Chiswick Carnegie

Chronicles of a Lizard Nobody
Chronicles of a lizard nobody is about Zeke, a monitor lizard who is often picked on by the school bully, Pelicarnassus. The book follows him trying, and, eventually, succeeding, to stand up to Pelicarnassus. The main themes of this book are bullying, friendship and mental health. I thought this book was ok. I liked the fact that one of its overall messages was that it's not about how much power you have, it's about what you use it for, but I wish that the plot had been slightly more complicated.

Alexandra

Wolf Siren
I would recommend Wolf Siren to Primary School children because the writing is big enough to understand, simple descriptions and overall a compelling read. Red's first transformation into a wolf was very evocative however, I also like Aerona's transformation. In the Author's Note, I appreciated how Beth O'Brien included her own disability and created Red as visually impaired but learned to overcome the struggle.

Rafa

Twenty Four Seconds from Now
Twenty four seconds from now is an extremely interesting and refreshing read.I particularly liked how it was laid out in a more modern fashion then typical romance books and, it was very clever how the chapters went back in time, reflecting the main characters overthinking about what he is just about to do and and all the stages he went through to come to this moment(even if at times it was confusing). Overall I enjoyed it allot.

Josie

Not Going To Plan
Not Going To Plan is a good book. I honestly wouldn’t have picked it up off the shelf just out of choice- but I’m glad I read it. It’s about a year 11 girl who has sex with a boy who pretends to wear a condom. She then gets pregnant, and all of her dreams disappear if she has this baby. She goes through the nerve-racking process of making life decisions no 16 year old girl should have to make and then has to face the fear and pain of abortion. I liked this book because it presents themes of friendship, freedom and determination. I would recommend this book to readers 15+ only because Not Going To Plan does have quite a few adult themes in it as well as the ones previously stated.

Molly

Birdie
I really enjoyed Birdie as I found the story very interesting and gripping. It is about a young girl called Birdie who is an orphan who is forced to leave her beloved orphanage to go live with her great aunt. When she arrives in her new village she is discriminated against for her skin colour and no one wants to be friends with her. However through her loneliness she finds a friend in the coal mine who is a pony. I love how determined she is to keep Mr Duke (her pony) safe. Furthermore, I like how it gives me an insight into the industrial revolution and how badly some people were treated. I enjoy how much love and care Birdie gives to Mr Duke and in return he gives her friendship and he is always there when she needs him. Parts of the novel are sad but Birdie never gives up and always gives all she has to protect Mr Duke. Overall, I really enjoyed Birdie and would highly recommend it to everyone.

Hattie

Twenty Four Seconds from Now
Unfortunately, I found this book to be a bit pointless. It gave me so much backstory but barely any of it was important. It was a boring read which immediately put me off the book from the beginning. It does hint (right at the start of the novel) that we would return to the present just before the book ended. This gave me something to look forward to while I was reluctantly making my way through 24 seconds from now. However, when I finally reached the present, I was really let down by the ending I was hoping for. Nothing interesting happened. It was rubbish. I would regretfully NOT recommend this book to anyone as it is all pointless and a real let-down.

Molly

Chronicles of a Lizard Nobody
I was not a fan of Lizard Nobody as I found the story line generic and childish which was not well suited for the age range. It is a book about animals that go to school and a lizard gets bullied by a pelican who wants to be a supervillain. I found parts of this story quite random and weird for example the lizard has France as in the whole country on his knee. I also didn’t find it particularly interesting or unique. I thought the idea and story line was unoriginal. Personally, I would not recommend it to older kids however some younger kids might like it.

Hattie

Birdie
Birdie is a brilliant book which gives me an insight on how it must have been to live as a mixed-race child during the Industrial Revolution. I loved Birdie because it demonstrates themes of bravery, stamina and determination. The story really is inspirational as it shows how to keep pushing and how to carry on, even when life seems unfair and cruel. I would wholeheartedly recommend this tale to all readers who love a good page-turner.

Molly

Twenty Four Seconds from Now
I thought 24 seconds from now was ok as I found that most of the book was just a back story and not a lot to do with the main story line. However, I did like how the characters were built up throughout the book. It is about a boy who is about to get into bed with his girlfriend for the very first time. He wants to do it, however he is anxious about it and worried he will do something wrong. I like how it goes back in time through the book and then back to the present at the end as it is unusual and different to read it in that format. Unfortunately, I found most of the book quite boring and unimportant to the main story line. I also thought the ending was quite rushed and not a lot happened. I would not recommend this as I think there are more interesting books in the genre.

Hattie

Ghostlines 
I really enjoyed Ghostlines as it has a gripping and interesting story line with incredible characters.The story involves a young girl called Tilda who lives and grew up on the island and has never been to the mainland. She meets a boy called Albe who has just moved to the island. Albe is not particularly keen on making friends and can’t see the beauty of the island that Tilda can. Tilda can’t understand why he doesn’t like it but is determined to make him love the island in the same way she does. Ghostlines has key themes and ideas woven through the whole book creating links to the reader's message about friendship throughout. Furthermore, I love how Tilda perseveres to share the joy of the island with her new friend Albe. Katya Balen uses beautiful descriptive language to create a magical image of the island for the reader as well as amazing character development. I would highly recommend this book to all but especially those who enjoy adventure books. Overall, I think it is an amazing and inspiring book.

Hattie

Chronicles of a Lizard Nobody
Chronicles of a Lizard Nobody is an upbeat and action filled tale, following Zeke's life as he attempts to live a normal life after the death of is father and his mothers mental struggles ever since. He studies among other animals in his school, facing bullying and effects of a hagiarchy. As the story progresses he must face dangers and supervillains with the help of his friend, teaching the valuable lessons of friendship, community and importance of support

Taira

Wolf Siren
Wolf Siren is about a young girl, Red, who happens to be the protagonist in a story set in a remote village where women face suppression because of the natural power that they possess and are prevented from making their own choices. Red must find her true personality and powers in order to save her loved ones from the life which she now knows is a life of corruption and conformity. The Wolf Siren is an inspirational book that is intended to display a clear motif of suppression and mistreatment of women specifically in a world where the seem to naturally possess ore power and control. It showcases the broader world and the different norms that others are accustomed to that may seem normal for them but seems absurd and unfair for us. I would recommend this book to those who want to broaden their perspectives and get a better understanding of those who are not necessarily spoken of enough and recognised.

Nurdan

Ghostlines 
Ghostlines is a bright and comforting story, exploring the life of Tilda on her home island Ayrie. Her community is very close knit, everything is always a certain way and everyone knows everyone. Ayrie must navigate through guiding a newcomer around the island, trying to get hm to fall in love with the simple life, while also struggling to let go of her brother who decided to leave the island life behind. This book depicts themes of family, overcoming the fear of change/losing control and sends a powerful message: everyone is different, everyone lives will stem in different directions and that is ok, it doesn't mean the end, but instead a new chapter.

Taira

The Boy I Love
I really liked reading The Boy I Love because it shows the true brutality of war and how unfair society was and slightly still is. Overall it has an excellent plot, the format is quite complicated but apart from that I think it's a really good book.The Boy I Love has some key themes I don't think I have ever read before, such as WWI mixed with LGBTQ+ and Discrimination. I think William Hussey wrote an amazing book. 9/10

Sara

Wolf Siren
The story of Wolf Siren is an inspiring tale about a young girl different from the rest of her community. Red is taught all her life to conform to her village's expectations and "social rules" that put the men on top, even if the best interest of people lay in giving women more power. Discovering a hidden strength withing herself, she must fight against the corrupt leadership to save herself, her friends and her family from continuing to living a life of suppression.

Taira

Ghostlines 
Ghostlines is an amazing book about adapting, community and home. Although I found it hard to get into, once Albie started getting involved I found it absolutely impossible to put down. It's definitely worth giving a chance. On the whole I think it is a beautiful book. Katya Balen described the island really well and the plot is very engaging.

Sara

Popcorn
The book Popcorn is about how a young boy named Andrew is dealing with anxiety and is set when he is having the worst day ever. His grandmother, bullying and much more all surround him, while he is just trying to stay tidy for his picture. I like this book because it feels somewhat relatable, as going through high/secondary school can be tough and you might get anxious along the way. I think the writer made it easy to sympathise with Andrew, as the detail going into his feelings is so incredibly intricate. I enjoy how the title 'Popcorn' relates to Andrew himself and how the book is like his own journal, but also a story in a way. I would definitely recommend this book to readers my age because it is a good reminder that other people are anxious and we are all going through the same situation.

Suheyla

Ghostlines 
Katya Balen wrote an amazing book about adapting, community and home. Although I found it hard to get into, once Albie started engaging I found it absolutely impossible to put down. It's definitely worth giving a chance. On the whole I think it is a beautiful book.

Sara

Not Going To Plan
Not going to plan was a really nice, short, easy read due to its poem-like style of writing. I really liked it because at times, it was very tense and extreme but towards the end, slowed down a bit and ended quite nicely, which was the part I really enjoyed. In a way, Marnie felt very relatable about her grades were going down but she still succeeded which I feel many young people these days could relate to. Because of the parts that some people might not like and it whad a good explanation of the consequences which some teenagers might not be aware of. Although Marnie maybe did not do things she should have done in the past, she learnt from her mistakes and moved on and never looked back. She was not afraid to say what had happened to her and Jessica Bates but the fact they could look past all their previous problems and move on.

Charlotte

Ghostlines 
I liked reading Ghostlines because I thought the setting and characters were very realistic and relatable. I also really liked the fact that Ayrie (the fictional island where the book is set) is separated from the mainland and the side plot with Tilda's brother. However, sometimes the plot got a little bit slow but, overall, it was a really well-written book and enjoyed reading it.

Alexandra

Ghostlines 
Ghostlines was a really sweet story. I loved the setting of Ayrie and all the descriptions about it. It really made me feel as if I was there. I actually have happened to read this book before and I think I've enjoyed it more this time around because I could really understand the perspective of Albie who also is my favourite character. Now that it's been a while since I read it, I could notice new things and understand why Albie felt the way he did and acted the way he did. I think he was a really relatable character. I also think the writing style of the book fit the character of Tilda perfectly with the very long sentences and the multiple uses of the word 'and'. It made me get into the perspective of Tilda easier.

Valentina

Birdie
Birdie is an astonishing book regarding racial challenges, empathy and history (1950s). It is an amazing book about a girl that faces racial inequality in her new home town; after hiding from some bullies she finds herself in a mine shaft. Later she is rescued by a gorgeous pit pony whom she instantly falls in love with. Subsequently she rescues the pit pony and helps the village after a disaster in the mine. Generally I think that Birdie is a wonderful book and is definitely worth a chance. 8.8/10

Sara

Birdie
The book, Birdie, is a very intriguing book. I like how it all starts in the middle of her story, where she knows nothing about herself. However, as the story progresses, she finds more about herself and her past. I feel the main theme is trust, as Birdie's whole lifestyle changes and she needs to build new friendships and trust. I like how they added someone, who could look past her differences, no matter what her race is or her hair. I feel they could've added Birdie with her new life in detail, and how she was doing after the incident. I really love the connection between Birdie and her friend she met in the pits. The detail added to this story is great and I would definitely recommend this book to anyone looking for a good book.

Suheyla

Not Going To Plan
Like a book I've read recently, the story is presented in an extremely interesting and unique fashion because its organised in a way that allows all perspectives to be witnessed which ensures that the readers ending idea upon the book is fairly varied. And although that is only one statement I overall really enjoyed the book.

Rafa

Wolf Siren
Wolf Siren is a breathtaking adventure from the perspective of a girl with poor sight.This factor was very eye catching to me because it was a unique concept and I loved how the author related to the main character because i feel that when the writers see themselves in their characters, the story is allot more emotional and exciting. Overall, absolutely lovvveddd!!!!!!!

Josie

The Boy I Love
The boy I love by William Hussey is an incredibly fascinating and heartwarming read.I loved how it was a mix of LGBTQ+and classical war story because even if the book was not necessarily relatable to an audience of a younger age it taught me a great deal about what soldiers had to go through in that time and made me feel allot of gratitude for those who fought for our country. Best booook evvveerrrrrr!!!!!!!!

Josie

Not Going To Plan
Not Going to Plan is an amazing book based on friendship, consent and trust. Tia Fisher connected with her readers through an exhilarating account about a girl who becomes a teen mom whilst struggling through her GCSEs. Tia later tells us, in the author's note, that she wrote this book to raise awareness about consent. However I don't believe that was all she was trying to convey, I feel like she was trying to tell us that when things are hard being with people you love and support you is so important. Overall I think Not Going to Plan is a spectacular book. 8/10

Sara

Popcorn
Popcorn is a fantastic novel in which we see what life is like to have anxiety through the eyes of a young boy. It is crazy, moving, exciting and explores themes such as friendship, family and ordinary things people with anxiety really struggle with. I really enjoyed this book because I got to see the world through someone else’s eyes- which assisted me on how to help others who are coping with a similar situation. I would wholeheartedly recommend this book to everyone. -Molly.

Molly

The Boy I Love
I personally quite enjoyed 'The Boy I Love' for many reasons. Firstly, the link to World War One. I really like books that link to that sort of thing because it adds more excitement to the story and more knowledge which I enjoy very much. Secondly, the LGBTQ+ it contains helps people understand how unfair it was back then to some people because of the rules they didn't want to follow. Even though some parts were not as exciting as others, I loved it.

Amelie

Birdie
Birdie was a nice book. I enjoyed the setting because I love war/post-war books. My favourite character was Julie who is Birdie's neighbour when she moves to Barrington Dale. She was a great supportive friend to Birdie. Her rebelling against her father's racism towards Birdie was really sweet as well. The scene between Birdie and her Aunt Mabel where her aunt opens up about why she was cold to Birdie and telling her about her mother was my favourite. Overall, the book was enjoyable with everyone warming to Birdie especially at the end when she came back with her pony, Mr Duke. However, I feel as if conflicts were gotten over too quickly. People were just warned once and then it was fixed. I felt that was a bit unrealistic but other than that, Birdie was a good book. Not my favourite, but still nice.

Valentina

Chronicles of a Lizard Nobody
Chronicles of a Lizard Nobody is such a fun book. It juxtaposes themes like bullying and friendship- which I personally find fascinating. Unfortunately, I found the book to be for younger readers, hence I didn't find myself entirely engrossed. However, I wholeheartedly recommend Chronicles of a Lizard Nobody to readers aged 5-9 because (as previously stated) it is a very silly and fun book for children! -Molly.

Molly

Ghostlines 
Ghostlines is a very interesting, yet an exciting book. The plot was a little hard to predict, but I feel that builds suspense. I enjoy how they are living their life already when an outsider moves there and I love the idea of the island of Ayrie. I think key themes were friendship and how Tilda and Albie got to know each other. The fact that Tilda and her brother were siblings was a little hard to understand, but once you've read the book, it becomes a lot more clear. I think this type of book would be good for people who like fantasy or adventure. Also, I really like the concept of Ghostlines helping Tilda and it also is the title. I would definitely recommend this.

Suheyla

Wolf Siren
Beth O’Brian twisted Little Red Riding Hood into an exciting novel about feminism, injustice, unity and personal development. It still has the woods and the wolves but now it has a thrilling plot about making the change that you want to see in the world. Although the ending was sad, I really enjoyed this book and would definitely recommend it to friends. 9/10 Amazing book!

Sara

Popcorn
Popcorn is about a boy called Andrew who lives with his Grandma G, who used to work at his school. At his school picture day, he is determined for everything to be perfect for his grandma. However, Andrew has anxiety, which makes it harder for him to cope when the day inevitably starts going wrong. I enjoyed Popcorn because I think it was well-written and funny and it made it easier to understand topics that might otherwise be quite difficult to talk about, such as anxiety and Alzheimers.

Alexandra

Chronicles of a Lizard Nobody
Chronicles of a lizard nobody is a very interesting book. It is about how a lizard fits into school while facing many adversities. I feel that the main themes is discrimination and how he wants to fit in with the other animals. However, I feel the comedy well-balances the sadness and how you want to feel bad for the protagonist, especially when he is at home. This book makes you feel bad for an animal, when you would normally not think about it. Therefore, I feel that this is a very intriguing book, taking the reader on an emotional rollercoaster . This book is very unique and I definitely would recommend this book to people who have not found their types of books.

Suheyla

Twenty Four Seconds from Now
Although 24 seconds from now is quite a mature read for my age, it is now my favourite book. A key aspect, that I enjoyed, used in the book was how the author used modern references to make the story relatable to the age group it was aimed towards. Additionally, I appreciated how the author told the story through the perspective of a boy because typically, romance books are more catered towards female audiences, so by doing this, the author ensures that both male and female audiences can enjoy and relate to the book. And lastly, it was interesting how the author used a different way to tell the story by going backwards in time. 5 STARS.

Rafa

Wolf Siren
I thoroughly enjoyed Wolf Siren. The magic of the woods and wolfwomen was really intriguing and I loved the twist with Red and her grandmother. The book follows the main character of Red who is mostly blind and I think the description of the way she saw the world was beautiful. She lives in a village on the edge of a forest where the mayor and system is corrupt and sexist. After wolf attacks on men in the wood, only women are safe to go in yet it is looked down upon and seen as very unusual to go in the woods. To add, the job of being a woodcutter is for only for the outcasts. I think this is a great way of teaching young children about what society used to be like and what it shouldn't be like through a story. The wolves and the wolfwomen were probably my favourite part of the book and Red being able to summon her wolves was very interesting. Beginning the book was a little hard at first because it wasn't that interesting but by the end I couldn't put the book down.

Valentina

Birdie
Birdie follows the story of a girl called Birdie who goes to live with her aunt in a coal-mining town in Yorkshire. She faces racism and discrimination from the other people in the town, and, one day, she stumbles across a pit pony in the mine. She and the pony find solace in each other, but when the pony's life is in danger, Birdie has to choose between family and the pony. I enjoyed reading this book because the way the author writes is intriguing and makes you want to read more.

Alexandra

Popcorn
In Popcorn, a young boy in Year Seven, Andrew Yaeger goes through a messy day on the most important part of the year, Picture Day. Andrew talks about his grandmother ( dubbed G ), his hot - tempered dad ( who left Andrew and Andrew's mother). He also talks about his three visits to his therapist, Dr Cain. She helps him talk about his struggles and even the author, Rob Harrel, includes some breathing techniques that Andrew learns from the Doctor. His BFF Jonesy, School Nurse Finnegan, Art teacher Mr Kellerman and Principal Mr Espinosa comfort Andrew throughout the day.

Rafa

Ghostlines 
During Ghost Lines, a young girl named Tilda loves to explore the wonders that lay close to the jagged, rocky mountains of her home island. Throughout the book, she finds secret coves, beaches and many more hidden places filled with magic. However, a boy from the mainland, Albie, has just arrived and Tilda is intrigued to show him everything she's found in the mountains.

Amelie

Popcorn
I really enjoyed Pop Corn because I found it interesting to see the world through the eyes of someone with anxiety. It is written from the perspective of a young boy called Andrew, who struggles with anxiety. It is picture day at his school and his mum and grandma want him to look the best he can however he has a very unfortunate day leading him to get a school photo that looked quite different from what he expected. I love how crazy his day ends up being and I found it fascinating to see how his day affects his anxiety. It is a great book and I highly recommend it to all but specifically to people who enjoy seeing the world from a different perspective.

Hattie

Ghostlines 
GhostLines, by Katya Balen is story about a young girl called Tilda who lives on the beloved Scottish island of Ayrie, where she takes you on a journey of magic, secrets and the power of friendship. Tilda's brother is no longer on the island and she believes it is her fault so inevitably, when a boy called Albie arrives(who unlike her, is not at all keen on the island), she feels she must do everything in her power to convince him to stay, even if it means traveling to the forbidden island. At the end of the novel, one thing is definitely clear, things are never quite as scary when you've got your best friend by your side. Overall I really enjoyed GhostLines and would recommend it to anyone looking for a unique adventure.

Josie

Wolf Siren
At first, I wasn't convinced by Wolf Siren. For most of the book, I found the story to be unfortunately boring but in the final few chapters- the story really became alive. Wolf Siren is about a brilliant girl with a brilliant gift. It is moving and takes you through so many different emotions. The grief I felt was undeniable but the joy was also the same. I only wish that the story started off with a bit more of a kick but otherwise, the novel was fantastic. I read the author's note at the end and I am overwhelmed and deeply in-aw-of by what an incredible person Beth O'Brien is and the outstanding achievements she has overcome. Wow. Thank you for inspiring me to overcome challenges like you had to do, Beth.

Molly

Wolf Siren
Wolf siren is a book about feminism and the power of nature, inspired by the fairy tale of Little Red Riding-hood. The town that Red lives in is mistrustful and scared of wolves and the woods that it is surrounded by. Red, the main character, is one of the few people in the town who understand that maybe the woods aren't as dangerous as they seem... I really enjoyed this book because the themes that it follows are all things that I think are important, for example the importance of living in balance with nature and not being defined by the actions of those around you.

Alexandra

Wolf Siren
In Wolf Siren, the main character of the story, Red, showed many characteristics during this read. Firstly, in a small cottage lived a thirteen-year-old girl who had a great passion in the woods. However, her small village was banned to enter it because of the murderous wolves that roamed between the trees. Red's goal is to stand up for what's right and to protect the things that are closest to her.

Amelie