Worm Story

by Morris Gleitzman


Reviewed by Samuel S. of Year 7

Wilton the worm is just a normal worm who likes stomach acid, the only problem is that where he is living right now isn’t the right place for him.

He is living in the stomach and he should be living in the intestine and he has no friends but this all changes when he meets Algy the microbe.

This book is very funny but also serious. The whole idea of a story about a worm living in a human body is just crazy but Morris Gleitzmen really brings it into life, you actually stop to think is this what a real worm actually does.

I would rate this book 8/10 for the crazy and zany touch of a worm’s story.

Northern Lights

by Philip Pullman

Reviewd by Peter B. of Year 8

This book is one that is full of white knuckled moments on every page. You are alongside Lyra from Oxford, to a gypsy boat to Svalbard. She sees an amazing array of creatures and people like the panserborne, a race of highly intelligent, armoured polar bears and Mrs Coulter a charming, sweet, influentional women with something to hide and her immensely powerful Unlce Asriel who can silence simply by being there.

This is definitely a book for those who love a good read.

Aussie Brutes magazine

Reviewed by Nick.S of year 7.

I recommend this outstanding car book for all car lovers because it has both Ford and Holden’s done up in great manner.

In this book there are such cars as:
· Ford XR-8
· Holden HQ Sandman Utes
· And a SS Holden Ute.
This book tells you about street, show and drag Utes. It also tells you about mini trucks and racing action.

I give this a rating of 8.5 out of 10.Good for young readers who like to know more about cars that are being offered to car enthusiasts.

Elfquest Volume 1. Wolfrider

by Wendy Pini

Reviewed by Stanley B. of year 7

I recommend this fascinating book because it has so many thrilling parts in it. This is book one of a three part series . The main reason I recommend it is it has so many things going on.

For example there are trolls who want their berries and humans who want their land. The elf leader believes they should stay and fight the humans away. They made a deal with the trolls. The trolls give them metal tools and the elves give berries.

I give it a rating 8 out of 10.

The Bourne Ultimatum

By Robert Ludlum
Reviewed by Aiden.W of year 8

Jason Bourne is back in another action packed story where he will come across new and old enemies.

Faced with the memory of a death that he wishes he’d forgotten, Jason decides to settle down and try to forget about his past.

After he is set up for the murder of his two friends he goes after the culprit. With the nagging fear that only an assassin can give, Jason follows a trail of murders from America to Paris and then finally to Iceland. All the while he is being stalked by one of the best assassins of the F.B.I and also of the world.

This book deserves 8.5/10 for action

The Forest of Silence (Deltora Quest)

By Emily Rodda
Reviewed by Mandeep S, of year 8

This is the first book of the Deltora Quest series. This is about the history of Deltora the country. A 16 year old boy is about to go on a perilous adventure to save Deltora from the evil shadowlord who has taken over lots of countries and is after Deltora. He can’t get to Deltora and unleash his magic because of a certain belt called the belt of Deltora holding seven gleaming gems.

When Lief finds out that he has to go on a perilous journey to recover the gems for the belt of Deltora on his sixteenth birthday he is surprised. The very day he learnt he was the only one who could save Deltora because he had the belt he left town very to go on this adventure. Leif did not go alone he went with a disguised beggar.

I rate this book 8/10

Naruto Series

by Masashi Kishimoto

Reviewed by Year 9 student

These books are all about a boy named Naruto. His parents die when he is born and he is an orphan. During his birth there is a great disaster in his village. A nine-tailed fox attacks the village

The basics is that there are a few villages in their world. They are the village hidden in the leaf, the village hidden in the mist, the village hidden in the sand, the village in the sound, the village of the rain, and the village of the grass. This is all about fighting and they use special energy known as chakra which can be replenished with some rest.

A nine-tailed fox is a beast that is very dangerous and will destroy anything in his path. The fox is too powerful for the people who live in the village hidden in the leaf. All of the holkagas, the leaders of the villages, decide to seal the fox instead of destroying it so they seal it in the body of the boy named Naruto.

His life begins from that point on. Many people from the village stay away from him and avoid him. They start to think that he is strange. Naruto grows up to be a trouble-seeking boy for attention and his dream is to become the villages Holkaga so that everyone acknowledges him and respects him.

He has to pass through many hurdles to get to his dream and he does it with a little help from his teachers and his team mates Suskae and Sakura.

Read the series.

The X- MAN School

By Michael Teitelbaum
Reviewed By Gurke, James, Majok and Laiven.

The X-MAN School is a great and very exciting book. It has some weird things and people. They do amazing things like flying, becoming invisible and are very strong, They can shoot ice and lasers, create storms and many more things. The most exciting thing about the book is the wonder and advantage.

Eldest

by Christopher Paolini

Reviewed by Shubham S. of Year 10

Eragon and his blazing blue dragon Saphira after saving the Verdana from the mighty forces of King Galbatorix, must now travel to Ellesméra, the land of elves, for further training in magic and swordsmanship, the vital skills of a dragon rider.

The story continues as Paolini recounts the chronicles of Roran and Eragon simultaneously. We see Roran return to Carvahall and find his house ruined and his father dead. Roran finds himself betrayed by his own cousin Eragon, when the neighbouring villagers inform Roran about Eragon’s departure.

Will Roran take sides with Galbatorix? Will Eragon find himself betrayed by his own cousin Roran? Will Eragon be able to train further in Ellesméra? What is Galbatorix doing to get rid of Eragon? What happens to Murtagh? Will Arya fall in love with Eragon? To find out more and the answers to these questions, do not miss this compelling, and action-filled adventure.

Rating: 7.5/10

Running Man

by Michael Gerard Bauer

Reviewed by Rex T. of Year 10

The Running Man by Michael Bauer is the first novel that he has written. The Running Man is about a boy named Joseph Davidson, who is a quiet, self-conscious fourteen year old with a talent for art. His life starts to change when his neighbour Caroline asks to draw a portrait of his brother Tom. But there has been bad rumours and gossip about Tom, so Joseph goes in with suspicion.

When Joseph finally meets his mysterious neighbour he finds a cold, brooding man lost deep within his own “cocoon” of silence. He soon realises that in order to truly draw Tom Leyton out, he must find the courage to unlock the man’s dark and perhaps dangerous secrets.

The running man is a story on how we perceive others, the judgements we make about them, how we cope with tragedy, the nature of war, change, the healing power of love, and the nature of miracles.

I rate it 9/10

In the deep end

by Michael Panckridge

Reviewed by Siddharth B.

“In the Deep End” is the second book of the Clued-up six. Earlier I wrote a review on the first Clued-up six book “Faster than Lightning” and this is the second book.

“In the Deep End” is a great book for kids around the ages of 10-13. It is about the girls this time. First, Gabby, who is one of the most talented swimmers in the state, who is always beaten by a girl named Andrea Taylor. Second, Hannah, the brightest kid in Teasdale Secondary School misses out on the national "Whatever, Wherever" competition when she looses to her classmate Dave Kelly.

Neither Andrea nor Dave have beaten the girls in respective competitions, but know they just can’t stop. What is going on in the rural town of Teasdale? Just healthy competition or something far worse? You will have to read the book to find out.

Rating: 8.5/10.

The Tomorrow series: When the war began (book 1)

By: John Marsden

reviewed by Yr 9 student

Remember those stories of war veterans in history where they explain their version of a war that they have experienced themselves. Well this book isn’t much different, it’s about 6 friends aged 15-17 who experience a war themselves. After having a holiday in the summer time as a group, going to a place well known by the locals as Hell. After coming back from their summer holiday they discover that a terrible thing has happened in ‘Wirrawe’ (the community they live in), invaders have come and are holding the Wirrawe community as hostages. After thousands of bullets, hundreds of torpedoes and countless lives, can they save Wirrawe, or even more important... themselves.

I give this series 9/10

Ghosts and poltergeists

Illustrated by Terry Riley

Reviewed by RHYS Yr 7

Lord Duffrin saw something when he was going to bed - a person was walking and dragging a coffin with him. Later Lord Duffrin was at a party and saw the man again. No one can see the man but him; very scary!

The haunted house at Amityville


There was a family that was murdered by the father. Then another family moved in to their house and they started seeing things. Strange happenings were occurring. Another scary story!

The Lion, the Witch

by CS Lewis
Reviewed by Riak Yr 7

The lion, the witch and the wardrobe
is a very interesting book to read. It has many chapters. The best part of the book is when Aslan gets killed and then he comes back again and gets his
revenge.

Faster Than Lightning

by Michael Panckridge

Reviewed by Siddharth B. of Year 7

Faster than Lightning is a thrilling book about adventure and horses. It is a great book for people who have an interest in horses. This book is the first of six books by Michael Panckridge and Pam Harvey. The second book “Top of the class” has just been released. This book is about a twelve year old boy by the name of Angus who loves horses. His father is a dedicated horse trainer.

After an odd incident at the track, Angus, with the help of his best friends Hannah, Gabby, E.D. and Ling discover weird things at the stud farm. When a horse, Lightning Strikes, appears to be the exact copy of a dead horse, Gale Force, Angus and his friends know something is not right.
Is this horse apart of a breeding program or something much worse?
You must read the book to find out.

I give this book 9/10.

Everything to live for : a story from Northern Ireland

by Stewart Ross
Reviewed by Daniel C. of Year 10

In war it is the innocent that suffer, everything to live for is part of the survivors books which tell the story of war from the eyes of the children. Everything to live for is about Lizze McCallum a thirteen year old protestant living in Northern Ireland during a conflict between the Catholics and the “prods”. The story tells of how her religion has caused her to be a second class citizen within her country because she was protestant the Catholics hated her and she didn’t know why.

Her life is turned upside down by an explosion on the main street and from there the story develops. She then questions her views. The story is not just about war, it is a story of how one event can change a person’s perspective on life and how with one event we can see if we really have everything to live for.

This book is an interesting read and gives insight into the Northern Ireland conflict. I give it a 7 ½ out of 10 and urge any one who comes by this book to read it - you will not regret it.

Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince

By J.K. Rowling

Reviewed by Marlo B. of Year 7.

The sixth installment of the Harry Potter series does not disappoint; quite the contrary. Although it’s the sixth book to come from J.K. Rowling’s great, imaginative mind, its brilliance has not been wearied.

The mystery behind the Dark Lord’s past begins to unravel, deep pain and sorrow envelope people’s hearts, and a new mystery all together. Who is the Half-Blood Prince?Snape finally gets his most wanted post, the Defense Against the Dark Arts teacher. New potions teacher Professor Slughorn makes a first appearance to the series, an old friend of Dumbledore’s who knows more than he lets off. Harry finds a book which belonged to the “Half-Blood Prince” and helps him breeze through his potions classes, and is commended by Professor Slughorn for his “brilliance” in potions. As well as this, some very sad, sorrowful and unforgettable events take place.

The book has very dark events happening, but it just adds to the thrill of the Harry Potter finale, which is the seventh installment, Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows. If you are a Harry Potter fan this is a must read book.

Don’t wait for the movie, the book gives a far better image of what is happening than a movie, as J.K. Rowling does a great job with the text. If you like magic, adventure and action, this book is for you! Rating 9/10

The Day After Tomorrow

By Whitley Striber

Reviewed by Hayden C. of Year 8

The day after tomorrow is a very exciting novel. It is about the movie version but ten times better. In case you have never seen the movie it is about when the world’s climate goes haywire. It is a book that has a very good storyline. It has tidal waves, hurricanes, people dying and the best bit is when everything starts to freeze.

The book is very relevant to today’s world of no one listening to the scientists about climate change until something goes horrible wrong. You should read this book .

McKenzies Boots

By Michael Noonan
Reviewed by James G. of Year 9

Don’t you just get annoyed about being forced to read a novel for English class? What is more annoying is that after you explain to your friends how boring the book is, you discover it is actually quite a good book.

McKenzie’s Boots is the inspirational story of a young man named Rod who was drawn to the action and adventure of the New Guinea Campaign. There was one problem with Rod’s war career, he was four years under the legal age requirement. Rod was only 14 years old, going into war for two reasons; to witness the finest war ships, and for his childhood crush, Brenda King.

Going into war isn’t a walk in the park, especially when you are going into battle trying to protect your true identity. During his war career, Rod encountered many obstacles, including encountering with his former teacher and confrontation with his fellow soldiers about being the right age.

Through the story, Rod encounters a Japanese soldier while he was out catching butterflies. The platoon leader hears about this and sets up a plan to capture a young Japanese man for interrogation, sending him back to Sydney accompanied by Rod who was chosen to lead the Jap safely.

After his short, enjoyable leave, which included a kiss by his crush Brenda King, Rod returns to New Guinea, receiving a medal of bravery and a higher rank.

Later on in the book, after obtaining a new pair of giant boots, Rod gets shot twice while killing the Japanese Commander with his bayonet, a true act of bravery. Rod gets buried, and it is revealed later on in the story that he is not only admired by his fellow soldiers, but also by the enemy.

I recommend this book for anybody who enjoys a good inspirational story, I give this book a 9 out of 10.

Sacrifice

by Eric Shanower

Reviewed by Daniel M. of Year 9

Sacrifice is the chilling story of the historical Trojan War. A battle between Greece, led by the ruthless leader Agamemnon, and Troy, the supposed invincible race of the time.
A young Spartan woman falls in love with Troy’s young but foolish prince, Paris, and leaves Sparta to join the prince in her new home. But unknowingly, death and war soon becomes the very thing that corrupts each of the city’s people with the help of Agamemnon, who so desperately thrives to end the Trojan race and take over the great city.

Sacrifice is a thrilling, twisted and action packed novel which will hook you till the last page.