Black Beauty - Tiana Holloway

Black Beauty

Author: Anna Sewell

Genre: Classical Literature

"I'm an old horse, and have seen and heard a great deal"

As a young colt, Black Beauty enjoyed his freedom and his owners' kindness. When they're forced to sell him, he will have to learn to make his own way.

Black Beauty is in the perspective of a horse which is weird at first but I got used to it. It was really interesting reading what the author thought horses think about things. I found it intriguing learning about what a horse had to go through. Learning about Black Beauty's hardships was a real eye opener on how bad they were treated by people and that animals are still treated that way today. The only difference between how animals were treated back then and how they're now is that it doesn't happen as often anymore and isn't happening publicly.

I thought I had read this book before but after a while I figured I had read a different version of it.I would recommend this book to people who want an interesting and different perspective. I enjoyed this book a lot but it didn't take me as long to read as other novels I've read. Overall it was a good story and I give it a 8/10.

Looking For Alaska ~ Cameron ~

Looking for Alaska

Author: John Green

Rating: 6/5

This book is about a boy named Miles who moves to a boarding school and makes two new friends, there names are Alaska and Chip. Some year 13 boys prank Miles and his friends so they try and get their revenge by pranking them back. They prank them back and eventually start a pranking battle. One day Alaska gets drunk and dies in a car crash.The rest of the book is about Miles and Chip trying to find out if she died on purposely or not.

Moonshot ~ Lisa

Title: Moonshot

Author: Brian Floca 

Genre: Informational

Have you ever wondered what the real feeling of strapping yourself into a spacecraft is actually like or witnessing the change from full gravity to zero? Moonshot answers it all through detailed pictures and real life experiences.

Moonshot is an informational book set around the flight of Apollo 11. From lift of to re-entering Earth's atmosphere this book covers it all. Brian Floca reenacts the entire journey of man kinds biggest step through his highly detailed book that is guided by intricate pictures.

This book was definitely something different but certainly a good one. The author has crafted it so that it captures the real experience of what it's truly like out in space.

Enola Holmes - Lillian

Enola Holmes

Enola Holmes is a sister to Sherlock and Mycroft Holmes. one day her mother runs away leaving her clues to find money and different goods. But Mycroft has different plans by sending her to boarding school she will be safe and learn to be a lady. On the day how ever she runs of with the money and goes on her own adventure solving crimes, nearly dying and getting kidnapped. All of this while trying to stay away from her brothers.

Book type: mystery

Pompeii ~ Lisa

Title: A Roman Girl's Diary AD 78 Pompeii

Author: Sue Reid

Genre: Historical fiction 

It started out slow, but got interesting about halfway through the book, when Claudia meets a slave English boy who has been separated from his sister and later sold as a gladiator. Claudia gets quite attached to the boy, not able to go the gladiator shows for fear of seeing him get hurt. She also has what seems to be an unreasonable fear of the mountain Vesuvius. 
What is known as a mountain is actually a volcano...

This book was interesting to read except for the slow beginning. 

The 10 pm Question ~ Lisa

Title: The 10 p.m Question

Author: Kate De Goldi

Genre: New Zealand Literature

Could that kidney shaped spot on his chest be a galloping cancer? Are the smoke alarm batteries flat? Has his cat, The Fat Controller, given them all worms?

 Twelve year old Frankie Parsons is very talented and imaginative young boy. He suffers from "a voice of anxiety" and the only person who listens, who believes is Ma. 

The new girl at school is flattering, energetic and has many questions of her own. Frankie’s secured world begins to unravel, leading him to a painful confrontation with the ultimate 10 p.m. question. 

BAD GIRLS - Lillian

bad girls

bad girls is an amazing book by Jacqueline Wilson its about two girls Mandy and Tanya. Mandy was always picked up from school, but one day Kim (a mean nasty girl) and her to friends Sarah and Melanie bully Mandy so much that she slaps Kim and runs in front of a bus and breaks her arm. After a while Mandy sees a girl called Tanya on the street (Mandy doesn't know her name at the moment though) and seems to like her. one day after school Tanya picks Mandy up and they come best friends. Though there is one problem her mum doesn't like Tanya.

Book type: Realistic fiction

Blankets ~ Lisa

Title: Blankets

Author: Craig Thompson 

Genre: Graphic Novel

The comic Blankets is an auto biographical graphic novel, which tells the story of the authors experience from childhood through to young adulthood. The main character Craig was raised in an Evangelical christian family but growing out of childhood into a young adult he questions his Christianity. Struggling with his belief that the Christianity he was surrounded in his whole life is not what he believes it should be.He attends a Baptist christian winter camp where he meets his first love, Raina. Craig troubles over his childhood memories with distant younger brother Phil, his sexuality,spirituality and further relationships.He then leaves his home which he grew up in and overcomes further challenges his life brings, returning home several years later, A different person.

Jacob

Title:Tomorrow when the war began.

Author:John Marsden.

Genre:Historical fiction.

Book:6/20

7 teenagers go on a journey together to a place called hell. They sleeped in tents and brought food with them. A few days later they all come home but nobody is there. They search their houses but still nobody. They see soldiers walking around and soon figure out that there is a war going on. One of them gets shot in the leg but he survived. They all grabed bikes and ride into the forest hoping to survive.

Holes - Samuel

 Stanley Yelnats is a teenager who got caught up in a crime and he got punished for it. Stanley's family says it was all because of a family curse that happened 150 years ago. Stanley had the choice of going to prison or going to camp green lake. Stanley had never been on camp so he wanted to have to experience and thought it would be fun. Although it wasn't because everyday at the same time him and the rest of the children had to dig a hole 5 feet deep and 5 feet wide. Don't let the name Camp Green Lake fool you because there is no green and there is no lake. In fact one of the most hottest places in the country.

I liked this book because it matched my type of genre.

Genre: Comedy, Teen film, Mystery
















By Louis Sachar

Lost Cat ~ Greta

Title: Lost Cat

Author: Caroline Paul

Genre: Informational

Book: 18/20

This book was very cute. As well as providing information, it also told the lovely story of a connected cat owner. Tibia the cat went missing, much to Caroline's dismay. When he returned 5 weeks later he was an inquisitive and healthy cat. He was being fed very well. Caroline and her partner had to find out what he was eating and where Tibby had been the whole time. Throughout the pages there were little watercolour images to help me visualise the scenes and what the author was describing. It explained how to use a GPS and other high tech equipment which was very interesting and useful. 

I had a great time reading this and learnt about topics I would not normally learn about. I recommend it to anyone, but especially cat lovers. I rate it a 8/10.

Pride and Prejudice ~ Lisa

Title: Pride and Prejudice

Author: Jane Austen 

Genre: Classic Literature

This was by far the most challenging book I've ever read!

I feel like I actually accomplished something in my life by reading this book. When I read the first few chapters I was so intimidated that I actually shut the book and left the room I was in. I knew that there were going to be some unusual words and phrases in the book knowing that it was written in the early 1800's but those first chapters just took my mind to the extent where I was alienated by all these odd and unusual words, phrases and just plain sentences that made absolutely no sense.

  

Pride and Prejudice is about Mr and Mrs Bennet's five unmarried daughters after a wealthy man moves into the neighbourhood. Mrs Bennet desperately wants her children to marry a rather wealthy man as the children will get near none of their fathers money due to a recent law change. The book is rather funny and there is never a dull boring moment, However for what it is I feel like it is slightly over-rated because all the reviews and comments about the book are all above what it actually is. Overall it is a very good book I particularly love the characters the author has created. 

When reading this book you should definitely have a dictionary on hand ! 

  

Love as a stranger - Amie

Sarah is temporarily in Auckland since her husband is undergoing treatment. She decides to enjoy a walk in the Symonds Street Cemetery. She stops at the grave of Emily Keeling, who was murdered in 1886 by her secret admirer. As she stays at Emily's grave a stranger named Hartley starts a conversation. After a while Sarah agrees to get coffee with him. 

So their friendship begins. Not long after their friendship turns into an affair. But love may become an obsession, which brings with it upsetting demands, even hazards

This book is a New Zealand literature and I rate it a 8/10. If you like books about love then this a great book for you.

The Cave - Hannah

Tittle The Cave
Genre: Realistic Ficton
Book: 9/20


Carrie is on a school camp. It is the night before there caving adventure, everyone was excited apart from Carrie because she is afraid of small spaces.That night Carrie couldn't sleep she kept dreaming about going caving and rocks falling on them and killing them. When Carrie woke up she was still scared. When they reached the cave, Carrie kept having panic attacks, Jack (Carrie's crush) kept making sure she was Ok and that seemed to cheer Carrie up. Jack waited for Carrie if she needed to have a rest. But the group got to far ahead of them. They followed the way the rest of the group went but now there was two tracks, Before Carrie could start to panic, Jack quickly chose a track to follow. They followed the track until it lend them to a cavern. They soon realized that this wasn't the way because they would have found the group by now. They went to go back but now there was multiple ways to go they picked one after another but they kept ending up back in the same cavern. They finally  took the right path by deciding to follow some bats. At last they had found the rest of the group.

I liked this book, at first a wasn't sure of it by the cover and the first couple of pages. But it is a good book. I rate this book a 7/10

African Slavery - Hannah

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Tittle: African Slavery
Genre: Memoir
Book: 8/20

Obah is a young boy living in a small village with his mother, father and his sister, Banita. One night him and Banita were kidnapped and sold as slaves. Obah and Banita were separated due to them been opposite genders. Banita was sold to a captain from a big ship were she was then passed onto Mr and Mrs Tunstall. Adam's room Mate/cell mate soon realized that God was speaking to him. Adam then prayed to the driver to set him free instead he was forced to the ground and choked. Obah then raised his hoe and smashed it towards the driver. Adam used his last words to tell Obah to "make a run for it.Obah spent many days only in the middle of nowhere until he found a small town. We then was caught and the officers where about to take him back when a man called Captain Collins asked to have a word to Obah. The man asked "Why he had escaped" Obah explained that "he had hurt the man that killed Adam his cell mate". Captain Collins the told the officers that we would buy him for $40. After a little convincing, Captain Collins had brought Obah. Obah and C Collins got a long really well.
They made a promise if Obah paid back the $40, he could be a free man. Obah traded things on there stops around the world. When Obah gave C Collins the money but Collins said you may keep it to help you find your sister but only if you stay a little longer because you are like a son to me. Obah asked around the village Mr and Mrs Tunstall lived in. Obah paid for a horse and set off to find his sister. Once he found Mr and Mrs Tunstall'shouse there was a boy standing st the end of the driveway. He explained what had happened and that Banita and the other slaves had been killed and are all laying over their in there coffins.

I liked this book, it started off a bit boring but by about half way I just couldn't wait to hear the ending and if Obah would find Banita. I would rate this book a 8/10.

The boy in striped pajamas - Samuel

The boy in striped pajamas is a book set way back in WW2. A family in Berlin was living happily until the father was called for work and they had to move. Bruno was the youngest child in the family and the idea of moving didn't please him because he would leave all his friends behind.
The new house out of Berlin didn't please him either as his family was very wealthy and had high standards. Bruno didn't know what his fathers job really was and keep questioning why they moved.

I really liked this book because it leaves some unanswered theories at the beginning and the more you read the more of those theories are revealed.

Genre: Fiction, Fable, History
By John Boyne

This lullaby - Amie

When it comes to relationships Remy doesn't like to mess around. She's learned all there is to know from her mother. Her mother is now with her fifth husband. Remy thinks something about Dexter seems wrong. He doesn't seem like Mr. Right. For some reason Remy just can't seem to found out what it is. Could it be that Remy's starting to understand what those love songs are all about?

This lullaby is a realistic fiction. It is a real good book I rate it a 8/10.

Life in Outer Space - Kendra

book 7/20

Life in Outer Space by Melissa Keil

Genre: Realistic fiction

Sam Kinnison is just an average geek. He lives with his parents who never talk to each other, goes to a average high school and gets picked on by Justin Zigoni the most dumbest person ever. Sam has 3 nerdy friends and they spend most of their spare time in the I.T office. All this changes when Camilla Carter comes to town. Camilla is a lonely school girl whose father is a well known journalist and mother a model. All the popular kids want Camilla in their groups except for Sam. He is determined to ignore her, but Camilla decides otherwise joining the group at the lower end of the social chain, Sam's group. With Camilla in the lead the group becomes more social. Though when everyone is gone for the holidays Sam's parents divorce. All alone Sam spends the next days alone in his room until Camilla sets him on small quests to gather the most ridiculous things he can. But just as things are looking up for Sam, he gets himself in all kinds of trouble. Breaking up their small group. Sam spends days being alone, ignored by his only friends. Sam must now regain their trust and sort out the mess that is his life.

I liked this book I found it interesting and descriptive. I would rate it 8/10

Georges Marvelous Medicine - Ethin.

Georges Marvelous medicine is about a boy named George who lives with his parents and grandmother on a farm. One of his chores is to take care of his grandmother while his parents are out at work. This includes feeding her, giving her cups of tea and giving her her medicine. As George got very annoyed with this task, he went to make his own medicine for his grandmother. This made the specimens that it was given to to grow into a giant version of what it originally was.

Personally, I enjoyed this book and recommend it to anyone that would like a easy book to read but with adventure and humor. I rate this 8/10.

If I stay - Maia

Title: If I stay
Author- Gayle Forman
Genre- Mystery


'If i stay' by Gayle Forman portrays the story of a 17 year old girl who experiences the loss of her family due to a car crash on a snowy, winters day. Gayle Forman explains in detail the pain Mia under goes during her time in hospital. This story includes excerpts from her past to help her decide whether or not she wants to stay. This book was very detailed and is set out in a very good way. Overall I rate this book as a 8/10. I recommend this book to anyone who likes mystery.

Cherub classA Thomas

 Keith Moore most dangerous and biggest drugs dealer in Europe. The police have been getting enough evidence to make him go to jail for  twenty years.

but now that 4 cherub agents are helping he wont stand a chance. they have infiltrate his organisation something many other FBI agents have failed at.

James one of the cherub agents has to sell drugs for that guy and then get lots of evidence against him and arrest him.

Space Travel ~ Blake

Book 9/20
Space Travel
Genre Informational

Space travel is a book about rockets and satellites and everything that is in space. It tells you about growing plants in space for oxygen and food. It tells you about the rocket parts and the first rockets. everything that you need to know about man-made space objects are in this book. I recommend this to space fans. I rate Space Travel a 7/10.

Bugs ~ Greta

Title: Bugs

Author: Whiti Hereaka

Genre: New Zealand Literature

Book: 17/20

This book followed the life of Bugs. Your average 16 year old girl without her drivers license. For years it had been Bugs and Jez. Jez and Bugs. That was until the new girl, Stone Cold, arrived and they became wild friends. Their lives were literally trial and error. They did drugs, got drunk (despite underage), egged the house of Jez's mum's boyfriend, contemplated dropping out of school and got fed up with the teachers reminding them that every little thing they did could affect their future. They just wanted to live in the moment. Careless. So that's what they did.

I really liked this book. It was down to earth and original. It was interesting to see the outcomes of their actions. Disappointingly though, the book ended rather abruptly leaving me hanging with half of my gaping mouth still driving away in Stone Cold's beat up red car like they did at the end of the book. I rate it a 9/10. I recommend it to anyone who likes young people discovering their true self.

A Wrinkle in Time ~ Greta

Title: A Wrinkle in Time

Author: Madeleine L'engle's

Genre: Graphic Novel

Book: 16/20

Late one night, 3 mysterious beings (if you can call them that) appear and take Meg Murry, her brother Charles Wallace and their new friend Calvin O'Keefe away on a mission. They must find Meg's father who went missing while away on top secret work for the government. They travel through tesseract; a wrinkle that transports the object it's carrying through space and time. In the action of discovering Mr Murry, the 3 friends unlock something much more powerful.

This book was a graphic novel and it was not something I would normally read. In fact, I would never read a story in comic form. I didn't really enjoy it to be honest. It was a very bizarre story line and I would much prefer to imagine the scenes and characters appearances using my very own imagination. I rate it a 3/10.

James and the Giant Peach ~ Rana

James and the Giant Peach ~ Roald Dahl

9/20

Genre ~ Classic Literature

James' loving parents had died when they were eaten outside London Zoo by an angry rhinoceros. Since then, James has been living with his horrible Aunt Sponge and Aunt Spiker. Ever since James started living with his Aunts, he was miserable and treated very badly. One day an old man appeared in the garden and gave James a bag of tiny green crystals. The old man gave him some very clear instructions what to do with the crystals and when he went to do them, James tripped over and spilled all the crystals everywhere near a peach tree. James was devastated about the spillage and tried to pick them up as fast as e could but the crystals sunk into the earth. James finally gave up. Later that day, Aunt Spiker noticed a peach growing on the tree and that was a big deal as a peach had never grown on that tree before. The peach kept growing and growing until it was almost as big as a house. Later at night, James' Aunts threw him outside and that's when he found the hole in the peach. This was also the start to his big adventure. The peach, James and the insects inside travelled to America trying make a fresh start and make new friends. They also hit a few bumps along the way. I loved this story as it had so many unexpected things happen. I give this book a 9/10.

A Giant Problem ~ Rana

A Giant Problem ~ Tony Diterlizzi & Holly Black

8/20

Genre ~ Fantasy

Laurie and her step-brother Nick had been given the gift to see, hear and touch real giants. Things go out of hand when Laurie and Nick attempt at slaying giants. As their attempt was a fail, the giants got angry and burnt down all the houses in a local neighbourhood. Laurie and Nick are the only ones that can see the giants so the locals are in suspense to who set the fire. After they evacuate their home Laurie accidentally gives Nick's older brother Jules the gift to see, hear and touch real giants. Jules is very calm about having the sight and together all 3 of them think of a brilliant plan to get rid of the giants. This book is book 2 of a squeal and the story line keeps going so it is best to read book 1 first. Overall I think this book was very fascinating and it had many unexpected twists. I rate this book a 7/10

The Book of Speculation - Kendra

Book 6/20

The Book of Speculation by Erika Swyler

Genre: Mystery

This book tells the story of Simon Watson. Simon lives alone in an old house on the edge of a cliff. It was his home since he was young when his mother and father still lived. Simon's mother was a carnival actress, she was what many called a mermaid. Holding her breath for an unbelievably long amount of time. She mysteriously drowned on the 24th of July without warning. Many thought it was suicide, that drove her to the depths of the sea. Simon was left to take care of his younger sister Enola as their father had gone into depression, soon after that he died as well. Simon cared for his sister like a father until she left to join the carnival. He had then carried on with his life working at the library, but one day Simon receives a book. This book has history about what he believes is his family. But why? Simon then decides to look further into the pages of the book and his family's history and discovers a great problem. All the women in his family have died on the 24th of July. Simon worries for Enola and soon receives a call from her saying that her carnival will be coming to their hometown. So he sets himself out to find out why. But the more Simon discovers the more he realises how much he and his sister are in danger.

I enjoyed reading this book, it had many twists and unsuspecting surprises. Overall I would rate it 8/10.

Red ink- Paige

Be counted!- Paige

Title: Be counted!
Author: Amy Phelps (diary)
Genre: Biography/Autobiography/memoir.

'Be counted!' By Amy Phelps is diary of 13yr old Amy's life. When her mother can't afford for her to go to collage, she goes and lives with her aunt and uncle in Dunedin. While in hills creak, there was never any money coming in as when her father DID go to work, he spent all his income on alcohol. But, in Dunedin with her aunt, Amy's life has completely changed. Back in hills creak, Amy's life was filled with chores, school and poverty. But life with her aunt and uncle is luxurious. They are so rich, they have a maid, AND money for food, AND new clothes for Amy.
Overall, the book is a story of her life and all the challenges she underwent with that change in her life.

I rate this book a 5/10 because it wasn't really what I enjoy reading.

Apple and Rain ~ Cameron ~

Apple and Rain

Author: Sarah Crossan

Rating: 5/5

Apple and Rain is a book about a girl named Apple, who lives with her Nana because her mum ran away to be an actress in America.  She always wishes that her mum would come back to England, but one day she does. She goes to live with her mum and then finds out she has a sister called Rain. Her sister loves her doll that is named Jenny. Then Apple is sick of the doll so kicks it and stomps on it. That night Rain runs away, and her mum is out trying to find a job. So she has to try and find rain by herself. She eventually finds Rain and they live happily ever after.

My Second life by Faye Bird - Emma

My Second Life by Faye Bird 

Genre: Free Choice 

Ana is a 15 year old girl who is living her second life. She once lived as Emma, who also had many friends but wants to know how she died and why she's back, but Ana has a feeling it's got something to do with Catherine. Catherine was Emma's childhood friend. That was until she died in a stream when playing with Emma. Ana decides she must know what happened and confronts a woman from her past life, that woman was Catherine's mum. Ana is now haunted by flashbacks of Catherine lying face down in the water, freaking out her boyfriend and family. Ana decides to confront Emma's mum and it turns out Emma committed suicide, but was it because of guilt? Emma's mum is determined it's not her, so they confront Catherine's mum in order to get the truth.

9/10. A great book with heaps of mysteries and plot twists. I recommend it to everyone who likes mystery or Science fiction.