Simon's done it again - another fast paced, action-packed, thrilling adventure featuring the rather unlucky Lofte family and friends. If I was Itch's parents, I'd tell him to take up a different hobby!
The very unloveable character of Flowerdew rears his (literally) ugly head again, and he's out for revenge - with Itch his main target. Itch has been very lucky so far - he's like a cat with nine lives. But has his luck, and his lives, run out this time? Many heart-stopping and moving moments, as the adventure takes us from Cornwall to South Africa to Madrid.
Even though I enjoyed the book, I found it lacking in some of the really addictive thrilling moments of the first 2 books in the series. The part in Madrid is a little over-long and laborious, but other than that, it's exactly what you'd expect from an Itchingham Lofte adventure!
(Review by Megan :D)
Cosmo is a teenage boy who desperately wants to try to save his Grandad from Alzheimer's, but things aren't looking too good. But one night, his Grandad gives him a mysterious key, that he says will unlock the South Gates of Blackbrick Abbey. Confused but curious, Cosmo ventures out to Blackbrick, and finds a time portal that goes all the way back to when his Grandad was 16, working as a slave at Blackbrick! Seeing the chance to get his Grandad's memory back, Cosmo stays at Blackbrick to find out some answers. He makes new friends and solves puzzles, then disaster strikes! Will things turn out all right for Cosmo and Grandad Kevin in the end?
I love the way Sarah writes this book: it's funny, mysterious, sad and clever and makes you never want to put it down! Time travel allways fascinates me, and this book uses it brilliantly! I would recommend this novel to 12+/13+ due to some bad language and other features.
A great book to me, 5 stars!
Oh my goodness, I just loved this book. It was completely different from what I was expecting, but at the same time just what I hoped for. When I first read the front cover, I got the impression that it was a love story, then I turned and read the back and thought no, this is going to be something a bit better and a bit different. There's a quote from The Times: "This story twists like a pretzel, the author teases and tantalises the reader, and it's delightfully unexpected". Yes, I agree with all that. I read it in a matter of days and didn't want it to end.
Dr Thomas Post is an authority, or expert, on coincidences. He has a mathematical answer to explain away every and any coincidence that may happen in anyone's life. That is, until Azalea Lewis literally tumbles into his life. She has a very unusual and traumatic story to tell, and wants Thomas' help in finding answers to her conundrums. The story takes us to the Isle of Man, to Cumbria, to Devon, to Cornwall, and to Uganda. It's shocking, it's happy and it's sad, and you will love every minute of it.
(Review by Megan :D)
After Tabitha's parents split up, she, her mum and her younger brother all move to London to live with Gran. Tabitha wants to make a good impression in her new school so when she makes good friends with A'isha and Emz and makes the class laugh in her first few days, things are starting to look good for her. With her school friends expecting cool things from her, Tabitha is anxious about their thoughts of her un-cool family. Gran expects Tab to walk her dog Basil with his ridiculous knitted outfits on in public, her mum is going on about her weight all the time and Luke her younger brother will not stop annoying her!
Arabella Weir has successfully captured a young teenager's mind through funny and witty narrative. It is a lively read that I found gripping and enjoyable. The book recommends for teens, but I found it 10+.
(Review by Megan :D)
This is the third book in the series from the hilarious Catherine Wilkins, who still doesn't seem to disappoint!
It is the next term in 'Hellfern' Juniors and it's SHOWTIME! Jessica is in her dream spot as head of set design for the school musical and has got brilliant ideas for the comic, but it's too good to be true. Harriet VanDerk is being a bigger nuisance than usual and messing up set design, her friends are too busy being wrapped up in the production to care for the comic and meeting up AND Jessica's Dad has gone to live up a tree. Fantastic.
Another five star knock-out; I absolutely loved this book. Funny, entertaining and very realistic! Would definitely recommend to 9-12 yr-olds as a gob-smacking read!
13 year old Apple lives with her Nana and their labrador Derry (her Nana is Irish). Apple's mum was just 18 when she was born, and her dad went away to university. Apple's mum felt unable to cope, so when Apple was just a toddler, her mum packed up and left - on Christmas Eve. Apple hasn't seen or heard from her since, all she knows is that she is an actress in America. Apple's dad has since married Trish, (there is no love lost between Apple and Trish), and they are expecting a baby. Her nan is quite strict but has brought her up well and loves her deeply, even though she doesn't like to show it. Then one day, Apple's mum just shows up, comes back into Apple's life, and turns it upside down. Everything changes - school, friendships, family - and Apple finds herself having to make grown-up decisions. She discovers that writing poetry helps her sort her emotions out and gets her through some difficult situations. It is only when a person close to her goes missing that she realises her mother may not be the person she thought she was.
I got really sucked into this story, I just couldn't bear to tear myself away from it. Sarah is just one of those writers who make reading their book an addiction! You feel sorry for Apple not having a mother around, but then even more sorry for her when the mother that turns up is so unlike what Apple expected, or indeed what any responsible mother should be like. But the character you most feel sorry for is Rain, who is so evidently troubled, but even her own mother doesn't have the time or the patience to realise.
An emotional book of a young teen coping in an adult world. Suitable for 12+.
