“Gordon Edgley’s sudden death came as a shock to everyone.”
This was the starting line of this in depth, fantasy/sci-fi thriller. The story is set in a suburban area, and then moved into the city and countryside during the novel. Skullduggery Pleasant is like no average human. He has no muscle or flesh; all he has is bone. Skullduggery is just a skeleton. He was defeated by evil and turned into a skeleton but he has magical powers. Will he use those powers for good?
Stephanie Edgley was a normal girl until she found out who killed her uncle and why. She decides to follow on with what her uncle did and that was follow and help Skullduggery. Will she last or will she suffer a death just like her uncle’s?
Stephanie would have never thought that the death of her Uncle Gordon Edgley would be the start of something completely amazing in her life. She met Skullduggery, and found out what her Uncle did, and ever since that moment she wanted to continue what her uncle was doing, fighting evil with magic.
I enjoyed reading this novel because it was the type of sci-fi/fantasy that I enjoyed. It also kept me on the edge of my seat. Even though the story did drag on at times, there was enough action in the novel to keep me wanting to read more. The characters in this novel were not too boring but also were not too loud and annoying. For me this was a perfect novel.
I recommend the novel Skulduggery Pleasant to mostly boys between the age of 13 and 17 that are interested in Action, Sci-fi and fantasy novels. I also recommend this novel to any reader that has an interest in magic.
‘Just because the world was simple, it didn’t mean there wasn’t any room for the occasional mystery.’ (p.311)
These are teenagers with a mystery to solve and they won’t give up until they get to the bottom of it, even if they have to stay back at the taxidermy lab until midnight looking for clues. Does this sound like the type of book you love to read, the type of book that you can’t put down and you have to keep reading? Then ‘A Pocketful Of Eyes’by Lili Wilkinson is the book for you!
It all starts when a teenage girl named Bee is working at a taxidermy laboratory in the Melbourne Natural Museum’s Department, ‘but her summer job turns out to be full of surprises’ (back cover), especially on the day her mentor suddenly dies and a mysterious handsome boy named Toby begins to work at the taxidermy lab with Bee. Everyone thought that Bee’s mentor Gus died because he committed suicide but Bee and Toby are on a quest to find out if Gus really committed suicide, or did someone murder him?
I really liked the book, ‘A Pocketful Of Eyes’ because it is a story about a girl and boy who begin to have feelings for each other and they are on a quest to find out who murdered their mentor, Gus, and during the process of getting clues and investigating they have some fights but the story concludes with them making up.
Bee is very quirky yet mysterious in a way. When Bee was young she always liked reading detective books and always liked to be a detective. Bee’s co-worker Toby was a good-looking boy who is in university. He knew a lot about animal history and was always trying to charm Bee with quirky and strange facts.
I particularly enjoyed this book because each page you found out something new, either about the characters or the investigation. I was glued to the book. When I was reading ‘A Pocketful Of Eyes’,each page felt like you were getting closer and closer to finding out how Gus died. I strongly recommend this book to teenagers and young adults from the ages of 13- 18 who are preferably girls who are interested in a good mystery and romance. I rate this book 4 stars out of 5.
~ Kate, Year 9
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Bee is part time working in a taxidermy department at her local museum. School starts up again in a few weeks and she is preparing for her last year of school. Her mother is a complete geek and her so-called boyfriend is nowhere to be seen or heard of.
It was a normal day for Bee when she entered the taxidermy department, until she saw police officers and investigators around the place. The head of the Taxidermy Department, Gus, died that night. The investigators say that he killed himself but Bee thinks differently. Will Bee find out who really killed Gus or is she just imagining her childhood fantasy of becoming a detective?
The main characters are interesting: Bee is a girl working in the Taxidermy Department as a part time job before school; Toby is a boy who randomly appeared one day without a word. He said that he needed extra credit as he failed an exam in university, but the problem was that he is very mysterious but knows many animal mating habits. Gus seemed like a very peaceful man that knew what he was doing, but Bee knew something was different the day he died.
This book is exciting, unique and it puts you on the edge. The story line was interesting as there are many detective books where you can guess the ending but this book was different. As soon as I picked up ‘A Pocketful of Eyes’ I couldn’t put I down, and when I did put it down I could not stop thinking about the book. I would recommend the book to girls between the ages of thirteen and fifteen. This is truly a wonderful book that puts you on edge. 4 out of 5 stars.
Morgan B, Year 9
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‘Just because the world was simple, it didn’t mean there wasn’t any room for the occasional mystery.’(p. 311)
It was a normal day for Bee; well that’s what she thought, anyway. Bee is a senior high school student working at the Museum of Natural History in the Taxidermy Department for a summer job. This normal day suddenly was filled of surprises, including Bee’s mentor being found dead and a handsome boy showing up. Bee had many questions but was too shocked to say, after working with Gus, her mentor at the Museum, since the beginning of the summer break. Bee found it odd that the police would say that he had committed suicide and from that moment forward, Bee was convinced that he was murdered. Bee has some help from what she calls her sidekick Toby, the handsome boy. Together they try and solve what they believed was murder.
I truly enjoyed the book, “A Pocketful of Eyes” because it is a story about a girl who has grown up enjoying mystery books and thought she would never be involved in one herself, but during her summer her small dream comes true.
The way Lili Wilkinson described the scenes and characters was wonderful; I didn’t want to put the book down. Her descriptive language really made it easier to imagine actually being there. The story had many twists to keep me on my feet and it had my full attention, as I just wanted to keep reading to find out what was going happen next. The ending of the book was very pleasing because all of the small clues had suddenly came together like a jigsaw to revealed the amazing ending to the mystery. After reading “A Pocketful of Eyes” I truly hope that Lili Wilkinson will be writing a second book.
I would recommend this book to teenagers between the age of 13 and 17 who enjoy reading about mystery and romance. This book is a delightful read. I’d rate the book “A Pocketful of Eyes” by Lili Wilkinson 4 out of 5 stars.
Caitlin, Year 9.
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“The world is full of obvious things which nobody by any chance ever observes.”
Bee thought it was just an average day at her summer job in the Taxidermy Department at the Museum of Natural History, but she soon finds out that it wasn’t. Her mentor Gus was found dead in the Red Rotunda. Bee also had made a new friend called Toby, who quite frankly turned out to be very handsome but much older then her.
Bee didn’t believe that Gus committed suicide; she thought that he had been murdered. Bee and Toby go on a quest to try and figure out what happened the night Gus was found dead. They decide to make a list of suspects and start questioning each of them. Not everything goes to plan, whilst questioning the suspects. They then discover more clues that could answer the main question as to whether Gus was murdered or if he committed suicide?
I really enjoyed the book ‘A Pocketful of Eyes’ because it is a story about a girl and a boy who solve a mystery together to come to the conclusion as to whether their mentor was murdered or committed suicide.
I was totally engaged in the book and could not put it down, as I was curious as to what would happen next. The descriptive and captivating language made it simple for me to picture the characters, scenes and also what they might have been thinking. The book was full of surprises and always kept my full attention. I recommend this book to teenagers of the ages of 13-16, who are interested in mystery novels and also a bit of romance. I rate this book 4 stars out of 5.
Are shape shifters real? The answer is in the book! If you are a spooky sci-fi fan, Shift by Em Bailey is a must read for you!
There were two things everyone at Olive Corbett’s school knew about the mysterious Miranda Vaile before she had even started there:
“The first was that her parents were dead; the second was that Miranda had murdered them. Olive is no longer crazy. Nowadays she takes her medication, listens to Dallas and isn’t friends with the popular girl, Katie.”
Katie has been replaced with Ami, Olive’s better version of herself. Olive and Ami’s imaginations run wild when they notice that Miranda, the creepy new girl has latched on to Katie, the “toxic” ex-best friend. They feel there is something sinister about their new friendship.
To add to Olive’s mind full of thoughts, the new boy in town, Lachlan, has Olive pushing him away as he continues to take interest in her. Will Olive finally find out Miranda’s secret she is begging to hear? Will she ever let the dreamy Lachlan Ford into her new life?
I recommend this book for 11-13 year old girls who like books similar to Twilight, or Gossip Girl. This book received 3½ stars because it is mysterious, heart wrenching, and spooky. This book is guaranteed to keep you on the edge of your seat! As Em Bailey would say, “Imitation is the highest form of flattery. Until it isn’t.”
Do any of these topics interest you? If so then Shift would be an ideal book for you.
‘I am weird, and you know what? That’s ok. So are most interesting people.’
Olive Corbett used to be the girl that everyone wanted to be. Popular. Outstandingly pretty. Perfect. Until the devastating ‘incident’ occurred. A regular dose of medication to help her recover from the ‘incident’ has caused her to become overweight, acne prone and friendless.
When supposed ‘parent murderer’ Miranda Vale starts at Olive’s school, she immediately makes her way into the popular group and has a seemingly ‘parasitic’ friendship with the most admired girl in the grade – Katie.
Meanwhile Olive is crushing on the hot new boy, Lachlan Ford. But when Olive and Miranda become friends, Miranda begins to tell Olive that she can do better than Lachlan…
Will Miranda do any harm to Olive or Katie with her apparent ‘parasitic’ friendship and will Olive’s love life proceed on or be ruined?
Shift was an enjoyable book with a unique but fascinating storyline. It had an intriguing start – that kept you captivated with every word – although towards the end of the book the story became dull and difficult to follow. The main character (Olive) didn’t meet my expectations and was displayed as weak, as she kept on going back to someone even though she knew she was evidently getting hurt.
I believe that this book was a typical written book. The context didn’t particularly flow, although there were several scenes in the book that kept you fascinated, whilst others made you want to stop reading the book.
Although this wasn’t the most amazing or interesting book I’ve read, this book would be enjoyed and suitable for teens within the ages of 13-18 who enjoy thriller, romance and supernatural based books. This book receives 2 ½ stars.
How far should one go to discover the truth about someone’s death?
Ingrid is a normal girl living a normal 13-year-old’s life. In Echo Falls many secrets are kept, and Ingrid is eager to discover a secret that gets quite dangerous the more and more she unravels it. Down the Rabbit Hole has a very clever plot that makes you never want to put the story down!
The story begins when Ingrid is trying to find her way to soccer practice but she somehow finds herself lost, in the house of the town’s crazy lady, Katie. People call her ‘Crazy Katie’. After a bit of a chat with her, Ingrid gets in a taxi and drives away, thinking that that would be the last of any Crazy Katie drama. But, the following day in the newspaper she finds that Crazy Katie has been murdered, and soon Ingrid realizes that she left her red soccer shoes at Crazy Katie’s house the day before. She has to get them back, unnoticed before they find out they’re her shoes. Soon, Ingrid finds herself discovering the mystery of Crazy Katie’s death. Follow Ingrid on her exciting journey as she discovers the truth and on the way finds strong friendships.
Famous author, Stephen King, says that Down the Rabbit Hole was “One walloping good suspense yarn…” He couldn’t put it down!
Ingrid slowly starts putting the pieces together and you will never guess what she finds!
I would definitely recommend this book for 10-15 year olds that love mysteries and suspense. I thought that Down the Rabbit Hole had an exciting plot that has great suspense. The book is full of exciting twists, turns and game changes. Ingrid is a fun, entertaining young girl that loves a bit of a mystery and I definitely recommend it.
Isabelle, Year 8
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Meet Ingrid Levin-hill, an ordinary 13 year old living an ordinary life, until one day she runs into the town crazy lady, known as ‘Crazy Katie’. One day Ingrid finds refuge in Katie’s home, and when Ingrid has to leave, she leaves her soccer boots, which she had with her, behind. A series of unfortunate events happen afterwards when Ingrid’s boots are simply left in the wrong place in the wrong time and getting them back means getting involved in a murder investigation.
This book is a great story full of mystery, surprise and suspense. Follow Ingrid on her journey down the rabbit hole, as things just become curiouser and curiouser and to unlock the mysteries of Echo Falls. I think that the book displays great surprise and suspense. It is a book for the ages from 12-20 in my opinion.
Jeannie, Year 8
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Have you ever read a book that got you so intrigued that you couldn’t put it down and loved reading it? Then here is the book for you. It is an amazing mystery/ crime novel that anyone could love.
Ingrid Levin-Hill is a thirteen-year-old girl who loves her sport and acting. She is brought into a big mystery of Echo-Falls after leaving her red soccer boots at the crime scene. After seeing that the local police are completely off track with the murder investigation, Ingrid decides to conduct her own investigation.
I think that the book ‘Down The Rabbit Hole’by Peter Abraham is a great read full of excitement and mystery. The book’s author Peter Abraham did an excellent job at keeping people guessing right down to the last second.
I recommend this book for girls aged 12-15 years old who enjoy a good mystery. This book is a good read and I rate it 3½ stars out of 5.
Say hello to the Tucks. They look young but they’re not. Immortal people don’t tickle your fancy? Then what will? The Tuck family isn’t your normal everyday family, well if you would consider immortal families “normal” then yeah they are as normal as they come.
This particular family drank from the fountain of youth, but in this case it’s the spring of youth. The main character is named Winnie. One day after careful consideration Winnie ran away from home to become what she considers to be “free” but what happens is the opposite from “free” since she sees a 17 teen year old that considers himself to be 104 years old, drink from the spring of youth. What will happen? Only time will tell.
I didn’t get too attached to this storyline since for me the story was a bit dull. Winnie goes off discovering the things she always wanted to, but not the way she hoped.
I still recommend this book to all that love the thought of immortality and romance. This book is SCI-FI and with a hint of romance. The plot of this book was well planned out. I would rate this “Tuck Everlasting” 3 stars out of 5 stars.
Luke, Year 8.
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“What we Tucks have, you can’t call it living. We just… are. We’re like rocks, stuck at the side of a stream”.
The Tuck family discovered the spring of water giving everlasting life, but is it a privilege or a curse? Even as Winnie is kidnapped she must consider this question, as she is a witness to a murder. The Tucks drank from a spring that is actually a fountain of youth. Until the end they will stay that age, look and height. The Tuck family and Winnie have kept the secret of the spring because they realised it would bring harm and chaos. Winnie is a girl who the Tucks met. She fell in love with one of the Tucks, Jesse, who have the same feeling for her.
Winnie has everything a young girl could ever want, from a wealthy family to having all the clothes any girl could ever need. The Tucks will stay their age and never get older and change. All their friends will grow up and they won’t. The reason that Tuck Everlasting got its title is because the Tucks drank from the everlasting spring. The book is a romance story and isn’t really interesting for ages under 13 because it is about love and romance.
One day when Winnie was wandering through her wood she met this boy who she fell in love with. After Winnie has had a conversation with this boy, whose name is Jesse Tuck, Winnie finds herself being kidnapped by his mother and brother.
Winnie will have to make up her mind between when she turns seventeen staying that age forever so that they can be together or helping Jesse’s mum get out of jail for kidnapping Winnie.
I rate this book 6/10 because during the book you lose interest a bit because the book grabs your attention during the beginning and the end, but in the middle you lose interest a bit. Other than that ‘Tuck Everlasting’ may be recommended for you.
Maya, Year 8
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People say you only live once but for the Tucks once if forever. The Tucks have discovered the fountain of youth letting them live forever but is this blessing or a curse?
‘Tuck Everlasting’ is a story about a family that stumbles upon a spring, but the Tucks did not know what power the spring posessed. So as they drank the water they were granted everlasting life. Unknowingly and in order to conceal their secret, they must travel the countryside, never staying at one place for too long.
Winnie Foster is a young wealthy girl who wants her freedom desperately and ends up running away. She meets Jesse Down at the fountain of youth drinking the water. Winnie goes to drink some water from the fountain of youth but Jesse stops her. Jesse’s mother and brother, the three Tucks, grab Winnie and start running. The Tucks take her back to their house and tell Winnie their story, and Winnie promises to keep her mouth shut about the whole thing. As Winnie travels with the Tucks she falls in love with Jesse Tuck. The Tucks are endearing, heartwarming and truly amazing people. But the story can’t always be about happiness. There is also a villain who wants to drink from the fountain of youth and live forever.
The book is an amazing story with life lessons around every corner. I recommend this book to ages from 14 to 18 who love to read love stories with action and adventure. This book is truly a great read. Austin N. Year 8
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“If there’s one thing I’ve learnt about people, it’s that many will do anything not to die.”(Mr Tuck)
The Tuck family was just your ordinary family, until they had a drink from the spring. Now theywill live forever. Winnie’s life was ordinary and boring with her mum wanting her to be a proper lady, until she met Jessie Tuck and his family. But someone’s looking for the Tucks, trying to uncover their secret.
Set in a little village of Treegap, Tuck Everlasting is an inspiring love story about a little girl that goes missing and finds true love that could never work.
The worldwide best-selling classic by Natalie Babbit, Tuck Everlasting is an amazing book. I would recommend. It is a quick read for teenagers or a decent book for 10- 12 year olds who concentrate on their reading and are good at it. It is a great book that holds suspense in every page you turn.
I liked this book a lot. The only bad point is at the beginning it’s a little hard to understand, but other than that the book is amazing. Depending on what kind of mind you have this book could be rated as many genres: if you have an adventure kind of mind, this book might seem like an adventure story, but if you are into love stories then this is a love story for you. It depends on how you read this book. It is very interesting and suits many people.
If you liked reading Tuck Everlasting it has also been made into a movie by Walt Disney pictures and, like the book, it’s amazing.
‘A fearsome and beautifully written book that can’t be put down or forgotten.’The New Yorker
‘Intense and powerful, exciting and poignant, Tuck Everlasting will last for ever – in the reader’s imagination.’ Amazon.com
Meet Hugo, a kind souled young homeless boy, living inside the walls of a Paris city train station. No parents. No grandparents. Just him. Until one day, everything changes…
Does this book feel like the book you would want to read? Then of course this is the book for you!
Things are quite unusual in the city of Paris, especially inside the walls of the Paris city train station. A young French lad named Hugo Cabret lives inside these walls keeping all the clocks running in the train station. But nobody knows that… There are some foul things that live inside the train station: the station inspector and the creepy old man who owns a toy store across from where Hugo’s favorite clock is, linger in the shadows of the train station after dark.
The main characters in the story are Hugo Cabret, Isabelle Meilies and Papa Georges Meilies.
I really enjoyed the book, ‘The invention of Hugo Cabret’ because it is a story about a young mysterious boy who has recently lost his father in a museum fire in the city of Paris. After that happened, he knew his life would never be the same again.
I was glued to this book from start to finish by the way that Brain Selznick described the characters and by how he made it look like we could interact with them throughout the book. The descriptive language used in this book made it easy to understand and visualize all the scenes in my imagination as though I was there. The story continued fantastically with enough mystery and wonder to always keep my full attention. The ending of the book ‘The Invention of Hugo Cabret’ was very mystifying because of the way everything turned around for Hugo and it has made me want to read the rest of the Brian Selznick collection.
I recommend this book to people aged 12-20 and in between because if you are really into mystery and wonder with a full on twist at the end, then this book is the book for you. I’d rate this book ‘The Invention of Hugo Cabret’ a 4.5 out of 5.
Phoebe G., Year 8
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Meet Hugo Cabret, a small orphan boy living in a Paris train station. He steals to stay alive and turns the clocks so no one gets suspicious. Isabelle Méliès is an eccentric bookworm who may be Hugo’s only hope.
When Hugo’s father dies in a freak museum fire, he is sent to live with his Uncle, the clock turner for a busy Paris train station. Until one day, he disappears. Hugo has to continue turning clocks to avoid the suspicion of the station inspector and the people who walk through the train station daily. Hugo’s father leaves him with nothing; nothing except a mysterious broken mechanical man that his father was working on before he died, a mechanical man that Hugo is determined to fix. But he can’t do it alone. He needs help from Isabelle if he wants to unravel the mystery of the mechanical man.
I really enjoyed this book because it was very mysterious and intriguing. It had a very interesting storyline that made me never want to put the book down. The way that it was written was really good; I liked that there were lots of pictures in the book because it helped me picture the characters and the scene easier. I give this book a 4 out of 5 because although it was really interesting, it got frustrating with the amount of pictures it had, but the pictures were drawn with lots of detail and they looked amazing.
I recommend this book for people between the ages of 11-20 but it should be enjoyable for everyone. People that enjoy mystery books will really enjoy this story because it’s full of mysteries!
Victoria C, Year 8.
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Do you want to have a mystical adventure with good characters and a plot that will keep you guessing until the end? Well, Hugo is a great book with great characters and a story that will pull you right to the end. The plot starts off pretty slow but I thought it was great pacing for book like this.
There is a boy in the train station named Hugo and he always carries a little book around. But an old man from a toy store steals his book for a mysterious reason. Hugo must now find his book and solve the mystery of his father’s work.
The book has a very unique style as it is filled with pictures. The words fill in the detail of the pictures. It’s quite unique and something I haven’t really seen done by a big name author. The characters are extremely interesting with their own personality and style to them. It is impossible first time reading to predict what will happen in the end, the plot is just so unique and interesting.
The sub genre the book has is wonder and mystery with some elements of steam punk. It is about the experience and the adventure.
This book is so good that when I finished reading I just read it all over again.
There are some problems with the book though, the characters, with the unique personalities that they have, they can sometimes be a bit dull, especially Hugo himself. Hugo was a well executed character. He had a lot of style and personality to him and had a bit of mystery to him, but in the second half of the book he can be especially dull as a character. Same goes with the other characters. They have some dull moments.
The styling of the book can be a bit too dark at times, even to the point of not being able to see anything but the characters’ faces. I think this was intentional or maybe just bad art direction. There are some very lengthy exposition in the middle of the book, and we are given way too much information about Hugo’s life; more than we really needed to have. For me, this ruins the mystery about Hugo. The author was trying way too hard to make us connect with Hugo but really it was OK not to give too much detail about him, making Hugo a likeable character we could relate to.
I also thought they could have explored a little bit more of the world, as the majority of the story takes place in the train station or the streets. I felt like that this was a missed opportunity, because the world was so intriguing I wanted to explore more of it… a bit of a missed opportunity.
The plot can start a bit slow and because of the slow pacing of the plot I think this book is not best suited for everyone. This really is not a problem but there are some parts of the book that are deliberately left to be a mystery. I wish there were more parts that focused on the mystery, after all that’s what the book achieves so well. Again a bit of wasted potential.
Despite my problems of the book, overall it was a great book with a great plot. I recommend this book to anyone who is patient enough and enjoys being mystified. The recommended age group is 14 and up. I rate it 9/10.
What goes up must come down, right? Up, high, in the air, in a sealed pod, who could escape? It was 11:32am. We stand and wave to our cousin Salim as he gets on board the London Eye. The doors of the pod are sealed. As he waves the pod is lifted up into the air. We watch as it makes its way up. It’s now 12:02pm, the pod has landed and everyone leaves- but where is Salim?
Ever since Aunt Gloria and her son Salim arrived in London, everything has gone wrong for brother and sister, Ted and Kat. Meet Ted. He is just the person who knows it all. His brain thinks differently to everyone else. Then there is his sister Kat. Being the older one and always getting every problem blamed on her must be tough sometimes, so she thinks, and now that their cousin Salim has gone missing there is just another problem for her to get blamed for.
Aunt Gloria is frantic when she hears the news that her little boy has gone missing. No one knows where he has gone. How could someone disappear from a sealed pod? Automatically everyone fears for the worst. ‘Is he even still alive,’ cries Aunt Gloria. The police are baffled and no one can figure out what has happened to him. Now it is up to Ted and Kat to take matters into their own hands and try to figure out what happened to Salim on that Monday, the 24th of May.
I really liked the book as it always kept me second guessing myself.It had a great storyline and always kept me wondering what would happen next.This story mainly suits teens from the ages of 12-16. It is a book for people who like a good mystery and a bit of adventure along the way. I rate the book ‘The London Eye Mystery’ a 4 out of 5 stars.
By Claudia F- Year 8
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Meet the Sparks family, a loving family who thought that the 24th of May was going to be an ordinary day. No! As the Sparks set out for an extraordinary day with their cousin at the London Eye things went wrong in a matter of minutes. Once you have read the plot of the book you will sense drama coming into the story.
But first, the featured characters of the book are Ted, Kat and of course their cousin Salim who is visiting for the week before he goes to New York. When Salim arrived in London he instantly knew what he wanted to do – ride the London Eye – so they went. As Salim was lining up for the tickets on the London Eye he gets offered a free ticket but there’s a catch. He only gets offered one ticket so Salim went up alone with no assistance. As Ted and Kat wave goodbye to Salim before he goes up they shut the pods doors. Around half an hour later, at 12.02pm, Salim’s pod lands and reaches the Earth again but he wasn’t there. Salim had disappeared and was nowhere to be found.
So Ted and Kat set out on their adventure of finding Salim and come up with eight or none different theories of what could have happened to Salim.
I really loved The London Eye Mysterybecause it was captivating, astonishing and what made the book even more magnificent than it already is, was that the book creates a mysterious effect to the story. If you like to read about mysteries and problem solving then this is the book for you. This book is thrilling, amazing, incredible, mind boggling and is definitely an action packed book. So I guarantee you will love it no matter what genre of book you like. I would honestly rate this book 4 or 4.5 out of 5 stars.
What really did happen to Salim?Read The London Eye Mystery to find out.
Kayla C, Year 8
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Meet Ted, a young boy who has an I.Q of more than the London Eye is in metres and Kat, a troublesome individual who would kill for a hair brush on a bad hair day.Both of them must work around their bitter rivalry as siblings to attempt to solve a mystery which even confuses the police. Does this sound like a book you would be interested in? Then “The London Eye Mystery”may be a book for you!
This story begins in London where Ted and Kat live.Their aunt Gloria and their cousin Salim, who are moving to New York and decided to visit London to catch up with their other relatives, visit them. They then have a discussion at dinner about what to see while they are in London; tall buildings also intrigue Salim. So, they visit one of the tallest buildings in London, the London Eye.
There is a slight complication: Salim does not come down. His cousins were waiting for him and he does not emerge from his capsule.
‘Where could Salim be?’ is the question that is confusing everyone, even the police. Ted, being the genius that he is, also has trouble understanding simple human interaction and Kat, being the sibling more understanding of social interaction, must then work around their bitter relationship and embark on a journey to find out what has happened to Salim. Has he spontaneously combusted? [Ted’s theory] Has he been kidnapped? [Aunt Gloria’s theory] Is he even still alive? [The family’s unspoken fear.]
This book was a very interesting and thrilling read, because it always ended its pages on a cliffhanger, whether it was major or minor to the development of the story and really keeps you engrossed in the book. I also enjoyed the book because it brings up a lot of mystery throughout the book and every time I put the book down I would be thinking of possibilities for what was going to happen next and it really keeps you guessing.I would recommend this book to young adults that are interested in thrillers or mysteries, males or females in the age range of 12-16. Ryan M, Year 8.
Roxy crouched in a corner listening to sounds of Dragon House in darkness. A door swinging shut, the creak of a floorboard. Every sound made her jump. Were they looking for her?
Does this book sound like your type of book? If you love reading books with a little bit of thrill and a little bit of heart and mind, then this is the book you have been waiting for.
Roxy is a girl who gets pregnant at the age of 14 years old and runs away. She goes out to the city of London and finds a place to stay called Mayflower House where they help girls who have run away from home and are pregnant. Roxy is a little spooked out by this place and was asking if there was another place, before she met a girl who said there is and she knew the owners. Roxy called the owners to see if there was a way for her to go to that house. She ended up going to a coffee shop and meeting up with the people – Mr. and Mrs. Dyce. They talked and Roxy went in the car and went to their place called the Dragon House. Roxy slept all of the way to the Dragon House. Once they got there she was amazed to see that a house could be so big. Then she realised that Mr. and Mrs Dyce weren’t as nice as they said they were. The rest is for you to find out.
I would say this book is for girls in their teenage years (from 13+) who would love this book. There are lots of twists in the story. You will want to keep reading all through the night. I would give this book a 4 out of 5 stars.
Aimee-Rose, Year 8
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“Roxy was shaking with fear. She drew in a deep breath. She would not let her fear take over. She couldn’t. She had too much to lose. She had to be strong, to be brave. For once in her life she had to think of someone other than herself”.
I am the type of person that doesn’t really enjoy reading, however in my English class I was given the opportunity to read the book called ‘Roxy’s Baby’, by Catherine MacPhail. Although this book is for girls that are in the teenage years and who have a good experience of books and on life stories that make you feel like you are right next to them, I enjoyed it highly and it was one of the best books I have ever read and I think this is the book for you.
The book ‘Roxy’s Baby’ is about a disobedient girl that falls pregnant by an unknown man and is faced with telling her mum. She couldn’t deal with it and ran away from home and travelled to Paris. She once read an article about a place that took girls who were having problems at home. She finally arrived and realised that she was too young to go there. She gave up and her last hope was to go live with Mr and Mrs Dyces. They seemed like very lovely people but they are hiding a horrible secret and their secret might be too desperate to hide.
I loved reading this book because it shows what can happen in people’s everyday life. Along the way Roxy made many new friends, which made this book very exciting. It shows that if you never give up and you never stop trying you can get to where you want to go. If you are interested in what I have told you then this is definitely the book for you. I truly believe that this book is a four out of five and I suggest you read ‘Roxy’s Baby’.Aidan M. Year 8.
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Roxy is a wild and out of control teen. She hates her life and her prissy little sister. Her only comfort is her equally rowdy friends Pat, Tracey and Jacqueline. They swoop through life defiantly. She wants to be one of them.
One night, while at a party, she lets a drunken boy kiss her … and now she’s pregnant. She won’t tell anyone about her secret, her friends, her family, even her own mother. She runs away to London. There, Mr and Mrs Dyce find her, a kind and loving couple who promise her a way out of her troubles. They take her to a place where she meets other girls like her in the same position: Anne-Marie, Babs, Agnes and Sula.
There’s no going back home now because the Dyces won’t let her contact home. She lives her life in their mansion, looking after her unborn baby. For some reason, she doesn’t trust the Dyces. Though sympathetic and understanding as they may seem, eventually she works out the dark secret the Dyces have kept hidden for years. Can she stop them? There is only one way out – and it’s risky. But now Roxy has her baby to protect.
I really had a good time reading this book ‘Roxy’s Baby’because it captured my attention straight away and then I knew that I had to keep reading. It was a very interesting story and I enjoyed every minute of it. The attention to detail was very precise and that made it very easy for me to imagine the scenes in my head.
I would recommend this book to teenage girls ages 13 – 20 that like very daring and thrilling novels. I’d rate the book ‘Roxy’s Baby’4 out of 5 stars.
‘Devil’s Island’ is an exciting and a very interesting story about a mysterious island. The main characters were Luke and the doctor . Luke has no idea how long the doctor has been on the island. and you might ask, ‘How did he get on the island?’ Luke got there by a kayak that got washed ashore and broke so then Luke ventured onto the island.
Luke was haunted by scary things and was scared for his life and I would recommend this to young teenagers that like fast moving high action novels. I rate this book a three star special.
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.
The book that I am writing this review on is called ‘Holes’. The author of the novel is named Louis Sachar. The setting of the book is in a place called ‘Camp Green Lake’. The main character of this novel is named Stanley Yelnats. Stanley is a very caring, nice and nervous kid but can stand up for himself when he needs to. The other characters names are Zero, Squid, X ray Magnet, ZigZag, Mr. Sir, Armpit, the Warden and Mr. Pendanski.
When Stanley is at ‘Camp Green Lake’ he gets flashbacks of his ancestors. Camp Green Lake is like a juvenile detention camp but the weird thing is there is no lake at Camp Green Lake.
The chapters in this book are very short. This is not a very predictable story like many other books. This story grabs you straight from the start with Zero stealing the shoes from a famous baseball player, and Stanley getting blamed for it.
I couldn’t put the book down because you want to know what’s happening so you just keep reading. When you finish reading the novel it is like you just want to go back to the start of the book again and read it all over again. I would describe this novel as a very unpredictable and interesting novel. I felt like there was no part in this novel which was repeated.
I would recommend this novel to the ages of ten to fourteen years old. I would recommend this novel to children who like an unpredictable and very interesting book. I would also rate this book as a seven out of ten. I don’t like books where you cannot tell what is going to happen next, so that is why I give the book “Holes” a seven out of ten.
By Ethan.W Year 8.1
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‘Holes’is set in the middle of a desert in Texas. Stanley Yelnats is a boy who was sent to a camp for naughty boys because he was at the wrong place at the wrong time. Stanley’s family has been cursed for generations. In the story Stanley ends up going to Camp Green Lake. He has to dig a hole five feet long and five feet deep every single day.
The writer use flashbacks to bring out the history of Camp Green Lake. In this story the flashbacks are mainly based on Kate Barlow, the history of her life and why her character changed dramatically. The main reason Louis Sachar used flashbacks was to make the book more interesting, as the middle part of“Holes” just dragged on.
I would probably recommend this book to the ages ten years to fifteen years. I wouldn’t really recommend it to any younger ages as it can be hard to follow and flashbacks make it even harder to follow. I would give this book a four out of ten. I only gave it four because it is very boring and hard to follow.
Caitlyn, Year 8
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Holes was very interesting to read and had me hooked the whole way through. The characters in the book were really well thought out and each character has their own special quality. The use of descriptive language was so good you could imagine the situations in the novel in your head.
This novel would suit boys who like drama and also a bit of humor from the ages of nine to nineteen. If you liked this book you would probably like to read the series Diary of a Wimpy Kid.
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!
Do you like a world full of different problems and dilemmas?
Do you like horror, adventure, drama and fantasy?
Well, reading Richard Harland’s novel ‘World Shaker’ is the place to be.
The story is about Col, an ordinary guy, whose in a dilemma that he can’t get out of. Either way, someone is going to be disappointed. It all started when he was awoken by two police officers/commanders. They were trying to find a filthy girl who had escaped out of their sight. Col needs to find her and this is a problem that may cost him.
Like Col, we can all be in different situations, with problems and dilemmas. The choices we make now affects our whole entire future and this book has really got me excited all because of this problem.
It seems that when Col has resolved a problem another one appears. ‘World Shaker’ is an interesting novel. It is fiction but seems to be real in a way. Many people can relate to it and say, ‘Yes, I’ve been in this situation before but in a different perspective.’
This is definitely my favorite novel. I would definitely recommend this story to young teenagers, young adults and adults. I wouldn’t recommend it to children because they may not understanding the language and context in this book. It may result in them stopping reading one page through.
Lilani, Year 8
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Picture a Victorian land in which giant iron juggernauts as large as mountains roam over land and sea, crushing and trading as they move along. Now imagine a young boy destined to become Supreme Commander after his sly grandfather has moved on. As if that isn’t interesting enough, throw in a mixture of tragic love and rebellion and you will find yourself with the story of ‘Worldshaker’.
Col is just an ordinary boy living his ordinary perfect life upon the World shaker, well…ordinary up until a young filthy girl from the lower decks named Riff becomes trapped in his room. In a world where everyone is proper and graceful, how would they react when they find Col with a filthy girl? In order to keep her quiet, they make a pact. Col must help Riff navigate the Upper Decks and she must teach him how to fight like a filthy. Along the way, they encounter new enemies who are willing to spread the word of a bond between a filthy and a proper.
I enjoyed, ‘Worldshaker’because it was about a young boy finding his place in the world. The descriptive and steam punk style of writing was very intriguing and there was always a plot twist to keep you entertained. The character description was also extraordinary and was obviously very well thought out.
I would have loved to have read on from the ending but there is sadly no sequel to this amazing novel.
If you enjoy mysterious, steam punk, love story novels and are between the ages of 13 to 25, then I suggest ‘WORLDSHAKER’ for a great read. I rate this book 4 out of 5 stars for its descriptive work, story line and plot twists. Alisha.T, Year 8.
TEACHER COMMENT: The sequel to ‘World Shaker’ is ‘Liberator’. Keep reading!
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.
There were two things Olive knew about Miranda Vaile: number one she had no parents and number two they were dead because she killed them. Olive is the main character in ‘Shift’. She has made a lot of changes to her life. She now takes her meds, goes to school and work and is no longer best friends with the popular girl, Katie. Now Olive has a new best friend, Ami, who she describes as “Me but with way better hair.” There is a new girl at school named Miranda. There are a lot of rumours going around about her and Olive can’t help but wonder if they are true. After a brief confrontation, Miranda and Katie, become friends and as they become closer the life starts to drain from Katie. This leads Olive to become more suspicious of Miranda and who/what she is. On a happier note, there is a new boy in town, Lachlan, who seems to take an interest in Olive, only Olive doesn’t believe him and continues to push him away. Will Olive find out the truth about Miranda? Will she let Lachlan get close to her?I found this story quite interesting and would recommend it to teenagers, most likely girls who are interested in fantasy/Sci Fi books. I rate ‘Shift’four out of five stars; overall it was a good read.Maria, Year 9.
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‘There were two things everyone knew about Miranda Vaile before she’d even started at our school. The first was that she had no parents – they were dead. And the second? They were dead because Miranda had killed them.’
Em Bailey’s novel Shift is a thrilling dystopian novel that delves into the life of high school student, Olive Corbett. She is recovering from what she refers to as ‘The Incident’ while trying to deal with her dad walking out on their family and being ditched by the popular girls.
When Miranda starts at Jubilee Park High, things start to change. She latches onto Katie (the queen bee) and becomes one of the most popular girls in school. But Olive knows she’s hiding something. So with the help of her best friend Ami, she decides to find out what that is. In between all the drama, new boy Lachlan shows interest in Olive and goes to great lengths to start a friendship that could potentially turn into a relationship with her. Will Olive find out what Miranda’s hiding? Will Olive and Lachlan get together?
Shiftwas an exhilarating read, one that I couldn’t put down. It really puts into perspective the issues that teenagers could potentially go through and how to deal with them. I really enjoyed this book and thought that it was beautifully written. If you’re into mystery/fantasy with a bit of romance books, then this is the one for you!
– Jess, Year 9
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Meet Olive Corbett. She had everything. The boys… The looks… And the popularity. Until ‘The Incident’ and from that day forth, her life was turned upside down. Not only has her old best friend Katie told everybody about it, but the creepy new girl seems to be latching on to Katie like a parasite. Olive may be known as the girl who has a habit of letting her imagination run away with her, but there is one thing she is sure of and that is that there is something definitely not right about the new girl Miranda, and the fact that she killed her parents makes even more of a reason to stay well clear of her.
Shift is an edgy book written by Em Bailey. This story includes the everyday struggles of teenagers in high school and comes to terms with mental illness and depression in teenagers. It is constantly keeping you in suspense making it hard to put the book down. I finished this book within two days of borrowing it as it was like an addiction. I had to keep reading it. I loved this book because it was a mystery and it always kept me guessing what would happen next, keeping my full attention. I recommend this book to teenagers and young adults between the ages 13- 25 who enjoy reading mystery and thrill. I rate the book ‘Shift’ a 5 out of 5 stars.
– Amba, Year 9.
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Shift by Em Bailey is a thrilling tale, which will always leave you on edge and guessing. I became completely attached to this book from the very first chapter. The epic twists and turns will pull you into a world where nothing is, as it seems.
“This well-written, tightly plotted thriller kept me reading long into the night… A book that stands out in the genre.” –Bookseller & Publisher.
Olive Corbett has had a troubled past, with her dad abandoning her and her family, losing her best-friend not to mention her attempted suicide. So when an odd new girl, Miranda, starts at Jubilee Park High School, Olive and her best friend Ami become suspicious of her motives when she befriends the most popular girl in school. Slowly Miranda begins to become popular and changes her looks to match her new ‘bestie’, Katie. As Miranda becomes more vibrant and outgoing, Katie is barely there. Soon Miranda takes Katie’s place and her boyfriend, leaving Katie sickly and fading. Olive is sure Miranda is a shapeshifter, and she is determined to stop her before someone gets hurt.
Shift is a perfect blend of Sci-fi mixed with modern. I would suggest this book for teens around thirteen and up. I rate this book four stars out of five for its well-written plot and great understanding of adolescence.
The Extraordinary Adventures of Alfred Kropp is a slow going and long book about a boy called Alfred Kropp who is a normal high school student. The trouble starts when his uncle talks him into a get rich quick scheme to steal the legendary sword of King Arthur, Excalibur. As the fight between good and evil begins, he falls in love with a girl, finds out who he really is and that the world is not what he thought it was.
At the beginning of the book the story line is slow and the plot goes nowhere until Chapter 3 where the story line speeds up and becomes less boring. Once the adventure begins it becomes an OK book because it goes over every day things that teenagers go through like bullying, fitting in and that little bit of love story in the book.
In my opinion the book is still boring and overall I still didn’t like the book. But it reminded me of the Da Vinci code: a little adventure, history and a little bit of conspiracy. I would recommend this book to people that like a bit of adventure, romance, history and some conspiracy elements. If you do, this book is for you. Dakota, Year 9
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The Extraordinary Adventures of Alfred Kropp is an action/adventure book written by Rick Yancey.
The book’s plot is about the title character, the eponymous hero of the novel: Alfred Kropp. The plot involves Alfred retrieving the ancient sword, Excalibur, from the hands of his enemy, Mogat, who wishes to do evil with the sword.
Immediately, the book throws down most of their character’s personalities and the stereotypes that come with them. The book’s titular character echoes stereotypes from books such as Harry Potter and The Philosopher’s Stone, for example: Both Harry and Alfred are 11 year old boys with some “special” ability and both are orphans living with their uncle. The book uses these techniques to quickly and effectively identify with its target audience.
Alfred is called upon to retrieve a stolen item from his uncle’s Boss, where monks attack him. However, Alfred defend himself against them and manages to escape from the building, where his uncle is shot and killed by his employer Mogat and the sword is taken from him.
Alfred moves into the home of a foster family, where he is bored and spends a lot of his time in the city, often alone, dealing with common issues of kids and teenagers of not fitting in. Eventually, he is found and put on another quest to retrieve the sword from Mogat who wishes to do evil with it.
The pacing of the book is poor. The book begins excitedly, but then lowers down and is often a chore to read in the middle of the book, but it excitedly picks up again.
The book itself has a lot of laughs and a lot of action, but older readers will most likely not find the more simple humour and action of this book funny or exciting. It uses less descriptive language and is blunt and concise in its descriptions.
In conclusion, the book knows who its target audience is and writes solely to them. Despite the number of plot clichés and stereotypes as well as the poor prose and pacing of the book, the book could be a lot of fun for younger readers. I recommend the book only to kids from the age of 9-13 who will get the book’s humour and be able to overlook the many weaknesses of the book. Camilo, Year 9
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If you have ever wondered what a modern day knight would look like, this book has the answers.
The Extraordinary Adventures of Alfred Kropp starts off with a teenager named Alfred Kropp living with his Uncle Farrell, who works as a security guard. Alfred attends high school, just like any other teenager, but finds it difficult to fit in. Alfred and his Uncle Farrell live a normal life, but not for much longer. Suddenly, a man named Arthur Myers calls Uncle Farrell, offering him one million dollars for the return of a sword, which was stolen by Uncle Farrell’s boss. The quest is handed over to Alfred, meaning that it’s now his job to steal the sword back. The story is now set and from then involves many twists that will leave you not wanting to put the book down, with a teenage boy saving the world with characters like knights and monks.
The Extraordinary Adventures of Alfred Kropp is a fun, humorous fantasy book that I enjoyed but wouldn’t pick up to read again. I would recommend this book to a 12+ teenage boy who loves fantasy and enjoys reading a lot. Although the book has some great twists, the introduction was slow and should’ve started off with a bang. Lucky enough towards the end of the book it became more interesting and edgy. Overall I would rate the book a 7 out of 10, this is because I think the book should have started off as good as the end. The reason I recommend it to the age group of 12+ is because of the situations that wouldn’t be suitable for any age group below like the brutal deaths throughout the book. James, Year 9
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This book is well written and includes several twists to keep you guessing what is going to happen next, however this isn’t necessarily a good thing. The length of the book means that by the end you are getting frustrated at how nothing seems to happen how you expect.
It has plenty of action and adventure, however people who like that sort of book usually enjoy a short easy to follow read. This book was anything but. I found myself forcing myself to read it to the end which is not enjoyable.
Despite its faults, I did enjoy when it replaced something stereotypical with something better such as when Alfred stole the sword he was attacked by monks instead of armed guards. I found it amusing as well as leaving me wanting to read on and find out why monks were guarding the sword.
Overall, this book would be enjoyable for people who like long, hard to follow actions, however most of this book did not appeal to me at all. Jake, Year 9
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.
I don’t particularly like to read, but I’ve never found a book that I’ve enjoy as much as ‘When You Reach Me’ by Rebecca Stead.
The book is set in many places such as Miranda’s house, the street, school or Anne-Marie’s house. This book is targeted at young teenage girls of the age of twelve and up. My opinion on this book is that it’s a fantastic book with a lot of mystery to it and it was easy to relate to. A lot of things that teenage girls can relate to is having your best friend shut you out and getting bullied. I found this book extremely interesting and it kept me guessing.
The book’s main characters are Miranda, Sal, Miranda’s mum and Anne-Marie. Miranda was going through a lot when she and Sal stop being best friends. Sal was very secretive and didn’t let anyone in, not even Miranda. Miranda’s mum was a contestant on the $20,000 pyramid. Anne-Marie was also secretive and became Miranda’s best friend.
I highly recommend this book for teenage girls the ages of twelve and up. Girls these ages can relate to what Miranda is going through.
Tanay. Year 8.
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I have read many stories over my time but I have never read a book quite like All I Ever wanted by Vikki Wakefield.
When Mim loses the package that her mother has asked her to pick up, it begins many events that proceed to Mim breaking her rules, which she believes will help her escape her dull life of being stuck. But a new friend who just happens to be sister of her dream gives Mim just what she needs to help her through, and the mystery girl next door teaches her not to judge people’s appearances.
Mim’s neighborhood is full to the brim with bizarre characters that bring this novel to life with many twists and turns along the way. The rules that Mim has vowed to live by are slowly broken one at a time bringing out the real Mim and her truly desired life. Through the mistakes Mim makes, she brings herself closer to the weirdest of people she would never have thought she might. All I Ever Wanted is a brilliant novel for teens and adults might enjoy this topsy-turvy tale too.
Emily Year 8
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“I am coming to save your friends life, and my own. I ask two favours. First, you must write me a letter.”
This statement is in the first letter that the main character receives at the beginning of the book ‘When You Reach Me.’
The book is mysterious and emotional and I have never read a book like it before. The book is set in the city, in an apartment block where the main character lives and the school the main character attends.
The main characters are all diverse and all have different stories. They all have unique styles, different careers and different interests. I would recommend this book to all ages as everybody who reads this book can relate to a character and one of the many mysteries and puzzles in the book.
‘When You Reach Me’ is an intriguing book with many puzzle pieces that at the end all fit together. The book is about a 12 year old girl named Miranda who has to face the challenges of friendship, family and a mystery that she must solve. Her mother is not enjoying work and has just been chosen to be a contestant on a reality TV program. The homeless man down the road is acting mysteriously, her best friend Sal who has just been punched is now avoiding her and someone is sending her letters. Miranda’s life has turned upside down.
I liked this story as it captured my attention and made me want to read till the end. I would recommend this book to all ages as the events in the book are part of everyday life and many people will be able to relate to the book. The vocabulary is easy to understand but the book has many complications that can be confusing.
Hollie, Year 8
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‘WHEN YOU REACH ME’ BOOK REVIEW
I am one of those people who really enjoys reading when I have a good book, but for some reason I struggled to get through ‘When You Reach Me’ by Rebecca Stead. This is principally because the storyline failed to capture my imagination. However, to be fair, the author has developed Miranda’s personal characteristics well.
This particular story is set in New-York City, which is where the main character Miranda lives.
The main characters are Miranda, Sal and Annemarie. Miranda is a student in grade six and has grown up in New-York City with her mother. Sal is Miranda’s best friend who gets punched by the new kid and then shuts Miranda out of his life completely. Annemarie becomes Miranda’s surrogate friend when her friendship with Sal comes to an end.
‘When You Reach Me’ is based around the life of Miranda, a twelve year old girl living in New-York City. Her life is turned upside down when Miranda’s best friend, Sal suddenly turns on her after being punched by the new kid. Soon after, Miranda begins receiving notes from an anonymous person. Miranda is scared because the anonymous writer seems to know an awful lot about her personal life.
Even though I found ‘When You Reach Me’ a bit slow and boring to begin with, there were some redeeming aspects of the novel. For instance, I found myself in moments of suspense as the novel unveiled unexpected turns in the plot. I also enjoyed the fact that I could relate to some of the characters throughout the novel.
‘When You Reach Me’ would definitely be preferred by girls. I also think that the book would be most suited for ages between 12-15 years old because the main character, Miranda, is 12 and I believe that girls around the same age group would be able to relate to some of her problems.
Isabella Year 8
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For me I don’t particularly like to read. If I had to read a book for school I would read it, otherwise I wouldn’t. But I’ve been reading the book ‘When you reach me’ by Rebecca Stead.
This book is mainly for young teenage girls. My friends that have read it think the same about the book as me. The book doesn’t really grab my attention that much. I like books with more drama and this book has a mysterious edge to it. Young teenagers could really relate to this book in many ways. The book’s main character is Miranda. She talks about how she felt when her friend Sal cut her out of his life and how she got really freaked out about the mysterious notes from an anonymous person. This is set in a town where she lives in an old apartment that is all bated up and isn’t the best home.
I definitely recommend this to girls ages 12 and above as the girl in this story is about a young teenager who goes through a life that isn’t perfect. Girls her age get through drama with other girls and she gets in drama with Julia. It’s a good book but I don’t think it’s for me. It was interesting but I just don’t like these types of books.
“They killed your father. They’ll kill you! You must survive the next 365 days!”
I’m not a big reader. I don’t like reading a lot but when I’m reading a good book that hooks me I want to read until I’m at the end of the book and Conspiracy 365: January is one of these books. Conspiracy 365 is a series, with a new book every month. This review is about the first book “January”.
Callum Ormond is the main character in this book and he is a 15 year old boy with a normal life…. so far. The story starts off with a random man running up to Callum saying “Stay low until midnight December 31st of next year!” Straight away you want to keep reading to find out what happens next. It’s all got to do with the Ormond Singularity and the sketches that his dad had drawn just before he died of an unknown disease! After this there is action, action, action as Callum is chased by gangsters and police and you don’t know why. The book ends in an exciting way making you want to read the next book.
The book is pretty creative how the page numbers count down to the end of the month and the chapters tell you how many days to go until he is safe at the end of the year. I recommend this book for boys ONLY, aged around 12-14 and looking for something with lots of action and thrills.
“Gordon Edgley’s sudden death came as a shock to everyone.” 
