Month: February 2019

 

Touching on mental health, family, friendship and the pressures that teenage carers face, as author Cat Clarke says, TENDER is “a compassionate, compelling and unflinching novel”. Marty and Daisy spend their lives pretending. Marty pretends his mum’s grip on reality isn’t slipping by the day. Daisy pretends her parents aren’t exhausting themselves while they look after her incurably ill brother. They both pretend they’re fine. But the thing about pretending is, at some point, it has to stop. And then what?

Thea, Y7 says:

There are two main characters in this book. Marty, whose mum is mentally ill, and Paisy, whose parents are exhausted from looking after her brother. They both worry too much, and when they finally meet, they realise they can talk to one another. Will that be enough?

Sylvie,Y7 says:

This book was fantastic because of its realistic themes, also every page makes you want to read the next! It really pulled on my heart-strings as it is very emotional. I think that a lot of young carers and other kids going through hard times would love this book because it is very relatable.

 

 

Twins Finch and Birdie Franconi are stars of the flying trapeze. But when Birdie suffers a terrifying accident, Finch must team up with the geeky new kid, Hector Hazzard, to form an all-boys double act and save the family circus school.

Together they learn to walk the high-wire of teen life and juggle the demands of friends, family, first love and facing up to who they are – all served up with a dash of circus-showbiz magic.

 

Caitlin, Y8 says:

A story about a circus that needs saving. Will Finch, Birdie and Hector be able to save it? A good book with lots of twists and surprises.

 

 

 

 

 

 

When Fionn Boyle sets foot on Arranmore Island, it begins to stir beneath his feet …

Once in a generation, Arranmore Island chooses a new Storm Keeper to wield its power and keep its magic safe from enemies. The time has come for Fionn’s grandfather, a secretive and eccentric old man, to step down. Soon, a new Keeper will rise.

But, deep underground, someone has been waiting for Fionn. As the battle to become the island’s next champion rages, a more sinister magic is waking up, intent on rekindling an ancient war.

 

Tommy, Y7:

I liked this book, although the story did seem to keep going back to the same thing so it was a bit repetitive. I’d also have liked to have seen more of the storm keeper. I did like his magic candles and the thought that the island that they were walking on was actually alive!

 

 

Humorous and heartbreaking debut novel with the fresh, funny, honest voice of a 14-year-old Geordie lad recounting the trials and tribulations of family life and finding first love. Nominated for the 2019 Carnegie Medal.

Danny’s mam has a new boyfriend. Initially, all is good – Callum seems nice enough, and Danny can’t deny he’s got a cool set up; big house, fast car, massive TV, and Mam seems to really like him.

But cracks begin to show, and they’re not the sort that can be easily repaired. As Danny witnesses Mam suffer and Callum spiral out of control he goes in search of his dad.
The Dad he’s never met.

Set in Newcastle and Edinburgh, this supremely readable coming-of-age drama tackles domestic violence head on, but finds humour and hope in the most unlikely of­ places

 

Bethan, Y7 says:

This book is about a boy called Danny who lives with his Mum. His Dad has run off and his Mum has just found a new boyfriend. It would be happy families except that Mum’s boyfriend hits her, a lot.

 

 

Ella, Y7 says:

Danny loves his life, just him and his mum! But then Callum joins them and everything goes pear-shaped. Danny hates Callum but things get worse when the fighting and hitting starts. Danny finds out that 2 women a week are killed by their boyfriends. These figures scare Danny and he goes to see his dad, who he has never met before. his dad, after a LOT of persuasion, kills Callum. After that, Danny has a funny feeling in his heart – guilt. But then he remembers he now knows his dad. Life doesn’t get much better than that.

 

 

 

 

A teenage spy. A Nazi boarding school. The performance of a lifetime.

Sarah has played many roles – but now she faces her most challenging of all. Because there’s only one way for a Jewish orphan spy to survive at a school for the Nazi elite. And that’s to become a monster like them.

They think she is just a little girl. But she is the weapon they never saw coming… with a mission to destroy them all.

 

 

 

 

When a creature dies, its spirit can go looking for somewhere to hide.

Some people have space inside them, perfect for hiding.

Makepeace, a courageous girl with a mysterious past, defends herself nightly from the ghosts which try to possess her. Then a dreadful event causes her to drop her guard for a moment.

And now there’s a ghost inside her.

The spirit is wild, brutish and strong, but it may be her only defence in a time of dark suspicion and fear. As the English Civil War erupts, Makepeace must decide which is worse: possession – or death.

 

Lily, Yr7 says:

This book was very confusing at some points. The good bit was the story-line about Bonnie running away with her boyfriend. This book is for people who like drama and a little bit of romance.

 

Caitlin, Y8 says:

This book makes you think and makes you want to read on. It’s a good book for someone who likes life stories but also someone who likes to question things.

 

Bethan, Y7 says:

Most books about running away are focused on the person who has run away but this book is about a girl whose best friend has run away with a teacher from their school. It is a very good book and I’d definitely recommend it.

Molly, Y8 says:

It shows all aspects of school in sometimes funny, sometimes serious ways. It is a very individual kind of book, I have never read anything like it! It shows you lots of things you never thought about, like how teachers feel when arriving to a new class. It proves that poems don’t just have to be about trees or birds.

Toby, Yr7 says:

A nice read where the words flow from one to the other. Overall, it’s a good book if you want to try something new. It tells you everything all at once about school.

 

Caitlin, Y8 says:

It is all in rhyme so is quite hard to understand. It was basically about a girl and her school life. You have to get your brain to think to understand the book but many of the things in it relate to real life.

 

Ciara, Y7 says:

I can’t describe this book because it IS everything all at once! It shows what different people think about school in different situations. This is definitely a book I’d recommend. It doesn’t matter what genre you like because it really is everything all at once.

 

Lara, Y7 says:

This is a book full of poems. It is slightly confusing but it is about secondary school life, from year 7, being the youngest and smallest, to being in year 11 and being the oldest and like a giant to the year 7s.