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Archives for July 24th, 2019

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‘The Outlaw Varjak Paw’ (Varjak Paw #2) by S.F. Said 📖

Having saved the city cats from a fate worse than death, Varjak Paw finds himself the elected and popular leader of a new gang – a gang that supports freedom and kindness for all. But will the pressure take its toll on this brave yet sometimes naive cat?

Soon the city erupts in an all-out gang war as the evil Sally Bones attempts to control the lives of all cats. Horrified and outnumbered, Varjak and the others must fight for their freedom or die trying; can Jalal’s Way really be the best way?

This is another thrilling adventure, eagerly awaited by all Varjak fans, both young and old.

This books is available at JF SAI (library link) and on Overdrive as an Ebook. It is a fan read for Years 4 and Years 5

📖 #SHRLibraryBookReview

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The Land of Neverendings
by Kate Saunders 📖

Shortlisted for the Carnegie Award 2019

Emily felt wide awake – but this had to be a dream. A soft light glowed from the middle of Holly’s empty bed. It came from a little tent – striped red and white, not more than knee-height, and with shadows moving about inside it. Never in all her life would Emily forget the strangeness of what she saw next . . .

When Emily’s sister Holly dies, she is surprised to find that she misses her toy bear, Bluey, almost as much as Holly. Bluey was Holly’s constant companion, and Emily used to make up stories about him and his escapades in the magical (and very silly) world of Smockeroon to entertain her. And the only person who seems to understand Emily’s grief is Ruth, her kindly next-door neighbour.

But then very strange things start to happen. Emily dreams of talking toys visiting her bedroom, telling her that they have come from Smockeroon, and have a message for her from Bluey. A terrible black toad, who stinks of sadness, begins to stalk Ruth’s house. And when a parade of penguins wearing plastic moustaches marches through their kitchen – well, Emily has to begin to wonder whether this is all a dream after all. But why are the toys here, and what could Bluey possibly be trying to tell her?

This stunning novel will tickle your funny bones as much as it pulls on your heartstrings, and is a true classic in the making.

A great read for years 5 & 6.This book is available on Overdrive as an Ebook and Audiobook.

📖 #SHRLibraryBookReview

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‘Before We Were Yours’ by Lisa Wingate

A real page turner. I was gripped from the outset. This is a story of a little known scandal in Tennessee where children and babies were stolen and sold through a corrupt adoption system that was protected by those in power. The abuse, cruelty and neglect are dramatized here in the fictional family of river gypsies who despite poverty are a happy family until the father is forced to leave the 5 siblings on their boat while he unwillingly takes their stricken mother in a difficult labor to hospital. While their parents are away the children are taken and their nightmare life in the homes begins. With edgy writing and a see-saw narration between historical and modern perspectives the plot unfolds in a display of powerful and disturbing narrative.

Available on Overdrive as an Audiobook. This is suitable for parents and older seniors. #SHRLibraryBookReview

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Shortlisted for the Carnegie Award this year. “The House with Chicken Legs” by Sophie Andersen is a wonderful adaptation of the old Russian folk tales. It is so rich and evocative that I just couldn’t put it down. Marinka is a reluctant Yaga who loves with her Baba in the house that is alive and can run. She is supposed to be learning how to guide the dead so the she can become the next Guardian. But Marinka is independent, determined and she breaks the rules while desperately seeking her own destiny. But life has a way of surprising us and things go awfully wrong. Marinka has to come to terms with the painful loss of her grandmother and her new role. Life isn’t always easy but good things can come out of bad. 
This book is ideal for year 5-7 and can be found on Overdrive (link) #SHRLibraryBookReview

 

 

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‘Framed’ by Frank Cottrell Boyce 📖

A wonderful story packed with subtle British humour and fascinating facts about art. Told from the point of view of Dylan, 2nd child of Team Hughes with an obsession for car details and a desire to help revive his family’s failing garage business in sleepy, remote Manod, a place which doesn’t even have a road sign and which everyone else is leaving. But when the National Gallery stores precious paintings in the disused quarry to protect them from floods this provides the perfect opportunity for a team of master criminals with hilarious consequences.

A great read for years 5 & 6. It is available at JF BOT

You can check status of the book here

📖 #SHRLibraryBookReview

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“Piecing me together” by Renee Watson 📖

A Newberry Honor Book thus is the story of Jade who lives in a poor neighborhood in New York but has a scholarship to an affluent mostly white school where she wants to make the most of all opportunities especially if it means she can travel. But life doesn’t always give us what we want no matter how hard we try. Jade enrolls in a new ‘woman to woman’ program but both she and her mentor Maxine have much to learn. This book is ideal for year 8+ and is available in the senior library at F WAT #shrlibrarybookreview 📖

You can check status of the book here