WOLF BROTHER

WOLF BROTHER
Chronicles of Ancient Darkness: Book 1
By Michelle Paver
240 pp. Orion. £8.99. (Ages 9 and up)

ISBN
9781842551707

Rating: 4.5 Stars

      This books tells you about a boy whose father had died and had been told to go to the world spirit before the red moon and ask for help to destroy the bear that killed him.
      When Torak finds himself all alone in the forest to fend for himself, find the world sprit and ask for help he meets up with a wolf cub and becomes friends. He calls it Wolf. One day Torak finds himself captured by a different clan for killing an animal in their part of the forest. Torak is luckily helped out by one of the girls. What happens when Torak find that he has to find the three strongest pieces of the Nanuak? Will he be able to find them in time or not?
      This book made me understand what dangers you might have in North West Europe six thousand years ago. My favourite character is Renn because she's really good at archery. My favourite part is when Torak find the river eyes. I think ages nine and up should read this brilliant book. I think this book deserves four and a half out of five stars.


Renn's Bow and Arrows. Accessories for World Book Day costume, inspired by Wolf Brother. Gift bag covered in packaging paper with designs in colored pencil. String and twigs carved with pocket knife. Original design by Bellusaurus sui.

MY SISTER LIVES ON THE MANTELPIECE

MY SISTER LIVES ON THE MANTELPIECE
By Annabel Pitcher
240 pages. Orion. £9.99 (Ages 11+)

ISBN
9781444001839

Rating: 4 stars

      This book informs you that even on the rainiest days of sadness the sun can always come out at the end of it.
      Jamie and his family live in London. When his sister Rose is killed, the rest of the family move away. Unfortunately the parents start to fight so much that finally the mum goes to live with Nigel, a man who works with her. Due to this the two children only have a drunken dad to look after them. In Jamie's new school basically all the children are mean to him except for Sunya. However that bothers his dad because she's a Muslim and Muslims killed his sister. What happens when Sunya gets fed up with Jamie treating her so badly and stops being his friend? Will Jamie ever be able to fix their friendship again or will he not?
      My favourite character is Sunya because she always stands up for Jamie. My favourite part is when Sunya puts clay sausage rolls on Jesus's head in Daniel's clay stable to get Daniel in trouble because it is the funniest part. I think ages nine through twenty should read this brilliant book. I think this book deserves four out of five stars. This made me think that if one person in a religion did something bad that it doesn't mean everybody else in the religion is bad too.

YOSHIKO AND THE GIFT OF CHARMS

YOSHIKO AND THE GIFT OF CHARMS
Land of Dragor Series Book 1
By Julia Suzuki
280 pages. Steve Brookes. £12.99 (Ages 8+)

ISBN
9780956414588

Rating: 4.5 stars

      This book tells you about a young dragon called Yoshiko who was born out of a colourful egg.
      When Yoshiko was born every one thought he would bring a curse to Dragor, land of the dragons. On Yoshiko's first day at fire school a purple Alana dragon teased him for not knowing how to blow fire yet. One day Yoshiko nearly turned yellow in front of all the other dragons and flew away to a cave out of embarrassment were he met an old dragon. What happens when Yoshiko finds out what he was made to do? Will he be brave and do it or shall he not?
      My favourite character is Yoshiko because he's the hero of the story. My favourite part is when Yoshiko goes into the volcano because that's the scariest part. I think ages eight through fifteen should read this brilliant book. I think this book deserves four and a half out of five stars. I think this story teaches a good lesson, that everyone is special and it doesn't really matter if you're extra different because it's probably for a very very special reason.




The Dragon's Hoard. Movie trailer inspired by Yoshiko and the Gift of Charms. Black and white paper cut out of the "Dragon" optical illusion, available at http://www.sticksite.com/dragon/index.html. Filmed using digital camera and edited using iMovie software. Original design by Bellusaurus sui.

MISTER CREECHER

MISTER CREECHER
By Chris Priestley
400 pages. Bloomsbury. £10.99 (Ages 12+)

ISBN
9781408811047

Rating: 5 stars

      This book tells you about a boy who makes friends with a monster.
      After the monster persuades the boy, Billy, to spy on Frankenstein (the man who made the monster) they start to become friends. Billy spies on Frankenstein and the monster steals the money and food to live off of. What happens when Billy starts to doubt the monster? Will he go back to living on the floor or will he change his mind and stay with the monster?
      My favourite part is when the monster tells Billy his secret because you’re itching to know the monster’s secret and he finally tells it. My favourite character is Billy because he's the main character so I know the most about him. I think ages eight through fifteen should read this book. I think this book deserves five out of five stars. I really like the writing because it has lots of action. I think the writing is very suspenseful because you always want to turn the page in case something exciting happens next.

also on Guardian Children's Books Site