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The Night Diary by Veera Hiranandani : Senior Book Review

5 June, 2019   
Published by Library Team in Book Reviews

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‘The Night Diary’ by Veera Hiranandani 📖

1947. India has been free from British rule but internal political struggles have resulted in partition. Nisha & her twin brother are half Muslim & half Hindu. Nisha writes nightly in her diary to her dead mother and tells her all the things that she is unable to say as the family is forced to flee and make the treacherous journey to safety. Why do people hate each other so much? Nisha asks as she witnesses violence, starvation and calamity. 

This book is available as an audio book on Overdrive 

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I Will Always Write Back : Senior Book Review

5 June, 2019   
Published by Library Team in Book Reviews

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I will always write back: how one letter changed two lives by Caitlin Alifirenka, Martin Ganda and Liz Welch
I could not put this book down. It is a true story of pen pals Caitlyn in America and Martin a poor African boy in Zimbabwe. Through their correspondence a friendship blooms. It is a story of growth, discovery and commitment. Martin is crippled by poverty but is bright. Caitlyn is rich and spoilt. Their lives which could not be more different become entwined and show how perseverance and compassion can change lives. 
This book is in the Core Collection in the Senior Library at CC 305.2350 ALI Y8

Check the status of the book here

Read online with Overdrive here

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Seventh Son by Joseph Delaney : Senior Book Review

5 June, 2019   
Published by Library Team in Book Reviews

This book contains the 1st and 2nd titles in the Spook’s Apprentice series by Joseph Delaney. Thomas Ward is the seventh son of a seventh son and gifted with powers which help to defeat evil in the world. He must learn his trade as a Spook and bind boggarts, bury witches and face other terrifying evil creatures. In this book the two travel to Heysham where Mrs.Toner come from and they visit the ancient 8th century graves which actually exist and were a place Mrs.Toner often visited. 
This book can be found at F DEL in the fantasy section, along with all the others in the series. A great read

Check the status of the book here

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Junior Book Review; ‘The Benefits of Being an Octopus’ by Ann Braden 

9 May, 2019   
Published by Library Team in Book Reviews

‘The Benefits of Being an Octopus’ by Ann Braden 
I really felt for Zoe as she battles against poverty, neglect and an abusive step father. She spends her time caring for her 3 young siblings with such love & compassion while her mother works to keep the family afloat. Zoe compares herself to an octopus with its amazing survival instincts. But it the debating society at school which finally helps Zoe to face her problems and do something about them. 
This book is for senior students and available on Overdrive 📖 #SHRLibraryBookReview

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Junior Book Review; ‘Because of Winn-Dixie’ by Kate DiCamillo

9 May, 2019   
Published by Library Team in Book Reviews

‘Because of Winn-Dixie’ by Kate DiCamillo

Kate DiCamillo’s first published novel, like Winn-Dixie himself, immediately proved to be a keeper—a New York Times bestseller, a Newbery Honor winner, the inspiration for a popular film, and most especially, a cherished classic that touches the hearts of readers of all ages. 
The summer Opal and her father, the preacher, move to Naomi, Florida, Opal goes into the Winn-Dixie supermarket—and comes out with a dog. A big, ugly, suffering dog with a sterling sense of humor. A dog she dubs Winn-Dixie. Because of Winn-Dixie, the preacher tells Opal ten things about her absent mother, one for each year Opal has been alive. Winn-Dixie is better at making friends than anyone Opal has ever known, and together they meet the local librarian, Miss Franny Block, who once fought off a bear with a copy of WAR AND PEACE. They meet Gloria Dump, who is nearly blind but sees with her heart, and Otis, an ex-con who sets the animals in his pet shop loose after hours, then lulls them with his guitar.

Opal spends all that sweet summer collecting stories about her new friends and thinking about her mother. But because of Winn-Dixie or perhaps because she has grown, Opal learns to let go, just a little, and that friendship—and forgiveness—can sneak up on you like a sudden summer storm. 
This book is available in the junior library at JF DIC

You can check the status of the book here

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Senior Book Review; ‘The Invention of Hugo Cabret’

7 May, 2019   
Published by Library Team in Book Reviews

‘The Invention of Hugo Cabret’ by Brian Selznick 
Set in a railway station in Paris 22 year old Hugo Cabret has many secrets. His uncle, the time keeper is missing. Hugo is keeping all the station clocks going himself. He has an automaton. He steals parts from the toy booth in the station to help repair it. But he isn’t the only person who is hiding things from others. A lovely read illuminating some of the early works of the silent movies, this book is part text and part illustration. Suitable for Year 6+

You can find this book in the senior library at F SEL in the historical section. or check the status of the book here or shortcut to audio book on Overdrive here

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Senior book review

22 January, 2018   
Published by Library Team in Uncategorized

Review by: Sand 10GW

          The Red Pencil is a novel written in verse which describes a life in Sudan of a 12 years-old girl named Amira. Her beautiful village and her family fills her life with peace and delight. Yet everyone in the village including her and her family had to lived in fear of the Janjaweed attack. And one day they came without warning, lighting the village on fire and destroying all the happiness and joy. On that horrific day, Amira had lost her beloved dad, everything is gone, except from ashes that is left behind from the burning village. Her, her sister and her mother along with the other villagers have to migrate and find a new home. After few nights of walking, they finally arrive at the new places called Kalma. At the camp she receives a red pencil and and yellow sheets of paper from a visitor named Miss Sabrina. This inspired her to draw and want to learn more.
          This book introduces me to the new aspect of living in small and peaceful village where there’s no noises and busy roads unlike in the city as well as what it is like to live there. I like this book because I think that the storyline is very interesting even though there’s some parts that are really sad such as the loss of Amira’s dad and the memories during the Janjaweed attack which I don’t really enjoy. Furthermore, in my opinion this book is easier to read than normal novels because of the way the book written in verse which makes the story flows and also easier to understand.
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Senior book review

1 December, 2017   
Published by Library Team in Uncategorized

Review by: Arjyo 10GW

          Last of the Sandwalkers by Jay Hosler recounts the epic journey of Lucy, a beetle on a mission to make her big break in the science community. Lucy wants to be a part of something bigger than her small world inside a coconut. Lucy, with a host of friends (and one angry Professor from the University), journey outside of their familiar home to explore the wonders of the world around them. This fun filled graphic novel embodies the spirit of overcoming adversity.

          I thought this novel was so entertaining to read. Although Last of the Sandwalkers is fiction, there is so much to learn! I didn’t expect to pick up so many fun facts about insects; they really kept the book interesting. Personally, I loved that each character had their own personality, and no traits were repeated. Hosler did an amazing job of using personification to give life to his characters. By giving human characteristics to the insects, Hosler gives a fictionalised book details that allow the reader to comprehend and learn whilst enjoying a moving story. This form of fiction gives details on reality whilst sticking to a compelling storyline. It makes the reader engaged and allows them to gain knowledge of

          I would recommend this book to anyone that loves a good adventure, or enjoys the field of science.

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Junior book review

14 November, 2017   
Published by Library Team in Book Reviews

Review by : Oliver 6JN

Title: Beast Quest, Ferno the Fire Dragon

Author: Adam Blade

The story is about a boy named Tom who goes on a really exciting adventure with his pet horse Storm and meets this girl named Elena – who Tom agrees to take her with him on his adventure. He gets a special map given to him by a wizard called Aduro to help Tom stop the creator of the Beasts called Malvel. His first mission, is to hunt down a creature called Ferno who protected Avantia (the fantasy world) from harm, but Malvel poisoned Ferno into thinking he was a monster and was to destroy all Avantia.

There are over 50 Beast Quest books in the series, all around a 100 pages long. I love this book because I really like how it grabs the reader’s attention from the very beginning. If you read a lot, you could finish this book in a day and move onto the second book in the series: Beast Quest: Sepron the Sea Monster. Beast Quests are really good books especially if you find reading a struggle and it gives you a lot of ideas and imaginary pictures of beasts. I would very highly recommend this book to the whole of Prep School. This exhilarating book series is highly appreciated by many authors such as J.K. Rowling and Stephen King. If you are interested in Beast Quest have a look in the library and you’re sure to find a Beast Quest book. Adam Blade has written another series like Beast Quest, it is called Sea Quest.

My favourite character is Aduro because he is so wise and trustworthy and whatever he does he always manages to achieve it. Aduro faced Malvel long ago but didn’t manage to defeat him, now Aduro is too old to fight him again and trusts Tom with the job.

My favourite part of the book is when Tom climbs the mountain and is exhausted and doesn’t have the will to fight, then he looks over an overhang only to see Ferno’s giant face staring right at him. He then drops down onto a nearby ledge and hides away from the dragon for a night and returns to fight him in the morning.

If I was to rate this book I would rate it a 5 star because it is not to long and an exciting read for the Prep School. Not many books reach my 5 star list but this one is probably my most favourite book I’ve ever read!

Blurb

An evil wizard has enchanted the magical beasts of Avantia – only a true hero can free the beasts and stop them from destroying the land. Is Tom the hero Avantia has been waiting for? Join Tom, as he braves Ferno the Fire Dragon…

Can you survive the Beast Quest?

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My book review

3 November, 2017   
Published by Library Team in Book Reviews

Review by : Jenna 6JN

Name: Cinder   Author: Marissa Meyer

I liked this book because it was like a sci-fi version of Cinderella (as a cyborg). Luna (the moon) has a whole nation on it, and the true heir to the throne is absent because everyone thought she was dead – but is that false?

The story had lots of mystery and humour in it, so if you like mystery this will be the one for you. But sometimes it’s emotional, so if you don’t like books that are emotional, don’t read it. I think the age group would be 10+.

The first reason I liked Cinder was because of all the characters. They were all unique in their own way. They were hilarious, cute, kind, and most of all intelligent. If you ever read the book (which you definitely NEED to do), you will notice that there’s a whole series of books not just one. Each of them focuses on a different character with a whole book about them!

My second reason is that there were so many details that it made me follow along with the plot no problem. They showed exactly what they were doing, being precise in every way.

Lastly, I liked it because the author planned the whole series before she wrote the any of the books, so everything was organised and neatly planned.

Synopsis: A girl named Cinder is a cyborg from Earth. She doesn’t remember anything before she was 10. But she must unravel her past before she can continue into the future. Meantime, Luna’s (a nation on the moon) throne doesn’t have the true heir because they think she’s dead. But is it false?…

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