The Little White Horse by Elizabeth Goudge

I loved this book. It was quite long-winded at the beginning, but I got through it to discover a great ending. It is about a girl called Maria Merryweather, who moves to live in the country with her Uncle, Sir Benjamin, in a place called Moonacre. All is going fine until she meets the mysterious Loveday and the evil de Noirs. She finds out a secret that will change everything as she gets into all sorts of trouble like being chased by the men from the dark woods and playing the magical Harpsichord. It's such a great book that it has been made into a film called The Secret of Moonacre. I really enjoyed the suspense and sense of adventure in this book.

Zoe Thorpe

Ballroom Class by Lucy Dillon

Ballroom Class is charming, witty story about three different couples that all attend a ballroom class, and we learn all about their lives, plus their reasons for attending the class. Katie and Ross have joined in an attempt to save their crumbling marriage, but will it really be enough? Lauren and Chris who are husband and wife to-be, have joined to practise for their first dance, if there is going to be one. Then there is Bridget and Frank who have come along too, they are the parents of Lauren; they are expert dancers, but Bridget has a secret which may trip them up. Finally, Angela, or Angelica as she prefers, she is the dance teacher, an old dancing champion looking to bring back the sparkle into her life again, but with her past hot on her heels will she get her happy ending?

I thought this book was funny, charming and entertaining, the ending was worth reading the entire book alone. I absolutely adored it!10/10.

Amy Hopewell, Year 8

The Glass Collector by Anna Perera

When you read the blurb of the neon-green covered book, your mind is left wondering about the story. The haunting words echo in your ear with a thirst to read more. 'Fifteen year old Aaron lives among the rubbish piles in the slums of Cairo. His job? To collect broken glass. His life? Wasted. His hope? To find a future he can believe in...' . 


This ambiguous blurb, which reveals nothing whatsoever about the story line, ignores that inside the book are long, wonderful and exciting descriptions about Aaron's ruined young life; his bullying step-brother, unreturned love of Rachel, the annoying Shareen whose loud voice conceals her troubles and Jacob. His troubled friend at the bottom of the bottom, almost certainly addicted to drugs from being a medical waste collector. They all experience Aaron's eternal love of Glass from the Godly Perfume shop despite the troubled life of Mokkattam, and his biggest fall when nothing seems the same, yet everything begins to fall into place.

I often find it hard to get into books recently, but reading The Glass Collector has reminded me how great books can be. Perera uses third-person narrative, meaning it's often less emotive for the reader but still, you get a real insight into the life of Mokkattam and Cairo. She describes in great detail which gives such strong imagery you can actually feel and believe that you are running alongside Aaron from Omar or smelling the roasting meat for Shareen's engagement party. Not only does she focus on Aaron and his point of view, we understand every aspect of each story as we see the other characters involved and their 'wasted' lives.

Although the writing can be lovely and descriptive and emotional, Perera uses quite blunt sentences mostly, compared to other books, which makes it less of a good read at points. But overall, I would rate this book 9/10.

However, I loved it so much I started to read Guatamano Boy also by Anna Perera but it was very annoying  because the plot was so similar (even though was in another country and a more serious situation). The boy was also 15. He also hated his country. He also in some kind of 'crime' (falsely or not) and as I by mistake flicked to the back of the book to see if it had a glossary, I read the last page and realised that he and Aaron had the exact same ending with almost word to word last sentence. I am sure that it would be an equally good book, but it felt like reading the same story straight after rather than just a similar outline.

I strongly recommend you read The Glass Collector though, as it is an amazing book and is worth every letter!

Katherine Wills, Year 8

Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban by J.K. Rowling

Following on the marvellous series, Harry Potter, along with his best friends Ron and Hermione, is about to embark on an epic adventure. He must face more darkness, cruelty and confusion that is the wizarding world, as he attempts to right the wrong and finds out even more about himself.

I would recommend this book to anyone looking for a story so mysterious, so magical and so captivating. I would give this book 5 stars as its mystery is not obvious but one of great intrigue throughout Harry Potter's third year at Hogwarts School.

Nadine Elghool 8D

Siren by Tricia Rayburn

Vanessa Sands was a rather ordinary seventeen-year-old girl before her sister, Justine, died and her boyfriend, Caleb, mysteriously went missing. Now Vanessa is forced to look for answers about Winter Harbour, the town where her sister was found dead, with the help of Simon, Caleb’s kind, smart and, not to forget, very attractive brother. Vanessa discovers deep and dark secrets about herself (since she is actually half mermaid) and Winter Harbour’s history, whilst more strange happenings occur and more people disappear, their bodies found on beaches everywhere. She must find the courage to become her true self in order to prevent the same thing happening to Simon.
Siren is a gripping and intriguing story which slowly unravels itself to you as you read it. I found myself never being able to put the book down because of its ever increasing suspense and excitement. I also liked that Vanessa was a realistic character, shy and scared of the world around her at the beginning of the novel, just to become a strong, brave, extraordinary girl by the end of it. After reading several vampire books like the Twilight series, I found this book different and refreshing.

Tamara Ward, 8N