Vista Academy Littleport
Twenty Four Seconds from Now
Twenty-Four Seconds From Now by Jason Reynolds is a heartfelt story that unfold in just a brief moment, yet hold great depth. It follow two friends running side by side, share thoughts, memories, and feelings as they go. In only twenty-four second, we see the strength of they bond and learn about the hopes and challenges shaping there lives.
Reynolds writes in a natural, honest style that feels like real conversation. His beautiful writing captures the essence of friendship, growing up, and the small but meaningful moments that matter most. Exploring themes of identity, family, and connection, this short story is power and moving. It leaves a lasting impression, proving how much can be understand and felt in a very short times.
Peace
Twenty Four Seconds from Now
Twenty-four seconds from now is a book about two teenagers (Neon and Aria) have their first time. However whe Neon gets to Aria's house and is in bed Neon gets nervous and runs to the bathroom to hide. While he is in there he thinks about his relationship with Aria from 24 seconds earlier to 24 months earlier to when they just met and everything in-between. With awkward conversations with his family to having fun with his friends at school. Neon just needs the courage to leave the bathroom.
I would recommend this book to teenagers who love romance and a tiny bit of humour.
Natalia
Popcorn
This book is about a boy called Andrew he is anxious and today was his picture day at school. His mum buys him a new shirt and says to make it the best picture ever. He got to school, he tried so hard to stay clean and smart looking. Unfortunately, a lot happened at the start of the day before photos. Nurse Finniangun was there to help him out. He was having a rough day and ended up having a panic attack at the end of the day after finding out his grandma was missing. At the end of the day he had a horrible photo but a memorable one. My favourite part of the book was when he found his grandma after worrying about her all day. One part I didn’t quite like was how it kept on jumping from place to place. Overall this is a great book I would definitely recommend it to people.
Summer
Twenty Four Seconds from Now
Aria.Twenty-four months ago Neon gets chased by a dog all around the parking lot of a church and he met aria .Twenty-four weeks ago Neon’s dad insists on talking to him about tenderness and intimacy. Neon and Aria are definitely in love, Twenty-four days ago Neon’s Mom finds a bra in his room. Twenty-four minutes ago Neon leaves his shift at work at his dad’s bingo hall, making sure to bring some chicken tenders for Aria.
I really enjoyed this book because it showed love and tenderness.
Michelle
Wolf Siren
Wolf Siren by Beth O'Brien is about a girl who has a strong connection with wolves and starts to discover she has special powers. I liked this book because it feels magical and a bit mysterious, with some adventure too. The bond with the wolves is really interesting and it kept me wanting to read more.
Hannah
Birdie
'Birdie ' by J.P Rose is a powerful and emotional story about a girl dealing with friendship, family, and growing up. I really liked this book because it feels real and relatable with strong characters and important themes. It shows how hard things can be but also the importance of support and understanding.
Hannah .S
Ghostlines
Ghostlines by Katya Balen is about Tilda, who lives on a small island and finds it hard when a new boy arrives and they end up going on an adventure and learning about friendship and belonging. I really liked this book because it feels emotional but also a bit exciting and the island setting is really nice to imagine.
Hannah
Chronicles of a Lizard Nobody
Chronicles of a Lizard Nobody by Patrick Ness is a weird and adventurous tale about Zeke, a young lizard who gets entangled in some weird adventures for a week during his time at school. In Chronicles of a Lizard Nobody, Zeke is assigned as a hall monitor, and he ends up finding himself in strange situations, such as meeting Pellicarnassus, a villainous pelican who is seeking revenge. Together with his other two bird friends nicknamed "norms," the pelican rules the school since his mother was an agent.
I really like this book because of its unique and humorous personality and I would recommend this book to young readers who love a little bit of a laugh.
natalia
Not Going To Plan
Not going to plan is an emotional and engaging YA novel , that explores friendship and though decisions in a realistic way . The verse format makes the story quick to read while still show in strong emotions and characters development.
I liked this book because of the two sides of the people and it was easy to read. I found the story interesting and would recommend to older teenagers.
Therrin
Birdie
This book is about a girl in the 1950s with dark coloured skin struggling with friendships and fitting in. She finds her first friend and wants to stick with him till the end.
I really liked this book as it had captured emotions very well and how the people were back in the day. It really had good dialogue with how they had spoken back in the day. I really loved the ending it was very sweet and made me a bit emotional. My favourite character was Aunt Mabel and how she had overcome her views about black people and how she had accepted Birdie for who she was and not how she looked.
In conclusion this is a very nice historical book about friendship and racism back in the day. It is a very good read for teenagers and young adults with the topic of racism and showing that skin colour does not matter and how you can form friendships with animals and not just other people.
Red
The Boy I Love
The Boy I Love is a book about a 19-year-old boy (Stephen) who is off to war for the 2nd time. His lover - Michael - has died and Stephen is left grief-stricken. But there is another boy called Daniel, and they fall for each other. Stephen will do anything to keep Danny safe - but is it enough?
I love this book! My favourite character is Danny because he is so kind and upbeat, even in dire circumstances. He is loving, loyal and trustworthy.
My favourite part of the story is when Danny and Stephen are in the lookout hole, writing heartfelt notes to each other.
I would recommend this book to anyone who likes romance or historical fiction.
5 stars!
Catelyn P
The Boy I Love
At only nineteen, Stephen has already survived a year of war. He is now coming back to command a platoon of men, despite his injuries. Heartbroken over losing his first love, Stephen finds himself asking why he is fighting. It is then that he meets Danny , a smart new soldier. There is an instant connection that cannot be separated between them, something that is banned in the world at that time and definitely the army. Stephen feels like he has to protect Danny but he has to face the discrimination of the officers along with the relentless attack from the Germans. With the end of summer of 1916 approaching, the final offensive of the Somme comes into view.
I really like this book because it shows you can be yourself and different even if people might not like it. I would recommend this book for people who love history and adore romance.
natalia
Popcorn
Popcorn is a fun and emotional story that blends humour with some serious topics. It follows Andrew and his friends as they deal with a tough situation, showing how people act when things get stressful. The book also looks at how quickly things can go wrong and how misunderstandings can affect what people think.
Andrew was my favourite character because he seemed real and easy to relate to. He makes mistakes and has a hard time with some decisions, which made him believable. I liked seeing how he tried to handle everything going on. My favourite scene is when he talks to his therapist. It feels honest and easy to understand, which is why I liked it so much.
The story kept me guessing because I wasn’t always sure what would happen next. The tension builds gradually, which makes it more thrilling to read. There were parts that made me laugh, but there were also sad moments that added to the story's emotional impact.
Overall, Popcorn is a fantastic book that is both entertaining and suspenseful. It encourages reflection on how people treat one another and how situations can change rapidly. I would recommend it to anyone who enjoys stories that are both exciting and meaningful.
Izzy
Twenty Four Seconds from Now
I didn't enjoy 24 Seconds From Now as much as the other books, but it was good, and I'd recommend it to older readers.
It's about Neon, who's about to sleep with his girlfriend for the first time, and while he's locked himself in the bathroom, he thinks to 24 seconds earlier, to 24 minutes, to 24 hours, to 24 weeks, to 24 months ago. It is written with great care and imagery.
Aria is a nice girl but Tuna is my favourite character because she's so cool. There were some funny bits, but also a lot of weird bits. Overall an okay book, but for older readers.
Kirsty
Popcorn
Popcorn follows the story of Andrew Yaeger, a seventh-grader who struggles with anxiety. I enjoyed this book and thought the way such a serious topic could be included in a funny book was very smart as it provides younger audiences an introduction to topics so common yet so serious.
Libby
Chronicles of a Lizard Nobody
I enjoyed reading this book. the main theme in this book is Zeke and his friends - they are monitor lizards who get put on hall monitor duty but Pelicarnasus(a pelican) is a bully and he was bullying Zeke and his friends but Zeke had enough so he punched him and got the hall monitor duty taken off of him. Pelicarnus's mum is a supervillain so he wants to take after her so his plan is to invade France. I would recommend this book to others because it is an interesting book to read.
poppy
Ghostlines
Ghostlines follow , Tilda a girl who loves her Island home . And Albie a newcomer who struggled to fit in . As their paths cross , a story slowly builds a sense of mystery and emotional tension beneath the surface .
The book focuses more on atmosphere and feelings than actions with thoughtful writing and a slightly eerie edge . It’s a quiet reflective read about change , belonging and friendship- best for people who enjoy slower stories that leave lasting impressions.
Therrin
Twenty Four Seconds from Now
Twenty-four seconds from now is a story of love presented in a reverse narrative, the tale of Neon and Aria, a young couple in their teens, about to experience their first sexual interaction.
My favourite character was Aria because she was so sweet, however I enjoyed reading from Neon’s perspective as his chatty and informal tone made this book more enjoyable to read than I thought.
My favourite part of the book was when Aria and Neon first met. I liked reading this bit because it was a very unexpected encounter and the end to that part made me laugh.
I read this book quicker than expected and found it quite enjoyable.
I found that Jason Reynolds’ writing style made it easy to connect with the characters and gave the book some quite funny parts.
I think that overall, this book is exceptionally good. I think the only thing that might make it better would be if there was a bit more interaction with Neon’s friends as we didn’t really get to know much about them and their backstories.
Would recommend to people who enjoy reading romance.
Gwen
Wolf Siren
Wolf siren wasn't a book I would typically go for however , I enjoyed it more than I thought I would. I really enjoyed the theme of injustice and how the main character Red overcame it. The book did well at presenting new challenges and overcoming them while keeping the book engaging . I liked the pace and the book had a few plot twists which I didn't expect and enjoyed . It was also quite inspiring following the themes of disability , courage and bravery. Something I found quite interesting was how the women were able to go into the forest , which - if done on purpose - was a nice show of typical gender roles reversed. If I had to change one thing I would say the start was a bit slow but other than that I enjoyed this book and would give it 4/5 stars.
Holly
Chronicles of a Lizard Nobody
When Principal Wombat makes monitor lizards Zeke, Daniel, and Alicia hall monitors, Zeke gives up on popularity at his new school. The monitor lizards were mostly ignored before Reptiles aren’t bullied any more than other students, but they do stick out among zebras, ostriches, and elk. The pelican is a famed international super villain, when his mother isn’t looking.
I liked this book because it had pictures and it was a bit of humour, Which is nice!
Michelle
The Boy I Love
Its a really sad but beautiful story about two soldiers in World War I who fall in love. It follows Stephen, who is struggling with his past, and a new recruit named Danny who helps him find hope again. I liked how it showed their connection even though they had to keep it a secret because it was illegal back then. The ending is quite heart-breaking because of the war, but it’s a powerful book that makes you think about the soldiers who were forgotten by history.
Isabel
Birdie
Birdie by J.P. Rose is a really moving story about a girl in the 1950s who moves to a village where she isn't welcome. I liked how she bonded with a pit pony named Mr Duke because they both felt alone. It’s sad to see the racism she faces, but it’s inspiring to watch her fight to save her friend. It’s a great read if you like historical books that feel real.
Isabel
Chronicles of a Lizard Nobody
I really enjoyed this book because not only was the plot good, the characters were funny, and the illustrations made the whole book better. Overall, I would give this book a rating of 10/10 because I like how Patrick Ness has highlighted themes of not only friendship, but also bullying and mental health which really tugs on my heart strings
Skye
The Boy I Love
The boy I love is a story of life at war, and the struggles soldiers faced every day. Set in 1916, this is a story of forbidden love in the trenches, Danny McCormick and Lieutenant Wraxall (the main character Stephen) must face their fears and head into war whilst keeping their love for each other secret.
My favourite part of the book was when Danny and Stephen first met on the train. This scene felt so real and the emotions were very intense.
My favourite character was Danny because he is so caring and considerate towards Stephen and his crew.
I thought I would enjoy this book more than I did but I just struggled to connect with some of the scenes and didn’t feel the urge to continue the story, however towards the end of the book it became more tense and gripping.
I would recommend this book to people who enjoy reading LGBTQ+ and History.
Overall, I probably wouldn’t read this again, but it wasn’t too bad.
Gwen
Twenty Four Seconds from Now
Twenty-four seconds from now is a book about Nee and his girlfriend Aria who have been dating for 2 years. One night, they are at Aria's house and Nee is hiding in the bathroom, nervous because he wants to do everything right. But twenty-four seconds ago...
I like this book because it is about family, friendship and love. My favourite character is Aria because she is innovative and kind.
My favourite part of the book is when Aria and Nee meet for the first time.
I like Jason Reynolds' writing style because it sets out the story in a way that doesn't bore you, but intrigues you.
Catelyn P
Birdie
Set in the Yorkshire dales, 1950s, Birdie Bagshaw never got to meet her parents. She always lived in a children's home for as long as she could remember. But out of nowhere she got sent to see her great aunt in Leeds. Away from everything she had ever known.
When she got there, because of her mixed race, there was confused and worried faces everywhere. But while trying to fight off of the bullies Birdie finds on of the last pit pony and she tries to fight for it's life.
This book wasn't one of my favourites, however it wasn't the worst. I like how Birdie is trying to save a pony because that shows how much she loves animals. (I can relate to that) It made me feel sad that she was discriminated against because of the colour of her skin.
Natalia
Wolf Siren
This book is a retelling of the story 'Little Red Riding Hood', in which the main character, Red, is partially-sighted. Despite this, she is still drawn towards the forest that her mother warns her not to go in, and with the disappearance of her grandmother within it, she is even more eager to uncover the forest's secrets. In my opinion, this is a good read. The writing style is descriptive yet easy to follow and Red is an adventurous and resilient protagonist, but still has her flaws which makes her a lot more realistic as a character. I think it is also good representation of visually impaired people and overall I liked this book.
Lyra
Ghostlines
This book was one I somewhat enjoyed. It follows the story of Tilda who lives on the island of Ayrie, a close community where everyone knows each other, but then a new boy moves there, called Albie, and Tilda tries to bond with him by showing the island but he's not interested, until she tells him about a haunted island. I think the pacing was good and the length of each chapter, but Albie's character annoyed me a bit. Overall, I thought it was a good read though.
Lyra
Chronicles of a Lizard Nobody
The Chronicles of a Lizard Nobody is about Zeke and his friends Dan and Alicia. They are given the responsibility of being a Hall Moniter. But on their first day, Pelicarnassus - the school bully and 'superhero' according to him - decides to cause trouble. Zeke punches him in the beak. But his revenge is a complete overreaction.
My favourite character is Miel because I think its cool that even though he's blind he can still know where everything is. I also think he's funny because he's always shouting.
I would suggest this book to people who like a comedy because it's really funny.
Ailsa
Ghostlines
Ghostlines is about a young girl called Tilda who lives on an island. Occasionally, a large ship arrives carrying the latest group of tourists. But tourist season is over, yet one more ship arrives. On it is a little boy, looking very seasick. But why is he here?
I like Ghostlines because it is about friendship and community. My favourite character is Tilda because I like how her character grows and develops throughout the story.
My favourite part of the book is when Tilda and the little boy talk for the first time.
I would recommend this book to anyone who likes stories of friendship and adventures.
Catelyn P
Twenty Four Seconds from Now
Twenty four seconds from now was quite an interesting book. It follows the story of Neon and his girlfriend Aria. I liked the fact that it talked about the character's emotions and how they dealt with them, and how Neon and Aria's relationship developed throughout the story. Some parts I didn't enjoy because they were written in quite a lot of detail, and I found it a bit confusing how the chapters went backwards in time. Overall in my opinion this was an okay book but I probably wouldn't read it again.
Emma
Ghostlines
The book Ghostlines follows the story of Tilda, living on the island of Ayrie when one day a boy named Albie comes to te island. It is up to Tilda to show him around and help him.
I thought that "Ghostlines" was a nice story, the storyline was easy to follow and the writing style was enjoyable. However, for me I just found it a bit to 'young' for my liking. For a younger reader I think this book, is perfect, it just didn't personally 'wow' me.
Libby
Ghostlines
Ghost-lines is about Tilda, she lives on the island Ayrie where people only visit to see the puffins but as the last of them leave so do tourists. Tilda is surprised though because a new boy and is mother arrives. Tilda's mother tells her that the boys name is Albie and he will be starting in her school in September so he is staying on the island. To the people on the island this is strange because everybody knows everybody and nothing changes, but Tilda still tries to make friends with him but everything on the island that she shows him he hates so she takes him to the forbidden island(people are not allowed to go there) what they find there will change them both forever. My favourite part was when Tilda and her friends are celebrating the first burning bright night because they are all such good friends . I would recommend this book to people who like the wild and nature because Ayrie is very remote.
Ailsa
Birdie
Birdie Bagshaw is leaving Mrs Dudly and her friends at the orphanage to live with her great aunt and uncle in the country side. At first her aunt is not accepting of Birdie because of her colour but she softens quickly toward her. However, the villagers are not. When birdie is being chased by some school bullies she accidentally ran into a coal mine. Lost in the darkness, she finds a pit pony and it leads her to the exit. Despite how many times her was warned not to go in to the mines she keeps visiting the pony. So Mr Walter ( her great uncle) takes her to visit him safely there she names him Mr Duke. Later that week she meets Mr Spivy the Nackerman at her front door to remove or clear animals dying,dead or injured. She over hears Mr Walter and his conversation. Upset, she takes action immediately. My favorite part was when birdie meets Mr Duke because it shows how kind animals can be . I would recommend this book to people who like animals or history.
Ailsa
Popcorn
Popcorn shows Andrews day at school and the challenges he faces and overcomes . I think it was a good book and showed a good representation of anxiety especially at school . I liked the rhythm of the book as it kept me reading and I enjoyed the pictures and little comics throughout. The characters were also good and overall I would give this book 4/5 stars.
Holly
Not Going To Plan
This is a verse novel, which in a simple giant poem making people read fast.
The story follows a girl named Marnie who’s life is basically falling apart. Her grades are slipping, her friends are acting weird, and then she finds out she’s pregnant. I thought the way the author showed Marnie's panic was so realistic. You can really feel her stress through the way the words are laid out on the page, sometimes they even zig-zag or drop down to show how she’s feeling.
One of my favourite parts was the relationship between Marnie and her mom. It felt very "real life" and not like a fake movie. Even though the book deals with some heavy stuff, it still felt hopeful. It makes sense that this book was shortlisted for the 2026 Carnegies Medal for Writing because the writing is just so unique.
If you liked Tia Fisher's other book, Crossing the Line, you will definately love this one too. I give it 5 stars! Its a great read for anyone who likes stories about real teenagers facing tough choices.
Peace
Not Going To Plan
Not Going To Plan is definitely not a book I would take off a shelf in a library, however, when I started to read it, I began to appreciate how it stood up for the right of abortion, and highlights how girls can carry things that wasn’t their fault, and take all the blame. Luckily, Marnie had Zebedee (cool name) by her side.
They are complete opposites, but need each other’s help and they go through different things together, like finding boundaries and identity.
It is a brilliant book, although it may cause controversy, I definitely agree with it. Consent and choosing what to do with your own body is very important.
Kirsty
Ghostlines
Ghostlines is a story about a girl who lives on an island where everyone knows everyone, she knows every shortcut, every turn, every tree. However when the tourist season is coming to an end and the Puffins are taking their leave a new boy who gets very seasick joins the island, but not to just visit, but to live there. He starts off very quiet not wanting anything to do with the island. However the more Tilda shows him around the more he starts to open up and like the island.
I really liked this book because of how long it took him to open up and it really dragged it out until the end. I liked Tilda the most because of how wild she is and how she always thrives for an adventure and she can talk for ages. I loved how the book kept me on edge for Albie to finally give in, it made me keep turning pages to finally get that satisfaction. The ending was also very tender and sweet how her brother visited again, it made me want to make sure I always tell my sibling I love him.
At the very start I thought it was going to be a kind of boring book with not very many emotional scenes however this book proved me wrong and now I know I must read the whole book before judging.
Overall a great book, definitely for a younger age group for slightly younger teenagers and fans of friendship and adapting to things. It really showcased how you've got to listen to people sometimes and how people always think different and you've got to give them time to adjust. Change isn't always simple.
Red
Twenty Four Seconds from Now
This was an interesting book . It was very heavy on the topic of intimacy and some bits were a bit graphic which I didn't enjoy reading . I think it did well at representing boys feelings and emotions and how they shouldn't be covered up and I liked how more towards the end how Aria and Neon's relationship developed . However overall this was not my favourite book and I probably wouldn't read it again .
Holly
Chronicles of a Lizard Nobody
I found "chronicles of a lizard nobody" a confusing read. For example, Zeke ( the main character) has "France on his knee" I really think this idea was quite difficult to wrap my head around. Not that France was literally on the lizards knee but the fact that it would randomly start talking however it was unclear that France was talking and who it actually was (as in was it the country or the president). The plot was fast moving and definitely aimed at younger readers despite having a theme of mental health.
Libby
Birdie
Birdie was an enjoyable read, the setting was well written as were the characters. The book follows the story of Birdie Bagshaw who was put in an orphanage after being abandoned by her mother and later on adopted by her great-aunt. Her aunt lived in the countryside where everyone treated her differently leaving Birdie feeling alone. One day however, she goes to the mines where she befriend a pony ( Mr Duke).
The book was a great read and I liked how it showed Birdie coming over her struggles.
Libby
Chronicles of a Lizard Nobody
This book is about a lizard called Zeke, who became a hall monitor. But then the school bully pelicanassus started bullied them so Zeke punched him in the beak. Ever since he started being more rude to him and his friends. Then at the end they have a big battle. It was a very nice happy ending. My favourite bit of the book is where Zeke saves him and Zeke didn’t know he was doing a good deed. I really did like this book and found it quite fun and easy to read.
Summer
The Boy I Love
I found the Boy I Love quite a powerful book. It showed the reality of fighting in WW1 and the struggles LGBTQ+ people faced during that time. This book did really well portraying the actual lives of soldiers in the war and everything they had to go through - losing friends or how they were still affected even when the war was over. I did find it a bit unrealistic of how much time Danny and Stephen seemed to have in the trenches and some parts I found confusing because of the pace of the book. Overall though it was a good book, the author showed us the experiences of WW1 soldiers on both sides and how these were actual people in the war, which I think sometimes we forget about. I enjoyed the Boy I Love it was a really good read.
Emma
Birdie
This book is about a girl called Birdie, whose mum left her and she was put in a orphanage. Then one day her aunt reached out and adopted her. When she got there everyone treated her differently. One day Birdie went down in the mines and found a pony. Over time they became best friends. But her uncle said she couldn’t visit him anymore. One of my favourite parts of the book is where she first discovers the pony and she straight away knew they would become best friends. Overall I found this book a really fun and interesting book, and I would recommend to other readers.
Summer
Popcorn
All Andrew needs is a good school photo to bring back for his mum but today it is like the world is against him. The school bully hates his guts; his new shirt is ruined. There is a rogue ketchup bottle and a science experiment gone wrong. When things can’t get worse, his worst nightmare comes true. Andrew’s anxiety is described as a kernel and the kernel is being heated until it is so hot it pops into popcorn. My favourite character is Jonesy (Andrew’s best friend) because even after their fight, she was still loyal the whole way through. I would recommend this book to people whose family suffer from Alzheimer’s or people who have anxiety.
Ailsa
Birdie
Birdie is a touching book that shows how racism is so wrong and how cruel some people could be towards animals and humans alike.
It’s beautiful, and full of sensory imagery.
Bought up in a children’s home, Birdie Bagshaw’s great aunt reached out to her and she moved to the fictional Yorkshire town of Barrington Dale. Birdie faces racism, which I don’t get, because just because someone looks different, doesn’t mean they’re any less of a person. Birdie found a friend in a pit pony, and while the book focuses primarily on their friendship, people become less mean as the book moves on.
I loved reading it and it made me laugh, and cry. Definitely one of my favourites.
Kirsty
Ghostlines
This book is about a girl called Tilda that lives on an island called Ayrie. It’s a small island where everyone knows each other. ~Then a new boy Albie arrives, and his first impression is throwing up over a railing. My favourite part is where he throws up and this is because the author uses descriptive writing to describe it. This book is a very interesting and an amazing adventure book. Some bits that could be improved by the end were less impressive. However, this book is good and you should give it a try.
Caelan
Wolf Siren
This book is about a little girl who is trapped in a village to be 'safe' from the dangers of the woods. The men are not allowed to leave the village walls because of the wolf attack that resulted in the loss of many men, however it was only men who were attacked. Red the main character loves to go into the forest even though the villagers find it unsafe. She must find a way to show the villagers how the forest is not their enemy.
I particularly liked the very nature heavy theme, and how not all animals are fighting for no reason they just do it to defend themselves. It shows a different side of things, and how there will always be two sides of a story. I liked the ending scene, the sad scene was very well written and it made me cry a bit I couldn't help myself. Then the calmness and the peace Red came to with what happened was very nice and refreshing to see her accept it instead of keep it to herself.
The thing I disliked a bit about this book is that it was a bit harder to get the images of the scenes into my head, I believe it just needed a bit more detail.
Overall a great book capturing the way nature can feel, not just us humans and how we must care for the earth if we want it to care for us. I recommend it to young adults as it can remind them to be kind to nature and the very emotional scene at the end can be a bit much for younger children. Great book!
Red
Ghostlines
The main character Tilda is a bold adventurer that knows everything and everyone on the island, Ayrie. But when a new two new people turn up she is excited to get to know them because people never move to the island. However she tries to be Albie's friend but he is not having it.
Then Tilda remembers the stories from an old island just an hour away. There's also a rumour that it is filled with ghosts. Being forced to show Albie around the island but the only way she thinks he will actually get interested is that old island. But Tilda isn't really that worried about the island it is the ghost that has been following her since her brother has left the island.
Natalia
Twenty Four Seconds from Now
This book was one I somewhat enjoyed. It follows the story of Neon, a 17 year old navigating his relationship with his girlfriend Aria. I think the structure was definitely a good concept, starting from the present and going backwards in intervals, however I think it's quite difficult to execute properly, therefore making it kind of hard to follow and awkward to read. Overall, I think it was a realistic representation of a teenage boy in a healthy, loving relationship but not my favourite read.
Lyra
Birdie
This book follows the story of Birdie Bagshaw, who has lived in an orphanage her whole life. She moves to Barrington Dale to live with her great aunt and befriends a pit pony who she later names Mr Duke. I liked this book in the sense that it showed Birdie growing as a character as well as the deeper message about friendship and overcoming racism. However because the book is aimed at slightly younger readers, I got bored in some parts. I felt like sometimes what would happen next in the story was quite predictable, but overall I quite liked this - it gives readers a powerful message about fitting in and finding friendship.
Emma
Chronicles of a Lizard Nobody
Chronicles of a lizard nobody was a confusing read. It is about Zeke, a monitor lizard, who has France on his knee and becomes a hall monitor. One reason that it was confusing was the title. The book was not written in the form of Zeke's diary and he never refered to himself as "lizard nobody", also the France on the knee thing was odd, as at certain points in the story, France starts talking, but it is never made clear who is talking- is it the president, or just the country itself? If you just accept these things though, as a younger reader (whom this book was aimed at) would, it becomes an amusing book, which covers deep topics such as depression, fat-shaming and disabilities. Overall it was an interesting book, and not so long that I got bored of it. 7/10
Elijah
The Boy I Love
The boy I love was an interesting story to read. It's about two boys Steven and Danny who fall in love during the first world war. I didn't enjoy reading this book in my opinion however I still think its a well written book for somebody who likes reading these types of books. The reason I did not like reading this book was because it didn't really appeal to me as much as I thought it would, however I would recommend this book to someone who likes reading this genre of book.
poppy
Popcorn
Popcorn is a novel about Andrew Yaeger, who has anxiety and a grandmother who has Alzheimer's. He has to take a school photo and keep himself clean enough for it, whilst fending off a panic attack. I found the plot interesting but the language was very simple. As a result, I would reccomend this book to a younger audience. Overall, this book just didn't interest me. 7/10
Elijah
Birdie
When Birdie moves to Barrington Dale with her great aunt she is an immediate target for bullies in her village and at her new school , but when she meets a horse down in the coal mines she forms a special bond with it . The book did well at showing how Birdie overcame her struggles and persisted even when times were tough and I also enjoyed how the relationship developed between Birdie and her great aunt . The book was very slow moving and nothing too exciting happened until the last few chapters but it had a good strong and sweet ending . The eye dialect ( when things are written as they are spoken ) was a little hard to get used to but overall it's probably not something I would read again however it was a good one time read . I would rate this 4/5 stars .
Holly
Ghostlines
I enjoyed reading Ghostlines, and now I kind of wish I live on an island. The descriptive language made it easy to picture everything, apart from the characters.
Tilda lives on Ayrie, an island, and she is so excited for silent season, with no visitors. But there is. There is a strange boy called Albie who seemingly hates the island and misses the mainland. Tilda is tasked with making him feel at home, although Albie seems utterly disinterested until they go to the FORBIDDEN ISLAND.
I think the author used a technique called stream of consciousness, which is why the sentences flowed and had a lot of ands, which is mistaken a lot as poor grammar. I think this is also why the speech is in italics, and though it made it unique, it also made it quite difficult to read.
The chapters are very short, which I like because sometimes you just want to read one more chapter and end up asleep before you actually get to the end of it because it’s so long.
It’s a very good book, and it has a dog in it which immediately improves it.
Kirsty
Popcorn
Pop Corn is an easy-to-read book set over one day from the first person perspective of a boy, named Andrew, who deals with anxiety.
Andrew wears his new shirt to picture day, determined it will go great! He could not be more wrong.
First, the shirt’s collar gets ruined, then he gets a pretty bad nosebleed, then he’s found out his grandmother is missing, he’s then involved in a science explosion, and finishes the day off with a panic attack.
The events are funny, but the reader feels sympathy for Andrew, especially through the tension and skill of the writing.
It shows that anxiety is a real issue, and helps people with it to understand and deal with it.
Kirsty
Wolf Siren
Wolf Siren is a heartfelt book about a girl called Red-who has a red coat- based off Little Red Riding Hood.
Red loves the wood and it almost calls for her. She has a relationship with the trees and 3 years after her grandmother disappears, when she is 13, she discovers that she is a Wolf woman. The medieval village she lives in is against the woods as wolves only attack men and boys and women aren’t seen as equals. Red, her sister Aerona and her best friend Delana escape into the woods.
My favourite character is Aerona because she is optimistic and creative.
The book is action-packed and filled with gender equality statements. It is definitely a book for older readers and is currently one of my favourite Carnegie books so far. The author also writes elements of her own life in as well, being visually impaired like the main character.
Kirsty
Ghostlines
This book, following Tilda as she gets over her brother leaving her small island and welcoming a new arrival was very emotive. It showed the reader what it is like to live on one of the small British Isles. The narrator did occasionally ramble, whether intentional or not, which did slightly get on my nerves. Other than this, however, I only have two complaints, which is that the story line doesn't really get going until near the end of the book and the name of the book-Ghostlines- were only mentioned once or twice and didn't really play a part in the story. Overall, it was a fairly good plot line and easy enough to read. 6/10
Elijah
Ghostlines
The books a spooky and emotional mystery a girl who returns to her strange hometown. The story is full of sad feelings because Leyla is trying to find out what happened to her mother who disappeared years ago. It feels very lonely and tense as she explores old, haunted places and uncovers dark family secrets. While there are scary moments, the heart of the book is about a daughter’s love and the pain of not knowing the truth. It is a gripping read that makes you feel both frightened and deeply sorry for the characters overall love how I felt after reading this
Isabel
Twenty Four Seconds from Now
This book is a sweet and honest story about two teenagers, who are falling in love. The book captures the excitement and nerves of a first serious relationship, showing how the characters navigate and work through their feelings for each other. It feels very real because it focuses on communication, consent, and the importance of true friendship. It is a fast, heart-warming read that perfectly captures the intensity of being young and finding someone special.
Isabel
Wolf Siren
I picked up Wolf Siren expecting a simple fairy tale retelling, but what I found was a beautiful story about reclaiming your own power. Beth O'Brien’s writing is amazing , making the forest feel like a living, breathing character that is both suspenseful and welcoming. I especially loved how Red’s visual impairment wasn't treated as a 'disability' to be fixed, but as a unique way of experiencing the world and its magic. It’s a quiet, fierce, and deeply emotional book that explores the bond between women and nature in a way that stayed with me long after the final page. Truly a beautifully emotional book to read
Isabel
Popcorn
I really enjoyed Popcorn my favourite part is when Andrew came back inside during lunch and a ketchup bottle came flying down into his face. Even though it wasn't funny for Andrew I think it was because that ketchup bottle could have landed anywhere else but it had to land on his face.
During this book I felt really bad for Andrew because he was having bad luck this whole day and it had to be picture day as well.
My favourite character has to be Dr Cain because she has helped Andrew a lot with his anxiety and I just love how she wears her fluffy socks during work no shoes just fluffy socks.
My least favourite moment of this book is when Gene (has Andrew would say "Gene the mean") ripped up Andrew's new shirt for picture day.
I would recommend this book for people who love hilarious scenes but also for people who likes a little but of awkward moments.
Natalia
Birdie
Definitely of it’s time - you absolutely have to understand the context to appreciate the characters’ struggles properly. I felt strongly for poor Birdie and wanted to pick her up and hug her and tell her everything would be ok. It’s just a shame the ending was a tad predictable… I would recommend this book to anyone who likes Michael Morpurgo.
Mrs Webb
Chronicles of a Lizard Nobody
It was a reasonable book. It was funny but the France on Zeke’s knee thing didn’t really make sense. I would recommend it to a friend who likes silly humour.
Rose
Wolf Siren
Red is not allowed to go into the woods. Everyone knows that they are dangerous – because of their strange magic and the wolves that is around there, but Red finds herself curiously drawn to the woods and the place where her grandmother disappeared without a trace three years ago. When the woodcutter fails to return home one night and wolves are spotted close to the village fear drives a deep and dangerous divide between the villagers and the nature they live alongside.
I didn't really enjoy this book because it didn't interest me.
Michelle
Popcorn
Popcorn is a book about Andrew Yaeger, a child who suffers with anxiety. He has had to give up his bedroom for a grandmother with Alzheimer's, had his father abandon him and now it's picture day, and when everything goes wrong, can Andrew make it through the day?
I like Popcorn because it juggles funny with issues that people are facing right now, in real life.
My favourite character was Jonesy because she is really kind and forgiving.
I would recommend this book who anyone who likes humour.
My favourite part of the story was the exchange between Andrew and Nurse F after an incident in the gymnasium because it showed how kind and funny Nurse F was.
Catelyn P
Wolf Siren
Wolf Siren was interesting. I found that there was no real reason or effect of Red being visually impaired other than for a similarity with the author, on the other hand though, I found the sexism theme an important aspect of the book.Overall, I felt that thare could have been much more development, as it felt a bit disjointed at times. 5/10
Elijah
The Boy I Love
The boy I love was eye opening . It showed a lot about what it was like to be LGBTQ at that time and the struggles these men had to face because of it . It also portrayed really well how much these soldiers had to go through - not only with fighting and living in the trenches but having to see the horror of seeing all the death and losing their loved ones and comrades. I think sometimes when thinking of the war we forget that whatever side the soldiers were on they were all just men fighting for their lives . They were not all evil - they were trying to do what’s right for their country and I thought this book did a good job of bringing a more human aspect to the topic of the war . Some bits were a little confusing as the book was very fast paced and I found how Danny and Stephen were alone so often a little unrealistic but overall , it was a good book and I enjoyed it . I would give it 4.5/5 stars.
Holly
Chronicles of a Lizard Nobody
The Chronicles of a Lizard Nobody is a story about a monitor lizard called Zeke and his friends Daniel and Alissa. There is a school bully – called Pelicarnassus – a very loud hawk and a school principal with an armored butt!
I like this book because it is funny, witty and about friendship and family. I would recommend it to anybody who likes to have a good laugh!
My favourite character is Daniel because he is funny, kind, and has everything I would wish for in a friend.
My favourite part of the story is the tale of France and Zeke’s knee – but I won’t spoil it for anyone who hasn’t read the book yet.
I would definitely read this book again!
Catelyn P
Not Going To Plan
Not Going to Plan follows the story of Marnie and Zed, two complete opposites who end up becoming friends over revision sessions. I thought this book was very powerful in terms of its themes and the message it put across about teen pregnancy, abortion and consent. It portrayed lots of characters with lots of different backgrounds, and showed how everyone has the right to say no and make their own decisions.
My favourite character was Marnie, while she was quite a difficult student at the start of the story I liked the way she followed her own path and developed as a character throughout the book.
Verse novels aren't my favourite but I liked the way it was written with both Zed and Marnie's point of view. Overall I enjoyed this book, it tells us an important message in many ways and I would recommend it to lots of young adult readers.
Emma
Chronicles of a Lizard Nobody
This book is about a monitor lizard and his friendships, along with one of his enemies making life a bit difficult for him. He also needed to figure out who he was and/or wanted to be.
I particularly liked the drawings throughout the book; it brings life to the pages and a good vision in your mind. The ending was very sweet and it made me quite emotional.
In conclusion, I think that this is a very well written book with all of it's diversity and friendship based. I think it is definitely a good read for young children
Eiligh
Twenty Four Seconds from Now
24 seconds from now is a teen romance about a boy who wants to spend a romantic night with his girlfriend. The story describes 24 seconds, 24 minutes , 24 hours, 24 weeks and 24 months before that night. Then it rewinds to that present moment. I thought this book was interesting and I would recommend to someone who likes this kind of YA genre.
poppy r
Popcorn
At first I wasn't sure - I thought that this might be another 'tick box' exercise, but I was quickly won over by how sensitively the author addressed a range of topics. Not only did he give a really accessible description of what it feels like to have a panic attack, he spoke with sincerity about the realities of living with someone with Alzheimer's Disease. This made me really warm to his character, Andrew. I also appreciated him showing that not all teachers are ogres - there are goodun's out there who care for the student beyond their grades. Thank you!
Mrs Webb
Wolf Siren
Wolf siren is a book about 13-year-old Red finding the true magic of the forest whilst also holding a secret of her own. My favourite part was when she found out what really happened to Caragh (the village woodcutter). Even though I liked Red, my favourite character is Red’s best friend, Delana because she is kind and faithful and loves to read.
I would recommend this book to people who like magic and fairy tales as it is based on little red riding hood. I would also recommend it to people who are passionate about injustice and sexism.
Ailsa
Birdie
Birdie is an amazing book. It is all about a young girl that grew up in an orphanage and had to be adopted by her long-distance aunt who lives in a new city with new people and a new school. The part of the story that stuck out to me the most was when she started a new school and got bullied by a group of boys. This made me feel empathy and interest in the story. I have never read a book that I loved reading before, until I read Birdie. You should read this book, it inspired me to read more and maybe it will you too.
Caelan
Ghostlines
This book is about a girl who lives on a island called Ayrie. One day she sees a boy being sick over the edge into the sea. She decides she wants to give him a tour of the island. Then they go to another island nobody is allowed to go to. They build a camp and become really good friends. One of my favourite bits of the book is the description of where she first sees the boy and how the writer describes him. By the end of the book I was finding it a bit boring even though it started off really good. I did really like this book overall and I would recommend it to people who like adventure.
Summer
The Boy I Love
I really like this book because the plot was quite interesting and the character design was done amazingly well. Another thing I liked about this book was that I really liked the genre of the book as it had the LGBTQ+ involved with it and making about war added more detail to the plot which I really enjoyed
Skye W
Wolf Siren
Wolf Siren is not your typical "Little Red Riding Hood" retelling. Beth O’Brien has crafted a world where the woods aren’t just a place of danger, but a place of belonging. The protagonist, Red, is a wonderfully complex character—she is visually impaired and navigates a world that often tries to limit her, yet she finds her true strength and magic among the wolves.
The themes of female empowerment, disability representation, and the connection to nature are woven together beautifully. I loved how the author used the "wolf" as a symbol for the parts of ourselves that society tells us to hide. It’s atmospheric, slightly dark, and incredibly moving. A must-read for fans of feminist fairytales.
Peace
Chronicles of a Lizard Nobody
I have mixed feelings about this book. Chronicles of a Lizard Nobody follows the story of Zeke, who becomes a hall monitor with his friends and has to stop a school bully from destroying the school. I liked it in the sense that it had some deeper meanings about the story - standing up for yourself and themes of close friendship. Some parts were quite funny and my favourite character was Miel because he didn't let his sight stop him from doing anything. Zeke also never let the bully Pelicarnassus win and always helped his friends when they needed. However I did find some parts quite confusing, like how conversations were interrupted by a back story and then just carried on from where they left off. I also didn't really understand why France was on Zeke's knee and I think it was aimed at quite young readers, but overall I found this a good book - it portrayed how you should always believe in yourself and I would recommend to any younger person for a good read.
Emma
Ghostlines
Ghostlines is about Tilda , a girl who has lived on an island all her life and Albie , a boy who has just moved and finds it hard to warm up to the new life . I think it's quite a nice book in the sense that it's quite an easy read and has a nice storyline . The island adventures are nice to read about as there is a lot of descriptive language which helps you see what the author is writing about in your head. I also enjoyed the sub plot of her brother as it kept me reading wanting to find out what happened . However , one slight thing that bothered me was the fact that almost all the sentences were very long with multiple 'ands' in them . I think it was supposed to reflect how she's thinking this and her brains moving quickly but it was a bit hard to get used to . Overall , I quite liked this book and I would give it a 7 or 8 / 10.
Holly H
Chronicles of a Lizard Nobody
Chronicles of a Lizard Nobody is a such a great and funny book! Expect to find yourself laughing out loud and struggling to put this story down!
Zeke is a monitor lizard who has just become a hall monitor at his school, but he has no idea what he is about to experience. You should be ready for unexpected twists, turns and lots of jokes through out this book!
My favourite character was Alicia as she acts like such a normal side character, but she is so kind and fearless. There were so many scenes that I could relate to and sometimes it even felt like I was in the story! Some of the scenes that felt the most real were the tense and embarrassing ones.
Something that didn’t work for me was that the whole story was in 3rd tense, and I found it quite hard to follow along at some points, e.g. when there was a conversation happening and the author didn’t specify which character was talking. However, after the first few chapters, I got the hang of what was happening and could follow along quite easily.
Overall, I think that this a funny and interesting book that I would recommend to younger readers, but honestly anyone could read this book and get pleasure out of it. I am definitely going to read the other books in this series!
Gwen
Birdie
Birdie is a story of a young girl (named Birdie, hence the title) who moves from Leeds to the countryside to live with her great-aunt. But the folk here are not like those at home, and Birdie becomes an instant target for the bullies. One day, when it all gets too much, Birdie runs away and ends up in the mines, where she meets a pit pony. But his life is in danger, and Birdie may be the only one who can save him…
My favourite character in this book was Birdie because she is so persistent and believes in herself.
My favourite part of the book was when Birdie first met Mr Duke, having just run away from the bullies.
I would recommend this book to people who like horses, and tales of courage, bravery and kindness.
Catelyn P
Birdie
This book is about Birdie Bagshaw, an orphan in a care home for 'brown babies'. She comes to live with her great aunt and uncle in a small mining village near Yorkshire. She faces racism and because of this, ends up finding Mr Duke, a pit pony who she befriends. I didn't particularly love this book because it was a bit boring-I did not find myself wanting to keep reading on, especially at the beginning. I did think that the character development was good but the characters kept saying Shakespearian language like 'thee' and random phrases like 'any road' instead of any way-it was very annoying. Overall, it was not an amazing book. 6/10
Elijah
The Boy I Love
"The boy I love" was an educational book. It was set in 1916 during WW1. Whilst this book was not one I would usually go for, the pacing and structure was probably the best thing about the it! As a reader I found the book flowed very nicely. Now although the book was not terrible, it did seem to focus a lot on the love between the two boys which was of course frowned upon at the time which I thought was something that took away from the book as well as how Danny and Stephen were alone in the trench it just didn't seem accurate. Other than that the book was enjoyable but as I said it was not one I would go for again in future.
Libby
Not Going To Plan
The book "Not going to plan" was unique. It follows the story of Marnie a school girl who finds herself getting into some troubles at school which results in her moving schools to sit her GCSEs. There, at her new school, she meets Zed a boy in her tutor class who was very different from Marnie. The book was a verse novel and a short, easy read which I enjoyed. I thought the topics were explained really well whilst not being "too heavy" they seemed more subtle but known. To begin I was not to sure on what I thought, however, as I read more I grew to enjoy the book. Review by Libby
Chronicles of a Lizard Nobody
The book Chronicles of a Lizard Nobody is about a monitor lizard named Zeke with France on his knee (literally) and his friends Alicia and Daniel, who are against a bully with a supervillain mum names Pelicarnassus. This book covers mental health with animal facts weaved into the storyline.
My favourite character is Daniel, because he adds some comedic effects and is a good friend to Zeke.
My favourite part of the book is when Zeke’s class is learning about France and examines Zeke’s knee because I find how the French people respond to the class’ questions funny.
I think this book is aimed at younger audiences because not as much happened earlier on and it was more about friendship, and just generally isn’t the type of book I’d read. It is a very touching and beautiful book and it makes me happy to read it.
Kirsty
Birdie
The overview, it was set against in stark, soot-stained backdrop of 1950s Yorkshire,Birdie is a poignant and atmospheric historical novel that explores themes of displacement, masterfully captures the “windrush generation” experience though the eyes of a young girl, making the historical personal and deeply moving. There are also plot and character development, which the story follows Birdie, who travels from the vibrant, sun- drenched landscapes of Jamaica to a cold, grey mining villages in England. The contrast between her two worlds is not just physical but emotional. Rose develops Birdie as a character with immense internal strength; she is a”bird” trapped in a cage of cultural shock and social hostility. The style used a real 1950s racism and the isolation of being an outsider. Rose uses sensory language using the 5 senses. The conclusion, Birdie is more than just a historical fiction, it is a lyrical exploration of identity. It challenges the reader to consult what “home” truly means honours the courage and the people who help rebuilt post-war despite the cold.
Peace
Not Going To Plan
Coming into this book I expected another book warning about teen/YA sex, ending in abortion. But this book defied my expectations. I wasn't expecting it to be a verse novel, though, and the perspective of the mother and Rakel were enlightening, and I thought really brought something to the book. It follows Zed and Marnie as they explore their sexuality and love lives. While the author still covered abortion, it was from an objective perspective and was tactful in explaining it. Overall I didn't hate this book but didn't love it enough for me to want to reread it. 6/10
Elijah
Birdie
Birdie spent most of her life in a foster home, then her great aunt and uncle decided to adopt her, but they didn't realise the problems that they are going to face. Birdie faced a lot of racism when she moved to Barrington dale, she felt like an outsider. then she found a pony that made her feel not like an outsider. They form a special bond.
This book really broke me because it shows how horrible racism was around that time but it was also heartwarming because it shows the magic of animals.
Michelle
Wolf Siren
Wolf Siren by Beth O'Brien is a book about a 13 year old girl, Red. Her grandmother disappeared 3 years ago, the woods outside the village are magical and Red discovers her ability to transform into a wolf.
I quite liked this book, it kept me guessing about what would happen next. My favourite character was Red - even though she was visually impaired, she didn't let that stop her from doing anything. I also liked the way the author described some scenes, she made it feel like you were there in that moment.
However I didn't one part of the book. I think the ending could have been explored in a bit more detail because it didn't fully explain what happened to all the characters at the end, especially Red with her powers. But overall I enjoyed this book and I would recommend to others - it was a good read.
Emma
Birdie
I quite enjoyed this book. It follows the story of Birdie Bagshaw, a young girl who'd been adopted by her great aunt and uncle after living in an orphanage for "brown babies" her whole life, and as she's running away from a group of older boys taunting her, she stumbles into a mine and meets a horse she later names Mr Duke. I think the pacing of this book was quite good, as it doesn't have any weird jumps but there aren't any plot holes that need filling, and I also liked that it was based in reality and it demonstrates what it was like for people of colour in the 1950s. The plot developed well, and I liked that it had a happy ending, but it was targeted to younger audiences so at some points I got a bit bored. Overall, I think it was a good read though.
Lyra
The Boy I Love
This book was educational. It followed the story of Stephen, a gay second lieutenant in WW1. He falls in love with Danny, his soldier-servant, or squire, and they campaign for the soldiers not to have to go over in the battle of the Somme. I liked how the relationship was developed but I didn't think it was realistic how often they were alone in the trench. The description of war seemed accurate though, even if the ending was a bit hopeful, considering that all the gay characters survived. Overall, it was a perfectly fine read, just not one I would choose. 6/10
Elijah
The Boy I Love
I really liked this!
Nice structure, some emotive description, subtle links to Sassoon's war poetry.
I give it 4/5
Mrs Radcliffe
Not Going To Plan
Not Going to Plan is a book about a young girl called Marnie who is just about to take her GSCE’s. She joins the school late – she doesn’t know anyone. But Harry Borman invites her to a party, and how can Marnie refuse? But when she is deceived, can she trust the nerd who sits next to her to help fix things?
My favourite character was Marnie because she was quite kind, and willing to make friends and adapt to a new environment. I can relate to her emotions at the beginning of the book because when I started year 7, I felt the same way. My favourite part of the book was when Marnie went to Zed for help, because it was when Marnie and Zed finally realized their friendship. There were some emotional scenes, and they felt very real.
There wasn’t really anything I didn’t like about the book. I really liked it.
I think that older children would like this book because there are some grown-up topics, but overall I think it is a very good book!
Catelyn P
Wolf Siren
Wolf siren is a book about a young girl called Red who is partially blind and has just started her first cycle. Red loves going in the woods despite her Mum’s constant warnings of the danger it can hold. So, when Red is old enough, she becomes a courier so that she can enter the woods whenever she wants without getting told off. However, when Red is going to deliver a parcel to Ms Blaeberry she discovers a secret that if anyone else finds out, it could ruin her family’s reputation forever…
I loved this book as the descriptions felt so real and could even imagine how the characters must have been feeling! It was such a heart-warming tale with so many plot twists that kept me guessing what would happen next! My favourite character was Aerona because she was so caring and innocent and didn’t understand what was happening until Red has to explain what’s happening to her. There were so many times when I had to put the book down because I had burst out laughing and others when I was on the verge of crying. This story was so good that I couldn’t even put the book down! I felt like I just had to keep reading and find out what would happen next!
I don’t think I have many negative things to say about this book. The only thing is really that I wish something different happened to her sister, so it didn’t create such a dark tone to the ending, but the blossom really lifted the spirit.
I would recommend this book to younger readers and people who love fantasy, animals and nature as it is a very nature-based story. I really enjoyed it and would read more books from this author.
Gwen
Chronicles of a Lizard Nobody
I found this book a hard book to understand . It follows the story of Zeke who becomes a hall monitor at school and gets bullied but ends up overcoming this and stopping the bully from destroying the school. I think it was a nice book in the sense that it put across a good message about standing up for yourself and knowing that you can or that you are just as good as everyone else. I enjoyed how some parts were quite funny and I particularly enjoyed the character of Miel . This book also had some deeper topics , for example his dad's death and his mums grief struggles which surprised me with this genre .However , a lot of things were quite hard to understand like why Zeke had France on his knee. The plot sometimes seemed a bit silly which makes me think that this book is aimed more at younger readers .Overall I think it puts out a good message of believing in yourself but it was a bit confusing and I think I would have enjoyed this more if I was younger . I would give this book 3/5 stars.
Holly H
Not Going To Plan
Not going to plan was a book that followed Marnie - a rebellious teenager and Zed - a quiet kid who does not like to talk to people . I think the book did well in getting across the general point of abortion rights , teen pregnancy etc and also showed people how their not alone . As it is a coming of age book it did well in portraying people working through differences and exploring different options and viewpoints of life , however I felt the way the friendship between Marnie and Zed grew so quickly was a bit unrealistic . They are polar opposites and seemed to form a friendship overnight which wouldn't really happen in real life .This book wasn't my genre of choice but it was a quick easy read and I felt the dual narrative helped with the flow and movement of the book . It conveyed emotion and did encourage me to think more about abortion rights which shows that the point was made well and clearly . Overall I would give this book 4/5 stars .
Holly H
Ghostlines
Ghostlines by Katya Balen follows the story of the main character Tilda, who lives in the island of Ayrie. Everyone knows each other, and she has lots of friends. When a new boy arrives, she ends up taking him out to a haunted island that people are forbidden to go to, as one last shot at making him like Ayrie.
I enjoyed this book, it is written in first person and the author uses lots of descriptive language in the story, which I think creates lots of visual images in your head. She writes in a way that makes you feel like you are actually in the story and experiencing what happens to the characters.
There was one thing I didn't like and that was when the author wrote using 'and' quite a lot in just one sentence. It showed the protagonist's emotions and was used when Tilda experienced lots of things all at once, but I found it confusing and sometimes had to reread the sentence again to process it. However overall I thought this was a good book and I enjoyed reading it.
Emma
Wolf Siren
Wolf Siren is a story about a young girl called Red who is partially blind and has just had her first cycle. She loves the woods, and continues to visit despite her mother's constant warnings. But one day, Red discovers that she has a terrible secret, one that could ruin the only life she's ever known...
My favourite character was Aerona because she was so caring and understanding. The characters felt real, and the story was one which kept me guessing what was going to happen the whole way through. My favourite part of the story was when Red met with Miss Blaeberry and experienced her first transformation. The scenes were well written, and the sad scenes made me feel like I was there.
Parts of the book made me laugh, whereas some of them made me feel like I was going to cry. It was so gripping, and at points I couldn't put it down!
There wasn't much I didn't like about the book - it was one of the better books I've read.
My favourite character was Aerona because she was so caring and understanding. The characters felt real, and the story was one which kept me guessing what was going to happen the whole way through. My favourite part of the story was when Red met with Miss Blaeberry and experienced her first transformation. The scenes were well written, and the sad scenes made me feel like I was there.
Parts of the book made me laugh, whereas some of them made me feel like I was going to cry. It was so gripping, and at points I couldn't put it down!
There wasn't much I didn't like about the book - it was one of the better books I've read.
I'd recommend this book to people who like adventure and tales of growing up. I would suggest it for teens because of the topics, but it is a very gripping tale.
I loved it!
Catelyn P
Twenty Four Seconds from Now
Twenty-Four Seconds From Now was an interesting book. The storyline was there but not quite enough for me to say the book was incredible to be honest. I found the grammar and writing style to be inconsistent which really bothered me and I struggled to keep engaged. Overall, it wasn't a terrible book, it was just unable to meet my expectations disappointingly.
Libby
Not Going To Plan
Going into this book, it definitely wasn't my preferred genre, but I didn't dislike it as much as I thought I would.
It is a verse novel that follows the stories of Marnie and Zed, Marnie being a rebellious teenager who recently got manage moved from her all girls boarding school, whereas Zed is a quiet boy in the back of the class, seated at the only desk that has a spare seat, so there they befriend each other due to needing help in their respective weak subjects - maths and physics for Marnie and Spanish for Zed.
I think the way the book is laid out is very effective in showing the juxtaposing characters of Marnie and Zed, how despite being very contrasting personalities, they still managed to become friends. It was also a quick read, yet still covered all the grounds it needed to in order to get the overall message across. However, personally I thought the chapters leading up to the ending were quite dragged out, and there were numerous times I thought 'that should be the end' when it wasn't, just for the actual ending to be quite abrupt. As well as this, there were many moments throughout where I got quite a bit of second-hand embarrassment, but I feel like that's inevitable in a young adult novel, especially one handing such taboo topics.
Overall, it wasn't my favourite read, but I was relatively impressed by how it surpassed my expectations.
Lyra
Twenty Four Seconds from Now
In my opinion '24 seconds from now' was interesting. The way the timeline went back so you can see how the events came to play knowing what would eventually happen was different but still enjoyable. The book follows the protagonist, Neon, and his girlfriend Aria, and the lead up to his 'first time', learning about intimacy and what not to do. I was not sure that the yearbook aspect was necessary to the plot of the story, as he could have been meeting with his friends for any other reason or could have only mentioned Dodie at all, as he was the only character who actually helped the theme of the book, showing societal norms of how boys should view sex. I believe that this book would be useful for YA readers as it is maybe too mature for younger readers but pointless for older readers. Overall, it was not a book that I would usually read but a more or less enjoyable read nonetheless. 7/10
Elijah