HHS 2026
Chronicles of a Lizard Nobody
This book is about a lizard who is called Zeke and he becomes a hall monitor lizard with his friends Daniel and Alicia but there is a school bully who is called Pelicarnassus. The three friends defend Zeke from the bully because he’s is trying to destroy the school.
The main character is Zeke but my favourite character is Alicia because she is willing to protect her friends from danger and I also like this book because of all the friendship and things the group went through, I also loved it because it is a animal book.
Evie N
Birdie
Birdie lived in an orphanage in Leeds with a lot of kids and Mrs Dudley. Then one day her aunt in Barrington Dale says she will look after Birdie. But people are mean to her in the new home but she makes new and unexpected friends. The main character was Birdie. I liked her character as she experienced a lot but keeps on pushing on. My favourite character was Mr Duke because he was very kind and I love horses too. I really enjoyed this book because I thought it was interesting and I liked the storyline. I also loved some of the cliff hanger bits of the story.
Evie
Birdie
Birdie lived in an orphanage in Leeds with a lot of kids and Mrs Dudley. Then one day her aunt in Barrington Dale says she will look after Birdie. But people are mean to her in the new home but she makes new and unexpected friends. The main character was Birdie. I liked her character as she has experienced a lot but keeps on pushing on. My favourite character was Mr Duke because he was very kind and I love horses. I really enjoyed this book because I thought it was interesting I liked the storyline. I also loved some of the cliff hangers in bits of the story.
Evie
Ghostlines
This book is about a young girl called Tilda. She lives on the island of Ayrie with her mum, dad, dog Moses, horse Applejack and occasionally the cats which come and go. At Ayrie, everyone knows everyone but when a new boy called Abbie arrives on the island from the mainland with his mum Maggie, Tilda is given the task of trying to make Albie feel at home on her beloved island. So when Albie and Tilda discover a haunted island, things turn around for the two and Tilda realises an important lesson: that even if you were brought up somewhere and then you move on , you will always be tied of your homeland.
The main character in this book is Tilda. I liked her character as she is a very determined and adventurous young girl. I think at times she did seem quite pushy and impatient with Albie but then I think she learns that and that she just needs to listen at times. I think my favourite character would be Albie. Although he is quiet and shy, he has an unexpected side to him which I think Tilda realises. He is very kind and also of funny.
I enjoyed this book. I thought it was beautifully written and the description on some of the sections of the book were really quite perfect. My favourite part of the book would have had to be Tilda and her big brother Rowan’s reunion at the end. I liked how the mystery of Roman was kept throughout the whole book and only really mentioned when Tilda and Albie opened up to each other.
Priya
Wolf Siren
Ava-Mai and Bloss' favourite bit was when she discovered that she could turn to wolf however got sad when red's sister got shot. This book is an amazing read and would really recommend to other readers.
Bloss & Ava
Popcorn
This book is about a boy named Andrew who has anxiety and is trying to get through his photo day, which is very important to him. However there is the school bully who is trying his best to stop Andrew from making his perfect photo.
The main character is Andrew. I wasn’t very keen on his character but I thought he was very determined. My favourite character was Jonesy because she is very bubbly.
I really liked this book and I loved all the illustrations.
Evie
The Boy I Love
I LOVE this book so much I loved the characters and how all he wanted was to protect him I also loved how it was written it made it so addictive because a part of me knew something sad was always going to happen but I guess they always do with books set in World War One
I have read a few books set in this time but none have been this good I loved it from the cover when I saw it was showing an LGBTQ+ story of the war and what it was like for them I found it so interesting.
The story follows two young men who find love in the midst of all the horror. Nineteen-year-old Stephen has just returned to the Front after recovering from an injury. He’s disillusioned with the war and is no longer sure what he’s fighting for. When he meets a new recruit, Private Danny McCormick, Stephen knows that he has to protect the boy from the reality of the war. As the pair become closer, they find themselves caught up in a battle with their commanding officers as well as German snipers.
Izzy
Chronicles of a Lizard Nobody
This book is about a lizard called Zeke. He tells most of his story set at his school with his friends Daniel, Miel and Alicia. Unfortunately, his mum isn’t particularly well and Zeke also has to try and survive the school bully, Pelicanicaruss. Zeke learns that although he has France on his knee and is a much bigger lizard than his friends, he can still change how people are towards him.
The main character in this story is Zeke. I thought his character was quite funny. I liked Daniel, Alicia and Miel’s characters as they always looked out for Zeke and were all each loyal friends. I don’t think I had a favourite character but if I had to choose it would probably be Alicia.
I enjoyed this book. I thought it was a good light-hearted, humorous and easy read . At some points in the book I did think it dragged and did not need some of it but overall it was a good book.
Priya
Popcorn
‘Popcorn’ by Rob Harrell is a book which explores themes such as friendship, mental health and bullying. It follows Andrew as he struggles with his anxiety on school picture day, and all of the problems he encounters on the way. I would recommend ‘Popcorn’ for anyone who enjoys school stories with humour.
Isolde
Wolf Siren
‘Wolf Siren’ by Beth O’Brien is a brilliant book. It retells the classic story of Little Red Riding Hood in a brand new way. ‘Wolf Siren’ encourages the reader to question the world around us and to not just accept what those in power have told us all of our lives. I would recommend this to anyone who enjoys books that show a new perspective on a traditional tale.
Isolde
Chronicles of a Lizard Nobody
‘Chronicles of a Lizard Nobody’ by Patrick Ness is a book about friendship and standing up for what you believe in, no matter what. It tells the story of Zeke as he finds out what kind of person, well, lizard, he wants to be, and the choices he has to make to find out. I would recommend this book to anyone who likes stories that cover more serious themes in a lighthearted way.
Isolde
Popcorn
This book is about Andrew. He lives with his mum and Grandma who he nicknames G. Andrew has anxiety and has a hard time at school with the school bully Gene. However, the school photo day is finally here and all Andrew wants is for his anxiety to disappear, for him to be germ-free and for him have a successful school photo. But when trouble and commotion visit Andrew, will he be able to succeed the school photo in the end?
The main character in this book is Andrew. I really liked his character as he has gone and is going through a lot but continues pushing and never gives up. My favourite characters in this book would have to be the Nurse and Andrew’s art teacher. I thought they were both extremely supportive and kind.
I really enjoyed this book. I thought it had a good combination of the humour and real life aspects to it, so it taught you a valuable lesson but also in an understanding and down to-earth way. I would definitely recommend it.
Priya
Popcorn
The book Popcorn is a very relatable book that holds a much bigger meaning and could help people struggling with OCD, anxiety, panic attacks etc mixed with a tad of humour. Andrew uses a kernel of popcorn as a representation of his anxiety growth. Overall I really liked this book and found it fascinating.
Poppy
Wolf Siren
This book is about a girl called Red and she lives near a forest with her mum, sister and brother. One day, she is given the revelation of a big secret so she has to cope in the town. She has to show people that magic isn’t so bad.
The main character was Red. I thought she was very brave. My favourite character would have to be the grandma as she is wise and very nice.
I really liked this book because it’s like red riding hood but with a good twist and I thought it gripped me.
Evie
Birdie
I found the book birdie a really interesting one, as she was a girl of colour who got bullied for it . I also really liked the time setting it as it gave it more understanding and depth rather then it being set in the 21st century. Overall I really enjoyed this book and will look for more similar stories or other novels by the author.
Poppy
Birdie
Birdie lived in an orphanage in Leeds with a lot of kids and Mrs Dudley. Then one day her aunt in Barrington Dale says she will look after Birdie. But people are mean to her in the new home but she makes new and unexpected friends.
The main character was Birdie. I liked her character as she has experienced a lot but keeps on pushing on. My favourite character was Mr Duke because he was very kind and I love horses.
I really enjoyed this book because I thought it was interesting I liked the storyline. I also loved some of the cliff hangers in bits of the story.
Evie
Birdie
This book is about a young girl called Birdie. She lives in a foster home in Leeds with the lovely foster carer Mrs Dudley. One day, she goes on a train to a place called Barrington Dale because her Aunt Winterbottom has accepted to look after her. However, living in this new place isn’t so easy especially when you look different to everyone else. But Birdie finds a special friend, the pit pony Mr Duke. She goes on a journey of discovering friendship, love and seeing that how you look, doesn’t define who you truly are.
The main character in this book was Birdie. I really liked her character as she is very bubbly, joyful, kind and loyal. I liked Aunt Winterbottom’s character as well as even though at the start, she didn’t seem like someone likeable, you understand why and grow to like her. My favourite character has to be Mr Walter. He is such a jolly, kind and fatherly character towards Birdie, even after everything he has had to go through.
I really enjoyed this book. I thought it was fantastically written. I think it teaches you a lot about not judging someone by how they look and that you are enough.
Priya
Wolf Siren
Oh my gosh I don’t have the words to explain how amazing this book is. It may have snuck its way into my top 5 books !
It’s based on the fairy tale of Little Red Riding Hood and it’s a bit of an explanation as to why she believed her grandmother was the wolf although it isn’t directly linked . It has quite a few unexpected pot twists and I would one hundred percent recommend to everyone.
Poppy bs
Wolf Siren
This book is about a young girl called Red. She lives in a town with her little sister Aerona, little brother Luki and mum on the outskirts of a forest. However, the town and mayor keep themselves separate from the forest world and what they think is magic as wolves live in there and will target every male. However, Red feels a special connection to the forest and wolves that she thinks only her and her Grandmother have. Red had recently started her monthly cycle but to her and her mum, it meant nothing. But when in the wood with Ms Blaeberry ( who is apparently a witch and holds magic) her body transforms into a wolf. Supposedly, wolf women only exist in fairy tales, but do they? How much will Red have to pay to show that nature isn’t as scary as it seems?
The main character in this book is Red. I really liked her character as she was extremely determined, kind, brave, loyal and smart. She always looked out for her family, the forest and her wolves. My favourite character in this book would have had to be Aerona. She is very sweet, kind, caring and creative and is always by Red’s side.
I really enjoyed this book. It was extremely captivating and I liked how it was based on the traditional fairy tale “ Little Red Riding Hood”. I think the story line was very smart and I loved how many twists and turns the story took. It was an extremely excellent book, one of my favourites.
Priya