The Lotus Readers

Chronicles of a Lizard Nobody
I really enjoyed Chronicles of a Lizard Nobody because it was both funny and emotional at the same time. Zeke is a character many people can relate to since he feels different and struggles to fit in. The story has lots of humour, but it also shows important ideas about friendship, identity, and growing up. I liked how the characters felt realistic and how the book was easy to read without being boring. Overall, it’s a fun and meaningful book that I would recommend to younger teens.

Max

The Boy I Love
The Boy I Love is about two men who fighting in the trenches during World War 1 falling in love even though they were not allowed to. Throughout the book there is fighting, death and the grief that comes with that. It also points out things that could be considered as wrong in the terms of all the rules they had to follow. I think someone who would enjoy this book would be someone who likes romance stories. Another person could be someone who likes history as it takes place during World War 1 and has some real events that had happened there. In my opinion a good age rating for this book would be 14+ because at that age you would have the maturity to read the book and the background historical knowledge to understand the book.

lily

Birdie
Birdie is a historical-fiction novel that tackles themes of racism and prejudice. It focuses on Birdie and her life after moving away from the children’s home where she grew up. Rose keeps this novel in a simple structure but also incorporates deeper topics. What I enjoyed most about this novel was how Birdie and her pit pony, Mr Duke, developed their relationship. When Birdie first arrives at Barrington Dale, she faces lots of challenges and gets bullied because of her skin colour. As she is running away from her bullies from school, she comes across a pit pony when she is hiding in the mines. Birdie’s journey to growth is complicated and her relationship with the pit pony plays an important role. Overall, Birdie is a meaningful book with serious themes. It highlights the many issues that happened in the past and how we should look at similar problems now. I would recommend this book to those who are interested in a simple book but also gives a detailed understanding about prejudice and unfairness.

Theresa

Chronicles of a Lizard Nobody
Chronicles of A Lizard Nobody is a book for children over 7 years old written by Patrick Ness. It is about Zeke, a monitor lizard, who suddenly becomes a hall monitor with his friends Daniel and Alicia, and has a conflict with the school “bully” Pelicarnassus. The plot is very humorous, but it carries a serious message. Zeke has a hard time trying to solve the conflict between him and Pelicarnassus. During the conflict, he learns an important message about friendship. He realises how to accept others, even if they are very different, and how to become friends with them. He also learns responsibility as a hall monitor. People who are old will enjoy this fictional and humorous but serious book.

Dohyeong

Wolf Siren
Wolf-Siren by Beth O’Brien is an enchanting dark fantasy fairy tale retelling of Little Red Riding Hood. The story follows Red, a 14 year old girl who finds herself drawn to the forbidden magical woods. O’Brien’s writing is vivid and clear, weaving in themes of identity and loneliness. I personally enjoyed the way Red was presented as a compelling character who, at first, sought to find ways to hide herself and her connection to the wild, but over time, embraces her true self and becomes stronger and more confident. Ultimately, Wolf-Siren is a brilliant fantasy and mystery novel which I would recommend to those who enjoy dark, modern fairy tale retellings and fans of atmospheric, high stakes stories, focusing on self discovery and inner strength.

Quinn

Ghostlines 
Ghostline is an interesting and adventurous story that immediately caught my attention. The main character, Tilda is zealous and enthusiastic which makes her very enjoyable to read about. From the beginning of the novel, her curiosity and excitement about her island make the setting feel vivid and alive. I especially liked how determined she was to make Albie feel welcome when he first arrived on the island. Even though Albie seemed quiet and uninterested first, Tilda never gave up on trying to show him around and help him feel included. Overall, I found the book engaging because of its adventurous plot and Tilda’s enthusiasm and bravery that make her character easy to admire.

SiYeon

The Boy I Love
The book “The boy I love” is about Stephen and Danny's forbidden relationship together during WW1. This book shows the harsh truth about gay relationships in the past. William Hussey helps us understand more about their relationship and helps others to find out their identity. He also describes WW1 in a very realistic way where it feels like you are in war. The book shows us that in the past we had no option to choose to go into war or not; even up into now there is still that problem. The author shows many other soldiers' points of view in real life as well. Stephen has been traumatised because of war which also connects to most soldiers that were in the army. The book shows the truth about war and how it ruined many relationships because of this. For example, losing someone very important to you even if you have protected them the best you can.

May

Chronicles of a Lizard Nobody
In Chronicles of a Lizard Nobody, the writer presents Zeke as a relatable and realistic character who changes throughout the story. At the beginning, he is an ordinary lizard student who becomes a hall monitor after being chosen by Principal Wombat. Although he has some power at school, he is still just a normal kid trying to do the right thing. As the story continues, Zeke faces challenges and conflicts that make him question his actions and responsibilities. I liked how the author showed both Zeke’s strengths and weaknesses because it made him feel believable. One of the best parts of the book is the way friendship and teamwork are shown throughout the story. Overall, the book is exciting, enjoyable, and keeps readers interested.

RaeHyun

Popcorn
Popcorn is a novel which deeply focuses on anxiety in the daily life of a person. This is presented through the perspective of a boy at middle school who lives with anxiety, especially on his school photo day. Throughout the story, he describes his scale for indicating his mental stability as a ‘kernel scale’ where the more unstable he is mentally, the closer he is for his kernel to pop. In the novel, he attempts to control his kernel while encountering unfortunate situations regarding relationships as well as his anxiety during the school day. I recommend the novel towards students who are year 7 or higher as the book contains serious and complex topics regarding anxiety, however with additions of comical elements for a bit of post-script information for readers to further understand Andrew’s situation. This also helps readers to understand what Andrew’s emotion is when anxiety makes things difficult for him, which might be challenging for years under the recommendation. In conclusion, I personally believe that this novel challenged a unique way of describing anxiety in daily life, and I would highly suggest others to read the book.

Kota

The Boy I Love
The Boy I Love, by William Hussey, depicts the brutality and horrors of the First World War and the Battle of the Somme alongside many social issues that still exist today, such as homophobia. Throughout the novel, we can observe a strong and intimate relationship building between the two main characters, Lieutenant Stephen Wraxhall and Private Danny McCormick, who both serve in the British army and are deployed to France. It combines the themes of homosexuality with war, which is completely new and unique to other novels which I have read. However, although the theme is unique, I didn’t really enjoy the book as much as other books I’ve read. The book has a lot of vocabulary which may be hard to understand and I think that the story would have been more compelling if there was more jeopardy when Wraxhall and McCormick were getting closer. Some readers may find reading the book uncomfortable due to its themes , but overall it is a good book for those over the age of 14 to read.

Sam

Birdie
Birdie is a historical fiction novel by J. P. Rose which follows the story of a young mixed race girl named Birdie Bagshaw who is sent from a children’s home in Leeds to live with her great-aunt in the Yorkshire dales, where she befriends the last remaining pit pony in the village. I enjoyed some aspects of the book, such as how she fought back at those who underestimated and ridiculed her for her skin color. Additionally, it was touching to see her bonding with the pit pony, who she later named Mr Duke. I quite liked seeing her develop from a sheltered and impulsive young girl to a caring, understanding and brave person. However, there were some parts I did not really enjoy, such as when she was very stubborn about staying with Mr Duke even when the mine was collapsing and her running away for a pony she had only met a few times before. Overall, I found Birdie to be an enjoyable book about the friendship between humans and animals and I believe it is suitable for ages 9 and above.

Yu-An

Ghostlines 
The book “Ghostlines” by Katya Balen is about a girl named Tilda who is trying to convince a boy who came from the mainland to stay and love Ayrie. His name is Albie. Albie is very skeptical at first and does not like the way people live on Ayrie at all. He doesn't like the way things are and likes the mainland much better because that’s where he grew up. Tilda is tasked with trying to make Albie love Ayrie, which poses an extremely difficult task. In the end, Tilda takes Albie to a haunted and prohibited island near Ayrie as her final resort. This works, and Albie slowly gets more excited about going to the island, and his love for the island gradually increases. This book should be read for people who like adventure stories and for people who are in middle school, as it doesn't have too difficult language in it.

ZeRui

Ghostlines 
The novel book “Ghostlines” written by Katya Baten is about a young girl named Tilda feeling grief about her older brother who left for the mainland last summer. Tilda loves her free life on the island of Ayrie. This book has the perspective of a quiet, lonely boy missing the city life adapting to change as a newcomer, Albie, moves to Ayrie after living his whole life on the mainland in a big city where no one knows each other. Tilda tries her best in making Albie love this island as much as she does but the amount of places that she has taken him, he isn’t interested. The friendship between Tilda and Albie grows stronger and stronger as they begin to know more about each other. Albie's attitude only begins to soften when he is taken to a dangerous, forbidden, and "haunted" neighboring island. I would recommend this book to readers in middle school or who enjoy nature based adventures.

Alyssa

Wolf Siren
Wolf-Siren is an atmospheric novel that contains fantasy and mystery. The story is about the character named Red, who experiences psychological growth by overcoming the conflicts with the villagers. The novel creates a strong atmosphere and impacts with vivid descriptions and character development. The main Character, Red, is brave but vulnerable, which creates tension throughout the story and keeps the pages turning. The suspense and emotional elements like magic and the talking woods, makes the book more memorable. The book gives a powerful message of feminism, environmental connection, and the importance of changing the unfair authority. Overall, the Wolf Siren is a fantastic supernatural fiction.

Paul

Not Going To Plan
Chronicles of a Lizard Nobody is a middle grade humorous fantasy school story that follows Zeke, a Hall monitor monitor lizard who (mostly) wants to keep a low profile, survive school, and stay out of trouble, however, his plans are thrown away when Pelicarnassus, a pelican who rules the school, develops a grudge that quickly gets out of hand. What I particularly like about this book is its ability to blend humor with more mature themes and issues, making it a quick and lighthearted read while still taking away a hard hitting message. Zeke shows major character growth while being relatable and still within reach, allowing readers to draw inspiration from him. Overall, Chronicles of a Lizard Nobody is a fun and easy read that I would recommend to people of all ages who are fans of comedy and adventure.

Quinn

Not Going To Plan
Not Going To Plan is a YA novel told in verses and stanzas that delves into the viewpoint of 16 year old Marnie Staedler. It unfolds into a double narrative including Zebedee Donovan, or Zed for short; both fighting their own unique challenges. The writer, Tia Fisher, uses the concept of a concrete or shape poetry to cultivate the imagery of the context, instead of pure text. She also presents two characters in the same context, which I find magically poetic. What I enjoyed most about is the heavier topics like stealthing and teenage pregnancy being themes of the novel, which is a very interesting difference in plot as other YA novels focus on lighter topics like school life; with rational, tangible solutions like contraceptives and abortion with the clash with religion and judgement. Overall, Not Going To Plan is an innovative “double-narrative” that hits readers hard and fast with the speed of problems. It shows an unbiased and brutally honest description of love and consent, and I would strongly recommend this to teenage readers that need answers on pregnancy and strong relationships.

Daniel

Chronicles of a Lizard Nobody
Chronicles of a lizard nobody is about a monitor lizard named Zeke and his friends who go to a school full of other animals and in the school there is a problem with bullying. Mainly this book has a comedy feeling with many jokes and puns scattered throughout the book, however it can get more serious at certain parts. I think a good age rating would be 10+ because while the reading level is quite low and very easy and fast to read. Some things in the books for example the black dog may require a bit more maturity to fully understand the true meaning behind it as well as a few other things that happen in the story. Someone who would enjoy Chronicles of a Lizard Nobody might be someone who likes interestingly ridiculous books with unique concept ideas. Another type of person who might like Chronicles of a lizard nobody would be someone who prefers short reads rather than long ones as Chronicles of a lizard nobody can take very little time to read compared to other books of around the same number of pages due to how many illustrations it has considering this it might also be enjoyed by someone who usually picks up graphic novels but wants to try a novel.

lily

Birdie
Birdie is a book about a young girl who has a fascination with animals, particularly the horses that used to work in the mines near her new home in the 1950s and wants to help them. In my opinion the main themes of this book could be animals and their rights as well as racism and family. I think someone that would enjoy this book would be a person who likes animals and horses as that is the main focus of this book it might also be interesting to a person who is intrigued by mines and their history especially in the UK

lily

Chronicles of a Lizard Nobody
Birdie is a book about a young girl who has a fascination with animals, particularly the horses that used to work in the mines near her new home in the 1950s and wants to help them. In my opinion the main themes of this book could be animals and their rights as well as racism and family. I think someone that would enjoy this book would be a person who likes animals and horses as that is the main focus of this book it might also be interesting to a person who is intrigued by mines and their history especially in the UK

lily

Popcorn
Popcorn is a great book for readers aged 8–10 because it is both humorous and friendly, making it enjoyable and easy to follow. The story uses lighthearted jokes and amusing situations to keep young readers entertained while still being appropriate for their age group. Importantly, the book contains no swear words or other bad language, making it a safe and suitable choice for children. In addition, it includes many funny and wholesome scenes that help create a positive and engaging reading experience. Overall, Popcorn is a good, age-appropriate book that can encourage younger readers to develop a love of reading. My feelings for the book are that it is very positive and entertaining to read.

Jack

The Boy I Love
The Boy I Love is a lyrical and touching book about forbidden love, tender LGBTQ+ romance between two British soldiers. Stephen and Danny are serving in the trenches during the 1916 battle of Somme in WW1. The story follows the attempt to find love and humanity amongst the brutality, fear and prejudice of the war. The novel also vividly portrays the harsh realities of life in trenches and the danger of their relationship being discovered which would lead to court-martial. And due to Stephen's haunted past, Stephen is determined to protect Danny from the brutalizing effects of war which led to a deep bond between one another.

Thao

Not Going To Plan
Not Going to Plan is a powerful and emotional novel that explores issues many teenagers can relate to, including relationships, identity, consent, and the pressure of growing up too quickly. Marnie breaks conventions because she is not presented as a “perfect” teenage girl instead, she feels realistic, flawed, and vulnerable. Throughout the story, she navigates difficult situations while trying to understand herself and the people around her. I found this especially impactful because it showed how easily trust can be broken and how confusing teenage relationships can become. What stayed with me most was how honest the story felt. It does not glamorise teenage struggles but instead encourages empathy and reflection, making it an important and memorable read for young people today.

Ananya

The Boy I Love
The boy I love by William Hussey is a powerful historical novel set during World War One. It follows Stephen, a young soldier struggling with both the horrors of war and the fear of hiding his relationship with Danny in a society that would not accept them. I found the book emotional and gripping because the contrast between the violence of the trenches and the tenderness of their relationship made the story feel even more heartbreaking.Hussey describe the brutality of war vividly, while also showing how secrecy and discrimination affect people at the time.Although the ending was tragic and not completely satisfying, I think it suited the novel because it felt realistic and stayed true to the historical setting. At times the pacing felt slightly rushed, especially in the romance, but overall I thought the novel was memorable,emotional, and important because it gives a voice to stories that are often ignored

Jort

Ghostlines 
Ghostlines is a story about belonging, family and identity – linked to the past and the present. We all have ghostlines – those memories, passed-down tales and connections to people and places. The book itself has this ethereal element that’s woven into every chapter, every line, every word. Ghostlines is a beautiful story where the author tries to make readers connect with the struggles of trying to fit into new situations or befriending a newcomer. The use of contrasting characters, representing the struggle that we as humans still go through today that stops us from trying to connect with people that differ from us, enhances the book and Tilda’s human struggle. It gives the characters and book humanity, and it helps readers relate to and attach to the characters in Ghostlines. It really emphasises the importance of connection, camaraderie, and friendship in daily human life. I enjoyed reading this book; however, there were moments where wording was rather confusing, causing readers to question what Rowan’s relationship was to Tilda. Ultimately I enjoyed reading this book, and I think others would too.

Hoang

Twenty Four Seconds from Now
Neon is a regular black teenager trying to figure out who he is, not the most popular kid, not an outcast, just in the middle, like most people. He cares deeply about his girlfriend Aria about doing the right thing, and about making sure his first sexual experience actually means something. His family's values stick with him and shape the way he moves through the world. The author lets us into his head through his thoughts and memories, which is how we watch him grow up more than anything. Neon struggles with his own nerves and fears around love and relationships, something you can feel in small moments, like him standing anxiously in a bathroom before seeing Aria. He's not a hero or a symbol he's just a kid a real one trying his best.

Gwiji

Birdie
The book “Birdie” is a heartfelt book about a girl named Birdie who tries to find her own place in the new neighborhood she moves to in the first part of the book. This book mainly follows the theme of identity and finding your place. I enjoyed how the book shows this character development of trying to fit in with the other children even though she gets hated and bullied. This shows the finding of identity and that everyone can fit in no matter what difference they have. In addition, I loved that the book included the part where Birdie falls in love with a horse and executes a plan to save it because it shows the love connection between a human and an animal which can be heartfelt if they have a deep connection with each other.

SeaUn

Twenty Four Seconds from Now
24 seconds from now is a very sentimental book full of close family dynamics, relationships with friends, and even a girlfriend. It starts with Neon, just 24 seconds away from his first time with his girlfriend, Aria. From his perspective, you can read the nervous trails of thoughts in his head, “What if I can't unclasp the bra with one hand?” He's not certain if he can go through with it, so he goes into the bathroom. Then it goes to 24 minutes earlier, where you can see his relationship with her, getting her favorite food. Rewinding to 24 hours earlier, his sister gives him advice. I really enjoyed that he communicates with a very supportive family, with whom he is not afraid to share his true thoughts, which leads them to have very deep and engaging conversations. Reading this book is similar to double-checking progress in life. It goes through what it's like to open up to somebody you care about and truly be vulnerable. At the end of the book, you flash back into the present where Neon needs to make a decision, stop pondering over the what-ifs, and decide. The real question is, does he do it or not?

Angela

Chronicles of a Lizard Nobody
Chronicles of a Lizard Nobody explores themes like bullying, friendship, hope, and identity. Zeke is an introverted Monitor lizard who has a few friends, Alicia and Daniel. Zeke often feels unimportant and people like his classmates don't seem to notice him. Zeke encounters situations where he can't control himself and also where he feels cornered and lost. An example of this situation is when Pelicarnasus humiliates him during class saying he was fat, poor and could never fit in. He is lifted and feels grateful when he sees that his classmates stand up for him even when they don't know who he is. He starts to learn that even people who feel invisible still matter. Another example is when Zeke struggles with pressure and emotions. Pelicarnassus invades Zeke's personal space and often creates trouble and chaos around him. Zeke being overwhelmed by this punches Pelicarnassus uncontrollably and starts questioning himself. Overall I really like this book because it can contrast to real life situations for certain people and it can teach lessons through scenarios that Zeke is put in. It could teach that even in times of struggle you can always find paths to get out of it.

Dylan

Chronicles of a Lizard Nobody
The book “Chronicles of a Lizard Nobody” is a humorous and action-packed graphic novel about a young monitor lizard named Zeke. In an environment where all the animals around him are superheroes, villains and talking animals, it is inevitable that throughout the span of the book Zeke will have to overcome being bullied in such a toxic environment. The book focuses on the challenges and insecurities that Zeke has about trying to fit in and be as amazing as all the people around him. The author used the image of a lizard as well as his relatable and realistic description of his problems. During the story, things escalate and the hall monitors get involved in a fight against the school bullies and powerful enemies, this involves the character Pelicanarsuss, a school bully who is a son of a supervillain. Pelicarnassus enjoys intimidating others and making them fear him that is why Zeke was one of Pelicarnassus's main targets, but as the tension grows, Zeke overcomes his insecurities and fears to fight back learning how to stand up for himself even when things get hard and he is scared. Overall, the book combines a mixture between a cartoonish and fun layout while implanting important lessons about identity and overcoming your fears, creating moments where Zeke realises that even a “nobody” like him can be important.

Bill

Birdie
'BIRDIE' is the type of book that includes a hooking plot that you can’t seem to stop reading. As a result, I have finished reading this book within a week. This specific Carnegie book has kept me on a hook as it was a very profound book that included a plot swarming around a bond between Birdie and a horse she’s befriended, and the adventures and struggles she faces through starting fresh. However the most noticeable and savoured part of the story is when you can see multiple characters having character-development and changing for the better in the story, which most likely teaches us that sometimes you have to prove yourself capable of something to see people accept you, but Birdie wasn’t one to prove herself, she was a girl that just did what was right. Overall, I have really enjoyed BIRDIE as it creates a realistic plot of how our world works, and I would recommend this book suitable to anyone above the age of 10 as it includes themes of racism, which could be taken the wrong way for anyone who doesn’t have a deep understanding of criticism towards people.

Eine

Popcorn
The book “Popcorn” by Rob Harrell is a funny yet interesting story which would show you a complete new vision. The main character is called Andrew Yaeger and has social anxiety. He has a school picture that day, so he wants to keep his shirt as clean as possible. The social anxiety setting makes the book really attractive as you read it through. The author gives us easy-to-understand examples of Andrew’s swirling social-anxiety mind. Throughout the book, there are some problems that would ruin his clean shirt. For example, science experiments and nose bleeding in PE. The author represents how Andrew overcomes the problems really well. He first gets social anxiety swirls, but he overcomes them. Overall, this book is really worth reading since it is a positive book that develops growing up and overcoming the problems, which can inspire moving on.

Kei

The Boy I Love
‘The Boy I Love’ by William Hussey is an impactful and emotional story that I enjoyed and I think a lot of people can relate to. For example, the way Stephen's diary entries were written made it feel very personal and realistic, as if it were reading someone's private thoughts, which really allowed me to connect with the character on a deep level. Stephen and Alfie’s relationship felt very genuine, and I liked the fact that their love was shown as beautiful but yet very fragile. What was interesting about the story was how the story combined both romance and war. It taught me about the hard lives of people who constantly had to hide their identity due to discrimination and prejudice. The story often had lots of sad and intense moments, which helped make the story very meaningful and emotional.

Andy

Not Going To Plan
Tia Fisher’s novel ‘Not Going to Plan’ is a powerful story that explores themes of consent, teenage pregnancy, abortion, and what to do when something doesn’t go according to plan. The language that Tia Fisher uses in this book is words/phrases that the younger generation tends to use, making it seem as if it’s a friend telling a story, allowing me to empathise more with the characters in this book. The way the author displayed all the words was unique, and something I’ve never seen a writer do before, especially when she filled an entire page with “Why me?” with a big question mark in the middle, which emphasized the character’s fear after just finding out she’s pregnant. It also highlights the importance of family and friends, especially in overwhelming situations, which was mainly seen when the main character’s mother chooses to offer support to her rather than scolding her. This novel has strong messages for teenagers about consent and protecting yourself in situations like what the main character, Marnie experienced, and I think it can have a lasting impact on every teenager who reads this book. Overall, ‘Not Going to Plan’ was one of the best books I’ve ever read and I highly recommend this book especially for teenagers.

Gianna

Twenty Four Seconds from Now
The book “Twenty-four Seconds From Now” by Jason Reynolds is set in Brooklyn, New York, exploring vulnerability, masculinity, love, consent, and intimacy through the eyes of young black teen Neon. Neon is represented as a usual adolescent presenting his insecurities and nerves before his first time having sex with his girlfriend, Aria. It is a compelling book as Jason Reynolds develops the main character through a reverse chronological narrative. This allows Neon’s emotions to be explored in depth as well as his journey toward confidence. Neon is a refreshing character due to his natural and honest portrayal, unlike most male characters, who are nonchalant and arrogant. Neon is a normal, vulnerable, and nervous young adult. The themes of vulnerability and masculinity are highlighted when Neon spends 24 seconds in the bathroom before having sex with Aria. This memorable moment is significant because it emphasises his intense fear, breaking stereotypes of male confidence. In conclusion, I would recommend reading “Twenty-four Seconds From Now” by Jason Reynolds because it teaches readers that healthy intimacy is built on consent, mutual respect, and connection. The novel highlights the importance of open communication and emotional maturity.

Sophie

Not Going To Plan
Tia Fisher’s young adult fiction “Not Going to Plan” is a touching yet impactful story. It explores themes of abortion, teen pregnancy and friendship. Its unique way of displaying the words onto the book, the realistic and somewhat relatable characters for teenagers makes it even more enjoyable when reading. The book breaks the shame around abortion whilst also standing up for people who chose not to be sexually active and just want to live their life. Perhaps the most important part is the friendships and bonds in the book, comforting readers that they are not alone and can depend on friends or family whenever they need help. Overall, Fisher’s book is one of the best books I’ve ever read, it is funny, creative and something I really enjoyed reading.

Hoai Anh

Popcorn
Popcorn by Rob Harrell was a book about the main character, Andrew, overcoming his extreme anxiety. The main storyline follows Andrew’s day at school, where he takes his school photo. At the start of the story, he desperately tries to protect his new shirt which his mom bought from him, and felt overwhelming anxiety every time it was ruined. However, by the end of the story, he learns how to control his anxiety and go through his complexities by forcing himself to face the situation, or imagining the best scenario that can happen. Throughout reading the story, I was surprised by the fast change of the protagonist, and how he manages to face his phobia, which is clearly a challenge for anybody. Overall, I enjoyed Popcorn, since it was easy to understand the storyline, and also had numerous comedic scenes.

Jayden

Wolf Siren
The first moment a person finds out she has a disability can be the most dramatic and rock bottom she has ever felt. But there she is, discovering herself throughout the woods, not letting the disadvantages weigh her down. The story “Wolf Siren” made by Beth O’Brien portrayed an alternative version of “Little Red Riding Hood” , that explored womanhood, and the struggle women went through from the corruption of authority figures. The story is highly regarded as very emotional, atmospheric and compelling, embracing self discovery and the connections to nature as the main theme. I have the privilege to say the book really tops it off by representing the protagonist “Red” as a very rebellious, deep love for nature and the unique way of experiencing the world. Red is a character who is unique for seeing the world around her because she is visually impaired. Instead of being limitations, she uses her conditions as a way to commune with nature, visualising the world by light, colour, and movement, allowing her to see the truths that others miss.

Anh Minh

Wolf Siren
The book ‘Ghostlines’ explores themes of friendship, community and tells us what ‘home’ really means. The way Katya Balen portrays the island of Ayrie in this book was extremely creative and she described things on the island that at first glance seem like nothing but she made it seem beautiful. This book mainly follows the friendship of the characters Tilda and Albie. When Albie moves onto the island, everyone around Tilda believes she shouldn’t be friends with someone like him, however she still gives him a chance. As the book progresses, we start to see how Albie truly feels, and start to understand why he acts the way he does in the beginning. When they go on an adventure to go to a secret island, Tilda starts to see who Albie really is and when something happens on the secret island, Tilda goes to find him and what she sees changed the way she looked at him. This novel also gave me a sense of nostalgia, during moments where Tilda talks about her older brother, Rowan, who left the island. In general, ‘Ghostlines’ is a well written, comforting book and I had a great time reading it.

Gianna

Not Going To Plan
Not going to plan is a story dealing with teenage pregnancy learning how to move forward when life changes unexpectedly. I enjoyed the split perspective between two characters as it was really fun to see how different two characters think in the same situation. We learn about two main characters, Marine and Zed, seeing how they change throughout the book and how they overcome and deal with unexpected problems. The book's theme mainly focused on friendship, social pressures and consent and coercion. The writer depicts the dark sides of teenage relationships and how social pressures can affect different situations. Overall, I enjoyed reading this book and I hope others will enjoy this book too.

Lucy

Twenty Four Seconds from Now
24 Seconds From Now is a very thoughtful novel following a teenage boy, Neon, exploring his feelings during a big moment for him. As the book progresses we learn more about Neon’s character and how he deals with ideas like relationships, growing up, decision making and pressure. I found the writing style interesting because it is written like a string of thoughts as if we are actually within the mind of Neon, showing his thoughts in real time. Overall, I think that this is an insightful and unique book about a journey of growing up and maturing.

Sebastian

Chronicles of a Lizard Nobody
Chronicles of a Lizard Nobody is a seemingly humorous and lighthearted book that has all of the features of a regular children’s novel, but features deeper, more mature topics such as sickness, disability, and prejudice as well as the value of family and friends. The book’s use of easy-to-understand vocabulary and relatable character design allow younger readers to dip their feet into these harder to understand topics. The writing is compelling, and it is entertaining to read throughout the story. Certain aspects are based in completely fictional territory, while others are more realistic and grounded, such as the main character’s reaction to a loved one in sickness. The story delivers these messages to readers who may face similar challenges in their own lives, showing them that they’re not alone, while simultaneously entertaining them with the book’s more fictional events. Overall, I think it is a great way to deliver messages that readers should definitely know at a young age without needing to be too “adult” or “boring”.

Junior

Chronicles of a Lizard Nobody
Chronicles of a Lizard Nobody delivers a quirky, heartfelt story that blends humour with surprising depth. The protagonist’s journey (Zeke) feels both playful and emotionally grounded, making the stakes grow as the chapters progress. I especially enjoyed how the book balances rapid pacing with vivid moments that invite you to slow down and care. I also find the book meaningful, as the message given is that even when things go wrong, and everything seems like it can’t get worse, it will always get better. Overall, it’s an entertaining, character-driven book that leaves you rooting for the underdog long after the last page.

Dat

Wolf Siren
Wolf Siren is an amazing, enjoyable book, with the development of Red’s character. Usually, I wouldn’t read books like this but I actually enjoyed the storyline along with how it retells the story of “The Little Red Riding Hood”, with some twists and turns to it, making us see the main character’s point of view. This story shows us that the ‘monsters’, which was the forest, were actually the ones protecting. However, I felt like the pacing of the story was too slow, as at some parts, I was a bit bored and also the ending could’ve been better, as it felt very rushed.

Sunny

Not Going To Plan
Tia Fisher's ‘Not Going to Plan’ is about a year 11 student called Marnie. At the start, she transfers into a new school, where she meets her best friend, Zed. She then goes on to meet Rakel and Luca. I am disappointed with the relationship statuses at the end because I feel as if the book was building up to something that didn’t happen. This book's main topics are unlikely friendships, control, peer pressure, and sexual consent. I found this book quite interesting, not only because of the context, but also because of the unusual layout. For me, every page told its own story, which made the book very interesting and alluring. Overall, I think this book was a very good read, and I would recommend it to mature readers.

Luci

Popcorn
Popcorn is about a boy who has anxiety and a grandmother with Alzheimer's. I think that one of the purposes of this book is to bring awareness to mental health issues. I think that someone who would enjoy reading this book would be someone who likes to read graphic novels. I think this because the way the book is formatted reminds me of that. For example, there are many pictures on the pages that show what's happening at that point in the story. It also can be a funny book at times with a few jokes throughout the story which could be another thing that they have in common. In my opinion, the story would be best read at 11 and up because even though the reading level is not too high the content of the book is mature and deals with things such as panic attacks, premature grief and abandonment.

lily

Twenty Four Seconds from Now
Twenty four seconds from now is about a teenage boy who wants to have sex with his girlfriend for the first time. Throughout the book we go further and further into the past, we learn many things such as how they first met, how the decision to have sex happens as well as family issues and relationships and other things that are mentioned within the first few chapters. Some of the themes that are present are relationships of all types, whether it be platonic family or romantic. Someone who I would recommend this book to would be a person who likes real life fiction, specifically the romance genre. I think a good age to read this book would be around 16 because that would most likely be when you would be able to relate to it best as you would be around the age of the characters in the book and the experiences between that age range and the book characters could be very similar.

lily

Not Going To Plan
Not Going To Plan is a verse novel that looks at the perspectives of 16 year old Marnie and the people around her in school. It focuses on Marnie, a defiant student who deals with the result of a sexual ‘accident’. What stood out to me from this novel was the structure as it clearly showed how each character thought. Tia Fisher uses a different style as to the ‘standard’ book and I enjoyed how sometimes the words were structured as images. She really highlights the internal thoughts of the characters and it was interesting to see how Marnie had reacted in that situation. Overall, Not Going To Plan is a novel that discusses and brings attention to many issues that are going on in our current society. Tia Fisher points out the sexual challenges a teenager could deal with and the dangerous situations, not just teenagers could be in, but also adults.

Theresa

Not Going To Plan
Not Going To Plan is a captivating YA contemporary novel that follows 16 year old Marnie, a rebellious student who has to face impossible decisions and consequences of a sexual encounter. Tia Fisher beautifully weaves in themes of deception, breaking taboos, and friendship. What I enjoyed about this book is its realistic depiction of teen life rather than the romanticised version many other YA books fall into. Marnie’s road to growth is complicated and challenging, reminding readers that despite the journey not being easy, everything will work out in the end. Overall, Not Going To Plan is a meaningful and deep read which leaves a lasting impact. It is an un-sugar-coated approach to the challenges of growing up that I would recommend to those interested in teen relationships and fans of verse novels.

Quinn

Chronicles of a Lizard Nobody
Chronicles of a Lizard Nobody is an amazing book based on social anxiety and introverts, but it isn't a normal book. It's full of fun characters and humour which diminishes the intensity of the book which adds kind of soft cushioning. The book perfectly portrays how a kid with social anxiety will go about with school and how they act but in this book the main character later on breaks his chains of his social anxiety. In the book, the lizard has friends who help guide him along the way and eventually they help him slowly adapt to living life without social anxiety with a funny twist not only being educational it's also entertaining!

Aiden

Wolf Siren
Wolf Siren is a novel that Beth O’Brien wrote by changing the story of Little Red Riding Hood. It tells a story of a girl named Red growing up after having conflicts with people in her town. This book still has the characters in the original fairy tale. There are wolves, a girl, and her grandmother, but the characters are portrayed in another way, which makes the story very interesting and gripping. Also, Wolf Siren has important messages. It talks about feminism, community, disability, and family. Anyone above 10 years old can read this book to find out the importance of these messages.

Dohyeong

Twenty Four Seconds from Now
The book “ 24 Seconds from Now” is a novel written by Jason Reynolds about a teenage boy trying to find his way in high school and life. The book shows the feelings, decisions and actions of the main character ( Neon) and how he is trying to adapt to his environment or place in society . Throughout the book, we learn about his relationships with other characters, his personality and changes to his character development. In my opinion, I thought the writing style of Jason Reynolds was unique since he has scattered the thoughts everywhere that makes the novel more emotional and gives insights to Neon and other character’s thoughts. He also used show not tell in parts of the novel, different to other authors. I think that the novel was a little more slower-paced than others, making the novel be more in depth. I would recommend this book to anyone who likes realistic fiction with a little romance and anyone who thinks they can relate to this book and characters.

Kimika

Twenty Four Seconds from Now
‘Twenty-Four Seconds From Now’ is a book that looks at the life of a teenage boy before a big moment in his life. The main character, Neon, has to deal with a lot of pressure and nerves. I liked the way Jason Reynolds wrote the story because it feels really realistic and relatable, where we start in the present and keep going further back into the past. It’s like you are inside Neon’s brain as you embark with him while he makes these decisions. It’s a unique and honest story about maturing that doesn't feel like it’s trying too hard to be a "lesson” but more like a unique story of one of millions of teenagers.

Quoc Hung

Not Going To Plan
Not going to plan, a novel written by Tia Fisher, portrays a realistic high school environment, addressing the fundamental issues in it such as underage drinking and teenage pregnancy in the modern world. Throughout the book, the readers can observe the powerful relationship forming between Zed and Marnie in their academic journey, highlighting both the emotional shifts and challenges during adolescence. I enjoyed reading this novel very much, especially moved by the scene where Marnie reaches out for help for her abortion; watching Marnie’s characteristics develop from a timid and rebellious girl to a passionate, confrontational adult provoked a sense of proudness and inspired me to make braver choices in my life as well. Additionally, I found the structure of the novel’s concrete poetry and typography very unique and visually appealing, similar to other works like Punching the air, contributing to the flow and presentation of the book. In conclusion, this book considering the mature content and profound purpose, is a good and suitable read for students over the age of 14.

JiAn

The Boy I Love
“The Boy I Love” by Willian Hussey was an excellent book in my opinion. During my reading experience, I could feel the raw emotions of Stephen (the main character). I really felt the tear between his tragic loss of Michael and the developing love and protective instinct for Danny. The concept of the book shows a contrast between internal and external conflict: love and war, things that cannot coexist. The book doesn’t hold back on the descriptive factor, and every single vocabulary choice feels deliberate to drive home a message. Personally, I don’t read much of this genre, but after this book, I would love to read more. Overall, this book is one I would recommend to ages 13 and up. It is a semi-mature book that deals with heavy themes such as loss, LGBTQ+, war and more.

Dat

Popcorn
'Popcorn' follows a boy called Andrew, who is suffering from anxiety. The book takes place on a single day. Multiple incidents gradually build up to him experiencing his greatest fear, which is a panic attack in school. At this point, black blotches start to appear on the pages, highlighting panic. Eventually, the book leads to a happy ending. This book is easy to read, and people with anxiety may empathise with Andrew and his struggles. Overall, this book wasn’t bad, and I liked it a bit. The novel has illustrations to help with the tone. I would rate 'Popcorn' a solid 8/10; it's not bad and something some people can relate to.

Aiden

Not Going To Plan
Not Going To Plan is about a girl named Marnie who is a victim of stealthing. She is pregnant, and relies on her best friend, Zed, to help her get through this, even though they are completely opposite. She finds help in her friends but has to make the ultimate decision- to keep the baby, or not, by herself. This book is very mature, and I found that I did not like the book that much. However, I found that it was a change to a normal novel as it was written in verse, specifically, shape poetry, which is easy to learn, but hard to perfect. The author made her writing style look like a picture book, which was both amazing but also annoying as I had to frequently turn the page around. Overall, I think this book was very good and I did enjoy reading it, although I do find it is appealing to only a select group of readers.

Kai