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

OVER THE EDGE

OVER THE EDGE
Mysteries in Our National Parks #7
By Gloria Skurzynski and Alane Ferguson.
160 pages. National Geographic Society. $4.99 (Ages 9 and up)

ISBN
9781426301773

Rating: 5 Stars

      This book tells you about a family who goes to the Grand Canyon to solve the mystery of the condors, but have to take a boy called Morgan with them.
      The brother and the father in the family want to take Morgan with them but the mother and sister don't. A few days later the mother finds out that Morgan wrote some bad stuff about the sister. What happens when somebody pushes the mother over the Grand Canyon and everyone thinks Morgan did it? Is Morgan innocent or is he not?
      My favourite character is Morgan because he becomes good at the end. My favourite part is when the mother falls over the edge and everyone accuses Morgan of pushing her because that's the most exciting bit. I think ages eight through fifteen should read this brilliant book. I think this book deserves five out of five stars. This book made me go back in time to when I was at the Grand Canyon and makes me remember the fear of falling and the beauty of the colourful rocks.

THE BAREFOOT BOOK OF BALLET STORIES

THE BAREFOOT BOOK OF BALLET STORIES (with CD)
By Jane Yolen and Heidi E.Y. Stemple. Illustrated by Rebecca Guay
80 pages. Barefoot Books. $23.99 (Ages 8 and up)

ISBN
9781846862625

Rating: ? Stars

Its about stories that have dancing in it. That's why it's called ballet stories. I like the book because I like dancing and singing because it's fun. And I like
princes dress and princess too and they're beautiful. and the princess is kind too.

the parts that I don't like are: Cinderella's stepmother and stepsisters are so mean. Aurora's sixth fairy is so mean too.and It's scary.

I like the part when the princesses dance and sing. I like to read princess books.And it's fun to see dress's.it's a fun book.

Cinderella is kind princess.Aurora is a nice princess. Copelia is a lie.but i like the book. because I like princess.

the part that I don't like is:mean people.like Cinderella's stepmother. copela's dad. and I hate it. it's like you are a made

THE WORST THINGS IN LIFE ARE ALSO FREE

THE WORST THINGS IN LIFE ARE ALSO FREE
Dear Dumb Diary Series: #10
By Jim Benton
160 pages. Scholastic. $5.99 (Ages 9 and up)

ISBN
9780545116145

Rating: ? Stars

I like this book because it is funny. The funny part is melt 1000 Popsicle and re - freeze them into a massive Popsicle. And birds sing for free but they poo for free to. And Isabella cut all of her hair. And Isabella is her 3rd friend.

This book is about she's fining money for going to the amusement park. But it's is long time for getting 100 dollars. But Emmily said "it is not hard to mack 100 dollar". So she mack car wash for $4.50. Emmily is her best friend.

I do not like this book because. I do not like the part when Isabella cut her hair. And punch James mom. james is me. And Riky pup a lot.

The mean part is when Angeline drank the lemonade. and James set on baby's so it's easy to babysit. Angeline is her 1st friend.and Isabella yells at baby's to.

fun stuff for James is. merry-go-rounds with real animals.and all games have cash and diamonds. cotton candy.

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.