The Undrowned Child by Michelle Laurie

I couldn’t put this book down! I loved it because it is full of exciting mystery and suspense. It is all about a young girl called Teodora who longs to travel to the city of Venice and when her scientist parents are called there for an emergency conference they are forced to take her. Suddenly she finds herself invisible to everyone else after being kidnapped by a gruesome statue. Could it be anything to do with the talking mermaid statues or the mysterious book ‘The Key to the Secret City”?

Could she even be dead? Read the book to find out!

by Thora Brook (7W)

Maximum Ride: The Angel Experiment by James Patterson

This book is action packed and exciting. It is about 6 kids with ages varying from 5-14 who are 98% human and 2% bird. They were made in a cruel lab and are being hunted down since they escaped. But then the youngest, Angel, is caught and they have to get her back to safety quick. On the way they find some secrets that will crash their faith in humanity. An amazing thriller that I recommend to everyone!

Annie Brook 7N

The Lying Game by Sara Shepard

The Lying Game is a suspense-filled thriller that combines carefully, the right dose of drama, romance and mystery. The plot revolves around Emma, a foster kid who'd been dragged aimlessly through dozens of useless 'families'. But suddenly her world, life and identity are turned upside-down after watching a video of herself. Except it was not her. She then contacts Sutton Mercer an adopted doppelganger who seemed she had everything she didn't. Except a life. Separated at birth, Sutton got the good life, and Emma got nothing but memories of a mother who abandoned her. She is then forced to act as her long-lost twin Sutton, as she tries to uncover the mystery of her sisters murder. As she digs ups more and more of Sutton's life, her own is thrown into a world of lies, mind-games and tricks. The book is narrated by Sutton who has just occasional glimpses of parts of her past life as she, too, tries to piece together her own death and who is using Emma to get away with murder - no body, no death.

by Ava Chowdhury-Turner

Paper Towns by John Green

I really enjoyed reading Paper Towns, I felt it was written very effectively and that it was gripping from the very first sentence. 'Q' or 'Quentin' is the main character and the book features his quest to find Margo, a girl he has loved for his whole life. Margo is an eccentric character who loves mysteries and is constantly making her own for others to work out. One late night Margo calls upon Q to join her in an ingenious campaign of revenge.

After their all-nighter ends and a new day breaks Q arrives at school to find Margo has not, and he can't help feeling it's his duty to find her, he follows a series of never ending and extremely complex clues. Q starts to fear the worst and becomes tired of the on-going mystery, however he never gives up hope, Q is determined to find Margo. Dead or alive.

I strongly recommend people read Paper Towns, not only is it very gripping and funny it is also a memorable story about teen love and adventure.

by Sophia Beach

A Series of Unfortunate Events by Lemony Snicket

I really enjoyed reading the series of unfortunate events. There are 13 books altogether and they all have a title with alliteration, for instance bad beginning or penultimate peril; the only exception is the last one which is called (funnily enough) The End.

They are about these three children called (oldest first) Violet, Klaus and Sunny. Violet is an inventor and her inventions always manage to help them when they need it most, Klaus reads a lot and his expanding intelligence provides lots of information to get them out of trouble, Sunny is a baby, you may think she doesn't help much but her extreme biting skills do come in very handy. Their mum and dad died in a tragic house fire and they couldn't manage to find any relatives who the children could stay with. The family's banker took them to his house for a while until he found somewhere for them to live. This man called Count Olaf claimed to be a cousin many times removed, but in actual fact, he was just a mean money grabbing fool, who wanted their family fortune.

Each book is about Violet, Klaus and Sunny's long journey trying to run away from Count Olaf. I really enjoyed these books, and I hope that this will encourage people to read them, and enjoy them just as much as I did.

by Raine Pittman 7W

The Witches by Roald Dahl

I think it is a grabbing book that is fantastic. It's about this boy called Luke who gets turned into a mouse. All the witches are on a mission to turn all children into mice and that it is a thrilling book which makes you sometimes shiver and tingle with whats goin to happen next. It is a really good book and I have heard it's on dvd as well which is fantastic. It is a MUST read book it is quite a old story but still the best one of Roald Dahl books ever. It's quite dramatic at some points. The best character is Luke; he is a ordinary boy that gets turned into a mouse by withches and cant find a way to turn back. I won't tell you guys because it's a surprise if you haven't read it or seen it and I don't want to give it away. You must read or see the movie in your own time. It is such a good book I can't even describe in words. So I will leave it to you to read it/watch it. THE BEST BOOK EVER!

by Marni Langdale 7D

Private Peaceful by Michael Morpurgo

Thomas (Tommo) Peaceful is a young boy with a big heart and a loving family. His older brother Charlie is always there for him and is willing to die for him and won’t let anyone put him down. When Charlie decides to join the army no-one is impressed. With Molly pregnant it is one of the hardest decisions Charlie will ever have to make but he goes ahead. Following him, Tommo joins the army leaving Molly, Big Joe and his mother to look after each other. The sergeant picks on Tommo because he is supposedly the brother of a joker. Charlie takes great joy in messing with the sergeant and cheering everybody up but he does have to accept the consequences and they are very severe. Charlie gets shot and returns home on compassionate leave. After they had just recovered from the frontline – by going to a bar - the brothers get the news they are heading back to the war and have sergeant ‘horrible’ Hanley.

by Abigail Murray

Ribblestrop by Andy Mulligan

I have just read Ribblestrop. It is about a private boarding school. This is no ordinary boarding school, with crazy teachers, falling down roofs, and an underground dangerous labyrinth - Ribblestrop is the perfect place to be! The part that I thought was most gripping is when the school has a football tournament with another high school. But they don't just start playing football; they have to build the pitch and by doing that everyone has to help pull down the school bathrooms. A part that is really funny is when the playing side comes and they are surprised to find that there are no showers and in the end they have to use the garden hose!

I think that Andy Mulligan, has captured the building of character, and his descriptions are imaginative to the last detail. I like his explanation of the roof falling down and that the children have to build it, that becomes one of the school projects. Before that the School has a competition to design the school roof that was burnt down in a fire, caused by a mentally ill boy. A big thing that happens in the story is Milly, one of the only girls in the school, goes down (underground) and finds a secret laboratory, which has illegal substances in it. As Milly is leaving she gets trapped and before she knows it she is on her own in the middle of a big maze. In the end Milly gets out, before you know it she’s back down again trying to work out the underground criminal, and Milly is not one who quits.

It is very important that a cover of a book is eye catching and this book definitely ticks the box. With a neon coloured cover and different pictures of the time spent at Ribblestrop it is very memorable.

At one part in the story it is quit scary. Milly and another boy, Sanchez, are coming back from a long search to find the football which was kicked into the river. As they are coming back Sanchez tells a creepy story about a boy called Tomaz who was at the school. One day Tomaz goes missing and does not come back. People think that he was lost in the maze or ran away and was kidnapped. This shows that the school, Ribblestrop, is very dangerous.

Although I enjoyed reading about this book I am glad that my own school is not like it because it is too chaotic and hectic. I would highly recommend this book because it is a great read and I cant wait to read the sequel, Return to Ribblestrop!

by Agnes Friend, 7H

The Diary of a Young Girl by Anne Frank

Anne Frank, a young Jewish girl forced into hiding with 2 families and a gentleman, talks about her life in the closet: she expresses her feelings, her love life and worries about the war to her diary, which helped her from 1942 - 1944.

Anne Frank was a wonderful writer, writing detailed descriptions about her life making it interesting but touching. I also think she is a prime example of the innocent people who were killed in the war and is an idol for many children, “to be brave and go on in life.”

I believe this book is one of the best books of all time. It’s so fabulous talking about her (amazingly) ordinary life before and in hiding, and confiding only in her diary. I definitely recommend this book, from teenagers to young men and women; I give this book an absolute 10/10!

by Jade Wong, 7H

The Roman Mysteries Series by Caroline Lawrence

These series turn you into bookworms(if you are not already one). Honestly when I first read them, my parents started going bananas because they couldn't get through to me.I was always in the Roman Empire of AD 79 with Flavia, Lupus, Nubia and Johnathan. There are 18 briiliant books to throw yourself into.

The books are about four friends who just seem to always be caught up in some tangled mystery. Later on in the series they end up left with Mariam's baby twins meet,Julius Caesar and getting involved up in some deep stuff.

I would give these series 9.95 out of 10.

by Genevieve Rainbow-Laird 7D

Breaking Dawn by Stephanie Meyer

This book is the best book I have read, because it has a lot of climaxes, it's exciting and has lots of action. When I bought the book I thought to myself this is going to take a looonngg time to read (720 pages), but it was so good I couldn’t stop reading, actually read it in less than a month. The book's genre is action, horror and romance, it's not actually very scary it's just in a horror genre because it has vampires and werewolves in.

Breaking Dawn is about a girl called Bella, she moves in with her dad, in place called Forks, America. She starts a new secondary school/high school, and falls in love with a vampire called Edward Cullen. Edward has 2 adopted step-sisters Alice and Rosalie Cullen, and has 2 adopted brothers Emmett and Jasper. He has a sort of a mother and father called Esme and DR Carlisle Cullen.

by Emily Mitchell

The Recruit by Robert Muchamore

The Recruit is an adventure-packed story about a secret, undercover organisation called Cherub. From 12 years of age, James Choke is turned into super hero James Adams! Starting from being a normal kid, with a normal life, James turns into an extraordinary person. Beginning with his mum’s death, he is put into care where, something incredible happens. He is recruited to none other than Cherub! Cherub is a secret organisation made up of hundreds of parent-less kids that are recruited by older cherub members to become fit and intelligent spies. They use kids because as they say, no-one suspects kids!

At the age of 10 they can be put forward for basic training which is a 100 day course to test their strength and ability to be a spy, if they fail they restart it until they complete it!

I really enjoyed this book because you can really feel for James as his life story is unravelled before our very eyes. It is adventurous and funny. My favourite parts are all the missions he attends. After having to leave his sister Lauren he is in luck when chairman Dr McAfferty recruits Lauren. Looking alike can always help, so together they achieve better.

Whilst reading this book I was HOOKED! I could not put it down, my mum was desperate to get me talking, but while reading the book, I was in it, not just reading it! Wishing I could live that super stunt life I had to be content reading it - GRIPPED! The fiery hint that Robert Muchamore produces in your mind is a talent many people would want. This book is one of my favourite books and if I could I would rate it 100 stars!

By Flora Capon 7B

I, Coriander by Sally Gardener

This book is a sad tale about a young girl in the era of Oliver Cromwell and the Protestants where she has to live as something she isn’t. I really enjoyed I Coriander because it has a brilliant twist and it really shows how terrible life was then. Coriander Hobie was born in 1643 and had two parents called Thomas and Eleanor Hobie who lived in London on the River Thames. Coriander gets locked up in a chest by her terrible stepmother's fiance who is very evil. when Coriander is locked into the chest she gets passed into another world where she has a mission. This book was an thrilling tale and I would really recommend it.

by Milla Mckenzie, 7H

Rumo by Walter Moers

When I first read this book aged six, not only did my arms get
stronger from having the 15cm thick book stuck to me all night, but my
view of the world and all things in it was changed forever.
Rumo is a mythical creature in a mythical land called Zamonia. The
creatures that inhabit Zamonia are not like humans in fact, Rumo is a
dog. Well, he does have horns and stand on his hind legs, so he is a
in fact a Wolperting. This is the story of how he starts out as a
puppy living on a farm and ends up on his quest to find the silver
thread. But I’m not going to ruin the ending for you, I’m here to tell you why
you simply must read this book, it will turn your idea of a good book
inside out, back to front and throw it into the air. Walter Moers’
descriptive pages about a land that we will never find are absolutely
earthshattering, the seemingly unrelated other books that he has
written all link together in mysterious ways. But I digress; if you
want to read a romantic, action-packed, strangely different book then
this is the book for you. This is a tale that everyone can relate to,
it’s a tale of growing up, and fighting your way through life. Armed
with Dandelion, his talking sword, he must follow his heart to the
silver thread with the help of his mentor Smyke the shark grub and
friends such as Professor Ostafan Kolibri, and battle his way through
the Copper Killers, King Gornab the 99th and Friftar. This incredibly
inventive and funny novel is a must-read.

Note: Recommended order to read the Walter Moers Books:
1.      Rumo
2.      The 13 ½ Lives of Captain Blue Bear
3.      The Alchemasters apprentice
4.      The City of dreaming books
By Kira Miller 7D

Love, Aubrey by Suzanne LaFleur

This book actually made me cry! It is a very heart touching book about a girl called Aubrey whose father and little sister are dead (I’m not spoiling by telling you how!) Her mum's brain goes into shutdown, and she just walks out, leaving Aubrey on her own. Aubrey is blank. She never thinks about the horrific event that ended her family forever, although sometimes she writes letters to her sister's imaginary friend, as she feels it still connects her. She pretends her family is still with her, eating dinner, playing games, watching television. But after her mum walks out, things change. She got lonely so she bought herself a goldfish, Sammy. Aged just 11, Aubrey is on her own. Then her grandma comes for her. She makes her pack up her things and go live with her. There is a really nice girl next door. She gets help from her and her grandmother, and starts to recover. Every now and again, things remind Aubrey of her family, and in flashbacks she starts to reveal the heart breaking story of her family's past. This is truly a heart-wrenching story, but it is a fantastic read. It will make you look at life in a completely different perspective. It will make you grateful for what you have, and it will stick with you forever. A double pack of Kleenex strongly recommended. 


by Miranda Jones 7 B

Public Enemy Number Two by Anthony Horowitz

This is a highly addictive book about a boy named Nick Diamond who lives with his idiotic older brother, Tim Diamond. Tim is a private detective, although he is rubbish at it. They hardly have  any money, and they live in a flat in Camden. Together they get into all sorts of trouble. Nick has nearly been killed very, very many times. Their parents live in Australia, so can’t care for their children.

In this particular story of the series, Nick Diamond is framed for robbery, violence and animal cruelty. He is sent to a maximum security prison, and shares a cell with public enemy number one, Johnny Powers. Two policemen who framed him tell him to find out who ‘The Fence` is  a master criminal. The story is about Nick's dangerous and daring attempts to get close to Johnny and find out about the ‘Fence`. Nick is nearly killed many times, but the surprising twist at the end will stick with you forever!

 by Miranda Jones 7B

The Demon Headmaster Series by Gillian Cross

This book is absolutely amazing! Something weird is happening at school. The children are too well behaved - almost like robots. What strange power does the eerie headmaster hold over them... and can anyone resist? Or are Dinah, Harvey and Lloyd doomed to become part of the Demon Headmaster’s dark plan?

When I first read this book I couldn’t stop reading it. Mum would say to me that it was dinner time but I just couldn’t put this book down. Mum had to snatch it off me every time it was time for something. When I read the first book I wondered if there were any more. I looked at the back and there was a whole 5 more books to read! So me and my mum went to the bookshop and bought the whole series! It is a really good book but quite frightening at some parts

by Karina Ishikawa 7B