8A+Novel+Reviews


 * The General** is an excellent book for mature readers male or female. It is action packed right from the beginning through to the end. James Adams, the main character, and an elite team of CHERUB agents are sent, with a CHERUB training instructor, to a training exercise in Las Vegas. They are with forty British commandos but the American battalion has no idea that the CHERUB agents are there. They must drive the military down and strive for victory and on top of that James is in a love crisis. Whilst in Las Vegas James and Training instructor Kazakov try some gambling but not in a legal way! This is a book that gets you hooked and you can’t put it down. It will leave you wanting to read more. This is the 10th book in the CHERUB series and I highly recommend all the other CHERUB books. I loved this book and I hope one day it will become a movie. 9.3/10 //Sam Woodfield[[image:year8novelreviews2012/the_general.jpg width="98" height="137" align="left"]]//

Big Nate Strikes Again is a very funny and entertaining read, and is the sequel to Big Nate and is a part of the Big Nate series by Lincoln Peirce. It is very interesting and is suitable for all ages; it has a variety of characters and emotions throughout the book. It is about a young boy in 6th grade and discovering love, jealousy and anger. When he is picked for the captain of his fleece ball team, dramas evolve. But in the end, everything works itself out and Nate stays out of trouble. I rate this book a 9/10 and encourage everyone to read it! Olivia Heyer

After her defiance to the Capitol in the seventy-fourth Hunger Games Katniss Everdeen is now in trouble after causing riots in multiple districts of Panem. Even faking a relationship with fellow district twelve champion Peeta Mellark is not enough to save her from the Capitol. Now the Capitol has planned a Quarter Quell like no other with former champions competing against each other in a different terrifying arena. Will Katniss survive a second time through against the best of the best? This instalment of the Hunger Games is an intense, thrilling and action-packed book. It has a twisted love story between Katniss and Peeta that will keep you guessing. I thoroughly enjoyed reading this book and would recommend “Catching Fire” for all teenage readers. Rating: 9/10 Jordan Hanau
 * The Hunger Games** is a gripping thriller about the not so distant future, where one man and one woman from each district of Panem, the leftovers of what used to be the United States, is nominated to represent their district in the annual Hunger Games. Katniss Everdeen is the main character of the series, and her sister, Primrose, is chosen by random. Knowing she doesn't stand a chance, Katniss quickly volunteers herself over Primrose. Peeta Mellark is also chosen to attend the games. When they are taken to the Capitol, the boss of Panem, they are trained to fight to the death. The first part of the book is a little bit slow for me, but is always interesting the whole way through. I really enjoyed the second part of the book. Most likely because of the action. After seeing the great movie, I could see which bits were and weren't included in it. The Hunger Games is by far, the best book I have ever read, and the movie is up there too. If you haven't read the book, I highly recommend it and I want to read the others. 9.5/10 //Lachlan Nelson//
 * The Hunger Games: Catching Fire**



The Power of One is an excellent novel that makes you feel sadness, happiness and excitement. It tells the story of an Anglo-African boy named Peekay, who grows up suffering racism, a shattered family and bullying. He befriends a musical professor called ‘Doc’, who teaches him the piano. When ‘Doc’ gets jailed for being a suspected German spy during World War II, Peekay takes up boxing, using welterweight tactics taught to him by his friend Hoppie. The story is narrated by Peekay, looking back as an adult. The book was also made into a movie in 1992. I have yet to see it but I trust it will the same feeling and quality as the book. I recommend this book to teenagers and adults as it is a more challenging read than other books, and features some swearing. The Power of One was written by Bryce Courtney and I recommend you find and read this book.

//Ladies and gentlemen start your engines … Imagine half racing, half fighter jets race around on a valiant aerial track, twisting, ducking and weaving at insanely high speeds … you’ve just imagined a Hover Car Race.// Hover Car Racer is a mind-racing, agitating novel that is set in the near future by Matthew Reilly. Jason Chaser, who is the main character, his team and his faithful Hover Car the “Argonaut” will have to endure daring races to fulfill his one and only dream, to be a Hover Car World Champion. Jason first starts at the International Race School after being selected from the Indo-Pacific Regional Championships and at the school, he competes with fellow racers in order to get a place on the Pro Circuit. After a series of Pro races, Jason has to compete in the race that stops the world, the finals of the Pro Circuit with only one motto, 'Never give up, never say die'. Will this race determine whether he will reign the title of World Champion? I would recommend this book to boys and girls who are 12+ and are interested in racing novels. Rating: 9/10. (Danny Xue)

The Book of Lies is an amazing fantasy book written by James Moloney. It is about three children, Marcel, Fergus and Nicola, who had arrive at an orphanage, not remembering what happened in their past lives. But with the help of Bea, they steal the Book of Lies, and it helps them discover their true identities. On the way of their journey, they meet flying horses, elves and stumble into a mystery of a mighty dragon, Mortegis. This book has a lot of twists and turns, leaving you thinking of what will happen next, but it is also quite an easy read so I recommend it to children 10 years and over. I rate this book 9/10 (Jill C.)

Horse mad heights is a thrilling book that I thoroughly enjoyed. I would recommend this book to anyone that loves action or horses. Horse mad is about a brave girl having to deal with friends, horse riding and family. She endures peer pressure and mad teachers. She always strives to do her best however somehow something always seems to get in her way. I feel this would make a great movie because it is the kind of book that I couldn’t put down. The main characters feature Ashleigh and her horse honey. In this book Ashleigh makes the mistake of mounting a wild stallion, which gives her much grief. I know many other people would love this book and I think anyone should give it a go, even if they aren’t horsey. I loved this book and I would rate it 8.5\10. By Sophie Tomasoni

Withering tights is a hilariously funny novel about a young girl, Tallulah Casey. She is heading to a new theatre academy known as Dother Hall. Here she encounters many ups and downs with boys and girls, including meeting an amazing boy that causes her to never want to leave. She meets many new friends and a new family that cares for her whilst she is there. Tallulah has to decide between two boys who are completely different but she struggles to choose. I think that this book would make a great movie because of how it has a complication and the ending is cut short, this would leave people wanting to see it. I would recommend this book to anyone that loves a laugh and would give it a 8/10 Sara O'Leary-Whitney

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Minutes before she died Grace Cahill changed her will, leaving her decendants an impossible decision: "You have a choice - one million dollars or a clue."

Grace is the last matriarch of the Cahills, the world's most powerful family. Everyone from Napoleon to Houdini is related to the Cahills, yet the source of the family power is lost. 39 clues hidden around the world will reveal the family's secret, but no one has been able to assemble them. Now the clues race is on, and young Amy and Dan must decide what's important: hunting clues or uncovering what REALLY happened to their parents.

I rate this gripping action packed novel, 10/10. This book is suitable for mature readers.

By Andrea Ng 8A


 * Beach House** is a book written by R.L Stine. It is about a guy called Brad. When Brad’s enthusiastic brother dies, Brad is inspired to explore like his brother always did. Brad explores the beach house, curious to why it has always been empty. He discovers that the house is built on a time warp and that walking through the closet can take you back to the 1960’s. Brad goes back to the 1960’s and pretends to be a guy called Buddy. He meets some people and when they pull a mean prank on him he decides to get revenge by murdering them all. He murders all the friends and then goes back through the closet to his time to escape getting caught. It finally goes wrong for him when it turns out that Maria is actually alive and found the closet too. She travels to his time and kills him to get her revenge. It was a very interesting book, reading the thrills and chills and trying to figure out the mystery. I thoroughly enjoyed it and I recommend it to others to read that like a thriller or mystery. I really like that the book extracted bits from the 1960’s and Brad’s time, but sometimes it is a little hard to understand. I still loved it!!!! I’d give it a 9/10. // Aleesha Walsh //


 * War Horse** is a fictional book based on real world events by Michael Morpurgo. It is about a farmer’s horse from World War II that is sold to the army and used as a cavalry horse for the British forces. He goes through all sorts of challenges and adventures, being captured by the enemy and used as a supplies horse and going through many near death experiences along the way. Will he ever find his original owner again, or is he just doomed to die at the hands of the enemy? I really enjoyed this book and I recommend it to anyone. It might be a bit sad at times, but overall it is a really good story that recently was made into a movie which I also think is great. I rate this 9/10. //Briana Hitchcock//

**Nancy Drew** This book is by Daniela Burr about a teen girl named Nancy who loves to sleuth. Whenever there is a crime she has to get to the bottom of it. At her hometown river heights she always finds a mystery to solve. Her father is a lawyer, which requires them to have to move to Los Angeles and away from her school and friends. As a promise Nancy agreed to no sleuthing at her new house and for her to act like a normal teenager. But of course Nancy can’t resist and goes behind he fathers back and starts working on a new mystery of Dahlia Draycott which then leads on to lots more excitement. I really enjoyed this book and I thought it was really good an interesting. It kept me very intrigued and I rate it 8/10. Krysten Gray