The Maynard School

Twenty Four Seconds from Now
24 seconds from now was for me a very interesting read. It is not at all the type of book I would ordinarily choose to read, and so though I wasn't expecting it to be a bad book, I wasn't expecting to particularly enjoy reading it, but I did. I liked the format of the book, with it going back in time and then returning to the moment at the beginning. It almost felt as if as you kept reading you got to the know the characters better, and they were more comfortable sharing their past with you. I liked the fact that for me personally I didn't love or relate that much to any of the characters, but I also didn't dislike any of them strongly, which I think is quite unusual. My only criticism with this book is that I didn't feel like there was much of a plot that was keeping me on the edge of my seat, but I still think it is a good book and understand the author may have done this on purpose. I would definitely recommend this book to anyone to who is mature enough to deal with themes surrounding teen love and losing virginity. I am 13 and didn't feel too young to read it, so maybe for mature 12 year olds and up, and even if, like me, it is not your go to read, you may still find it enjoyable so at least give it a try.

Freya

Popcorn
I loved Popcorn! From the humor to the description it was all amazing! One of my favourite parts of the book had to be the panic attacks and how well they were described. I felt like I was really in school with Andrew! I have never read a book that is all in one day and I think the author Rob Harrell did a great job. This was a great book! 9/10! And the illustrations were also fun.

Celine

Twenty Four Seconds from Now
I found Twenty-four seconds from now such a sweet, honest book. The relationship between Neon and Aria was built up around so much trust and care for one another , displaying a good relationship to the reader. As you went into their past , you got to see how their relationship developed right from the beginning and got to understand the present even better. My favourite character was Dodie as he's so spontaneous , unique and funny. I also liked Neon, Aria , Gammy and Neon's parents and sister- who gave good guidance to Neon on how to take the next step in his relationship. Overall I liked the layout but found it slightly confusing at times. It was good that the reader was given time to adjust to each time zone as if they were too short I think it could have felt confusing and overwhelming. I really loved this book and all the characters who all had such strong vibrant personalities with so much depth. Thank you!!

Lyla

Chronicles of a Lizard Nobody
It must have taken the most amazing, hilarious, creative genius to come up with this masterpiece of a novel! I picked this book up, and didn’t put it down again until I had finished it. Occasionally, I might look up from the book in fits of laughter to say something along the lines of “this lizard has France on his knee”, and to ponder how on Earth someone could have possibly thought up of such an incredibly original idea. Yet, it wasn’t only funny; The Chronicles Of A Lizard Nobody also touched on a few slightly more serious topics, but Patrick Ness introduced them in such a way that wouldn’t overwhelm or frighten a young child. This is, in my opinion, perfect for any age if you really want a good laugh. Basically, thank you, Patrick Ness, for writing such a wonderful book!!

Amelie

The Boy I Love
I thought that The Boy I Love was a beautifully written book. It had incredibly detailed descriptions of the scenery, and I really felt as though I was there. The plot was carefully thought out, and that, along with the character arc of the protagonist, Danny, contributed to one of the most heartwarming and yet also heartbreakingly wonderful novels I have ever read. I would absolutely recommend this to a friend, and if you haven’t read this yet, read it immediately.

Amelie

The Boy I Love
A truly heart-wrenching story of love and loss in WW1. The Boy I Love was a truly brilliant book filled with inspiring characters, detailed locations and the injustice that so many faced. It's absorbing, you feel every emotion with the characters, when they're scared so are you, when they're happy so are you but, most of all when they're sad the tears are streaming down your face too. The book builds brilliantly, the use of the dates shows you just how much anticipation there was building up to the devastating Battle Of The Somme. The balance of characters in this book was perfect, from the legend that is Captain Jackson to the monster that is Captain Beddowes and all the brave Privates in between and not to mention the honest and beautiful character that is Danny and the caring and loyal Stephen, who both have so much depth to their stories, and all the characters just really make this book beautiful. I cried many times during this book mostly out of sadness but sometimes out of happiness as this book is written so beautifully and so compassionately and gives the fallen soldiers all the respect that they deserve. The powerful message of gay soldiers standing together no matter what was beautiful and Danny's Mum's friend Laura is right "that there'd been people like (them) all throughout history, and that (they'd) be around right up until the final curtain was brought down on the human race", and this is something that everyone needs to remember and celebrate.

Lucy H

Ghostlines 
Ghostlines is a book full of excitement ! Tilda's adventure with Albie is magical as the two explore. I felt submerged into Tilda's world. This is a great book I would rate it a 8.5/10 and is perfect for 9 plus.

Celine

The Boy I Love
I’ve got pretty mixed feelings about The Boy I Love. I understand why so many people love this book, the storyline packs a real punch and has a lot of heart. It’s set during World War I and follows Stephen, a young soldier heading back to the frontlines, who falls for another soldier, Danny. Watching this forbidden romance unfold right in the middle of war is gripping. But honestly, even though the plot had so much going for it, I didn’t enjoy the book as much as I hoped I would. Sometimes the pacing dragged, and a few sections felt way slower than they needed to be and that it took too long to get to the real action. I also couldn’t quite connect with Stephen or Danny the way I wanted. You’d think with everything going on, the danger, the secrecy I'd really enjoy it but their emotions didn’t always land for me. Because of that, some of the big moments just didn’t hit as hard as they should’ve. Still the story itself is the book’s biggest strength. There’s a lot in there about forbidden love, prejudice, and the messiness of war, and all of it comes across in a really thoughtful way. The core idea sticks with you, even if the writing or characters don’t quite get in your head. In the end, The Boy I Love has a powerful and emotional concept, but for me, it just wasn't my favorite. I respect what the author was trying to do, and there’s a good story at the heart of it—it just didn’t fully work for me..

Maya F

The Boy I Love
"The boy I love" is now one of my favourite historical fiction books because of its beautiful storytelling and wonderfully imaginative ways of expressing the characters' emotions and plot in general. William Hussey captures the tense atmosphere of the war perfectly (although I might not be the best judge since I’ve never been to war) and does so in an enticing poetic manner that keeps you gripped throughout the book. I also loved how the characters had so much depth to them and how we got to learn about their backstories as well! Overall a five star review from me!

Lucy B

Not Going To Plan
I really enjoyed reading "Not going to plan". I really loved the way Tia Fisher cleverly used writing in dual-perspective to convey the feeling of each character in the given scenario and I really enjoyed her play on words as she wrote in verse to further suggest their feelings. This book has many powerful messages. I think it teaches the reader a lot about consent and also how hard it is for some people as they experience a lot of bullying from many things. I believe it also reinforces the need for strong friends and a strong bond with parents as they can help you through the hardest times. It also encourages the reader to think about what they would do if they were faced with the many problems the main character, Marnie, experiences. The story is extremely moving as we go through this journey with her. However, I would have liked the book to have a slightly better ending. For example, it could have explained what the characters did next or even what grades they achieved as we have been with them for so long, I personally wanted to know a bit more about their endings.

Annabel

Chronicles of a Lizard Nobody
I found this book very random and silly but weirdly entertaining. I also felt like the book had a deeper meaning - with the black dog following Zeke's mum around possibly representing something else metaphorically. Overall, I do think this book is aimed more at younger readers but I still enjoyed it :)

Lyla

Popcorn
Popcorn was such a new and different read for me as I have never read something that is about anxiety and ocd disorders before. I feel really grateful that I have read Popcorn because it has helped bring awareness to me of how people with anxiety disorders may feel and how I can help them and be a kind and supportive friend in the future. Furthermore, I really enjoyed the formatting of the book and how it was written in a first person perspective so that I could experience all of Andrew's emotions throughout his journey alongside him and it felt like a really intimate experience. Also, I think that the anxiety journals and the popcorn anxiety meter were such smart ways to showcase Andrew's thoughts and feelings and express what it is like to have anxiety in an interesting and fun yet still educational manner. Overall, I really bonded with Andrew's character throughout the novel and I think that Popcorn is a very special, quirky, funny and informative must-read for everyone because it will help us to support people, especially children and teenagers, with anxiety disorders in the right way and learn to understand a bit more about what they go through. I really enjoyed Popcorn and I also loved the bright, graphic cover that encouraged me to read the book in the first place!

Aliana

Not Going To Plan
This was the sort of book that I would never usually pick up , as the plot was quite grown-up but I'm so glad I did because I really enjoyed it. I love verse novels as they are always quite quick, easy reads so I was really excited for this one. I think the layout of the words was very clever, emphasising intense feelings and making it such an interesting and exciting read. I also really liked the alternating perspectives, displaying Zed and Marnie's contradicting personalities but also how they truly cared about one another , creating a relationship with such depth and sweetness. Also, I found this quite an educational read , as I hadn't read or discussed the subjects of abortion and young pregnancy before. Although, I didn't find these subjects too heavy as they were carefully handled to just the right level. One slight critique is that I wish we could have had a slight hint as to what Marnie and Zed's futures would be like and what they would go on to do. In conclusion I really enjoyed this! Thank you!

Lyla

Birdie
I found Birdie a really interesting read. I thought the themes and messages around racism and feeling accepted were conveyed very well in a book that would appeal to younger readers that may not be able to cope with books that convey these same messages in a more adult fashion This meant in parts the book did seem to be clearly targeted towards younger readers than myself, which slightly hindered my enjoyment and investment in the book, however I think the younger me would have found this a much more exciting and meaningful read, and I think it is a great novel for its target audience.

Freya

Chronicles of a Lizard Nobody
I thought that Chronicles of a lizard nobody was a funny book with deeper meanings behind it that older readers would understand. I liked the themes of friendship and would recommend to any age as I think older children would understand some parts of the book better than younger children but also younger children would enjoy the funny plot.

Annie

Not Going To Plan
Not going to plan was a really interesting read that I enjoyed a lot. I thought it was written in a sensitive way though covering such a serious but important to cover topic. I loved the relationship between Zed and Marnie as they are both such different characters but also loved reading how they helped each other throughout the story. I liked it being a verse novel and it having 2 perspectives so I overall really enjoyed this book and would definitely recommend.

Annie

Ghostlines 
I thought that Katya Balen’s “Ghostlines” was an incredibly well-written and riveting novel, and her creative spin on traditional grammar gives the narrator a realistically childlike and playful voice, which you can’t find in most other books. I also enjoyed the character arcs and the themes of suspense, mystery, fantasy and childlike wonder explored throughout.

Amelie