The Boy in the Striped Pyjamasby John Boyne

The Boy in the Striped Pyjamas is about a 9-year-old boy called Bruno who moves with his family from Berlin to near a World War II concentration camp. This is because his father is a Nazi. You hear all Bruno’s thoughts and confusion just from the way it is written. What I liked about the book is the way such a big change and move from Berlin is described in Bruno’s mind. Even though he himself doesn’t know where he is, as he stays there longer and longer, the writer still gets the message clearly through to the reader where he is and what is happening. I really enjoyed reading this book and found it very moving and unexpected. I would recommend this book to anyone who enjoys slowly finding out more after each chapter and doesn’t mind crying a bit at the end.

Darcey, 7D

Anna and the French Kiss by Stephanie Perkins

This is a romance, set in Paris - the city of love - where 17-year-old American Anna is sent, against her to will, to attend the American school. Soon she falls in love with the city... and the boy from upstairs, Etienne St Clair, a ridiculously good-looking British American. This is a story of first love,family trouble and teenage melodrama. this was a hugely enjoyable  book. Stephanie Perkins creates a roller-coaster of emotion for both the characters and the reader and each page holds a new surprise. 

But this book shouldn't be dismissed because it is an easy read. The chemistry between Anna and St Claire is so realistic it doesn't need paragraphs of description; the short sentences create the uncertainty and excitement that love promises. I would recommend this to any kind of romance lover, whether you love the romance of Elizabeth and Mr Darcy or Edward and Bella. This is not another soppy cheesy love story: it's a story about the excitement of love, the strength of friendship and the thrill of Paris.

Claudia, 9B

The One Hundred Year Old Man Who Climbed out of the Window and Disappeared by Jonas Jonasson

This book  is about a 100-year-old man who decides he has had enough of the old peoples’ home he has been living in for many years, so he climbs out of the window and slowly shuffles to the bus station. There, a criminal asks him to keep an eye on his large suitcase whilst he uses the toilets. The 100-year-old man, Allan, decides to take the suitcase on board with him when he steps on the bus. When the criminal returns from the toilets, he finds that both the old man and the suitcase have gone.

The story leads on to criminals hunting down Allan and the suitcase containing something very precious to them. But it is not only the owners of the suitcase who hunt down Allan, but also the police, reporters, journalists and more.

I enjoyed this story very much, and I recommend it to any reader who enjoys an adventure/comedy story.

Emily, Year 9

Heroes of Olympus : The Mark of Athena by Rick Riordan

‘Seven half-bloods shall answer the call,

To storm or fire the world must end,
An oath to keep with a final breath,
And foes bear arms to the Door of Death’

The seven half-bloods: Percy, son of Poseidon, Annabeth, daughter of Athena, Jason, son of Jupiter, Leo, son of Hephaestus, Piper, daughter of Aphrodite, Frank, son of Ares and Hazel, daughter of Pluto are on a quest to stop the Mother Earth from returning. On the quest they fall into traps and battle fiercely with Gaia’s minions. Annabeth ends up going on a quest, requested by her mother, and faces her fear but just as everything seems fine, two of them fall into the depths of Tartarus.  I like this book because it’s an exciting adventure with many cliff-hangers; a good read.

Hoi Ying, Year 9

Regeneration by Pat Barker

'Regeneration' is set in Craiglockhart, a war hospital, in 1917. It is about the relationship between both patients and doctors and the stories behind each of the characters’ stay, which Barker explores with great detail. We follow the real-life encounter of Siegfried Sassoon and W.H.R.Rivers, an army psychologist, as well as many other characters that Barker highlights.

I like this book because it pinpoints the terror of the First World War and the effect on its victims. The author gets under the skin of each of her characters and explores their moods and emotions very effectively which is what gives this book its authenticity and allure.

Natasha, Year 9

Twilight by Stephanie Meyers

This is a fantasy book, set in sunlit Arizona; however it changes when 17-year-old Bella Swan moves to the cramped and dull Forks. The story gradually changes, however, when stories and explanations of two different backgrounds are spilled. It is set in the 21st century, and is about the drastic changes Bella has to go through when she leaves Arizona and packs her bags to go to her father, in Forks, and does not expect to like it. The main characters are Bella Swan, Edward Cullen, along with the rest of the Cullen family, and Jacob Black. Bella Swan is a stubborn, underestimated character in the book, because she is very intelligent and often finds a way to makes things her own way. Edward Cullen is a mysterious and secretive character: he is able to read minds and is dangerous in this way, because he has a slight advantage of having knowledge of specific situations over many other characters. His family range from different personalities: most tamed and others untamed, some bright and pleasant, whereas others, troubled and miserable. They are controlled by Carlisle Cullen, Edward Cullen’s ‘father’. Lastly, Jacob Black. Jacob is a mischievous, and also underestimated character as he is a shapeshifter, so therefore he is capable of many various things. I like this book, because it has a simple plot, that has been built upon to make an extraordinary story. The author wants you to be there until the very last word. 

Neda, Year 8

Tom's Midnight's Children by Philippa Pearce

This book is an adventure/fantasy, about a boy called Tom Long who goes to live with his aunt and uncle while his bother recovers from measles. His aunt and uncle live in a  large manor house owned by the conspicuous landlady who hardly ever shows her face except to wind her very old grandfather clock in the main hall. One night Tom is listening to the clock strike twelve as he cannot get to sleep.When it strikes 13, he goes downstairs to investigate and discovers a whole new world: suddenly the house comes to life and there is a huge garden at the back that wasn't there before. He befriends a girl called Hattty, but she and the garden are not there in the morning.

Tom has a very adventurous nature and Hatty seems to have a very lonely life, in many ways similar to Tom. I like this book because it is quite old-fashioned and has a beautiful and naive feel to it. The garden also delivers so many different aspects like eeriness and magic. It also has a feel that anything can happen in your dreams no matter how impossible it may seem in the day.

Raine, 9W

Street Child by Berlie Doherty

This book reveals a story about a young boy named Jim, who was one of the first ever boys to be taken in by Dr Barnardo. It is set in Victorian England, during the Industrial Revolution, and starts of by telling us how Jim's runs away from a work house after his mother dies and later explains his life on the street, also his time living on a coal lighter with a man and his dog who treated him quite cruelly, until he meets Dr Barnardo, who takes him in one of his ragged school classes. This book explains to us how tough it was to live during Victorian England, and how jobs were available to children as young as us. His story is very interesting and makes you sympathise for him and his friends. I would recommend this book to people who are interested in Victorian England; it also has quite an interesting plot.

Gabriella, Year 9

The One and Only by Sophie McKenzie

This is the third of three books. It's a mixture of adventure and romance. Eve and Luke first meet at Luke's dad's funeral and he falls in love with her, but Eve has a boyfriend. In the second book, when they stay at Eve's dad's hotel, Eve's Dad makes it a challenge for them to be together, not mentioning Eve singing with the attractive male drummer every night and Luke being uncontrollably jealous. Finally, in this third book, Eve is sent away to a school in Spain by her dad, to prevent her from being with Luke. Luke, lonely without her, turns to someone else, but then suddenly Eve turns up, wanting to take their relationship to the next stage. She wants Luke to her  her 'first'. She really thought that she was Luke's one and only...  he wishes she was. 

I like this book because it's written like a diary from the characters' point of view which portrays many different characteristics. This shows that you can find out a lot about the characters just by how they write, express their emotions, how they see others etc... I also find it very interesting as it's set in our time and is possible to happen to the reader (not in Marylebone as we go to an all girls' school and most of the drama is in their school!) Overall I think this is a fantastic book and I would very much enjoy a fourth to be created. 

Ezria, Year 9

The Hobbit by J.R.R. Tolkien

This novel is about a hobbit who is pressurised into going on an adventure with a wizard and a band of mad dwarves. He finds himself caught up in a plot to raid the treasure hoard of Smaug the Magnificent, a large and very dangerous dragon. The main characters are Bilbo Baggins the Hobbit, Gandalf the Wizard and 13 other dwarves named Thorin, Balin, Bifur, Bofur, Bombur, Dori, Dwalin, Fili, Gloin, Kili, Nori, Oin and Ori. I like this book because it is filled with adventure and excitement. The author makes the reader feel extremely tense at times but makes you keep turning the pages to see what follows.

Connie, 9D

Looking for Alaska by John Green

This novel is about a boy who goes to a boarding school in Alabama and he is counting down to a tragedy that is going to occur in a couple of months. After it happens he talks about what has happened and tries to solve how and why it happened. Miles is the narrator in the book and Alaska is Miles' love interest and she is also one of the people who is involved in the tragedy that takes place. I like this book because it always surprises you and you never know what to expect next and when something does happen, it’s something you wouldn’t have expected and also it’s interesting to read because there is lots of detail and everything is described so well that you can imagine it clearly.

Deema, Year 9

Diary of a Wimpy Kid: Hard Luck by Jeff Kinney

This book is a work of fiction and comedy. It’s about two best friends, Greg Hefley and Rowley Jefferson, who are starting middle school somewhere in the USA.  This particular book is the latest in a series of Wimpy Kid novels, seeing the two friends and their life at school.  They set many, humorous, non-academic goals for themselves to achieve, such as to be popular and get to a seat in the lunch hall.

I really enjoyed this current book as we see the challenges that can be faced by a close friendship. Rowley starts to break away from their friendship by introducing a GIRL, and this it where their normal relationship begins to go awfully wrong. Greg responds to Rowley’s move by finding himself a new best friend, Fregly! Fregly isn’t exactly what you would call normal, poor Greg! Greg also seems to be slipping in his school work too, bad grades, late homework and being caught cheating on tests with a fortune telling ball isn’t helping the situation. In fact, Greg hasn’t done his science homework and has to go to visit Erick Glick, “he’s the one who can hook you up with some old assignments”.

I love this book because the author uses situations that might be happening in real school life, allowing many who read it relate to it closely. It’s also funny and interesting. I really love the way Jeff Kinney has written these novels because when it’s read, it seems like it’s been written and read by a kid, this shows how informally written it is.

Olivia, Year 9

Goodnight Mr Tom by Michelle Magorian

'Goodnight Mr Tom' is set in 1939, the time when the Second World War was taking place. This fascinating and historical book is about a boy named William who was evacuated from London to the countryside and is left to stay with an old, widowed man named Mr Tom. William, who has had bad history in London with horrible care from his mentally unstable mum, learns to be loved and be friends with Mr Tom in the countryside. This book represents what life would be like in the Second World War and I would recommend this to anyone who likes a moving yet gripping story with a historical background in as well.

Alisa Mekollari, 9H 

Did I Mention I Love You? by Estelle Maskami

This is about a girl called Eden Munro who is forced to spend the summer with her father down in California as a chance to meet his new fiancé, Ella and her three sons, Chase, Jamie and Tyler. The eldest son, Tyler, notices Eden in more than one way which leads her into a very eventful summer which changes her whole life. Eden, the narrator, is the average ‘good’ girl with her fair share of friends and her mind is consumed with emotional instability. She’s stubborn at times but also responsible and Tyler, your typical popular stuck-up guy who every girl drools over. However he is a very complex character and we read a lot about him and his background which explains why he the way he is. I like this book because I never get tired of reading it as it surprises you with exciting and unexpected things as it is filled with plot twists. I definitely recommend this book, especially to teenagers.

Nikta Sabouri, Year 9

Thirteen Reasons Why by Jay Asher

This novel is set in the present day in an unnamed town. It is about a package containing audiotaped suicide notes from Hannah Baker to someone called Jenny. The package is sent to Clay Jensen who had a crush on Hannah. There are seven tapes and thirteen stories on which Hannah explains to the people who made her commit suicide the reasons of this decision: one of these people was Clay Jensen. The tapes come along with a map which the listener has to follow as the tape/story unravels. Hannah leads Clay through the story of her death through the use of stories, cassettes and a map. 

I enjoyed this book because the book has a clear storyline and the characters are portrayed very well and in depth. 

Zosia Wielogorska, Year 9

Love, Aubrey by Suzanne LeFleur

This is about an 11-year-old girl, Aubrey, from Virginia in America, whose mother leaves her because of something terrible that happened to their family a few months earlier.She then goes to live with her grandmother in Vermont (America), makes two very special friends and is perfectly happy where she is. However, the horror of the past still lingers in her mind and causes her terrible pain. But will everything be okay in the end? Will she find her mother? You will have to read it to find out! Aubrey is fun but has a little bit of a temper. I like this book because it is very moving and emotional because of how realistically the author has created Aubrey and her situation.

Gozian, 9H

The Truth About Leo by David Yelland

This is a novel about an autistic boy called Leo aged 10 who lives with his father. Leo is the main character. His mother died a few years ago and Leo's father became very depressed so he took to alcohol and is now a very heavy alcoholic! Leo is afraid to tell anyone because he doesn't want to be taken away from his dad. He decides he must keep it a secret and only shares it with his best friend Flora who is the only one that understands him and his caring towards him. I did not particularly like this book as it was boring and had poor, childish description, for example 'Manders laughing to himself as if he had told the funniest joke in the world, his shoulders moving up and down'. However it is a very deep subject that arises in many people's lives therefore it is a scenario to which many can relate. 

Pearl Jacques, 9H 

The Perks of Being A Wallflower By Stephen Chbosky

This book is teenage fiction, but based on real events. It is about the life of Charlie, a 16- year- old high school student, writing in his diary. He is trying to fit in with people after his best friend Michael committed suicide and his aunt (and “favourite person in the whole world”) died in a car crash. The main characters are three friends: Charlie (sophomore) Sam and Patrick (seniors), who later accept Charlie for who he is and become friends. Sam is extremely pretty and has had a hard life before Patrick’s dad married her mum. Patrick is a homosexual which is why he accepts Charlie even though he’s different. 

I like this book because the author makes it very easy to relate to the characters. For example when Charlie is in need of a friend, or when Sam gets treated badly by others. Also the author makes us care about the characters, especially Charlie, and I think it is extremely realistic.

Alison Weaver 9D

A Series of Unfortunate Events by Lemony Snicket

Starting with the death of their parents in a terrible fire the three Baudelaire children experience ‘a series of unfortunate events’.  Because of their parents' death, they are due an enormous inheritance, which they will receive when Violet comes of age. They are adopted by a distant relative, Count-Olaf, who is determined to steal their inheritance and devises a crafty plan to con them into handing it over. The first scene is set at Briny Beach where they lived with their parents. Later in the story they move to lots of different places…

Main characters:

Violet –She loved inventing stuff.  She was the oldest Baudelaire child and took good care of Klaus and even more care of little Sunny. Violet was my favourite character because she looked after her siblings and she made sensible decisions. She also managed to foil Count-Olafs plan...

Klaus – he loved reading all sorts of books and had a photographic memory which was really useful.

Sunny – loved to bite things she was the youngest Baudelaire and the only other thing she did apart from biting things was ‘speaking Gibberish!’

Count-Olaf – he had an eye tattoo on his ankle and was a bachelor which wasn’t surprising as he was a horrid man who only did bad.

MrPoe – did what he had to but not any extra, he was more interested about his business then the children.

Justice Strauss – she was exceptionally kind to the children an allowed them to use her library whenever they wished.

This book was exciting, unpredictable and left me hanging in suspense. I believe the author set out to write a book that was entertaining and fun, and he definitely achieved this purpose. The main weakness was that the book was too short, but at least the story continues in subsequent books.

Zoe D'Souza, Year 9

Before I Die by Jenny Downham

This book is about a girl called Tessa, who unmasks the tragic news that she has terminal cancer. The main character is Tessa. The book tells of her last rebellious wishes before she passes away. It shows her hope for living at least a little of her short life. I like this book because it allows the reader to experience all emotions in one thrill of a journey. The author makes us realise how fortuitous life is, and how we take some things for granted. This sentimental and touching book will make you happy to be alive.

Caitlin Maskell, Year 9