Category: books for girls

Katy by Jacqueline Wilson

9780141353982Katy Carr is a lively, daredevil oldest sister in a big family.
She loves messing around outdoors, climbing on the garage roof, or up a tree, cycling, skateboarding, swinging…But her life changes in dramatic and unexpected ways after a serious accident.
Inspired by the classic novel, What Katy Did, Jacqueline Wilson creates an irresistible modern version for the twenty-first-century.

It looks good but I personally don’t like it. HG (S1) *

Shadowsmith by Ross Mackenzie

9781782503040_731249d4-ef4d-4b6f-98c6-f56741ca0e1fAre you brave? When mysterious Amelia Pigeon turns up at Kirby’s bedroom window in the dead of night, this is the question she asks him — immediately before they tumble into a world of ancient malevolent spirits who have torn their way into Kirby’s sleepy seaside village.

This book is a FANTASTIC read all about mystery, magic, murder. Highly recommend. AM (S1) *****

The Blitz Next Door by Cathy Forde

9781782502036Pete has never even heard of Clydebank in Scotland, but when his dad finds a new job at last, Pete finds himself leaving his home in London overnight.
There are advantages to his new life, including a massive new bedroom and his first ever garden, complete with a real-life bomb shelter.
He’d even be ok with the sound of the girl next door crying all the time — except that there is no house next door…Pete makes two new friends: Dunny, who knows all about the Second World War, and Beth, the girl next door who somehow seems to come from it.
He slowly realises that Beth has returned from the 1940s for a reason.
But does Pete have the courage to step into the past to solve a mystery that’s over seventy years old?

It was a really good book because of all the characters. I loved the character Beth Winters. RW (S1) *****

The Piper by Danny Weston

piperHe who pays the piper calls the tune. When Peter and his little sister, Daisy, are evacuated from London to the countryside, they find themselves on an isolated farm in the middle of a treacherous marshland.
As Daisy gets drawn deeper into the secrets of their new home, Peter starts to realise that something very sinister is going on.
What is that music they can hear at night? And who are the children dancing to it?

Fabulous! It was the best book ever. AG (S1) *****

See How They Run by Ally Carter

See how they runGrace thought finding her mother’s killer would bring her peace.
But the truth has only made her a target. On Embassy Row, trust is a luxury. Death is a very real threat. And a girl like Grace should be very careful about which secrets she brings to light…

I thought this book was really good because it’s page turning. It makes you want to read more which I think books are meant to do. CS (S2) *****

Forget me not by Jo Cotterill

Since her mother, a famous florist, died three years ago, Kate’s whole life has changed completely. She’s pushed her friends away,forget me not shrunk into herself and is only finding some solace spending time in the garden amongst the flowers her mum loved so much. Desperate to try and become more like the ‘normal’ girl she once was, Kate gets a summer job at a garden centre. Doing something she’s good at means that flashes of the old sparky girl begin to emerge again – helped a lot by her very attractive and mysterious co-worker, Simon…

In the beginning it was sad because it is the anniversary of her mum’s death and it was a really good book because it was breathtaking. RW & ES (S1) *****

Awful Auntie by David Walliams

awful auntieAunt Alberta is on a mission to cheat the young Lady Stella Saxby out of her inheritance, Saxby Hall. But, with the help of Soot, the Cockney ghost of a chimney sweep alongside her, Stella is determined to fight back. And sometimes, a special friend, however different, is all you need to win through.

It was a very moving story. I personally enjoyed the characters Soot and Lady Stella Saxby.  ES & RW (S1) *****

Ice Dreams by Jo Cotterill

ice dreamsTania Dunn is a promising ice-skater, but is in for a shock when her coach decides to pair her with Zac, a daredevil novice skater, for the summer ice show. Tania is outraged! She has always been a singles skater and she doesn’t trust Zac on the ice at all. But Zac is very good looking and willing to try anything and slowly but surely he begins to win Tania over…

It is a really good book. It encourages you to follow your dreams. RW & ES (S1) *****

Tom Gates: A tiny bit lucky by Liz Pichon

tiny bit luckyWill Tom and his band DOGZOMBIES be LUCKY enough to win the Rockweekly Bandbattle competition?
They just might be if they could find time to practice!
But with inspectors in the school, an amazing new cartoon on TV, caramel wafers to eat and a stray cat getting in the way, Tom’s a bit too busy having FUN!

I really enjoyed this book and I liked the way that the author went to another book. MW (S1) *****

Dark Spell by Gill Arbuthnott

15-year-old Callie Hall has just found out she’s a witch, and things keep going wrong. Sometimes her mind seems to make things happen, things she can’t control. She can set fire to things without a match, and when she’s angry people can get hurt.
Her friend Josh understands she’s a bit weird, but it’s only on a dark and dangerous visit to the tunnels under the ruins of St Andrews’ Castle that he realises just how strange she really is. Something comes back with Callie — in Callie — something she can’t escape. Can Callie control her power long enough to send back the darkness, before it takes over her life? And will Josh ever understand her secret? A brilliant, engrossing teen fantasy from the author of Winterbringers and The Keeper’s Daughter.

It is a really gripping book and I would recommend it. (S1) *****

Intriguing, mysterious & good. (S1) ****1/2