Hunger

Author: Michael Grant

Hunger has struck the FAYZ. The food has run out, good kids are turning murderous and more mutant abilities are evolving. The Darkness is still lurking in the hills of the mineshaft, and it's getting hungry...

Out of all the books of the series, Hunger was probably my least favourite. Nothing really significant happened, but it was still great writing. Be sure to continue reading the books after Hunger though, because they get better and better.

Lies

Author: Michael Grant

A terrible fire has burnt Perdido Beach to the ground, and in the flames, the kids see the person they hoped they would never see again; Drake Merwin. But that's not possible. Drake is dead. 

I found Lies more political and less gruesome than the earlier books in the series. It was great, but the best is yet to come in Plague, the next book in the series.

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Gone

Author: Michael Grant

Suddenly, everyone over the age of fifteen has disappeared. Gone. Vanished without a trail. In a world without adults, the children are left to fend for themselves. Trapped inside a huge brick dome with no exit, the children must face hunger, war and the strange powers that they are developing in themselves. Bullies roam the streets and strange creatures are seen prowling the outskirts of the town. When life as you know it ends on your fifteenth birthday, everything changes...

Gone was a compelling novel, full of thrilling twists and turns. Grant drives the story through every possibility and brings it through into a wonderful six part series with millions of unexpected circumstances waiting around every corner. Keep an eye out for the rest of the series review coming up!

Swallows and Amazons

Author: Arthur Ransome

In the summer of 1929,  John, Susan, Roger and Titty Walker receive a telegram from their father giving them permission to sail to the middle of the lake they live by  and camp on the island there. But when they arrive, they find that the island already has inhabitants. Someone else had made a camp and left a kettle dangling on a stick above the remains of a fire place. One day, they see a small boat, just like their boat, Swallow, sailing towards their island with the name Amazon painted on its side. After a small battle the children of the Swallow and the children of the Amazon sign a parley and decide to join forces against the pirate Captain Flint. As well as a great between the Swallows and Amazons, the children discover hidden treasure and many more wonderful adventures
 My favourite character in this book is Titty Walker, Able-Seaman of the Swallow. To me, she is the most adventurous of the lot. My second favourite is Nancy Blackett, captain of the Amazon and a proper pirate.

The Sweetness at the Bottom of the Pie

Author: Alan Bradley

Flavia de Luce is 11 years old, the youngest of the eccentric de Luce family. A natural born chemist with a particular interest in poison, Flavia finds herself in the middle of a strange mystery involving her stamp-obsessed father, his friends, some stamps, and a curious death. Inspector Hewitt has been hired to solve the mystery, but quickly cuts it off before many suspicious incidents begin to happen. It is up to Flavia De Luce to reveal the truth behind the terrible murder.

This book really drew me into it. I love the way the mysterys kept unraveling until they seemed like they would go on forever! Flavia De Luce is such an eccentric character and I love how she uses her own talents as a chemist to solve the crime. However, as the book went along, I found it a bit too predictable.

Escape from Mr. Lemoncello's Library

Author: Chris Grabenstein

Twelve year old Kyle Keeley is the class clown, lover of any kind of game and one of the most popular kids at school. His hero, Luigi Lemoncello, is helping to build the brand new library.
 On the library's opening night, twelve twelve year old children will be chosen for a fun-filled stay overnight at the library. The children have been garanteed food, fun and games. If there was games, Kyle was going. Just managing to get lucky with his library essay, Kyle's overnight stay is not what he expected. In the morning, the children are still locked in the library. That's when they are told that they will be locked in the library until the next day's afternoon. The children have until then to escape from the library.
With their minds set on the prize of fame and fortune, Kyle and his teammates are led into an amazing world of puzzles, mysteries and challenges in a race to escape.


I really enjoyed reading about the puzzles and problems Kyle and his friends encounter in this book. I love figuring out the puzzles myself, as the reader, whenever I read this book. I was completeley  absorbed in this book and I found myself being drawn into Kyle's world.

When did you see her last ?

Author: Lemony Snicket

In the second book of the series, Lemony Snicket returns with another mystery to solve. He and his chaperone, S. Theodora Markson, have been hired to solve the mystery of the disappearance of Cleo Knight. But is there more to this mystery than a just a runaway child?

I love how there is always more to the mystery than you expect in this series. Lemony Snicket does a great job on elaborating on a simple sentence to make it much more interesting.

Obernewtyn chronicles: The Farseekers

Author: Isobelle Carmody

Book 2: The Farseekers

Obernewtyn has changed now. Once it was the dreaded place where Misfits were sent to work. Now it has become a heaven for Misfits. Rushton has become the Master of Obernewtyn and the Misfits have been separated into guilds based on their special abilities. Elspeth is now the leader of the Farseek Guild for those with the same ability as  Elspeth, to see into the minds of beasts. Then Elspeth finds an extraordinary Talent from far away, and a group of Misfits set off to find the unusual Misfit. But the ability they find is unlike anything they have encountered before...

I like the big change from the terrifying Obernewtyn to the new Obernewtyn ruled by Rushton.

Obernewtyn chronicles: Obernewtyn

Author: Isobelle Carmody

Book 1: Obernewtyn


In this book, Obernewtyn is a place where Misfits are taken to be tested on and enslaved. This is quite different from the other books in the series.


Elspeth Gordie is a Misfit, a child born with a mutation that is not immediately clear at birth. She lives in an orphanage, keeping her mutant ability to see the thoughts and memories of all animals from everyone except for her brother. Then a lady from Obernewtyn comes to search the orphanage for Misfits, who are to be taken to Obernewtyn to live. Elspeth is discovered and taken to Obernewtyn, where a large group of other Misfits are waiting for her. The rulers of Obernewtyn, who are mean and cruel, are searching for the same ability that Elspeth has. Elspeth sets off on an adventure inside the walls of Obernewtyn to discover the truth of Obernewtyn.


At some points in this book I got a bit distracted, but not for long. It's mostly exciting, and my favourite book out of the series so far. I like it because the danger of Obernewtyn in the first book adds extra excitement.

Why Headless Chickens Run and other bonkers things you need to know

Author: Michael Cox

This book is filled with completely bonkers facts and stories, such as WHICH chicken ran around headless for 18 months, HOW many children get marbles stuck up their noses, WHO decided to make a palace out of ice and a whole heap of other bonkers facts. 

This book was probably my favourite in the bonkers books series. My favourite parts are probably the bits about the eccentric people, such as Charles Babbage, Sir George Rearsby Sitwell and Turkmenbashi.

Warriors Book 2: Fire and Ice

Author: Erin Hunter


Firepaw has become a warrior now, earning himself the name of Fireheart. Shadowclan's leader has been defeated and all seems to be at peace. But Windclan have not yet returned, and the wilderness needs four Clans to rule it. So Fireheart and Graystripe are sent off to retrieve Windclan and return them to their territory. But when they come back, Fireheart is still suspicious of Tigerclaw, Thunderclan's mighty deputy. What is he really up to?


I love how my suspicions about Tigerclaw flicker through my mind as I read, one moment I might think he's guilty, but as I read on I wonder if he really is guilty. This book is unpredictable.

Warriors Book 1: Into the Wild

Author: Erin Hunter


Rusty is an ordinary house cat that lives with humans. But one day, Rusty strays into the great forest and meets the Clan cats of Thunderclan, one of the four great Clans of cats that rule the wild. So Rusty joins the Clan, and earns his new name, Firepaw. Then he begins to train as a Warrior and is made an apprentice. But Shadowclan is growing stronger and is a threat to the other clans. Firepaw is suspicious of murders within his clan. And how will his clan deal with the treacherous Shadowclan?


I think this book was really well written. The battle scenes in particular were thrilling. I sometimes get confused which cat belongs to which Clan, but thanks to the list at the front of the book I soon worked it out. I got completely absorbed in this book.

Here is a map of the clans and their territories.

Thunderclan

Leader: Bluestar- blue-gray she-cat, tinged with silver around her muzzle.

Deputy: Redtail- small tortoiseshell tom with a distinctive ginger tail.
            Apprentice: Dustpaw

Medicine cat: Spottedleaf- beautiful dark tortoiseshell she-cat with a distinctive dappled coat.

Warriors: Lionheart- magnificent golden tabby tom with thick fur like a lion's mane.
               Apprentice: Graypaw

Tigerclaw- big dark brown tabby tom with unusually long front claws.
Apprentice: Ravenpaw

Whitestorm- big white tom.
Apprentice: Sandpaw

Darkstripe- sleek black-and-gray tabby tom.

Longtail- pale tabby tom with dark black stripes.

Runningwind- swift tabby tom.

Wiillowpelt- very pale gray she-cat with unusual blue eyes.

Mousefur- small dusky brown she-cat.

Apprentices: Dustpaw- dark brown tabby tom.

Graypaw- long-haired solid gray tom.

Ravenpaw- small, skinny black tom with a tiny white dash on his chest, with a white tipped tail.

Sandpaw- pale ginger she-cat.

Firepaw- handsome ginger tom.

Queens: Frostfur- beautiful white coat and blue eyes.

Brindleface- pretty tabby.

Goldenflower- pale ginger coat.

Speckletail- pale tabby, and the oldest nursery queen.

Elders: Halftail- big dark brown tabby tom with part of his tail missing.

Smallear- gray tom with very small ears. Oldest tom in Thunderclan.

Patchpelt- small black-and-white tom.

One-eye- pale gray she-cat, the oldest cat in Thunderclan. Virtually blind and deaf.

Dappletail- once-pretty tortoiseshell she-cat with a lovely dappled coat.

Moomin: Moominsummer Madness

Author: Tove Jansson


One day, a volcano causes a massive wave to hit Moominvalley and flood it. The Moomin family and their friends see a mysterious building float past and decide to take refuge in it. Emma, an old stage rat that lives in the building, tells the Moomins that the building is called a theatre. So the Moomins set off on a great voyage in their theatre
and have many little adventures. Finally, the day of the play that the Moomin family decided to perform comes and the friends are all brought back from their adventures.

I love how the characters get split up and go on their own little adventures, and then they are all brought back together again by the flyers for the play.

Moomin: Moomipappa's Memoirs

Author: Tove Jansson


In this book, Moominpappa reveals his amazing life story. As a child, Moominpappa was left on the doorstep of an orphanage, but he ran away soon after. It was then that he met his friends, Hodgkins, the Joxter and the Muddler, who shared his great adventures with him. Hodgkins, an intelligent inventor shows his friends the marvellous ship, The Oshun Oxtra ( misspelling of The Ocean Orchestra. The Muddler was painting the name on the side of the ship, but he accidentally misspelt it. ) on which they sail on and encounter many great adventures.


I love the new characters that I met in this book. All of Moominpappa's friends are the fathers of Moomintroll's friends, except for Hodgkins. I would like to know more about Hodgkins's family.

Moomin: Finn Family Moomintroll

Author: Tove Jansson

One day, Moomin, Sniff and Snufkin discover a magical top hat on top of a mountain. Unaware of its strange powers, they take it back to Moominhouse. After a game of hide and seek, they discover that whatever put into it will transform. So the family decides that the hat is to be thrown into the river to get rid of it for good. But Moomintroll and Snufkin get it back secretly at night. Soon after that, Thingumy and Bob turn up with a mysterious suitcase, containing a large bright ruby, the King's Ruby, which they stole from the Groke. Then Moominmamma's handbag disappears but it is found by Thingumy and Bob, who were using it as a bed. A great party is held in honour of Thingumy and Bob finding Moominmamma's handbag. During the party, the Hobgoblin turns up with his black panther, searching for the King's Ruby. Thingumy and Bob refuse to hand the ruby over, but when the Hobgoblin grants everyone a wish to thank them for finding his hat, Thingumy and Bob wish for the Hobgoblin to have his own ruby, the Queen's Ruby.

This book is my favourite in the whole series. I love all of the characters, but in this book my favourite is Thingumy and Bob. They speak in spoonerisms, for  example: "Man you cake it out?" asked Thingumy. "Mot nutch," said Bob. Thingumy wears a red cap. Only the Hemulen seems to understand their language.

Moomin: Comet in Moominland

Author: Tove Jansson


One day, Moomin and his friend Sniff find a strange symbol, a comet. They begin seeing the symbol everywhere, and so they go and ask the Muskrat what to do. He tells them that in order to find more information, they must travel to the observatory in the Lonely mountains and talk to the professors. On their journey, they meet several friends, and when they return they find that they must hide in the cave in order to escape from the comet. But will the comet actually hit Moominvalley?


I really love the characters in this series. My favourite character, well, one of them, is Sniff. He is quite greedy and loves jewels. He is always thinking of new ways to make money. He looks a bit like a kangaroo. He is also a bit of a wuss.

Maurice Sendak's birthday

Today, 10th of June, is Maurice Sendak's 85th birthday. Maurice Sendak died in 2012, but today he would have been 85. Google put up a special Maurice Sendak animation with all of his characters in it.

The Wolves of the Beyond: Watch wolf

Author: Kathryn Lasky



Faolan has become a member of the Watch where he is respected. But then he hears that a wolf has stolen a young grizzly bear cub. Faolan and Edme must return the grizzly bear cub to its mother otherwise a war will start between the bears and the wolves, who have lived together in peace for many years. For Faolan, it is very hard. His second Milk Giver was a grizzly, but Faolan himself is a wolf.

My favourite part in this book is when Faolan, Edme and Arthur the owl are saving Toby the bear cub from Old Cags, the wolf with the foaming mouth disease.

The Wolves of the Beyond: Shadow wolf

Author: Kathryn Lasky

Faolan, the wolf with the splayed paw, has become a clan wolf. He joins the clan as a gnaw wolf, the lowest ranking wolf in the clan. Heep, a mean gnaw wolf, becomes jealous and blames Faolan for the murder of a malcadh pup. But Faolan is innocent and the gaddergnaw games are coming. All gnaw wolves from different clans will compete in the games. Can Faolan and his friends show that he is truly innocent and can Faolan win the games and become a member of the Watch?

I like the characters in this book, particularly Heep.☺☺