St Angela’s Reading Angels
King of Nothing
This book was definitely the first to ever make me actually laugh out loud, and Anton's vocabulary and clever comparisons made it really easy to understand.
I really enjoyed it because although there was a comedic aspect to it, it also highlighted the challenges of secondary school, and how different factors, such as school, friends and family, can impact the way you act and speak.
Favour
The Things We Leave Behind
I like this book. It was different from the books I usually read. I think it was an emotional story and I felt uneasy because the protagonist's childhood was very poor because of political issues and her family background. This book also taught me to empathise with people in need and help them.
Joey
The Things We Leave Behind
In my opinion I found this book really upsetting, which really goes outside of my comfort zone. There were multiple instances where I felt like crying even though I didn't want to. However I do think that this is a really good read! So read it!
Oluwatamilore
Treacle Town
I found this book very interesting as it included poems about Biscuit (person who died young in the book) NO SPOILERS!!
But overall I really liked this book (trigger warning: swearing, violence)
Olivia
The Things We Leave Behind
I really enjoyed this book although it was quite emotional with the stories bachground. The reason i found it upsetting was because of the 'childhood trauma' Beckett went through. Overall a very interesting book!
Olivia
The Final Year
I found The Final Year very interesting. The author's decision to write this book in poems is really unique, because it's not something you would usually expect a book to have. I like this book because it's relatable and accurate - it highlights the struggles and amount of pressure you face in Year 6. It also includes other elements other than academics, such as friendship, family, and managing emotions.
Favour
The Final Year
I really enjoyed reading The Final Year. It’s a verse novel, different from the books I usually read, and I found Matt Goodfellow’s writing style interesting. The story follows a young boy called Nate, who’s reaching his final year of primary school. The readers are pulled along as Nate navigates through life, finding himself in poems. Goodfellow represented the experience of Year 6 quite realistically in my opinion, especially with the hardships Nate goes through. His struggles with friendship and classmates was relatable, and it wasn’t glossed over but rather explored thoroughly. Other than school, we also see Nate’s home situation and how it affects his everyday life. The illustrations in the book also helped the story progress, being simple yet clean. Overall, I found this book a pleasant and short read, perfect for someone that may be in the same situation as Nate, entering their final year of primary.
Summer
All That It Ever Meant
I found All That It Ever Meant really intriguing. It explores the themes of grief and family struggles, but also the theme of immigration. The author, Musariri, managed to weave these themes perfectly into the story. She represented death and how families dealt with it in a way that was relatable to my personal experiences. I also related to many aspects of Mati’s home life. The character of Meticais added a colourful flair to the story, especially with his funny conversations with Mati and how he was almost coaxing the story out of her. In addition, the end of the book really stood out to me. It was an emotional plot twist, and personally it surprised me. While I was reading it, I knew there was going to be some sort of twist, but I didn’t expect the one given. It made the book worthwhile, and left me thinking about it long after I finished reading. However, at times the pacing of the book was a bit too slow. I didn’t mind it, but I could see how others could find it distracting. Other than that, the novel was a moving read, and a welcome change from the books I usually indulge in.
Summer
The Final Year
There are some spoilers in the review!
The Final Year is a novel written by Matt Goodfellow.
I think it is a poignant and powerful verse novel that captures the emotional journey of Nate,a Year 6 student navigating his final year of primary school.
In year 6, his life was turning upside-down.He faces challenges at home, his brother was ill with his heart; at school, he has to prepare his SATs; at friends, his friend PS was remoting him. BUT he has strong adaptability.
Goodfellow masterfully balances these heavy themes with moments of warmth and hope, particularly through Nate’s bond with his supportive teacher,Mr. Joshua.
This book explores themes of family & Responsibility, Friendship, Resilience & Hope.
From this book, I have learned we have to be hopeful to face our life's challenges.
Overall, I like this book and I think this book is easy for English beginners to read.
Joey