BAS Reading Champions

Chronicles of a Lizard Nobody
Pages 1–50: First Impressions & Style The book starts off and Tim Millers illustrations are really cool. I read this part fast it only took me 5 minutes. The writing is simple which is okay because this book is for kids who're 8 to 12 years old. The authors writing style is funny. I like the idea of a school where all the studentsre animals and there is a monitor lizard named Zeke who is in charge of keeping order. Pages 51–100: Character Development This part is where the characters in the book start to develop. Zeke is a character that you can relate to because he just wants to get through school and deal with kids who're mean to him. The conversations between the characters happen quickly which is good if you like to skim through the pages. The introduction of Pelicarnassus the pelican guidance counselor is both funny and strange. The characters in the book interact well with each other. They feel like characters in a cartoon than real people. Pages 101–150: Plot & Pace Variation The story gets a bit crazy here in the book. It turns into a wild and strange school story. The plot of the book feels a bit random. There is a death ray and a big battle that happens. If you are skimming through the pages of the book it is easy to get lost in the story because it is so crazy. The fast pace of the book keeps you reading the book. Pages 151–208: Final Resolution & Lasting Impression The ending of the book wraps up quickly. It feels good to read the ending of the book. Zeke stands up for himself in the book. Under all the jokes about animals in the book the book tries to deal with themes like friendship and being yourself and dealing with sad parents. The book Zeke is, in tries to teach you something.

Binyamin

The Boy I Love
9/10 VERY INTERSRTING THE PLOT WAS NICE ALTHOUGH I WAS EXPECTING A SLOOW BURN STORY BUT STILL IT WAS GOOD.THE FACT ITS WORLD WAR 1 MEANS DOOOMEDDDDD. I LOVE HISTORICAL FICTION COULD BEEN REAL .

jaanavi

Ghostlines 
Ghostlines... 🎉🎉 My last review. I feel so happy I've finished this, but kinda said cause it was nice talking to you people, even if you never answer back. Thank you for reading my reviews.💖💖✌🏽 Here you are. I’ll give Ghostlines by Katya Balen a 7/10. I liked the creepy mystery around the haunted island and the ghostlines, and I thought it was really sad when you find out how much Rowan's leaving still affects Tilda. I've felt the pain of separation, so I kinda feel what she's going through. My favourite part was when Albie went missing during the storm, and everyone had to work together to find him, because it was super tense and actually made me nervous. I also appreciated how Rowan came back in the end when it really mattered. My favourite character is Tilda, this is because of her wild and feisty personality, but with a vulnerable side, she reminds me of myself. Energetic and Stubborn. My favourite quote is "I think that home is a thousand different things that shift and change and stay the same. It's where you're from and where you're longing for and where you love and where you belong and where you're coming back to, and sometimes it's everything, and it's everywhere." Frank says this to Ray when navigating the deeply isolating and complicated dynamic while living on a remote, tide-swept island. Frank shares this profound reflection about what "home" truly means as they both struggle with feelings of displacement, belonging, and the meaning of returning.

Fatimah

Ghostlines 
This is an exciting adventure book about a girl named Tilda who lives on a tiny island and has to deal with a new boy who is grumpy from the mainland. She tries to win him over by taking him on a dangerous boat trip to a forbidden and haunted island.

Hasini

Birdie
This is a book about a girl who moves to a mining village in the 1950s and has a tough time with bullies, but things get better when she makes friends with a cool pony.

Hasini

Popcorn
It is a really funny book about a kid named Andrew trying to survive a terrible school photo day while dealing with bad anxiety. This relates to many people who deal with anxiety and help them know they are not alone.

Hasini

Not Going To Plan
this book is about a girl named Marnie dealing with the messy realities of relationships, drama from her school, and growing up as a teen.

Hasini

Chronicles of a Lizard Nobody
Chronicles of a Lizard Nobody is one of those books that feels funny and light on the surface, but underneath it’s full of heart, honesty, and real emotion — and that’s exactly why i loved it. The way the story uses animals to explore school life, friendship, and bullying makes everything feel both relatable and gently humorous, even when the topics get tough. i really appreciated how the book handles mental health, disability, and poverty with so much empathy; it never makes the characters feel small or pitied, just real and worth caring about. The friendships are warm and believable, the jokes land perfectly, and the moments of kindness hit even harder because you can see how much the characters need them. It’s a story that reminds you that everyone, even a “lizard nobody” ,deserves to be seen, understood, and treated with compassion, and that’s what makes it such a brilliant read. This is now one of my favourite books and i would definitely recommend this to someone.

Fatima

Popcorn
Popcorn by Rob Harrell was such a warm, funny, and unexpectedly emotional read.the kind of book that makes you laugh one minute and then hits you right in the feelings the next. I loved how honestly it shows anxiety and panic attacks without ever making the story feel heavy; instead, Harrell uses humour and heart to make those moments feel real and relatable. The friendships in the book are genuinely sweet, and watching the characters support each other through bullying and self‑doubt made the whole story feel hopeful. What really stuck with me was the emotional honesty. Popcorn never pretends to be perfect, and that makes his journey so much more powerful. It’s one of those books that leaves you smiling because it reminds you that even when life feels overwhelming, you’re never as alone as you think.

Fatima

Wolf Siren
Wolf Siren by Beth O’Brien honestly felt like one of those books that grabs you quietly and then refuses to let go , I loved how it mixes fairytale magic with real‑life struggles, turning things like menstruation, disability, and sexism into something powerful rather than shameful. The whole story feels like watching a girl step out of the shadows and rewrite her own narrative, and I found myself rooting for her more and more with every page. O’Brien’s writing is gentle but fierce, and the way she tackles injustice, gender roles, and personal growth made the book feel both emotional and empowering. It’s the kind of read that stays with you because it reminds you that strength can look soft, loud, messy, magical ,and completely your own.

Fatima

Birdie
I was completely absorbed by this book from the very first page, and it made me feel like I was living inside its story. I loved every part of it, it felt both exciting and comforting at the same time. The main character goes on a journey that is full of surprises, and I could really relate to what they were feeling. i was drawn into the problems they faced and the friends they made along the way. The plot has moments that made me laugh, moments that made me think, and some that made my heart race with suspense.The story grabbed me and didn’t let go, and I found myself thinking about it even when I wasn’t reading. The way the author wrote made everything feel alive, and I felt like I was learning and feeling new things with each chapter. This book wasn’t just a story for me,it was an experience I didn’t want to end, and I will remember it for a long time.

Fatima

Wolf Siren
A fierce fairytale that exposes the realities of this world. Red’s journey through the story keeps you hooked. The tension throughout, the mayor and his toxic views, and the wolfwomen lore is amazing. I also found that unlike most books, periods exist, making it more realistic. This would do very well if it was a movie.

Khadijah

Popcorn
A creative, humorous story about life with anxiety. I found this book relatable in some ways and every comic strip and sketch just added to the fun. I even created my own “Tense kid” based off myself. As somebody who has anxiety, I think this book presents it very well. Anxiety isn’t the same for everyone, but it shows multiple effects. A rollercoaster of laughter, stress, confusion, and relief.

Khadijah

Popcorn
it is very good and helps anyone conquer bullying and to always be confident. it foreshadows how anyone can cope with anxiety. I really enjoyed it.

Zamin

Twenty Four Seconds from Now
Jason Reynolds explores the difficulties of growing up through an countdown that transforms a teenagers anxieties into a brilliant experience of teen life.

Hasini

Not Going To Plan
The beginning of the novel sets up how vulnerable Erik is after he moves to a school. Fisher shows us how Erik is under a lot of stress because of school being alone and problems at home. This makes Erik easy to manipulate. The first part of the book is important because it shows how people like Erik want to belong and have money and how bad people can use this against them. As the story goes on things start to happen faster. Erik loses control of his life. Gets into the bad world of selling drugs. The way the words are written, with sentences and lots of space makes us feel like Erik is really scared and trapped. At first Erik thinks he is in charge. Really he is not. The last part of the book is about how bad things can get when people are treated unfairly by the law. Erik has to deal with being scared hurt and watched all the time. He is trying to make a life for himself. This part of the book also talks about how the system's supposed to help kids like Erik but it does not always work that way. Fisher wrote the book in a way using verse. This makes the book more than a story for young people. The way the words are on the page with a lot of space makes us feel the weight of Erik being alone. The author did not use a lot of words so we can understand the hard topics like law and social issues. The book Crossing the Line is an example of writing today. It should be on the list, for the Carnegie Medal. It is a story and it teaches us something. Fisher does not give us answers but instead shows us how strong Erik is and how we should understand why some teenagers get into trouble. We should look deeper. See what is really going on.

Binyamin

Ghostlines 
This book was very lovely, it was a bit emotional but was so heart whelming

Maliha

Chronicles of a Lizard Nobody
this book was awesome it was filled to the brim with adventure and fun I recommend

Maliha

Birdie
It is about a girl who is living with her great-aunt and even though she is treated different she develops a bond with a pit pony who saves her later on. the book is about racism and acceptance. I really enjoyed it.

Zamin

Birdie
Birdie by J.P. Rose 🌹 🐴🐎 I give this a 9.9 out of 10. OK, now we're going into decimals. Birdie was much more emotional than I expected. At first, I thought it would be a simple story, but it turned out to be quite serious and powerful. Birdie goes through a lot, and at times, I felt really sorry for her and wished things would get easier. However, it also made me admire how strong she is. Some parts were a bit uncomfortable to read, but I think that is because the book shows real-life problems. It is not a very cheerful story, but it is interesting and meaningful. I think it is a good book, just not one you read if you want something light and happy.

Fatimah

Twenty Four Seconds from Now
10/10 I LOVED IT IT FELT REALISTIC AND THE FLASHBACKS WERE MUCH NEEDED

jaanavi

Ghostlines 
9/10 it was very good but i wish they would have explored a little bit more about the place.

jaanavi

Popcorn
Popcorn 🍿 I’d give this book a 9/10, cause... I don't know, I mean, I just really like it. and it makes art the best subject, I guess??? I like how it shows anxiety from a first-person perspective and how he copes with his Grandmother (G), who has Alzheimer's and his parents' divorce, as well as the bullying. I also like how he incorporates illustrations and Author's Notes into the book. My favourite characters are Andrew, duh, Nurse Finnigan cause she reminds me of my sister, Cheetos lover, and the art teacher, Mr Kellerman cause he's just super chill. Obviously, this book in my "eyes" 👓 🤣🤣 isn't as good as Wolf Siren, but its still pretty good. See ya later... In my review for Birdie by J.P. Rose.

Fatimah

Ghostlines 
Ghostlines is a gentle, emotional story about a girl named Tilda who loves her small island home more than anything. She knows every cliff, every puffin, and every wave, and the island makes her feel safe, especially after losing her brother Rowan. When a new boy called Albie moves to the island, he feels lonely and misses his old home, and Tilda tries hard to make him like the island too. Their friendship slowly grows, especially when they decide to explore a nearby island that everyone says is dangerous and haunted. This adventure helps them understand each other better and face the sad feelings they’ve both been carrying. The book uses simple but beautiful language to show how nature, friendship, and memories can help people heal, and how “home” is not just a place, but a feeling of being understood and cared for. I really enjoyed this book and I would definitely recommend this.

Fatima

The Boy I Love
I like the book how it is create. I like the book how it is describe. I like the book how the picture is like. The book was not that much hard at all.

Minahil

Birdie
Pages 1-21. The beginning 20-21 pages show the main character Birdie leaving her home in Leeds which she lived with Mrs Dudley. The only mother she’s known to go to a place called Barrington Dale. Birdie is leaving due to a letter from her Great Aunt Mabel. She believes her great aunt wants her. When she arrives at Barrington Dale, it is freezing and empty and she is left there whilst parents are coming for the other children. Because of this Birdie walks through the snow whilst bringing her heavy suitcase with her. When she arrives at Mabel’s house, Mabel isn’t nice instead she is harsh and gives our main character in the book, birdie an attic room which it is freezing in. So far in my opinion, these pages show how harsh it is being an outsider. An example is how I mentioned prior, parents hugged other children whilst birdie was left alone and made to walk all the way to her great aunt’s house. Pages 22 – 150 In the following section of the book, Birdie attends the village school. It is evident that she does not belong to the local community. Her teacher Miss Skerren, acts with cruelty and treats Birdie as if her intelligence is low because of her origins. To avoid the people who harass her and the low temperatures, Birdie locates a hidden area within a coal mine. There is a pit pony named Mr Duke whom she encounters in this location. As the local residents behave in a harsh manner, the pony is gentle with her. For Birdie, the animal provides more emotional support than the humans, because the pony does not form negative opinions about her based on her differences "home". Pages 151 - 220 As the narrative continues, the closure of the mine is imminent. Due to the advanced age of the pony, the owners intend to kill the animal - but Birdie feels unable to accept the loss of her only companion and she creates a strategy to protect him. On those pages the text also indicates that Great Aunt Mabel has reasons for her behavior. It is clear that she experiences isolation and sadness. By this point Birdie transforms from a child who feels fear into a person who acts with courage. If she must violate regulations to achieve a moral outcome, she is willing to do so. Pages 221 - 256 As the book starts to reach its conclusion, the atmosphere is full of pressure. To save the life of Mr Duke, Birdie guides him through mine tunnels that contain many hazards. It is a significant danger but the residents of the village observe her actions for the first time. By the conclusion, she is no longer the isolated girl who carries a large and heavy container for belongings. And the ending suggests that a person can find a "home" in any place if they have the bravery to pursue it - it finishes the story.

Binyamin

Chronicles of a Lizard Nobody
I’d give this book a 7/10, but honestly, I’m being a little biased because I’ve heard Patrick Ness’s other books and they are actually amazing. Compared to something like The Knife of Never Letting Go, the English in this one was not the best—it felt like a 5-year-old could read it. Don’t get me wrong, the lizard hall-monitor idea is funny, and the art is cool, but if you’re used to his more intense stuff, the writing here feels way too 'babyish' and simple. It’s a solid story if you want something fast and weird, but it definitely didn't hit as hard as his older books because it felt like it was written for little kids. My favourite character is... Drum roll... Miel. IT MEANS HONEY! If you've read the book, you'll understand the reference. I'm not doing any art for this, sorry.

Fatimah

Wolf Siren
I really enjoyed reading it and it was a bit like little red riding hood; where it was set and the plot. I also loved how it showed that being disabled doesn't mean you can't do anything

Zamin

Chronicles of a Lizard Nobody
It was very intriguing and made me want to read more till the end and I really enjoyed how it explored friendship and bullying in a perspective of a lizard. A very funny book.

Zamin

Wolf Siren
When I first opened Wolf Siren, I thought it'd be like any old book. With the usual ups and downs, round and rounds of some action, then an ending. But... I was wrong. Oh boy, I was wrong. So fatally wrong that if the fact of my wrongness came up to me and said what I first thought, I would say it was lying. Wolf Siren, is no doubt the best book I've ever read. It is a beautifully tragic parody of the famous fable Little Red Riding Hood, and it also includes as its main animal my favourite animal, a wolf. Also, its main character, Red, shows many of my physical and emotional traits, such as: - Eye impedance - My free spiritedness - Love of the wild, trees and the outdoors in general - My reckless bravery - Love of my siblings - As I mentioned before, my love for wolves - Feminism - My favourite colour is, surprisingly, red (I'm not joking, it is) - I am also nearly 13. - The menstrual cycle If I were to give this book an out of 10 mark, I would say a 11/10 for the reason that, yes, I'm good at math, but I just love this book so much. I would put this book ahead as the winner, and the best thing was it got me so hooked that all together I spent about a day reading it. As I said before, I love his book.

Fatimah