‘The Secret Hour’ by Scott Westerfeld

‘The Secret Hour’ is the first book in Scott Westerfeld’s intriguing Sci-fi trilogy, ‘Midnighters’. ‘The Secret Hour‘ follows the adventures of four high school students, Rex, Dess, Melissa and Jonathan, as they encounter the new girl to the town of Bixby, Jessica Day. Though appearing to be a little less-than-average during the day, the Midnighters each hold a secret power, and have the ability to be awake during one hour of every night, when their world is plunged into a dark and mysterious state known as the ‘blue time’.

Throughout the book, the ‘Midnighters’, as they call themselves, must discover more about Jessica’s power in an attempt to defend the town against perilous creatures, ‘darklings’ and ‘slithers’ that live in the blue time. Jessica discovers more about herself during the time she spends in Bixby than any other time in her life. The characters also learn more about true friendship, trust, and Jessica discovers what it truly means to be a Midnighter.

We enjoyed reading ‘The Secret Hour’, as its story line was interesting, unusual and unique. There were a few unexpected twists, which added to the story and greatly influenced the effect of the book.

Scott Westerfeld uses impeccable descriptive language in ‘The Secret Hour’, which helps the scenes of the book really come to life in the imaginations of readers. The characters of the book are also well-developed and have distinctive personality traits.

The book is overall an enjoyable read and a very descriptive novel. It definitely kept us on edge whilst reading it. The book was certainly action-packed and well thought out, which appeals to many types of people. We would recommend this book to teens aged 12 – 18, and rate the book 3½ out of 5 stars as a group.

Lily P, Peter A, Jade T, Year 8

Category: Adventure stories, Student Reviews | LEAVE A COMMENT

July 11

‘Nine Letters Long’ by J.C. Burke

The novel “Nine letters long” is the sequel to “The red cardigan” by J.C. Burke, which I personally have not read. In my opinion I strongly believe that you should definitely read The red cardigan first because in the the second book, it doesn’t really refer back to the first book. It also brings minor characters back into the story, but talking as though they are the main characters, which confuses me a lot. The novel is a paranormal thriller based on the story of a girl named Evie, who has “developing psychic abilities.” Evie’s last paranormal experiences leaves her fearful (from The Red Cardigan. ) Evie is contacted by a spirit named Caz and Evie and her friends try to understand some coded messages from “the other side.”

I really enjoyed this paranormal thriller as I’m sure I would have done to the first. It has a great plot throughout most of the book and I would recommend it to young adults.

Antonia D., Year 8

Category: Student Reviews | LEAVE A COMMENT

June 17

‘The Girl Who Knew’ by Sandra Glover

The gift of levitating objects and reading the future has been classified as a myth for a long time. After a life changing hit and run accident with her friend Lisa, Kits has been left paralysed and unable to do the things she used to be able to do before the hit and run accident. Lisa escaped the accident unharmed but can’t remember any evidence to help the police solve this mystery – who caused the accident?

“Kits finds herself in the situation of being unable to walk yet able to dream future events and sense her friends’ and family’s emotions. Kits gradually comes to realise that Lisa is unwittingly holding back important information about the accident. Could she have known the driver of the car?”

Even though Kits has been paralysed nothing will stop her from achieving what she wants to achieve. Kits finally realises her best friend Lisa might be in trouble, so Kits ventures out to find Lisa and check how she is going.

Does Lisa know more than she is telling? Can she help the police?

‘The girl who knew’ is a wonderful book which grabs the reader’s attention as soon as they start to read. I believe this book would be perfect for young teenagers who love to read books with mystery and paranormal aspects. Do you like supernatural books? Would you like to learn more about Kits and her best friend Lisa? Does Lisa know more than she is telling? If you want to find out what Lisa knows or what happens go read the book “The Girl who Knew” written by Sandra Glover.

Charlotte J, Year 8

……

The story Sandra Glover has written is exceptional. Kits used to be a normal girl with no problems, but while walking home one day Kits had an accident. Not only is she not able to walk, but she is able to pick things up with her mind and to see the future. This is a gripping book about a girl whose life has been turned upside down in one split second. This book is a combination of three brilliant genres: thriller, the supernatural and the everyday.

After the accident, both girls are different. Being unable to walk, “Kits is able to dream future events and sense her friend’s and family’s emotions”. Lisa is frustrated by her amnesia and haunted by her home life, past and present.

This book has enough suspense to keep my full attention. ‘The girl who knew’ is a book with peculiar situations on every page. It is engaging how amazing Kits figures out the problems, especially with trying to help Lisa when she hears her scream.

I really enjoyed this novel. This book has descriptive language which made it very easy for me to imagine the scenes in my head. I recommend this book to teen readers who are interested in paranormal, mysterious and thrilling novels. ‘The girl who knew’ explores teenagers’ emotions. Sandra Glover has combined the tension of the story with her strong characters to ensure the real and unreal is satisfying. I’d rate the book ‘the girl who knew’ 4 out of 5 stars. Cassidy B, year 8

Category: Crime fiction, Mystery, Realistic fiction, Student Reviews | LEAVE A COMMENT

November 26

‘Through the Zombie Glass’ by Gena Showalter

Zombies stalk the night. Forget blood and brains. These monsters hunger for human souls. Alice Bell, also known as Ali in the book, has lost everything: her family, friends and her home.

Ali’s family was killed in a car crash and she is now left to live with her nan and Mr Ankh. Mr Ankh was a doctor that Ali and her nan lived with. He offered to have them after they could not afford to live anywhere else.

Ali is not an everyday teenage girl. She can go into spirit form to hunt zombies and she can see her dead sister in spirit form. Ali’s sister gives everyone warning when there is a zombie attack coming by putting a rabbit cloud in the sky. All the zombie slayers can see the zombies and can go into spirit form to fight the zombies and save the town.

After a new zombie attack, strange things began to happen to Ali. Mirrors started coming alive, whispers of the dead assaulted her ears. But the worst? A terrible darkness blooms inside her, urging her to do very wicked things and she has very sudden urges of hunger. What is happening to Ali? No one knows but how long can she stay like this?

I really enjoyed this story as it was full of action and there were no dull moment in the book. The book was very well written to keep the audience entertained the whole time. I would recommend this book to anyone who enjoys a good fiction read. This book would be aimed at teenagers rather than young adults. I would rate this book a 7 out of 10.

Madison, Year 9

Category: Horror stories, Student Reviews | LEAVE A COMMENT

November 25

‘I am Number Four’ by Pittacus Lore

Three are dead. Six remain. John Smith is number four, therefore he will be the next to be hunted down by the vicious Mogadorians.

The story is set in Ohio, one of the many places John has lived with his guardian Henri. Since John and Henri are always on the run hiding from the Mogadorians, they need to change identities and live in completely different states or cities.

John is also known on Lorien as a Garde, which means he develops powers which can help him defeat the Mogadorians but it’s taking time for him to get them. He isn’t meant to stay attached to people but that was until he got himself a girlfriend.

Henri is John’s Cepan (guardian). He stays with John for the rest of his life helping him control his powers and keeping him out of trouble and harm.

Sarah is John’s new girlfriend from the rural town John now lives in. She is the daughter of the real-estate agent that sold John and Henri their new house. Sarah also loves photography.

Sam is obsessed with aliens. This was because of his dad also liking them but then disappearing without a trace. Sam is bullied at school and is lonely until he becomes John’s best friend.

Mark is the school bully and Sarah’s ex-boyfriend. He loves football and his two dogs. He hates John for liking Sarah because even though they broke up he still wants to be with her.

There were nine Lorien kids. Three are dead and John Smith is number four. There is a charm where the alien children must die in a certain number sequence. John has been training so that he can fight the Mogadorians with his new found legacies (powers) in order to save their planet and go home. John wants to learn everything about his past, about when his planet was invaded and his parents died, but everything comes and goes in bits and pieces from dreams and when he’s training to get his legacies (powers), John was told not to get too attached to places or people because he needs to be able to leave at any moment but instead he gets a girlfriend, a best friend and a very strange dog.

There is romance, suspense and drama to enjoy in this great book therefore I would recommend this story for boys but mainly girls in their teen years because the book is long and has violence and science fiction themes.

Lachlan P. Year 9

……

Number Four isn’t from here. He’s a Garde from a planet called Lorien, a planet that was destroyed by a wicked alien race called the Mogdorians, who ruined their own planet through their ignorance and lack of care. Nine children and nine guardians escaped the planet during the destruction, Number Four being one of them, in the hope that they will eventually be able to return to their planet and fight the Mogdorians.

I must admit that normally I don’t read alien-themed books. However, I Am Number Four had me hooked from the blurb, which is really rather impressive, as I tend not to like judging books by their covers. What I really loved, though, was the alien races and what we learnt about them. The Mogdorians were horrible, obviously, but the Loriens were awesome: from the way they cared for their planet and all on it, to the way they love – one partner forever, one true soul mate. Amazing world building!

I saw some of the twists coming, but there were lots I couldn’t predict. If I’d had the time, I would have been more than happy to just sit and devour the three-hundred-and-sixty-odd paged book all in one go. I think this is a must-read for anyone who loves to be hooked from the word go, even if you aren’t necessarily a sci-fi fan, like myself. The movie was amazing and really lived up to the novel, if you ask me. I am hoping more than anything that The Power of Six will be made into a film too, because it will be even better!

Patrick C., Year 9

——

Are you bored and want a book that you just can’t get enough of? Something with adventure, romance and action? I am Number Four by Pittacus Lore, (the pseudonym of James Frey and Jobie Hughes), is the right book for you!

This novel for teens draws readers into a high-paced adventure story, written in first person by a literally ‘out of this world’ boy, Number Four or John, and his guardian Henri who, with eighteen others, has escaped their home planet after it was devastated by another alien race, the Mongadorians , and escaped to earth. However the Mongadorians followed, but luckily nine of the children have been blessed with a charm where they can only die in order (1,2,3 etc.) which is foretold by the scars placed on their ankles. As Number Four has now turned sixteen, he has been given a new and third scar, meaning that he is next to die.

Personally, when I was reading this book, I just couldn’t stop, as much of this language was suited to my taste. The suspense and thrilling action made me sit on the edge of my seat.

I would recommend this novel to an audience of 12 to16-year-olds of both genders as the plot would be too advanced for young children to understand., and too simple for adults. However, it is perfect for teens, as it engages us with the characters and story.

So, for many teens like myself, this is a ‘must read’ novel, especially for those who enjoy adventure and action, so I would give this book a rating of 4¾ out of 5 stars.

Kim, Year 9

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

November 25

‘Shiver’ by Maggie Stiefvater

To be honest with you, I haven’t really ever read any of Maggie Stiefvater’s work, not until now!

We were all given books to read and fortunately I was given ‘Shiver’ and I think it was one of the best books I have ever read. In this wonderful, amazing book there are two main characters, who pretty much made up of the book, Grace Brisbane and Sam Roth. Sam for six years has been watching and waiting for this one special girl Grace but not as you would expect. Sam when he was seven years of age was violently bitten by wolves and the toxic venom caused him to change into a werewolf as well. After Grace was dragged off her swing set and attacked by wolves he has been waiting for her to change so he can help her settle in but she never did. On the seventh year of waiting for Grace to change, they finally meet in person after Sam got shot in the neck and out of adrenaline changed into a human. Ever since they met they have fallen deeper in love but time is running out for Sam and they need to find a cure before it is too late.

For me, once you start reading this book it would be very difficult to put it down. I don’t think much young people could relate turning into a werewolf in the winter but young people can relate to the love and life problems that occur in the book. I would recommend this book to any teenage girls, who love heart-filled spectacular books. I can guarantee that this book will be one of your favourites books of all time.

Riley K, Year 9

……..

I read this book and almost cried because it is beautifully written.

A little town called Mercy Falls is on the edge of a forest where the wolves live, including Grace’s favourite wolf. They normally hang out in Grace’s house or in the parking lot at Grace’s high school. She sees them when Sam drops her off to school and when picks her up as school finishes.

Grace is your everyday teenage girl. From my point of view, I don’t find anything special about her. She has the teenage sense of humour and an obsession with coffee. And then there is Sam; he is Grace’s ‘True Love’ and ‘her wolf’. At first, he is charming and then witty, then shy. He keeps on being shy for too long and then at the end of the book he starts to let Grace in and he really became Sam.

Sam doesn’t let anything go lightly and thinks about everything thoroughly, not to mention the flow of music lyrics forming in his brain at every situation.

My favourite character would probably be Isobel. She is the rich girl you would think was not a nice person, which is true at the start of the story, or at least that’s how the author lets her seem to be. But at the end of the book she helps Grace and Sam, biting her tongue the whole time. She is sassy and puts a kick into the story.

They mainly mention Beck in memories but he appears in person during the middle of the novel. Beck is the closest thing Sam has to a father. He is responsible and takes care of every wolf in the pack.

Lastly, Jack Culpeper is Isobel’s brother and is known to be dead at the start of the book but actually is going through the transition of a werewolf. He is cocky, arrogant and has no control over his temper and wolf form.

Grace never felt like she fitted in: quiet, sweet, obedient Grace.

What she did feel, it was when she felt the pull to the woods next to her house, but most of all, the lure and longing of ‘her wolf.’ Her life and love life changes when a shooting occurs in the forest. The love that blossoms when this boy enters her life is too much to let him turn back into a wolf so she tries to find a cure for his wolf side.

This book is beautifully written in the way that the characters are explained. You always know what’s going on in both of the main characters’ heads because the author frequently tells the story from two points of view.

I also love the plot. It has so many questions that get tied in at the end and it made me want to read the other books in the series.

I would recommend this to all teenage girls who love a good old romance fantasy. It will make your heart stop. It has a bit of humour, mystery, fantasy and a lot of love.

Emma J, Year 9

Category: Love stories, Student Reviews | LEAVE A COMMENT

November 25

‘The Mortal Instruments: City of Lost Souls’ by Cassandra Clare

“Pain made you strong. Loss made you powerful.”

This direct quote from The Mortal Instruments: City of Lost Souls shows the drama and intensity that this book illustrates throughout. This story is set in the fictional world full of warlocks, demons, werewolves, angels and shadow hunters.

Teenager Clary Fray lives with her mother Jocelyn and her new husband Luke Garroway. Both Clary and Jocelyn are shadow hunters whereas Luke is a known alpha in the nearby werewolf pack. Other shadow hunters include Jace Herondale, who Clary is currently in love with, Alec and Isabelle Lightwood and the Lightwood parents Marsye and Robert as well as Simon, a newly turned vampire who has been Clary’s best friend for her whole life and is presently dating Isabelle Lightwood. Magnus Bane, the high warlock of Brooklyn is also a main character in the series. He is currently dating Alec Lightwood, meanwhile helping the others when they are in need of his abilities. Lastly, newly introduced character Sebastian Morgenstern is Clary’s half brother, being mischievous and evil. Clary soon starts to hate and despise him.

In this book, Clary tries to find Jace after he had suddenly gone missing one night. After learning that Sebastian was the one who had taken Jace and that they are bound together (meaning that whatever may happen to Sebastian would happen to Jace), Simon, Isabelle and Alec set out to try and find a way to separate the two. Meanwhile, Clary finds Jace and tries to convince him to leave Sebastian using his own free will.

I would highly recommend this book to the teenage generation of readers as it is a book full of action, adventure and love and is an exceedingly easy read. Personally this is one of my favourite books and is extremely engaging to read in a short amount of time.

Kirah W., Year 9

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

November 20

‘The Secret Hour’ by Scott Westerfeld

There are 24 hours in a whole day, right? What if I told you that there are actually 25 hours but you just can’t see the Secret Hour? Or what if I told you that there are only a few people who can see it and they are the people who you would least expect?

When Jessica Day moves to Bixby, Oklahoma, she finds out about The Secret Hour. When midnight strikes, time is frozen for one hour. Jessica has this one whole hour to do anything she wants but she is also in grave danger. Monsters who are bloodthirsty killers called ‘darklings’ roam around during the secret hour.

Jessica finds out that she’s not alone. Rex, Melissa, Dess and Jonathan are with her and they all have certain powers. Rex is a seer, who can see things that others don’t. Melissa is a mindcaster who can see darkest secrets from a touch of her fingertip. Dess is a polymath who can figure out any math equation that could be thrown at her. Jonathan is an acrobat who can defy the laws of gravity. They are called ‘the midnighters’. They have gifts that can be used against the darklings but Jessica doesn’t know her power. For Jessica, it’s a mystery but she knows something is special about herself. The darklings finally pounce after decades when Jessica arrives. Why? What is her great power that could possibly arouse the darklings in fear?

‘The Secret Hour’ is an amazing book that I have really enjoyed. There is this kind of mystery because you really want to know about Jessica’s power. Sometimes throughout the story, you can relate to some of the characters. It is this which gives this book its strength.

I would recommend this book to teenagers from the ages 13-18 because the characters in this book are around a similar age. It’s also suitable for both males and females. If you liked Percy Jackson, Heroes of Olympus or Keeper of the Lost Cities, and you all enjoy a bit of thrill, wonder and adventure in novels, then this is a book that is guaranteed to make you read throughout the night.

Joshua O, Year 9

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

November 16

‘Switched’ by Amanda Hocking

“‘You are a monster. You aren’t my child,’ my mother said as she held a butcher’s knife at me on my sixth birthday. My mother tried to kill me that day.”

Eleven years later Wendy doesn’t fit in, has no friends and has a bad temper.

A mysteriously hot new kid, Finn Holmes, comes to her school. One night she hears a knock on her window. She opens her blinds and she sees Finn Holmes there on the windowsill, which happens to be two stories high. She opens the window to talk to him but he climbs inside to Wendy’s horror and delight. ‘Come with me,’ he says, ‘you belong to the Trylle, a world where you fit in. Come with me. I’ll take you.’

Switched is an amazing book, the characters’ passion and the passion felt between the characters is so intense it is mesmerising. The passion flows off the page and flows straight into the soul. Wendy is easy to relate to because she isn’t perfect. In many books directed at girls the main character is usually perfect or almost perfect. But Wendy is a stubborn, short-tempered girl who has never really fitted in, however she finds that in another world her skills are considered a specialty. I was able to clearly picture the landscape of the scenes as the description of the places was vivid.

The only downfall of the book was that there was not much action but the book made up for that by having such high tension. The tension throughout the book kept me turning the pages

I recommend ‘Switched’ to teenage girls who like fantasy, adventure and romance books. It is an excellent book with amazing characters. I give this novel 4½ out of 5 stars as it kept me glued to the page wanting more. I can’t wait to read the rest of the trilogy. Pearl H, Year 9

……

“It was my sixth birthday, and my mother was wielding a knife. Not a tiny steak knife, but some kind of massive butcher knife glinting in the light like in a bad horror movie. She definitely wanted to kill me.”

Do you enjoy reading books about fantasy being and hot guys? If so, Switched by Amanda Hocking is part of the New York Times best selling Trylle series. This book is a great read that has you hooked and waiting for every new chapter. The characters are blended together in a unique type of fiction that has never been seen before as Amanda Hocking pulls you into the matchless world of the Trylle. The story is about a 16 year-old girl called Wendy Everly whose mother tried to kill her when she was six. She is a troublemaker, perhaps a testament to her attempted assassination, and is different to the other kids. She can’t stand processed food, has unruly hair and can persuade people to do things that she wants just by thinking them. She knew she was different, but never thought much about it until Finn Holmes shows up at her school one day. He is dark and mysterious and has an unusual fascination with her. As she becomes closer to Finn he pulls her into a world she never knew, the world of the Trylle.

I genuinely enjoyed this book, though I did find Wendy a bit bratty and immature. The concept of the Trylle was a refreshing change from the stereotypical vampire books, and had me thoroughly hooked as I learnt more about the tribe. The characters, setting and Amanda’s special writing style added to enhance the brilliance of the story, along with the romantic interest between Fin and Wendy leaving me to award it a 4 star rating. I would recommend this book to female young adults because of the love interest, or anyone else who enjoys this type of supernatural/romantic fiction or anyone who enjoyed Immortal by Lauran Burd or Uglies by Scott Westerfeld. This is definitely a book you want to add to your collection!

By Charlotte, Year 9

Category: Adventure stories, Student Reviews | LEAVE A COMMENT

June 19

‘Midnighters: The Secret Hour’ by Scott Westerfeld

Midnighters: 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

————————-

“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

———————-

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

——————-

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

———————

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

Category: Student Reviews | LEAVE A COMMENT

June 12

‘Vampire Academy’ by Richelle Mead

Meet 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

Category: Adventure stories, Student Reviews | LEAVE A COMMENT

May 19

‘Twilight’ by Stephenie Meyer

“About three things I was absolutely positive. First, Edward was a vampire. Second, there was a part of him, and I didn’t know how tame that part might be that thirsted for my blood. And third, I was unconditionally and irrevocably in love with him.”

Twilight is set in Forks, Washington. Forks is rarely visited by the warm sunlight, a perfect condition for Edward’s family of vampires.

The story tells of the love between a human, Belle Swan, and vampire Edward Cullen. Bella is a pretty, pale, small, shy 17-year-old who likes to keep to herself and isn’t all that good at sports. Edward is a perfect stunning 17-year-old boy who is admired by every girl in his school, including Bella, and he is good at everything.

The book is about Bella moving to Forks and meeting Edward, with Bella immediately intimidated by his dazzling eyes. Edward can read minds but he is stopped when he realises he can’t read hers. He ends up feeling very protective over her and they fall in love, but it isn’t so innocent. Soon she will either have to decide if she wants to be with Edward forever, meaning she can’t stay human, or be with her family and not Edward. Throughout the book you fall in love with the love shared between the two characters. The amount of consideration and daring they present to each other is so meaningful.

One of the reasons why I love this book is because of the relationship between the main characters even though they are so different. Bella is quiet and harmless, and she often stumbles into damaging situations, and Edward often saved her from these scenarios. One of the first scenes leading up to Bella uncovering his secret is when she is standing by her car in a parking lot and she is almost slammed between two cars. If not for Edward’s super speed, she wouldn’t have survived.

I would recommend this book for teenagers; it is a very intriguing book, definitely hard to put down.

Angelique R, Year 9

……….

“About three things I was absolutely positive. First, Edward was a vampire. Second, there was a part of him-and I didn’t know how tame that part might be that thirsted for my blood. And third, I was unconditionally and irrevocably in love with him.”

Twilight is set in Forks, Washington. Forks hardly ever gets any good weather so it’s mainly just cloudy with no sun. The story is mainly about a warm blooded person and a cold blooded vampire.

Bella moves back to Forks and she meets a guy named Edward at her school. She immediately fell for Edward Cullen. Edward can read minds but he is confused when he realises he can’t read Bella’s. He ends up feeling very protective over her and he follows her everywhere so he knows she’s safe. Edward ends up falling in love with Bella as well, but a human is a threat to the vampire world. If any other humans find out about Edward and his family the Denali Coven clan would have to kill the Cullens. But that doesn’t stop Edward and Bella; Bella’s just got to try and keep they’re secret.

I have recommended this book to many people, and the people I have recommended this to have absolutely loved it. This book is mainly for teenagers, young adults and even adults. This is one of my favourite books because the connection between the two main characters is a very interesting story and the book just doesn’t stop at twilight. There are four more novels in the twilight series and these books do not disappoint.

Erin Cullen, Year 9

Category: Love stories, Student Reviews | LEAVE A COMMENT

October 28

‘Shiver’ by Maggie Stiefvater

This novel will send shivers down your spine.

Meet Sam. During the summer he is a normal boy, but in the winter he is a werewolf. Next, meet Grace — just a normal girl with a traumatizing memory of wolves. These two people are from different worlds yet they are in love and they believe nothing will break them apart. Grace meets Sam when she is lying on Grace’s porch bleeding out. If you like love stories with a bit of thrill then this is the book for you!

The book ‘Shiver’ by Maggie Stiefvater is a very detailed book so in your head you can picture it really well. Sam and Grace look after each other even when they are having trouble looking after themselves. So will Grace and Sam stay together or be broken apart by the hunters and Sam’s pack?

I like this book quite a lot because it had a lot of detail and good characters. I recommend this book to girls of any age especially if you are into love stories and werewolves. So do you want to read this?

Sammy, Year 9

—————————————————————————-

Those eyes. Terrifying and scary yet beautiful and yellow. It’s not every day that you fall in love with a wolf, is it? Six years it has been, six years of thinking about my wolf every day and night and still he won’t come near me, is there something wrong? Have I done something? I don’t understand…

In the summer, I’m human and in winter I’m a wolf. It has been that way for as long as I can remember. I haven’t ever felt like this before about a human. I want her, more than anybody could ever imagine but I’m scared. I am scared she will run away and I’ll never see her again.

Are you up for adventure, love and a book that will leave you coming back for more? Well, if so, Shiver is the book for you. Join Grace and her wolf ‘Sam’ as they continue their love with a fight. Try to understand what they have to go through to pursue their dream of being together. This well-written novel by Maggie Stiefvater has captured the hearts and minds of teenagers and adults for quite some time and will continue to do so for generations to come. Don’t let Shelby take you under her fur as she tries to destroy the love that Sam and Grace share.

The novel ‘Shiver,’ is an excellent novel for all ages. I really enjoyed the romance, the dark magic of wolves and the adventure that comes along with it. I say this because the love in this book is what every girl dreams of, loving a guy that loves you back, promising an adventure but doing it with a smile. The ending of this book does leave you on a bit of a cliff hanger but that will make you want to read the rest of the trilogy. I rate this book 4 out of 5 stars, because the ending could have been a little bit more precise but other than that the book was truly amazing and will be amazing for generations to come.

Nienke, Year 9

——————————————————

In Summer, a few precious months of being human.

In winter, the frozen woods, the protection of the pack and the silent company of a fearless girl.

In winter I watch the wolves in the woods behind my house. One yellow eyed wolf-my wolf- has a presence I can’t live without.

Grace lives in the small, dull town of Mercy Falls where nothing ever happens. But after the mysterious death of a high school student and a wolf hunt, the town is anything but ordinary. After meeting Sam, a boy with eyes just like her wolf, Grace’s world changes drastically. While trying to keep the boy she loves human and trying to find out what a newly turned werewolf wants, she must embark on a journey of self discovery and show her parents just how much she needs them. This book is about falling in love and the force that tries to drag them apart.

If you like books with romance and drama that leaves you wanting more, Shiver is the book for you. Maggie Stiefvater has created a book full of dark magic, mystery, passion and loss.

This book is probably more suited to an adolescent female audience.

The issues surrounding the book relate to young love and the reality of growing up. I enjoyed reading Shiver because it isn’t your typical werewolf romance. It doesn’t follow the werewolf stereotype and the romance isn’t clichéd. It is more mysterious, dark and subtle.

I rate this book 4/5

Greta, Year 9

Category: Love stories, Student Reviews | LEAVE A COMMENT

November 5

‘The Secret Hour: Midnighters #1’ by Scott Westerfeld

Midnighters: The Secret Hour by Scott Westerfeld is a book that will have you hooked all the way through. The different plot changes that are introduced throughout the book are intriguing and will have you reading way past midnight. This is definitely a book worth reading.

The story begins when Jessica Day moves to a new town with people who are difficult to get along with. One night she wakes up to discover that time itself has stopped. This happens over several nights before she discovers that she is not the only one who can access this ‘Secret Hour’. There are other people who call themselves the ‘Midnighters’, people who were born on the minute of midnight. The Midnighters’ names are Rex, Dess, and Melissa.

Jessica begins to enjoy the extra hour that she is being given. But she soon discovers that there are other creatures in the town awake at that hour. Creatures that are not human. These creatures are called ‘Darklings’, and ‘Slithers’. The Midnighters’ mission is to fight aagainst the creatures to protect the town. But can they hold it out?

Reading the Midnighters I did not know what to expect. But this book easily rates an 8 out of 10. The incredible plot combined with the witty personality of the characters creates a great story. This book would best suit readers aged 10+. You might enjoy this book if you also enjoyed The Book of Lies, or The Black Tattoo.

Joe, Year 9

Category: Adventure stories, Student Reviews | LEAVE A COMMENT

November 2

‘Shiver’ by Maggie Stiefvater

Have you ever felt like you didn’t belong in the life you have? Shiver, by Maggie Stiefvater, is a book about two characters that feel this way. That is until they finally meet after years and years of admiring each other from a distance.

Grace is a girl who is barely noticed by her parents, and seen as a freak at school. Sam is half wolf, half human; changing forms between the hot and cold climates. After Sam rescued Grace in the last moments of her life, Grace was forever watching the wolves in the woods, waiting to see her yellowed-eyed wolf once again.

Sam hated every moment of being a wolf. He was forever wishing to be completely human again, to be able to talk to Grace, instead of forever watching and admiring her from a distance.

Finally their long lasting wishes of meeting each other came true. Although finally being in each other’s arms was great, completely in love, they face problem after problem, trying to keep Sam human before he is permanently a wolf, while Grace fights to keep him.

This story is a great paranormal romance that starts off quite differently; though after reading more and learning what it is all about, it becomes very hard to put down, just wanting to know what happens next. I look forward to reading the sequel Linger.

Sasha, Year 9.

———————————————————-

“I could have screamed, but I didn’t. I could have fought, but I didn’t. I just lay there and let it happen, watching the winter-white sky go grey above me.”

The book ‘Shiver’ was written by Maggie Stiefvater. I found it very interesting and an enjoyable read. The story of ‘Shiver’ starts off on a cold winter’s day in Mercy Falls, Minnesota, in the dark cold forest where a girl called Grace was surrounded by a pack of wolves. Grace is a girl who lives in Mercy Falls and loves the wolves that live in the forest behind her house. Sam is a werewolf and for a short time of the year he is human. The story ‘Shiver’ is about Grace and Sam and how they will do anything to be with each other. I have enjoyed the book ‘Shiver’ because the writer has written the novel in the perspective of the two main characters Grace and Sam.

I would recommend the book ‘Shiver’ to teens who enjoy reading romantic fantasy sci-fi novel.

Lauren, Year 9.

———————————————————–

“I’d found heaven and grabbed it as tightly as I could, but it was unravelling, an insubstantial thread sliding between my fingers, too fine to hold.” – ‘Shiver’ by Maggie Stiefvater

The novel Shiver is set at Mercy Falls, where for years, Grace Brisbane has watched the wolves behind her house. But not just your typical wolves – werewolves. Grace has been fascinated with these wolves ever since she had been attacked by one of them. Sam, a yellow-eyed wolf with grey hair, seems to be someone she couldn’t live without.

Sam has been two different beings: werewolf in the winter, and a few dear moments of being a human in summer…well until the cold shifts him back. This young couple have always had a deep connection. But as winter is near, Sam has to fight to stay human or he may just lose Grace.

I really enjoyed the novel ‘Shiver’ and found it to be a good read as the werewolf concept was different to any others that I have read and I found that really unique. I have also enjoyed reading about Grace and Sam’s relationship. I was really engaged with this novel and couldn’t stop reading it. I enjoyed Maggie Stiefvater’s writing style in this book. The plot progressed really well with exciting plot twists to keep me glued to the novel. The cliffhanger at the end was very well written, as I couldn’t wait to read the rest of the trilogy.

I recommend this novel, Shiver to teens and young adults, mainly females who are interested in Fantasy and Romance as there are some parts of the book about ‘young love.’ This book is a great read and I rate it a 4/5.

Dana, Year 9

—————————————————-

Sam and Grace seem like two average people but they are so much more than that. They both have interesting stories from childhood and have unique transformations throughout the book.

Grace “the cold” is a wolf-loving teenage girl whose house backs onto a forest full of wolves, but the wolves are only seen in winter. Why is that?

Sam “the heat” is (or at least was) an average teenage boy but he is more than that. He transforms into Grace’s favourite thing, a WOLF!

I enjoyed this book because I enjoy the supernatural/werewolf/vampire movies and books. It is a romantic novel which you just can’t put down.

Jade, Year 9

—————————————————-

Grace has spent years in the woods watching the wolves from her tyre swing, all her life, since the wolves she has been fascinated by had attacked her. When she was first attacked as a young child, one wolf stood out among the rest, one wolf with yellow eyes. What Grace didn’t know was when she was younger, the wolves who attacked her were werewolves.

Sam on the other hand lived two lives, one as a wolf and one as a human. Sam is a yellow-eyed werewolf. When Sam was a wolf and his pack had attacked Grace, he fell in love with her.

I recommend this book for young adults because of the fantasy themes.

Jasmine, Year 9

———————————————-

When Grace was a little girl playing on her tyre swing in the cold winter days, she was attacked by wolves, but not just any wolves, werewolves. One wolf with bright yellow eyes stood back, and then saved her. From that day on that was Grace’s wolf.

The characters in this book are very intriguing and the plot keeps you wanting to read more. I found it to be a great read for someone who finds it hard to stay interested in a book. Grace’s life is complicated and she has issues with friends, family, society and herself. This can relate to lots of teens and reading about a character dealing with these things can be quite comforting. Grace’s wolf, Sam, has a hard life and is torn between two worlds. He might just have to make the hardest decision of his life: to be human or to be a wolf.

Shiver is a wonderful book full of romance, risk-taking and adventure. If Grace and Sam want to be together they are going to have to fight for it. Luckily neither of them gives up without a fight. I would highly recommend reading this book because I enjoyed it thoroughly. Monet, Year 9

Category: Love stories | LEAVE A COMMENT

November 2

‘Shift’ by Em Bailey

There were two things Olive knew about Miranda Vaile: number one she had no parents and number two they were dead because she killed them. Olive is the main character in ‘Shift’. She has made a lot of changes to her life. She now takes her meds, goes to school and work and is no longer best friends with the popular girl, Katie. Now Olive has a new best friend, Ami, who she describes as “Me but with way better hair.” There is a new girl at school named Miranda. There are a lot of rumours going around about her and Olive can’t help but wonder if they are true. After a brief confrontation, Miranda and Katie, become friends and as they become closer the life starts to drain from Katie. This leads Olive to become more suspicious of Miranda and who/what she is. On a happier note, there is a new boy in town, Lachlan, who seems to take an interest in Olive, only Olive doesn’t believe him and continues to push him away. Will Olive find out the truth about Miranda? Will she let Lachlan get close to her?I found this story quite interesting and would recommend it to teenagers, most likely girls who are interested in fantasy/Sci Fi books. I rate ‘Shift’four out of five stars; overall it was a good read.Maria, Year 9.

———————————————

‘There were two things everyone knew about Miranda Vaile before she’d even started at our school. The first was that she had no parents – they were dead. And the second? They were dead because Miranda had killed them.’

Em Bailey’s novel Shift is a thrilling dystopian novel that delves into the life of high school student, Olive Corbett. She is recovering from what she refers to as ‘The Incident’ while trying to deal with her dad walking out on their family and being ditched by the popular girls.

When Miranda starts at Jubilee Park High, things start to change. She latches onto Katie (the queen bee) and becomes one of the most popular girls in school. But Olive knows she’s hiding something. So with the help of her best friend Ami, she decides to find out what that is. In between all the drama, new boy Lachlan shows interest in Olive and goes to great lengths to start a friendship that could potentially turn into a relationship with her. Will Olive find out what Miranda’s hiding? Will Olive and Lachlan get together?

Shift was an exhilarating read, one that I couldn’t put down. It really puts into perspective the issues that teenagers could potentially go through and how to deal with them. I really enjoyed this book and thought that it was beautifully written. If you’re into mystery/fantasy with a bit of romance books, then this is the one for you!

– Jess, Year 9

———————————————————

Meet Olive Corbett. She had everything. The boys… The looks… And the popularity. Until ‘The Incident’ and from that day forth, her life was turned upside down. Not only has her old best friend Katie told everybody about it, but the creepy new girl seems to be latching on to Katie like a parasite. Olive may be known as the girl who has a habit of letting her imagination run away with her, but there is one thing she is sure of and that is that there is something definitely not right about the new girl Miranda, and the fact that she killed her parents makes even more of a reason to stay well clear of her.

Shift is an edgy book written by Em Bailey. This story includes the everyday struggles of teenagers in high school and comes to terms with mental illness and depression in teenagers. It is constantly keeping you in suspense making it hard to put the book down. I finished this book within two days of borrowing it as it was like an addiction. I had to keep reading it. I loved this book because it was a mystery and it always kept me guessing what would happen next, keeping my full attention. I recommend this book to teenagers and young adults between the ages 13- 25 who enjoy reading mystery and thrill. I rate the book ‘Shift’ a 5 out of 5 stars.

– Amba, Year 9.

—————————————————-

Shift by Em Bailey is a thrilling tale, which will always leave you on edge and guessing. I became completely attached to this book from the very first chapter. The epic twists and turns will pull you into a world where nothing is, as it seems.

“This well-written, tightly plotted thriller kept me reading long into the night… A book that stands out in the genre.” –Bookseller & Publisher.

Olive Corbett has had a troubled past, with her dad abandoning her and her family, losing her best-friend not to mention her attempted suicide. So when an odd new girl, Miranda, starts at Jubilee Park High School, Olive and her best friend Ami become suspicious of her motives when she befriends the most popular girl in school. Slowly Miranda begins to become popular and changes her looks to match her new ‘bestie’, Katie. As Miranda becomes more vibrant and outgoing, Katie is barely there. Soon Miranda takes Katie’s place and her boyfriend, leaving Katie sickly and fading. Olive is sure Miranda is a shapeshifter, and she is determined to stop her before someone gets hurt.

Shift is a perfect blend of Sci-fi mixed with modern. I would suggest this book for teens around thirteen and up. I rate this book four stars out of five for its well-written plot and great understanding of adolescence.

Ingrid, Year 9

Category: Mystery, Student Reviews | 1 Comment

May 4

‘The Chronicles of Vladimir Tod: Eighth Grade Bites’ by Heather Brewer

I normally don’t like reading that much if the book I’m reading isn’t that good, because I can’t get stuck into it. The chronicles of Vladimir Tod is the kind of book I’m talking about. It started off being very weird and I didn’t like it, but then when I kept reading it started to grow in me. I think this book attracts readers who like unusual and gothic books. Vladimir, the male character, is a boy who has just entered high school. He is trying really hard to control the vampire within him by bringing in blood capsule sandwiches to satisfy his needs. In my opinion I liked the ending more than any other part of the book because many problems arise in Vlad’s life at home and at school. Imagine having your own teacher tempting to reveal the biggest secret of your life.

“I can’t wait to hear your oral presentation,” Mr Otis says. Mr Otis has assigned an assignment describing what a “werewolf” is but when the letters on the paper change into “vampire” a whole world of pain arises for Vlad. This is a good book and I think you should give it a try.

Sebastian, Year 8

—————————————————————————

I hate reading. I almost never read, but fortunately I was forced to read “The Chronicles of Vladimir Tod” and surprisingly, I enjoyed it. It is a vampire story, filled with a lot of twists and turns in the story. I recommend this book to 12-15 year olds who enjoy reading fantasy books such as Christopher Paolini’s series “Eragon” or J.R.R Tolkien’s “Lord Of The Rings”

The main character Vladimir Tod is very intriguing because nothing is known about vampires. Vladimir and his best friend, Henry find themselves in the middle of a mystery when they discover Vlad’s fathers journal. The journal contains many secrets to Vladimir’s secrets and history. Unknown to Vlad, he is being hunted by another mysterious character.
By Jordan, Year 8

—————————————————————————–

I am not the type of person that likes to read. If someone ever asked me to read I book, I’d try and make excuses to get out of reading the book. But when I started reading The Chronicles Of Vladimir Tod by Heather Brewer, I enjoyed it so much that I couldn’t stop or put it down.

This book is mainly for boys and girls that are different. It’s basically about a boy named Vladimir who isn’t popular at school just because he’s different. He ignores all the bad comments that everyone has to say about him. He just lives life no matter what anyone says.

It helps all children realize that you don’t have to be perfect to live life. You can be whatever you want to be whenever you want.

I highly recommend this book to boys and girls from an age of 12-15 as when you older, people seem to believe popularity is the most important thing. This book is filled with friendship problems and school problems and helps you solve them and it often brings a smile to one’s face.

By Alana S, Year 8.

————————————————————————

My book Blog The chronicles of Vladimir Tod

Vampire and his Victim. Usually I don’t really like to read books because I don’t find them that interesting. At first when I was given the book The chronicles of Vladimir Tod I didn’t think that I would like it because I usually like books that are sporty ones, so when I got one about a vampire I thought it would be interesting to see what it would be like. I think that this book is probably more for boy teens because I find that the girls won’t really like what’s in there compared to the boys. None of my friends that I know have read this book so I had to start it not knowing at all what it would be like. I find that this book is a bit harder to relate to because it’s about a vampire called Vladimir Tod and I haven’t met anyone who is a vampire before. Although at first when I started reading the book I found it hard to get into, when I read on I found the book to be very interesting. I found it interesting because it is about a boy at the beginning who is a vampire and he likes a girl but can’t find the guts in him to actually talk to her. The two main characters in this this book are Vladimir and his friend Henry. Vladimir is a vampire and likes to drink glasses of blood in the morning. Henry is Vladimir’s best friend. All the girls at school have a crush on Henry. There is also Vladimir’s mum’s friend Nelly who has looked after Vladimir since his parents died three years ago. She is a fully qualified nurse and tries to sneak some blood from the hospital to take home to Vladimir so he can drink it. Vladimir and Nelly are not family but Vladimir said that he would consider her as family after all she has done for him in his life. If I had to recommend this book to any age I would say for 11-15 because it is sort of a mystery but not too serious and also has some romance in it which people of that age would be able to relate to from their life.

Taine Year 8

Category: Funny books, Student Reviews | LEAVE A COMMENT

October 26

‘Shiver’ by Maggie Stiefvater

Shiver by Maggie Stiefvater is a story about a girl named Grace who was attacked by wolves when she was young. In the last minute of her life a mysterious wolf with yellow eyes saved her. Since the day of the attack every winter her wolf with the yellow eyes is always watching her. She looks forward to those few months when the temperature drops below zero. This is the only time she can catch a glimpse of the wolf with the bright yellow eyes, which to her is a certain presence she couldn’t live without. After six years of watching and wondering she finds out who the wolf really is. Her wolf, with the yellow eyes is a boy called Sam who has two different lives. In the winter he is a wolf that loses most of his humanity to the cold and the only thing that he remembers is Grace. When the temperature rises he shifts and for a few very short months he lives life as a human fighting to hold on to the little humanity that he has left. Sam and Grace have a connection that they can’t even explain. But will they both lose themselves when the temperate reaches below zero?
This story is about an unbreakable bond of love that will leave you wanting more. I found the start of this book was a bit confusing but as you read more, it gets harder and harder to put down. The way that the author wrote this book was really clever as each chapter is told by either Sam’s or Grace’s point of view. This helped me connect to the characters a lot better as I knew what each of them were thinking or feeling about a certain situation. I would recommend this book to anyone who likes paranormal romance. I enjoyed this book a lot and look forward to reading the sequel Linger. By Tayla, Year 9

Life I pretty tough for Grace, her parents barely notice her, her friends think she’s crazy and she’s almost been killed twice by the wolves that live in the forest behind her house. But ever since her accident, Grace has been fascinated by this one wolf. Her wolf.

For Sam, life sucks. He hates being a wolf and changing once a year. It makes things so difficult, and worst of all he watches the one girl he loves from the woods. Unable to talk to her, Sam watches her all the time, until one day Sam changes to a human and is able to talk to Grace. For the two lovebirds time is not in their hands. How far will Grace go to keep Sam human?

I found this book extremely interesting. It was interesting to see what happens throughout the book, how Sam changes, why he changes and what extremes they will go to, to keep him human.

Kayley year 9.

Category: Love stories, Student Reviews | LEAVE A COMMENT

May 23

‘Thyla’ by Kate Gordon

This Australian story presents us initially with the story of Tessa, a girl found wild in the bush without a memory of who she is or what has happened to her. Taken by a kindly policewoman, Connolly, to a boarding school, Tessa attempts to find her place in the ‘in’ crowd of girls’ clans, despite feeling different to everyone else and with a growing sense of familiarity and links with people and experiences in her past.
Slowly Tessa experiences a growing awareness of who she is, the terrible events of her past, where she fits into this world and her sworn life mission.
“Something is wrong with me. Something magical. Something terrible. I had been a girl in 1851, and I was a girl now. And I had stripes.”
This is a highly accessible read for teenage girls, pulling even reluctant readers into the story. The plot powers along, combining mystery, intrigue, forbidden love and the eternal battle between good and evil. The dramatically wild setting of Tasmanian history and wilderness is fascinating. It’s one of the great strengths of the novel, the author’s research lending authenticity to the historical setting of this paranormal plot. I am sure that many readers will be eagerly awaiting its sequel, ‘Vulpi’. Mrs O.

Category: Adventure stories, Love stories, Mystery, Teacher Reviews | LEAVE A COMMENT

May 18

‘Shiver’ by Maggie Stiefvater

“But I didn’t die. I was lost to a sea of cold, and then I was reborn into a world of warmth.”

‘Shiver’ by Maggie Stiefvater is a compelling fantasy romance novel about a teenage girl called Grace who is extremely in love with a werewolf with yellow eyes named Sam. When Grace was a child and was a second away from being killed by a pack of wolves, a friendly wolf with yellow eyes rescued her and from that day on every winter Grace would look out her window hoping to meet those familiar eyes. Then one day when the wolves were being hunted down, Grace was able to save Sam and that was when their love for each other was admitted. But once it’s said it cannot be abandoned. Will they be able to collaborate? Will they be able to hold on to each other and stay strong? I really admire how the author has really put lots of emotion and showed but didn’t tell. I would certainly recommend this book to teens or anyone who is interested in the ‘Twilight’ saga and I am definitely looking forward to reading the next book in this series called ‘Linger’. Monique, Grade 8

“Their tongues melted my skin; their careless teeth ripped at my sleeves and snagged through my hair, pushed against my collarbone, their pulse at my neck. I could have screamed but I didn’t. I just let it happen.”

Shiver is a intriguing love story of a werewolf and a girl. Sam, the werewolf, saved the girl when she was young from the pack of werewolves. It is truly a romantic story filled with drama, fantasy and wonder. I was inspired to read more. I would recommened it for people who like love stories and like werewolves. It’s for people who like romantic fiction. I love this book. I think it’s truly amazing. Maddison year 8

‘Shiver’ by Maggie Stiefvater is really one of the most amazing books I have ever read. I never really thought I could read that quickly. The wolves in the forest. The yellow eyed wolf, Sam. Grace, the teenage girl who has been watching Sam at the edge of the woods and Sam watching her. A connection that she knows is there but doesn’t know why. Sam has never dared talk to Grace as human. He knew that he couldn’t let her find out who and what he was- not yet. A love that has never been spoken but once it has been said neither can deny it. I loved this book because I love anything to do with fantasy, wolves, dragons or magic. I would recommend this book to people who like fantasy and things like the ‘Harry Potter’ series and the ‘Twilight’ series.
Bridey year 8.

Category: Love stories, Student Reviews | LEAVE A COMMENT