November 13

Red Queen by Victoria Aveyard

17878931“ I am a red girl in a sea of silvers and I cannot afford to feel sorry for anyone, least of all the son of a snake.”

Red Queen by Victoria Aveyard is an electrifying debut novel that merges the boundaries between fantasy power, gripping action and forbidden love and taking the wonderful world of YA by storm.

Red Queen takes place in a dystopian world divided by blood – red or silver. The Silvers are blessed with god-like supernatural powers and live in the lap of luxury while the Reds are commoners stricken by poverty living in the shadows of the elite. Mare Burrow is a 17-year-old Red girl, but in an extraordinary situation discovers that regardless of the colour of her blood, she is gifted with abilities that not even Silvers possess.

Victoria Aveyard writes to the beat of her own drum, every beat being a heart-stopping twist that will leave you on the edge of your seat in danger of a heart-attack. Throughout these twists and turns the main character, Mare, was such a pleasure to see grow and unravel from the beginning to the end. Character development in Red Queen was one of its best attributes as each one of the characters had their own very special personality and story.

Red Queen by Victoria Aveyard has an exceptionally wide range of genres, dystopian worlds, gripping action, forbidden romance, betrayal, fearless plot twists and fights scenes as good as that of the Avengers, making this book readily available to absolutely anyone. It will make hard-core fantasy addicts weep with triumph and delight.

Red Queen will give you a rollercoaster of emotions that will leave you in a mess of tears or a heart attack of joy. In a wonderful world of betrayal against betrayal, Reds against Silvers, prince against prince and Mare’s heart against Mare’s head, it doesn’t get better than this. If I have said anything that has given you shivers down your spine, read this one of a kind book and “We will rise up, Red as the dawn.”

I give Red Queen by Victoria Aveyard a 5 out of 5 stars.

By Bronte, Year 9

 

Category: Adventure stories, Dystopian fiction, Love stories, Mystery, Student Reviews | LEAVE A COMMENT
November 12

‘Pandora Jones: Admission’ by Barry Jonsberg

Admission‘It took slightly under eight hours for Melbourne to die’. 

The world of Pandora Jones is not one to envy. The prologue is an absolute killer. There’s no doubt you’ll be hooked from the first sentence, completely drawn in by the intense imagery that the protagonist, Pan, uses to describe the apocalypse. Realistically and vividly she tells of the horrors she has seen in the world as it ends, cars flipped over, fires, bodies lying in the street; utter pandemonium, and this is only the beginning.

Pan awakens in an infirmary, weak, confused, unaware of where she is and barely able to remember who she is. To top it all off, she’s considered to be one of the lucky ones. She remembers the apocalypse in blurry flashes, disjointed memories that she can’t place together. Soon she discovers that a deadly virus has swept through the world, killing nations and millions of people, including her family.

Although Pandora Jones seems like your average young adult dystopian novel, it is far from it. It dips and dives into different genres, filled with mystery, suspense, action, deceit, and even a touch of the paranormal. Pan is part of a select group of teenagers who are seemingly immune to the virus. Saved from a dying world, they are take to ‘The School’, an institution that trains the teens to survive and hones their talents in order to strengthen and use them. The majority of Pan’s group accept their fate, but Pan refuses to.

As more and more is revealed due to Pan’s inquisitive nature, and through her new partner in crime, Nate, the true nature of ‘The School’ begins to come to light. Slowly, it starts to seem as if the walls surrounding the school are one-way barbed wire, perhaps not meant to keep what’s out outside, but to keep the teens in. More and more questions are raised and the answers continually seem to be out of reach, until the end, where you will be left with an unimaginable truth that will leave your head spinning.

Explosive, brutal and utterly consuming, Pandora Jones will leave you breathless and wanting more. The power of Barry Jonsberg’s words is not to be underestimated. Your world will be turned upside down as you’re taken into the gripping dystopian universe of Pan. It is without a doubt a series that will stay with you long after the last page.

– Ashleigh D, Year 9

……..

What would you do if the world died?

Pandora Jones wakes to an unknown world, a sanctuary for survivors of a deadly plague, which left only 10,000 survivors. The survivors are trained in fitness, combat skills, English literature and a skill they possess at The School. Pandora’s skill is intuition, the ability to find lost objects, predict people’s actions and have understanding of skill she has little knowledge of. Whether this gift will help her separate dreams from memories and discover the secrets of the school is the real question.

The story does not take hold until late in the book. Unless, you enjoy reading about a girl going through her life, the plot is too much like school to be interesting. The main character, Pan, is quite weak spirited and you often find yourself getting annoyed at her hesitance and lack of self-confidence. Most of the characters were underdeveloped, including Pan, the main character. The book would have been much more interesting from the point of view of Jen. She is a strong willed person who is not afraid to speak her mind but under the mask of self-assurance she wears, there is a kind and battered soul. The dialogue was too formal for the characters to be believable teenagers. The story drew you in with the prologue, creating anticipation for the rest of the book, however it was not able to match the level of excitement it created until the last quarter of the book. The story is believable if you are able to overlook the undeveloped science that they hint at in the book.

Pandora Jones: Admission is best suited for students at the lower end of the high school, between the years 11 – 15. It is an interesting book, which will probably become faster paced in the sequels. I rate it a 2.5 out of 5 due to its slow story line, which fails to meet the hype of the prologue.

Alex Y., Year 9

……

Aliens! Zombies! Jesus! Satan! These words are predicted to end the world. But did it ever cross your mind that there could be another cause for the end of humanity? Pandora Jones Admission by Barry Jonsberg provides an alternate option for another end to civilisation.

The main character Pandora Jones is a defiant and inactive 18-year-old girl who has some unique talents. But how will her talents become useful when everyone around her is dying? Introduce a safe house and a few other characters and you have yourself a well-written story. Now enter Nate the tall, dark and handsome 18-year-old guy who’s great at running, as well as Wei-lin, the 14-year-old Asian who is Katniss Everdeen’s competition for archery. These characters construct a story of death, grief, acceptance, decision-making and friendship. When one of their friends goes missing without a trace, what do you do? When your group is shipped off to a mysterious land and you have no idea what to do or how to survive, who would you trust?

This book was extremely enjoyable to read for many reasons. Firstly the author wrote this book exceptionally well, in terms of describing surroundings, character building and incorporating emotion. Furthermore, the book uses the strategies of secrets, action, survival, intuition, truth and a pandemic to leave the readers wanting more of the spectacular literature. Additionally, the cliff-hanger at the conclusion is really captivating. With these positive aspects also come negative aspects. The author really needed to create some unique twists or a more uniquely structured plot to generate more interest throughout the book.

I would recommend this book to any person 12 years or above, simply due to the presence of some mild graphic scenes in the initial chapters. This book might interest teenagers who like to read post-apocalyptic literature, who like to get lost in another realm, or readers who enjoy a morsel of mystery and action. People who have read the Hunger Games series by Suzanne Collins or the Divergent series by Veronica Roth may enjoy this read as the books share the same genre and similar life or death plot.

Overall, Pandora Jones Admission by Barry Jonsberg is a fantastic read that keeps the reader hooked from beginning to end. The book was extremely well written however the author could have incorporated some authentic twists to the plot to generate more interest.

Sage, Year 9

Category: Dystopian fiction, Student Reviews | LEAVE A COMMENT
November 12

‘The Hunger Games’ by Suzanne Collins

hunger gamesThe Hunger Games is an engaging book that tells the story of a girl in a poor family.

The story starts off with the main character Katniss in a poor district going hunting for food. It explains the circumstances of The Hunger Games where they choose two people from each district, one boy and one girl, and take them to a death match dome where the last man standing is the winner. Katniss’ sister gets chosen for The Hunger Games and Katniss volunteers to take her place as ‘Tribute’. The other person who gets chosen is a boy named Peeta. They go on a train and meet Haymitch. He is an alcoholic that has no faith in District 12 and he was surprised when he found out that these could be the first fighters from District 12. When they get to the Capital they go to a training facility and are told to learn how to use different types of weapons but do not show the other tributes what weapon you are really good with so they don’t know what to expect. That forces Katniss to not train with a bow and wait for private training. After all of their training, they are forced into the dome.

This book is very adrenalin filled as it makes you want to know what is going to happen next. You are always thinking, “Who is going to die next?” “How will the next person die?” “What trick are they going to play next?” This book will grab you and never let you go, like stinging nettle… except without the pain. Even though this is a great book, I say watch the movie over the book as it will give you even more adrenalin because you can see all the action take place and see how the characters react to things better. If you like adventure and action they you will enjoy this novel. Then, if you enjoy Book 1, you should go straight to The Hunger Games books 2 and 3.

Finn S., Year 9.

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“Be brave and be thankful for what you have achieved.”

Once a year, two tributes – one man and one woman – would be chosen to fight until death against other teams of two. Does this book sound like the type of action and thriller book that interests you the most?

Living in the town was not the same anymore. People were dying because of the craziness after the first hunger games. Katniss, the first chosen to participate, she is not always alone. She is with Peter, the second chosen to fight. They had stuck together through the whole book and showed courage and bravery within themselves.

The book the Hunger Games had two settings in the novel: the town and the arena. The arena was filled with big trees, rivers and very open flat plains. The town was set on the bottom of a tall grassy hill beside a small farm, and the arena was set in the middle of nowhere, where no one was going to find them.

The characters were very outgoing and full on. The main characters were Katniss and Peter alongside their parents and close friends. As the book came to an end Katniss and Peter did end up falling in love, which gave the novel a romantic theme towards the end.

I really enjoyed this novel because it’s a story about a young woman who volunteered to compete in the Hunger Games after her little sister was chosen to fight. Little did she know her life would never be the same after the risks she had chosen to take. I recommend this novel to the ages of 12 to 18 if you are interested in a very heart racing thriller and adventurous novel this would be just for you. On the other hand it was just magnificent over all and I’d rate this book a 4 out of 5.

By Cooper, Year 9

……

In the distant future the U.S. is gone and had spiralled into chaos and unpleasantry ruled by a simple game. Now in its place is Panem, in which the city of Capitol stands, somewhere in the large populated Rockies, ruling over 12 rebellious districts filled with rather poor people. For the people that rule over the cities to maintain an iron grip, the Capitol holds an annual televised reality show called the Hunger Games, a rather lethal form of survival to which each district must send one boy and one girl. Out of these 24 teens only one will survive.

Katniss, who volunteers to take part in the game in place of her sister, competes alongside Peeta who is also a District 12 competitor. She soon meets Peeta who she has to fight with in order to survive against the other districts, as they will be pinned up against each other and will have to kill one another for resources. Their competition is complicated by Peeta’s announcement that he is in love with Katniss, however Katniss does not have feelings for Peeta. The Hunger Games is an action, adventure and thriller novel that revolves around the main charter Katniss who lives a rather normal life hunting for food to feed her mum and little sister but she puts herself in danger to protect her little sister after she was chosen to contribute in the Hunger Games.

The two later find each other during the game and form an an alliance in order to survive, and now they are struggling to fight against the other players and traps set by the game makers in the 74th Hunger Games. Katniss doesn’t want to hurt or kill anyone if possible but when it comes down to it Katniss’ instinct to survive will overwhelm her, but when she starts to have confusing feelings about the boy named Peeta from her own district who is also her fellow contender, things get worse for her, and then she teams up with a little girl from District 11 but they are both well aware that only one of them will remain and only one person can survive to win the game but who will it be?

Kaynan B, Year 9

……..

The Hunger Games is an annual event where a boy and a girl from each of twelve districts are chosen to compete in a fight to the death in which the reward is money, fame, prestige, but most of all, survival.

The Hunger Games – Catching Fire novel, written by Suzanne Collins, is set in a place called Panem, North America in which there is a very rich city called the Capitol, surrounded by twelve districts. The Capitol hosts an event called the Hunger Games for their amusement. Following the first Hunger Games novel, the main character Katniss Everdeen lives a life of fame and fortune after winning the 74th hunger games.

But the life of kings is short-lived as the Capitol plans the 75th hunger games in which there will be a ‘quarter quell’. A quarter quell is a special hunger games where the previous winners are pitted against each other with only one of them coming out alive. These plans spark an uprising from inside the Capitol itself and all the other districts, leaving room and many possibilities for new novels.

The Hunger Games – Catching Fire is an amazing novel filled with action, adventure and a little bit of romance here and there; not surprising since it was written by the very talented author, Suzanne Collins.

The Hunger Games is an action-adventure story. It is very entertaining for men and women of all ages, though I would recommend it for people over the age of 12. I was completely engaged in the book, glued to the pages in excitement. Hunger Games – Catching Fire is an extremely engaging book; it had me begging for more with the adventure, mystery and a bit of romance. The book was a complete success, and I can definitely see why. 4/5 stars from me.

Harry, Year 9

Category: Dystopian fiction, Student Reviews | LEAVE A COMMENT
November 12

‘Mort’ by Terry Pratchett

mort“Death comes to us all. When he came to Mort, he offered him a job.”

Set on the Discworld (which, evidently, is a disc sitting atop the backs of four giant elephants balanced on the shell of a Giant Turtle floating endlessly through space), on Hogswatch night Mortimer (AKA Mort) is lined up, ready to go off to be an apprentice and learn a trade. All the other boys who were waiting for a new mentor have already been chosen, and now Mort is the last one there. Then, a few minutes before the New Year starts, Death arrives. However, he does not come to, as Death puts it, “usher souls into the afterlife”, because he is in search of an apprentice.

Mort accepts, but only AFTER being assured that being dead was NOT compulsory. Death and Mort then mount the white and oddly named horse, Binky, and travel to a land Death created, where there is no time. Here, Mort meets the chef/gardener/stable hand/librarian/butler Albert, and Death’s adopted daughter, Ysabell. Death brings Mort out a few nights, reaping souls. Mort soon learns both that witches and wizards expect a visit from Death himself when they die, and that they are bitterly disappointed to find that a lanky, red headed apprentice has been put in charge of reaping their souls.

However, when Death believes Mort is ready to go out on his own, Mort makes a terrible mistake. Instead of reaping Princess Keli’s soul, when she was scheduled to die, he reaps her assassin’s soul. This one event throws the whole universe out of balance. Princess Keli goes on a stormy adventure of her own, demanding of the Wizard Cutwell to tell her fortune. When Cutwell tells her, “The cards think you’re dead, the universe thinks you’re dead,” one can imagine Princess Keli’s response. A princess should not be told she’s dead, outright ignored by her servants, and insulted by an enchanted doorknocker. Mort soon realises the severity of what he has done, and that the universe is trying to fix itself, bending, popping and sizzling. Mort must deal with this all, whilst keeping it from Death, who is enjoying himself on a nice, relaxing fishing trip.

Being Death’s apprentice, Mort realizes, would be much easier if he hadn’t fallen in love with Princess Keli of Ankh Morpork.

This book has a brilliant storyline, adding humour and twists into the most serious of situations.

Personally, I love this book. Terry Pratchett is a fantastic author, and his wording paints a pretty picture in the reader’s imagination; a picture of sweeping hills, desert plains, hilarious characters, and the classing skeletal figure of Death. I would recommend this book to both teens and adults, because I believe all audiences will enjoy it.

– Tyana C, Year 9

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July 15

‘One Piece’ by Eiichiro Oda

coverWealth, fame, power.

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

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

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

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

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

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

Age group: young teens to adulthood

Rating: 10/10

Sage M Year 8

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June 24

‘Worldshaker’ by Richard Harland

WorldshakerBehold, the juggernaut Worldshaker, a mobile city as tall and as great as a mountain. Col Porpentine lives a life of luxury with his elite family in the upper decks of the juggernaut, but his life is about to turn upside down when he meets a “filthy” girl.

This book would keep you reading for hours and hours without ever wanting to stop. “World Shaker” by Richard Harland would certainly be a book for you!

As two officers barged into Col’s cabin in the middle of the night, they informed him that there was an escaped “filthy” girl. Filthies were thought to be an uncivilised, unintelligent and dangerous group of people living in the lower decks of the juggernaut. They were classified as nothing but mindless savages by people in the upper decks. But, everything that Col knew about the Filthies changed when the officers left his room. The missing filthy was hiding under his bed! It turned out that the Filthies were nothing that Col expected them to be. The Filthies were anything but mindless, violent and savage. And for some reason, Col’s unexpected sympathy towards the filthy girl urged him to not call the officers and hand the filthy in. That was a very big mistake that affected him for the rest of the story. After that unusual encounter, the filthy girl managed to escaped and Col was nominated as the successor of his grandfather, Sir Mormus. He was soon to be the Supreme Commander of the juggernaut.

I really enjoyed this book because of its very good and unique plot. I’ve never read anything like “World Shaker” before and I was amused and hooked from the beginning of the book up until the very last page. The characters and the settings of this book were described excellently and the constant action, plot twists and suspense within the storyline got me sitting on the edge of my seat wanting for more. There weren’t any anticlimactic or dragging parts in the book and the story sure did end with an impact.

I would recommend this book to teenage boys who enjoy the adventure and/or edgy genres because this book is jam packed with action and plot twists. I loved this book and it made me want to read the next book in the series, “Liberator.” Overall, I’d rate this book 4 out of 5 stars.

Kai Y., Year 8

 

Category: Dystopian fiction, Mystery, Student Reviews | LEAVE A COMMENT
June 24

‘Maximum Ride: The Angel Experiment’ by James Patterson

Maximum RideHave you ever wondered what it would be like to fly, soaring through the sky above everyone else grounded by gravity? For most of us, it would be a dream come true. For Maximum Ride (A.K.A. Max) it is the nightmare that will never stop. Max was taken away when she was just born to a laboratory filled with scientists and test subjects. Max and five other kids had bird DNA put in them, allowing them to grow wings. They also grew larger lungs, thinner bones, extra muscles and their hearts grew more efficient. This allowed them to fly without too much pressure. The children were living in dog cages until one day a scientist called Jeb Batchelder took them away from the lab (A.K.A. The School) and up into a house in the mountains. There, he raised them like they were his own children. He clothed them, taught them survival skills, how to fight and how to read. He acted like a parent to them; two years of raising them until he disappeared. They all assumed that he was killed. From then on, they did everything themselves.

“The flock” has six members in it. Max is the eldest, so she looks after everyone else as though it is life or death. Fang is the second eldest, and he is the silent one. Sometimes he likes to sneak up on Max. Iggy is third, and he is blind, but he can still hear everything and he can also cook and make bombs, even though he’s blind. Nudge is next, and she is a chatterbox. She likes to talk all day long. She also likes looking at things she’s not supposed to, which is a good thing. Gazzy is fourth, and he likes to eat food and fart. He tries to always act tough. Last is Angel, and she is the most special. She can read people’s minds and she is the most important to Max. These six are always getting into trouble with erasers. Erasers are humans that have wolf DNA in them, and they are always being sent out to capture the flock, and one day they get Angel. This is the moment where they go out to get her back from the horrible scientists.

Maximum Ride is an amazing book. It talks about trust and friendship. I couldn’t take my eyes off it, it was so intense. Once I started reading, I was always left with a question in my head, so I had to keep reading. I would recommend this book to kids aged 13-15, and kids who love a combination of action and fantasy. If you also love massive twists at the end of a book, than I would recommend Maximum Ride to you. I would rate this book 9.5 out of 10.

By Cooper, Year 8

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June 23

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

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

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

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

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

Andrew S., Year 8

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

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

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

Harvey D., Year 8

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

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

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

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

Liam B, Year 8

Category: Adventure stories, Historical fiction, Student Reviews | LEAVE A COMMENT
June 23

‘The Chronicles of Vladimir Tod’ by Heather Brewer

Eighth grade bites“A tree branch slapped John Craig across the face, scraping his skin, but he kept on running and ignoring the stabbing of pine needles on his bare feet. He could hear the man’s footsteps behind him, echoing his own.”

This sentence is from none other than The Chronicles Of Vladimir Tod. The story is set in a small town where most neighbours knew each other, much like a town just off the city.

The main character is Vladimir Tod. He is a strange outcast vampire that no one really tries to get to meet except for his best friend Henry, who everyone knows and is a very confident person. Only two of Vlad’s most trusted friends know who Vlad really is… a vampire disguising his true identity by never drinking anyone’s blood. Nelly, Vlad’s grandma, is a kind woman which looks out for Vlad by stealing blood from the hospital where she works as a nurse, because Vlad will never drink blood from a living being. Another character is a strange teacher who is very curious about Vlad, asking lots of questions and being extremely deceptive about his outside life and appearance.

This book was an easy read but surprisingly a good book considering I’m not usually into books. The plot is a bit simple however, but it was a good story line with believable characters. It makes vampires seem real and convincing, it has a supernatural theme that includes real teenager problems such as bullies, crushes, teachers and homework. I would strongly recommend this story to teenagers that are desperately wanting to read about vampires mixed in with their life.

Ben M, Year 8

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       This is a tale about a mythical boy who is half human and half vampire who is being hunted by his kind. The story is based in the small town of Bathory. Vladimir Tod and his best friend Henry are trying to figure out the mysterious death of Vlad’s parents; death while being hunted.

Vladimir Tod is a vampire that has a starving crave for blood but is satisfied by the taste of blood that his aunt Nelly supplies for him from the hospital where she works. He is very alone without guidance from his parents so he is discovering new powers and abilities that he holds. But the least favourite part of this vampire’s life is school. Vlad is constantly getting bullied, his secret crush likes Henry more than him and the principal hates him. But after one of his teachers disappears without a trace a new teacher comes along with a strange attraction to mythical beings and is quite fond of Vladimir Tod. After a while Vlad discovers that the teacher is quite close to him but not in a good way because now Vlad is being hunted.

Will you discover the reason Vlad’s parents are dead? Will you find out if Vlad gets the girls or Vlad’s friend Henry? Will you also find out if Vladimir Tod survives after being hunted?  Calum, Year 8

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Will Vladimir Tod survive? The vampire killer is after him as Vlad has many secrets. Only his best friends, Henry, and his grandmother Nelly know his deep dark secrets.

Vlad was born on November 21, 1993. He has black hair, grey eyes and he is half vampire and half human. The story is based in a small town called Bathory. Vlad lives with his grandmother as he lost both his parents in a house fire. Vlad spends most of his time with his best friend Henry. Vlad is a normal teenage boy who goes to school and does the same things as a normal boy. Vlad is a vampire and drinks blood but he doesn’t bite people’s necks. His grandmother works in the hospital and she takes blood from the blood room to give Vlad. Vlad likes a girl called Meredith Brookstone, however his friend Henry also likes Meredith and Meredith likes Henry. Unfortunately Vlad doesn’t know this.

Vlad has no idea of the extent of his powers. Unfortunately he has nobody around to teach him how to use his powers. Vlad is struggling every day with his blood cravings and his growing fangs. He worries every day that someone will find out his secret, however his biggest problem is that he is being hunted by a vampire killer.

I like this book because it is mostly fiction. It also explains the story pretty well and it gets to the point straight away. I like how there is a big problem and when they are trying to fix the problem there are little problems in it.

I think that this book is recommended for people who like fantasy fiction books. I think the age recommended for this is 12 and over. I rate this book 7 out of 10.

Jack R., Year 8

Category: Adventure stories, Funny books, Student Reviews | LEAVE A COMMENT
June 23

‘I am Number Four’ by Pittacus Lore

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

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

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

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

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

Hannah R, Year 8

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

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

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

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

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

Lili S., Year 8

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

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

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

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

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

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

Serayna N, Year 8

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

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

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

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

Savannah F Year 8

Category: Adventure stories, Student Reviews | LEAVE A COMMENT
June 19

‘White Fox’ by Gary Paulsen

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

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

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

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

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

Griffin P, Year 8

Category: Adventure stories, Dystopian fiction, Student Reviews | LEAVE A COMMENT
June 19

‘Midnighters: The Secret Hour’ by Scott Westerfeld

the-secret-hour-midnighters-book-1Midnighters: The Secret Hour is one of the most interesting books I have read. It has helped me understand that you just can’t find yourself in one day; it takes a while.

The ‘midnighters’ are three teenagers who have a great power that cannot be seen by normal average people. They fight groups of deathly creatures called darklings and slithers that are trying to kill the midnighters. One of the midnighter’s names is Rex. He is like the leader of the group. We know a lot about him from his family’s history. Dess is the second. She can work out a math sum in less then a minute and can tell when a piece of metal has not been touched by the secret hour, and finally Melissa, who can taste your emotions near and far. She plays a big part in the group.

The new midnighter is a 15 year old girl called Jess. She has no idea what her power is but with the help of her friends she will find out who she is and what her power is, but there is one more midnighter. His name is Johnathon. He has a sad background and will soon come to love Jess.

One thing Melissa notices about Jessica is that she is different from the rest of them in that she is on a whole new level of power that is present in only about one in the whole world. Jessica doesn’t feel like she can fit in with the other midnighters because she is different but then the midnighters helped her realise that she is welcomed anywhere with them around “I will come again for Jessica day” is said by a very mysterious creature who is out to kill Jessica but will her friends help protect her from this beast this quote is found at the end of the book the Question on my mind is what and who this mysterious creature is.

Abbey J., Year 8

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“Meet the Midnighters. By day, they’re outsiders. Teenagers with black coats and bad attitudes. By night, they might just be our last hope…”

If you love a good mystery then this story is the best for you! The story starts with a girl called Jessica Day who is starting out in a new town and a new high school. The high school is Bixby High. To most people in the school she is an ordinary new girl. But to some she is not ordinary; she is special. The “some” is a group of teenagers who call themselves the “Midnighters”.

The “Midnighters” consist of Rex, Jonathan, Dess and Melissa; teens who have some special powers that are unknown to the naked eye. These four teenagers have been a part of the secret hour, where at the strike of midnight the world goes still except for them. In the secret hour there are creatures that kill. They are known either as the “Darklings” or “Slithers.” But it doesn’t end there. Each “Midnighter” has a special power that is unique.

One night, Jessica happens to wake up at the strike of midnight. She has no idea that this might be a start to something new.

I really enjoyed this book! I do recommend it to everyone who loves a good mystery! This book consists of unexpected twists and turns that makes your mind spin! It has so much descriptive language that you could just imagine the scene in your head. It is very addictive! At the end it has you wanting more and more! I loved it because I could imagine the scene in my head and the mystery had me hanging on the edge the whole time. I recommend this to teenagers, as it is more of an advanced read. You have to really read it to understand it. Once you get into it, it will have you reading past midnight! This book is amazing. I would definitely recommend it if you want something good to read! I rate it 4 out of 5 stars because I would like to read the rest of the stories in the series before I rate it 5 out of 5 stars.

Caitlin F., Year 8

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Imagine being frozen in time for only one hour each day. Imagine a feeling of exhilaration, knowing you have a whole hour to do whatever you want or relax and unwind with no one else around. As the clock strikes twelve, five introverted, temperamental teens (a.k.a midnighters), gain an extra hour. Imagine a time where every other thing is motionless; well, nearly everything. Darklings and Slithers occupy the depths of the secret hour, threatening and fighting the midnighters, determined to possess the extra 60 minutes for themselves. Rex, Dess, Melissa, Jonathan, and new-found midnighter Jess, are the only known people to experience the secret hour.

Since moving to Bixby, Oklahoma with her family, Jessica Day has discovered that things are not the same here in this mysterious whereabouts. Strange flying, genius, mind-reading people are only just the beginning for poor, innocent Jess.

Each midnighter has a superior ‘gift’ that is only used during midnight. Together they all venture to discover what Jess’ unknown special gift is. But, the Darklings are not happy with this.

I was instantly hooked on how Scott Westerfeld set the scene in a teen-high school atmosphere as it was very relatable. I loved how he explained each scene and character with admirable detail, so I could really get a clear picture in my head. This book has kept me reading past midnight and has made me eager to read the rest of the ‘Midnight’ series.

I unexpectedly liked the ‘Secret Hour’. Normally if I saw this book I wouldn’t have chosen it for myself, as I usually pick teen, girly, non-fiction novels. But after reading it, I will definitely be looking at more books of this genre.

I would recommend this novel to teens and young adults. I think people aged from around 12-20 would especially enjoy this book, with all the twists, surprises and intensity.

Mystery lurks in the shadows, a midnight conspiracy; this is, the Secret Hour.

Molly G, Year 8

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What if there were 25 hours in a day instead of 24 that only some people had access to? When the new girl Jessica Day moves to town she find her self to be one of them, but what and who are they? Jessica may have been normal back in her old town, worrying about what to wear each day but not here in Bixby. She had much worse things to be worrying about.

Bixby might seem like an insignificant, boring little town in the middle of nowhere to a normal person, however, this weird town holds a huge mystery, what really happens when the clock strikes 12 in Bixby. The time freezes and nobody moves for one whole secret hour except for the ones who were born on midnight of course. They call themselves midnighters but that’s not all. Who else has access to the secret hour? Each midnighter has a hidden talent during this mystical time and Jessica must find out what hers is as fast as possible with the help of the other midnighters. It may not be that easy, because the creatures that the midnighters share the secret hour with are doing everything in their power to prevent this, but why? Does this book seem to intrigue you yet?

The Secret Hour written by Scott Westerfeld is a book that will keep you reading way past midnight it has so many twists and surprises that make you want to never stop reading. In this book there is the mystery of what power Jessica has. It truly keeps you in suspense which is a great quality for a book to have.

The Secret Hour is a book written in a unique way, by Scott Westerfeld. It is written in narration but each chapter is from another main character’s point of view. It is a really fascinating read. The main characters are Dess, Jessica, Rex, Jonathan and Melissa, normal teenagers by day and midnighters at night exploring the blue time. I would suggest this book to any who likes a fantasy science fiction sort of book that is fast paced and spooky in a really amusing way although I would suggest it for a younger audience. This is definitely the best novel I have read this year so far. I would rate this book 8 1/2 out of 10. Truly a marvellous read.

Sienna B year 8

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When Jessica Day arrives in Bixby, Oklahoma it isn’t any ordinary town. Everything was run differently. The water tasted funny and the fact that the entire community had a curfew of 11pm made it weird enough. Could Bixby get anymore awkward?

Well apparently so, especially when Jessica attends her first day at Bixby State High School. Of course every first day of anyone’s life will, without a doubt, have its ups and downs, though Jessica couldn’t help but feel that there was something fishy about a couple of her new friends. But, little did she know that they were thinking the same thing about her. When Jessica first arrived on her first day at school, one of her friends, Rex, noticed something about her that was extremely unusual. He immediately notified his friend named Dess and before introducing themselves to Jess they discussed the supernatural feature that Jess may have. And after a lot of thinking, there was only one explanation to the situation, one which only Rex and Dess knew about. Jessica Day was one of them, a midnighter.

By Rachel, Year 8

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June 18

‘Incarceron’ by Catherine Fisher

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Antonia H, Year 8

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

By Rebecca R., Year 8

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

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

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

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

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

Sarah M., Year 8

Category: Adventure stories, Dystopian fiction, Mystery, Student Reviews | LEAVE A COMMENT
June 17

‘Dragonkeeper’ by Carole Wilkinson

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

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

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

Max D. Year 8

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

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

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

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

Ethan P., Year 8

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

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

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

Lachlan H., Year 8

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

The Eye of Minds by James Dashner

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Eric Year 9

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June 12

‘Throne of Glass’ by Sarah J. Maas

Throne_of_Glass_UKErilea is a world where magic once thrived but now, under the rule of a tyrant, the magic has been outlawed and has disappeared from the land.

Celaena Sardothien is an eighteen year-old assassin who has been sentenced to a lifetime of slaving in the salt mines of Endovier. Dragged in front of the Crown Prince of Erilea, she is offered her freedom, however there’s a catch. She has to earn it by winning a competition against some of the most treacherous criminals in the land. If she wins she will become the king’s champion for three years, killing for the man who killed her family and razed her home. A mystery arises when competitors are being murdered. One by one their mutilated corpses are showing up. Celaena must find the killer before it’s her dismembered corpse they discover.

The book includes a love triangle, which is obvious right from the start. Celaena ends up falling for Captain of the Guard Choal Westfall and Prince Dorian falls for her in turn. The love triangle is clicheed and overused in many YA novels. However romance is not the main idea of this story, which is refreshing. Sarah Maas has not, like so many stories do, centred her book on love, heartbreak and heartache; instead it focuses on Celaena’s survival and how she earns her freedom.

The world Sarah Maas has created has history and culture. The amount of time put into creating such an intricate world with such a rich backstory is obvious. The novel has a wonderful blend of magic, romance, action and mystery. I would recommend it to people who enjoy young adult fantasy. It’s the perfect book for people who like to get lost in a world away from their own. I give the book four out of five stars.

Alex Y., Year 9

Category: Adventure stories, Love stories, Mystery, Student Reviews | LEAVE A COMMENT
June 12

‘Vampire Academy’ by Richelle Mead

vampire academyMeet Rose Hathaway, a very talented, smart, pretty, and fierce teenage girl. She’s a saviour and knows it. With an attitude and fast moves, she might just be the Moroi’s last hope…. This action-packed book will be keeping you up all night. You won’t want to put it down.

Rose doesn’t live the same way as you and I. She’s a dhampire half-human half-moroi. She has dedicated her entire life to protecting Lisa, a moroi princess. Moroi are the good vampires. They don’t wear black capes, turn into bats or sleep in coffins, but they do drink blood but not from unwilling victims. Dhampires were brought up to become a guardian, and protect moroi from strigoi – evil blood suckers who will stop at nothing to make Lisa and the moroi one of them.

After two years of freedom, Rose and Lisa are caught and taken back to St Vladimir’s Academy, a school where moroi practice magic and dhampires train to be the fittest, fastest, and strongest. But when they get back, more terror awaits them there than just strigoi.

I loved this book so much I finished it the day I started it. I now have the rest of the series and all the books of series two to read. I love action and adventure books. I was never much of a reader but since I read this book all my friends have called me a bookworm. It’s an action book that has lots of heat and fun about an awesome teenage girl with attitude who can take down men three times her size. This was the start of my love for books and it is so amazing that I have watched the movie literally ten times and remember every word from the book even though I read it two years ago. The way Richelle Mead describes the scenes and events that go down are so addicting that anyone would love it.

I would recommend this book to people of ages between 12 and 21 who love action, romance, and sci-fi fantasy. This book is truly amazing and I would rate it 4 and half stars if not 5.

Amy, Year 8

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June 12

‘Tuck Everlasting’ by Natalie Babbitt

Tuck Everlasting“Don’t be afraid of death, be afraid of an unlived live. You don’t have to live forever, you just have to live.”

In the book “Tuck Everlasting” there is a family that drank from a spring and they lived forever. The family found a girl watching their son drink the water and his brother took her away. The girl’s family was so scared because they could not find their daughter. Then the Tuck family asked her if she would like to drink from the spring but she didn’t drink the water.

The book is set in 1881. It is set in the middle woods and the Tuck family who own the woods call it Treegap Wood. The main characters in the book are the Tuck family and Winnie Foster. The Tuck family (Mae Tuck, Mile Tuck, Angus Tuck and Jesse Tuck) are a nice, kind family that look after their family and others around them. Winnie Foster is a quiet girl mainly because she lives with a rich family and her mum tells her what to do all the time and she can never live freely.

Briefly, the book is about Winnie Foster who gets taken by the Tuck family and Winnie lives with them for most of her life. Her parents try looking for her then eventually find her and the Tuck family get in trouble.

I enjoyed all the action and romance in the book. There was a lot happening because there were people looking around trying to find the spring that had the water to drink that made you live forever because everyone wants to live forever. The romance was good because Winnie and Miles loved each other and books that have romance make people more interested in the book and they want to keep reading. I recommend this book for teenage girls or boys because it is a great book to read. There is a lot of mystery and everyone will enjoy the book.

Taylah J Year 8

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“Don’t be afraid of death; be afraid of an unlived life. You don’t have to live forever, you just have to live.”

It was the first week of August 1881, and unlike other children Winnie Foster spent her first week of summer behind her locked gate. Winnie’s family run a tight ship, their home is always clean and polished, unlike the Tuck family.

Winnie is a ten year old girl, who is sick of her family watching over her like a hawk. She has a dream to one day escape to a place where she can be free and do whatever she wants. One morning everything changed. Winnie finally had the guts to run away and become free.

We all know what it feels like to be independent and do our own thing, but has Winnie really made the right decision? When Winnie is kidnapped by the Tuck family, she is in for quite a change. Winnie goes from a young ten year old girl who has no independence, to kid who needs to hurry and grow up quick.

Winnie’s life is completed transformed when she falls in love with Jesse Tuck. Winnie had gone from having no idea what being in love felt like to hardly being able to stand on her feet while looking at Jesse Tuck.

On top of being in love, Winnie even played the role of adult among the Tucks. She is always there to comfort the Tucks when they’re down and stick up for them when they’re in trouble.

When the Tucks tell Winnie their story, it was one of the strangest stories she had ever heard. Winnie suspected that she was the first person the Tuck’s had ever told their story to, as they would gather around her like children and interrupt each other while talking.

What’s more is Winnie has to keep everything a secret and as soon as Winnie moves back in with her family everyone knows something has changed. Winnie had always dreamt of doing something interesting and after spending time with the Tuck family it seems like her wish has been granted.

Millie, Year 8

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June 11

‘The Hobbit’ by J.R.R. Tolkien

hobbit-cover-01In a hole in the ground there lived a hobbit. Not a nasty, dirty, wet hole, nor yet a dry. This was a hobbit hole, and that means comfort…

Ok! Let me stop you right there! Does this sound like the type of book you would love to read any day, every day? Then the Hobbit is the book for you. But now that we’ve got that over and done with that we should get back to is my blog…

Bilbo Baggins was a little man, smaller than a dwarf of any sort. He was a hobbit. Hobbits are inclined to be fat in the stomach and dress in bright colours and wear no shoes. When Bilbo Baggins sets off on a quest with a company of dwarfs including the king of the dwarfs himself, Thorin Oakenshield, and Gandalf the grey wizard, they try to redeem the dwarves’ homeland but have to travel through Middle Earth the godforsaken place with hoards of orcs and evil creatures everywhere. But there was one problem Bilbo Baggins was neither swift and accurate elf nor one thick-headed killing machine orc. He was just a little hobbit that had barely ever left his home’s side. As the book progresses Bilbo starts to find out something about himself – things that he never thought were there. He even finds something what will change him forever.

The Hobbit was an exciting and mysterious book. I didn’t know what was going to happen next. I really recommend it to anyone who has a heart for adventures, entertaining and mind blowing books. I would no question whatsoever give this book a ten out of ten. PS The movie is also good.

George M, Year 8

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‘All was well, until one day a thunder storm appeared, not just a thunder storm it was a thunder battle.’

The main protagonist, Bilbo Baggins, is a hobbit who does not like to go on adventures. He hardly likes to leave his hobbit hole. But one day Gandalf, a famous wizard, comes to Bilbo’s house and marks his door with a special mark to signal the dwarves.

Now I will stop right there because I don’t want to spoil it. Sounds exciting? Right! Well it is very exciting when you are reading it. I believe that The Hobbit is a very good book for all ages. The book is mainly for teenagers but middle-aged men would also enjoy it. But not just males can enjoy this book. Many females will enjoy it too.

So if you find that you may like it head down to your local library or bookshop and pick it up. But before you go and get it let me tell you if you are the kind of person that likes to read a romantic comedy turn away and find a new book. But if you like adventure and action with little bits of humour this will be a great book for you. So what are you waiting for? Go get the book and read it.

George B, Year 8

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“I don’t know. Saruman believes it is only great power that can hold evil in check. But that is not what I have found. I’ve found it is the small things, everyday deeds of ordinary folk that keeps the darkness at bay.”

Does this sound like the type of book you love to read? Will it keep you up till midnight? Then The Hobbit is the book for you.

The Hobbit shows thrills, bravery, wonder and adventure which are the main things kids want to read in a book like this. Even though The Hobbit is a scary movie, the book is suitable for ages above 6. This book starts the adventure by following the journey of the character Bilbo who is swept into an epic quest to reclaim the lost Dwarf Kingdom of Erebor.

The Hobbit has taught me about adventure and that life is too long to do nothing, for example Bilbo is at home one day doing nothing, and then someone comes and says we will be at your house later. I would rate this book 4 out of a 5 because of how many scenes show about them fighting and doing adventuring stuff.

We read The Hobbit as a cartoon book so it had many pictures for us to see and read and understand what is happening in the book. It has bright colours and some really dark colours to show the reader how high the mountains are that they are trying to climb. As they reached to the top they found orks that they had to fight. Overall this is a great book.

By Jack T., Year 8

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“The bells were ringing in dale and men looked up with faces pale the dragons ire more fierce than fire laid low their towers and house frail.”

This story is set in a fantasy land where dwarfs, hobbits, men, elves, goblins and orcs roam the earth. They all live in Middle-earth and all have enemies and allies.

Bilbo Bagins is a short stubby looking hobbit. He is a quiet but loyal hobbit who hides in his house minding his own business, but when he was needed by Gandalf for an adventure he at first hesitates but then he realises that he is needed so he loyally joins Gandalf. Gandalf is a mysterious wizard with a big long beard and a large grey pointed hat. He likes to tell his stories about what he has done and is extremely wise. There are twelve dwarves in the book and all of them have beards and they are a very rowdy group, who drink and party together.

In the book the The Hobbit, the main character Bilbo Baggins, is smoking his pipe when a grey wizard walks up to the front of his house. They have a brief conversation about an adventure to Mordor with twelve dwarves to kill the dragon Smaug and win back Thorin’s gold. The Hobbit tells of the adventures that the characters have along the way and comes to a conclusion when they finally reach Thorin’s gold.

I found this book to be quite good but it is not my kind of book.   I just didn’t find it very interesting, I found it to be very repetitive. In the book the characters always get caught or get into trouble and then they would escape and then it started all over again, capture, trouble, escape.

The characters are well described and you can understand who they are and their motivation but I felt the character that stood out for me was Thorin. This character gave me the feeling that he had been through many hardships in his life and there was depth to his character. He overcomes his greed and obsession with his gold to become a better person.

I would recommend this comic type illustrated book to children between 9 and 15 who enjoy fantasy books. My rating is 3 out of 5 stars.

Angus N. Year 8

Category: Adventure stories, Student Reviews | LEAVE A COMMENT
June 11

‘Tomorrow, when the war began’ by John Marsden

Tomorrow when the war began“We believed we were safe. That was the big fantasy.”

Wirrawee. A small, rural town on the East Coast of Australia surrounded by farmland, small industry, bush lands and friendly citizens. Not your typical war zone.

Ellie, an innocent rural teenager, and her friends head out on one last camping trip before school goes back; seven teenagers filling in time over the school holidays. They expect nothing to have changed by the time they return home, but they couldn’t have been more wrong. It’s a camping trip they will never forget. They return home to find that Ellie’s dogs are dead, the power’s been cut, phone lines disconnected and people missing. Have they been invaded? Their world is about to change forever, lives will be lost, and sacrifices will have to be made. Would you fight? Would you give up everything, including life itself? Tomorrow When The War Began will ask the biggest question you will ever have to answer.

Tomorrow When The War Began is by far one of the best books I have ever read. It was filled with suspense, action, romance, friendship and love. It teaches you about the importance of sticking together when times get tough and fighting for what you believe is right. From the first page to the very last word, I didn’t want to put the book down. This book is written perfectly. It held my full attention and left me on the edge of my seat all the way through.

I believe both girls and boys would enjoy this book as it both an action pack adventure and romantic novel. This would appeal to people from the ages 12-20, as this age group can relate to most of the story line. For the people that enjoyed the Hunger Games, Divergent and the Ellie Chronicles series, this book would be most enjoyable. I would rate Tomorrow When The War Began 5 out of 5 stars for its captivating story line, creativity and originality. I believe that Tomorrow When The War Began is a very well-written story about love, friendship, war, romance and the fight for freedom.

Shakya F, Year 8

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One morning Ellie and her friends wave goodbye to their parents. Will this be the last time they ever see their parents again? Tomorrow When The War Began is about Ellie, a country teen who decides to go camping with her friends. The story is fictional and is based in Wirrawee, a small country town in Australia. Ellie and her friends go camping at Tailors Stitch also known in the book as Hell.

Ellie is a natural leader who has courage, strength and is one of the bravest teens in the group. Homer is a troublemaker and problem but when it comes to saving his town he is a great planner, leader and thinker. Fiona is a pampered princess with no knowledge of camping whatsoever, however when her town is in trouble she is a true hero. No one really knew Lee. He was the misfit but he is also one of the most interesting characters. Robyn is the smart one of the group. She always thinks strategically. Corrie is Ellie’s best mate. They’ve know each other forever. She is also very brave. Kevin is considered one of the most rural in the group and he would do anything to save Corrie’s life.

During their trip they see military aircraft flying overhead. Little did they know their town and country were being invaded. When they return home the find out that they are at war. With no training, they come together to fight the enemy.

I would recommend this book to teenagers from 12 years to 16 years. This book could also be for other age groups like young adults. I liked Tomorrow When The War Began so much because it was different to anything else I have ever read. It was really entertaining and it was filled with action. The book was also very descriptive. I also liked the book because it was written from the characters’ eyes as well.

By Olivia, Year 8

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In “Tomorrow When the war Began”, a group of teenage kids went camping for one last trip before going back to school. After having a great time, they came back only to find no one was home. They soon found out that there has been an invasion from a foreign country. They now have to fight for their lives and make sacrifices to win this war.

In the start of the novel, the setting is Wirrawee, a small town with not much to do. The kids decide to go camping in a place called “Hell”. “Hell” is a beautiful place with its dangers. The Main Character, Ellie, is very brave and independent and the group leader. There is also Corrie, Ellie’s best friend and a typical teenage girl. Then we have Fi, a very big girly girl and a drama queen. Next is Robyn, a very religious Catholic girl who won’t do anything that she’s not supposed to. There is also Kevin, who can sometime be selfish and entitled to his own opinion. Then there is Lee, not your typical teen boy. He is unique and thinks deeply. Last we have Homer, who doesn’t care about rules and finds himself in the police station quite a lot but he has a bad sense of humour.

Ellie, Corrie, Robyn, Fi, Kevin, Lee and Homer decide to go on a camping trip to “Hell” before school starts again. So they all pack up the Land Rover and head off to “Hell”. After coming back from a lovely, eventful trip, they come back only to find that their lives will change forever. They will have to work together and fight for their country as one.

Marni L., Year 8

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How did this happen so quickly?

Ellie and her friends go out to the bush to explore and get to a place called ‘Hell’ so they can camp there. During the night there they see a large amount of planes pass through without any lights. The next morning they discuss it, and they end up thinking that they are military planes coming back from a demonstration. When they return back to their hometown of Wirrawee, they find it deserted. No one is at home. All the animals were either dead or dying. What’s going on? Where is everyone?

The main characters in the story are Ellie Linton, Homer Yannos, Lee Takkam, Kevin Holmes, Corrie Mackenzie, Robyn Mathers and Fiona Maxwell.

If you enjoy a book with action and adventure, then ‘Tomorrow when the war began’ is definitely the book for you! I was really intrigued by the book. There was lots going on. The author, John Marsden, had described the characters amazingly. The plot was so well written that it was easy to picture in my mind what was going on every time I read a new sentence. The story kept going on and on with a smooth like rhythm. Everything fitted perfectly with each other. There was an even amount of action, adventure and suspense that kept me amused and had my full attention.

Ending the book made me want to read the rest of the series, to know what’s going on. I would also agree with other people that the book is definitely better than the movie. Everything was all in the book. Nothing was cut out of it like they would do in the movies.

I would recommend this book for teens and adults who would like to read an action adventure novel. This book is amazing and kept me entertained the whole time reading it. I’d rate this book 5 out of 5 stars. Simran P, Year 8.  

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“Why did people call it Hell?” I wondered….No place was Hell, no place could be Hell. It’s the people calling it Hell, that’s the only thing that made it so. People just sticking names on places, so that no one could see those places properly anymore... “

Ellie was bored on a typical day in the school holidays. She lived in Warrawee, NSW. After pleading her parents, they finally agreed to her going on a camping trip with some of her friends. They were all very excited, but little did they know the challenges ahead of them. It was the last night of their adventurous journey, when Ellie and a few others heard and saw jets flying across the sky. It was their last peaceful night. As soon as they returned they found most of their dogs dead and families missing. They knew something had gone terribly wrong. They later found out that their country had been invaded and everyone had been captured and put at the Australia Day celebration stadium. From there onwards it was a fight for survival.

The main characters have different personalities and perspectives. Ellie is very determined and out-going girl. She looks forward to adventures and is very brave. She’s known as the leader of the group. Her best friend, Corrie, is not a very confident girl and is more on the shy side. Her other friend, Homer, lives quite near Ellie. He is a troublemaker and strong type guy. Robyn is a very religious and straightforward girl who would never dare to think ill of someone. Fiona is a very pampered and spoiled girl who mainly thinks about her hair and makeup. It would have been one of her last thoughts to come on a camping trip. Lee is a very nice guy who isn’t as close and friendly with the others. Kevin is Corrie’s boyfriend who turns out to be a deceiver and a big coward.

In my opinion, this book is very thrilling and exciting. There was always a fear of what’s going to happen next. I love the way they show how people can change in different circumstances. The author showed how when it comes to war, every type of person fights and gains courage to defeat the evil. There was a lot of suspense in this book, which made it more engaging for the reader. The book doesn’t finish with a win and attracts me to read the rest of the books in the series.

I certainly recommend this book for people who love thrill and suspense. It is suitable for everyone over the age of 12. I would rate it around a 4/5 because it was very captivating and engaging.

Vereta, Year 8

Category: Dystopian fiction, Realistic fiction, Student Reviews | LEAVE A COMMENT