The SGS Book Bandits
Popcorn
I honestly think that Popcorn is an amazing book. It has lots of relatable things which can occur in real life. If someone with social anxiety read this, it would be a great way to understand how these things can happen on a daily basis and it is completely normal to feel like this.
In conclusion it's an excellent book and out of 10 I would have to give it a solid 9 because of its great plot and new things to learn about for real life problems.
Harshvardhan
Wolf Siren
Wolf Siren in my opinion is an extremely impactful story as it focuses on the rights of women and has a very strong idea of moral righteousness from certain people in the book. The plot of this book is also extremely well thought out as there were some emotional parts during the story plot. There were also some bits of mystery that were quite nerve-wracking to me. Overall, this is an amazing book and I recommend it to people who enjoy mystery stories.
Raphael
Birdie
Very interesting. The book talks about racism and the difficulties of being a black girl in a racist and patriarchal society. It also raises awareness about mistreating animals.
Carson
Birdie
I really appreciated this book for its overall educational yet truthful meaning. This book stars Birdie, a young girl and orphan who has a different skin colour to everyone else and is therefore treated differently. That's until she finds something special... It teaches young readers about racism awareness and a situation that still exists in today's world. This book overall ties together an impactful story-line along with an emotional twist. I would rate this book a 9/10 and found myself fixated on the book for long, intense moments. You should read it too!
Rudolf
Birdie
I found Birdie a heart-touching story about a girl who faces discrimination after being summoned to her great aunt's village from her care home. She creates a deep bond with a pit pony named Mr. Duke and she decides to secure his future.
Overall, it is an exquisite and heartwarming story about fitting in and finding your place in the world.
Kushagra
Popcorn
Very interesting. Very relatable. Definitely recommend for readers who want a funny book to read!
Carson
Ghostlines
A beautiful, wild and great story for children. I would recommend it because it is a great story about a thrilling adventure.
Toby
Popcorn
A very funny book about Andrew and his school photo day. Certain obstacles get in his way though.
Ashwin
Popcorn
I liked this book a lot. I'm not sure if it was a good representation of anxiety but it felt very real. I like the side characters a lot because they all had their own personalities and contributed something different to the story. This was my favourite book that I read on the shortlist.
Lucas
Birdie
The ending of this novel is very wholesome. The donkey is alive and the girl is finally welcome and included in the society. It is a very good book about racism and discrimination.
Carson
Chronicles of a Lizard Nobody
A captivating story that begins in the setting of an anthropomorphic animal school where a hall monitor lizard confronts an supervillain pelican. They soon become arch-enemies, and the Hall Monitor Lizard, Zeke, with the help of his friends, takes him down and thwarts the supervillain’s plan to destroy the school.
Exploring themes such as bullying—often disguised in many forms—and the importance of standing up to others, this book cleverly combines meaningful ideas within an engaging narrative. Ness presents these themes in a way that is both humorous and thought-provoking, making the story accessible yet impactful.
It made me reflect on how bullying can appear in different ways. I felt inspired by Zeke’s courage and determination, as it shows that even someone who may seem ordinary can make a powerful difference. Overall, the book left me feeling motivated.
Fareed
Wolf Siren
Featuring an intricate plot and complex themes, Wolf Siren by Beth O'Brien is a magnificent blend of magic and fiction. A strong female protagonist is portrayed in the form of a young girl, who discovers she can commune with nature and turn into a wolf at will.
The mysterious aura of the book kept me on edge throughout. The predicaments faced by the main character leapt out of the book and tested my nerves. The story stayed with me after reading and was very impactful.
This book includes a modicum of stygian atmosphere and might not suit readers who prefer a light fiction but is perfect for the teens who can read between the lines.
Fareed
Birdie
Birdie by J.P. Rose is a poignant and thought-provoking book that explores themes of identity and friendship. The story follows Birdie as she navigates personal challenges, allowing readers to connect deeply into her experiences and struggles. When everyone rejects her, she finds hope making friends with the village pony, having no idea she has just made a decision that will change her whole community.
Strong characterization, relevant themes, and deep emotions are the highlights of this story.
It made me reflect on the challenges of navigating friendships and left me with a heightened awareness of the its complexity and dynamics.
If you are on a self-discovery journey, there's a lot to reflect upon and learn from Birdie’s account.
Fareed
Ghostlines
A thought provoking and intriguing story about the complex nature of human emotions and sense of belonging. A boy arrives on the island of Ayrie with feelings of disconnect, anger and resistance. These heavy feelings are gradually shed when the protagonist, Tilda, serves as a vehicle to cultivate a sense of belonging and connectivity. Balen has explored this complex theme through amazing storytelling. I felt emotions of curiosity and trepidation whilst reading this gripping story. The lingering question of whether the boy will choose to stay or leave gives the book a powerful ending. A tale for those who have a predilection for intricate human emotions.
Fareed
Popcorn
‘Popcorn’ by Rob Harrell features Andrew Yaeger and uses the powerful analogy of anxiety as a popcorn kernel about to burst into a panic attack. This metaphor effectively depicts the overwhelming pressure he feels and enables the readers to realize the intensity of his emotions. With interwoven themes of friendship, mental health, and acceptance, this book is a must read for all who enjoy engaging and meaningful stories. There were moments when the book made me feel uncomfortable and there was a
strong urge to advocate for the main character. Highly relatable read and the nuanced comic style illustrations embedded within the text augment the impact. Strongly recommended!
Fareed
Chronicles of a Lizard Nobody
The whole book was hilarious. My favourite character was Zeke. I liked how the book wasn't just a comedy, it had lots of deeper themes. I'd give this book 4/5 stars. It was very good.
Lucas
The Boy I Love
I would rate this book 3/5. This is because it displays LGBTQ+ themes and does a great job at emphasising the difficulties people would have had being gay at the time, especially in war. However, in some parts there was a lack of action, making it a bit boring to read, which is why it gets 3/5 and not a 5/5.
Kiaan
Popcorn
This book was great. The end was so relieving and well-written. I was on the edge of my seat the whole time. It gave me a deeper understanding of people who suffer from anxiety and panic attacks. This book had some great aspects and a happy ending. I loved POPCORN by Rob Harrell.
Wesley
Wolf Siren
A heart-warming story about connecting to nature. I really felt a deep sympathy for the main character and the way she has always been an outsider. I strongly recommend this to any readers who like magic and nature.
Gaurava
Chronicles of a Lizard Nobody
My experience with the book was great I thought it was very exciting and playful. I felt as if I was in a trance when reading this book, it was so enticing it didn't even need illustration. Despite its playful dynamic, it still requires some thought put into the reading. Overall, with elements of magic animals and even some education, I really enjoyed The Lizard Nobody by Patrick Ness.
Wesley
Popcorn
Andrew is a boy who has anxiety and needs to take a school photo when life decided to give him a hard time. I like it and give it 8/10
Tejas
Traumaland
The book has been beautifully written by Josh Silver and the context has been extensively researched. Without ruining the story, the book covers a young man who has suffered a horrible accident, and has been led to believe that he has become mentally unstable. However, he finds a mysterious nightclub that offers a vivid VR headset service that has some expected results in confronting past events....
Niket
Ghostlines
Another great book by author Katya Balen. I really enjoyed this story set in Scotland.
Mrs Payne