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 The Prison Runner
This was a very good book with accuracy to real life situations. The book contained surprising twists and turns with unexpected results. I think that the book was very interesting and thrilling to what happens to the two boys Diego and Mando. The twist at the end was unexpected and a bit shocking because it came out of the blue. The book just shows what can and does happen in parts of Bolivia and not many people will be aware of it. Schools educate us on the effects of taking drugs but not the effect drugs have on the people who are forced to work in the making of them.
Overall I enjoyed this book and the storyline educated and entertained me.
Reece age 13, Beverley Grammar School
‘Prison Runner’ is about a boy called Diego Ju á rez who lives in the San Sebastian Women’s Prison in Bolivia. He goes away to get rich but everything goes wrong, he gets caught up in cocaine smuggling, his best friend dies and he gets guns pointed at his head countless times.
I liked it because it was exciting, happy and sad all at the same time, and you learn about a whole new way of life that you didn’t know about before.
Eve ( S1), St. Ninian's High School
‘Prison Runner’ is a book about a boy named Diego Ju á rez. He lives in the women’s section of San Sebasti án, a prison in Bolivia, with his mother and his three year old sister Corina who moans all the time. The book starts when everyone is saying that the Angel Gabriel will open the prison gates. This doesn’t happen.
When Diego and his best friend Mando run away to make their fortune it was so sad, because you knew it wouldn’t happen. I was happy at the end because Bonita Ricardo finds him stranded in the jungle and helps him.
‘Prison Runner’ is quite sad, but it has been very well written. I would like to read more by Deborah Ellis.
Catherine (S1), St. Ninian's High School
 Dragonfly
Princess Taoshira, Fourth Crown Princess of the Blue Crescent Islands is sent to marry Ramil ac Burinholt, Prince of Gerfal. It is hoped the marriage will unite their two kingdoms and create a strong alliance against Fergox Spearthrower, the warlord of Holt who wants the kingdoms for himself. The two young people hate each other on first sight and neither of them relishes the prospect of marriage, but they realise it would be for the benefit of their respective kingdoms. Whilst out riding in an attempt to get to know each other better, they are both kidnapped and taken to Felixholt, the stronghold of Fergox Spearthrower. Thrown together in adversity, the two young people become friends and when Fergox announces that he intends to marry the Princess, Ramil promises to come up with an escape plan. Will he be able to save her or will Tashi face a fate worse than death?
Julia Golding has created a fast-moving adventure which should appeal to a wide range of readers. Its uncompromising language and style is never patronising and this makes it suitable book for able readers from about the age of ten, right up to young teenagers. Ramil and Tashi are very believable characters and the need to know how their trials and adventures turn out will keep your turning pages right to the very end.
Lesley Langlands, Librarian, Lockerby Academy
I really enjoyed this book. I was up reading it for several hours, and it was excellent. I enjoy Julia Golding's books, which are all very interesting. She describes everything in brilliant detail, and tells the story at exactly the right pace. I loved this book. This book had loads of adventure, which I enjoyed. I think that this book will do well when it comes out.
Beth (Year 9), The Heathcote School, Stevenage
This book was very interesting as it has lots of changes of scenery and the ways the views of the characters change are very realistic. It also does have some funny bits in it (even if they are rather few and far between). The different perspectives of the characters tell the story very well.
Katie (Year 9), The Heathcote School, Stevenage
 Shapeshifter Running the Risk
by Ali Sparkes
Reviewed by Joanne in year 7, William Sharp School, Nottingham
The book is about two boys called Dax and Gideon and a very strange mystery.
Just as Dax started to get into his new life everything changes. These changes are beyond his wildest dreams. As Dax’s life changes and he needs his best friend Gideon, he is feeling stressed because his friend Gideon cannot help as he has his own life changing problems to think about. Gideon’s life is changing dramatically, but for good.
His friend’s life changing problems have made him feel more alone than ever before. Dax’s senses tell him that something is very very wrong. Even though he can feel if no-one will believe him or take it seriously.
No-one else can sense the dangers that lay ahead of them These dangers which they cannot see could soon destroy them all.
My Opinion –I think this book was very interesting and spellbinding as I could not put the book down until I finished because it had loads of dramatic events.
Measle and the Slitherghoul
by Ian Ogilvy
Reviewed by Charlotte in year 7, William Sharp School, Nottingham
I think Measle and the Slitherghoul was very good. I like this book a lot as it was funny and interesting to read. I think that the first Measle book was the best. In this book I think page 358 is the best page because it is funny how it says Measle had slimy white bits on his chest but it was just chicken noodle soup. I also like pages 1, 2 and 3 as they are very descriptive and it’s a good way to start this book. This books is very descriptive and it is a very good book to read. It is good for entertainment and for older and younger people.
I would give this book a big 10 out of 10.
Gem X
by Nicky Singer
Reviewed by Emma, Twynham School, Dorset
I enjoyed GEMX, it’s a excellent book full of humour, suspense and mystery. It was relatively easy to comprehend and always had something new happening within the plot. It is something of which I have never read before and shows a great foretelling of what might happen in the future. I would happily recommend this book for anyone who enjoys this genre.
The Gorgon's Gaze
by Julia Golding
Reviewed by Alex, Hannah and Louisa, from Our Lady's Convent Senior School, Abingdon
Alex, age 15:
The Gorgon’s Gaze is the latest book in the spell-binding Companions Quartet. It is the second in the series and the swift movement in the plot and inventive subject makes it a firm favourite.
Connie is once again faced with isolation as the world’s only Universal Companion where she is expected to move among all mythical animals without having one as her steadfast friend. Luckily for her, she then meets Argand, a rare golden dragon. Together they must face Kullervo again. Towards the end of the book we do have to wonder if Connie is the only Universal though…
In this book, Connie is taken away from one aunt and placed in the care of another, who seems to hate nature and any connection with animals. Connie is shut up inside, cut off from her companions and as a result begins to wilt. Of course, Connie doesn’t stay this way for long and starts her own adventure.
My criticism would be that the plot was mildly similar to the previous book: it was a she learns more about herself and has to meet Kullervo again, who tries to persuade her to join his forces. There were differences in the books I will admit, but the overall direction seemed to be the same.
Nevertheless the book was well written and fast paced, allowing the imagination to be stretched to its bounds and revealing careful insights into the future of the series.
I liked the characters, as there was only really one truly evil being: Kullervo. Because he is a mythical creature it is acceptable that he has no emotions but all the other characters were humanly flawed. This made the book more realistic because instead of the usual black and white, people passed through all shades of grey, never quite being one or the other, although I suppose that as Kullervo’s opposite, Connie is meant to be completely good.
This book involves Col much more than he was in the first one and we get to find out more about him and his family. In the first book we were left to wonder about his parents. Now we get some answers.
I think that the book had the perfect combination of adventure, suspense and realism to make it a great read, although I would probably recommend it to people in year six to year nine. As Connie grows older though, the books may become more mature.
I really enjoyed the book and hope that anyone else who reads it will as well.
Hannah age 13:
Star Rating: *****
Comments: ‘The Gorgon’s Gaze’ is the sequel to ‘The Secret of the Sirens’. Because I haven’t read the first book, I found it a bit hard to get into, but as it moved on, I started to enjoy it more.
The characters are quite believable, but the places and things they do are unrealistic. The main characters are a girl called Connie, a boy called Col (Short for Colin), and a bad shape - shifter called Kullervo.
There are many mythical creatures such as Pegasi, Dragons, Gorgons, Unicorns, and Gnomes.
The Settings are a village called Hescombe, a town called Chartmouth, a wood named Mallins wood, and a farm in the Brecon Beacons in Wales.
I would recommend this book to anyone who liked Harry Potter books, because it is quite similar, but has a different view to the world of Fantasy. It is a good read for 11 - 14 year olds, although some adults would like it too.
Louisa, aged 13:
The Gorgon's Gaze is a book full of excitement, frustration, magic and adventure. It is about a girl called Connie who is a Universal Companion (someone who can understand all kinds of creatures) and how she has to defeat the evil shapeshifter Kullervo who wants to rid the world of humans so mythical beasts can flourish once again.
I like this book because the writer makes the book exciting which makes me eager to read on and although I haven't read the first in the series the book still made perfect sense.
There are many themes in the book, mythical creatures, friendship and environment saving to name but a few.
I would recommend this book to people who are eight to fourteen years old and love fantasy.
 The Secret History of Tom Trueheart
by Ian Beck
Reviewed by Alex, Our Lady's Convent Senior School, Abingdon
I enjoyed the book for its witty charm. It was an interesting concept, which worked well on paper, and very imaginative. The language was simple to understand, but at the same time cunning and intelligent.
The story moved along swiftly and was never dull. The plot was obviously well thought out and was a successful combination of traditional fairy tale stories. The characters were believable and realistic, although Tom tended to be very accepting of most situations. This almost a basic story, in that the baddies were bad, and the goodies were good; there was no middle ground or shades of grey.
The book is suitable for younger readers and teenagers alike, although I feel that children the same age as Tom, the hero, would appreciate the book most. Overall I thought that The Secret History of Tom Trueheart was a triumph, and I look forward to more books from Ian Beck.
 Ivy
by Julie Hearn
Reviewed by Louisa, Our Lady's Convent Senior School, Abingdon
As soon as I picked up 'Ivy' I couldn't put it down.The words just kept enticing me to keep on reading. I was very annoyed at just having a taster of it. As soon as I got to an extremely exciting bit my taster book ended, leaving me in utter suspense. I will definitely be getting the complete story when it is published.
'Ivy' is about a girl with good looks and a sinful past. She is employed by a painter whose mother wants to get rid of her and neighbour wants to have her all to himself.
The book is set in Victorian times, when there is lots of poverty and stealing. The streets are crawling with thevies and skinners alike. But amongst all this suffering can Ivy find a light in the dark?
 Secret of the Sirens
by Julia Golding
Reviewed by Alex, Our Lady's Convent Senior School, Abingdon
A truly amazing plot, written eloquently and with tremendous style, using sparkling yet believable characters and a brilliance rarely found. The mythical creatures on which the story is set are brought to life through accurate and perceptive descriptions. Emotive and thought-provoking, I very much enjoyed the book and read it through in one sitting. Perhaps the only bad thing about having a pre-published copy is having to wait so long for the next in the series to come out?
Secret of the Sirens is one of those books that when finished, the reader immediately thinks, "I wish I had that idea".
Connie, the main character, has an unusual friendship with all types of animals which can be disruptive to her life. Living with an aunt who all but ignores her, upsets Connie until she finds out about the Society. This is because Connie is a Universal, the only one in the world, and she can converse with all animals and mythical creatures. She is a companion to all and none. It is her extraordinary talents that alert Kullervo to her presence and with him trying to find her, she is in more trouble than she can imagine.
I recommend this book to all those who enjoy a gripping fantasy story.
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