The High Storrs Shadows

Create Group Magazine

Twenty Four Seconds from Now
Personally, I enjoyed the book, but thought it was quite uneventful and slow paced. The layout of going back in time was a bit confusing, and I felt the characters were lacking a bit of depth at some points. overall I would probably give this book a 3/5

Remae

Not Going To Plan
This novel felt very real. I thought it was a well written novel about the convoluted and messy process of abortion, the complexities of friendships, and how to live with differences of opinion. I liked the interactions between Zed and his mother the most, and how they ended up dedicating time to reflect and talk to each other so they wouldn't just get stuck in their own thoughts. (spoilers here sorry!) Zed was my favourite character. Even though he had dedicated himself completely to the physics marathon, he ended up messing it up trying to help out Marnie. In the moment, it was excrutiating for him being in that exam hall and unable to concentrate. But after, he was able to make the best of his situation, knowing that he had been able to help his friend through a really difficult situation. His sense of justice made him an immensely likeable character, and unlike the way autistic boys often used to be portrayed, as apathic and heartless.

Zoë

Wolf Siren
As I read this book, I felt it resonate with a younger wilder version of myself that I hadn't really thought about in the past few years. When I was a kid, me and my friends used to pretend to be wolves in the forest, calling ourselves 'the wild things' and causing good natured havoc. I was also really interested in menstruation around this time, as it was before I got my period (10 or 11 years old) I was reading loads of books about it and thinking of it as this kind of personal, powerful and mysterious thing that I knew I would eventually get, and would mean that I was moving onto a new stage of growth in my life. I think Wolf Siren is a very powerful novel. It explores complicated and painful familial relationships amidst finding your own identity and learning about who you are and what you believe is right in a society that may not agree with you, or push you down because you look or think differently.

Zoë

Chronicles of a Lizard Nobody
I thought this book was brilliant. It was unapologetically direct about how people are different from each other, which can lead to conflict when people are cruel and ignorant. It approached neurodivergence, class differences and race in a manner much in the same way as children, who are often just curious and accept people for who they are. I liked the characters, especially Miel as he had a strong sense of self that acted kind of like an anchor for his friends. Even though he ended up making mistakes, he apologised and acknowledged them, which gave his character a level of maturity that I liked in contrast with some of the others. Even though it ended in a way (the final battle) that I myself as an older reader wasn't really interested in, the story contained themes and characters that definitely kept me hooked throughout. I enjoyed the way we left off Zekes' story in the end, I think that last bit was written really well.

Zoë

Chronicles of a Lizard Nobody
I enjoyed reading this book, I thought the way it dealt with bigger themes in a way younger children can understand was nice. I also thought the illustrations were really good. As an older reader, I found the book quite chaotic at times, but overall I enjoyed the original ideas and the story.

Eleanor

Ghostlines
I really liked this book as I loved the way the setting was described, and I had a very vivid picture of Ayrie in my head. I enjoyed the story. Initially I wasn’t a fan of the dialogue being in italics rather then speech marks, but I think it works with the style the book is written in.

Eleanor

Not Going To Plan
I enjoyed Not Going To Plan. This was the second time I've read this book and I felt it was much better this time round. I really like books written in verse, and this was no different, with its unique and interesting structure that was a conversation between the two principle characters, Zed and Marnie. It was also very thought provoking and I love Marnie's GCSE art project. My only criticisms are that I didn't understand what 'screen printing' was (although that just might be because I'm not very good at art 😅) and I think it would have been even more interesting & challenging if we had heard the arguments for and against abortion equally compelling and thoroughly. Overall, this is a good read and I would give it 7/10

Ilsa

Wolf Siren
I really liked this book, the adaptation of the fairytales were really interesting. I thought the characters were compelling, and I really felt like I was there with them in the book. The themes were handled well, they never felt forced into the story. The only part I didn’t enjoy so much was the ending, which I felt was a bit unnecessary, although it was still well-written.

Eleanor

Chronicles of a Lizard Nobody
Chronicles of a Lizard Nobody is a book focusing on a young lizard boy and his willingness to stand up to bullies. I think this is a really surreal way to tell children to stand up to bullies as Patrick Ness uses animals instead of humans. Another part making it feel surreal is how Zeke has the entire nation of France on his knee. All things considered I would recommend it to a younger audience i.e. Y5-Y7 but it may not be something I suggest to anyone who is Y8+.

Franklin

Twenty Four Seconds from Now
It was fine. It was sweet and mildly amusing in some places but the story was a little bland for my taste. The structure was interesting but the plot was, albeit heartwarming, boring.

Ilsa

Twenty Four Seconds from Now
I was pleased at first to read this book, as it is exactly the kind of book I would normally choose to read, and despite its unique structure, which I enjoyed, it didn't really seem particularly different to all the other romance books I've read. It was an enjoyable read though, and I especially liked aria's name.

Arianne

Birdie
The pacing was good, and there was no point at which I was bored with what was happening in the book, but, although obviously it was awful when she faced racism, I felt no connection with the characters or the story. The only time the book made me feel emotional was when the horse 'died' but then it was magically ok again just so there could be a happy ending! I know that makes me sound really grumpy, but I feel it would be more effective if he stayed dead (Sorry Mr Duke!)

Ilsa