hill, a thirteen year old girl who loves soccer and acting, and her football boots just happened to have a bit of bad luck. Getting her football boots back without becoming a suspect for committing murder is a hard task. The police are completely off track on who was the killer so it’s up to Ingrid to solve this case herself.
I really enjoyed the book, ‘Down The Rabbit Hole’ because of the story line of how Ingrid had to find out who killed Crazy Katie all by herself. Peter Abrahams really knows how to write an excellent book that always keeps you guessing on what is going to happen next. He used descriptive language explaining the characters and scenes.
I highly recommend this book for teenage girls between the ages of 13 and 16 who enjoy mystery and crime novels. This book is worth reading and I would rate it 4 out of 5 stars. Steph, Year 9.
Jonah, Con, Tye, Motti and Patch. By themselves they’re outsiders either abandoned by their parents or locked up in juvie, living lonely lives. But together they are a top-notch group of teenage thieves… If you like mystery and action packed books this is the book for you…
Jonah is the main character of this book. He is a lonely computer nerd that is locked up in juvie for hacking his foster parents’ bank account. He was a very skilled boy that said “I want to work somewhere with computers” (page 8). While Jonah is in Juvie he tries to kill time by going to classes and helping other inmates learn to read. Even though he did all these extra activities there was still so much time on his hands, which was the worst part of all. But little did Jonah know there was a special team assigned to release him from jail. When Jonah is released he and the others – Con, Tye, Motti and Patch – are all set to do missions for a man that goes by the name Coldhart.
I really enjoyed this book ‘Thieves like us’ because it is about a teenage boy who is a computer hacking whiz who is joined up with four other exceptionally talented teenage thieves.
I would recommend this book to any persons from the age of 12 to 17 who enjoy a mysterious and action packed book and for people who generally love to read. I rate ‘Thieves like us’ 3 out of 5 stars. Nicholas, Year 9
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In the novel “Thieves Like Us,” Jonah Wish is broken out of jail by a team of talented criminals and asked to join them. They value his computer skills, although Jonah is unsure that a life of crime is what he wants for himself. He soon bonds with the other team members: Motti, the security expert; Con, the fighter; Tye, the human lie detector and Patch, a gifted thief with one eye. All are employed by a mysterious benefactor called Nathanial Coldhardt.
Coldhardt sends the five teens on a mission involving stealing priceless artefacts and formulas for eternal life. They break into buildings and crack open an ancient tomb. Flying around Europe and the Middle East they witness high-speed car chases, fights, kidnapping and supernatural sects.
This book is fast paced with plenty of action. It would appeal to all ages, especially those teenagers who enjoy the Young Bondseries by Charlie Higson. The book also deals with a child’s need to feel loved and secure. I enjoyed this book and look forward to reading other books by Stephen Cole. Brandon, Year 9
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Are you into teenagers with incredible skills or the secret to everlasting life? If so “Thieves like us” is definitely the book for you.
After Jonah Wish, a brilliant computer hacker, is broken free from a juvenile detention centre by two teenagers, the excitement begins as Jonah and his team set off on a journey to discover ancient Egyptian artefacts. They will have to travel to exotic places all around the world and all under the watchful eye of their mysterious benefactor “Nathanial Coldhardt”. The main characters in this story are Jonah, Con, Patch, Tye, Coldhardt and Motti.
Two teenagers, who love to play videos games and ignore their parents’ curfew, go to drag races and get involved with the police and doing illegal trades. Does this sound like the type of book you would like to read every night? Well then. In it up to here is defiantly the book for you.
Things started off as usual, the lives of two teenage boys playing video games. Alex and Nigel were at the arcade playing video games and got so caught up playing that they forgot their curfew. They rushed to the train and headed back to Riversdale. They both went their separate ways after they got off the train. Alex normally got home to the lecture of his mother and father yelling at him for being late again. But they weren’t up this time. He went inside and jumped flat on the bed. Alex had always told his parents that he wanted a CD-ROM but they said that it was too expensive and he had to earn the money to pay for it himself. And from that point on it leads to illegal drag races, the illegal selling/dealing of CD-ROMs.
I really enjoyed the book because of the characters and how the writer set the scene. That is what made me so engaged with the book. The main characters were the two boys Alex and Nigel. The scenes and characters were set out nicely and were easy to understand throughout the book. I recommend this book for teenagers and young adults between the ages of 14 – 19. This book would be great for people who are into thrill and action books. I would rate the book ‘In it up to here’ 3 out of 5 stars. Jarrod, Year 9
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This book is terrible. Kids, crime and video games. This book is a complete exaggeration and it has no gripping storyline whatsoever. The two main characters are Alex and Nigel. Alex is a leader and does things in more detail and with care, while Nigel is more reckless and doesn’t really care. The boys stay up late playing video games at arcades. The two boys live in Riversdale.
The start of the book begins with the boys staying up late at night playing video games in an arcade. The boys pass their curfew and rush to get their train. The boys started walking home and Alex was scared of his parents getting angry at him for getting home after curfew. They continued getting up to rebellious events and also getting in trouble with police. I would recommend this book to teens between the ages of 10-15 that like corny books.
By Sam Yr9
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This book ‘In it up to here‘ is about two very rebellious teenagers who get into a lot of action involving drag racing and illegal trades of video games with the police and many more. It’s a very exiting book once you get into all the action.
The book is set in many different places because the two boys travel around all the time to play video games. They are really into games and are willing to go anywhere and do anything to try out the new ones.
The two boys named Nigel and Alex are the main characters. They go around disobeying everything and everyone including their parents. They just do whatever they want even if it includes breaking the law.
I liked this book because once you read a couple of paragraphs what the boys do gets interesting and fun to read. I recommend this story to mainly the generation that were teenagers in the 1990s because it is an older book that uses slang words but once you get into it any generation could enjoy it.
In the National History Museum in Melbourne, Australia, Bee is going to another normal day of work in her normal life. That is until she sees an unfamiliar face in the Department of Preparation. And it’s a boy. There are no boys in her department. Except for Gus, of course, but Gus has been there since the beginning.
Beatrice May Ross, a Year 12 student, is in her element in the taxidermy department. Since she was a little girl, Bee has been obsessed with detective novels – Miss Marple and Nancy Drew. And then she has her own mystery thrown her way. Along with Toby – a walking encyclopaedia, who is getting extra credit for university, or so he says – and the new guy in the lab, Bee goes on her own detective adventure, solving the case of Gus’s presumed suicide. Bee and Toby think it’s murder, though. Together the real life Sherlock and John, go around town collecting clues and evidence to prove that Gus was murdered.
I really liked this book because I love detectives and mysteries, and the way that Lili writes is really interesting and the story line is fantastic. I would recommend this book to anyone that has read the ‘Gallagher Girl’ series by Ally Carter. Ally writes like Lili and the Gallagher Girl series is all about young spies and detectives so these books are fairly similar.
Tiana M, Year 9.
This is the publisher’s book trailer for the novel:
Lili Wilkinson talks about writing:
“A Pocketful of Eyes” by Lili Wilkinson
A mysterious silhouetted figure, a sudden slam of the door and dead silence in the darkness.
It’s the summer holidays and it’s an opportunity to be refreshed, ready for Year 12. Well, that’s what Bee thinks anyway. Beatrice May Ross is working in the Taxidermy department at the Melbourne Natural History Museum and the last thing she expects is that the Head Taxidermist, Gus, will die. It is believed that he committed suicide but Bee thinks that there is something else behind this tragedy. A second-year med student from university begins work at the museum and helps Bee to solve this mystery. While they both work hard to find out what really happened, Bee encounters some bizarre but interesting conversations about animal mating habits with this cute boy, Toby. They try to work out the clues and unravel the bits and pieces towards finding out what happened to Gus. Could Gus really have been killed? Or is Bee trying to solve a mystery that never really happened?
Lili Wilkinson’s novel, “A Pocketful of Eyes” is more like a pocketful of puzzle pieces. Each clue that is given leads to several conclusions and allows the reader to be able to have a chance at being the detective, as the book doesn’t give away so much information at once. This is why I really love the book. You get to be a part of the story, gathering information, thinking about who the suspects could be and taking notice of every detail. It all adds up to become one great story full of adventure, mystery and suspense. I recommend this story to people aged from 13 and onwards, who are interested in thrilling, mystery novels.
Rose, Year 9
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A pocketful of Eyes – Lili Wilkinson
“Don’t you know”, he said, “Gus is Dead”
The story is set at the Melbourne Natural History Museum where Bee works as an intern in the taxidermy labs with her boss, Gus. She is quite comfortable at her job when, one day, Toby, a new mysterious uni student obsessed with animal mating habits comes into work and Bee starts to develop possible feelings for him. The next day, she comes into work to find out that Gus has committed suicide on the Museum floor. Bee and Toby try and prove that his death was in fact a murder.
I enjoyed reading this fast-paced, unexpected book. The mystery about it kept me turning the next page. Once you pick up this book it is quite difficult to put it down. I would rate this book 3 and ½ stars out of 5 for the reason that it was exciting and full of mystery. I would recommend this book to teenagers because the main characters are that age so it is easy to relate to them. Enjoy Reading. Harley – Year 9
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What would you do if your boss had been murdered and the police won’t listen?
A Pocketful of Eyesis an original novel that takes you on a journey through intriguing events, that leaves you hooked and left in suspense right from the word go.
A taxidermist-in-training, Bee works at the Natural History Museum during her holidays to find that her boss has died to an apparent suicide… she doesn’t fall for it.
It is a story that entails a young girl on a mission to find her boss’s killer. It involves her story and her feelings that are carried on from the moment that she started to investigate, her personal emotions, relationships and her mother living with a Celestial Badger.
The main character’s name is Bee, and on her quest aspiring to be more like Sherlock Holmes and Nancy Drew, she realised that life is not always like the movies in her quest to find a killer. Once the cute and confident new assistant, Toby, arrives on the scene, she has a partner to help her in with the mission, and soon realises as the story goes on that there are some things that she cannot control. Toby helps her on the journey, and when all the suspects’ stories and alibis don’t match, they are forced to revaluate all their situations and look at the circumstances from a different angle, making them turn to each other.
Full with plot twists and successfully blended elements of a traditional mystery with a contemporary Australian setting, I highly recommend this book to teens and young adults of both genders, ages varying from 13-19 for a light-hearted mystery with pinches of sarcasm and humour that adds to the addiction of this wonderful novel.
With my rating of 4 out of 5 stars, if you are looking for a novel that holds fast action-packed moments with thrilling mystery, slight romance, excellent cast of characters, and a story that keeps you on the edge of your seat right from the first page, A Pocketful of Eyes is the book for you.
By Savannah, Grade 9
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When you imagine a summer job at a taxidermy lab in a museum, the first words that spring to mind aren’t exactly “murder” “suicide” “hot guy”. But then again this book is full of surprises. Bee, a taxidermist in training, works in the Natural History Museum. Boring right? Wrong. She arrives to work on a normal day to find her boss and mentor dead in the Red Rotunda room, apparently a suicide. Bee doesn’t believe it. In fact, she thinks it was a murder. She goes to great lengths to find what really happened, or if she is overreacting, maybe even she’s just dealing with the grief a different way?
This book is immediately engaging, very entertaining and has a cast of great characters, suspects, accomplices and sidekicks alike. It keeps you second-guessing the whole way through and is very unpredictable. This is a perfect book for the girls (and boys) who like their fiction to have a little of an edge to it (alongside some romance). I would recommend this book to readers of 13+ as I found there was quite sophisticated vocabulary but a very well written book.
The story is set in South America. The Alpha Force head up into the isolated mountains to stop the evil drug baron. The main characters in the book are Alex, Li, Paulo, Hex and Amber, five kids from an elite team of youngsters, who join a covert SAS operation in South America, fighting to catch an evil drug Baron.
I liked this book because it was a adventure and thrill book with a small group of people and I like those type of books.
I would recommend this book from the ages 11-15 just because it is a really confusing book.
Special Agent Deep End by Sam Hutton is about a typical young teenage girl that loves ballet but unfortunately can’t dance anymore because of a tragic incident killing her mother and leaving her father in a wheelchair. So Maddie decides to join her father’s police investigation squad to fight crimes in London.
This book is edgy and thrilling at the same time. This book can be predictable through the story at times but is still very good. This is the only book I have read by this author, Sam Hutton.
At the beginning of this book it was very exciting and I just wanted to keep on reading. It was very entertaining with the characters. Maddie Cooper, the main character in the book was my favourite because I could relate to how she knew that her friends would not understand what she is going through so she had to lie and say she was fine.
I quite like this book because it was enjoyable and full of adventure.
This is a fantastic book for people who like thrilling and edgy books. I would recommend this book to people who like crime and adventure, between the ages of 12-17. Paige, Grade 8
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Special Agent: Deep End is a spy novel by Sam Hutton. The main character is Maddie Cooper whose father is a police officer.
The newspaper said “ Top London police officer and family in shooting outrage”.
Maddie, her Father Jack Cooper and her mother were gunned down as they left the Royal Opera House London. Minutes before, Maddie was dancing on stage at the Royal Opera House.
Maddie found out who the person was that shot them, and now is looking for them.
This would be a interesting book for those who enjoy reading about secret agents and like fighting crime. I would rate this book as 4 out of 5. Erin, Year 8
Once you enter the book, the mystery will begin. The book ‘The Billionaires Curse’ by Richard Newsome is a really good book to read; one that I could not put down!
The only criticism that I would have about this book is that it is a bit predictable and a little obvious what was going to happen in the next page or chapter.
This book was really interesting. Most of this story is set in a museum in London. The main character in the book is Gerald and he is on a trip to London because his great aunt has died. He inherits something that is worth millions of money.
His parents leave him and he is stuck in London. So he goes on an adventure to find the missing crystal! When people start to recognize him, he becomes more endangered and he sometimes needs help. Sam and Ruby help him through his quest!
I liked that there was a mystery and some surprising twists as well. I find that once I started to read this book I lost track of time and I felt like I was actually in the book with the characters. If I read this book in a bad mood it would bring my happiness up to its full potential.
I would recommend the book as more suitable for 10-14 year olds; any younger and they would want pictures and wouldn’t understand the plot, any older and the reader would find it a little boring and lose interest. By Morgan B, Year 8
I don’t usually like to read because I find it boring, but when I started to read this book I found it very interesting and hard to stop reading.
The Billionaire’s Curse by Richard Newsome, is novel about a thirteen-year-old boy called Gerald who is in London on a holiday but soon realises that he is actually there because his great aunt Geraldine has just died and he has inherited all of her money.
Throughout the book Gerald finds out that his great aunt was actually murdered. Gerald also makes new friends with Sam and Ruby who are twins and help him to find out who stole the diamond and killed his great aunt Geraldine.
I liked this book because it is a mystery and it was very interesting to read.
The Billionaire’s Curse is a book for children aged 10-14. I think this age barrier is suitable because this book is a mystery and when children are younger they like to read short books that are fun and easy. When children get older then fourteen they start to read thriller books or books of the movies they have seen. Georgia, Year 8
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The Billionaire’s Curse is a fun book for a lot of people. It was adventurous, fun and action packed. There was a beast as well, which made it interesting. The book reminds me of the iPhone game Temple Run and the book of Indiana Jones. The book is suitable for ages 8 to 11. It was a fun and adventurous book. It was funny in a few parts. The character of the constable was funny and adventurous but then a bit lazy!
Overall I think this book is pretty good. Although as much as I hate to say this but the book was a bit boring in some parts which is why I would rate it 3 and a half stars. So it is a book for both boys and girls and it would be a bit like the book Indiana Jones. It is a very fun book.
People who are interested in adventure and action will most likely enjoy this book. So summing up, this book for me is a very… and I mean very good book.
Tom, Year 8
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The Billionaires Curse is a book full of adventures. A 14-year-old boy named Gerald has travelled to London to visit his family for his great aunt Geraldine’s funeral. Gerald was named after his great aunt. But what Gerald doesn’t know is that he was named after one of the only billionaires in the world. But a villain named Green has stolen one of his aunt’s 100 million pound crystals. Gerald has met a few friends along the way. But will Gerald, Sam and Ruby catch Green before it is too late?
Earlier in the book, Green tried to snatch Gerald at the airport. But three paparazzis came to Gerald’s rescue. The first day Gerald was in London, he went to the British Museum to investigate about his great aunt’s diamond that got stolen. Paparazzi came to try and get a newspaper article on him but Gerald got away. But while the paparazzi were chasing Gerald, Green got hold of Gerald and kidnapped him. Along the way Gerald meets some new friends. The boy’s name was Sam and the girl’s name was Ruby.
The Billionaire’s Curse is a very interesting and adventurous book. I think it is aimed at about the 10-14 age group, but I would recommended it for all ages. I think this book is a great book for all ages (but mainly 10-14). This should be in every library on the Gold Coast!
I am not much of a big reader myself, but after reading this book I took a bigger interest in reading. Skulduggery Pleasant is a thrilling book to read. This book takes place in Ireland near the city of Dublin. The main characters in Skulduggery Pleasant are Stephanie Edgley (Valkyrie Cain), Skulduggery Pleasant and Nefarian Serpine. Stephanie Edgley is a bored girl at the age of 16, just waiting for some excitement to come along in her life. Skulduggery Pleasant is human, until he dies a tragic death and comes back to life as something very strange. Nefarian Serpine is Skulduggery’s biggest enemy. He is evil and has no skin on one of his arms. He tortures and kills innocent people. When Stephanie’s Uncle Gordon Edgley dies, he leaves her his house and possessions. When she goes to the house a stranger asking for ‘the key’ attacks her. Whilst she is being attacked Skulduggery Pleasant saves her life in a very peculiar way. When Stephanie finds out what Skulduggery is she is very surprised and wants to join him in his work. They have to work together to stop Nefarian Serpine from getting what he wants so he doesn’t take over and gain power. I liked this story so much because you never know what’s going to happen next or who is going to do what. I also like it because it is action packed and I would recommend this book for teenagers because it is a thrilling, funny and action packed book. By Jed E, Year 8
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Skulduggery Pleasant by Derek Landy
“With his sunglasses gone there was no denying the fact that he had no face. All he had was a skull for a head.”
The story takes place at Stephanie’s uncle’s funeral when Stephanie first sees Skulduggery and he enters her life. Everything is quite straight forward; she is a single child going to her uncle’s funeral in respect. She isn’t that upset about the fact he is dead either; they weren’t really that close. Everything changes though when Skulduggery accidentally drops his disguise in front of Stephanie. Skulduggery is a very weird, funny and bold character. He is a detective trying to sort out the death of his friend. Meanwhile, he lives in this world with people who own magic and he is a skeleton.
Stephanie and Skulduggery set out to discover what really happened to Stephanie’s uncle. They already know he is murdered but who did it and why?
This book was good because it was unpredictable. Also, Skulduggery added a tinge of humour into the story. It was a better book then I thought.
I’d mostly recommend this story for 9-11 year old boys. I don’t think girls would enjoy this story because it’s about a man who is a skeleton. This type of story line would also interest boys. Kyoko, 13.
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When I picked up ‘Skulduggery Pleasant’ I started reading and I was immediately sucked into this book. It was an exciting start, with the first sentence:
‘Gordon Edgely’s sudden death came as a shock to everyone- not least himself.’
And from that sentence I was interested throughout the whole book. With twists and turns, you could never predict anything. I think this book is in the thrill and wonder category. The plot is thrilling, and interesting.
I think this book is aimed at really anyone who enjoys a good mystery book but mostly teens. Derek Landy wrote this book. If you enjoyed The Girl Who Kicked The Hornet’s Nest, Haunted or other Derek Landy books you will surely enjoy this book. I thoroughly enjoyed this book and would recommend it to anyone.
I rate this book 3 out of 5. Georgia, Year 8
Echo Falls, a place where nothing unusual happens, is turning into a nightmare with a mysterious murder investigation taking place and everything’s just getting worse!
Set in a society where no major tragic events generally occur, Down the Rabbit Hole by Peter Abrahams is a thrilling, adventure packed book targeted at middle school students of both genders.
Ingrid Levin Hill stumbles into an uncommon, mysterious murder after getting lost while on her way to soccer training. After realising that she has left her prized red puma soccer boots at the victim’s house, she must attempt to retrieve her soccer boots unnoticed and cover up any evidence of her presence.
I particularly enjoyed this book, as it was filled with adventure and mystery with fun and quirky characters as well as containing a unique plot.
I would highly recommend this book to students aged 12-16 as it contains significant themes and issues relevant to this age group. It’s a great book that is difficult to put down and I could read it again and again!
By Ruby Y, Year 8
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I’m definitely not a reader! It’s almost impossible for me to complete a book and actually enjoy it. I have never experienced reading a book like ‘Down The Rabbit Hole’ before. For once, I actually wanted to keep on reading and not stop.
This book is mainly aimed at Middle school (ages 12-14). I found this so interesting myself because it was so mysterious, action-packed and it felt like there was something new, suspicious and crazy always happening.
The book’s main character is Ingrid, who is a strange but wild person. She is very outgoing, and tends to cause trouble and she likes to solve any mysteries.
I highly recommend this book for 12-14 year olds because of the vocabulary and the storyline. This is a great book, with many tragic mysteries, which will leave you hanging right on the edge of your seat.
Ashley, Year 8
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What would you do if someone was murdered in your town? Would you panic, would you move or would you begin investigating? This very thing happens to 13-year-old Ingrid Levin- Hill and she gets into a bit of a sticky situation involving a murder, a play and a pair of red soccer boots.
If you enjoy light murder, mystery and a really good story, Down the Rabbit Hole is definitely the book for you. This book is aimed at young teenagers both male and female. It certainly is entertaining and easy to read despite the medium size that would put most people off.
The story is basically of a girl named Ingrid who lives in a town called Echo Falls. She is on her way to soccer practice but somehow loses her way and gets lost and stumbles into ‘Crazy Katie’ as the kids call her. They start chatting and Ingrid eventually after going inside leaves to go home. A few days later Crazy Katie has been found murdered! Ingrid realises she has left her soccer boot at Katie’s house and realises she has to get it back and the story begins!
The main character in this book Is Ingrid, she is 13 years old and is a quiet, smart girl. She is very interesting and she makes you want to keep reading.
The reason I liked this book so much is the fact that it makes you want to keep reading and the fact that it is really easy to read. I also love the story line. It is so exciting and eventful.
Olivia, Year 8
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In Echo Falls there has been a murder…. a murder that you had witnessed or perhaps been apart of. The police are after the murderer, whilst you are trying to solve the mystery that is on everybody’s lips, which leaves you no choice but to go back to where you started.
‘Down the rabbit hole’ is a mystery that the reader must solve, also a thrilling, action-packed book that I guarantee you won’t be able to put down. I think that this book is aimed at middle school students, both boys and girls. It’s a great book to read with a few challenging words throughout the book. Whether you like reading or not ‘Down the rabbit hole’ is a book, like I said, you won’t be able to put down. I guarantee you will love this book.
“Son of the Mob”, written by Gordon Korman, is an hilarious book that gets you hooked on the first page.
“ When Vince opened the trunk of the car to get the picnic blanket, he see Jimmy ‘the rat’ unconscious and wrapped up in the blanket.”
Vince Luca was born into the mob but has never taken an interest in business, but as the story goes on the business keeps on finding him and he hates it and to top it off his Dad (the Boss) is on his back pressuring Vince to join so that when Abe (Dad) is finished the business can stay in the family.
For me this is a great book that I am really enjoying that I would recommend for a 14 year old and someone that likes light comedy with a bit of action. I give this book 9/10. This is a great book that all should read.
Sam, Year 9
FBI agents may be watching the house, but Vince Luca is still just an ordinary high school boy. He and his close friend Alex are trying to score every girl they see. Vince’s brother is very annoying and his father is also very demanding at trying to get him to do things and to be motivated. There is one thing keeping him from having a normal life and this is that his father is the leader of a powerful crime organisation. Because of this Vince’s family can be very handy for particular things, like his teachers are scared to give him bad grades. Vince likes a girl but he doesn’t know how he is meant to explain to her what his father does and how their family operates. But when the moment comes and he finds a girl, he doesn’t know that his family will be the biggest problem of all because her father is the FBI agent wanting to lock his father away.
In my personal opinion I think that this book is more suited to all ages but particularly teenagers. This is because I have heard reviews and people as adults themselves have said they enjoyed it too. The book is great and has you on the edge a lot. Rachel, Year 9
Vince Luca is just regular high school boy. He has the usual problems like any other teenager, just like his best friend Alex who keeps trying to beat him in everything, and his father, who tells him he must be very serious in life. But there is only one little difference between himself and other kids; his father is the head of a huge mob organization. There are many positives to this relationship, however. For example, if Vince ever gets poor grades, his teachers will automatically change his marks, thinking that his father will kill them otherwise. But Vince is thinking about his future. How will new people he meets react to his family? Would he ever be offered a job anywhere? Would he have to carry on his father’s business after completing high school? And the biggest question of all is how will Vince explain to his girlfriend what his father does for a living?
Vince’s luck improves when he finally thinks he has found someone. But instead of his dad being the problem in their love life, the girl’s dad seems to be the problem. The difficulty is that her father is an FBI agent, who is working day and night to put Vince’s father in jail! From here, the book shows the son of the mob’s struggle in his social life, and how he tries to overcome all obstacles. The book is very good with lots of action around the corner. I recommend it to older audiences with some of the things in it like a blood soaked person in the boot of Vince’s car. About 13+ is the age I would recommend it to, but other than that it is a really good book to read. Kaide, Year 9
At a young age, Vince Deluca knew his family wasn’t normal. With regular appearances from the police in his house and his dad’s constant referral to the ‘Agents’, Vince caught on pretty fast that life wasn’t ordinary. It was the life for the son of a mob.
Now aged 17, Vince wanted to get on with his life. But with only one friend, a controlling father and his business trying to take over it, he was finding that pretty hard. Until Kendra came along. Kendra was everything Vince could have hoped for and better; beautiful, smart and actually willing to put up with him. Then he found out that Kendra’s father was an FBI agent trying to put his father in jail.
I would recommend this book for ages 13 to 16. I believe both genders will enjoy it, but preferably boys. It is a quick and easy read, that relates to their daily lives, with drama added to it. I would rate it a 7 out of 10 because it is a book you can relate to, with a great writing style, although it could do with some touch-ups.
Holly, Year 9
Have you ever wondered what it would be like to be the son of a criminal? Vince Luca is and he hates it! Born into the criminal side of the world, Vince just wants to live a normal love life without his dad’s business involved. But when he starts dating the daughter of an FBI agent, whose life long ambition is to have Vince’s dad behind bars; things start to speed off track.
This novel is for an adolescent age group, predominantly male, because it deals with moral decisions and problems teenagers go through in today’s society. This very entertaining and humorous novel moves along very quickly and keeps the reader guessing.
I must admit, being a person who doesn’t read very many books and doesn’t enjoy reading, I found myself very intrigued by the book ‘A Pocketful of Eyes’, written by Lili Wilkinson. I would definitely recommend this book to teenagers who enjoy a sort of sexy but mystery read. When I began reading ‘A Pocketful of Eyes’ my first impression was that it was exciting and curious. After every chapter something new would happen and would make me want to read more. ‘A Pocketful of Eyes’ is a about a Year 12 student called ‘Bee’. Bee had volunteered to work in the Natural History Museum for a summer job. While working in the taxidermy lab Bee discovers that training as a taxidermist isn’t as normal as she thought it would be. Over the summer holidays Bee experiences mysteries like no other teenager would face, but Bee was prepared, as she had only dreamed of a moment like this to come alive from her childhood fascinations; but Bee found it difficult to concentrate, when a young attractive boy called ‘Toby’ caught her attention. Overall I found this book a wonderful read and would rate ‘A Pocketful of Eyes’ ★★★★ (four stars out of 5). Jasmin, Year 9
The story is set in Richmond. The main characters are Callum, Gabi and Rafe. Callum is a very brave character as he fights through all his problems. Gabi is Callum’s sister and she is also a brave character who isn’t scared of anything. Rafe is the Uncle of Callum and Gabi, Rafe is a very stubborn character who doesn’t like Callum very much. This story is about a kid named Callum Ormond who gets told lots of information about him only having 365 days to live and ever since people have told Callum the information lots of bad things have been happening to Callum. I like this story a lot because it is a very thrilling story and it has a lot of mystery and when you start reading you just can’t stop because you really want to see what happens next because it is usually thrilling. It is just an amazing book. I would recommend this story for people 13-18 years old. I think it is just a little bit too scary and complicated for younger children so that is why I think it should be for 13-18 year olds. Mason Grade 8
This book started off really well. Maddie is a typical girl who loves ballet. Her dad is a cop who has just found one of the most wanted guys ever! One afternoon Maddie is lucky enough to perform Swan Lake! While leaving the show with her parents, a guy comes out in front of them and shoots her and her family. Straight away her mum dies and Maddie and her dad are left lying on the edge of the road. Maddie spends four months in hospital then finally she and her dad are allowed to go home. The shooting has left them with some long term damages with her mum being dead, her dad being in a wheelchair but worst of all Maddie won’t be able to do ballet again! Maddie has always wanted to go to her dad’s work so she is lucky enough to go. She meets two boys called Danny Bell, who is an electronics whizz-kid, and Alex Cox, who is an ace undercover man. These three teenagers fight crime on the streets of London. I have really enjoyed this book because it has been full of action and really interests me as I really enjoy adventure books. This book is great for children from the age of 12 – 17 or anyone that is interested in adventure books.. Stephanie, Grade 8.
Sam Hutton’s ‘Special Agents, Deep End’ is a great read for teenagers who love fast paced, action filled dramas. Once you get into this book you can’t put it down.
‘Special Agents, Deep End’ is about a 16-year-old ballerina, Maddie Cooper, whose life changes when she and her parents were gunned down by an unknown killer, leaving her mother dead and her head of police dad in a wheelchair.
Maddie is then recruited into one of her dad’s notorious flying squads, a police investigation unit and she teams up with two ace undercover secret agents, Alex Cox and Danny Bell (an electronic whizz-kid). The three teenagers roam the streets of London fighting crime and finding the assassin responsible for her mother’s death.
The feeling of not knowing what is coming next is why this is such a great book and so easy to get ‘hooked’ on. Overall Sam Hutton has done a fantastic job with ‘Special Agents, Deep End’ and I would give the book a 4 out of 5 rating. Kurt, Year 9
Maddie Cooper’s life changed in just one second, just hours after her farther had caught one of the biggest criminals in London. An unknown assassin shot down her mother, father and her in the street. Her mother was killed and dad left in a wheelchair. Maddie’s dancing career was over, so she decided to thelp her dad avenge her mother’s killer, joining her father’s notorious flying squad: Police Investigation Command.
I thought this book was a great read although it is a bit hard to comprehend at the start. It does get very exciting and nail biting. I think this book would be more enjoyable for boys at the age between 11-15. If you liked the Alex Rider series you will love this book. It has a great storyline and a great ending. Benjamin, Year 9
Horowitz pulls you into the book with fast-paced action. You just can’t put this sort of book down. It twists and turns when you least expect it. The sequel to ‘Stormbreaker’, ‘Point Blanc’ takes you to the French Alps and at first Alex (main character) is here to spy on suspects of two recent deaths when all of a sudden it turns into a rapid paced action thriller, only getting faster and faster. It turns into a warfare of spy on spy and can’t be ignored. “You nearly had me killed”, is how extreme this book really is. Nathan, Year 8
“An alarm bell exploded behind him. Lights came on throughout the academy. Alex pushed forward and set off, picking up speed with every second. The decision had been made for him.”
The story of Point Blanc is set up high in the French Alps where there is a school for super rich kids. Alex Rider is the main character. Alex Rider is 14 years old and a London schoolboy but secretly he is a spy working for British Intelligence, MI6. The story starts when Alex is at school watching his past friend buy drugs from a drug dealer in a white car. Alex follows the car away then gets in trouble. He is then arrested by the police then taken away to MI6 where he is being assigned to a recon mission. He then has to go undercover as a billionaire’s secret son to go to the Academy of Point Blanc to see if there is any connection between the owners of the Academy and two deaths of billionaires. Alex soon discovers the secret truth of the Academy and now his life is at risk. I liked this book because at every page you want to know more, because of the style of Anthony Horowitz. I strongly recommend this story to early teenagers who like mystery and action. Bryan year8
‘Point Blanc’ is an action book written by Anthony Horowitz, but not the type of action book where everything blows up randomly and there are heaps of guns. It actually has a bit of science in it. This creates a lot of mystery in the book and it keeps you wanting to read it at times, but sometimes it gets a little weird and I mean weird in the chapter “Room 13”. But that’s for you to find out. The story of ‘Point Blanc’ is mainly set in the school of “Point Blanc” in the French mountains but also spends some time in London. The main character of the story is Alex Rider, a 14 year-old MI6 agent, and the typical bad guy is called Dr Hugo Grief. He is the headmaster of the school. The story is that Alex Rider goes into Point Blanc and his mission is to explore the school and discover anything unusual that may help MI6. The reason MI6 want Alex to go and discover Point Blanc is because MI6 believe that they have discovered a link between the deaths of world leaders and their sons going to Point Blanc. This book is written quite simply and this means most people can read, it is easy to understand and you also never get lost in the story. People from the age 11 to 17 or even older can read this book and you shouldn’t get too bored with what I think is a cross between an adult and a kids’ book. To me this book had a bit of science and not enough guns and gadgets. When I read an action book I want guns, explosions, gadgets, excitement and fun! To me this book lost that essence half way through reading it and I found it slightly boring at times. I know that many people say it’s a great book and they say, “you’ll never want to put the book down”, but I didn’t get that once I had read deeper into the book. I would recommend this book to people who like a bit of science, spy work and can handle a little boredom at times. I would give this book a 6 out 10 stars.
By Joseph, Year 9
Point Blanc is a story written by Anthony Horowitz, in which the main character is a 14 year old boy called Alex Rider. He may look like a normal kid but he is actually a secret agent working for a top secret organization, MI6. But of course, nobody knows about this. The story starts when Alex follows a drug dealer back after seeing him selling drugs to a former friend. He then gets caught and thrown into jail after catching the thieves but doing a lot of damage. MI6 then contacts him and tells Alex that he has to go undercover to a school for problem boys, as his boss suspects something is not quite right. This book, I thought, was one of those books that you just have to find out what’s going to happen next while sitting on the edge of your seat. It is very full on with action, so I recommend this book to 13-16 year people who likes spies and action in the one book and I would rate this book an eight out of ten stars.
‘Diego Run’ is an action book written by Deborah Ellis. This is a good and simple book and it is based on a true story that could have happened, so it is very interesting. The main character is Diego and his best friend is Mando. They live in Bolivia, Cochabamba and their parents have been in jail for many years. These characters seem real and Diego stands out the most because he is responsible. This is a convincing story because it sounds like a recap of someone’s life and it really sucks you in. The ending is not a very good one because it’s not really finished. I like this book but it was a bit dull in the first few pages and the further on it progressed it got better and better. The highlight of this story in my eyes is how good my life is in comparison to other kids. I would recommend this book to people aged ten and over because this story would be boring if you were younger because you wouldn’t get it. All up I would rate this book 4 out of 5 stars. Jesse, Year 8
Have you ever thought there could be more to life? What about an amazing world of magic and wonder? Or even a talking skeleton? ‘Skulduggery Pleasant’ is the story of young Stephanie Edgely, a teenage girl that doesn’t fit in and has always wanted more. Her adventure begins when her uncle, one of her closest friends, dies suspiciously. She starts to notice strange things, such as the man in the coat at his funeral. The man in the overcoat is a charming skeletal detective named Skulduggery Pleasant. With the help of her new companion and his magical powers over the elements, Stephanie enters a sinister world. This book is full of heart racing action and the dialogue between the characters is quite witty. If you like adventure or a bit of a laugh, ‘Skulduggery Pleasant’ is the book for you. Daniel, Year 8
‘Skulduggery Pleasant’ was a different, but immensely thrilling book. It was the first book I have ever read of its kind and one of my favourite books. After I read this I almost immediately read the rest of the series and I am now waiting for the 6th book to be released. The main character of the book is Stephanie Edgley (Valkyrie) and her partner/teacher Skulduggery Pleasant. In this book their bond strengthens, as they become friends as they fight to stop evil. Gordon Edgley, Valkyrie’s uncle, has died and she meets him in his house when she visits. I strongly suggest you read this book because it is an amazing book and series. Derek Landy is a very good writer and I look forward to reading more of his work. Sam, Year 8
There is no expense spared by Landy in this book and I would have to say that everyone who could be bothered to read it would definitely be drawn into it and certainly enjoy it. Something for everyone and everything for someone, Skulduggery pleasant is easily hands down my favourite book ever. READ IT!!!!! Jack, Year 9
‘Down The Rabbit Hole’ is about a girl named Ingrid Levin-Hill who loves playing soccer. Ordinary school girl. Loves sport, likes running and enjoys sleeping in, until she finds out she’s left her soccer boots in the place where someone was murdered. Big trouble. Big time. ‘Down The Rabbit Hole’ had a unique introduction. It is a book that can easily attract your attention with the sudden rush of thrill in the story. It’s getting interesting every inch of the way and you always want to know what’s going to happen next because it’s so good. Rose, Year 8
Ingrid has a secret. She feels very guilty but if she tells the police she might get into trouble. Her mum is already suspicious so she thinks she should just leave it for now. One afternoon Ingrid goes to the orthodontist. She waits and waits but her mum doesn’t come, so Ingrid decides to walk to soccer practice. Crazy Katie sees her and asks her if she wants to get a taxi because the walk is so long. Crazy Katie calls the taxi service and Ingrid gets the taxi. A few weeks later in the paper there is a murder at the soccer fields. Who is it and why did they get killed?? I haven’t finished reading this book yet but so far I have really liked it! I can’t wait to read more of it and find out what happens. Jessica, Year 8
Ingrid is your average 13 teen year old girl, who a lot of girls could relate to. The story starts when Ingrid’s parents are late picking her up from the orthodontist, so instead of taking the risk of being late for soccer practice, she takes a greater risk and decides to run to practice. By running there she gets herself in a bit of a situation and you can probably guess that she gets lost. Ingrid was helped by an unlikely person but she made it back home safely. A few days later, Ingrid realises that she left her soccer boots at the scene of a murder so she has to get them back before the police find out she was there. I haven’t finished the book yet, but so far I have enjoyed it. I would recommend this book to girls. Maria, Year 8
The book I’m reading is ‘Down the rabbit hole’ by Peter Abrahams. It’s a book of mystery and adventure. Ingrid Levin-Hill, a thirteen-year-old girl, has a normal life, loves soccer, goes to school and hangs out with her friends. But one day she finds herself in the wrong place at the wrong time. She leaves her soccer boot at the crime scene of a murder! Will this innocent girl be able to clear her name before they suspect her?? To me the start of the book was quite boring. There was a lot of irrelevant information and stories that weren’t all that interesting. Other than that, it’s a great book! Sophie, Year 8
Who would think a thirteen-year-old girl would get stuck in the middle of a crime investigation? The novel ‘Down the rabbit hole’ by Peter Abrahams is a novel that revolves around a mystery. This novel is set in a small and completely normal town. The novel starts off slow but then kicks in with a jaw-dropping scenario. During the novel by Abrahams, there is a girl named Ingrid. Ingrid is a thirteen-year-old girl who somehow gets lost on her way to soccer training. Without going into too much detail, Ingrid gets caught up in the middle of a murder scene. She somehow leaves her soccer boots behind in the middle of the murder investigation and Ingrid wants to go back and get them. She ends up finding that she is the number one suspect. I personally enjoyed this novel as you are at the edge of your seat waiting to know what’s around the corner. Once you start this novel it is so hard to put it down. This twisted novel is full of exciting and mind blowing scenes and is recommended for those who like great mystery/investigation, type of novel. By Brittany, Year 8
Do you think that you would have what it takes to be the youngest M16 agent in history and still manage to be one of the best and most requested operatives in the world? To completely abandon your somewhat valuable and memorable life to fulfill the role that your father had set for himself? And, if so, then maybe you should meet Alex Rider, the boy who was forced to achieve the above and way beyond even that. But even someone who is as talented as Alex can be overwhelmed and scared to death. If you are interested to see what could possibly bring Alex Rider down, then you should definitely read the rest of Point Blanc, a novel by Anthony Horowitz. 
