If you are looking for something new to read or some competitions to enter then pop along to the Scottish Book Trust web site.
If you find a brilliant read that we do not have here at St.Ninian’s please let me know and I will do my best to add it to our stock.
If you do visit the web site let me know what you thought of it or if you have your own favourite booky web site let me know and it might just feature on these pages!
THE BOY WHO FELL DOWN EXIT 43 by Harriet Goodwin
In this book, a boy called Finn’s dad died and he was really upset about it. The dad had been teaching him to drive. Finn took the car and started driving it, but when he was driving the rain got really bad and Finn ended up crashing. As he crashed he fell into a place called the underworld, this is where the people who have died end up. His was Dad was not there as instead of going into the underworld he became a star.
When Finn got there no-one could believe a human was in the underworld. At the same time someone called Jessie from the underworld was stuck on earth. Once Jessie got back it caused water to come through. Water kills people from the underworld. Jessie and Finn end up saving the underworld by completing a very tough challenge.
I think this book fitted really well with the fantasy theme as there was strange characters and lots of potions. I think this was a good fantasy book and I wasn’t expecting it to be very good as I don’t usually like fantasy books.
Jessica S2
It’s got pink on the front it’s got black on the front – must be for Goth girls…and well it kinda sorta is.
Girl with name shortened to boys name Rory (to make her funky and cool and hip I’m sure) comes alllllll the way from America to London to go to a posh school- happens all the time – hello Gossip Girl are you listening? And for the first 120 pages I was getting in to it… new school, quirky girl, potentially handsome but smart ( phew!) boyfriend, jolly hockeysticks and someone pretending to the Jack the Ripper – good work Maureen I thought so far so… oh oh and then the book goes all Buffy the Ghostieslayer and I, like a little library balloon, began to deflate.
Sure, the writing was still quirky and sometimes laugh out loud (or LOL for those under 21) but not quite for me. There are two more to this series and the ending did have a little amusing crackle to it BUT the books (my little library owl tells me) have been delayed twice; never a good sign and not sure if I am overly bothered by this.
HOWEVER, don’t just take my word on this quote from a pupil “I loved this – it was so cool can’t wait for the next ones”.
So, why not try it for yourself and see who you agree with OR even dun dun dun have your own opinion. Please let mw know I would really like to hear it.
Mrs B
‘The Guns Of Easter’ written by Gerard Whelan. In my opinion it was a very enjoyable book. The genre is war and conflict.
The story begins in Dublin, Ireland where a boy called Jimmy and is family live in the slums. He goes through a journey which leads him all over Dublin. Although this is at a time where war has broken out and the Irish rebels are fighting the British for independency. Jimmy however has to go and get money from his Auntie who lives on the other side of Dublin. Jimmy makes many friends on the way both on the Irish side and British side. There are various themes in this book such as friendship and war. Will Jimmy be able to get of the streets in time before the British put a curfew in place to shoot on sight anyone who is seen outside?
Matthew S2
Lucky old us there are 8 books on the Carnegie short list – which to my mind means it’s not short but medium. My plan, as usual, is to read them all and for once I might actually do it.
One of the contenders this year is Between Shades of Gray by Ruta Sepetys. I had not read anything about this book before I opened it which is rare for me; being quite nosy, and I am glad that I did not. I think the impact of the book would have been lessened a little if I had prepared myself for it’s content. This, now makes it hard to review as I do not want to give away much of the story as I want you to experience it in the same way I did.
In the criteria of shadowing a book award one always stands out for me – does this book stay with you when you have closed it?
Between Shades of Gray does that. The characters are so real you feel you could almost reach out and touch them and the settings are so vivid that you forget you have not actually physically been to these places.
The book is set during WW2 but not the WW2 that you recognise from so many other fiction books. This story is different and hauntingly so.
I heartily recommend this book to people who enjoy reading powerful books and please don’t read too much about it before you open it. let the book itself work it’s magic on you.
Two new lovely displays in the library for you to pop in and peruse at your leisure.
The first pays homage to all things fairy story ; so whether you are a damsel in distress or a very charming Prince or even a frog looking for a snog there is sure to be something for you to enjoy!
The second display pays homage to you dear readers and some of the brilliant reviews I have been getting from pupils in S1-S3. So, if you are not sure what to read next why not come in and see what others are sayiong about the books available in the library or why not have your say – just e-mail your review for a book (good or bad) and see if it pops up on our review wall.
Some books are like chewing gum – you chew ‘em up and spit them out and instantly forget them. Others are like bad kebab and leave you with a bad taste in your mouth. Very few are like Ben and Jerry’s chunky monkey ice –cream; you want more and more and once tasted you can’t even remember what life was like before you sampled it!
Such is the way with the book Hatchet by Gary Paulsen (please Google this man and find out how a librarian changed his life).
Brian’s parents have divorced and his summer is to be split between them. In order to get from one to the other he has to take a shortish ride on a plane, or so he thinks. When an accident occurs on the plane our hero finds himself lost and alone in the Canadian wilderness with only a hatchet to make the difference between survival and well err the other thing.
I love this character he is brave, he is funny, he is weak and vulnerable; he is us and more.
Try to get hold of a copy of this little gem and you won’t forget it.
The book I read was The Sleeping Sword by Michael Morpurgo. The beginning of the story was good but it got event better as the story went on! It was about a boy called Michael who goes blind and he and his father find a strange shield and sword on their farm grounds. He has a visit from a ghost who says he has to go give King Arthur his sword back, Michael doesn’t understand how he can do this as the king is dead but he does what he is told. He finds King Arthur with his best friend’s sister who he has a mad crush on! And is cured of his blindness!!!
In this book you find out that Michael is an adventurous boy. It is not too long and is quite easy to read and you could follow along with the story no problem. The description throughout the book is good. The book was good and I would recommend it too anyone who likes short fantasy books.
Eve S2
The book I read was The Wind Singer and it was a really good example of fantasy because there was lots of magic and made up people. It started in a city called Aramanth where Kestrel and Bowman live in a district called Orange. Endless exams and ratings are the only way forward after the Morah took over. However Kestrel wasn’t having any of it and runs away from everything and ends up at the top of the highest tower in Aramanth its self. She bangs on the door and a small grey-haired, old man answers the door, wearing a blue cloak (the only person who can wear blue is the emperor.)
.jpg "The Windsinger")
So he tells Kestrel to go on a quest to destroy the Zars. She does so with the help of her twin brother Bowman and their school mate- Mumpo – and eventually the wind singer sings again.
I enjoyed this book because it was a good example of fantasy and kept me on the edge of my seat!
Luke S2
To be frank I would not have picked this book up if it had not bee on the Carnegie long list – I am quite glad I did because it is now on the short-list.
My Sister Lives on the Mantlepiece by Annabel Pitcher tells the story of 10 year old Jamie (please do not let the age of the main character put you off) who, much to his father’s frustration has not cried since the death of his sister; the girl on the mantelpiece.
Jamie is a silly, funny heart-warming little boy that you can not help liking/feeling frustrated with/laughing at/with and the core themes of the book or loss and acceptance and growing up are delicately portrayed by his character.Big issue are not flinched from such as racism, divorce and terrorism but it is to the credit of the author that they never become preachy or overpowering.This book may not take you too long to read but it just might stay with you once you have closed the last page.
