HAEC Books and Biscuits Carnegie Shadowers

Popcorn
Popcorn was a great book. Whilst it was a bit childish in my opinion it explained anxiety and other mental health issues in a really clear and understandable way. The story follows Andrew on school picture day, when he wants to get the perfect photo, whilst still having to deal with bullies, science experiments and home issues. Written in the form of Andrews journal, the book was filled with small cartoony- images and short chapters- making it easily accessible. Overall, I would give it 3 stars.

Emily

The Boy I Love
The Boy I Love was a really good book. Set in the trenches of WW1 before the Battle of the Somme, it follows two soldiers, fighting on the British side that fall in love during a dangerous time for queer people. I really enjoyed the book as I don't think this topic is talked about enough. The writing style was engaging and the plot was gripping. All of the characters (even the side characters) I found well-rounded and overall I would definitely recommend. 4 Stars.

Emily

Popcorn
This book is very relatable as i am also not a fan of school photos. This book was overall very good and i feel that this should be a book used in the curriculum so kids/teens dont feel alone.

Blue Cover

Wolf Siren
Wolf Siren is a captivating supernatural novel that combines mystery, romance, and high‑school drama in a way that kept me interested from the beginning to the end. I would rate it 4.5 out of 5, because although there were a few slow moments, the overall story was exciting and very engaging. The book follows Lila Crain, who moves to the town of Shade and slowly discovers that the popular students at her school are actually part of a werewolf pack. I found the plot intriguing, especially the way the author built suspense and revealed information little by little. The atmosphere of the town felt eerie and mysterious, which made the story more immersive. Lila is a strong main character, and I liked how she developed throughout the book. Her confusion, curiosity, and bravery felt realistic, and it was easy to understand her reactions as she learned more about the wolves. The relationships between the characters were also well written, especially the tension and uncertainty between Lila and the members of the pack. One of the best parts of the book was the world‑building. The author created a supernatural setting that felt believable, with clear rules, history, and conflicts. The twists near the end were surprising and made me want to continue the series immediately. The only reason I didn’t give it a full 5 stars is because a few scenes felt slightly repetitive, and sometimes the drama overshadowed the main plot. However, these moments didn’t take away from the overall enjoyment. In conclusion, Wolf Siren is a gripping and atmospheric story that blends supernatural elements with relatable teenage experiences. I would recommend it to readers who enjoy werewolves, secrets, and stories with strong emotional tension.

Mariia

Ghostlines 
This book is very good with lots of twists

Blue Cover

Birdie
Birdie is a good book. It follows Birdie as she moves from her home in Leeds to the village of Barrington Dale to live with her great-aunt. When she's there she faces racism and bonds with a pit-pony who lives in the mines. The books message is undoubtedly important. However, I really disliked the writing style and the character's personalities. I found Birdie a little bit simple and I didn't agree with her constant visits to the dangerous mines. Whilst I understand the book's use of Yorkshire language (as it is set in Yorkshire), I would argue that this could disorientating, especially for a book aimed at younger readers. Overall I would give it 2 Stars as it was a good book, but just not for me

Emily

Twenty Four Seconds from Now
Twenty‑Four Seconds From Now was an interesting book, and I liked parts of it, but overall I would rate it 3 out of 5. I enjoyed the main character, Neon, because he felt realistic. His thoughts, worries, and awkward moments made him relatable, especially for teenagers. The countdown structure of the story — moving from 24 months to 24 seconds — was unique and made the book stand out. It helped show how small moments can build up to something important. However, some sections felt slow, and I sometimes wished the plot would move forward faster. There were moments where the story focused a lot on Neon's thoughts instead of actual events, which made it harder to stay fully engaged. I also would have liked to learn more about Aria as a character, rather than only seeing her through Neon's perspective. The strongest parts of the book were the family interactions, especially with Neon's grandmother. Her advice and personality added warmth and humour to the story. The symbolism, like Aria’s green house and the door knockers, was thoughtful and added meaning without being confusing. Overall, the book has good themes about growing up, first relationships, and understanding yourself. It just didn’t completely hold my attention the whole way through. Still, it’s worth reading if you enjoy slower, character‑focused stories.

Mariia

The Boy I Love
The text explains that world war 1 and why it is important. It talks about how world war 1 happened and what effects they have on people, in the trenches and in the towns. Overall, it shows how bad it was to like the same gender and how difficult it was. It helps readers understand being LGBTQ+ in WW1 in a simple way.

Tara

Chronicles of a Lizard Nobody
The book is very good and is probably targeted for younger kids [ such as late primary schoolers, 5 and six and maybe year 7/8]. I would definitely recommend this book for anyone who like fun or action books that are funny!

Blue Cover

Not Going To Plan
I enjoyed this book very much as most of the books from previous years seemed a bit too kiddish, but this one was more grown up and teenager appropriate which made me enjoy this the most. The way the book was written like a role play made it easier to read and understand what all the characters are experiencing and the choice of the school being the main setting really made me enjoy the book more as a reader. This might be my favourite even though I haven't read all of the other books yet and I enjoyed it a lot. 5 out of 5 from me!

Mariia

Twenty Four Seconds from Now
This book was so cute, whilst also carrying an important message. The characters were really well rounded and carefully thought out with various issues of their own and strong personalities. The chronology worked so well and helped in presenting the themes of consent, sexual intimacy and family links, which in my opinion are strong themes that should be talked about in today's society. I loved that it came from a male perspective. The only drawback was that the chapters and the book overall were so short. Overall it was a good book and I would rate it around 4 stars.

Emily

Wolf Siren
This book was really good! Whilst I think it was probably better for a younger age range like 12-13, I still really liked it. The chapters were quite long, but it was still gripping. I loved that it brought up important issues that are often stigmatised, like menstruation. Disabilities were also a strong theme throughout the book and I loved the take on Red Riding Hood with Red being visually impaired. I also liked the strong sense of feminism throughout. Overall, I think it was a really important novel with a strong empowering message for young girls and that everyone should read it! I would give it 4 stars!!!

Emily

Not Going To Plan
the book is quite good and quite a lot of plot twists and i like the end how they faced their problem and got what the people deserve.

Ian

The Boy I Love
I think this was an excellent book and the storyline was very enticing. I think it is an 8/10. I have 1 slightly negative comment about the book and it is that the ending is very very sad but that is just my opinion. I think that overall this book is a very strong contender to win.

Oserbea

Chronicles of a Lizard Nobody
I enjoyed reading this book, although it was very clearly aimed for younger readers. I found lots of the humor in this book very random and some of it making absolutely no sense, but I really liked the metaphor that was used for depression (the black dog) and I generally liked the themes about mental health in this book. Overall, I rate this book a 4/5.

Bella