Tag: review

The Song Walker book cover for review shows an orange desert under a harsh sun. Two girls are walking - on the left, a white girl in a black dress carrying a metal case. On the right, a black girl in dungarees pointing off and leading the way. In the centre of the image is a green bird, with the book title around it in blue.
Book Reviews

The Song Walker | Book Review

Kim

By Zillah Bethell (published by Usborne Publishing, 2023)

The bottle is removed from my lips. I try calling out for it to be returned, but then a hand – wet with water – runs over my brow, cooling my forehead. It feels so good.

“Wait here,” the voice says. “I will be back soon. A few minutes. Don’t move.”

I hear feet scrunching against the dirt. Running. Away from me. I raise my arms in the air. Please don’t go, I try saying, but nothing comes out of my mouth. Please stay. Don’t leave me alone here.

Continue reading “The Song Walker | Book Review” →
Loki book cover, showing a black circle with horns and the word 'Loki' in it, surrounded by doodles and scribbles of various things and people on an orange background.
Book Reviews

Loki: A Bad God’s Guide to Being Good | Book Review

Lynda

By Louie Stowell (published by Walker Books, 2022)

In which case I may as well be honest in these pages. There’s a first time for everything.

My tragedy began with a trick involving the goddess Sif, her long, golden locks, a pair of scissors and an ill-timed nap. I’ll spare you the details, but let’s just say that no one in Asgard can take a joke. Or a haircut.

Continue reading “Loki: A Bad God’s Guide to Being Good | Book Review” →
Ravencave book cover, showing a landscape in dark blues and purples with a waterfall splashing into a pool of water in the centre.
Book Reviews

Ravencave | Book Review

Kim

By Marcus Sedgwick (published by Barrington Stoke, 2023)

Eight hundred people, eight hundred families, just like ours, without enough money coming in, with no way of knowing how to survive.
I wonder how many of those eight hundred families are dealing with it by going on holiday and wandering over the empty Yorkshire hills, going to spread their granny’s ashes on the landscape.
A landscape full of ghosts, Mum says, though she hasn’t seen one.
And strangely, it turns out it’s not her who sees a ghost first.
It’s me.

Continue reading “Ravencave | Book Review” →
The Blue Book of Nebo review book cover
Book Reviews

The Blue Book of Nebo | Young Adult Book Review

Kim

By Manon Steffan Ros (published by Firefly Press, 2022)

‘The Blue Book of Nebo,’ I smiled, taking the book from her. The pages were blank and wide, like a new day.

‘Eh?’ asked Mam.

‘Like The Black Book of Carmarthen, or The Red Book of Hergest. That’s how they did it in the olden days.’ I’d read about them in a book of Welsh history. ‘Important books that said something about our history. And now is a part of history, isn’t it?’

Continue reading “The Blue Book of Nebo | Young Adult Book Review” →
Stone Age Fiction review book covers
Book Reviews

Stone Age Fiction Review Round-Up

Lynda

Recently we’ve read three books with a Stone Age/Late Neolithic setting that we think would be ideal for adding fiction texts to your teaching topic, especially as fiction based in this time period is relatively rare. Each one focuses on journeys into unknown lands.

Continue reading “Stone Age Fiction Review Round-Up” →
The cover for the book Tyger for review, showing a close-up of the Tyger's face looking straight at the viewer with orange eyes, surrounded by orange, black and white striped fur.
Book Reviews

Tyger | Book Review

Kim

Written by S.F. Said, illustrated by Dave McKean (published by David Fickling Books)

‘Nothing is ordinary,’ said the tyger. ‘Everything is extraordinary. In all of infinity and eternity, that flower exists only in this world; this precise position in space and time. Everywhere else, there is a different flower, or no flower at all. And the same is true of you. Nothing special? You are miraculous beyond measure, both of you.’

Continue reading “Tyger | Book Review” →
The Haunting of Tyrese Walker review book cover
Book Reviews

The Haunting of Tyrese Walker | Young Adult Book Review

Kim

By J.P. Rose (published by Andersen Press)

They began to walk back down the track but Tyrese glanced over his shoulder towards the trees on the mountainside. Even though it was hot and humid, he shivered, his skin tingling. Why couldn’t he shake off the feeling that something or…someone was watching him?

Continue reading “The Haunting of Tyrese Walker | Young Adult Book Review” →
Graphic Novels Autumn 2022 review book covers
Book Reviews

Graphic Novels for Autumn 2022 | Reviews

Lynda

Graphic novels are a great way to get reluctant readers to pick up a book; from Dog Man to Alex Rider, they have kick-started many reading journeys. So I decided to try a few I hadn’t read yet for our newest review selection.

All entries in this round-up are illustrated in full colour.

Continue reading “Graphic Novels for Autumn 2022 | Reviews” →
Non-fiction summer review round-up book covers
Book Reviews

Illustrated Non-Fiction Summer 2022 | Review

Lynda

This summer we’ve been diving into some fantastic and gorgeously illustrated non-fiction books, from recent and ancient history, to nature and cultures. We’ve picked some of our favourites to share with you in our short non-fiction review round-up!

Continue reading “Illustrated Non-Fiction Summer 2022 | Review” →