“She lives in the best suburb. She goes to the finest school. Her family is wealthy and powerful. She has everything that money can buy.”

I’m not really a fan of the main character, because she thinks that ordinary people live lives of boredom. When the main character’s father comes home all excited and exclaims to the whole family that they are going to be rich, everyone is ecstatic. In addition to their great news he brings home a black and white puppy. Every one is excited, however this excitement doesn’t last very long, as she entrusts a handsome young man to take photos of her dog which leads to tragic consequences. A large percentage of the book is spent describing circumstances, which ultimately increases tension and suspense until the very end when the consequential truth is finally revealed. I recommend it to persons who would enjoy mysteries that are true to life with a touch of heartbreak. Savannah, Year 8

“She has parents, a brother, friends and a dog. Sometimes the dog seems like the only one she can trust. Her life is about to fall apart. The dog is Checkers. The book is unforgettable.”
Checkers, by John Marsden,  is set in the first person and told by the main character in a set of flash-backs. The story is set in a mental hospital. The girl is in the hospital after a nervous breakdown and recovering. During the story the other characters all with a different mental issues – Emmine who has had a mental breakdown, Daniel who is obsessive-compulsive (OCD), Cindy who self injures and tries to cut herself, Ben who has Attention-Deficit-Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD) and Oliver who is anorexic and develops a close friendship with the main character throughout the story. The main characters’ friendships are all bonded in a Group where they share their stories and how they feel. Marj is a leader in the group and always tries to get the Group to share their feelings. The narrator, during the book, describes her feelings and emotions while telling the story of why she is in the hospital. The book is all about the girl’s dad’s involvement with the share market and scandals, but she never thought that the connection the press were looking for was right in front of her eyes, her best friend. What is the connection and who is it with?
The story has so much suspense and tension I found it hard to put it down. Every chapter you read ends with a cliffhanger, so you just want to read on. The ending would never be expected and was shocking. It was a little depressing and sad. I believe the book was intense and a fantastic book. I would recommend the book to young adults, to a person who likes drama, true life reality, a touch of heartbreak and people who enjoy a mystery. I would rate the book 4/5 as it was an outstanding read. Gemma, Year 8