SCD Pageturners
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This book was amazing and i found it difficult to put down. As the storyline looked into the lives of 4 boys who are growing up together at school. I loved the descriptive language and the way the author wrote about the different people.
Roseanna
The Final Year
the verse novel was quite fast paced which i enojyed and i liked the development between the characters and the interactions they shared. the storyline drew me in as we get to see the life of nate and what happens with his best friend ps and his younger brother dylan. this read was captivating and perfect for young readers
harrison
The Final Year
I loved this verse novel as it was quite an easy read but still portrayed an interesting storyline. the character's descriptions and interactions were really interesting. The book delved into the life of Nate and his best friend and younger brother. Overall it was quite a fast-paced book, perfect for young readers.
Roseanna
The Final Year
It's a relatively quick read, but it has so much to talk about. The emotions and metaphors in this novel are so realistic, and I related to the character of Nate a lot. I'm usually not a fan of books written in slang, but this was a pleasant surprise, it really felt like it was from HIS point of view, which I love. As soon as it's available in our school library, I will be reading the sequel, which I'm incredibly excited for. :)
Harriet
Play
Omg the ending killed me. I had to try not to cry in the middle of english. All of the characters are so well-rounded and likeable, despite their flaws. We see these characters grow and what it does and I love all of that. I also like that Johnny doesn't have any chapters or voice until the very end, and it shows how all the others overshadowed him when they were going through things. I want to see more of these characters!!!
Harriet
Little Bang
This book was an exceptional read, i had rushed through like I was a racecar driver that crashed many times due to the rollercoaster of emotions I was going through. The books characters were prodigiously written and the writer has unlimited potential for more creative pursuits. I had a visceral reaction when reading the books because of the themes of the abortion laws in Ireland. It delves deep into complex ideas with precise analogies of teenage pregnancy. It was an incredibly enjoyable journey with a rewarding ending.
Amelie
The Final Year
I don't normally read or like verse novels but am so glad that I read this book! I love the way that verse was used and I don't think the story could be portrayed as well in any other way. I like the originality of focusing on year 6 instead of year 7 because year 6 is a very hard year for many people, but we tend to focus on year 7 instead. The suspense when Dylan was taken to hospital portrayed exactly how Nate was feeling and his emotions were absorbed by the reader. I am really excited to read the sequel and I am so thankful that this book made it into the shortlist.
Chloe
King of Nothing
When I picked up this book, I wasn't expecting to enjoy it. But despite this not being my style of book, I actually really enjoyed reading it. I liked watching Anton change throughout the story and I loved how real it felt. In life, things often seem to all happen at once and sometimes there are so many problems at once that you lose track of them all. This book shows that perfectly with all of Anton's problems. I like how, as the book progresses, Anton begins to forget about 'the mandem' but then right at the end they become a focal part of his life again for a few days. It would be nice to have a sequel, to see how Anton's relationships develop, with Rochelle, Matthew, Grace, his mum, his dad and teachers. Maybe it could also show how Kehinde changes.
Chloe
Little Bang
I found the premise of the interesting, the characters were well written and multi perspective viewpoints fitted the plot very well too. The pacing was a little slow in places and also I felt that the characters also had to move the plot which also worked well in places and fell thin in others. Overall I think the book was a good weekend read.
Aditi
Little Bang
Little Bang is an amazing read for anyone interested in romantic and realistic stories. With the start immediately delving into the deep end of the storyline, I could not put the book down. I loved the style of writing, coming from both of the main characters' perspectives. The characters were interesting and varied and the attention to detail was immaculate. This book was a rollercoaster of a read, exploring ideas very present in today's society. I can't recommend this book enough for anyone from year 8 onwards!
Roseanna
Treacle Town
Definietely not for me as i found it a bit boring and it didn't make a lot of sense. A questionable read for sure
Alayna
Treacle Town
In my honest opinion, Treacle Town was not for me as i just couldn't get with the writing style of it. I can see however what it reflects - for the fact of it being from a poorer scottish background you could see what came across.
Ruthi
The Final Year
I liked it because it has different types of poems in different pages and they all refer to the same thing.
Jasmin
King of Nothing
I chose the King of nothing as the blurb intrigued me but as I started I absolutely fell in love with it. I love how the characters talk and act and I adore how it's worded and how it made me think about everyone I ever knew, past and present. I would recommend this to anyone and everyone as it's a deep and interesting story with a happy ending.
Carolina
All That It Ever Meant
A very nice story, that when you start you literally cannot stop.
It is a very realistic family dynamic through most of the book. The words just flowed perfectly and so did the realistic and spiritual elements. They just fitted together.
I normally prefer action-filled books, but somehow this book just kept me hooked.
Despite not being jam-packed of crazy plot-twists and big battles, I really enjoyed this book and I loved the way that it wasn't so busy. It made me just sit there and read for hours. i couldn't stop.
At the end, when the final plot happened, I had to reread the book and see whether it was true (I can't explain further without revealing the plot of the book!)
Even the second time, I fell in love with the words and structure of the story.
Honestly, I would recommend this book to anyone as it is not too hard to read, and is a nice book to just relax with for a few days.
It's amazing!
Chloe
The Things We Leave Behind
A very gripping narrative. The character dynamics are wonderful throughout. I loved the switching between places because it added a new layer to the book. The best twist in the series was definitely the one with Billie, it added a whole new sense of grief to the story. Whenever books do that, it always makes me want to read it all over again to try and see whether the character is spoken to in any way. next time, it would be great if we could see Clem's biological mum once. Like, maybe, she calls Clem's grandpa on face time just to check if he's OK because she actually does care about him, and then Clem walks in and sees her. It could be just a glimpse or they could say an awkward hi, but it could also confuse grandpa as he might think that Clem is actually her mum that day. Overall, an incredible book and I really enjoyed reading it. I like how room was left for a sequel and I definitely want a sequel where they find Clem's dad. Maybe even life regains normality. this book definitely has room to be a series, maybe even from each different persons perspective would be nice. Like, one for Mishka, one for Claudia, one for Clem's dad. Claudia's one could be when they find Clem's dad, and Clem's dad's book could be about them returning to normal life. Maybe Mishka's could be a bonus book allowing us an insight to her thoughts on Clem and Billie. Maybe a diary.
Chloe
Little Bang
Not just another teen pregnancy story - the book delivered more than I was expecting. Set in Northern Ireland in 2018, when the issue of legalising abortion was a prominent news topic, it highlighted the additional complications that an unexpected pregnancy brings to the lives of two teenagers and their families. I enjoyed the dual narrative as it enabled me to really understand the characters and their thoughts behind the decisions that lay ahead without it being to sensational. The story-telling felt honest and natural, with different sides of the discussion presented respectfully. The characters felt thoughtfully written, and developed realistically throughout the story. It may not be for everyone, but I would recommend it to those who want a thoughtful read with an interesting setting.
Mrs W