Sharples Shadows
Steady for This
I really did not enjoy this book. I could not willingly finish it. I was disgusted by the language and the cringiness of the characters. I feel like the author was writing from the point of view of a teenager trying to be cool in the early 2000s. Teenagers these days would not be able to relate to the story. I would not recommend this for anyone.
Khadija
Crossing the Line
This was an eye-opening book to the dangers that young teens face and how desperation can overwhelm the senses. The morals of the story were great and had lots of power. It demonstrates the impact that drugs and peer pressure can have upon the younger generation. I really enjoyed the book and I think it is a fantastic easy read for teens of all reading ages.
Khadija
Crossing the Line
I think this was a great book with an amazing story. It made me feel quite sad as it mentioned in the book that things like what happened in the book happen to real people around my age. I think it really helps to raise awareness about things that are mentioned in the book.
Jayden
The Door of No Return
This was an interesting read for me as I don't normally read books of this style however the beautiful language and rhythm that Alexander incorporated within the book was enthralling. This was an eye-opening read with morals of family, forgiveness, equality and justice told through the fictitious African character Kofi Offin. Only a young boy, his life living in the African tribe was full of rivalries and hatred and he was forced to grow up a lot faster than most children of his age. It was a great learning experience getting an insight of African culture in the 19th century and the toils and hardships of that day and age, which are so drastically different from the issues of today. I never expected to enjoy a book of this kind and I have learnt to never judge a book by its cover! This story is a great read for teenagers and older children and the perfect way to discover more about the complex history of the world we know today through the cultures of Ancient Africa. This book was told in a beautiful manner and i highly recommend it for those looking to read a different type of story.
Khadija
The Song Walker
This was a beautiful novel about a girl who survived a plane crash and ended up in the barren terrain of the Australian outback. She is found by another girl who grew up in a tribe in the outback. She claimed she was searching for her sister and guided Sienna through the vast planes of Australia. However, she doesn't mention that her sister is a spirit and the people who help her along the way are simply mirages. She is also oblivious to the fact that the girl, Tarni, had discovered he true identity. This was an enthralling story with a truly heartwarming ending. It shows the benefits of failure and tells a tale of a great friendship. I think this is a great book for young adults and although at the beginning it feels confusing all mysteries are cleared up in the end. I think the author did a great job giving us a clear image of the setting and provoking emotion.
Khadija
Safiyyah's War
Saffiyah's War is a realistic portal into the darkness of World War I in France. Throughout the story you experience a wave of emotions
as though you are in the mind of Saffiyah herself. The book keeps you hooked until the very end and gives you a valuable insight to the many struggles of war. The story teaches you compassion and gratitude and I frequently cried throughout the story. The story teaches to show kindness and love to all, no matter their race, background or belief for after all we are all humans. I loved the story and the morals behind the story and would strongly recommend it to young readers.
Khadija
The Door of No Return
The Door of No Return has a brilliant story and I really liked the setting of it. The only problem I had with the book was that the layout of the book was quite annoying as it only took up half of the page and I felt like there were too many sub-headings on each page.
Jayden