‘Tomorrow, When the War Began’ by John Marsden

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

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

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

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

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

Fraser, Year 9

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

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

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

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

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

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

~Leo Year 9

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

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

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

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

Nic, Year 9

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

November 8

‘Outcasts’ (Brotherband #1) by John Flanagan

Mighty Viking raids, awesome battles and fierce warriors. Brotherband, Outcasts by John Flanagan has all of this and more.

This book begins twelve years prior with a Skandian Viking raid of a small town. Mikkel and Thorn are the mightiest warriors in the raid and deal with the village’s horsemen easily. As they turn to leave, a terrified villager kills Mikkel. It then goes on to tell of his son, Hal, twelve years later, who is struggling with fitting in because of his Araluan heritage living in a small Skandian town.

Hal then becomes part of the brotherband program, a training program where three ‘brotherbands’ compete against each other in various challenges such as wrestling and a sprint. He finds himself leader of the Heron brotherband, which is made up of outcasts who weren’t chosen for the other brotherbands. Hal somehow has to attempt to build his brotherband’s confidence to beat the Sharks, a brotherband made up of Tursgud, who bullies the Herons, as well as his followers.

Meanwhile, there is the mystery of Thorn, who somehow went from being a mighty warrior to a crippled drunk. The book ended with a cliff hanger that will make the reader want to read the rest of the series.

I enjoyed the plot of this story as well as the characters however I found that it doesn’t do a good job at keeping the reader interested and there aren’t many twists and shocks; the story is a little predictable. This book would be suitable to a male pre-teen to early teen audience who like an adventure. People who enjoyed this book might also like the Rangers Apprentice series and the rest of the Brotherband series. I gave this a four out of five as I thought it had a good plot and some interesting characters.

Anthony M. Year 9

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Drunken one-armed warriors and angry spear throwing villagers is what you might expect in Brotherband: Outcasts by John Flanagan.

The beginning of the book is set twelve years before the main story begins its course. Two Skandian warriors, Mikkel and Thorn, have set sail on the ship the Wolfwind to raid a small village. The raid was carried out successfully and everything was going according to plan, but out of nowhere, a spear thrown by an angered villager impaled Mikkel and killed him within minutes from blood loss. The story then pans to his best friend Thorn, who after Mikkel dies, loses his arm in a ship related accident, and his life slips away. Before Mikkel died, he requested that Thorn look after his wife Karina and son Hal, who later becomes the main character in this tale. Hal is not the strongest boy and is more of the type to be a ship builder but like any other Skandian boy he wanted to join the Brotherband program to learn how to fight like a warrior. As most books with a scrawny hero, there is a girl involved that he likes very much. This causes problems with Tursgud, his bully.

I give this book a 4 out of 5 stars because it is a very moving story of a boy who becomes a man. It has all the elements of a great fiction/Viking book. It describes every scene and character with great detail and doesn’t skip a beat in any action scene.

I would recommend this book to fiction lovers in their teens from about 13-16. It is a boy book with a lot of the main characters being male, and it has a little male humour touch. It has a Viking or pirate sort of feel, with a bit of adventure in there. If you like books like Deltora Quest or the movie Pirates of the Caribbean you would definitely be interested in this book.

Aryan S, Year 9.

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November 8

‘The Secret Hour’ (Midnighters #1) by Scott Westerfeld

‘This will keep you reading way past midnight.’

Jessica Day has moved to a small town called Bixby, Oklahoma, a quiet town where everything seems fine, but Jessica is bound to get more than she bargained for with the mystery of the secret hour.

The town of Bixby is normal for other people but not for people born at the stroke of midnight. These people have an extra hour where they have special powers and the rest of Bixby is frozen. Jessica is a very lucky person thinking she has this mysterious place all to herself but there are other midnighters. Dess, Rex, Melissa and Jonathan were also born at midnight and also have secret powers. These kids are not a threat, however there are creatures of the dark that lurk in the shadows waiting for their next meal to devour. The creatures include slithers, flying slithers and the infamous darklings.

The main problem is trying to stop the creatures of the dark, and getting to know Jessica’s power. Jonathan does not like Rex or Melissa. This makes it hard for Jonathan to use his power to help fight the evil monsters, when he doesn’t trust the other kids other than Jessica and Dess.

What I liked about this book is how it didn’t have a slow start to get into the interesting parts, also how it shows you the time of day at the start of the chapter. Another part that I enjoyed was how it wasn’t too easy to read or too hard to read which made me read on. The recommendations for readers that would like this book are the thrills, the adventure and the creepiness of the dark. I would rate this book 8 out of 10, with10 being the highest and 0 being the lowest. Truly a great read!

Texas C., Year 9

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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…’

Strange things happen in Bixby, Oklahoma, although in this town there is something special. In this town there is always one extra hour at the dead of night. Jessica Day is new in Bixby and discovers that, in this extra hour, she is awake and can travel around. During this time everything is frozen and nobody moves and although this may seem fun, Jessica is not alone. They call themselves ‘midnighters’. Jessica begins to enjoy the extra hour she has received until she discovers that the town belongs to the evil creatures called darklings. Here they lurk in the shadows and threaten the town throughout this extra hour. The midnighters all have special powers that they can only use during the hour. The main midnighters are Rex, Melissa and Dess and they realise that Jessica is new to the extra hour and find out that the darklings are stalking her. Why are the darklings doing this? To find out, you’ll have to read the book!
I fell in love with this book from the start because I was so captured by the descriptive language which gave a clear picture. Scott Westerfeld made it very easy for me to create a visual image and made it feel like I was in the book; also how he described the characters’ powers, all so unique. It kind of felt old fashioned because of how computers were ordinary and phones were not real. This book would be recommended for teens and young adults. I think it would fit readers aged between 14-20. It would engage both male and female readers because it includes fantasy/sci Fi, mystery, thrill and a bit of action.

Reece, Year 9

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October 28

‘Divergent’ by Veronica Roth

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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October 24

‘I Am Number Four’ by Pittacus Lore

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

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

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

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

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

Riley S, Year 9

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

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

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

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

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

By Kahnie

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

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

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

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

Edward, Year 9

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

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

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

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

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

Mitchell Year 9

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June 12

‘Percy Jackson and the Last Olympian’ by Rick Riordan

MOST KIDS GET PRESENTS FOR THEIR 16th BIRTHDAY BUT I GET A PROPHECY THAT CAN EITHER DESTROY THE WHOLE ENTIRE WORLD OR SAVE IT AND POSSIBLY DESTROY MYSELF.

If you’re the kind of person who loves action, mythology and young kids who can kick ancient Greek Titans’ butts, then this is the book for you. This novel was written by Rick Riordan, the writer of the Kane Trilogy, Heroes Of Olympus, and now one of the best selling series of books, the PERCY JACKSON books!!!!

Perseus Jackson, son of the Greek GOD OF THE SEA Poseidon, son of the TITAN LORD KRONOS LORD OF TIME starts off on an adventure to save the world from his old archenemy LUKE now possessed by KRONOS.

This novel has amazing and heartbreaking twists. Many unknown truths come to life every second that will make you cry and think really hard. There will be death, revenge, heartbreak and more. There will be lots of action and many twists. In this novel Percy and his friends will have to make lots of decisions, learn more things, help others, befriend others and most of all face the truth.

The book is a page-turner and it will make you want to read it till your eyes drop off. This book is also suitable for most ages from 10 years and up. This book is for those people who want a whole lot more of action, to learn more things and to have a broken heart along with a whole lot more, then this is the book for you.

By Jasmine, Year 8

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June 11

‘Mission: Rat-Catcher’ by Chris Ryan

A.L.P.H.A FORCE

RAT CATCHER by CHRIS RYAN

“He opened the compartment in the dashboard and took out dull, black, snub-nosed pistol with a silencer screwed onto the end of the barrel.” – Rat Catcher by Chris Ryan.

Do you like books that get you on the edge of your seat? If so, this may just be the book you’ve been waiting for. The book ‘Rat Catcher’ is set in the great marvelous city of Quito. The city Quito is amazing as a city but has major poverty problems especially with street kids.

But now street kids have to deal with more than just hunger. They have to deal with a man known as the rat catcher. The rat catcher is an evil mad man who believes street kids are rats and have no right to live but not only is he the rat catcher he’s also someone alpha force trusts and someone who is their nemesis.

Alpha force is a professional team made of some of the most intelligent kids on earth; these members are Alex, Li, Paulo, Hex and Amber. Together they are the alpha force. Alex is the one with great leadership skills. Li is fearless and determined. This is shown very well when Paulo goes missing. Paulo is the one who goes out solo. Hex is the hacker for alpha force. Amber’s the one who keeps the team together because alpha force is all she cares about after her parents died. Together the alpha force goes on a terrifying mission to catch the evil drug baron but then they find out the rat catcher is linked to this.

Overall this book was fantastic and it would be hard to find another action packed thrill that’s better than this so I’m giving this book five stars.

Reporting in Daniel D., Aquinas student

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‘Five kids form an elite team of youngsters brought together to battle injustices in the world. Together they join a covert SAS operation in south america, fighting to catch an evil drugs baron. And together they infiltrate a tight-knit community of street kids to gain information, then head up into the isolated mountains where a terrifying and twisted hunt is to test their individual skills to the max. The team is in action…’ – (Blurb of ‘Rat-Catcher’ book.)

Join Alex, Li, Paulo, Hex and Amber as they fight an evil drugs baron that kidnaps children. When the capital city of Ecuador, Quito is threatened, the ALPHA force decides to step in and save the city. Their own special skills will be put to the challenge as they spy on street kids to find out who the rat catcher and the drugs baron really are. The rat catcher is a dangerous killer, and must be stopped before he annihilates all the street kids in the large city of Quito. These youngsters must grow up fast if they want to stop the drugs baron from kidnapping street kids, or put a stop to the ‘rat catcher’ that kills street kids without a second thought of what he might be doing. The ALPHA force must use each of their special abilities if they wish to stay alive during the mission, let alone complete it. The question is – will they make it without the help of an adult?

This epic book by Chris Ryan is one of his best so far. And, like all his other great books, has the awesome thrill all through the book. I recommend this book to children and teens of 10 to 18 years old who like thrilling, action packed books. This was a great book. I would rate it 4 out of 5 stars.
– Rod Oliver, year 8

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June 7

‘Skeleton Key’ by Anthony Horowitz

Alex Rider isn’t just an average teenage boy. He is a super spy; the best teenage spy in the business. He works for the MI6. He is on a mission at Wimbledon chasing after the Chinese triad who allegedly broke into the arena the week before. He is enjoying himself, right in the middle of the action, being a ball boy. He then is on a mission after General Alexei Sarov, an insane Russian, with a ‘nuke’, and with plans to re-write history by blowing up Russia and starting again. Alex finds him at his home in Skeleton Key, Cayo Esqueleto. He is faced with many challenges on his mission. This is when all the action begins.

I would recommend this book for male teens who like fast moving action books.

-Hamish (year 8)

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Meet Alex Rider, a boy who is not your average teenager. He in fact works for the British Secret Service, also known as MI6.

If you enjoy reading an action packed and exhilarating book then this is definitely the book for you. Join Alex on an amazing journey to a mysterious paradise island, where Alex must go undercover with two American spies from the CIA, the Central Intelligence Agency. They must act as an ordinary family on a familyholiday, while they are actually trying to find and then stop the selling and launching of nuclear weapons. They are suspicious about where they were hiding the nukes. They think they had found the weapons so the two CIA agents snorkeled into a cave where the object is. They were under the water for a long time. Alex was getting worried.

Will they return alive and will Alex and his team retrieve the dangerous weapons before it is too late?

This is a fast paced and on the edge of your seat book. I would recommend this book for teenage boys between the age of 12 – 18.

Jack S. Year 8

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June 5

‘Devil’s Island’ by David Harris

‘Devil’s Island’ is an exciting and a very interesting story about a mysterious island. The main characters were Luke and the doctor . Luke has no idea how long the doctor has been on the island. and you might ask, ‘How did he get on the island?’ Luke got there by a kayak that got washed ashore and broke so then Luke ventured onto the island.

Luke was haunted by scary things and was scared for his life and I would recommend this to young teenagers that like fast moving high action novels. I rate this book a three star special.

CAM. YEAR 8.

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May 31

‘The Billionaire’s Curse’ by Richard Newsome

Would you like to become a billionaire?

The pleasure of having so much money that you can’t spend it also comes at a price… Gerald Archer, who has now become the richest thirteen year old in England, is overwhelmed at the thought of being a billionaire. What devious plans will be put into motion to steal his money? Will Gerald overcome the dangers of being a billionaire?

Gerald was just an ordinary boy living an ordinary life, until one day he was invited to the principal’s office. That was the start of his trip to England to become the richest boy in all of England. This may seem great, but there are many unseen threats to Gerald’s life. Gerald unexpectedly makes some new friends in his time in England who help him throughout his struggles in the book. The main characters in the book are Gerald Archer, Sam and Ruby.

I really enjoyed the book, ‘The Billionaire’s Curse’ because it’s a novel about a young thirteen year old boy who has to grow up over a couple days to make the right decisions, stay out of danger and solve the mystery of the murder of his Great Aunt Geraldine, and find the missing diamond. Could it all be related? Will Gerald find out the answers before it’s too late?

I recommend this book to teens between the ages of 12-17 who are interested in action packed adventure books and those who like not knowing what will happen next until it ‘hits you in the face.’ The book is a must read, and when you start reading you will be hooked and you won’t be able to put it down. I’d rate the book 4 out of 5 stars, as it is a great book and enticed me from the moment I picked it up.

Lachlan C., Year 8

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Gerald Wilkins is an ordinary boy planning to go on a ski trip with his friend, but little does he know that he would soon become the richest boy in the world.

Gerald Wilkins has to miss his snowboarding trip to attend his sick Great Aunt’s funeral on the holidays. Oddly enough, Gerald does not know his Great Aunt at all. He has not even seen a picture of her. How could he know that he would inherit all of Great Aunt Geraldine’s money, shares, servants and houses? But does Gerald know that he would soon embark on an exiting adventure?

Gerald is now living in London with his great Aunt’s fortune, trying to find out why his Great Aunt has been murdered in connection to a gem that has gone missing. Gerald meets Sam and Ruby when he is looking for the head of the foundation that he now supports. With his new friends’ help he starts looking around for clues to her murder, walking in a subway and snooping around. Richard Newsome describes the scenes and characters very well. Richard describes them so well it is as if you are there watching them the whole time.

The Billionaire’s Curse is a fantastic, gripping novel that you just get glued to. It is action-packed adventure reading with lots of great moments. I would recommend this novel for ages 8-13 who love action and adventurous books like the ‘Alex Rider’ series. This novel would also suit people who don’t like reading books that much. It is an easy read that you can read within one day. I would give The Billionaire’s Curse 4.5 stars out of 5.

Jeremy, Year 8

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May 30

‘White Fox’ by Gary Paulsen

The story takes place in 2017, in America under the control of the CCR, the leaders of America. There are CCR prison camps, where Cody is held in prison. He breaks free with his friend Luther, with a captured air force recruit named Toni McLaughlin, and wanders across the desert eager for survival.

The main characters throughout the book are Cody Pierce, Major Toni McLaughlin, Sidoron (the leader of Cody’s camp) and Rachel, a young girl he meets half way through the story. Cody, a fourteen-year-old boy, is the main character. The CRR gave Cody the name ‘White Fox’ because of his white hair. Major Toni was captured by the CCR and escaped with Cody to the rebel camp. Sidoron is the leader of the CCR prison camp that Cody escaped from. Rachel is Cody’s friend and she saved his life when they were out in the desert about to die.

There are three parts to this book. Each story follows the journey of Cody from his time in prison and his adventures looking to recruit others so then he could return back to the prison camp to free the children.

I enjoyed reading this book because it is full of action. It gave me thrilling moments and I couldn’t put it down. The twists and turns of the plot are awesome. It encourages me that a fourteen-year-old boy like myself could show such strength and courage. I never used to read books other than car magazines but this book has changed my viewpoint on books.

I would recommend the book to boys aged thirteen to fourteen, who like lots of action and adventure and like a good fast moving story.

Cameron, Year 8

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November 1

‘Point Blanc’ by Anthony Horowitz

Point Blanc is a spy thriller set in London around 2008. It is a gripping thriller involving a young boy and his mission to find out what happened to his uncle. Alex is the young boy who faces many challenges which sees him develop into a skillful spy. The truth about his uncle’s death is what drives Alex, but frustration and confusion haunt him as he struggles to get the answers he is seeking.

The book starts off with an assassination attempt on a rich man. They make a 3D hologram of a lift’s floor so when he walks into the lift he will fall 200 meters to his death. Alex is immediately involved in solving the crime and fine tuning his skills as a spy. Alex is put on his first mission as MI6 found out about the death of a multi millionaire. What Alex doesn’t realise is that he faces this challenge alone. Alex must put all his knowledge and skills to the test as he must try to uncover the death of the millionaire and find out about his uncles death.

From dropping boats on police stations to facing life-threatening decisions in armed situations, the book reaches its climax when all of Alex’s investigations lead him closer than he has ever been to solving his uncle’s death. Answers arrive for Alex but at the same time more questions need to be asked. Jarrad, Year 9

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“Alex Rider, teenage superspy, is back!”(Point Blanc back of book cover)

Alex Rider is an agent in M16 (British Secret Service). Alex is called upon again by M16 because of two mysterious deaths and there is only one connection between them: Point Blanc.

Alex is only 14 so he is the perfect to infiltrate Point Blanc. Point Blanc is a school for troubled children with rich parents but Alex is not troubled nor does he have rich parents, so for him to get into the school he has to go under cover. Alex goes under cover in a rich family but their daughter takes an instant disliking to Alex and so do her friends.

I liked this book because of its constant action like hunting gone wrong and a near miss with a train. I would recommend this book to teenage boys or any one who likes a good action packed book. Kyle, year 9

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Point Blanc is a spy thriller and action story set in London around 2000. It is an attention-grabbing thriller involving a boy and his operation to find out what happened to his uncle. Alex is the boy who is faced with many challenges which are teaching him to develop into a skillful spy. The truth about his uncle’s death is what drives Alex, but frustration and confusion haunt him as he struggles to get the answers he is seeking.

The book starts off with a murder of a rich man. The person who killed him made a 3D hologram of a lift the exact same as his private lift so when he walks into the lift he will fall 200 meters to his death. Alex is immediately involved in solving the crime and modifying his skills as a spy. Alex is put on his first mission as MI6 found out about the death of a multi millionaire. What Alex doesn’t realise is that he faces this challenge alone. Alex must put all his knowledge and skills to the test, as he must try to uncover the death of the millionaire.

From driving cranes and committing crimes to facing life-threatening decisions in armed situations, the book reaches its climax when all of Alex’s investigations lead him closer than he has ever been to solving his uncle’s death.

Joel Year 9

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“He must be walking down the mountainside.” Anthony Horowitz

The story is set at Alex’s school. The main character is called Alex Rider and he works for the MI6. He is 14 and goes to school.

When Alex comes back from a mission for MI6 he sees a drug dealer selling drugs to kids. He decides to follow the drug dealer to see where he makes the drugs. Skoda, who is the drug dealer, gets to his place where he makes the drugs. The place where he makes them is on a little boat next to the police station and also next to a construction site. There’s a big crane in the site so Alex decides to climb up the ladder of the crane and picks the boat up and…

I liked the book because it’s full of action and it’s a really good adventure book. I also like the character Alex because he’s really smart when he tries not to be seen. I also like that he works for MI6, which is a secret agents’ place.

I would recommend this book to people aged from 13 to 16 for boys because it’s a really good action book and full of adventures.

Jack, Year 9

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November 1

‘Ice Station’ by Matthew Reilly

“Strap yourself in for the ride…what follows is action, action and more action” quotes a reporter from the Daily Telegraph and they couldn’t have given any better advice. Ice Station is the most fast-paced, mind-blowing and unputdownable book you will ever read.

Wilkes Ice station is a remote research facility on the coast of Antarctica occupied by a team of mild-mannered scientists hoping to one day make a major discovery under the hundred thousand year old ice shelf. When one of the drills hits something made of metal, a diving team is sent down to investigate. They were never heard from again. The last message that was sent back to the station was muffled screams of monsters and a ‘spaceship’. This is when the residents of Wilkes decide they will need more help.

Enter the USMC or United States Marine Core. A tough-as-nails crew led by the mysterious Lieutenant Commander Shane ‘Scarecrow’ Schofield. The marines enter the station thinking that this mission will be a piece of cake. Secure the residents of the station, secure the spaceship and wait for reinforcements to arrive. But their plans go awry when a hovercraft is found down in a deep crevice. Inside the hovercraft – bodies; dead bodies of the American scientists supposedly sent to a neighbouring station accompanied by the French scientists who are nowhere to be found. Which could only mean one thing. The French are actually a rival military team, the French Paratroopers. Armed with crossbows, they launch a full-scale attack and catch the marines off guard. From then onwards the research facility becomes a battlefield.

I really enjoyed the book, ‘Ice Station’ because it is all about trust and what people would risk to become famous. The book was absolutely full of action and I lay awake some nights just constantly reading and wondering what would happen next. Matthew Reilly has done a massive amount of research on the US marines and the type of weapons that they use along with the vehicles as well. The credibility gained from this research helps make the book so easy to understand; the reader can make sense of what’s happening.

I would recommend this book to mainly males aged between 13 and 30 who are interested in sci-fi action thrillers. Once again this book was unputdownable and I would stay up late at night, constantly intrigued about what would happen next. I rate it 4/5 stars because although it is a fantastic book it is sometimes a little too far fetched.

By Dan, aged 14

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At a remote US ice station in Antarctica, Wilks Ice Station, the diving team was doing their job, diving. But they were all killed by mysterious activity. At the same time, the scientist of the station made a huge, blow your mind, amazing discovery. They found something buried underneath a layer of ice that was 400 million years old.

This thing was made out of metal. This thing should not be here; this thing is a discovery of a lifetime, something men will kill for. To secure the discovery of this thing for their nation, a team of US Marines led by the enigmatic Lieutenant Shane Schofield, or Scarecrow, rush to the ice station in Antarctica.

Other countries have found out about this discovery and would just about do anything to have this thing. Scarecrow’s men are all tough. All of them were set to follow their leader to the deepest pits of hell.

This book was about people trying to own this amazing thing. They would fight to the death for it. I like this book because of its breathtaking action scenes and the bonds that people have with one another. One thing I liked about this book was the main character, Shane Schofield or Scarecrow. This man is filled with mysteries and dark secrets. I like main characters that are interesting and have a dark background so this book was the perfect choice.

I recommend this book to people who like machinery, war and hardcore actions. I rate this book 4.5/5. The action and the story is the best thing that make this book good. So I recommend reading it ASAP!

Hanna, Year 9

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Ice Station takes place on the Ross Ice Shelf in Antarctica. It begins when a group of American scientists working there discovers something deep in the ancient ice. The “something” is made of metal, which means it was created by an intelligent race millions of years before. Almost every country in the world is after the technology inside the spacecraft.

This is a nonstop, roller-coaster ride of a novel that I was eager to finish. It jumps from action scene to action scene and creating an elaborate story that kept me reading.

The whole thing is fast paced and interesting, with many plot twists and surprises on every page.

By Dante, Year 9

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May 9

‘Conspiracy 365: January’ by Gabrielle Lord

“They killed your father. They’ll kill you! You must survive the next 365 days!”

I’m not a big reader. I don’t like reading a lot but when I’m reading a good book that hooks me I want to read until I’m at the end of the book and Conspiracy 365: January is one of these books. Conspiracy 365 is a series, with a new book every month. This review is about the first book “January”.

Callum Ormond is the main character in this book and he is a 15 year old boy with a normal life…. so far. The story starts off with a random man running up to Callum saying “Stay low until midnight December 31^stof next year!” Straight away you want to keep reading to find out what happens next. It’s all got to do with the Ormond Singularity and the sketches that his dad had drawn just before he died of an unknown disease! After this there is action, action, action as Callum is chased by gangsters and police and you don’t know why. The book ends in an exciting way making you want to read the next book.

The book is pretty creative how the page numbers count down to the end of the month and the chapters tell you how many days to go until he is safe at the end of the year. I recommend this book for boys ONLY, aged around 12-14 and looking for something with lots of action and thrills.

This review is by Aidan V, Year 8

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November 25

‘The Recruit’ by Robert Muchamore

The book I was reading this term was “The Recruit”. This book was written by Robert Muchamore. I really enjoyed his type of writing. The book is about an 11 year old boy named James. James is often getting into fights or getting into trouble. I would mainly recommend this book for boys aged about 10-14. I really enjoyed reading this book and it is a book that once you start you can’t put it back down. Jarrod, Year 9

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November 21

‘Ice Station’ by Matthew Reilly

The story involves the response by a team of marines to a distress call from an Antarctic research station.

This book is basically non-stop action from beginning to end. The first half is excellent with the tension never letting up and at this point I would have probably given it 3/5 as well. However, as the end draws near I found some of the situations, although told with the same pace and style, a little hard to swallow. This is not the fault of the book, just me, as I’d rather have situations that are probable. If there were that many bullets flying around no one would have survived.

This book is very violent and may interest some teenagers but not me. The characters have a very good background. Tyson, Year 9

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October 25

‘Tomorrow, When the War Began’ by John Marsden

This book is truly an Australian classic. The author, John Marsden, uses brilliant descriptive scenes of the Australian outback. But back to the book! Ellie is a typical country girl living in an outback town when she and her friends decide to plan a weekend out bush. While they’re out there it is beautiful and peaceful with no problems, but one night they see a fleet of planes fly over near their hometown. Their innocence is about to take a big turn for the worse as they head back home. This book is a great book for teens or adults and is action packed. The book has been turned into a blockbuster film as well. So overall this book is one for all and an instant classic! By Brodie, Year 9

‘It’s only half an hour since someone – Robyn I think – said we should write everything down.’

This story is set in an old country town. The characters decide to go on a camping trip to an old ground in a jungle, where they spend their time talking and having fun.

Ellie – she is a person who likes to take charge and likes to decide what to do and not be pushed aside but can be a very kind and generous person.

Homer – a trouble maker, loud and always getting into trouble and being arrested by the police.

A bunch of ordinary kids decide to go on a camping trip which will change their lives forever. Whilst they are at the camping ground there are planes that fly over their spot with no lights and they have no idea why. So when they go back home they first stop at Ellie’s house and they get the shock of their lives.

It was an interesting title and the movie is just as good. The way they describe the camping ground sounds like a utopia. I recommend this book to any gender and to any age from about 13 up because it is a good and interesting story.

Reilly, Year 9

Tomorrow when the war began is an action packed book that is set in a fictional country town in Australia. Ellie is a country girl that is adventurous and is not afraid to get her hands dirty.

Ellie and her friends go on a camping trip into the bush for the holidays and find themselves in serious danger. Tomorrow when the war began starts off pretty slow and is hard to get into but after a while begins to get very interesting. I would recommend this book to teenagers of both genders who like action or war books.

Luke Year 9

This book is about a group of people that live in a country town and they go on camping trips every year. It’s that time of the year when they usually go camping so they pack and leave. This book has plenty of action if you are one of those people that like thrillers and it has some scenes that make you think and flick back to get it all sorted out.

This book kept me reading; it is one of the most interesting books that I have ever read! This is one of those edge of your seat type of books with plenty of almost each genre, there is a lot of action, a little romance and plenty more. I recommend this book for all ages and genders.

Jack, Year 9

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November 5

‘Sure Fire’ by Jack Higgins & Justin Richards

An explosion as they leave the oil company, oil tanks flying everywhere – this is a story by Jack Higgins and Justin Richards. Together they have written a great book to read. It’s about two fifteen year old kids who lose their mother in a car accident in New York. The two kids lived with their mother in the UK. But at their mother’s funeral they meet their father for the first time in their lives. They’re both shocked to see him and don’t really want to live with him in a two bedroom house and go to boarding school. By Jacob, Year 9

As they plant the explosives they run because the time is ticking by and time is what they don’t have. I give you SURE FIRE by Jack Higgins with Justin Richards. Flames flying everywhere and dogs chasing after them as they run out of the blowing up oil company, using jammers to jam the cameras. The next part is 14 year old twins have lost their mother and they are told that they have a father and must go live with him. They don’t really get on, but when they find out that something is fishy about his flat they investigate and witness their dad getting kidnapped. Danny, Year 9

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November 3

‘Hell Island’ by Matthew Reilly

‘Hell Island’ by Matthew Reilly is an action packed book based on four Special Forces squads named USS Nimitz, Delta Force, Seals and 82^nd Airborne, which parachute onto an aircraft carrier to investigate. It soon becomes clear that the island was the testing ground for an elite force of super soldier, as the Airborne and SEAL teams are quickly killed. A DARPA scientist, whom Schofield’s team stumble across, explains that the enemy is a group of genetically and electronically enhanced gorillas, armed with modified M-4 Colt Commandos and extremely deadly in melee combat. If this blurb captivated your attention, I recommend this book for you. Personally I don’t like this category of books so I’d rate it 4/10. Jackson, Year 9

I think that the book ‘Hell Island’ is a very interesting book, although it doesn’t make sense to me in some parts. I would recommend this book for boys of ages 13 and up. Hell Island is an island that doesn’t appear on any maps, a secret place where classified experiments have been carried out. These experiments have gone horribly wrong. Four crack special forces unit have dropped in to see what hasbeen happening on this island. One of them is a team of marines, led by Captain Shane Schofield, call sign – ‘Scarecrow’. The team can never prepare to see what they find out there, in other words they just entered hell! This is a book that I could not put down. It was so intriguing that you just have to keep reading. Chantelle, Year 9

After hearing a distress call from the last spec op group on Hell Island, Shane Schofield, along with his merry men, arrive to rescue their buddies from what turns out to be a genetically altered and highly trained force of……That part from the novel was the bit that I liked the most. It made me hold my breath and turn the pages in a dramatic sort of way. The action in the book will keep the readers turning the pages till the last sentence is read and absorbed. For anyone wanting a pure action read, this book is sure to thrill action adventure addicts, worldwide. I recommend this book for boys about the age of thirteen to sixteen. I sort of got into the book from about page 50 – 63. It made me jump in a few of the pages but I think I’ll rate this book 3 *** out of ***** for as much as the book I have read so far. Taylor, Year 9

At the start of the novel I didn’t really like the way the novel was heading because I didn’t really get the book, but after I got about a third of the way through I started to enjoy it a bit more. They main paragraph I like the most is the one where they first introduce ‘mother’ or ‘Gena Newman’. She has a very interesting appearance and personality about her as stated in the book: ‘ “What do I think?” the bulky female marine replied. At six-feet-two, 200 pounds, and with a fully shaven head, mother cut a mean figure. Tough no-nonsense and fiercely loyal.’ I think it’s a book someone aged between 14-18 should definitely read. I would recommend it. Brianna, Year 9

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November 1

‘Bunker 10’ by Jan-Andrew Henderson

Jimmy Hicks is a child genius. Along with six other teenagers, he is in Pinegrove military compound, a maximum security facility. He and his ‘crush’ are planning to escape the compound on Christmas Eve to go for a walk to see the sunrise over the forest. When they realize how to get out, they begin to think that the entire group can escape the facility for good. Meanwhile, Simon, one of the other teenagers, succeeds in what Einstein failed to do – uncover the secrets of time travel. Only a handful of officers can enter the mysterious lab, “Bunker 10”. What is inside Bunker 10? Will Simon build a working time machine? Will the teenagers escape? All will be reveled in this gripping book, ‘Bunker 10’. This book has been exciting from the first page. All parts of the story are explained down to the smallest detail, which makes it a very interesting read. The one thing I don’t like, is the fact that the reader knows that they will all die because it is mentioned at the start of the book and it leaves almost nothing to the imagination. Apart from that, it’s a fantastic book! Tim, Year 9

There are seven smart kids that are trapped in Pengrove Military Compound working for the army. It is extremely stingy in security and nothing can get out. Jimmy Hicks and his love partner Leslie make a plan to escape, then try and plan a same escape for the rest of the group. ‘Bunker 10’ is such a confusing book and I don’t think the writers were all there when they wrote it! It has some good plots and it has some very interesting characters but it sometimes lacks structure. An example is that the book is written with the chapters as times on a 24-hour clock as used in the military. It is also a book that makes you think “Why? How? What?” continually as it changes your thought direction in the book. Take away some minor problems and it is an interesting book suitable for all teenagers. I rate it an average of 4.5/10. Jacob, Year 9

Seven genius but misfit kids are working for the army. It’s Christmas Eve and all leave is cancelled, so Jimmy Hicks decides to plan a date with Lesley, off the base. The plan involves all sorts of computer trickery and home made devices in order to get them outside the compound wall. Unfortunately, as their plan is unfolding, all hell breaks loose on the base and it looks like they may neverhave the opportunity to date, ever again. ‘Bunker 10’ is a teen novel; its style has ‘teen’ written all over it. And it’s smart; as smart as the genius kids that make up the cast. The plot twists and turns in surprising ways to keep you on your toes. When you think you know what’s up ahead, it veers off taking you down a completely different path. If there were an underlying message hidden within these pages I would say it was most likely ‘never underestimate kids’. And I would wholeheartedly agree. By Gemma, Year 9

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