The BFG ~ Rana

   

The BFG ~ by Roald Dahl
11/20
Genre ~ Classic Literature

Sophie is an orphan at a horrible orphanage in England. She absolutely hates it. One night Sophie was sneakily reading her book when she heard a loud noise. She quietly tiptoed out of bed to peep out the window. As she look out the window, she saw him, the BFG. Their eyes met each other then Sophie ran straight to her bed, trembling with fear. The BFG came leaping over to the window and snatched Sophie out of her bed and trotted of to his country with her. From that moment, Sophie's life had changed for the better. She had a great journey to giant country while she made new friends, met people she never thought she would met and did things she never thought she would do.

This book wasn't really challenging for me but I still really enjoyed. I would recommend this book to younger readers. I give this book an 8/10.

The Graveyard Book ~ Rana

The Graveyard Book ~ Neil Gaiman

10/20

Genre ~ Free Choice

Nobody (Bod) Owens is young boy who lives in a graveyard with both his parents being ghosts. Before living in the graveyard, Bod had a normal life until his true parents were murdered at night time. At the time of the murder, Bod was only 1 years old. That night, Bod crawled out of his cot down the stairs and outside onto the street to avoid getting murdered by the man Jack (the murderer). He crawled all the way to the graveyard where he met ghosts called Mr and Mrs Owens. They raised him for over 13 years. Bod had many adventures within the graveyard as well as making many friends and receiving  the gift of the graveyard.  There was only 1 major rule that Bod had to follow- NEVER LEAVE THE GRAVEYARD! Mr and Mrs Owens (with the help of Silas- a vampire) successful protected Bod from the man who was out to get him, until one day when Bod broke the rule and left the graveyard. From the minute Bod steeped out of the graveyard, his life was endanger. This book was confusing at first but then It was easier to understand. I would recommend this book to someone who likes a interesting fantasy book. I give it a 8/10. 

Between Shades of Gray - Tiana Holloway

Between Shades of Gray

Author: Ruta Seppetys

Genre: Historical Fiction

'Lina is just like any other fifteen-year-old Lithuanian girl in 1941. She paints, she draws, she gets crushes on boys.Until one night when Soviet officers barge into her home, tearing her family from the comfortable life they've known. Separated from her father, forced onto a dirty and crowded train car, Lina, her mother and her younger brother slowly make their way north, crossing the Arctic Circle, to a work camp in the coldest reaches of Siberia. Here they are forced, under Stalin's orders, to dig for beets and to fight for their lives under the cruelest of conditions

Lina finds solace in her art, meticulously --and at a great risk-- documenting events by drawing, hoping these messages will make their way to her father's prison camp to let him know they are still alive. It is a long and harrowing journey, spanning years and covering 6,500 miles, but it is through incredible strength, love and hope that Lina survives. Between Shades of Gray is a novel that will steal your breath and capture your heart.'

Between Shades of Gray is based around the Soviet genocide in WW2. It follows the main protagonist, Lina Vilkas, and the hardships her and her family and friends had to go through in order to survive. You learn about the Vilkas' backstory and about Lina's favourite artist and her inspiration, Edvard Munch. It's a story of hope, war, survival, friends and family.

I would recommend this book to people that a looking for a story of war, survival and family. Someone else recommended this book to me and I immediately thought I wouldn't like it but the author surprised me. Ruta Sepetys' writing is beautiful, intriguing and incredibly descriptive. Ruta has a trilogy of historical fiction novels. Her two other novels are Out of the Easy and Salt to the Sea. I give it a 10/10 because I found absolutely no flaws in this book and it was a pleasant surprise because I'm not much of a historical fiction kind of reader.

Tigers On The Beach ~ Cameron ~

Tigers on the beach

Author: Doug MacLeod

Rating: ⅘

Adam and his family own a hotel called the Ponderosa. Adam's best mate is his grandad, and when Grandad dies his whole family seems to fall apart. Adam then meets a girl named Sam. Adam takes Sam to where they will scatter his grandad's ashes. As they do the wind changes direction and some of the ashes goes onto Adams dads face. Sam laughs but hides it so no one noticed. Adam went to bed that night wondering if its ok to laugh at something thats not funny. Later that week Adam goes to watch Sam play the flute at a festival. While she is playing the flute sam falls of the back of the stage. Adam goes to see if she is alright. She is, but then Adam finds himself laughing. Sam makes a big deal out of it so they break up. After about a month Adam decides that he is lost without Sam so makes a joke about tigers on the beach. Then they get back together and live happily ever after.

Hatchet ~Cameron~

Hatchet

Author: Gary Paulsen

Rating ⅘

The Hatchet is about a boy called brian who goes to visit his dad which he has to go on a plane to get to him. He goes on a plane with only him and the pilot. Then the pilot has a heart attack and dies. Brian decides to crash into the lake as he thinks that is the only way to survive.He survives the crash and then has to survive in the wilderness. Then after 54 days they find brain.

Next ~ Greta

(Obviously this is not the actual book cover. I couldn't find anything even remotely close so it's an american clothing store)

Title: Next

Author: There are multiple authors 

Genre: Short story

Book: 20/20 (Yay finished!)

I really didn't like the short story format. Also, it didn't help that the short stories were boring and absolutely pointless. There's not really much more to say than I didn't enjoy this book. I rate it a 5/10. 

Troydyn Bird-Stay Where You Are Then Leave

Title: Stay Where you are then Leave

Author: John Boyne

Alfie Summsfeild is the main character, and his father Georgi Summersfeild has just been sent to the war (WW1). Alfies Mum Margie Summersfeild is struggling to pay the bills and rent so Alfie shines shoe at the railway station to help out. Usually they get letters from Georgi but they suddenly stop. This is because Georgi is in hospital with a ill mind called shell shock. Margie didnt tell Alfie and Alfie finds out by reading the secret letters his moms been getting. Alfie sets off on Secret Missions and brings home his Father. 

This was a great book to read and it was interesting to read.I rate it 10/10 

How to Avoid a Wombats Bum-Mitchell Symons-Nika 16/20

How to Avoid a Wombats Bum
Author-Mitchell Symons
Genre-Informational


How to Avoid a Wombats Bum is a book filled
with random,wacky facts about everything.
It does sound silly but is filled with really cool facts
that I personally found interesting.Like did you know that
Simon Cowell and Ashton Kutcher have twin brothers.

Overall I thought this book was a fun way to learn
cool stuff so I give it a 8/10.
-Nika

The Graveyard Book-Neil Gaiman-Nika 15/20

The Graveyard Book
Author-Neil Gaiman
Genre-Fantasy


Nobody is a orphan who is being raised by ghosts.
The Owens couple take Nobody in as a child of
their own.Nobody looks up to a lot of people at the
graveyard especially his guardian Silas.But as Nobody
grows up he discovers someone is out to get him but
who and why is the question on his mind.

I personally found this book interesting and
recommend it to all.9/10
-Nika

To Be Mona - Maia.

Genre - Free Choice.
Although 'To Be Mona' is portrayed as the perspective of 5 different people,  it tells the story of a 17 year old, Sage Priestley,  who isn't very fond of her life and would like to 'strip away her parts'. After her mentally ill mother is sent to hospital for a few weeks, Sage is left to look after herself, whilst also trying to maintain a social life. All the while, she wishes she had the easy and glamorous life of her fellow peer, Mona Simms. 

Black Beauty - Paige F

Name: Black Beauty
Author: Anna Sewell
Genre: Classical

Black Beauty is a book about a talking horse. Each chapter tells a different part of his life. During the course of his life, Black Beauty goes to many different homes, and makes many different friends. It is a scholastics classic, and was written in 1877.

I liked this book, though at times it was hard to read (because of when it was written). I rate it a 7/10

Off the page

Name: Off the page
Authors: Jodi Picoult and Samantha Van Leer
Genre: Fantasy (free choice #2)

Off the page is the sequel to Jodi Picoult and Samantha Van Leer's first book; Between the lines.
First of all,a quick summary of in Between the lines.
Unlike when you hear people say,  'I really felt a connection to the characters, it was as if they were talking to me!' Deliah actually CAN talk to the characters in the book. And this is how she met Oliver - the prince she fell in love with. The storyline continues, and Deliah and Oliver are trying everything they can to get Oliver out of the book - so him and Deliah can live happily ever after.

Off the page:
Now that Oliver is out of the book, Deliah couldn't be more happy. Life seems perfect. But, when Oliver's 'mother' starts to get headaches, and the other charters inside the book want to come out as well, Deliah and Oliver's 'perfect world' starts to crumble...

I really enjoyed this book and I would recommend it, and Between the lines to anyone who likes a good story. I rate it 8/10

Stay Where You Are Then Leave - Ethin.

Stay where you are then leave is about a boy named Alfie, whos father went to war. The war started on his 5th birthday so it wasn't that hard for him to forget. He grew up thinking his Dad was on a secret mission, but that wasn't the case...or was it? 

Personally I loved this book and would recommend it to anyone who likes to read war fiction or adventure. It has a decent size, but you get hooked in so much, that you read way more than you thought. I rate this 8.5/10

Harry Potter and the Cursed Child - Kendra

Book 8/20


Harry Potter and the Cursed Child, J.K Rowling, John Tiffany and  Jack Throne

Genre: Fantasy (Free choice No.1)

Harry Potter and the Cursed Child is a screenplay about Harry and his son Albus. Albus Severus Potter is the only child in the Potter family to be sorted into slytherin house. Albus feels disappointed in himself and becomes friends with Scorpius  Malfoy. Together they take on the mission to save Cedric Diggory, after eavesdropping on his father's discussions Albus hears of Cedric and learns of a secret time turner that the ministry has kept. The boys go off to change time and end up in many different realities until they get trapped in time by none other than Voldemort's daughter. She destroys the time turner and tells them her plans to stop her father from attacking Harry when he was a baby, so that his power will not fade and so that she and him could rule the world together. Scorpius and Albus must stop her and get home without the time turner.

I found this book very intriguing. It was a bit confusing with the traveling in time and also with the screenplay type writing. Overall I rate it a 8/10

Black Beauty - Kendra

Book 7/20


Black Beauty, Anna Sewell

Genre: Classical Literature

Black beauty is a horse, that has had a hard life. He switched owners a lot of times, while learning more and more about people and the world around him. The story is set around the 1800s where horses where the main mode of transport. Black Beauty made many friends some of whom had hard lives, where they were whipped and treated badly, others had kind owners and were treated with kindness and respect.

I liked this story, but in the time line it is set in it's a bit confusing. Overall I rate it an 7/10