Your Reviews - February 2011
Read reviews of:
The Toymaker and the Bird Pamela Allen
Review by Review by Megan Lake, Age 6, Brookfield School
Winner of Scholastic reviews competition February 2011
The story was about the toy maker. The toymaker was carving his wooden toys. When he finished his toys he took out his violin and played an enchanting tune. Lots of birds gathered around the toymaker to listen. They were put under a spell. One bird sang too. She was beautiful. But one day the toymaker did something terrible. He locked her in a cage while she was asleep. Then she never sang again. The toymaker decided to let her go and she never came back. I thought the author was amazing because she used sad and happy bits. It was happy when the bird went free.
Famous Five on a Treasure Island Enid Blyton
Review by Review by Katia Kennedy, Age 7, Shelly Park Primary
Runner-up of Scholastic reviews competition February 2011
This book was great. The title sounds really adventurous, Five on a Treasure Island.
I like the way the author created a girl called Georgina who wanted to be a boy and wanted to be called George. When George and Julian were held prisoners she wrote a letter and signed it Georgina. They were in trouble and she needed to warn Dick and Anne.
I also liked how Dick squeezed through the well and climbed up it. I thought it was funny when Anne said "the sun was so clean it looked like it just came out of the laundry."
I liked this book so much I couldn't put it down when I went to bed. This book was super awesome.
The Toymaker and the Bird Pamela Allen
Review by Connor Devonport, Age 6, Brookfield School
Runner-up of Scholastic reviews competition February 2011
The story was about the toymaker and the bird. The toymaker liked to play the violin. One day a bird came to sing with him, they made beautiful music. Then the toymaker put the bird in a cage. The bird was sad and stopped singing. So he let her out of the cage, and the bird flew away and never came back.
I thought the story was great because I liked when the bird was freed. I felt happy.
Trash Andy Mulligan
Review by Sally Marshall, Age 12, Palmerston North Girls’ High
Winner of Scholastic reviews competition February 2011
Imagine you are a hungry, poor trash boy, and on top of that you’re in a cold, dull prison cell, sitting next to the smell of your own sick. You hear the sound of a door opening; you hope you are going to be freed, but no. Instead you are taken into another room in which you are questioned, beaten, hung out of a window several times, pulled by your hair and threatened.
Raphael Fernandez is a dumpsite boy and has been ever since he could walk and pick things up without help. Raphael is fourteen years old; he lives with his Auntie as his parents died when he was younger. His best friend Gardo is like a brother to him. Raphael found a small leather bag, inside that was a wallet containing eleven hundred pesos, a map, a key and an ID card. Later on Raphael finds that the police want the bag...
Trash is a very exciting book with loads of action, there’s always something happening. In some parts you’ll be laughing uncontrollably, then later you’ll be crying your heart out. Trash is a very satisfying book, when you finish you’ll be desperate for more.
Tommorrow All Will Be Beautiful Brigid Lowry
Review by Polly Hoskins, Age 14, Palmerston North Girl's High School
Winner of Scholastic reviews competition February 2011
This is a book of stories and poems. Some are set in familiar scenes (a sheep station), while others have exotic locations (a psychiatric ward). Characters meet with unexpected situations and have to learn to adapt. In “Tenth Floor”, a woman recalls the attempted suicide of her school-friend. The friend has never recovered. She feels helpless. “I’d do anything to save you” she says “but I can’t”. Then Brigid Lowry tellingly brings in the title of the story. “I remember being seventeen” says the narrator, “looking out a tenth floor window with you … hoping our sorrows would drown beneath the sea.” The tenth floor symbolizes the act of suicide, whilst the sea represents nature’s healing power.
The book has touching stories to tell. In A Pocketful Of Stars a family untangles its problems to become functional. The mother leaves to discover herself but the children feel rejected. One says “If she thinks she can just waltz back into our lives with a pocketful of stars, she’s wrong.” The mother discovers that her children are her pocketful of stars.
The stories in this collection have something special to say and in each the language shines and cuts.
Vampire Academy Richelle Mead
Review by Natasha King, Ages 16, Heretaunga College
Runner-up of Scholastic reviews competition February 2011
Vampire Academy is the first book in the Vampire Academy series, written by Richelle Mead. Vampire Academy begins telling the story of Rose Hathaway; a Dampir (half vampire, half Moiri), and Lissa Dragomir, a Moroi princess and the last of her bloodline. Having run away because of fear, they are brought back to endure the social and educational life of a vampire boarding school. But what is it that Lissa Dragomir fears?
Vampire Academy by Michelle Mead was a book that drew me in with the very first sentence. I have only read it the once, but as I read the book, it just made me want to read more and more of it until I had finished. Vampire Academy combines the typical situations that all teenage girls face at some point at college; boy troubles, school, homework, friendships and cliques within the school body, just with a twist of supernatural aspects. I must say that it is not the best vampire book that I have read but it was compelling none the less.
Speak Laurie Halse Anderson
Review by Phoebe Richardson, Age 14, Palmerston North Girls’ High
Runner-up of Scholastic reviews competition February 2011
You’re walking through the hallways, everyone eyeing you with hatred. They have no idea what you went through and why you called the cops. You want to tell someone, but who will listen. They won’t even understand.
Melinda Sordina is a freshman at Merry Weather High School. In the summer break something happened to Melinda, something she doesn’t want to speak about, something that’s destroying her life. Melinda lost all her friends and everyone despises her. She really wants to tell someone, but stays silent. She thinks it will go away, but it stays with her, boiling up inside of her.
This story makes you question Melinda, about her choices throughout the book. Why can’t she tell anyone? Is it really a big deal? How come she was in the wrong place at the wrong time? But the biggest question running through your mine will be – What did happen to Melinda that night?
Laurie Halse Anderson didn’t think she would write ‘Speak’, but lucky for us, she did. This amazing book uses symbols and metaphors to keep the book flowing, and keeps you on your toes. I recommend this wonderful book to young adults who love a good drama.
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