On the Wall

This book had high potential at the start but I thought it would get better... it didn't. The story feels really boring and slow and I could summarise it under a minute. It starts to get annoying after the 15th time someone is marvelling at Finley when he's just a weird kid. It also starts to get really cringey (such as when the entire class said goodbye to a WALL). I wouldn't recommend this book to anyone because nothing happens. Its pretty ironic that one of the chapters is called "just breathing" because that is the most exciting part of the book

Zak

Ermysted’s Carnegie Shadowing Group

I really enjoyed this book. I can see why people think it is slow paced and that nothing really happens but I like it for its unique story and character building

William s

Ermysted’s Carnegie Shadowing Group

This was a really astonishing book I loved it like never before. This book was about a boy who is so centered he is quiet and collected I loved him from the first time he was described to me 10/10 would recommend

Isaac

SCD Pageturners

ON THE WALL was a really good book it embodies mindfulness and the important concept of being in the present moment. It was great and I personally really enjoyed reading it. the only things I did not like was the fact some of the chapters were not so cohesive and some of them were a bit random and there were a few too many characters. but the fact that it was written in a bit of a different way was really interesting. I LOVED IT.

Raphael

SCD Pageturners

This book was quite enjoyable and very relatable at times, with the characters also being an extremely memorable and likeable cast. However, there is quite a major downside to this book: the plot (or lack of one). On the wall has quite a severe lack of context or story throughout the book. Whether this is intentional or not, I still think that the book would benefit from at least, an explanation of Finley's weirdness.

Theo dP

Ermysted’s Carnegie Shadowing Group

I thought this book was nice and wasn't like any of the other books I have read but it wasn't very interesting as it was very simply a boy on a wall who just sat there thinking of nothing and doing nothing therefore it didn't gain my attention which is why I didn't like it. Finally the book was also too long for the story line so there were a couple of times where I thought that it was just the same scenario over and over so I lost attention to what I was reading.

James

Ermysted’s Carnegie Shadowing Group

The book to me didn't have much content. The school year moved very quickly then suddenly cut to Finley falling off the wall, in the end we didn't figure out much about Finley, (which was the most interesting part) in my opinion 4.5/.10

Billy C

Ermysted’s Carnegie Shadowing Group

Fynley

Court Fields Bookworms

I absolutely loved this book! It was such a calming read that was easy to understand. It was so enjoyable to sit down and be absorbed into this world. The way the boy exuded peace just translated through the pages and into me. Reading it was lovely

Elise

SCD Pageturners

This book was good, but rather slow. In my opinion, despite it saying that Finlay isn't thinking, he seems quite lost, as in he is drifting. However, Not all who wander are lost. P.S. Goodbye, Wall

Rahul

SCD Pageturners

I really liked On the wall because I enjoyed the writing style and the storyline kind of spoke to me. It's because I get quiet and I get on with stuff but sometimes I just sit and I don't think. So it was nice to see it happen to someone else and how other people saw it. It just made me feel seen in a way I haven't seen in a book before.

Carolina

SCD Pageturners

I thought on the wall was a great book , my only issue was that not a huge amount happened and I would have liked it if they went into the backstory of the characters more. Overall I would give this book an eight out of ten.

alfie c

Ermysted’s Carnegie Shadowing Group

I don’t think there is any other book that can rival the amazingness of this book! It’s such a simple read, whilst at the same time so compelling and beautiful. I flew through it and loved it! The character dynamics are really cool, and I found the characters really relatable. I’d recommend to those who want a cozy read or an effortless experience. Five stars!

Kayla

SCD Pageturners

Not much went on in this book and I felt it was quite boring I was stuck with it for longer than I was reading it and the only exiting part was right at the end with no climax building. 4.5/10

Henry D

Ermysted’s Carnegie Shadowing Group

It is a book where the main character is mysterious and doesn't make sense the book doesn't make sense. It's the only book where you leave with less understanding of the plot after reading than before. It is horrible don't read ever -0/10

Patrick

Ermysted’s Carnegie Shadowing Group

On the Wall was a good book about a boy starting year 7 at a new school. He finds an old wall and sits on it. He sits there every break and lunch time. This book was a solid 8/10 but I think it is directed to younger ages.

Cody w

Ermysted’s Carnegie Shadowing Group

I really enjoyed On The Wall as it combined a fun writing style with interesting characters and a more easygoing plot than the other books so far. The book centres around Finlay and his teacher, who wants to understand how he can remain so calm. While the plot isn't particularly interesting, I felt that the characters were almost familiar, and the setting was relatable. In my opinion, this deserved to be a shortlist book. This is due to the peculiar yet familiar characters, and the enjoyable environment and other characters which surround them.

Oliver R

Ermysted’s Carnegie Shadowing Group

Finley sits on the wall. He has all year. People pass him by. Some laugh, some join. But still, Finley sits on a wall. No one understands why. Some say it makes him calm. Others say he is weird. That's not Finley though. Finley thinks of nothing. This book makes me calm and that's a nice change from the chaos of all the other books. Finley just exists. Not in this world, but not the next. He exists in a world that only matters to him. That no one else can achieve. Favourite book so far. 9.5/10

sam w

Ermysted’s Carnegie Shadowing Group

It is a good book but I don't understand why it is 10+

netanel

Belsize Stories

It is a very interesting book. It is about a boy who is happy in doing nothing ang being by himself. I would encourage people to read this book as it is really good. I would rate this book a 8.5/10.

Musa

Ermysted’s Carnegie Shadowing Group

Me personally, I believe that this book is for older children who prefer more serious books, rather than more funny books that make them laugh. What makes this book so truly marvelous is the 'uniqueness' of it. Unlike most books that I have read in the past, I have taken a lesson from this book. No matter how a person acts, it should never be made fun of. Some of the times, we can actually learn from something that someone does, no matter how strange it seems to us at first. This book and the lessons it teaches are very valuable to me, and will always be held in my heart. Overall, I think this book might just be the best book I have ever read.

Hamzah S

Ermysted’s Carnegie Shadowing Group

It was a relatively boring/easy book with the more compelling part only being 10 or so pages towards the end of the book. This story follows a boy named Finley and his first year at secondary school, he claims to be “at peace with himself” and spends his time sat on a wall. Towards the end of the book Finley is knocked off the wall.

Joseph

Ermysted’s Carnegie Shadowing Group

On the wall is such an amazing book! It's such an inspiration. I loved it

Janelle

Book Lovers Unite!

I like how it did not have a particular storyline, with the stories of Juliet, Finley and Mr Goodhew all sort of coming together at the end. I, personally, love the restaurant Bella Italia, and liked the fact that both Finley and Juliet both go there at the end.

Connor F

Ermysted’s Carnegie Shadowing Group

this book is amazing as it is quite a chill book and a quick read it is also very nice and sweet book to read and enjoy

Kyra

SCD Pageturners

I love the characters in this book, and how they help each other in small ways but end up making a big difference.

Hannah

SCD Pageturners

This isn't the typical book that I would choose because it is missing the excitement feature in most books. This story is about a boy called Fin and he is a very rare boy he sits and does nothing for as long as he can. I would recommend this book to the older crowd because some of the parts aren't as interesting as others so little kids might lose interest in it quickly. Over all I would rate a 6.5/10

Ayaan N

Ermysted’s Carnegie Shadowing Group

On the wall is a book about a boy called Finley who is always happy with his environment and has moved into secondary school and always sits on a wall thinking about nothing everyday. People think he is weird but they slowly adopt him as a valued member of the class. The teachers envy how calm he is every day in the staffroom. One day he falls of the wall and everyone worries about him. I liked this book and would give it a 6/10

Thomas F

Ermysted’s Carnegie Shadowing Group

On the Wall was a really good book about a boy called Finley Tandy who started year 7 and he was a very interesting boy because he just sat on a wall doing nothing, not worrying about anything or doing anything at all. At the end one thing that was sad was that the wall had to be broken down because to wall was very high. But at the end Mr. Goodhew took everyone at the end of the year to say one last goodbye to the wall. For me this was a very nice story because he helped a lot of people (including one of his teachers) in his school to overcome their problems. I would give this book 9/10.

Maulik Linesh

Ermysted’s Carnegie Shadowing Group

I enjoyed reading this book, it had simple events which made it an easy read and had quite an interesting main character, and although the book is mainly from the perspective of the people around him, still clearly reflects his pure sense of calmness in the book. Also, I liked the effect Fine gave to others around him, though some could not tolerate it after a while, his still and calm presence washed over on others making the reader in awe of his tranquillity.

Nika

HGS Book Club

Finley is a calm, enigmatic student, while teachers like Mr. Goodhew are intrigued by his stillness.Rather than interacting, Finley sits on the wall, showing that he can find happiness and comfort anywhere. I enjoyed this book because he manages to be happy, while keeping to himself.

Patrick J

Ermysted’s Carnegie Shadowing Group

On the wall is about a boy called Finley and his friends life in Year 7. Finley is a quite calm boy that always sat on the wall in the playground doing nothing. Finley's teachers want to find out what he does there and why he's always so calm. Its a book about the value of silence and self-acceptance. I found this a good book but was quite boring at points and would recommend it to years 10+ because it can help you settle into secondary school.

Samuel H

Ermysted’s Carnegie Shadowing Group

Finley just started year 7 and he's very different to all the other people in his class, he sits on a wall , alone not doing anything for break and lunch. His teacher Mr Goodhew, wants to find the reason for this. After a while people notice him, and start asking questions. Juliet asks Finley about whether to go watch a scary film. Finley tells her to go and say the real reason. Some people start copying him, and feel calm, but whenever they sit next to him, they always think of worries, unlike Finley who just sits there with nothing to worry, though his teachers say to him to try harder but Finley doesn't think it as important. Disaster struck as he gets hit by a football, he comes back fine 2 days later, it's nearly the end of the year, but the wall he sat on is going to be demolished. Finley still says that he's happy. In the last day they all say goodbye to the wall. And Juliet says in Bella Italia that Finley's her friend, The end. I really liked this book because it says about the different perspectives of quiet people.

mahiru

Ermysted’s Carnegie Shadowing Group

There is a boy called Finley and he has moved to a new school. He usually sits alone on a wall thinking about nothing. Teachers wonder if he doesn’t have friends but proved wrong when Finley talks to kids. Other people also join like the first time when he was with Ben. I liked the overall plot and the actual story. One thing that did stick out to me, was that in the end when the wall is going to get destroyed, the teacher lets Finley see the wall one last time before it goes away. It had to go away because of the hazard it can provide as the wall is a bit high up. I recommend this book to everyone as it is a really good book. I think this book deserves to be on the shortlist than some other books. I rate this an 8/10.

Ihsan K

Ermysted’s Carnegie Shadowing Group

I have just finished On the wall and I absolutely loved it! It really made me think and it was very interesting. I could just feel Finley's calm through the pages. I now really want to buy myself this book. I loved how the book was from different views and so you could feel the different emotions from all the characters. It was one of my favourite books I have read!!! :)

Idaisa

Orpington Library Younger Teens Group

I liked the imagery in the story.

Grace

HGCSC Library