Who would enjoy this? For people who are fascinated with dinosaurs, this latest book is full of rich new facts and is the ideal book for dino lovers.
Reviewed by Adam
Sunday 20 May 2012
Planet dinosaur: The next generation of giant killers / Cavan Scott and Darren Naish
Who would enjoy this? For people who are fascinated with dinosaurs, this latest book is full of rich new facts and is the ideal book for dino lovers.
Reviewed by Adam
Tuesday 15 May 2012
The night circus / Erin Morgenstern
The magical Le Cirque des Reves arrives without warning. It is there when it had not been the day before. Celia and Marco have been thrown into rivalry at the Night Circus, burdened with magic that they do not fully understand. In their intricately woven lives, love, deceit and heartbreak shine through. This is a fantastic read, a real page turner written in a very interesting and imaginative way. Guaranteed to keep you entertained and engrossed right until the very last page.
Who would enjoy this? This book is great for anyone who enjoys mystery, a bit of romance and a complex tale.
Reviewed by Sophie
Ship breaker / Paolo Bacigalupi
Fast forward to when oil has just about run out, and you've entered Nailer's world. As a ship breaker - scrounging a living on the beach, recycling what's left of abandoned ships, Nailer knows just how limited his options are. It's a dog-eat-dog world, but fate (in the form of a hurricane) gives him the chance of a different future. Fortunately Nailer is the type to jump in boots and all and take the risk.
Fast, exciting and believable, this story gets you worrying about where Nailer will end up, and wondering what will happen when we do run out of oil.
Who would enjoy this? Readers who enjoy challenging, no holds barred, tell-it-like-it-is stories will appreciate this book.
Reviewed by James
The look / Sophia Bennett
Loved this book! Ted (a girl!) is tall, gawky, totally uninterested in fashion, clothes and appearance, with a sister, Ava, who is beautiful, small, and knows just how to make the most of her appearance. But this is a time of change for the whole family. Ava gets seriously ill, and Ted, against all the odds, gets spotted by a fashion agency and is dragged into a completely new world in every area of her life. I loved the book because of the way the sisters looked out for each other and how Ted came to see what was really important in life.
Who would enjoy this? Anyone who likes a 'feel-good' story with a difference and a happy ending.
Reviewed by Charlotte
Monday 14 May 2012
Girl parts / John M Cusick
Authors come up with some thought-provoking ideas at times. Cusick explores what it means to be connected to others and how hard it can be to get reconnected if things go wrong. Into this mix comes a girl robot as an aid to help two guys learn how to relate properly with others. It doesn't turn out as expected though as the robot (Rosie) turns into a human being, the loner (Charlie) learns how to make relationships with others and the rich kid with a million friends (David) never quite learns how real relationships work. I liked the way this book made me consider what it really means to be connected to others - hopefully I'm not doing too badly!
Who would enjoy this? If you want to think about what it means to be human at the same time as reading an original and gripping story, try this one.
Reviewed by Hamish
The name of the star / Maureen Johnson
This is a great book! The writing is excellent and the story is interesting and gripping. It's a ghost story, and I don't even like ghost stories, but the author drags you in so gently and skillfully you are well hooked before the ghost part starts, and then you haven't got a hope of leaving the book alone! Rory is an American, come to boarding school in London at a time when a modern-day Jack the Ripper seems to be recreating all the original murders committed in 1880. That's all you need to know: just get this out and read it, and see if you're as keen for the sequel to appear as I am.
Who would enjoy this? Most people would enjoy the writing in this book - a fantastic storyline with interesting twists and turns to keep you guessing.
Reviewed by Amy
A year without Autumn / Liz Kessler
When I started reading this book I didn't think I was going to enjoy it. I persevered though and am really glad I did. Autumn and Jenni are best friends and do everything together until there is a terrible accident. Jenni gets very confused as she keeps slipping in and out of the present into the future, and can't work out what is happening. All she knows is that that she needs to do something urgently, if she is to keep her best friend. The whole timeslip thing was very well done and it made me think about how small things can have a major impact on what happens next.
Who would enjoy this? If you've got a best friend, or wish you did, would you do as much to keep the friendship alive as Jenni did?
Reviewed by Katya
My name is Memory / Ann Brashares
This is a love story about a boy and a girl. But there's a problem: even though they are madly in love with each other, somehow they never end up together. More importantly, the boy, Daniel, has "the memory", the ability to recall past lives and recognize souls of those he's previously known. It's a gift and a curse. Life after life, Daniel and Sofia are always drawn together, only to be torn apart. This time, Daniel is determined to leave Sofia alone so they won't have to experience the pain of being separated. But his brother, who also has 'the memory', wants revenge on Daniel and drags Lucy in.
This novel isn't like other love stories. I really enjoyed it as it kept me wondering whether Daniel and Lucy will ever be together.
Who would enjoy this? I recommend this amazing novel to anyone who enjoys an endless love story. Ann Brashares is also the author of 'The Sisterhood of Travelling Pants' series, so if you like those, you'll definitely enjoy this book!
Reviewed by Chi-Yen
Monday 7 May 2012
Undead / Kirsty McKay
Wet clothes and maybe a few bruises are all most people would expect from a school ski trip. Not so for Bobby and her classmates when it turns out to be the 'school trip from hell'. Zombies would be the last things you'd imagine gatecrashing your day out of the classroom (specially when they are your classmates!).
This book is a first - a horror story that is funny and (almost) believable.
Who would enjoy this? Don't be put off by the 'z' word. This is a great read even if you are not a fan of horror stories. It has you laughing one minute and wondering if it could possibly be true, the next.
Reviewed by James
Dirty little secrets / CJ Omololu
Having a messy bedroom is one thing, but when your house is so full of stuff you can't even use your kitchen, then you have a big problem. In this story it is Lucy's mum who creates the problem but it is Lucy who bears the brunt of it. Keeping it all a secret is hard work and then when disaster strikes Lucy tries to keep that hidden too.
This is a compassionately told story about what happens when someone's obsession takes over. The ending came out of left field and was the perfect (if not dysfunctional) finish to an eye opening story.
Who would enjoy this? This is a really engrossing story for readers who are interested in what makes people behave the way they do.
Reviewed by Sophie
The dark days of Hamburger Halpin / Josh Berk
Coal doesn't usually feature much in stories for young people but it has a starring role in this book. A coal mine is the site of foul play on a school history trip that goes badly wrong. Unashamedly nerdy students Will Halpin and Devon Smiley set out to solve the mystery of what happened to one of the school's sports stars.
This is an enjoyable novel with an interesting storyline, funny dialogue and a main character (Will) who is deaf but fortunately an expert lip reader, a helpful skill for a budding detective.
Who would enjoy this? This is an entertaining story made more interesting by finding out about how life is for those who are deaf.
Reviewed by James
Miracleville / Monique Polak
Teenagers in any small town in the world have similar experiences - annoying siblings and everyone knowing everyone else's business. Ani lives in Saint-Anne-de-Beaupre, a tiny town in Quebec, Canada, renowned for its miracles. That's what her family needs when her mother has an accident and ends up in a wheelchair. This is the story of Ani coming to grips with her life - her mother's disability, her impossible sister Colette and the identiy of her father.
Who would enjoy this? With great characters facing the challenges being thrown at them, this is an absorbing and relaxing read for anyone pondering the big questions of life.
Reviewed by Sophie
All I ever wanted / Vikki Wakefield
This was such a captivating read that I couldn't put the book down until I had found out what really was in the package she is supposed to collect.
Who would enjoy this? Anyone who is interested in reading about things that aren't always as they seem.
Reviewed by Sophie
Wednesday 2 May 2012
The shadow girl / John Larkin
You never find out Shadow Girl's name, but you do find out why she tries to be as unnoticeable as possible. She has to be if she is going to survive living on the streets, and keeping on with school. This is an incredible and inspiring story of a girl who loses everything except her courage and determination to survive. Amazingly, it is based on an true story.
Who would enjoy this? If you like stories based on real events then this is the story for you. It's hard to put down and it will open your eyes to how hard life is for some people and how easy it is to misjudge others.
Reviewed by Amy
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