TALINA IN THE TOWER

TALINA IN THE TOWER
By Michelle Louric
320 pages. Orion. £9.99. (Ages 12 and up).

ISBN
9781444003383

Rating: 5 Stars

      This book tells you of the adventures Talina had when her parents were taken away by the Ravageurs.
      When neither of Talina’s parents came home that night she is taken to her guardian’s tower. Talina, deep in the belief that her parents are not dead, tries to escape and find them. Talina is then turned into a cat and nearly drowned by her guardian. What happens when the Ravageurs decide to burn Venice? Will Talina be able to stop them or not?
      My favourite character is Talina because she’s the only one who tries to stop the Ravageurs. My favourite part is when Talina pours Dandelion and Daisy and Liquid Lullaby into the Ravageurs' food. I think ages eight through twelve should read this book. I think this book deserves five out of five stars. You could tell I was enjoying this book because whenever I read it I had a smile on my face. This book was so good that even when my parents were talking loudly (they’re very noisy) I was swept away into its magical adventures.

Comparison: A TALE DARK AND GRIMM and THE GRIMM LEGACY

A TALE DARK AND GRIMM
By Adam Gidwitz
272 pages. Andersen. £5.99. (Ages 9 and up).

ISBN
9781849393706

Rating: 5 Stars


THE GRIMM LEGACY
By Polly Shulman
336 pages. Putnam Juvenile. $16.99. (Ages 10 and up).

ISBN
9780399250965

Rating: 5 Stars

      A Tale Dark and Grimm tells you the true story about Hansel and Gretel. It is about a king who marries a beautiful princess. His faithful servant, Johannes, turns to stone for saving them. However, that’s not the whole story because then they have children and they cut off their heads so that Johannes will come back to life. Although that’s not where the story ends. The children then come back to life and run away to find new parents. Hansel and Gretel are then pushed around to different parents but never is one good enough.
      My favourite character is Gretel because she kills a dragon. My favourite part is when Gretel goes to a murderer’s house. I think ages eight through twelve should read this brilliant book. I think this book deserves five out of five stars. I like this book so much that I just want to read it over and over again but sadly it belongs to the library, I just wish I had it!
      The Grimm Legacy is about a young girl called Elizabeth who works at a library that isn’t really a library of books. To find out what the library has in it read the book yourself.
      A Tale Dark and Grimm and The Grimm Legacy are both amazingly good but I think that A Tale Dark and Grimm is better because there’s no kissing.Both of these books have some things to do with the Grimm's fairy tales and actually involve some of my favourite fairy tales. I think that the way The Grimm Legacy is connected to the Grimm's fairy tales is good because they take things from the fairy tales and try to say what would happen if they were in our world. On the other hand A Tale Dark and Grimm is actually retelling one of the Grimm's fairy tales.

also on Guardian Children's Books Site

THE SLEEPING ARMY

THE SLEEPING ARMY
By Francesca Simon
256 pages. Profile Books Ltd. £9.99. (Ages 8 and up).

ISBN
9781846682780

Rating: 5 Stars

      This book is about a girl named Freya who when she blows a horn at the British Museum is taken to Asgard, the realm of the gods.
      This book is about a young girl called Freya who blows a Viking horn and wakes up four chess pieces Rovska, Alfi, Sleipner and Snot. All five of them are then summoned to Asgard and told to get Iddun the goddess who used to guard there apples that made them stay young and that if they didn't they would turn to stone and wait for the next hero to blow the horn. Freya is just terrified and wants to go home, Alfi is cheerful and happy and helpful, and Snot and Rovska just want to get it done with. What happens when Loki steals the apples back from them when they find them? Will they get them back in time or will they all turn into stone?
      My favourite character is Freya because she is very smart. My favourite part is when she goes into the underworld.  I was amazed when I read this book because Horid Henry is not very attractive to me but this book was brilliant.  I think ages eight through fourteen should read this brilliant book. I think this book definitely deserves five out of five stars.

A MONSTER CALLS

A MONSTER CALLS
By Patrick Ness. Illustrated by Jim Kay.
216 pages. Walker. £12.99. (Ages 12 and up).

ISBN
9781406311525

Rating: 5 Stars

      This book tells you about a young boy who is visited by a monster.
      It is about a twelve year old boy called Conor who one night sees instead of a yew tree through his window a monster. Another time the monster grabs him, takes him out, and tells him that he shall tell him three stories then he shall then tell the truth and afterwards when he had left and Conor woke up he found poisonous red yew tree berries scattered across the floor. What happens when it finally comes to telling the truth? Will Conor tell it and be rid of the nightmare or shall he live inside the nightmare forever?
      My favourite character is Conor because he is fearless. My favourite part is the scariest part, when Conor is inside the nightmare. Although my parents think the monster is just adrenalin I know that it is real because of the baby yew tree growing in his room. I think ages eight through fifteen should read this brilliant book. I think this book definitely deserves five out of five stars.

THE BIG SNUGGLE-UP

THE BIG SNUGGLE-UP
By Brian Patten
Illustrated by Nicola Bayley
32 pages. Andersen Press Ltd. £10.99 (Ages 0+)

ISBN
9781849392082

Rating: 4 Stars


This book tells you about an old scarecrow and lots of animals in a house. It is about a scarecrow and nine animals going together in a house. First an old scarecrow and a mouse go in the house. Then a robin and a butterfly go into the house. After that a squirrel and a rabbit come into the house. Next a cat and a dog come into the house. Then a fawn, a lamb, and a donkey came into the house. Lastly a heron, a fox, and an owl came into the house. My favourite character is the dog. My favourite part is when the donkey comes in. I think the pictures are amazingly real. I think ages four and five should read this book. I think this book deserves four out of five stars.
also on Guardian Children's Books Site

(communicated by Agustinia ligabuei; written by Bellusaurus sui)

EARWIG AND THE WITCH

EARWIG AND THE WITCH
By Diana Wynne Jones
144 pages. HarperCollinsChildren’sBooks. £6.99. (Ages 8 and up).

ISBN
9780007416851

Rating: 4.5 Stars

      This book tells you about an orphan girl who is taken home by a witch.

      It is about a young orphan girl named Earwig who one day is actually chosen to be taken home by someone. Although that someone is a witch plus a tall, skinny, fiery young man. The minute Earwig walks into the witch's home her whole life changes going from getting whatever she wanted to to being a slave for an ugly old witch. What happens when Earwig starts to take her revenge? Will she finally be rid of this witch and win or shall she be defeated by the witch and live the rest of her life as a slave?

      My favourite character is Earwig because she is quite brave. My favourite part is the funniest part, when two hands grow on the witch one on the face and one on the bum. I think this book is exactly as good as the other Diana Wynne Jones books I have read. I think ages eight through twelve should read this wonderful book. I think this book deserves four and a half out of five stars.
also on Guardian Children's Books Site

THE INVENTION OF HUGO CABRET

THE INVENTION OF HUGO CABRET
A Novel in Words and Pictures.
By Brian Selznick.
Illustrated. 533 pages. Scholastic Press. £12.99. (Ages 9 and up).

ISBN
9781407103488

Rating: 5 Stars


      This book tells you of the adventures Hugo Cabret had while trying to fix the automaton without being caught.
      It is about a 12 year old boy called Hugo Cabret whose father died in a fire in the museum where he had worked and had found an automaton. After the fire went out, Hugo lived with his uncle in a train station where he was trying to live by stealing food. His uncle went missing, but he continued to work on his uncle's clocks so no one would know. Meanwhile, he was fixing the automaton which he recovered from the wreckage of the museum fire. Hugo only has one problem, the train station toy shop owner has stolen his notebook. What happens when the toy shop owner says that his notebook is burned? Should Hugo believe the toy shop owner and give up or should he keep on trying to find the notebook and maybe end up fixing the automaton?
      My favourite character is Isabelle because she is quite adventurous. My favourite part is when Isabelle and Hugo watch the automaton write and draw. I think this book was written a bit like a flip book because you feel a bit like you are watching a movie when you turn over all of the lovely pictures. It's not just an ordinary flip book because it has zoom and movement, not just movement. I think it will make a really good 3D movie and I hope I will get a chance to see it. I think people aged eight through forty should read this brilliant book. I think this book deserves five out of five stars.
also on Guardian Children's Books Site



Hurricane. Film inspired by The Invention of Hugo Cabret. Constructed from one scanned pencil sketch on paper and sound effects recorded from violin and background noise using iMovie software. Original design by Bellusaurus sui.

MY STORY 4 book comparison

MY STORY: VIKING BLOOD
By Andrew Donkin
176 pages. Scholastic. £6.99. (Ages 8 and up).

ISBN
9781407104812

Rating: 4.5 Stars



MY STORY: ROMAN INVASION
By Jim Eldridge
144 pages. Scholastic. £6.99. (Ages 8 and up).

ISBN
9781407107370

Rating: 4.5 Stars



MY ROYAL STORY: ANASTASIA
By Carolyn Meyer
224 pages. Scholastic. £6.99. (Ages 8 and up).

ISBN
9781407116198

Rating: 4.5 Stars



MY ROYAL STORY: ANNE BOLEYN AND ME
By Alison Prince
224 pages. Scholastic. £6.99. (Ages 9 and up).

ISBN
9781407114774

Rating: 4.5 Stars


      This report is about four books, one's called "Viking Blood", another's called "Roman Invasion", another's called "Anastasia" and the last is called "Anne Boleyn and Me". The similarity between these four novels is that they are all historical.
      First I will tell you about the book called "Anne Boleyn and Me". It is about a Tudor girl named Elinor who is one of the ladies in waiting for Queen Catherine of Aragon. Anne Boleyn was as well until she caught the eye of King Henry. Since then the people of the town hated her for they wanted to stay true to their first queen, Catherine of Aragon. King Henry tried really hard (too hard) for Anne Boleyn just to divorce Catherine and marry her instead. King Henry marries her but he regrets it after about two years, a bit silly in my mind. What happens when Anne Boleyn is suspected of witchery? Shall she be condemned to death or not?
      Secondly I shall tell you about the book called "Anastasia". It is about a Russian Grand Duchess called Anastasia who is the youngest daughter of the tsar. Things go well for her family with lovely Easter feasts and sledging in the winter until the first World War and the Bolshevik Revolution comes along. Anastasia and her family are now captured and sent far away to Siberia. The life that Anastasia now knows is far from the same as her old life, she goes from eating fancy roast meals and fancy cakes off of silver tables to eating cheese and bread off of the floor.
      Thirdly I shall tell you about the book called "Roman Invasion". It is about a British warrior prince of the Carvetii tribe called Bran who is captured by the Romans to be held as a hostage. The Roman soldiers are building a road for protection and are using him to make sure no British soldiers attack in the middle for they shall kill Bran if anyone does attack. On the way Bran makes friends with two Greek men who had the choice to die or to work for the Roman soldiers and chose to work for them. One day when a British tribe did try to kill the Roman soldiers the two men pretended it was a completely different tribe and said they knew by their tattoos. What happens when Bran kills one of the soldiers from his very own tribe to save one of the two men? Shall the gods kill him for killing someone in his own tribe or shall they spare his life for saving a man?
      Lastly I shall tell you about the book called "Viking Blood". It is about a boy called Tor Scaldbane (Tor for short) who is going on the next raiding party. Tor and his half brother Ragner train with Tyral and their father to get ready for raiding. When they actually start raiding they find that they won't just be raiding but that they shall have war on the battlefield. Tor and Ragner imagined themselves fighting without the slightest fear and winning for everyone but when the time actually came they just stood there for a couple of minutes before actually starting to fight. Although they weren't the best fighters they still ended up killing one man each. What happens when Tor's hand is cut off and a great fever comes upon him? Shall the gods be kind and let him live through it or shall they make him be gone forever and ever.
      My favourite book would probably be "Anne Boleyn and Me" because her head gets chopped off, then "Viking Blood", then "Anastasia", and finally "Roman Invasion". My favourite character from all the books is Anne Boleyn because she is very brave, turns into queen, and tried to let normal people read. I think people aged eight through forty should read these books. I would rate all of these books four and a half out of five stars.

MY ROYAL STORY: MARIE ANTOINETTE

MY ROYAL STORY: MARIE ANTOINETTE
By Kathryn Lasky
224 pages. Scholastic. £6.99. (Ages 8 and up).

ISBN
9781407116181

Rating: 5 Stars

      This book tells you of the adventures Marie Antoinette had on her way to becoming a French queen. It is about a young princess called Marie Antoinette who is learning how to be a French queen. Although she hates being away from her family she knows it can't be to bad. On her way to becoming Queen many sad and funny things happen. It is sad when her dance teacher dies, however it is funny when she has to run naked in front of five thousand people! Marie Antoinette is not very happy when she meets her husband because she finds he has pimples, is really fat, and droops a lot. Later on she finds she might be able to make a friend of him. Marie Antoinette hates her main lady in waiting who wears thick red lip gloss, likes to be very proper, and makes the king do what ever she wants him to. However when Queen Marie Antoinette finds that she cannot take a bath, go to the toilet or eat privately she is very surprised and angry for she learned how to go to the toilet and take a bath herself when she was six. When Marie Antoinette shows her husband how to simply make a snowball he starts singing a rhyme about his wonderful wife and how lucky he is to have her. What happens when Marie Antoinette's main lady in waiting expels Marie Antoinette's favourite lady in waiting? Will Marie Antoinette ever get her back?
      This book is set in 1769 AD. This book is set in the palace, in the village, in the garden and in the hospitals.
      My favourite part is the funniest part, when Marie Antoinette has to run naked in front of 5000 people! My favourite character is Marie Antoinette because she turns into a queen. I think people aged eight through forty should read this book. I think this book deserves five out of five stars.

BEDEVILED: DADDY'S LITTLE ANGEL

BEDEVILED: DADDY'S LITTLE ANGEL
Bedeviled Series: Book 1
By Shani Petroff. Illustrated by J. David McKenney.
240 pages. Penguin Group. $6.99. (Ages 8 and up).

ISBN
9780448451114

Rating: 3 Stars


It is about a devil.The devil is Angel's dad. Angel's dad gave Angel power.but Angel does not know how to use her power. When she used her power she made a mistake. She put her friends in the zoo, in cages.

she's sad because she does not have friends now. Sunday Angel goes to Gabi's house and says sorry for yesterday so on Monday she,ll have friends.

On Monday Cole came to school and said to Angel "Friday can we go on a date",I like the book because I love the part when Cole kissed Angel it was so funny.I was sad because Angel did not have friend.