November 14

‘Incarceron’ by Catherine Fisher

Incarceron-1a4o3ju(Incarceron is a prison like no other, it gives life, it deals death and it watches all)

Heard of Incarceron? No? Then you’re missing out on a great book! If you’re a person who likes reading science fiction or things on advanced technology, mystery, action and adventure then “Incarceron” written by Catherine Fisher is just the book specifically designed for you!

Incarceron is an artificial intelligence that was built on an artificial world during a time of advanced technology. Incarceron was originally meant to be a utopian paradise on an artificial world giving free education, health care and protection to those who decided to enter, however due to people who insulted Incarceron, its intelligence was corrupted which led to changing the utopian paradise into a massive prison with no escape, unless you possessed the crystal key. The Incarceron known in the book now is a prison like no other, as it preserves life and deals death at a time of its choosing. It is also known that Incarceron watches all due to the mysterious cameras following the prisoners.

Finn is the protagonist along with Claudia; they both seek to escape Incarceron along with the rest of the prisoners. Finn is a cell born child that claims to be from the outside; sometimes he has seizures and visions of a young boy who is living in a distance place. Finn believes that these are vision of how he once lived. Claudia is the second protagonist, a young girl who is living in the realm as another prisoner. It’s known that Claudia is exasperated with the secrecy of the Warden of Incarceron, which is her father. Claudia became so fed up with her father that she broke into his office and found something of great value that could lead the prisoners to escape Incarceron.

I personally enjoyed “Incarceron” because of its detailed techniques of writing, which really creates the scene of the characters Finn and Claudia along with the rest of the prisoners…

I recommend this book to those who enjoy reading about science fiction, advanced technology, action, mystery or adventure and are above the age of thirteen as the book does detail some scenes, which may be too mature for younger readers.

Altogether, I rate this book 4 out of 5 because I was thoroughly connected with the story, however there were a few too many characters to follow along with their stories in “Incarceron” which occasionally made the story confusing.  Altogether, this is a fantastic book that you should consider reading in the near future.            – Josh, grade 9

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“Who can chart the vastness of their own imprisonment, its halls and its chasms? Only a man who has tasted the sweet nectar of freedom can define his prison… ”

Does this sound like the book that you will become entrapped in? If so, this is the book for you.

The world of Incarceron is a dull and poisonous place that is run by an artificial intelligence. It houses all of the world’s criminals where they are to be trained and reprogrammed to by good, honest and just members of society.

Fin is just one of the prisoners in this god-forsaken place. The warden’s daughter, Claudia, is “imprisoned” for she is just a tool for her father to gain more and more power. The story follows these two poor souls as they go through the same thing but in different way. There are all kind of things that happen in Incarceron, most of which are not very nice and this is the perilous journey that Fin has to go through to escape his imprisonment. The main characters in the story are Fin and Claudia.

I myself didn’t enjoy the book because it took too long to pick up the pace and the lack of detail made it hard for me to picture it in my head which took me off the story a bit. I would recommend this book to teens to adults who would be interested in a sci-fi fantasy book. This book is good for the people that would like it. Personally I would rate “Incarceron” 2 out of 5 Stars.

William Year 9

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‘Incarceron’ will captivate you and make you forget everything else happening in your life with its gripping storyline and plot progression.

‘Incarceron’ is a fantasy, fiction novel about a guy named Fin who doesn’t remember anything of his past. To make matters worse he is trapped in a prison country called “Incarceron” without the slightest clue as to who he is and why he is in the prison. As a result of losing his memories he cannot remember if he was supposed to do anything and because of the fact he had no direction other than to find out who he is. He struggles to find out why he is there, and what he has done to deserve to be trapped in the prison. Many obstacles lie in his path of both redemption and of discovery. Fin meets many interesting characters on the way and he learns so much, as well as how he should approach different situations within the Incarceron community and what the others have done to end up in the same situation as he is in.

Personally I like the book because of its themes, and because of the character’s struggles between what is right and what is wrong, as he discovers who he is and why he is. This book is meant for teenagers because it gives the feeling of entrapment, which is a general feeling most teenagers begin to feel. It also gives the sense of having no direction which is another feeling teenagers have. I recommend this book to teenagers around the ages of 15-17 because that is the part of their lives where they would feel they have the most in common with the themes of this book. I’d rate the book ‘Incarceron’ 3.5 out of 5 stars. Luke F, Year 9

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A prison shrouded in mystery. A prison of incomprehensible size trapping those inside, with no chance of escape. A prison, which lives. Incarceron is this prison, which the warden’s daughter distrusts and an inmate by the name of Finn is held within.

Finn resides within the dark damp prison sewers, surviving with the bare minimum in the company of criminals. Claudia is living outside the prison with her father, the warden of Incarceron. This is because the governing power enforces a law keeping a 17th century setting to prevent the dangers associated with change.

Finn had no idea who he is or who he was. He awoke shuddering violently, drenched in sweat within a closed room until he was let out to the vastness of Incarceron. For… what? He doesn’t know. He only knows how he must escape Incarceron. Claudia might as well be an inmate the same as Finn. She feels so trapped by an arranged marriage, lies, mystery, rules and regulations. She is positive her father is holding information back from her regarding the happenings inside Incarceron. Claudia is determined to find out about and escape the life she doesn’t want.

Finn finds himself raiding a group of people only to find that a person who falls for the trap knows what a mysterious tattoo Finn has on his wrist might mean. As the surroundings explode with combat and fighting, Finn struggles to save his ticket to answers. As the group floods back to their hiding place where they are compromised with the destructive powers of the prison, Finn drags the woman down with him. He must then somehow keep custody of her against the group’s will. Meanwhile, Claudia is set on exposing the mysteries of Incarceron and her father. After faking the persona of a lovely well mannered little girl, abiding the strict etiquette of a forced 17th century life, she breaks the law in search of proof her father is not who he seems to be and that there is more to Incarceron than concrete walls and rusted iron.

I loved this novel as the mysterious and unpredictable aspects in the book keep you thinking about the story the whole way through the day. The untold strange and weird happenings inside Incarceron perplex the reader and force them to keep reading and uncover the secrets in Finn’s, the warden’s and Incarceron’s backstory. As the story progresses following Finn and Claudia, you can imagine yourself in their positions and you start to feel the detailed, accurately generated emotions written.

I would recommend the novel to a mature teenage demographic that is comfortable reading a story involving a 17th century setting and those who love mystery. The book follows through with a relatively high vocabulary needed and describes in detail the setting of a 17th century era which would require a knowledge of what these times are like. With these aspects in mind, the average age of those who would enjoy the book will increase to be around the 14-19 year old range.

Wesley N. – Year 9

 

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November 13

‘The Hunger Games’ by Suzanne Collins

Hunger Games - may the odds be ever in your favor.Would you volunteer to take part in a fight to the death in your sister’s place? Katniss Everdeen, a young girl from District Twelve, has had no choice but to do so. Set in a not so distant future, North America now known as Panem has been split into twelve districts each run by the Capitol. Each year, a boy and a girl tribute aged from 12-18 is reaped and takes part in the annual Hunger Games, a punishment for a past rebellion. Losing means death, winning means fame and fortune.

Katniss Everdeen lives with her sister, Primrose, and her mother in District Twelve, the mining district. Her father died in an explosion, causing Katniss to have to hunt and provide for her family on her own. Everything was peaceful until the 74th reaping of the Hunger Games. Prim is chosen and Katniss, in an attempt to save her sister, takes her place. Little did she know that she would be fighting the boy who saved her life, and start a rebellion at the same time.

I loved reading this book because every chapter ends on a cliffhanger and it keeps you on the edge of your seat. The description of characters throughout the book is very detailed and gives you a good idea of how they look. The ending is quite sudden and draws you into reading the rest of the trilogy.

I recommend this book to young adults between the ages of 12-17 who like stories of love, rebellion, and standing up for what you believe in. This book is the start of a brilliant trilogy. I rate ‘The Hunger Games’ 5 out of 5 stars.

Alisha T, Year 9.

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The Dark Days. That is what gave us the Hunger Games and the time has come for another game. You are chosen at the reaping, where they choose one girl and one boy they call them ‘tributes’ from each district. There were thirteen before the war but now only twelve with The Capitol owning all. These 24 tributes go into a battle to the death. Only one goes home. This person is called the victor. If you like the sound of that, this is the book for you: ‘The Hunger Games’ by Suzanne Collins.

The story is set in the future area of North America, now called Panem after the war. The focus is on Panem, its twelve districts and the capital, which is where the games are set. The Capitol is for the rich and they have control of all the districts, who get poorer and poorer,  which is so for District 12. Katniss Everdeen from District 12 is now in the hunger games, a battle to the death, a live TV show where 24 people go in and one comes out. Katniss Everdeen is beautiful everyday girl, who hunts for her family’s food and wellbeing. Yet she must go into the Hunger Games.

I really enjoyed this book because it is about a 16 year old girl who lives in District 12 which is a poor mining district. Her world gets changed around when she decided to go into the hunger games in her sister’s place, to fight to the death against 23 others. Allies will be formed. Will love be found? Will she survive the hunger games?

I recommend this to teens and young adults, as it is a thrilling wonder/fantasy book. I rate this book 4 stars out of 5 because I felt it was missing some stuff, such as more love more fights or more conflict. I found this in the first novel of ‘The Hunger Games’ series, but I found this more in the second book ‘The Hunger Games Catching Fire’. Alana, Year 9

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November 13

‘Maximum Ride’ by James Patterson

Maximum RideMeet Max, an innocent young 14 year old girl, living in the shadows of her enemies. No parents. No grandparents. Just her, and her unrelated ‘Flock’ she lives with. Max and all the members of her ‘Flock’ – Fang, Iggy, Nudge, Gasman and Angel are just like normal teenagers living a normal life, except, they all have a secret… they all have wings and can fly! Does this sound like the book you would want to read? Then of course this is the book for you!

Things are quite normal in this so called ‘Flock’ Max belongs to, but of course there is always a bad side to things. They are being hunted down by the wolf/human mutants they call ‘Erasers’. They have to now live under cover and protect themselves because anyone could be a traitor.

I was glued to this book from start to finish by the way that James Patterson described the characters and by how he made it look like we could interact with them throughout the book. The pictures and descriptive language used in the book made it easy to understand and visualise all the scenes in my imagination as though I was there. The story continued fantastically with enough mystery and wonder to keep my full attention.

I recommend this book to people aged 12-16 and in between if you like the mysterious and wonder type of book with a full on twist at the end, then of course this is the book for you. If you really enjoyed this book, then I recommend the rest of the ‘Maximum Ride’ series and the rest of the James Patterson collection. I’d rate this graphic novel ‘Maximum Ride’ a 4.5 out of 5.

By: Phoebe G., Year 9

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Maximum Ride Vol.1

Fourteen year-old Maximum Ride, better known as Max, knows what it’s like to soar above the world. She and all the members of the “flock” (Fang, Iggy, Nudge, Gasman and Angel) are just like ordinary kids but with extraordinary powers: they have wings and can fly. It my seem like a dream until the youngest out of the folk is kidnapped and taken back to where everything began, a place they like to call ‘The School’. The school, the place were everything started, is a laboratory full of scientists and test subjects. Max, Fang, Iggy, Nudge, Gasman and Angel are just six extraordinary kids and after many years of being experimented on, they are all now prepared to take revenge. After the youngest, Angel, is kidnapped by erasers, they go on a life-threatening quest to find her and discover new secrets.

Maximum Ride, as you may already notice, is the lead character in the book. This book shows that Max is very loving and mature for a 14 year-old girl who is looking after her family, ‘The Folk’. When Angel gets kidnapped, she doesn’t hesitate to go after them and fight back for she is always the first one to pull her wings out to rise up in the sky and take the chance.

The categories in this book are Thrill, Heart-filled, Adventure and Fantasy. I liked this book a lot for there was always something different about to happen which kept me on my toes and wanting to know more. I would recommend this book for high school ages. This is a very easy read and has great imagery.

By  Jordan G, Year 9

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Don’t you wish you had wings? To fly, high in the sky with the wind in your hair, to have the feeling of complete freedom? Wouldn’t living a life with wings be glorious? Well for Max and her flock, having wings was what put them all in danger. Max, a 14 year old girl and the oldest of her winged family of six, lived high in the mountain range, hiding from all those who wish to harm them. One bright, peaceful morning, the six of them went out into the field to pick fresh strawberries but the peace did not last long. Ari and his Erasers attacked the flock and kidnapped the youngest, Angel. Now Max, Fang and Nudge leave to travel far distances to find Angel and bring her home safely. Iggy and Gazzy are left at home where they are meant to be safe but end up getting themselves into a lot of mischief with the Erasers. What will happen to Iggy and Gazzy? Will Max, Fang and Nudge find Angel? Or will it be too late?

I enjoyed reading this book because I enjoy the fantasy genre and I am able to relate to the strong family bond they have. None of them are related by blood yet they still look out for each other and care about each other as if they were blood related. I rate this book 4 out of five stars and I recommend it to people between the ages of 11 to 18 who enjoy reading a fantasy genre.

By: Amy B, Year 9

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November 10

‘The Adoration of Jenna Fox’ by Mary E, Pearson

Jenna FoxJenna Fox…a normal teenage girl, until the accident. After being in a coma for a year, Jenna is about to discover who she really is, gradually putting the puzzle pieces together.

              Do futuristic mystery novels intrigue you? If so, this novel “The Adoration of Jenna Fox” written by Mary E. Pearson is definitely the book for you! With the family having to hide secrets and move far away due to the use of illegal medical sources to keep Jenna alive, Jenna discovers that she may not be a normal teenage girl and, with that knowledge, her life is changed forever. With the help of videos from previous years, every day Jenna watches the videos trying to remember what her life was like.

        Why does Jenna’s grandmother Lily have hatred towards her? Why does Jenna’s family have so much protection over her? What does Jenna find out that will change her outlook on her family? Jenna then meets a neighbour who seems to have done his research on her; will he inform her of what he knows?

          I enjoyed this novel as it is all about secrets and leaves you wondering what is going to happen next. I was glued to this book and found it very creative and different. The puzzle pieces all came together well to create a fantastic novel recommended for teenage girls aged 13-18 who are interested in a novel that really gets you thinking and imagining if this was to happen in a real life situation. I would rate the book “The Adoration Of Jenna Fox” a 4 out of 5 stars, as it was a very satisfying read that I never wanted to stop reading!

Jacinta, Year 9

Category: Dystopian fiction, Mystery, Student Reviews | LEAVE A COMMENT
November 10

‘Tomorrow, When The War Began’ by John Marsden

Tomorrow when the war began‘ The air didn’t seem as clear, as pure. There was a new atmosphere. Coldness had been replaced by a new humidity. I could smell jet fuel. We’d thought that we were among the first humans to invade the basin, but humans had invaded everything everywhere.’ -John Marsden

            Warrawee, NSW. The small, peaceful town filled with farmland, small industries and bush land seems like the place to live. The citizens are always friendly and happy and nothing ever goes wrong.  Little did they know that this would change forever.

It’s school holidays and Ellie, a great thinker, who is strong and powerful, not only for herself but for her friends and family, also appointed leader of her group of friends, and her best friend Corrie, a plump red head who lacks in confidence and is quite the shy type, have decided to get a group of boys and girls together for a fun camping trip to fill in time during the holidays.

After days of planning Homer, the troublemaking loud mouth, Fiona, the typical stereotype girl who is unassertive, pampered, with no real knowledge of camping or the bush, Lee, the loving, caring, mature boy, Robyn, the cool, quiet but aggressive girl that loves to win, and Kevin, the athletic boy with an aggressive attitude as well as Corrie and Ellie set off into the bush for seven days.

As the jets flew overhead on their last night, everything changed forever. When they came back from their camping trip all the dogs were dead and all of their families had gone. They soon realized that something horrible had happened. Soon after they find out that their country has been invaded and the captors are holding all those who attended their annual Commemoration Day prisoner. Ellie and her friends find themselves in dangerous situations as they try to figure out their next move and stay alive.

I really enjoyed the book ‘Tomorrow, When The War Began’, because it shows all different characteristics of average teenagers and what happens when they all work together. The descriptive language used made the novel easy to understand and formed picture images in my head. The story was filled with suspense and action, which kept my full attention and made my want to read more. The ending was captivating and I now can’t wait to read the rest of the ‘Tomorrow’ series.

I would recommend this book to teens between the ages of 13 – 17 who are interested in adventure and thriller genres and those who enjoy reading action packed, and romantic novels. This book was good but definitely not one of my favourites, therefore I’d rate this book 3 out of 5 stars. Emma, Year 9

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Imagine coming back from a camping trip and finding out that your very home has been taken over by a foreign force. The events that take place in this book are in the general area of a farming/rural town on the east coast of Australia. Ironically, the main place that the teenagers usually find themselves in is Hell, which is, ironically, a beautiful site in the book where a hermit had once lived and also where the characters had been camping out before tragedy had struck. The main characters of this book are mainly people that are hardened by the Australian outback, and oddball city folk. The main character of the book, Ellie, hails from a farm and is no stranger to anything in her rural area.  Another primary character of the book is Homer, who is quite experienced with hitting the invaders hard, as he is basically a juvenile delinquent himself.

The book also focuses on some of the relationships that begin to spark within the group, and how this affects some of the decisions that are made for the group’s own survival. The story also focuses mainly on what the teenagers had done to hit back at this new enemy so they can get their country back from this invading force.

I particularly enjoyed this book as it focuses on what guerrilla warfare would be like if it were to occur in Australia and some of the challenges that are faced by the teenagers and the relationships that are formed in the group. I would mainly recommend this story to young adolescence and also young adults, as it is a very ‘down to earth’ book dealing with some of the challenges that teenagers have to face.

Ryan M, Year 9.

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They were just normal teens out on a casual camping trip, when suddenly hundreds of army aircraft flew over with their lights switched off. Notwithstanding a lack of food, everything on their trip goes as planned. But a week later, they return home to find their houses blank. Tomorrow When the War Began is an action packed romantic thriller book, which is certainly a breath-taking novel for teens because of the romance and violence. Before long, the teens understand that the town has been invaded, and the whole town has been imprisoned along with their families and friends. Ellie and her friends face a dreadful decision: they can hide in the mountains, surrender or fight.

Subsequently, it’s an exploration story, which is always going to attract bookworms and non-readers. Ellie, the main character is an amazing female character who is brave but kind beneath.

The scene is based in outback Australia that is a good environment for a war book because the teens are able to hide within Australia’s outback. Ellie’s controlling narration also made readers first seriously consider the morals and beliefs of war. She’s a country girl whose world has been crushed overnight, who has to trial her own ideas of right and wrong, of good and evil.

I actually enjoyed the book ‘ Tomorrow When The War Began’ because it showed the best in everyone if they worked together as teenagers. Throughout the whole book there were cliffhangers and confusion, which made me want to keep on reading. The language used throughout the book made it easy to read.

Scott, Year 9

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‘We believed we were safe. That was the big fantasy.’

Wirrawee is a small town where nothing special happens except for the Commemoration Day Annual Show. So when Ellie and her friends go camping for a few nights out in the bush to escape the celebrations, they expect nothing to have changed by the time they return home. They could not have been more wrong. They return home to find the power is cut, the phone lines disconnected and the people gone. They immediately take caution from this point on, suspecting that something is not right. When the group sneak into town to take a look around, they discover to their horror that their town has been invaded by an unknown enemy. How will the group handle their sudden situation? How will they tell the difference between good and bad when they are thrown into war? Who will survive?

The story is extremely well written from the perspective of one of the main characters, Ellie Linton. She explains in the novel that she is writing everything down as the group feels they wish to be remembered, and for people to know the actions that they took.

From the first planes to the last bullet, ‘Tomorrow, when the war began’ is filled with love, action and friendship. It teaches about the importance of sticking with your friends when the times get tough, and fighting for what you think is right. From the first chapter to the last word, I just did not want to stop reading. The book is amazing at grabbing your attention and getting you emotionally involved with the characters.

I believe both girls and boys would enjoy this book, as it is both a romance and an action adventure novel. This book would appeal to people from the age of 13 to 20, as the adventure would appeal to younger people and the older age range would more likely understand the underlying themes. For those that enjoyed The Hunger Games, Divergent and The Boy in the Striped Pajamas, this book would be most enjoyable. I would rate the book ‘Tomorrow when the war began’ 4 out of 5 stars for its originality and creativeness, as well as the amazing captivation it gives throughout the entire story. I believe that ‘Tomorrow when the war began’ is a well-written, intriguing story about war, love and the fight for freedom.

Maddi. P., Year 9

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Do you enjoy thrilling and exciting books that deal with grown up topics like pregnancy? Then you should consider reading ‘Roxy’s Baby’ by Catherine Macphail.

The story starts with a 14-year-old girl called Roxy. Roxy is an uncontrollable, stubborn child who recently has turned into a rebel due to the passing of her dad. Now she’s stuck with her goody–two–shoes sister, her mum and new step dad. She was full of hatred after her mum remarried shortly after her dad’s death. Because of this, she started hanging around with the wrong group of people. This led her to do really stupid things. After a party one night, Roxy found herself pregnant. She could not, would not think of telling her parents so she decides to run away to the big city ‘London’. Roxy then joins a house that helps runaway girls like her. She then befriends a girl she was paired with as roommates. She felt like she didn’t fit right in. All the girls looked as if they were older. Roxy realized they weren’t girls they were women. After being told she was too young and that she had to go home or else they would call the police to return her home, she seeks help from her roommate that she befriended earlier.  That friend introduced her to Mr. and Mrs. Dyce and she is offered a place to stay. She then finds herself in a strange mansion full of pregnant girls. Roxy is overcome with suspicion when she sees no babies present in the mansion. Where are all the babies? What is going on? What has Roxy got herself into?

Roxy’s Baby by Catherine Macphail is a captivating story. It kept me entertained until the end. It had an interesting story line that was I found very relevant to people who have to face this problem everyday. I would recommend this book to older readers because the story tackles hard-hitting topics like pregnancy. I give this book a rating of 4 out 5.

Julia – Year 9

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November 10

‘Legend’ by Marie Lu

legend_coverThe plague is destroying our nation by the minute. Two colonies, one war. Who will win?

As the story begins, we jump into the story of Day, a young boy with a lot on his shoulders. Day has run away from home to protect his family, but suddenly his life has changed, his younger brother has got the plague and now he must save his family. His friend Tess, who has been helping him ever since he ran away from home, accompanies Day. But there’s only one catch, Day must save his family but not let his family know he is still alive. Day sets out to go on a solo night mission alone to get a cure for the plague so then his brother will be saved and the rest of the family will not get the plague either. In the process of getting a cure, Day runs into a roadblock. A military soldier has caught him stealing the cure; Day is forced to fight and wounds the soldier, not knowing his name – Metias. Now we jump to the story of June, a young lady with high hopes. June aced her final exam and was put into military school. Her brother Metias, a military squad captain, was known for his skills and bravery. Metias’ best friend, Tomas, tells June that Metias has been killed. June sets out to find her dead brother’s killer and goes on an epic journey of adventure and friendship with the enemy she doesn’t even know. The rest of the story has many twists and turns throughout and is a wonderful read.

I would recommend this novel to teens of any age that love an action packed adventure with plot twists. This novel definitely deserves a 10 out of 10.    Cam,  Year 9

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October 29

‘The Maze Runner’ by James Dashner

If you ain’t scared, you ain’t human.

When Thomas wakes up in the lift, the only thing he can remember is his name. He’s surrounded by strangers—boys whose memories are also gone.

Nice to meet ya, shank. Welcome to the Glade.

Outside the towering stone walls that surround the Glade is a limitless, ever-changing maze. It’s the only way out—and no one’s ever made it through alive.

Everything is going to change.

Then a girl arrives. The first girl ever. And the message she delivers is terrifying.

Remember. Survive. Run.

BORROW THE SERIES NOW FROM OUR LIBRARY – F DAS

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October 29

‘Ender’s Game’ by Orson Scott Card

It’s not hard to see why Ender’s Game by Orson Scott Card is a classic science fiction/dystopian novel. Complete with plays within plays, it keeps the reader second guessing games played by characters on other characters. It’s a fantastic read for gaming boys particularly. For me, the battle scenes were just a little drawn out – otherwise I’d give it 5 stars.
A must for sci-fi lovers, this novel has stood the test of time and has not aged one little bit!  4 1/2 stars Mrs O.

BORROW THIS SERIES FROM OUR LIBRARY – F CAR

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November 18

‘The Adoration of Jenna Fox’ by Mary E. Pearson

 Jenna Fox     You wake up, you don’t know who you are, where you are and you don’t recognise anyone. It probably won’t happen to you but this is the scenario that Jenna Fox faces. It takes place in a California of the future where we meet Jenna, her Mum, her Grandma, her neighbour and her two friends, who are all being very secretive and strict on Jenna. She is told that she was in a coma for one year as a result of a car accident and when she wakes up

she can’t remember a thing. Her family is showing her old home movies in the hope she will remember something. As she starts to remember, she wants to know more but she doesn’t get to know.

     I enjoyed the book because it kept me intrigued during the surprising twists, clever language and the perfect amount of suspense. I also like how we are thrown into the book, only knowing as much as Jenna Fox and we follow her story all the way to the end, learning when she learns, fearing when she fears and celebrating when she celebrates. I would recommend this book to teenage girls who like sci-fi/fantasy novels as this story follows the life of a teenage girl who is just like you or I, only one car accident tipped her life upside down, just like it could tip one of our lives upside down.

I rate “The Adoration of Jenna Fox” 4 out of 5.

Grace L, Year 9

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       Imagine if one day you were having a great time, hanging out with your friends, and a year and a half later you wake up and can’t remember any of it. This is the life that Jenna Fox has just faced, after experiencing a near-fatal car accident.

       When reading this book you are thrown into the life of Jenna where we know only as much as she does. Her journey begins as she starts to live a new life. In this book we meet her mum, her grandma, a neighbour and two friends. Her family shows her old home videos to try and get her to remember things, but she can’t. They are very strict on her and won’t tell her any secrets or facts about the accident. Jenna doesn’t think it’s fair that she isn’t being told everything. She meets her neighbour, and finds out the secrets that her family have hidden from her and the truth about who she was, is now and will be in the future. Her mind is now bursting with more questions than ever. The only thing is that nobody will answer them.

       I really enjoyed ‘The Adoration Of Jenna Fox’, by Mary E Pearson, because it is an exciting book that keeps you intrigued throughout, with new challenges, experiences and twists coming all the time. Whenever Jenna is excited, we are excited and when she is sad or fears bad luck, we do too. I would recommend this book to teenage girls who are willing to go though an exciting journey of someone’s life till they find out who they really are and how they became that way.

 

Melissa M. Year 9

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November 12

‘Tomorrow, When the War Began’ by John Marsden

 Tomorrow when the war began     Have you ever wondered what it would be like to return from a weekend camping trip and all of houses in your neighborhood were empty and you had no idea what was going on? Author John Marsden shows his interpretation of that in the world famous book Tomorrow, when the war began.

      Tomorrow, when the war began is a story of a country girl named Ellie Linton who tells the book in a first-person perspective making the book quite a different experience for me as a non-reader. She goes camping at a place named “Hell” with a group of her teenage friends. She takes Corrie, her best friend since they were young, Kevin, who is Corrie’s boyfriend, Homer, Ellie’s neighbor and friend, Lee, who plays a crucial part in the development of the story, Fiona and Robyn.

      Set in the fictional town of Wirrawee, Ellie and Corrie decided to go camping on the weekend of the town fair. They convinced a few people to go and leave before the fair starts. They successfully arrived and set up camp there. On one of the nights, a mysteriously large number of military planes flew over and they thought it was just a military exercise and quickly fell asleep again. When they returned to town, they found no one was at their homes. They soon discovered that they are being held captive in the town fair ground. What were they going to do?

      I enjoyed reading this book even though I’m not a huge fan of reading. The setting of the story is great and the storyline is even better. If you enjoy reading the book, you can watch the 2010 Australian made movie with the same name as the novel, which was huge success around the world.

      I would recommend this book to teenagers from the age of 14-18 or readers who like to read books that keep you on the edge of your seat because it has enough action and surprises in it to keep you reading.

      Fraser, Year 9

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War. The conflict between different countries or groups… or not?

“Mankind must put an end to war before war puts an end to mankind.” ~ John F. Kennedy.

      Tomorrow When The War Began is a book of action and drama, written by John Marsden. It has a very interesting storyline with several mysteries and daunting moments. The main place where the story is set is the characters’ local town of Werriwee, Australia.

      There are seven main characters and new people found during their travels. Ellie, the main character, is a great leader in the group and can keep the group calm but she really doesn’t believe in herself. Then there’s Homer, a warrior in the team, and Kevin, who reveals his usefulness by being a coward. Robyn is too soft to fight in a war and a young man Lee thinks of himself as an outsider, isolated and scared.

      The plot of the book is about a group using teamwork and sacrifices to survive. They are out on a camping trip having the time of their lives until the absolute worst thing happens. They are all willing to find out the cause, but someone will have to step up. Their families are gone. Their family pets were abandoned. The friends and neighbors are missing. They wish for them to come back.

      This book is one of the greatest action book I’ve ever read. The exquisite parts of this novel make it a favorite in my top list. I recommend this book to all ages above twelve years who love action and mysteries. This novel would be great as a birthday gift or a little present to those who love books. This book would get a rating of 4 to 5 stars.

~Leo Year 9  

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      Tomorrow when the War Began is an interesting story. The reader will be following and listening to the thoughts and interesting encounters Ellie the main character has to go though. Along with Ellie and her friends she finds herself in catastrophic events that no teenage should go though. A battle of mixed emotions and arduous tasks put together to create an epic adventurous story. As you learn more about each character you will find more about yourself and learn about human nature. Would you be the one to step up in a time of fear and survival or would you merely be a follower? Questions such as this are what you will be asking yourself while reading.

      The story starts out as just a few friends going out camping together but little do they know they have evaded a serious threat. They come back to find their town is under siege, been taken hostage. They are quick on their feet to find out what is going on and how they can survive.

       I would recommend is book to someone who is at least the age of 14 or above, either a male or a female as long as you can enjoy an adventurous book with plot twists and interesting characters then this book will most likely be a book suited for you.

       I personally enjoyed this book because of all the twists. It’s interesting to see how they survive using different survival techniques. Finding themselves in an impossible situation it is truly interesting to see how they react and respond.
Overall I found that the book had a good amount of exhilarating adventures, depressing times and happy times making up this book. There will be no time when you are reading and feeling bored. I would give this book a 4/5.

Nic, Year 9

Category: Adventure stories, Dystopian fiction, Realistic fiction, Student Reviews | LEAVE A COMMENT
November 6

‘Incarceron’ by Catherine Fisher

Incarceron“But the civicry were coming at last.” (Incarceron)


     The story begins with two different people living two different lives but seeing the world as one.

     In the story there are two main characters, which are Finn and Claudia. Finn is a prisoner in Incarceron  which is a prison that has been there for centuries. Because the prison was so closed off to anything on the outside, Finn cannot remember anything about himself or what is happening. The warden that works at the prison is Claudia’s dad. Claudia is a young girl that feelsjust likea prisoner. She is allowed freedom but her time is limited. She is not allowed to make her own decisions. Everything is decided for her. A brief outline of the story: it’s aboutFinn and Claudia, two young teens that are just trying to understand life and how to escape feeling trapped all the time by the warden.

     My thoughts on Incarceron were very strong. This is because I found a good story line but I just could not get into the story because of how it kept switching back and forth between each individual’s story.

     Incarceron is recommended for readers that enjoy sci-fi and fantasy and something that keeps them thinking of what could happen next in the chapter. Incarceron is the first book from the series so if enjoy the first book there are many more for you to read. Discover the ending to a life of feeling TRAPPED.

Erin, Year 9

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     A place so violent that every sweet, happy memory is ripped out of your heart and slowly turns you into a mad man. With the legend of the escaped convict’s voice still haunting the cells each night …. Welcome to Incarceron.

          The High Tea lunch is gathering at 1.00 pm sharp and an arranged marriage will soon be held. The bride grinds her teeth with hatred, for she has to marry the one person she can’t stand… welcome to the wealthy family of the 1800s.

     Cold hell below your feet and so-called luxury above, two individuals are driven mad by absurd events in their own lives. There is a golden myth in town that there was once a prison held underground for the brutal. But it’s been too long for anyone to still remember that it ever existed. Fin has lost his memory but he is so sure he was once an outsider, even though the prison has been locked and sealed away for countless years. But there’s a story of the legendary person that was able to escape, wonders Fin’s lost mind each day.

     Meanwhile, on the bright side of life, Claudia is the daughter of the warden of Incarceron. She is a well-groomed girl born into a rich family, but she is facing her own problems with an arranged marriage with a young chap, Prince Casper.

     I really enjoyed the book ‘Incarceron’ because there are so many wonderful exciting twists and turns to discover and learn. It has great creativity in the characters’ details and the whole story in general. It was my number one book that I simply couldn’t put down! I took it everywhere with me. I even got in trouble multiple times for staying up later than midnight just to finish it. I guess I could say it’s a book that grabbed all my attention and time. So, I recommend this book for teens aged 12 to 18. It really was a great book to start summer. 4 out of 5 starts.

Garland, Year 9

 

Category: Adventure stories, Dystopian fiction, Student Reviews | LEAVE A COMMENT
November 6

‘Maximum Ride: The Angel Experiment’ by James Patterson

Maximum Ride       How would you feel, growing up in a lab, being an experiment, running from horrifying creatures and not knowing how to survive in the real world outside of the lab?

       Maximum Ride would be the perfect book for you if you were the type of person that is into dark mysterious stories. Meet the six main characters named Max, Fang, Iggy, Nudge, Gasman and Angel. These children grew up in a lab as an experiment. The evil doctor made the children 98% Human and 2% bird.  Running from the creatures called ‘Erasers’ the children undergo a sequence of events such as one child getting poisoned and another getting kidnapped. Their mission is to save the children and save the world from these horrible creatures.

       The children are traveling all over the world to try and find Angel after she gets captured. Max, being the oldest is the most responsible and is therefore the leader of the children, Max tells them what to do and how to act.

       The reasons I liked the book Maximum Ride is because it is a story about adventure and discovery. This is the type of book that gets you so tensed up that you have to stop reading the book for you to calm down. The thrill it gives you is amazing but the book is for experienced readers such as teenagers that know how to put a puzzle together. I would recommend the book to teenagers that are into dark and mysterious type of books and love some adventure. I definitely recommend this book because once you stop reading you will never stop, the book is just too addictive. This book was an amazing read and I’d rate Maximum Ride 4 out of 5 stars.

       Patrick, Year 9.

 

Category: Adventure stories, Dystopian fiction, Mystery | LEAVE A COMMENT
October 30

‘Delirium’ by Lauren Oliver

Delirium      Imagine growing up in a world where love was considered a disease, not being able to experience what true love actually feels like, the purity and the dedication that goes into making a relationship worthwhile.

      Well, in a futuristic America, this is what Lena, a 17 year old girl is forced to grow up with, unless she undergoes a life-changing procedure that will simply stop her from loving. This procedure provoked Lena’s mum to take her own life. ‘Delrium’ is set in a small American town known as Portland, fenced off from the outer world. It is the only town to declare love a disease.

      Lena is almost certain that she will never love someone but herself, that is until she meets Alex, a 20 year old young man who is living in Portland with a false identity. As Lena falls in love with Alex, she finds herself in a lot of trouble. Breaking laws, lying and secrets have never been attributes that Lena believes in, but now, she has no idea what she’s getting herself into.

      ‘Delirium’ is a unique forbidden love story that is very easy to relate to, however I would recommend it to teenage girls as some of the situations in the book require a literate understanding of teen love and desire. This novel was full of plot twists, suspense, passion, rebellion and of course love. I would rate it 7/10, as sometimes the story drags on; some scenes are most certainly not needed.

      Zoe, Year 9

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“The only thing we ever need is to love and be loved in return.”

 

 – Eden Ahbez

    Delirium is set in Portland, America in a post-apocalyptic time where love is a dangerous, fatal and uncontrollable disease. Seventeen-year-old Lena Haloway has only ever wanted to be cured, and in ninety-five days she will be safe from the disease. The people of Portland have always thought the uncureds to be animals— diseased and dangerous. With the uncureds shut out from behind a wall, they thought they could live in peace, without love or the disease – Amor Deliria Nervosa.

      Lena’s world turns upside down when she meets twenty-year-old Alex, an uncured boy living a secret double life. However wrong their relationship is, Lena can’t help but fall hopelessly in love with him. As Lena struggles through dystopia, she discovers a daunting family secret that changes her whole perspective on the cure and those she loves. Together, Lena and Alex slip under the radar and find happiness with each other but how long will their secret love survive?

      The author, Lauren Oliver, marvelously incorporated many admirable features in the writing of Delirium. The twists and turns in the story help make the book a fantastic read, but it’s the great detailed descriptions of both characters and scenes that truly captivates and give the book a sense of reality and intimacy whilst reading.

      I would not have normally chosen a book like this, but I thoroughly enjoyed reading it. I’d recommend this book to girls of mid to late high school age (14 +) who enjoy romance and sci-fi novels.

      With a fabulous plot, marvelous writing and killer ending, you won’t be able to stop yourself falling in love with Delirium.

      – Shelby, Year 9

 

 

 

Category: Dystopian fiction, Love stories, Student Reviews | LEAVE A COMMENT
October 28

‘Divergent’ by Veronica Roth

divergentDauntless. Candor. Erudite. Amity. Abnegation. One choice defines and determines everything; one choice can transform or destroy you…forever.. Do you like books that keep you reading 24/7? Then Veronica Roth’s Divergent is the choice for you!

 

In the dystopian Chicago world that sixteen-year-old Beatrice Prior calls home, she could not foresee how drastically her life would change — from just one decision. Nothing could prepare her for the Aptitude tests and the annual Choosing Ceremony, nor could any psychic predict her future path. It was at the Choosing Ceremony where Beatrice, her brother Caleb and their peers had to make their formidable decision to either stay with their families in their current faction, or leave, betray their family, and go to any of the other remaining factions. But Beatrice also had a secret, one that she had kept hidden from everyone because she had been warned that it could mean death — Beatrice also learned that this secret might help her save the ones she loves…or it might destroy her.  There are numerous characters in this truly epic story; the main characters being Beatrice Prior and Four.

     In the dystopian world of Divergent, society is divided into five “factions” or basically five different paradigms of thinking which are dedicated to the improvement of a particular virtue in order to create a ‘perfect society’: Abnegation (the selfless), Dauntless (the Brave), Candor (the Honest), Amity (the Peaceful), and Erudite (the Intelligent). The members of each faction must live according to their faction’s virtue — or they risk becoming factionless (homeless and poor). This book has it all: electrifying decisions, stunning consequences, heartbreaking betrayals, unexpected romance and dramatic twists.

      I thoroughly enjoyed the book Divergent as it has a terrific storyline and wonderful scenery. I couldn’t help being glued to the book and just sitting there reading for hours on end because of the amazing descriptive language that the author, Veronica Roth, used for the characters and scenery of the book. This also made it easier for me to imagine the scenes in my head. The story progressed very smoothly, with perfectly timed suspense and twists to always keep my full attention. I also loved the way Veronica merged reality with wonder. For example, she merged human activities and traits such as hair-trimming and curiosity with wondrous aspects such as “Factions,” and “Aptitude,” to introduce you to this new world. This story also helped me realise that choices really are pivotal in our lives and that some point in our lives, we all have to make the decision whether to continue living the way we were raised, or to listen to our own heart and make our own way.

      This book has been read and recognised by many famous authors, such as Kiersten White (New York Times Bestselling Author of ‘Paranormalcy’), who said, “Well written and brilliantly executed, Divergent is a heart-pounding debut that cannot be missed. It’s dystopian fiction at its best!”

      Which faction would you choose? Abnegation, the selfless, Dauntless the Brave, Candor the Honest, Amity the Peaceful, or Erudite the Intelligent? Whichever one you choose is entirely up to you, but just remember that one choice can transform or destroy you!

      I absolutely loved this book and I can’t wait to read the next two of the trilogy. I highly recommend this book to absolutely anyone from the age of thirteen up, who loves to read thrilling, heart pounding, exciting novels, but also doesn’t mind romance. Divergent is a thrilling adventurous dystopian story which I, along with countless others, loved and I’m sure you will too. This book is truly one of the best books I have ever read; therefore I rate Divergent 5 out of 5 stars!

Category: Adventure stories, Dystopian fiction, Student Reviews | LEAVE A COMMENT
October 24

‘I Am Number Four’ by Pittacus Lore

I AM NUMBER FOUR“Nine escaped and retreated to Earth. Now three are dead, I am Number Four” …      

Does this part from the book make you want to find out more? Pittacus Lore’s book, I am Number Four, will keep you wanting more. It is an action-packed, science fiction book, based on the life of Daniel Jones, also known as Number Four.

Daniel Jones is an alien from the planet Lorien. Daniel escaped with nine others to Earth, to seek refuge from the enemy, Mogadorians, who were invading Lorien for its resources.  Daniel Jones lives life on the run, with his Cepan (guardian) Henri, who is there to protect Daniel and to teach him about his powers. Moving to different countries, changing names, and leaving whenever there is a sense of trouble, is a regular occurrence for Daniel and Henri. A move to Ohio, where the story is set, sees Daniel taking on the name of John Smith. John meets his two best friends, Sarah Hart, whom he quickly falls in love with, and Sam Ball. John was told by Henri to keep a low profile and not be noticed by the Mogadorians, but that all soon changes.

 There are many reasons why I enjoyed reading the book, I am Number Four, however the main reason is the storyline. I was surprised at how engrossed I became in the story, as I didn’t expect to get hooked straight away. There was plenty of action and adventure, which kept me interested. I couldn’t wait to reach the next chapter. Reading is not my favourite thing to do, and I only read if I have to, however this book kept me reading till late at night and pondering what would happen next. The book was fast paced, action packed and every part came to have a meaning later on in the story.

 I would recommend this book to anyone between the ages of 14 – 16, who enjoys reading an action science fiction book, with a great adventure storyline. This book also has traits that teenagers can relate to, with themes such as relationships, fitting in and bullying. I rate it 4.5 / 5 stars.

Riley S, Year 9

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‘There were nine that escaped. Three have died and I am Number Four.’

     Daniel Jones, also known as Number Four, was living in Florida when Number Three died. Daniel and his guardian, Henri, left Florida and moved to Paradise, Ohio, where Number Four became John Smith. John Smith is no ordinary teenager.

There were nine kids that escaped from Lorien, their home planet and came to Earth after the Mogadorian, another alien race, destroyed their planet, and now the Mogadorians have come to Earth to finish what they started.

The kids from Lorien were charmed before coming to Earth: they were all given a number and they could only be killed in order of their number. If any of the Lorien kids meet, the charm would be broken and they could be killed in any order. The Mogadorians killed Number One in Malaysia, Number Two in England and Number Three in Kenya. John is next. Can John and his friends Sam, Mark and Sarah defeat the Mogadorians before he is killed too?

This book is exciting and nearly impossible to put down. This book would suit ages from 12 upwards. I would recommend it to anyone who likes action and superhuman themes. The best thing about this book is the way Pittacus Lore describes conflict and action scenes – it really grabs your attention and it is hard to stop reading.

By Kahnie

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 “In the beginning we were a group of nine.
Three are gone, dead.
There are six of us left.
They are hunting us, and they won’t stop until they’ve killed us all.
I am Number Four.
I know that I am next.” John Smith (I am number 4)

      John Smith, aKa Number, 4 isn’t your average teenager. Actually, he isn’t even a teenager at all. He is a alien from the planet Lorien. John usually has to move from place to place to avoid detection from his enemy but is he getting too attached to his current town, Paradise Ohio.

      When the Mogdorians made a surprise attack on the planet of Lorien on their day of celebration, the Lorieans were defenseless to the ruthless attack. But they did manage to save the lives of nine garde and their mentors. These nine children are the last hope for Lorien. A spell was attached to the nine garde, that is that they can only be killed in order. But 1, 2 and 3 are dead and that means Number 4 is left.

        I Am Number 4 is a great sci-fi action thriller for the ages 10 and up. The story starts with a chase scene, slows down for about 100 pages, but towards the end really picks up and turns out to be a great read. I recommend I Am Number 4 for anybody interested in sci-fi action who likes to read trilogies. If you do, then this the book for you.

         Edward, Year 9

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      I am Number Four is an exciting science fiction story about John and eight other alien children who have been forced from their planet and have to settle on Planet Earth. The story traces their struggle to survive on Earth, using their legacies (or powers) and as readers we see John trying to protect those he loves from being killed. Many of the others have been killed: one in Malaysia, another in England, another in Kenya…John Smith is Number Four and knows he is next in line to be hunted and this is where the story begins…

Ten years ago the alien’s (Lorien) planet was destroyed by a terrible race called the Mogadorians. The eighteen aliens escaped to Planet Earth to get away from the mighty wrath of the Mogadorians. The aliens look like those on earth, talk like those on earth, and it’s difficult for humans to tell the difference between the aliens and ourselves.

The novel features a number of interesting characters in the novel such as John Smith (Number Four), Sarah, Sam, Henri and Number Six.

The characters in this novel have to go through hardship, and overcoming fear, falling in love, and experiencing friendship. Hardship was shown when John and Sam had to find a way to rescue Henri from capture. Love is shown many times with John and Sarah being together, when they were looking through the photos in Sarah’s room and when John saves Sarah from a burning building despite the fact that it might endanger his secret identity. He risks his life to save hers because he loves her. Overcoming hardship and feeling fear is shown in the novel when John, Sarah, Henri, Sam, Number Six and James were in the hospitality room when the school was getting invaded. When Sarah is taken by the school bully in the dark in the forest, John fears she has been injured and must set out to save her.

My favourite character in the novel is John or Number Four because of his legacies and how interesting it is to see and read about his telekinesis. These legacies create suspense and leaves the reader wondering how they will develop and progress throughout the story. I admire the way that John Smith’s character is in love with Sarah and can’t let her go. He genuinely loves a human girl and cares for her unconditionally. I also admire the way John Smith stood up to the school bully. John’s character is complex and interesting and helps to make the novel so good to read. Complex characters, well written descriptions and plenty of suspense make this a novel for readers of all ages, particularly 10-15 year olds with an interest in sci-fi and adventure stories. With well-developed characters and a cliff hanger ending, the author Pittacus Lore has created a thriller that you just can’t put down. I would recommend this book to all my friends because its just one of those “must read’ novels.

Mitchell Year 9

Category: Adventure stories, Dystopian fiction, Student Reviews | LEAVE A COMMENT
October 22

‘The Hunger Games’ by Suzanne Collins

“Winning means fame and fortune. Losing means certain death.

The Hunger Games have begun.”

Hunger Games - may the odds be ever in your favor.This quote is how the people in this story explain exactly what the hunger games are all about. This book is an exciting and teeth grinding story.  The way that Suzanne Collins has written this book is interesting and has brought to life an epic story of a girl in her late-to-mid teens called Katniss Evergreen who lives in District 12 out of 12 districts. The story builds around her life as part of her world and community. 

 

Katniss’ family consists of herself, her sister Prim (who is four years younger), and her mother. Both her sister and her mother have heavily depended on Katniss for their survival ever since Katniss’ father passed away when she was eleven years old in a mining explosion.

 

The start of the book begins on the day of reaping, which is the day that all of the districts’ tributes are chosen at random to enter the Hunger Games. This point in the story is one of many teeth grinding and nervous moments that people find exciting to read. As you read more and more of this tale you will read countless other moments such as this, some even more tense than this point in the story. This is the start of the book where the story is brought to life. This story is all built around this one moment. This is exactly why I believe that this is the most important part in the book.

 

The most important theme in this book that I like is the constant nerve-racking moments in this book. For me to enjoy a book such as this one I always like a bit of action to go along with the story. This is exactly why I believe that this book is so fantastic and definitely not boring in my eyes. It is simply one of those books you feel like you need to know what happens next and while wondering that, what happens in the end.

 

I sincerely recommend The Hunger Games to anyone in his or her early teens and above who likes some of the themes I stated before. This is a great story you will definitely relish. If you love this story you can always read the next book of this entertaining trilogy. I rate this book 4 out of 5.

“Happy Hunger Games! And may the odds be ever in your favor!”

Mitchell D.H, Year 9

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 “..Happy Hunger Games, and may the odds be ever in your favour…”

     Set in a futuristic North America, the plot of this novel revolves around Panem, a country that has been divided into thirteen different districts controlled by the Capitol.  The Hunger Games started 74 years ago when District Thirteen tried to rise up against the Capitol but failed. This is why each district must select one male and one female  aged from 12-18 years to keep the districts under control and to stop them from trying to rise up again. These 24 tributes must compete in a controlled arena with only one victor, after an intense two-week training, getting them prepared to make the show even more spectacular. Taking another life is the only option of survival. The story centres around Katniss Everdeen, a 16 year old tribute from District 12, who volunteers herself in place of her younger sister, Prim. Katniss is a skilled archer and hunter. The other tribute from District 12, Peeta, has no real skills to help him in battle. Will he survive?

     During the Hunger Games weapons, food and supplies are set out at the start of the games, being an intense first couple of minutes as the tributes try to obtain things that can help them stay alive. Tributes can receive sponsors during the game who also help them out.

     So if you are looking for a book that has either action, adventure or romance combined with fierce battles or maybe all of the above, then this book is for you. Even though I am not an avid reader I really enjoyed this book as it was easy to read and the characters were intriguing and I just had to know what happened to them next. I felt the characters’ emotions and the intensity of the storyline as it gives even more insight into the characters than the movie. You feel for them and understand them as the descriptive words gave me a clear image of what it would have been like to live or experience this time. The story moved along at a fast pace and had a lot of suspense which I absolutely loved. I have already started reading the next book in the trilogy. “Happy Hunger Games, and may the odds be ever in your favour”.

 By Rion, Year 9

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The Hunger Games is an amazing story about a girl and a boy being selected from their district and having to fight to the death against other boys and girls from the other districts. There are 12 districts in total; District 12 where Katniss and Peeta live is the poorest. Food is very scarce and hard to find. Peeta’s parents are bakers and Katniss has to go out and hunt in the morning to feed her family.

 

This book is an incredible read. It had me sitting on the edge of my seat. When they enter the games they realize that there is a group alliance that are after Katniss and even though the odds were against her she was able to overcome the group of blood thirsty teenagers.

 

I would rate this book a 7/10 because it has a lot of action and excitement but it takes a while to get into the actual games and I would recommend this to boys and girls from the age of 12 and up.

 

By Laighton, Year 9

Category: Adventure stories, Dystopian fiction, Student Reviews | LEAVE A COMMENT
June 12

‘The Giver’ by Lois Lowry

Giver screen shotIN THE BEGINNING…

The story is set in a perfect world. Every decision you’ve ever had to make has already been made for you, from the name of your child to what clothes you will wear every day. Your life is normal and everything is the same. You are considered a kid until the age of 12. Then you are assigned a job and you are rushed into adulthood. You stay there until you are too old to complete your job.

Jonas

Jonas (the main character) is coming up to the big day. He will finally turn 12. It’s the day he has been waiting for his entire life. When the other kids are assigned a normal job, like a doctor or a mechanic, Jonas is assigned “the giver”. He has no idea what is in store for him at his new “job”, which will now teach him to do the opposite of what he has been taught. He is scared now because he has no one to count on but himself and nowhere to run.

 If you like…

 This book had lots of adventure and lots of uncertainty. I had no idea what was going to happen next and I loved every minute of it. It was one of the best books I have ever read and you won’t be disappointed. If you like an adventure book with a hint of sci-fi, then this is the book for you.

Zoran, Year 8

TEACHER COMMENT: The picture is a screen shot of Zoran’s submitted assignment!

Category: Dystopian fiction, Student Reviews | LEAVE A COMMENT
June 11

‘Incarceron’ by Catherine Fisher

Incarceron-1a4o3juDo you enjoy a tale of thrill and adventure?

Get ready for a fantasy sci-fi adventure as Finn, a prisoner, tries to escape from Incarceron and Claudia, the soon to be princess of the realm, tries to break away from her forcefully arranged marriage. One inside, one outside but both imprisoned. Does this sound like the book that once you start reading, there’s no escape? Then Incarceron is the book for you.

Incarceron is an infinite, surrounding prison. Instead of steel bars and cellblocks, however, Incarceron is a world in itself! It is a metallic world where nothing is created nor wasted, where the stars and the skies are nearly forgotten legends, where everybody lives in a merciless world, fighting for food and survival. Even more than that, Incarceron is alive.

Finn, a cell-born prisoner, is forced by circumstance to join a ruthless gang of thieves and bandits called The Scum. But during one of their ambushes Finn catches wind of a key that might unlock or help him remember his past. A sapient named Gildas, Finn’s oath brother Keiro and Finn himself start to develop a plot to escape the prison with the key that Finn found. Along with the dog slave that Finn rescues, their lives turn into a frightful, action-packed journey. Will they survive?

Claudia, the elegant and powerful daughter of the warden of Incarceron, finds herself in a difficult game of wits with her father as she starts to rebel against her arranged marriage with the Earl Casper, while at the same time trying to find evidence to accuse the Queen of murdering the former Prince Giles, the prince she was supposed to marry. Will Claudia get the evidence and courage she needs to expose the Queen of the Realm?

I really enjoyed the suspense and vivid creation of setting that Incarceron provided. The book made me feel like I was there, experiencing the thrill and horror. Catherine Fisher has also released the 2nd book in the series called Sapphique. You may enjoy Incarceron if you have read and liked books such as The Hunger Games series, Divergent, Gone,  Lord of the flies or Fahrenheit 451. I rate this book 4 out of 5 stars, 1 being a terrible book and 5 being the best book I have ever read. The book was very descriptive and entertaining, keeping you on the edge of your seat unable to stop reading. I recommend this novel, set in a dystopian future, for 12-18yr olds as it contains romance and drama, action and battle and thrilling suspense.

Levi, Year 8

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“Imagine a prison so vast that it contains cells and corridors, forests, cities and seas. Imagine a prisoner with no memory, sure he came from outside – though the prison has been sealed for centuries and only one man has ever escaped. Imagine a girl in a manor house, in a society where time is forbidden, held in a 17th century world run by computers, doomed to an arranged marriage, tangled in an assassination plot she dreads and desires. One inside, one outside, But both imprisoned, imagine Incarceron.”

If this simple introduction has caught your attention then wait till you read Incarceron by Catherine Fisher.

 

Throughout the book, Catherine Fisher has consistently depicted the importance of being informative in the novel and equally grabbed the reader’s attention with quick plot twists and action scenes. Throughout the start of the book Catherine confuses the reader by setting two separate scenes with two separate main characters and intertwining the two to keep the reader on edge. The first scene is set with the main character and the Civicry tribe who dwelled in the prison swearing to keep its inhabitants in order. The main character Finn begins his first appearance in the prison chained to the ground. A large machine is heading for him and his life is at risk. “Stop! Stop! Did you hear me, stop!” Finn screamed.

 

The other scene is set outside of the prison in the city where time does not exist. The second main character is introduced as a rich spoilt girl. But as the story goes on she is portrayed as a detective in search of the man who murdered her previous boyfriend who she was going to marry. Her father believes the sole purpose she was born, was for this arranged marriage.

 

I would rate this book 4 out of 5 stars. Catherine Fisher has developed a book with the perfect balance of information, action, and plenty of story twists. I believe this book is suitable for readers of age 12 to 15. The introduction to characters was world class and she left the reader content throughout the whole book.

Daley, Year 8

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Incarceron. Imagine if the world you were trapped in was alive. It watched your every move with its beady red eyes, but it didn’t just watch you, it felt you. Now imagine a hero named Finn. They say he was born from the cells deep within the prison, but… was he actually? No matter what the others say, Finn knows deep down inside that he is something more. In the prison his friends call him a star seer because he has visions of the future… but are they visions of the future or are they visions of what once was?

 

Now transfer your mind to another world; a world in the 17th century run by computers. Claudia is our second character, the warden’s daughter and heir to the throne of Incarceron. But that is not the end of her story. She is to be married to the queen’s son so that she will one day rule the realm… but it was not always meant to be this way. She was originally meant to be married to the queen’s stepson and the late king’s son, Giles. It was a tragic accident, the way the prince heir to the throne died. It was a fine day and he went for a horse ride where he suddenly just died. Or was it an accident? If not, who did it? What was the motive? Or was it just a simple accident?

 

Overall, my total view of the book Incarceron is about a 9/10. (1 being a horrible book and 10 being the best book that I had ever read.? Why a nine? Simply because of the twists and turns, the book is hard to predict. It was jaw dropping and eyebrow raising.

 

I have read a lot of really good books in the past but this was my introduction to this sort of genre. I absolutely loved it to pieces. Just as you think you had the book down pat and you knew what was going to happen it took a turn in the completely opposite direction. I would say that this book is a Sci-fi/ Thriller. And because of this book I would definitely read more of these types of books.

Why not a 10? I didn’t give it a perfect 10 because at the start of the book it was far too confusing for me. At first I thought it was just me, but I asked some of my friends that were reading the same book and they said the same thing. All in all it was a great book, truly fantastic with the amazing writing skills of Catherine Fisher. I would recommend this book to anyone looking for a tale of love, sci-fi and thriller.

 

Written by Rainsford, Year 8

Category: Adventure stories, Dystopian fiction, Love stories, Mystery, Student Reviews | LEAVE A COMMENT
June 7

‘First Light’ by Rebecca Stead

First Light A boy living in a city of buildings, a girl living in a civilization under the ice. What connects them?

 

     Meet Thea and Peter. These two teenagers live in completely different worlds. Peter lives in a big city and Thea lives in Gracehope.  The problem is that no one knows where Gracehope is except for the people and chikchu living there. One day Peter’s father has to go to Greenland to study climate change when Peter comes upon a red ring of cloth and as soon as he touches it something happens. What was it? Where was it from? Why would it be buried in the ice?

     Thea’s world is under the ice, but why? And why won’t they return to the surface? What is stopping them?

But most of all how are they connected? How can they unravel the past, together?

     I believe this is a great book to read for young adults who like science fiction, mystery and a bit of adventure in the books they read. I personally found it very hard to get away from the book as it was always in my mind and even if I put it down the story would still linger in my mind playing over and over. I kept on imaging what scenarios could happen later on in the book and sometimes the plot was not predictable. I honestly just thought that it was an amazing book, how it was flicking between worlds and then it connected and it made a lot of sense in the end. It had lots of twists and turns and I really loved it, so it was overall a very intriguing story. Personally I’d rate First Light by Rebecca Stead 3 out of 5 stars.

 

Jasmine, Year 8

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     This story is set in Greenland where everything goes wrong. Mistakes are made and things are broken.

     In my class I was given the opportunity to read the book called ‘First Light’ and I really do have to say it was amazing. There are a few main characters in this story. There is Peter, Miles, and Mattes. I like this story so much because it has great detail of things and has a wonderful ending to it. The main point of why I like this story is because they stick together and never leave each other’s side. I would recommend this book to all people ages above 10 because it has a few hard words and it is really thick. 

     You might think the characters in the novel are normal, but in this world they’re not. Fine paper was restricted for important documents and fantastic drawing. There is a worry down the family tree about getting headaches. Day and night Peter’s mother got headaches. Just recently Peter started getting headaches. Peter’s mum said for him to tell her when he got headaches but he didn’t. The only person he would tell was his friend Miles and Miles promised not to tell his mother. One day Peter’s father asked him to go on a trip with him to a special place to do a very special thing. So from what I have told you this is a serious book for serious people.

     As you have seen this is a wonderful book with great detail and I think if you read this book you would see why. I personally think that this book is true. During my reading time I could not close my eyes, it was just so amazing and thrilling that one night I stayed up to 1:00 in the morning reading this fantastic book. So I think you will like it. This book truly is a wonderful read. I’d rate this book 4.5 out of 5.

     Melanie A, Year 8

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     Thea has never seen the sun. Her world lies deep within a glacier. She hopes for the people of Grace-hope to return to the surface to help her reveal the truth behind her mother’s fatal death. Will this young adult science fiction and mystery novel keep you reading all day and stop you from putting it down? Then “First Light” is the book for you.

     Peter lives in Greenland with his mother and father. His father is a glaciologist and is invited to take him and his family to live on the ice while he studies climate change. There Peter comes face to face with strange visions that lead to him to an opening in a glacier. What will Peter and Thea unravel while they work together to save the people of Grace-Hope from the disastrous events of global warming? The main characters in this fascinating novel are Peter, Thea, Mattias, Sasha, Jonas and Miles.

     I loved the book ‘First light’ because it is such a gripping story about two people in two different worlds that come together and take on the biggest battle of their lives. The book for me was not far from perfect because every time I read it I never wanted to put it down. I was really intrigued by the way Rebecca Stead described the breathtaking courage of both Peter and Thea during most scenes in the book. I really enjoyed the book because the scenes were so well detailed I felt like I was in the book myself. The way Rebecca Stead kept the excitement throughout the book was fabulous and made me want to think about reading her other novels. By the end of the book I was so amazed at how well the story was put together I couldn’t wait to read more of her remarkable books.

     I recommend this book to kids and teens between the ages of 10 and 18 who enjoy reading a fantastic fusion of science, mystery and an intriguing tale of secrets. This book was truly extraordinary so I would rate the book ‘First Light’ 4 out of 5 stars. Emily B, Year 8

Category: Adventure stories, Dystopian fiction, Student Reviews | 1 Comment on ‘First Light’ by Rebecca Stead