St Kaths
Wolf Siren
I loved this book and its twist on Little Red Riding Hood. The way the subject of periods was incorperated, Red's visual impairment and the deeper themes of femininity and gender roles. The characters and settings were amazing and I really loved the forest itself. Felt sad after I had read the book because it was all finished. Would reccomend.
Elsie
Birdie
Birdie has a great story line that covers part of our history that we get to learn very little about in school I loved the interaction between characters and the use of how they spoke to display the time period.
Henry
The Boy I Love
A breathtaking novel with history hand in hand. I particularly liked the suspense lingering behind almost every chapter. This was an amazing read and definitely has a shot of winning!
Charlotte
Ghostlines
Ghostlines has a great plot but the title is misleading. However, the sense of emotion between characters is strong and the use of having the main character have a sensitive secret about their past adds depth to the story.
Henry
Ghostlines
A beautiful book exploring themes of family relationships and friendships. I was considerably above the target audience, so was not necessarily gripped, but the tangible metaphorical imagery really embodies childhood imagination and can transport readers of all ages. The beautiful natural setting is also the foundation of the book, and offers an alternative to the stresses of modern urban life. However, I was a bit underwhelmed by the big action scene (no spoilers!) and thought either it should be extended slightly or the rest of the book could be less reliant on it for the plot. Still a good book though for middle grade readers!
Eve
The Boy I Love
I loved the book. Made me want to keep reading even after I finnished it.
Hollie
Popcorn
I loved the book as well as the story line. Every thing about the book is brilliant. So emersive and made me want to keep reading even after it finished.The illustrations were beautifully done. Loved it!
Hollie
Chronicles of a Lizard Nobody
It is not really my type of book.I didn't really like it that much but I'm sure other people will like it.
Hollie
Not Going To Plan
I think that the plot was great but I found it hard to read because of how instead of being written in paragraphs filling the width of the page the words were used to make shapes which I found hard to read but the characters had strong emotions and made it clear what they were thinking.
Henry
The Boy I Love
Good book with strong characters but a bit of a sad ending.
Maya
Chronicles of a Lizard Nobody
I found this book hilarious and a bit strange in some parts but I do sort of suggest this book to others.
Ella
Chronicles of a Lizard Nobody
I belived that this book, although it was aimed at a younger audiance, was a good read with comical aspects and child-aimed humor. It was an intresting read however I belive others are better.
Charlotte
Popcorn
Amazing idea and I found it hard to stop reading because I felt like the main character relates to me just that they show it more. I also liked how it had many links to how people with OCD or neurodiversity might struggle in the real world. Overall, I saw it as an extraordinary book that is easy to follow and really engrosses the reader.
Henry
Not Going To Plan
I thought it was a brilliant, imersive and creative book. I haven't read anything like it before. Loved it!
Hollie
Popcorn
A deep meaning behind a colourful cover, this book is so perfectly written that it shines a little light inside you. It is such a sweet book with a deep meaning which is almost like the perfect blend: not too sweet, not too sour.
Charlotte
Chronicles of a Lizard Nobody
I liked the creativity of the book but at some points I had to skip to other parts of the book to understand what was going on because it was really random at some points but like Wolf Siren I liked how one of the main characters possessed a physical disability.
Henry
Ghostlines
A brilliant, imersive book that really hooked me. I loved it! The ending was one of the best I have ever read. Really beliveable. I really felt like I was there watching it all happen.
Hollie
Birdie
I found the book to be really enjoyable to read and the setting set me off on a journey I never thought of stepping into.
Not Going To Plan
Not Going To Plan is a brilliantly descriptive and engaging verse novel told from the perspectives of two characters, Zed and Marnie. The characters are admittedly very different but the dialogue they share together is very believable and interesting. There are some topics that I had not encountered before reading this book but by the end, I felt that they were explained in a quite subtle yet completely informative way so that you were not left feeling confused about them. I would definitely read this again and recommend it to a friend.
Flora
Wolf Siren
The story flows and I loved how the main character had a disability because many characters have no disabilities or physical struggles and Beth O'Brien made sure that you didn't forget the characters disability. I also really liked how the story was based on a fairy tale but instead of being modernised it was set in the same time period.
Henry
Twenty Four Seconds from Now
I think this book is so perfectly worded on the topic it's describing. It has a gentle and heartfelt feel to it and a sweet and gentle pace making it such a lovely read.
Charlotte
Not Going To Plan
If I had to use one word to describe this book it would be WOW! The personality change and journey is unfathomable to me and how well worded it was. This book was so well written it should be up in the Louvre.
Charlotte
Ghostlines
A beautifully written and impeccably described book. I almost felt as if I was alongside the characters in their journey.
Charlotte
Twenty Four Seconds from Now
I really liked this book. I initially thought it could be quite shallow, but once I was immersed in the story I saw such a beautiful reflection on relationships, be that romantic, familial or platonic. The book’s backwards structure keeps the reader gripped during your increasingly intimate connections to the characters. Normally I’m not a fan of solely romantic books, but the themes explored around the central plot allowed for a complex description of teenage life, futures and friendships. Reynold’s postscript in the authors note also hit hard for me, as I am ashamed I had never fully realised that racism could present this way: Black boys deserve love stories too.
Eve
Wolf Siren
I really enjoyed reading the book. I found the book thrilling and brilliant and by the end I just wanted more. I can safely say it is in my top ten favourites.
Hollie
Not Going To Plan
Not Going To Plan has amazing characters and an excellent dual narrative keeping the reader in suspense. Loved the way Tia Fisher used words and stanzas to convey emotion and setting and it's a brilliant portrayal of wider themes. Absolutely would recommend.
Elsie
Chronicles of a Lizard Nobody
I found the ending /moral of the story gave a nice message but the rest of the book was a little bit weird in parts and could be confusing at times.
Nadia
Not Going To Plan
I absolutely loved this book! I love the immediacy of verse novels and how Tia Fisher uses this to create a gripping, harrowing story. By the end of the book, I felt so emotionally connected with the individual characters yet also totally angered and appalled at some of the wider themes (e.g. stealthing, abortion). She thus creates a beautiful story within the context of wider political themes, evoking empathy in the reader. I also loved this was set in a modern landscape (2025) as it highlights how these themes are still prominent in everyday life, even if UK laws have changed. Please read this book to provide a new perspective on themes of abortion, teenage pregnancy and relationships!
Eve