The Snow Angel, Lauren St. John
Ghost Boys, Jewell Parker Rhodes
The House with Chicken Legs, Sophie Anderson
Zebra Crossing Soul Song, Sita Brahmachari
The Family Tree, Mal Peet
When a man returns to his childhood home and visits the derelict tree house in which his father once chose to live, he recalls the past unravelling of his family, the unspoken strangeness of their lives, and the impact on his own adult life. Beautiful, sparse and insightful storytelling.
Josiah, Year 7 says:
I thought the book was very well written. It had a great mixture of emotions. Overall I think it was a great book!
Flying Tips for Flightless Birds, Kelly McCaughrain
Mrs Gibson says:
“Every so often a book steals your heart, wrings it out and then refills it with love, wonder and hope. You are left, almost grieving that it has finished.
This book is for those who enjoy a slow, deep exploration of characters, those who feel out of sync with others around them, who are unusual but witty and creative, just lacking the confidence to show their true colours.
And it is character that Kelly McCaughrain focuses on, the story moves slowly but is carefully constructed. Although the main voice belongs to Finch, we hear his twin sister’s voice through her blog even when she is lying in hospital in a coma after a trapeze accident (several posts were conveniently scheduled to appear after this). Colliding with their close sibling and trapeze-flying relationship comes Hector, the archetypal geek – or so we think – one should never judge by appearances!
A story of circus tricks, love and relationships, honesty and bullying. A warm tale which will have you laughing out loud (particularly at the self obsessed Bond Girls and whisky drinking Grandma), catching your breath and rooting for those you wish would be true to themselves and win through the complexities of growing up. Kelly McCaughrain’s first book displays her skill for dialogue, at portraying school and family life realistically and gentle humour. I loved it and miss it already!”
Everything All At Once, Steven Camden
An achingly beautiful collection of poems about one week in a secondary school where everything happens all at once. Zooming in across our cast of characters, we share moments that span everything from hoping to make it to the end of the week, facing it, fitting in, finding friends and falling out, to loving lessons, losing it, and worrying, wearing it well and worshipping from afar.
In Everything All At Once, Steven Camden’s poems speak to the kaleidoscope of teen experience and life at secondary school.
‘All together. Same place.
Same walls. Same space.
Every emotion
under the sun
Faith lost. Victories won.
It doesn’t stop. Until the bell.
Now it’s heaven
Now it’s hell.
Who knows?
Not me
I just wrote what I can see
So what’s it about? Here’s my response
It’s about everything
All at once.’
Tommy, Year 7 says:
“It was a nice change reading lots of short poems rather than a massive novel. It’s a shame it was so short as I’d have liked to read more. I liked the rhymes and the verses as well.”
Endling: The Last, Katherine Applegate
Byx is the youngest member of her dairne pack. Believed to possess remarkable abilities, her mythical doglike species has been hunted to near extinction in the war-torn kingdom of Nedarra.
After her pack is hunted down and killed, Byx fears she may be the last of her species. The Endling. So Byx sets out to find safe haven, and to see if the legends of other hidden dairnes are true.
Along the way, she meets new allies–both animals and humans alike–who each have their own motivations for joining her quest. And although they begin as strangers, they become their own kind of family–one that will ultimately uncover a secret that may threaten every creature in their world.
Building on the success of her critically acclaimed novels The One and Only Ivan, Crenshaw, and Wishtree, while also returning to her action-packed fantasy roots of Animorphs, the Endling series is Katherine Applegate at her finest. With its enthralling characters, unique setting, and gripping adventure, this series is the perfect next read for fans of Rick Riordan, Brian Jacques, and Tui T. Sutherland
Tommy, Year 7 says:
I really enjoyed this book! All of the characters were so great and so was the land they explored. It was like a world quickly turning into dystopia.
I would have liked the author to have done more justice to the many characters though.
Ciara, Year 7 says:
Overall, this is a very good book which I would recommend to anyone who likes to read about real life problems written as fantasy. The moral is to help endangered animals. With Tobble’s loyalty, Khara’s sword, Gambler’s claws, not to mention Renzo the thief, Byx has plenty of help in her struggles. The only bad thing about the book is that you can’t put it down!
Skeleton Tree, Kim ventrella
When Stanley Stanwright finds a bone poking out of the earth in his back garden, he is determined to take a picture of it and send it to the Young Discoverer’s Competition, thinking it will help bring his dad back home. But the bone begins to grow, reaching up out of the ground until it turns into a skeleton – a skeleton with an unusual interest in his unwell younger sister Miren.
As time wears on, Miren’s condition worsens, and the only time she is truly at peace is when she is playing with the skeleton. But Stanley is wary of him, especially when he finally manages to get a picture, and spots a scythe at the skeleton’s feet. . .
Skeleton Tree by Kim Ventrella is a whimsical, heartfelt story about a boy who finds a friend in Death with the help of an unusual tree growing in his back garden. With black line illustrations throughout by Victoria Assanelli.
Ciara, Year 7 says:
“I loved this book from start to middle, but not to end! Princey, the Skeleton Tree, is a friendly Grim Reaper. You need to read the whole book carefully to discover the dire fate that awaits Stanley. I almost cried reading this book, it’s so strong. Did Ms Francine know it would happen? See if you agree with me.”
Tommy, Year 7 says:
I really enjoyed reading this book, it was so hard to put down. I think it was just the right mix of spookiness and comedy. If I were to change it, I would give it a happier ending. I found it a bit of an anti-climax! I think that anyone could enjoy this book!
Riveting Reads 