What did you think of that book you read recently? Any book, any type, we want you to tell us all about it! Three from each age group will be selected to feature online, and the best reviewer aged between 5-7 years, 8–12 years, and 13+ will each receive a pack of books courtesy of Scholastic NZ. The top three reviews will also be published in The School Library, the Book Council’s reviews publication sent to member schools. There is a word limit of 200 words on all entries.
The next entry deadline is: Monday 27 February 2012.
Please email entries to schoolmembers@bookcouncil.org.nz, or fax them to (04) 801 5547
Review by Lucy Treseder, Age 11, Iona College
The hunger games is an extraordinary action packed story of dangerous risks and young romance, the breathtaking movements and the flicks of thoughts throughout the book will just make you want to read more!
As Katniss Everdeen risks her life for her sister her world crashes from a relaxed teenager to a hungry skimpy rat as the hunger games takes over her life. There’s only one rule “kill or be killed”.
Peeta Mellark makes Katniss’s life harder as he messes with her mind and makes Katniss fall in love. But will she survive the biggest test of her life? Will Katniss pick to live or to stay and die with Peeta?
This book is the most intense thing I have ever read and the action never dies down so I recommend this romance-filled book to anyone who is not scared to read a happy tale!
Review by Aimee Pitcher, Age 12, Iona College
Clouds of black hung across the sky draping over the ancient building. Desperate screams for help could be heard as far as the forest. Suddenly a fluorescent green skull positioned its self above the tallest tower.
Three wizard friends Harry, Ron and Hermione are faced with incredible challenges including breaking into a bank armed with a fierce dragon. They have put their lives to the limit in order to defeat the malicious dark wizard lord Voldemort. Before he destroys the famous Harry Potter and the wizarding world as well.
JK Rowling has written this book in such a way that you think Hogwarts is around the corner and an evil lord is coming to claim your life. Whilst running through forest of deadly creatures. I even thought myself as a wizard when I ventured throughout the book.
The author has created descriptive characters whose thoughts and worries are shared in each and every page. It’s fascinating to watch the characters develop into more than just friends.
The Deathly Hallows is an imaginatively realistic, daring, bloodthirsty book which will throw you into the world of fantasy.
Review by Erin Unac, Age 12, Iona College
Trash, by Andy Mulligan, is a breathtaking book that will make you want to keep on reading. You’ll feel as though you are part of the story. The author makes the characters come to life that I felt sorry for them having to sift rubbish all their life.
Trash is about three dumpsite boys that do nothing all day except look through rubbish in the trash bags. One day they find something extraordinary in the trash. Something that changed their lives. They want to discover more that they risk their lives and run. But not for long because they are suddenly caught. With danger all around them, they are chased through the streets. But they cannot run forever. They need a miracle.
Trash will take you to another world. Andy Mulligan has written this book in a certain way that captured my attention. It was realistic it felt like a real place. I can picture this huge trash site and these three boys digging in the trash.
I definitely recommend this book to people who like a bit of modern life adventure. It was a great read and I hope other people will enjoy reading it too.
Review by Liam Clarke, Age 7, Greenhithe School
This book was about:
Harry Hobnail was going to the mountain side by Pungapeople annoyed him.
My favorite character in this book was Pungapeople because:
They're green and I like green.
I liked this book because:
It's funny and it has my favourite characters.
You should read this book because:
It has good illustrations and it is funnier than any other book.
Review by Isobel Pepper, Age 14, Palmerston North Girls' High School
"I’ll always choose you,” says Lucinda Price, and so she does in an epic journey across time and continents.
Passion, by Lauren Kate is a riveting tale in which the reader follows Lucinda as she travels in pursuit of Daniel, her fallen angel and searches for answers about the nature of their doomed relationship.
She begins her journey in Russia at the fall of Stalingrad in World War two, then goes next to an Italian hospital in World War one until eventually she takes us back to the beginning, where Daniel first made his choice to fall for Lucinda. At each stop along the way she is united with Daniel and they have moments together before they are torn apart yet again. In each place and time she meets danger, in the form of locals and more ominously other angels who appear to need Daniel too. The reader burns along with her, desperate that she finds the answer to her quest, before it is too late.
Passion is the third book in the series. Readers will have to wait now for the fourth and final book in the series, which will hopefully come out sooner rather than later.
Review by Kieran Lance, Age 7, Greenhithe School
This book was about:
Harry Hobnail and the Pungapeople and they stole everything.
My favourite character in this book was Harry because:
He was so funny and he blamed it all on the Red.
I liked this book because:
It is a hilarious book.
You should read this book because:
It is a funny book it may make you fall out of your toes.
Review by Jamie Robertson, Age 7, Greenhithe School
This book was about:
Geronimo Stilton from all the other books goes on an amazing adventure through different doors.
My favourite character in this book was Scribblehopper because:
He is funny and he thinks he should be a Prince.
I liked this book because:
It's a great adventure book.
You should read this book because:
It teaches you not to go on a dangerous adventure like him.
Review by Drew Fletcher, Age 11, Greenhithe School
Have you ever wondered what a human life is worth? That morning, my brother's was worth a pocket watch.
Quote from Between Shades of Grey
In this 1941 set story, the Soviet Secret Police barge into 15-year-old Lina and her mother and brother's house, forcibly removing them out of their home because they're on the 'list'. They go through horrendous conditions, leaving you in suspense and wanting to know what comes next. Her journey from her hometown in Lithuania to remote Siberia has outstanding detail and is very well written.
I enjoyed this dramatic story because it had remarkable descriptions and kept me in suspense, wanting to know what comes next.
I recommend this story to people between the ages of 11 - 13.
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Review by Jordan Smyth, Age 11, Greenhithe School
This time the eight-year-old amateur explorer Charlie Small has been shipwrecked on a scary, lonely Island where he faces life or death situations.
Charlie has ended up in this tangled mess when his mum forced him to leave his computer and go to play outside and he somehow ended up in another world. Charlie gets captured and is forced to do back-breaking work for the perfumed pirates of perfidy until the pirates harpoon a whale. Charlie jumps on, pulls the harpoon out of the whale's back and rides it safely to shore. But is he safe?
No, not for long. Soon enough, Charlie is in trouble again.
But can he be saved this time?
The Charlie Small journals are action packed and full of adventure and would be a thrill ride of any primary school reader.
I rate this book a 10/10 because I couldn't put the book down until I'd finished.
