Xenial Readers of Rushey Mead 2026

Create Group Magazine

The Boy I Love
The boy i love is a historical novel set in the second world war. The book follows two young soldiers, Danny, a tommy fresh to the devastating events of war and Stephen, a lieutenant wanting to protect Danny from the trauma he has experienced. It explores the the turmoil of young men being forced to fight in the war and the hardships and danger queer people have had to suffer through for being themselves in a homophobic society. I liked this book because it was fast paced but descriptive and easy to read. Another reason was because i loved the characters backstories since they felt realistic, Danny's specifically was my favourite. I also felt as if i cared about what would happen to all of them. I would recommend this book to my friends because they have liked books with similar tropes as this story. :D

simran !!!! :3

Popcorn
Even though I have only read 3 quarters of the book and don't know the ending, I think the book is quite good as it portrays anxiety in a fun way by using a popcorn kernel popping as a way to show how close Andrew is to breaking. In my opinion, I would say that it also builds tension quite well as the slow build-up of the popcorn scale increasing and how nearly every lesson something goes wrong-the juice sneeze, the bully, the ruined collar of a new shirt. It makes the story feel like it's not a really evil villain or a really big consequence, it feels like the main threat is his sanity and his wellbeing, as his mother trusted him to get through picture day with the new shirt and she even had a backup, and it still went wrong.it feels relatable in a way that nothing bad will happen but the embarrassment gives you a heavy feeling in your heart. I think that anybody could read this book and it could relate to anybody as it doesn't feel like it leans toward a comedic or adult tone as there are quite scary things in the plot but it also lightens it with some comedic things like the popcorn scale and the small jokes, subtle enough to, not remove but, reduce the dark tone while not making it just a book of jokes that tire you out until your forced to put it down. Overall, I'd say it is a good book so far (as I haven't finished it) and i would rate it somewhere between an 8-10 depending on the ending.

Shiv-Aman

Popcorn
Popcorn starts by introducing our main character, Andrew Yaeger, a boy diagnosed with anxiety and OCD. Its school picture day and Andrew is worried about multiple problems such as his grandmother, “G” with memory loss and his hygiene like safety from germs due to OCD. This book is amazing for people who suffer from anxiety and OCD as there are many situations and scenarios in the book that people with these conditions can relate to. In addition, people who don’t suffer from these conditions can learn more about them as there are many illustrations in the book known as the “Anxiety Files” which explain the struggles of having anxiety as in the name. For people struggling with financial problems at home, reading this book can be very relieving as they would know that there are people who can understand how bad it is when you're in the characters shoes, shown in this book. This book also has a lot of insight on the life of a school student which makes it very relatable and fun to read. The best part of this book is how easy it is to learn about these disorders and how they are presented in a humorous and child friendly way for people who aren't very strong in there reading skills. The characters are also just like real people for example Jonesy, the best friend of the main character. She is almost like an actual friend as you continue to read through the story. This book was incredible and I would recommend lots of people to try it if reading is something you don’t always do.

Krihan

Chronicles of a Lizard Nobody
Patrick Ness' Chronicle of a lizard nobody is on the standard middle - school problems but this is a school of animals where the learn with each other .The main character Zeke has to stand up to bullies while coping with the other stress of taking care of his mother at such a young age . With the help of his quirky groups of friends - among who a blind hawk known for making quite a racket - they delivers lot's of humor as well as valuable lessons. It's a fun story with serious real life issues and peer pressure explores in a positive way

Praneel

Wolf Siren
Wolf Siren is a book by Beth O Brian which is a fantasy book about little red riding hood. In this book Red is the main character who lives in a village near a forest. However, everyone in that village fears the wolves in the forests because of the fact that many hunters who are male went missing. Red can connect with the trees and wolves along with her grandmother. Due to the fact that only females can go into the forest without being killed, they prefer to not go into the forest as the men in the village would not want to show any weakness. So, this shows that the book is about is about gender discrimination. My faviroute character is the grandma as she is a mysterious figure who helps red on her challenge to find out about the villages and the forests history.Red has many challenges with her mission including her own mother as she does not want her to do anything that gives her a bad name against the village. This was my faviroute Carnegie shortlist book so far as this was a really underrated fantasy book.

Mithus

Wolf Siren
Wolf Siren is a great book on fantasy and suspenseful drama, as the author creates lots of tension throughout the story. You can very easily binge-read it because it is so addictive. The story always leaves you wanting to know what happens next, and as a result of this I ended up reading half the book in 1 sitting because the suspense was killing me. This story is about a girl called Red who is growing into adolescence in a female run society who at first seems normal but as we read on, we begin to find out her deepest mysteries which scares the villagers as she seems to have some otherworldly powers. I enjoyed this book a lot as it is full of suspense, thriller, mystery, and drama keeping me engaged the whole time. I liked how the tension is slowly built and the slow revealing of the Tammel family's true identity. This deserves to win the Carnegie award for writing due to its addictive storyline and action in the book. This is also a great book for the gore involved. It also touches upon teenage life and emotional wellbeing making it exceptional for secondary school students.

Het

Wolf Siren
I kind of enjoyed reading the book Wolf Siren because it was an exciting and mysterious fantasy story. I liked Red because she was brave and determined. The forest setting made the book feel magical and spooky. One thing I didn't like was that some parts were a bit slow and the story can be a little confusing because there are lots of secrets and mysteries to understand. I would recommend this book to people who enjoy fantasy, adventure and magical books.

Shiven

Popcorn
I enjoyed reading Popcorn because it was funny and interesting while also teaching readers about anxiety. The main character is Andrew (a middle-school boy who struggles with anxiety about picture day). I liked this book because it's interesting seeing how he dealt with his worries throughout the story. The illustrations make the book more enjoyable and helped show Andrew thoughts and feelings. Also, one thing I didn't like was that some parts felt a little bit slow because Andrew worried about the same things several times and overall I would recommend this book to people who enjoy realistic stories with humour and important messages about life.

Shiven

Birdie
I really liked reading Birdie by J.P Rose. This book is about a girl called Birdie Bagshaw who is raised in a children's care home for mixed race children in Leeds during the 1950s shortly after WW2 where she is cared for by Mrs Dudley and enjoys growing up with her friends who were like a family to her . However she had always longed for a proper family until one day her great aunt, Aunt Mabel requests Birdie to live with her in Yorkshire Dales. However as she reaches there, she begins to face unexpected challenges along with difficulty fitting in as she is mistreated because of her race even by her aunt who wasn't expecting her to be a mixed race child. She was also bullied by a group of boys on her way to school and they were being racist . While she is running away from the bullies she is driven into a dangerous cole mine where she is hiding and becomes lost and finds a lonely pit pony who guides her out . This makes birdie feel a special sense of friendship with the pony. As a result she is determined to save the pony from the harsh treatment in the mines. I liked this story as it was very symbolic and inspiring when Birdie perseveres through discrimination and through her determination to save the pony . This book was entertaining to read as it explored many emotional themes of friendship and adventure creating empathy and suspense. I would recommend this book to people who like adventure stories with animal relationships.

Vami

Popcorn
In my opinion, popcorn by Rob Harrel was an okay book but I personally found it quite boring. It starts with the main character Andrew’s first day of school and how he felt anxious throughout school in general. The book shows his anxiety well but i feel like the plot and story of the book is done before by a lot of books such as Diary of the wimpy kid. A way this book could improve its story is by focusing on other characters as well as when I was reading this book my favourite character was Aiden as he seems nice and he is very supportive of Andrew but it was so sad that they didn't build on him as a character because he was basically only just Andrew’s kind friend in the story and we didn't get to learn anything else about him. Another reason I found the book basic was as it always just flat out tells you what Andrew is feeling and leaves nothing for the readers to infer or predict to hook onto so it makes you feel like you don't need to read the rest because you already know what's going on so you have no curiosity to carry on reading it. Over all , the book wasn't that bad but the other books from the Carnegies short list were definitely better.

Tamilnila

Chronicles of a Lizard Nobody
Chronicles of lizard nobody, by Patrick Ness is a book about 3 lizards , Zeke and his friends, Daniel and Alicia become , hall monitors at there school full of lions ,pandas and seals. Zeke and his friends try to stop school bully called Pelicarnassus. This book has a great mix of funny and exiting moments for example, when Pelicarnassus shows up in a giant robot pelican suit. Another exiting moment is when Zeke fights back against Pelicarnassus and punches him to prevent him from attacking the hall monitors - which was my favourite moment. My favourite character is Zeke this is because he was brave enough to fight against ~Pelicarnassus Overall this is a realy ballanced book with laugh out loud humour and exiting moments I would give this a 9.5/10

Abhinoor

Wolf Siren
I have read the book Wolf Siren by Beth O’ Brien. It’s an interesting twist on the traditional kid’s story of Little Red Riding Hood. The story follows Red, a blind girl who lives in an isolated village where people fear the wolves in the surrounding forest. As the story progresses, she discovers that her sister Aerona and Grandma are wolfwomen which means they are connected to wolves. This is bad in the villager’s minds as they fear wolves, so they rarely leave their village. Red’s grandmother chose to live with the wolves. What I liked about this story is that she slowly revealed key details and secrets as Red learned about who she really was. She was also blind which made it different from a lot of other fantasy novels. This book focused on key themes like prejudice to women courage and identity. The villager does many bad things to Red and doesn't understand them. This shows endurance to unfair opinions. I also find it sad when Aerona dies which gave the story an emotional feeling and showed what Red had faced. Despite Red’s blindness, she refuses to make people that oversee her dictate what she can or cannot do. I would recommend this to those aged 11 and over, who mainly enjoys fantasy, mystery and adventure. A rock-solid 9/10 for me.

George

Hamdan

Popcorn
Popcorn by Rob Harrell, is a really good book about a kid named Andrew, who is having his picture day, and things don’t go according to plan. This book is a humorous and emotional book that shows mental health in a realistic way. This is shown through the way Andrew is worried about his grandmother, who used to be an amazing person to be around and how after she started losing her memory and was diagnosed with Alzheimer, she started acting nothing like she used to before. My favourite part of this book is the friendship between Andrew and Jonesy because I could feel how supportive they were to each other and I could feel their kind-hearted friendship throughout the story even though Andrew was going through a hard time. Another reason I liked this book was that that this story taught that life isn’t always perfect and it’s okay to ask for help when needed. I would recommend this book to people who liked reading books like diary of the wimpy kid or dork diaries.

Presnu

Birdie
I am currently halfway through the book Birdie, and I am finding it a thoughtful and emotional read so far. The story follows Birdie as she tries to understand herself and the world around her, and for me I enjoyed seeing her develop as a character. One thing I particularly liked is the way the author creates realistic relationships and conversations. They seem natural, and believable. The writing style is clear and engaging, making it easier for me to just keep turning the page. Because of the fact i'm halfway, there are several unanswered questions which keep the plot interesting. I am curious to see how Birdie will deal with the challenges she faces and if she will find the confidence she needs. Overall, Birdie has been enjoyable whilst also being meaningful as a book so far. It balances personal struggles, also with moments of hope which I find very impressive. Although I haven't read it all, I am very invested and eager to see what will happen. I can't wait to read more!

Serena

Birdie
Birdie is an amazing novel set in Yorkshire in the 1950's. The main character is named Birdie Bagshaw, who is an 11 year old girl who grew up in a children's centre before going to Barrington Dale to live with her great aunt Mabel . At first, she is excited to have a new family , even though she misses her caretaker Mrs Dudley. However, in her new village she faces bullying and unfair treatment, just like Mrs Dudley had warned her , as she is mixed race. After reading the first 15 chapters, it is easy to see that Birdie is very brave. This is shown when she keeps trying to fit in and make new friends even when others are unkind to her. Also she is a very likeable character due to her courage,discrimination and relatable emotions when facing discrimination. One day, she runs to the coal mine after being bullied and meets a pony called Mr Duke. Over time there friendship grows and gives Birdie comfort when she is lonely. Overall, I quite like this novel because of the historical setting which taught me about World War 2 and life in mining villages. Moreover, I like how this book explores the important themes of discrimination and friendship . I also like how it is built around J P Roses life and background. I would recommend this to people who read books by Onjali Q.Rauf such as the Boy At The Back Of The Class or Night Bus Hero.

Luckson

Wolf Siren
Popcorn by Rob Harrell, is a really good book about a kid named Andrew, who is having his picture day, and things don’t go according to plan. This book is a humorous and emotional book that shows mental health in a realistic way. This is shown through the way Andrew is worried about his grandmother, who used to be an amazing person to be around and how after she started losing her memory and was diagnosed with Alzheimer, she started acting nothing like she used to before. My favourite part of this book is the friendship between Andrew and Jonesy because I could feel how supportive they were to each other and I could feel their kind-hearted friendship throughout the story even though Andrew was going through a hard time. Another reason I liked this book was that that this story taught that life isn’t always perfect and it’s okay to ask for help when needed. I would recommend this book to people who liked reading books like diary of the wimpy kid or dork diaries.

Presnu

Wolf Siren
One of the stories greatest strengths is its strong and determined protagonist, Red is a relatable character whose courage and curiosity drives the story forward. The author also creates a vivid and atmospheric setting, bringing the magical forest to life through detailed descriptions. Alongside its fantasy elements, the book explores important themes such as prejudice, fear, belonging and the importance to stand up to what is right. Although the story can be slow-paced in some sectors, the engaging plot and meaningful messages make it an enjoyable read. Overall, Wolf Siren is a thoughtful and imaginative novel that combines adventure, mystery and fantasy. Making itr a great choice for people who enjoy fairy- tale re-tellings and coming- of- age stories.

Ravi

Birdie
Birdie by J. P. Rose is a historical story that was set in the 1950's in Yorkshire. The story follows Birdie Bagshaw, a young girl who has spent her life in a children's home before being sent to live with her great aunt in a mining village. Excited to finally have a family, Birdie realises that fitting in is not as easy as she thought. She faces prejudice and loneliness, but she refuses to give up and she doesn't let these challenges define her. The a setting is described in a village during post war Britain, even though it is historical it is still engaging. One of the strongest parts of the novel is Birdies friendship with Mr Duke, he becomes an important piece of Birdies life because he gives her companionship and comfort when she is lonely. Their friendship adds a theme of kindness and emotion to the story. This book highlights a theme off resilience and kindness. I liked this book because it has a balance of a serious theme but also with a heartfelt story. Birdie is a determined character that is very resilient. This book is good for readers who like history and heartfelt stories. Overall Birdie is a very engaging book and its interesting.

Krishna

Ghostlines
I enjoyed Ghostlines by Katya Balen because it was both adventurous yet emotional. The story follows Tilda, who lives on a small island and finds it difficult to deal with changes in her life, especially when a new boy named Albie arrives. I really liked how the friendship between the two characters developed throughout the book. One of my favourite parts was the setting. The description of the island, the sea and the wildlife made it easy to imagine being there in person. The mystery of the forbidden island also kept me engaged and interested, which helped me engross myself into the book despite finding adventure books less interesting.

Neha

Birdie
Birdie is a really interesting and emotional book that i enjoyed reading. The story follows Birdie, a young girl who faces challenges in her life and learns important life lessons about family, friendship and being herself. One thing i liked about the book was how realistic the characters were. Their feelings and problems seemed believable and relatable, which made it seem realistic and easier to connect with them. The author does a great job of describing Birdie's thoughts and emotions. As i was reading, I felt happy during the good moments and worried when everything went wrong. The story kept me interested because i always wanted to know what would happen next and how Birdie would deal with her problems. Another thing I liked was the message of the book. It shows that everyone goes through difficult times and we never know what is going on in someones life and i think it is an important message for young readers. The book was easy to understand but at some points the story moved a little slowly. I would recommend Birdie to readers around my age because its relatable, inspiring and teaches valuable lessons.

Aaryan

Birdie
I have read Birdie by J.P Rose, and it is honestly a good book. Set in nineteen fifties Yorkshire, it is a beautifully written story that handles really heavy topics such as racism, bullying and loneliness whilst sounding quite realistic. The plot follows Birdie Bagshaw, a mixed-race girl who moves from a children's home to live with her great-aunt in a small rural village. Right from the start, the locals treat her badly just because of her skin colour. Feeling alone, Birdie secretly becomes friends with a pony in a coal mine. When things become dangerous for the pony, she risks everything to save him. My favourite part of the book is the connection between Birdie and the pony because it is like a classic horse story, which I loved. This book also demonstrates bravery and kindness. Overall, I rate this book an eight out of ten.

Manvi

Birdie
The book Birdie is about a young black girl who lives in an orphanage after her mother dropped her in a church. Birdie faced racism within the orphanage due to being a mixed race. Later her auntie requested for Birdie to live with her and her uncle but Birdie and her auntie never really got along until further in the book. This book also takes place after WW2 in around 1960. She goes to school and was bullied where she runs into a coal mine and is stuck. She is then saved by a pony where a friendship builds. This book is really good as it shows topics of Post-war Racism and bullying but also friendship and adventure. This book was written by J.P Rosie and its very reccommended. 10/10

Jessica

Birdie
This book is about a girl named Birdie who lives at a children's home because her mum left her when she was a baby. She then has to move into her aunt's town and has a hard time settling in because children from her school bully her and her auntie doesn't like her too because she looks different to everybody else. Fortunately, not all hope is lost when she finds a pony in a coal mine who rescues her when she gets trapped in there. Then she starts making friends, gets closer to her auntie and uncle but runs away with her pony when she finds out that he's going to be taken away. On her adventurous journey, she finds out people from her aunt's town need rescuing from the coal mine , so she takes her pony to rescue the people inside to safety. Due to him being trained to rescue, the pony goes back to the coal mines , with Birdie left not knowing is he'll survive..... I would recommend this book to people who like adventurous books and books that keep you at the edge of your seat. My favourite character is a girl who Birdie meets in her aunt's town named Julie because despite her dad hating Birdie , she still supports Birdie and her journey with her pony . I enjoyed reading this book because it was hard to put down and I enjoyed every second of it!

Jiya

Chronicles of a Lizard Nobody
Chronicles of the lizard nobody is actually a really good book because its funny but its also quite realistic in its descriptions. Zeke, the main character is a monitor lizard who's just trying to survive school,deal with a bully and try to fit in. Which is quite a relatable feeling as a teenager even is the book is filled with talking animals and unusual things happening everywhere.The story is silly and fun however it also represents feeling stressed and anxious without making the story too boring.

Himani

Popcorn
I read Popcorn by Rob Harrell. It was an interesting story about a boy named Andrew who dealt with severe anxiety, OCD and bullying; it smartly tackles these subjects whilst sounding comedic and entertaining. One moment I found funny was when Tyler sneezed on Andrew's new shirt because it was quite unexpected! He is poor, but he likes to think on the brighter side of things most of the time. He loves his family and friends very much, and despite all of the problems in his life, he still finds a way to bypass it; that is why I think you should read this book. Overall, I highly recommend this book and I rate this book a 9/10.

Manvi

Popcorn
I have recently really enjoyed reading Popcorn by Rob Harrel . It is about a boy called Andrew Yaeger who tackles anxiety and OCD on picture day as many things go wrong . He faces a bully called Gene and other social problems as his grandma suffers from Alheizmer's disease and wants her back. At times he experiences panic attacks which he describes a kernel of popcorn which represents going through stages of anxiety in its frying pan building up pressure until it pops. His biggest fear is having a panic attack at school . Andrew Yaeger is a really interesting character because of how he deals with anxiety as he is also an artist who creates comic strips to represent his emotions. It is quite entertaining to read as it has quite a lot of humour throughout the book and there are also a few diagrams to give a visual image of what is happening . I would highly recommend this book to readers who enjoy dairy books like The Diary of a Wimpy Kid or books which are quick to read.

Vami

Wolf Siren
Wolf Siren is an exciting and emotional story that blends, fantasy, romance and adventure. The book follows a main character who discovers truths about herself while becoming connected to the world of Wolf Siren. The plot is full of suspense and action which keeps the reader interested. I recommend Wolf Siren because it has ,well developed characters and an engaging story line which is easy to get interested in. The mix of magic and danger makes it very enjoyable for people who like fantasy novels. Personally my favourite character was red because she is a coragous and brave for going in the eerie forest

Abhinoor

Birdie
I find Birdie by JP Rose is an intriguing story that implements themes of innocence,identity,pressure,racism and change.It starts by introducing Birdie, a young girl living in a children`s home and really does not want to leave but wants to reconnect with her family (SPOILER Great aunt because her parents died).Then she goes to her aunt`s house to only feel like she hardly feels like she belongs making her think all family`s are cold towards each other.That also shows the racist behaviour as her great aunt expected a white child not black.I also think JP Rose tries to show us that racism is so embedded into regular day life and people make opinions on looks.I also feel it shows Birdie`s desperate attempts to fit in and instead she`s treated differently with no place fr her. In the plot Birdie tries to navigate through relationships with people in town to try to show everyone she`s the same as others too.A key moment was her finding the horse(Mr Duke) I feel as if it was hinting at Birdies loneliness,a companion for her in the search of friendship.I think the writer uses this to show how social expectations can shape us for our life. Overall I really enjoyed the story 8,5/10 Also I liked how character`s had their own way of speaking.

Haroon

Popcorn
Popcorn is about a seventh-grade boy Andrew who has a disastrous picture day that gets out of control. Andrew suffers with obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD), and frequent panic attacks and that's where the title of the book comes from where he compares it to popcorn kernels being under pressure until they "pop". During the day, he goes through many events such as a bully tearing his shirt, a basketball breaking his glasses and leaving him with a nosebleed and a science experiment that goes wrong. While all of this is happening, Andrew worries about his grandma who has Alzheimer's and lives with his mum. In the middle of the day, he finds out his grandmother has gone missing and they were not able to reach his mum using a phone. This triggers Andrew's anxiety. One of his greatest fears is having a panic attack at school and it was going to come true. His friends try to comfort him but they have no success. Overall, the book explores themes of humour whilst also incorporating serious issues at the same time. It includes a lots of comic style pictures and it made me learn that everyone has different coping strategies. It is a versatile book that i would recommend to anyone.

Aaryan

Chronicles of a Lizard Nobody
I would recommend this action-packed , fun read book by Patrick Ness because its a book that quite strange but also fun to read! Its a book about an animal world that has an animal school with monitor hall lizards. One of these monitor lizards is a lizard named Zeke who struggles by being fat shamed for being bigger than other lizards and also having anger issues and because of this a lot of things happen including him punching the school bully-Pelicarnassus. As this book goes on, a various of action and strange things happen which Zeke will have to overcome with his two other monitor lizard friends- Alicia and Daniel. I would recommend this book to people who like to read various things and action packed reads that don't just focus on one thing for a long time. My favourite character is Alicia as she is quite relatable and funny . I would also recommend this book to people who find it hard to read as its a quite a quick read and it has short chapters that just focus on one thing.

Jiya

Wolf Siren
I really liked this book as it gives a mysterious vibe and proved me wrong when I told myself it was boring when the cover didn't appeal to me immediately and I also have already read little red ridding hood and I might of assumed it would be the same but that is NOT the case it is so good and the author has really good world building skills. It is also is different from other little red riding hood spin offs as in this book Red isn't sweet and innocent like normal but rebellious as she sneaks into the forest when she is told not to .This book also kept me on my feet as it was constantly throwing plot twists at me . I recommend this book to people who love adventure and books with a lot of plot twists and additionally is an easy read and fast paced.

Tamilnila

Popcorn
popcorn is about a year 7 boy who is named Andrew.He has OCD which means you want everything to be present.Throughout the book there are these things called anxiety files which he draws . His therapist made him do it.Also his grandma has Alzheimer's (which is an illness old people get that makes them forget things easily.) This book takes place on picture day where he wants to be perfect except he faces challenges such as a bully and a stained T shirt . I really likes this book as it showed what people with disabilities lives are really like in secondary.For example when he gets a little stain on his t shirt on his shirt hos OCD kicks in and he stresses out a lot. This book helps this show how it impacts children with disorders.

mithus

Chronicles of a Lizard Nobody
4/10-the book felt a bit lack-luster for me, the story started on a mature note with the main plot being about Zeke being bullied and his mother being followed by a black dog, a metaphor for her mood. But then the story changed. it became less about that and more comedic, the son of a super villain tries to invade France on his knee and (SPOILER) Daniel and Alicia -with no explanation- can shoot laser beams when they put their hall monitor sashes to fight a giant pelican robot that tries to invade the school because Zeke punched him and after they defeat him Zeke just apologises .In all,the story switches tone halfway through and spirals out of reason .that is why i would not recommend this book, as the plot doesn't explain things and the story is random at times.In my opinion the only good part of the story is the start of the book which had a more mature tone and actually focused on the themes this book claims to have

Shiv-A

Chronicles of a Lizard Nobody
The Chronicles Of A Lizard Nobody by Patric Ness is an entertaining yet meaningful book about friendship, identity and fitting in. The story follows Zeke a quiet monitor lizard who prefers to stay unnoticed. However, when new students arrive he slowly comes out of his shell and becomes more confident. Personally, the humour in the book made it enjoyable and a uniquely fun read. Furthermore, seeing Zeke learn to trust his own opinions as a hall monitor was really heartwarming because we see the journey he goes on to find his own voice which many find relatable.

Neha

Wolf Siren
I think that Wolf Siren is a very good book.I think this because i love the fact that Beth O'Brien immitated a children's novel to tell a bigger novel for an older audience . Also, i really like the fact she included a blind charcter in the story because you don't see that very often. The plot of the book is that Red , a replica of little red riding hood , lives in a village where going into the woods is forbidden due to wolves. Reds grandmother actually disappeared in the forests without a trace '3 years ago'.However , red holds a secret as she believes that the trees protect her since she is blind so they guide her around the place. i I read this story in around 4-5 days i would recommend it to people who love adventures and fairytales.

Luckson

Wolf Siren
Wolf Siren, is actually pretty interesting because it starts off slow paced then suddenly the main girl Red, finds out her town is crawling with Ware-wolves and she is somehow connected to them. She gets dragged into this pack it has weird rules, and secrets people have been hiding from her. There is a lot of tension between her and the wolves, especially when she learns she might have her own powers. And the whole book is basically about her trying to figure out who she can trust in this dangerous world. It's a fast read and keeps you wanting to know she going to do next. I think that people that like mystery, supernatural and animal lovers will enjoy this book.

Himani

Popcorn
Popcorn by Rob Harrell: Popcorn is a funny, relatable novel about anxiety and learning to accept help. The main character is Andrew Yaeger, a 7th grader trying to survive school picture day while everything is going bad for him. Between bullying, family stress and his grandma's Alzheimer's and the fear of having a panic attack at school. Andrew feels like a popcorn kernel ready to 'pop'. One of the book's strengths is how it portrays anxiety. Harrell explains Andrew's feelings in an understandable way for young readers without making it serious.'The anxiety files' add humour while helping readers see inside Andrew's mind.From this book, I went away with the advice that its okay not to be okay. It also stands out to me because of its strong emotional core. Andrew's relationship with his family adds warmth to the story, especially as his grandma's Alzheimer's worsens. Harrell keeps the pace lively with embarrassing moments and sharp humour. Overall, Popcorn is an excellent book for teen readers because it's funny and meaningful. Rob Harrell shows that anxiety does not define a person, and that asking for help is not a weakness. The story is heartwarming, relatable and comforting, especially for readers who struggle with stress and mental health challenges themselves. It is a book that can make readers laugh one moment and feeling emotional the next.

Ravi

Ghostlines
The book i chose out of all carnegie books is Ghostlines. Ghostlines is an AMAZING book telling us about a young boy called Albie who is new to an island where he is living but he doesn't like it. He makes a friend called Tilda and they both set off on an adventure to a haunted island infested with ghosts and spirits. I loved how Albie and Tilda slowly became the best of friends. Tilda is like a brave and fierce character whilst Albie is more gentle and a kind soul. I love how mysterious and how descriptive the ghost island was and is an incredible book for ages 9-14. Therefore, Ghostlines is a very good book for people who enjoys mystery. Despite only reading half of the book, already i could tell the book is an amazing choice in books and i myself thinks everybody should read is 10\10!

Jessica

Chronicles of a Lizard Nobody
Chronicles of a Lizard Nobody by Patrick Ness is a chaotic, funny, very thoughtful story that is set in a school that is run entirely by animals. The story follows Zeke, who is a quiet monitor lizard who has always blended into the background and remains unnoticed and he assumes that he will never be important. His daily life is mostly always the same and uneventful, filled with normal classes and trying to avoid attention from the bigger and louder animals that are intimidating. However, everything starts to change quickly when he and his small group of friends are chosen to become hall monitors. At first the job seems quick, easy and simple but is becomes complicated and problematic because Zeke is forced to deal with rule-breaking, strange incidents and growing tension among other groups and more " superior " animals. The pelicans in particular are like the notorious school trouble makers which creates both funny moments but also conflict during the story. As the situations continue and escalate, Zeke slowly but also slowly learns to trust himself and his judgement through making difficult decisions. I really like this book because it is very funny, awkward and sometimes chaotic. The theme of this book shows the meaning of friendship, self worth, believing in yourself and courage. The actual name of the book " Lizard Nobody " foreshadows Zeke's growth from a nobody to a somebody who finally learns to believe in themselves.

Krishna Rathod

Birdie
The story follows Birdie Bagshaw, a mixed-race girl who has spent her life in a children’s home in Leeds. After her mother dies, she is sent to live with her great-aunt and great-uncle in the village of Barrington Dale. Birdie hopes to finally find a family and a place where she belongs, but instead she faces racism . Many people in the village treat her unfairly because of the colour of her skin, and even her teacher assumes she is unintelligent. Feeling isolated, Birdie escapes into the nearby coal mine, where she discovers Mr Duke, the last pit pony still living underground. The two form a close friendship, and Mr Duke becomes Birdie’s source of comfort One of my favourite parts of the book is Birdie’s friendship with Mr Duke the pit pony, because it shows there connection and bonding . The book has themes of friendship, belonging and identity running through it consistently. The setting of the 1950s mining village is described well and helps the reader understand what life was like at that time. I would recommend this book to readers who enjoy historical fiction, emotional stories, and animal friendships.

Diya

Chronicles of a Lizard Nobody
This book is about the main character Zeke and his friends becoming Hall Monitors at school full of talking animals in a bizarre world. But Zeke thinks that he and his friends got picked because they were monitor lizards. But if you knew what monitor lizards were, that part meant to be whole joke. The characters in this school are very strange as well. Anyways, becoming hall monitor was never meant to be easy for him as he has to deal with the school bully Pelicarniuss, an arrogant pelican. Their friends had to stop this wannabe super villain that tries to brew chaos at the school. Personally, I think this is also is a fun and humorous book but it also focuses on deeper themes such as mental health, the fact quiet and humble people end up saving the day, treating people with disabilities or eccentric people with kindness and giving them space and prejudice. Overall, I would recommend this book if you like humorous fiction, quick reads and illustrated books that are largely focused around school.

Hamdan

Popcorn
Popcorn is not the type of book I would normally read because I usually don’t enjoy emotional or serious books, but this one really kept me hooked. The story follows Andrew as he deals with anxiety, problems at school, a bully, and worries about his grandma, which made me feel empathetic for him I liked how Rob Harrell mixed funny moments with serious topics, so the book never felt boring or too heavy. The illustrations also made it more fun and helped show Andrew’s thoughts and feelings clearly. Even though the book talks about mental health, it was still entertaining and easy to read. I would give this book a 9 out of 10 because it was emotional, funny and engaging at the same time. Overall, Popcorn is a profound and fun book that surprised me and made me enjoy a type of story I wouldn’t normally choose.

Hamdan

Wolf Siren
When I started this book, I was first expecting a slight twist to the childhood story that I grew up reading. It turns out, it was better than I had anticipated. This story is about a girl named Red and in her town, she isn't allowed to go into the forest and is forbidden, but she goes anyway. Later on, she starts to uncover the secrets why and what the mayor is telling them isn't true, and she herself finds out something that I found was very unexpected.Throughout the story, I became more attached to the book and was unable to put it down. I quite enjoyed how the author had portrayed Red as a character as she had a vision impairment and how girls are able to relate to the struggles and injustice that we face as a whole. Personally, the growth of Red as the book progressed was inspiring, she had to face lots of challenges to be able to be where she was at the end of the story, being able to embrace her true self which is why I had found the book empowering to young girls who feel like they have no power in the world and feel that their voice isn't heard. Overall, Wolf Siren is a very good book and I highly recommend it to young and teenage girls who want to read a book that they can relate to.

Mahi

Birdie
Birdie is a book set around the 1950s in Yorkshire. It follows the story of a young girl who experiences unacceptance, due to the colour of her skin after leaving a childrens home to live with her great aunt. It explores themes of racism, identity and belonging. Personally, I like this book so far because of its emotional depth and how real the story feels, making it so i can imagine clearly how people at that time, both adults and children could feel. I would recommend this book to readers older and younger than me since i feel that Birdie is a great story with no limit for ages. I think that younger readers could benefit understanding of racism and feelings of belonging from Birdie's story. So i would say my overall rating of Birdie is 7/10.

simran

Shrapnel Boys
I read Shrapnel Boys by Jenny Pearson. It was a story about 3 boys in WW2 and they have to hide in their bunker for the blitz by the Lufftwaffe (German Air Force). The 3 boys Micky, Ronnie and Lugs meet Johnny who is secretly part of the BUF (British Union of Fascists). They have to help the police stop Johnny. They are called the Shrapnel Boys because after the bombing finishes they run out to collect the biggest and best bits of Shrapnel (bits of metal from bombs). I would recommend this to people who like history and to teenagers because there are interesting bits of history.

Het

Chronicles of a Lizard Nobody
I think you should read Chronicles Of A Lizard Nobody because it is about Principal Wombat making 3 lizards become hall monitors together and they go through funny adventures together. At the same time, this book smartly tackles emotional subjects such as bullying as there is a Pelican that represents a bully. Furthermore, I thoroughly enjoyed this book as it is also quite entertaining, and you may learn lots of important lessons during this book, such as being kind. Therefore, I think you should read this book and I rate this book a 9/10.

Manvi

Wolf Siren
Wolf Siren by Beth O' Brian, is a really good book about the popular fairytale - Little Red Riding Hood and how it was portrayed as a suspenseful story of a little girl called Red and how she tries to visit her grandmother by going through the forbidden woods of which her father was murdered by wolves which led to the mayor forbidding all men to enter the forest to prevent the worst whereas women who are thought of as lower status are expected to obey the mayor's harsh rules, but Red ignores all those warnings and goes in... The characters and settings were amazing and I really loved the forest itself and how they incorporate feminism and injustice into what seems an innocent book. Amazing book - recommend to people who like fantasy and fairy tales being retold.

sumaya

Chronicles of a Lizard Nobody
I think the Chronicles of a lizard Nobody is a very fun and relatable story to read for younger audiences as it is also really entertaining for reluctant readers because of the illustrations throughout the book. Even though it is quite humorous it also explores themes of bullying and anxiety in a light and less serious way as three monitor lizards are selected as hall monitors by Principle Wombat. I think people who love books with animals or books featured in school will love to read this story. Therefore, I recommend reading this book.

Vami

Chronicles of a Lizard Nobody
I read Chronicles of a Lizard nobody and I thought it was a really fun and interesting book. It's about a lizard called Zeke who becomes a hall monitor and gets into loads of chaos with his friends and the school bully. One of the things I liked is that it was funny. The characters are animals but act like real people which makes it interesting and some of the main characters are Zeke, Alicia, Daniel, Miel, The Normans, principal Wombat and Pelicarnassus. I would recommend this to people of all ages.

Shivam

Chronicles of a Lizard Nobody
The Chronicles of a Lizard Nobody is about a boy (Zeke) who is a lizard and has just joined a new school with other animals. Other students such as the Pelican find him weird and bully him. The book explores themes of this and friendships and humour as well. Overall i believe it's a good read for anyone as it has a variety of themes in it. It is also quite a relatable book because the characters experience similar emotions to us. Finally, i really like this book because there are a lot of funny moments in it.

Aaryan

Popcorn
POP CORN by Rob Harrel is a very funny but it also has quite serious moments .It is about a boy called Andrew who has social anxiety and feels really embarrassed about his school picture.But Andrews bully Gene Phillips is a rich kid who makes Andrews kid dreadful as Andrew lives with his grandma and his mum who This book teaches you how school can be when people judge based on how you look and this is why I would recommend this book to people our age because it shows what can actually happen and that you need to treat people with empathy.

Abhinoor

Wolf Siren
personally i think wolf siren is a fantastic book.the story features a kind and adventurous little red riding hood who unlike the original fairy tale is fascinated by the concepts of wolves in contrast to her peers.its an easygoing book that draws many readers to its whims.i also like how the author,"beth o'brien", wrote the book so that the readers can visualise the world beyond through the eyes of indigionous women and shows the connection between red and the forest in which everyone fears as in the book it is shown as her being visually impaired with nature being her guide to the paths.overall it is an intrestingly feminist book which appeals to anyone with elements of nature,principles and adventure.

samara

Wolf Siren
Wolf Siren by Beth O'Brien is a gripping and imaginative novel that blends mystery and fantasy in a way that appeals to all readers. The story follows a partially sighted teenage girl who discovers a strange yet powerful connection to wolves, which draws people in, creating both excitement and tension throughout the book. Personally, one of the most effective aspects of this thrilling tale is its setting. O'Brien uses detailed descriptions of the forest's eerie atmosphere. This reflects the main character Red's scepticism as she begins to change and learn more about herself. The theme of identity is very strong, as the protagonist struggles to accept who she is. This book is highly relatable for teenagers struggling with feelings of not fitting in, which helps readers connect with the story on a deeper level and guides us through a thought provoking book, which is inevitably is all about finding your place in the world.

Neha

Popcorn
This book is about a boy named Andrew Yeager who suffers with anxiety in his everyday life. His symptoms include having panic attacks, having to tap with his fingers for a certain amount of time e.t.c. He goes to school on picture day certain everything will go well with everything organised well to make the picture perfect. However as his day goes on, his day seems to get worse adding the level onto his popcorn anxiety scale, which he uses to make sure the one thing doesn't happen in school;him having a panic attack. I think that children aged 11-14 should read this book because it may be relatable to some people who also suffer with anxiety and also this book has comedy in it to make the reader understand anxiety .

Jiya

Chronicles of a Lizard Nobody
At the start of the story , I was unsure about the book due to its illustration .However,after I had read the book I was amazed by how the book had presented Zeke ,Daniel and Alicia . Another reason this book was interesting because their friendship and the way they communicated with each other was similar to students in real life .In addition, the way Zeke grown throughout the story is very inspiring.At the start of the story ,Zeke thinks of himself as a "nobody" who thinks pelicans are too popular /have too much power to stand up to and thinks that he doesn't have the confidence to stop his bully Pelicarnassus from bully himself and others due to how much power Pelicarnussus's father has over the school.However at the end of the story Zeke becomes more confident in himself and understands his friends better and responsibility.This book shows that even though someone else has more power than , the victim can't run away or make excuses to stand up for themselves without treating the bully like the victim.

Presnu

Chronicles of a Lizard Nobody
The chronicles of a Lizard nobody is a short read fantasy story that mixes humour and deep emotions. It is written by the award winning novelist Patrick Ness who also wrote ' A Monster Calls ' . The illustrations are enhanced by Tim Miller and is aimed at 9-13 year olds but can easily appeal to older audiences . This story centres around Zeke and his lizard friends , Alicia and Daniel , who have joined a new school through the 'blending program'.Principal wombat , who has an armoured bum, appoints the 3 as hall monitors but this job flips their lives upside down as they begin to clash with a villainous pompous pelican , who is the son of an international supervillain. Zeke is forced to juggle his duties and home life , which includes a bizzare family curse ;France on his knee! I really enjoyed this story because Ness uses humour to address serious school topics like depression,bullying,neglect,poverty and mental health in a relatable way. I would recommend this book to fans of a Diary of a Wimpy Kid or The Bolds Overall , i would consider this a must buy for its absurd humour on every page , deep empathy and inclusivity.

Luckson

Chronicles of a Lizard Nobody
I really enjoyed this book as it was quite a fun read,it had many jokes and hilarious moments. It also talked about mature themes in the book like mental health,fitting in and bullying making it easy for kids to learn in a friendly way. Also the pictures among the pages were really fun to see and helped you visualise. However I feel like this book is aimed at young kids but can still be enjoyable for people older than the 7-9 age range. Also the part where France appears on his knee does not really make sense and I would really enjoy it if he went into more depth about how France gets on Zeke's knee. But overall the story for me is engaging and personally kept me hooked with the story. Rating 9/10

Haroon

Chronicles of a Lizard Nobody
Chronicles of a Lizard Nobody by Patrick Ness is a funny, strange and surprisingly thoughtful book that stands out for how it feels to be a teenager. The story is based around Zeke, who is quite literally a 'lizard nobody' at school. He gets ignored, overlooked and he feels as if he doesn't matter. But when weird things starts happening, Zeke gets pulled into an adventure that is both crazy, but meaningful. I liked this book because for me, I thought that it was engaging by mixing with doodles, lists and chaotic thoughts which makes you feel like you can see what goes on in Zeke's head. I think this book was a great read, that was a mix of humour weirdness and something I can relate to. It was an easy and entertaining read, but it stuck with me because of how the main characters feels.

Serena

Popcorn
"Popcorn" by Rob Harrell is a heartwarming and humorous graphic novel that centers on the life of Ethan, a shy and artistic middle schooler who is terrified of public speaking; The story beautifully captures the anxieties and triumphs of adolescence as Ethan and his friends embark his fear and step out of his comfort zone. The narrative is filled with vulnerable characters, laugh-out-loud-moments, and touching scenes that highlights the power of friendship and self-discovery. Harrell`s vibrant illustration perfectly complement the engaging story, making "Popcorn" a delightful read for anyone who has ever felt the pressure of putting themselves out there

Ayush

Chronicles of a Lizard Nobody
Chronicles of a lizard nobody is a fun read that has more depth than you might expect. It mixes humour with a few thoughtful moments that are easy to get into. Patrick Ness did a great job taking what sounds like a strange idea-" A lizard nobody."- and using it to talk about how you see your own worth. Even though the setup is odd, the main character's experience feels very human.The author's writing is very quick, funny and full of character, so it moves along easily. But there is also an emotional layer which makes it entertaining and a little touching at the same time. The book is creative without drowning you in details so it keeps the pace moving. The author doesn't make it more complicated than it needs to be. In the end, the book is about learning to see your own value. After I finished reading the book, it stayed in my mind for a while which says a lot about how Patrick Ness tells a story

Ravi

Wolf Siren
I reccomend the book Wolf siren because I feel like its a quite interesting book for children or any aged people who enjoy mystery and a kind of book with meaning. The book is about Little Red Riding Hood (Red) who is blind and lives with her mother after her father went missing in the forest. Her mother forbade her from ever entering the forest but she was actually familiar with the forest and the trees guided her showing trust and the kindness the girl has given to them for a forest that allegedly makes men disappear or killed. It is a fantasy book and is a darker version of little red riding hood and backstories of each character. Overall, it is an amazing book for children who enjoy a fantasy fairy tail of dark versions of its original story

Jessica

Wolf Siren
The book Wolf Siren by Beth O'Brien is similar to the little red ridding hood but with a twist. The main character of this book is Red who is forbidden from going in the woods but she is a bit of a rebel. Her mother tells her the woods are dangerous as the villagers say there are known to be magical wolfs there. So far I have really enjoyed this book as the language is challenging but also simple which I think is really good for young readers like me. Additionally, there are a lot of strong themes such as belonging and learning to trust others which can be really relatable to readers. I also found this book quick paced and has many unexpected plot twists which I found helped me engage with the book. I would strongly suggest this book to people who like fantasy or fairy tales but also people who like books with a lot of plot twists.

Diya

Popcorn
The book Popcorn follows the story of a boy named Andrew,who struggles anxiety in school. the book is set on a chaotic school picture day . Andrew has to face a series of tense events such as facing a school bully , a science experiment gone wrong and news of his grandma being lost . the book tackles themes of OCD and anxiety management and accepting advice and support from others . I personally thought this book was not too bad but i would recommend this to someone who needs help with anxiety in a fun way

Praneel

Wolf Siren
Wolf Siren by Beth O'Brian is an interesting and gripping book that is very appealing to teenagers because of its great use of language that explains the story very well. It's very similar to the story of little red riding hood but it's a darker and more in depth version of it. This book is about a girl named red who feels like an outsider or more like disconnected to the people around her. she feels a deep kind of connection to the wolves in the forest. Red has a disability, she is partially sighted but thought the book was seen as a positive because she is seen as a more powerful and strong willed character. The setting in this book is tense in some parts and its also very mysterious. I really liked this book because of the details and the hook it has on the reader but some parts of the booking like the few final chapters feel rushed and not in depth but overall i would recommend this book to other people and i would also read it again.

krishna

Ghostlines
I actually really liked Ghostlines because it felt different from most books i have read. It`s not super fast or full of action,but island setting is so vivid that it traps u making u flick through the pages not wanting to put it down. Tilda feels like my friend she is brave however she is also stubborn and hurt so, you can tell she misses her brother even when she tries her best to hide it. Albie annoyed me at first, but then i started understanding him and why he acts the way he does. However the whole thing has this ominous creepy vibe to it because of the forbidden island,But in my opinion it is more emotional than scary. If you like stories that feel real and a bit wild, it is definetly worth reading.

Himani

Chronicles of a Lizard Nobody
The name of this book is called " Chronicles of a lizard nobody " and I personally really enjoyed reading it . It is very easy to read and extremely funny additionally , it uses easy vocabulary so people of all ages can read and enjoy ! One of my favourite parts of the book is that there is a small and cute illustration every now and again which makes reading the book more enjoyable. It also uses funny jokes about their species for example , how they are made hall monitors because they are monitor lizards.

Tamilnila

Wolf Siren
I think Wolf siren was a very good book in terms of plot as the mysteriousness of the forest always made me turn the page and I believe the book clearly shows how Red matures throughout while also learning about the woods and her past.The ending was good but also quite unexpected to me but I still felt satisfied as I read the last page.red being visually impaired makes the descriptive language very varied but I wish they expanded more on it.But other than that it is a very good book.

Shiv