Diary of a Wally Kid

King of Nothing
The book “King of Nothing” was a heart warming novel. It followed the main character Anton as he navigates his school life with a group of so called friends. He discovers the true meaning of life and meets many new people along the way who he had never expected to become his friends. He realises that having people scared of him was not as good as having people like him. The actual story of the book was amazing. It had an original idea, was very gripping, had an excellent understanding of themes and situations, including finding your way out of the grief/anger of losing a family member. There was also a credible ending, with it matching up perfectly with the rest of the book. A criticism is the use of slang. It puts the reader perfectly in the shoes of Anton but it would be hard for the older population to understand. This is because most of the slang terms are ones used today and some older people who wished to read the book might not understand what he was trying to get across.

Alice

Play
The book “Play” by Luke Palmer is a beautiful book written in different perspectives from the point of view of four very different boys. They strike an unusual friendship and try to help each other as their school life goes on. With many twists and turns along the way, they face different challenges and struggle with who they actually are rather than what is expected of them. The use of first person in this novel really brings the characters alive and all their views and opinions are brought through clearly to the reader. This book was gripping right till the very end and had amazing characters. They were believable, full of emotion and the interactions with each other were also great. The only thing that was slightly bad about the book was the ending. Although it was a clever move to have the plot twist at the end, the bit that came after was slightly unusual and definitely not a particularly credible ending. It was a nice touch but perhaps too much for the ending of the book.

Alice

Little Bang
I really liked this book! The book starts with lots of fireworks on New years eve, 2017 with science geek Mel and hopelessly gorgeous Sid. After their first date they get a huge surprise that comes with a bang. Together the two navigate each other through impossible choices that will change them forever.

Issy

The Things We Leave Behind
The book "The things we leave behind" by Clare Furniss is a well thought through piece with a deep understanding of disasters and how people have to carry on throughout hard times even when it gets challenging. She had an original idea, and the believability and consistency of her work was great. She created an amazing atmosphere which gripped the reader until the very last page. On the other hand, at some points during the book it became hard to understand what exactly was happening, since it jumped from the main character in the future talking about her experiences to her actually living them. Since there was no discernible difference between these, it was hard to tell the difference. Also because there was no chapters there was no break in the description making it drag a little.

Alice

Treacle Town
I think that this book is very thought-provoking and emotional. It explores deep and intense themes that are not hidden, but also not overbearing. I really like how poetry and verse is included, albeit SLAM poetry, and I think it allows the reader to connect more with the plight of Con as he tries to forge a new path for himself. I like how dialect is used and not ignored; it is very reflective of what real life must be like for these people. Nothing in this book is glossed-over, making a clear impression on the reader. This is a book that is not easily forgotten, and that I think has an outstanding story, that draws you in right from the start.

Merryn

King of Nothing
I really enjoyed this book. When the coolest boy in school, Anton, gets saved by the 'geeky' kid in a camping trip he's been forced into, Anton starts to find out it's not all about being cool. The story plot was really interesting, and I loved the character development. It had scenes with quick and slow action, and having it set in Anton's perspective made it even more interesting. A mix of school life and friendship, the characters were written really well. There are some slang words I didn't fully understand, so the language could have been more inclusive, but it fits his character and makes a reasonable amount of sense, so I could follow the plot. I really enjoyed this book.

Lettie

The Final Year
The book, about a boy's last year at primary school with his brother being sent to hospital, has a mix between an original story plot and at the same time an interesting story plot. Matt Goddfellow really gripped the difficulty of the situation that he was in, with somewhat relatable characters, strong emotions and believable interactions. The book design was quite different; a mix between poetry and book seems enjoyable to read. A mix between fast-paced action and relaxing detail was pleasant, and the speech was nice. It was written in a Scottish accent, which was instantly noticeable, and though at first I found it confusing and dull, I was hooked.

Lettie

The Final Year
A heart-breaking and emotional read full of hope. It's a very needed story about sibling illness, and children in poverty. Even in the darkest parts of the book, a warm hope shines through.

Alice

Little Bang
Little Bang follows the unexpected result of two completely different teenager's first date. Mel and Sid's story's are so raw and emotional, they are very relatable characters. Besides teenage pregnancy, I saw myself in Mel and part of Sid, they are very relatable characters . The story goes through relationships and loss, with bittersweet hope intertwined into it. McCaughrain has created a much necessary world, where everyone feels seen.

Alice