Rendezvous in Russia
by Lauren St John
This is the third in the Laura Marlin mysteries series (after Dead Man's Cove, Kidnap in the Caribbean, and Kentucky Thriller), which sees Laura, Tariq and Skye caught up in another adventure involving the notorious Straight A's gang. Our three heroes become film stars as they are cast as extras in a movie where a priceless piece of art is stolen from a museum in Russia. However, scenes become more fact than fiction, and Laura finds herself closer to Mr A, the evil boss of the Straight A's, than she ever wished to be.
It's another exciting page turner from Lauren St John - I've loved all her series (The White Giraffe, Laura Marlin, The One Dollar Horse). She has a great ability of drawing you in from the first page so you are instantly hooked. I urge everyone to read all her books!
More Than This
by Patrick Ness
This is a book that will get you thinking. The story begins with a drowning. Sixteen year old Seth is struggling in the icy waters of an ocean - the waves dash him against rocks - he dies. But then, he wakes up - on the front path of a house. Is this heaven or hell? Is he dead or alive? Is this purgatory? You are left with these questions all through the book. Just when you think you know what's happened and where Seth is, the author throws in another conundrum and you're back to puzzling over what on earth is going on. But not in a bad way. Your interest is held as the author reveals what has happened in the past, Seth's relationship with his family and friends, the tragedy that occurred in his family (quite a horrific one too - very moving) for which Seth knows he is to blame and can never forgive himself. Seth is not alone in this strange world. There is the strong and wilful teenage girl Regine, the young Polish boy Tomasz, and the ominous black clad and black helmeted Driver (or 'Death' as Tomasz calls him) who is constantly tracking them down. As they try to answer his questions as to where they are and their purpose of being there, they help him along with answers to problems in his past life, so he starts to realise that there always was and always is 'More than this'.
Tomasz is the one character I found the most entertaining, but also the one I had the most problem with. He is twelve years old and had been learning English ready to start a new life there with his mother when he found himself in this scary new world. But his words are almost philosophical - too mature for a 12-yr-old, never mind a Polish boy just learning the language. But I will forgive the author this as he is my favourite character.
A powerful book for all you thinkers out there!
The School for Good and Evil
by Soman Chainani
Sophie and Agatha are friends in an almost fairytale world - Sophie is the beautiful blond princess who longs to be rescued by a handsome prince and Agatha is the dark sulky girl with no other friends and whose mother appears to be a witch. Even though they are not actually living in a fairytale, it could be that they soon will. Every four years, two children (one good, one evil) are whisked away in the dead of night to attend one of two schools - either the School for Good, or the School for Evil, and end up in their own fairytale story. Sophie hopes she will be the one chosen for the School for Good as she yearns to live happily ever after with her prince, and she has done nothing but good deeds for the last four years to make sure she earns her place. However, things do not go to plan for either her or Agatha. They are both whisked away, but Sophie is cast into the School for Evil, and Agatha into the School for Good. Agatha is determined to save her friend and escape back to their homeland, but Sophie has other things on her mind - to swap places with Agatha and live out her dream in the School for Good. They both battle fairies, monsters, wolves, the High Master, even other students to get what they want, until they realise they must work together and solve a riddle to even stand a chance of escaping.
A fast-paced, funny, action-packed, thrilling ride of an adventure, children of 10 and over will love this book, which is the first of a trilogy. It is also going to be made into a film, which should be superb to watch.
Go to the dedicated website http://schoolforgoodandevil.com/ to take an exam to see which school you'd be put into!
Picture Me Gone
by Meg Rosoff
Meg Rosoff is one of my many favourite authors. One of her books 'How I Live Now' is soon to be a film (out 27th September 2013). My personal favourites are 'What I Was' and 'Just in Case'. Until now. 'Picture Me Gone' is about 12-yr-old Mila, who sets out on a trip to America with her father to try to find his friend, Matthew, who left the family home one day and didn't return, leaving his wife, baby son, and dog behind. Mila uses her special gift of being able to 'read' people - their thoughts, feelings and memories - to try to solve the mystery. What she uncovers are friendships, secrets, lies, tragedy, and a situation that is just too incomprehensible for a 12-yr-old girl.
I was drawn into this book immediately - I knew by the second chapter that this would be my favourite. I nearly cried when I read how sad Honey the dog was, how she was disliked by Suzanne the wife, how she missed her master - "loneliness flows off her in waves"..."this is not a happy house". Thankfully Mila and her father take Honey with them on the search for Matthew which is a relief for us all.
This is a fantastic book of discovery. Mila is a very mature young girl - perhaps being an only child has helped her understand the intricacies of adult relationships and behaviour, which also helps her piece together the mystery.
Meg has the brilliant ability of capturing and describing every emotion, every subtle bit of body language, every part of a conversation, so you can vividly imagine each and every character she introduces into the story. I loved loved loved it.
Smile
by Raina Telgemeier
(Review by Megan)
This is an epic book about a girl called Raina in sixth grade, who has a disastrous fall after a meeting at Girl Scouts, where she knocks out her two front teeth! Raina's life turns into a nightmare as the orthodontist gives her braces, embarrassing head gear, and fake teeth!
Turning into a teenager makes her life harder, as she grows interested in boys, goes to high school and gets spots...
I loved this book in all ways, especially how it is laid out like a comic book, with pictures and speech bubbles that makes it a more enjoyable read.
If you like Diary of a Wimpy Kid or Geek Girl you'll love this.
Chasing the Dark
by Sam Hepburn
Joe Slattery's mum has been killed in a hit-and-run car accident, and as his father is no longer on the scene, Joe is sent to live with his mum's sister and her husband. However, Aunt Doreen shows only animosity towards Joe. While enjoying a walk out with his dog, Oz, to escape the awful Aunt, Joe finds himself in the grounds of a crumbling mansion. Before he knows it, he is grabbed by a dirty tramp, who threatens to kill Oz unless Joe brings him food, medicine, bandages and money. This is the start of a frightening adventure for Joe as he uncovers secrets and lies. The accident that killed his mum was no simple hit-and-run; who was the stranger in the car who was giving her a lift; what is the tramp with the foreign accent doing hiding in the mansion. Joe tries to discover some answers, but in the process finds himself in mortal danger.
A great thriller that definitely picks up speed as it progresses.
Fortunately, the Milk...
by Neil Gaiman
A crazy, kooky tale of a father's trip out the house to get some milk so the kids can have their breakfast cereal. He is away for absolutely ages, and on his return his children ask where he's been. So begins an incredible story of time-travel, meeting dinosaurs, aliens in spaceships, pirates, stone-god worshipping men, and the all-important pint of milk. If the story isn't enough to keep the readers entertained, Chris Riddell's illustrations will definitely have you poring over every page, looking at the minute detail of his pictures. The father of the story bears an incredibly uncanny resemblance to Neil Gaiman himself...
A brilliant pairing of author and illustrator to create an entertaining fantasy story for young readers.
