TBGS READERS
Ghostlines
Ghostlines is a book about a girl called Tilda (who has recently lost someone – we find out who they are and how later), who lives on an island called Ayrie and is trying to convince a mainlander boy (Albie), who has recently moved, to stay on the island that she calls home. I think it got off to a bit of a slow start for me, but I like the overall plot of this story, and how the author hints at important details throughout the book.
Jack
Wolf Siren
Wolf Siren is an incredible book, with the incredible nuance of a main character suffering sight loss, an almost unique take that is rarely seen in books. It is an incredible story as well, describing our neglect to the environment, and how we need to embrace nature, not fight it.
Ben
Birdie
The book Birdie is a post world war story that tells the experience of a girl who leaves the safety of a brown baby care home to a completely different environment. I like how the author J.P. Rose shows her home sickness with frequent anecdotes to her previous life with Mrs Dudley. But gradually, once she settles, they appear less and less and instead she is engrossed with her mission to look after the future of a poor pit pony. Although, I do find the plot generic in the genre of "saving animals from adversaries" (if that exists); and plot is revealed quite early in the novel. However the ending is still entertaining and worth reading till the end.
Martin
Twenty Four Seconds from Now
24 seconds from now focuses overly on sex; however it did have an interesting layout, with time slowly dialing backwards. Despite that, I feel that the book only really paid much attention to Neon and Arias' relation ship, and their aims at the end of the book.
Ben
Popcorn
Popcorn is a truly unique book, if not slightly stressful. Its crammed full of wonderful science, a not so wonderful bully, and one very bad day. It's unusual to find a book were the main character has anxiety, and the author portrays it spectacularly in this book.
Ben
Not Going To Plan
Personally, I disliked the book, however I am not the age of the target audience. I found it hard to identify with the characters, or with almost of the situations they were facing. I understand that it is a great book about friendship and overcoming life's difficulties,
and a great book for older years.
Ben
Ghostlines
Great book but took a while to build up to anything and went on a slow start. I would definitely recommend it to others though!
Ethan
Ghostlines
Ghost lines is a brilliant book, with incredible imagery, to match an incredible setting. Set on a Scottish island, the isle of Eyrie, the unique setting vastly increasing to the appeal of the book. A great adventure story, only betrayed by the slightly soppy ending.
Ben
Chronicles of a Lizard Nobody
It was a good story, and represented its theme well. However, it seemed aimed at a slightly younger audience, and certain aspects were at least in part, ridiculous, and the ending was far from satisfying, with the main villain being defeated almost instantly, with "magic", defeating some of the point of the rest of the book.
Ben
Birdie
The historical basis of the story was nice, however I found quite tick-boxy, with exception to the pony, which was an interesting addition to the historical side of the book. I also found that the writing in a Yorkshire accent made it more difficult to read.
Ben
Chronicles of a Lizard Nobody
Such a good book. It combines loads of cool ideas and realistic events and mashes them together into a really heart-warming book. I love how it's not the battle that ends the book happily for Zeke, but it's his mum coming out of hospital and them meeting each other. Best possible ending and one of the most touching books I have ever read.
Matthew
Popcorn
I would give this book a 4/5. It is set over the course of one school day and is about a boy who suffers from anxiety. I liked Popcorn because, instead of being all action, action, like many books, it focuses on some very real world problems that we don’t always think about. I also like how instead of trying to describe what anxiety feels like, it uses the ‘popcorn analogy’ and the ‘popping scale’, which helped me to understand what anxiety might feel like.
Jack
Twenty Four Seconds from Now
This book was very strong in how connected the reader felt to the characters; however, I think it lacked a more engaging story-line and also it was quite anticlimactic, reducing the excitement.
Arnold
Wolf Siren
I found this book incredible with links to many real world problems like sexism and facing a disability. It also really touched me in the way that it was written and it almost felt as if I was in the woods with Red. This book is an amazing coming-of-age fantasy that I would rate 10/10.
Ernest
Not Going To Plan
This book was really heartwarming and connected with the themes incredibly well.
Pros:
the style of writing really grabs your attentions and makes you feel as if you are in the characters shoes,
the themes are explored really well with multiple different opinions displayed in the book
cons:
I don't think this book has any cons
Ernest
Popcorn
Popcorn follows the story of a boy with anxiety throughout a school day, which gets worse and worse. This book utilises emotive language effectively to allow the reader to really get in empathise with Andrew. However, it is slightly repetitive and extremely predictable so therefore not very entertaining as a whole.
Arnold
Twenty Four Seconds from Now
"Twenty-Four Seconds from Now" is a cute, humorous story that is told from finish to start with great intimacy and care. Such, that after reading the entire book, feel like they have experienced a small chunk of Neon's life. Told in a unique conversational manner; scattered with memorable, hilarious moments that add personality and character.
In the story, we are immersed in the complicated life of a young adolescent, needing to learn "what is a healthy relationship?" and how he should go about sex. Throughout this story a deep connection is built between the reader and Neon.
Although it discusses serious terms, Jason Reynolds has managed to compose a fun short, original novel that stands tall in the vast world of literacy.
Martin
Birdie
This book really utilizes the themes of identity belonging and home and wraps them all together to make a beatiful heartwarming story.
Ernest