KEVICHG
Away With Words
Away With Words was a very interesting and unique book. I liked the fact that the plot and ideas were so original, however I struggled with the concept of "physical words" and found a lot of the book confusing. Nevertheless, I enjoyed the journey and character development of many characters throughout the book, although this was definitely not one of my favourites.
Hidayah
The Boy Lost in the Maze
I found this book very interesting as the format was in poetry consisting of different rhyme schemes and lengths, exploring the story of two different characters. The change between tales offered many cliff hangers and was an ingenious way of presentation. It was a very good book!
Pauline
Safiyyah's War
Living in the time of the second world war, Safiyyah a young girl who has a keen interest in maps, finds her life rapidly changing by the invasions of the Nazis in her home city: Paris . The tale of loss, tragedy, bravery and hope follows Safyyah as she aids secret resistance work, overcoming traumatising obstacles on the way. I really loved this book and found the story line very enjoyable finding lots of twists and turns throughout the book.
Pauline
Away With Words
This book was an enjoyable story that covered selective mutism, an anxiety disorder which many children are not aware of, in an understandable way. The book also covered the struggles and frustration from moving from a country to another and how friendship can improve a hard situation . The message of kindness spread throughout the book and I thought the book was a very good read.
Pauline
Away With Words
Away With Words introduces readers to a world where language takes on a physical form, creating a landscape where words not only matter but manifest. Set in Scotland, the story centres around a young girl called Gala, with the extraordinary ability to make her words materialise. I found this book intriguing due to the descriptions of words taking physical form, however, at times felt like these concepts were aimed more towards a younger audience. Despite this, Cameron effectively highlighted how words can both harm and heal. Overall, I felt like this book offered a fresh and whimsical take on the power of language, but not the type of book that I would usually read.
Yusra
Steady for This
I found this book unique and captivating. The use of slang and rap was engaging, creative and rhythmic and the book had a really good flow of highs, lows and twists. The ending was a bit predictable however, but all in all I enjoyed the read.
Rosanna
Steady for This
Steady for This was a very unique and light-hearted book! I liked the humour maintained throughout the book, and how the book conveys that reaching your ambition can be possible, but you just have to follow it, and never be discouraged. Even though it was a very enjoyable book, at times I felt like the book is aimed towards more younger readers, due to its juvenile humour.
Yusra
Choose Love
Choose Love was a powerful and heartfelt book. The poems, although short, were extremely moving and conveyed a strong message. I would recommend this book as it shows the perspective of a misunderstood and unrepresented part of the world and what they have to suffer.
Hidayah
The Boy Lost in the Maze
I liked how The Boy Lost in the Maze weaved together two distinct stories of boys searching for their fathers, and how Joseph Coelho mirrored Theseus’ tale by coming up with a modern equivalent, especially in the villains- Sinis’ character’s nature seems perfectly in line with the Greek myth. I also enjoyed Coelho’s interpretation and descriptions of the Minotaur, and Theo’s vivid journey.
The verse took me some time to get used to, but after a while I saw the words begin to flow seamlessly.
emilie
Crossing the Line
The verse style fits this book like a glove, allowing Tia Fisher to really push the boundaries of formatting, and delivers the story of Erik in such an engaging way. One notable example was text wound in a circle, again pushing the reader into unfamiliar territory as his life spirals out of control.
Erik felt very real to me, and Fisher’s writing also skillfully crafted a narrative that brought the subject home realistically.
emilie
Choose Love
A short, impassioned anthology about refugees’ awful experience, the illustrations complement the poems perfectly, each using expressive but dull impasto, conveying desperation and finally, hope.
emilie
The Song Walker
I found The Song Walker to be a heart-warming tale of unlikely friendship, the descriptions of the harsh Australian Outback deftly evoking the baked landscape. The backstory of the Girl was engaging and well-drawn, keeping interest as Bethell drops significant clues throughout. However, one clue was a dead giveaway to me about her background, so it was even more to glean proof!
The glossary at the front was also quite handy, and allowed further insight into the rich First Country culture.
emilie
Crossing the Line
Crossing The Line was an extremely enlightening and empowering book about how one bad decision can lead to catastrophic events. Erik is led down a bad path after the death of his father, and the choices he makes soon put his life at risk. The way that the book was written in verse makes us feel as if we are inside Erik's head, and helps us to understand him better as a person. I liked how Erik was shown, not as a criminal, but as a victim, weak and vulnerable. The stories of kids and teenagers caught up in drug dealing are not often told, so I found this story refreshing and informative as well as heartwarming. There is a lot of character development within this book, not just in the character of Erik, but how the people around him change due to their personal situations. His relationships with people and his past experiences strongly influence his decisions and we see his character rapidly changing and maturing. I would definitely recommend this book as it an incredible read and I really enjoyed it.
Hidayah
Steady for This
Steady For This was a really enjoyable read in the way that it was much more funny and lighthearted than the other books, while also holding an important and powerful message. Shaun's journey of self-discovery and the way he matures throughout the book was really empowering, however I also liked the way he kept his slightly childish sense of humour. Although I did feel second-hand embarrassment many times while reading this, I really enjoyed it! I would recommend this book for slightly younger readers as it showcases the lives of a group of less-represented individuals, while also containing a lot of awkward yet hilarious scenes.
Hidayah
Crossing the Line
This book was a great and important insight into prevalent teen issues - it addressed the reasons people might have for getting involved with drugs and humanised those people, whilst highlighting the troubles and hardships that will follow. It was realistic and entertaining and a worthwhile read in my opinion.
Rosanna
Away With Words
Away with words was a fun read, and the plot and concept were interesting and original. Seeing the English language in a new perspective was fascinating and overall I liked the book even though it was probably aimed at younger readers.
Rosanna
Crossing the Line
"Crossing the Line" by Tia Fisher was a heart-wrenching, but beautifully written book. This book is a message for people that there is always help, you just need to seek it. It was so hooking that I read it one day! However, I wouldn't recommend this book to younger readers due to its distressing scenes.
Yusra
The Boy Lost in the Maze
This book combines fantasy and reality, and creates interesting parallels between the two! I'm not usually an avid reader of verse, yet this book really stood out to me with its timeless story and its fairly accurate mythology, as an enjoyer of said Greek mythology!
All in all, this book was an emotional, exciting read that I thoroughly enjoyed.
Leyla
Away With Words
A book with an interesting and unique concept revolving around words, of course. The concept itself makes the book memorable, and it also touches on topics of having to move to another country and the like!
The title also stood out to me with multiple interpretations - at least in my eyes!
Leyla
The Boy Lost in the Maze
At first I found this book intriguing and different, and as I got into it I understood it more and got even more invested in the characters and their journey. There was no shying away from the negative, which I liked and appreciated. This made the book and characters more real and vivid. The theme and main plot of finding fathers was well written, and the way the two stories were interwoven and modified to fit together was seamless and enhanced the story overall.
Rosanna
Safiyyah's War
Saffiyah’s War was vivid and emotional. I enjoyed the story and the message. The characters were quite interesting and seeing deep issues and themes of war and persecution from a young Muslim girl’s perspective was engaging for me, even though the book was aimed at slightly younger readers. My favourite parts of the story were the descriptions about the food and welcoming serenity of the mosque, and the heart wrenching moments when people close the main character were fighting for survival or in danger.
Rosanna
The Door of No Return
The Door of No Return is a poignant story, rich in history that deals with complex, sometimes horrific themes. I liked that the cover is striking, covered in bold waves, symbolic of the recurrent water theme. The structure is presented like free verse, which after getting into, I found wholly engaging, as it let the words flow as freely as Alexander intended. I felt like the warmth of the first half deepens the contrast between it and the second, allowing Alexander to convey loss. All in all, I thought that the Door of No Return was a well-written and eye-opening book with a bittersweet ending that is open to interpretation.
Emilie
Away With Words
Away With Words is a sweet story set in Scotland about change, acceptance and difference, and hosts a whole range of colourful characters and relationships that I found relatable and funny!
Although it is not what I would usually pick up, due to the language seeming to be aimed at slightly younger readers, I enjoyed the novel concept, interesting narrative and especially the shocking plot twist, which had been deftly hinted at earlier.
Throughout, I was reminded of the power of words and friendship.
Emilie
Choose Love
A short - perhaps bittersweet? - read. The subtle hints in its art continue to add to the depth and the unfortunate reality for refugees. Even the abundance of space perhaps between lines, or the single word titles for the sections, are left to fill in for what has gone unspoken before this eye-opening cycle of poetry, and the tributes in the book truly make it more impactful... All in all, it was a really heartfelt book, with the emotions put into it expressed in both imagery and wording!
Leyla
The Boy Lost in the Maze
The Boy Lost In The Maze was an incredibly complex yet simple book that hooked me in right from the start. The interlinking stories weaved together seamlessly and the format of the pages made the complicated story-line easier to understand. I loved how the characters, though all from different backgrounds and timelines, all had one thing in common-they wanted to make their fathers proud. It was fascinating to see the stories all come together at the end, especially as we see hints at the connections throughout the book. I particularly enjoyed the new and original take on the classic Greek myth of Theseus and the Minotaur, showing both characters from a completely different perspective and relating their story to the modern world through the eyes of Theo. I would definitely recommend this book to older readers as it is mature and insightful, while being heart-warming and touching.
Hidayah
Steady for This
Steady For This was a very enjoyable and quite hilarious novel. It was also really sweet and heart-warming. The majority of the book is written in modern slang and I would recommend it to a lot of young teens, especially any with a keen interest in rap music. The cover artwork was also very fitting for style and topic of the book.
Irem
Choose Love
This was quite a short but definitely very meaningful book written in verse, and many people will have experienced the topic(s) covered in this book. The twelve poems are in three sections and are about refugees and the heartbreak they have suffered. All of the poems in the book were very moving but the one I found the most hard-hitting was 'Mathematics'.
Irem
Crossing the Line
This book was quite amazing but it also had some very upsetting moments, written in verse on a topic a lot of people may have to deal with throughout their lives. As the book continues it gets more and more twisted and dangerous, however at the very end of the book we see the author's clear message that help is always out there. I’d personally recommend it for ages 15+.
Irem
The Door of No Return
A perfect blend of so many themes, such as freedom, humour, and grief! Both ends of many spectrums like war, love, and despair are explored in this book! All the characters are so 'human', and therefore relatable...and, as written in verse, feels appropriate to truly fit the ties of storytelling and the like!
Leyla
Steady for This
"Steady for This" by Nathaneal Lessore intricately explores the human experience through narratives, delving into themes of love, loss, and resilience. Using humour and vivid characterization, Lessore crafts a beautifully evocative tale that resonates deeply, reminding readers of the beauty and fragility of life.
Jaza
Choose Love
"Choose Love" is an absolutely spectacular book. I loved how Davies elegantly wove all of the poems together, and how they linked to the journey and struggles of refugees. It was also really enjoyable to study the illustrations linking to each of the poems. Overall, it was a short, but very enjoyable book!
Yusra
The Door of No Return
The Door Of No Return was a beautiful, heart-breaking book about the capture of Africans in the 1600s. The unique writing style of the book made it easy to read as well as being a fascinating experience. The verse used made it feel as if you were inside the main character's mind and made the book even more emotional. Overall, I would definitely recommend this book as it is inspirational, historical and poignant.
Hidayah
Steady for This
"Steady For This" was a very interesting book, however not the genre I would usually read. It covers important topics relevant to the modern world such as the cost of living crisis and bullying and conveys messages of kindness, friendship and resilience. The book uses slang throughout and by linking to the modern world appeals to children of all ages as it is relatable. Overall the book covers big issues, has a relatable plot and attracts not only avid readers but also children who might not always be inclined to read a book.
Pauline
Choose Love
"Chose Love" was moving book about refugees and fleeing your country. The book is made from poems, a unique and wonderful approach. The drawings on each page linked with the poems to create a clear picture. Overall, I really enjoyed this book and I think it is really good for educating children on the aspect of war and the journey of escape from one country to another.
Pauline
Steady for This
"Steady For This" was a very interesting book, however not the genre I would usually read. It covers important topics relevant to the modern world such as the cost of living crisis and bullying and conveys messages of kindness, friendship and resilience. The book uses slang throughout and by linking to the modern world appeals to children of all ages as it is relatable. Overall the book covers big issues and attracts children who might always be inclined to pick up a book.
Pauline
The Boy Lost in the Maze
A mesmerising book - I was unable to put it down! Coelho's lyrical and evocative writing draws readers into a world that is enchanting but perilous. It was in awe of how Coelho manages to weave and link two stories together.
Yusra
The Song Walker
The "Song Walker" by Zillah Bethell is a poignant and lyrical explanation of grief, healing, and the power of music. It is a hauntingly beautiful novel that is elegantly written. Definitely recommend this book!
Yusra
Safiyyah's War
Safiyyah's War is a wonderful, and intricately woven book! I loved how the captivating narrative delved into the enduring power of hope in the face of adversity. Even though it was aimed for a younger age range I still found it delightful and impossible to put down!
Yusra
The Song Walker
This book was interesting and entertaining but I didn’t find it that unique. The plot was clever and the contrast of two totally different characters meeting in the middle of nowhere brought the story alive. I also appreciated the accuracy of the violin playing!
Rosanna
The Door of No Return
This book was transformative because I’ve not read anything like it. The poems kept the flow of the story and I liked the change of having a poetry style rather than typical prose. The characters were vivid and relatable and I loved the originality of the plot. Overall I loved the intensity of the highs and lows- even in the darkest situations there was hope and friendship. I felt the characters really grew throughout the book. I was left slightly unsatisfied with the cliffhanger ending, however.
Rosanna
Choose Love
Simple but effective, I thought the set of poems in ‘Choose Love’ delivered a powerful message of the very real and current situations of refugees. The emotions they go through were conveyed well and it makes you aware of their suffering. Even so, the book was very short and simple which wasn’t my preference.
Rosanna
Away With Words
Quite a unique book, not a genre I would usually read, and even though it is short and relatively simple it portrays very important topics. This type of book would be a great way to show and educate children - perhaps aged 8-12 - about these certain topics.
Irem
Safiyyah's War
Safiyyah's War is an exciting, beautifully written story, with rich descriptions and near-limitless depth to each and every character... The sorrowful turns in the story, then the moments of hope, and everything in between, are all well-expressed, whether by both narration and dialogue. All in all, it is truly an interesting, unique, extraordinary story.
Leyla
The Song Walker
An incredible, addictive book about self-discovery and honouring your past, filled with jaw-dropping plot twists and a beautiful story-line. This book takes on two very difficult topics throughout, managing to weave them into an elegant and fascinating plot, exploring loss of other people as well as loss of your own identity. The unique culture, harrowing journey and enthralling mystery, as well as the stunningly unexpected ending, made this book extremely interesting to read and I would definitely recommend it.
Hidayah
The Door of No Return
Kwame Alexander's "The Door of No Return" delves deeply into the themes of identity, heritage, and the enduring legacy of slavery. Through evocative language, and haunting imagery, Alexander takes readers on a poignant journey to Ghana's Cape Coast Castle, where countless Africans were forcibly enslaved. I highly recommend this book as it pushes readers to face the past and embrace the power of resilience.
Yusra
The Song Walker
This book was an interesting read - I liked how the plot thickened as more and more information was gained, and the unprecedented twists that came with the characters' revelations. I especially liked the duality of the book's title, having both a metaphorical and literal meaning to it. Overall, this book was amazing and exceeded my expectations with its story and the depth of its characters!
Leyla
Safiyyah's War
Safiyyah's War is a beautiful, elegantly-woven story about a young Muslim girl in the French Resistance. The vivid descriptions and unique perspective make for a sorrowful, yet remarkable tale of the untold bravery of normal people, fighting against conflict and oppression. Throughout the book, Safiyyah grows into a courageous, awe-inspiring young woman, and her understanding of the world around her changes. I would definitely recommend this book, as it volunteers a special and unconventional viewpoint which is really interesting and unique.
Hidayah