8G+Novel+Reviews

The Messenger (Author: [|Markus Zusak])
Meet Ed Kennedy- under-age cabdriver, pathetic card player, and useless at romance. He shares a shack with his coffee addicted dog, The Doorman, and has never left the city he was born in. He has no substantial accomplishments and very little hope for ever having any. But all that changes the day he finds the first card. . . [|The Messenger], on an obvious level, has a rather bland plot; a man finds cards and has to help people. But it is an example of metafiction, where the meaning to the story isn't in story itself. A metaphor for fiction. A great example of this is a poem called [|The Flea (John Donne)]. On a very basic level it is about a flea, but once you look a little deeper you discover that it isn't about a flea at all. This is one of the reasons why it's a senior fiction book. I don't think it is a book for the majority of Grade 8, though I can think of a few particular individuals who would greatly enjoy it. - Lorraine Parsons
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-Kirsty Pinnell **Shiver By Maggie Stiefvater** //And then I opened my eyes and it was just Grace and me- nothing anywhere but Grace and me-she was pressing her lips together as though she were keeping my kiss inside her; and me holding this moment that was as fragile as a bird in my hands.// The novel Shiver written by Maggie Stiefvater is about a girl called Grace and her boyfriend Sam. Grace’s boyfriend Sam was bitten by a wolf in the past and transformed into a wolf. Sam’s human life is hard because he’s skin is very sensitive and in cold weather (if he wasn’t warm enough) he would turn into a wolf. Grace met Sam when she was dragged and savaged by wolves. Sam stared at Grace dying for a while then left her. Grace had been waiting for Sam to turn back into a wolf for years until one afternoon something happened to him. I enjoyed it and recommend it for teenagers.I rate it 10 out of 10! -Sharon You
 * Catching Fire**, //Suzanne Collins//
 * Catching Fire** is the second book in the thrilling series, **'The Hunger Games'**. Katniss and Peeta have survived the 74th Annual Hunger Games, but this year is the 75th year or the 'Quarter Quell'. The Quarter Quell is held every 25 years and each quell something different happens to the games, In the first year, the people of each district had to pick their tributes to fight in the games, In the second Quell 4 people from each district had to fight! Now its time for the third Quarter Quell, and this year the tributes of the games can only be previous winners, which meant Katniss had to fight again! This is an excellent book and I strongly recommend reading the series!

Max is the 5th book in the Maximum Ride series. //The flock learns that millions of fish are dying off Hawaii’s coast and someone – or something – is destroying hundreds of ships. When there are confronted with the most frightening environmental catastrophe yet, they have no chose but to go deep into the murky waters. While max and her team comb the depths of the ocean, a powerful enemy tracks them. He has his own plans for the flock and will stop at nothing. Will max and her flock make it out of this?// I think that the Maximum Ride series are the best books I’ve ever read. If you like survival, thrill and danger then you will like these books too. I’d suggest that you start from the beginning of the series because it makes more sense throughout the books. I recommend it more for teenagers. 10/10 Olivia Wood Surf Ache is a book about a girl (Ella) who is about 14 and loves to dance that moves from Melbourne to Newcastle and is persuaded by the environment she’s in to begin to surf and enter competitions; in her journey she makes new friends and enemies.After leaving behind her home she takes a while to adjust to the way things are in Melbourne like leaving her old best friend and boyfriend and away from her dance school. What I really like about this book is that it has action and romance in the on, I really think any girl in to surfing and romance should read this book. I have already read it 5 times and still enjoy the thrills and spills of Ella’s life. Definitely a 10/10. Ruby Stuart
 * Surf Ache, ** Gerry Bobsien
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// Their eyes, human eyes in wolf skulls, remind me of water: the clear blue of water reflecting the spring sky, the brown of a brook churning withe rainfall, the green of // // the lake in summer as the algae begins to bloom, the gray of a snow-choked river. The weight of things known, things unsaid... // As you see, if have read Sharon's Review that is the first novel, but this is the 2nd book by Maggie Stiefvater, called Linger. The story is a boy who used to be a wolf and a girl who was becoming one of them. Sam was the disease, that couldn't get cured. He had a mysterious and strange body to comprehend. But it was spring, so there were no troubles for benign back as a wolf and Sam will be human. I really enjoyed this book and I really want to read it again, but the book is quite long and I will recommend to teenagers. Absolutely 10/10. ~Rina Masaoka~
 * Linger, Maggie Stiefvate **

//Through a mirror... is a dangerous world. For years, Jacob Reckless has enjoyed it's secrets and treasures. Not anymore. You thought y////ou knew about fairytales? Think again.// Reckless is a fantasy novel about an adventurous, complex character called Jacob Reckless and his younger brother Will. They venture into a dark and dangerous world, where stories like Sleeping Beauty are more than just fairytales-- and not as pretty as you think. His brother has been infected by the Goyl; creatures much like humans, but greedy and merciless, and made of stone. Jacob, Clara- Will's romantic interest- and Fox- a young girl who can shapeshift into a fox- must find a way to reverse the infection before his brother is lost forever. On the way he encounters many foul creatures and difficult challenges. This is definitely one of the best books I've ever read- the writing style is addictive, and really paints a brilliant image in your mind. The characters are well-developed and mysterious, and definitely leaves you wanting more. 10/10 from me for sure.
 * Reckless by Cornelia Funke**
 * Clarissa Nicholls**

//Suicide bombers are easy to spot. They give out all kinds of tell-tale signs. Mostly because they're nervous. By definition they're all first-timers.// From the first paragraph I was caught by the book, the 12th in the series//.// The main character is Jack Reacher (born 1960), he only carries money and a foldable toothbrush. On a subway at 2am he sits, checking out his fellow passengers. Using the 12 point check list to tell if someone is a suicide bomber, he clears them of one by one. The first four passengers are regular civilians, but the last sends alarm bells ringing through his head. This book is really satisfying if you like fast paced thrillers, but it isn't all serious, there are pieces of humour weaved in also. The book is meant mostly for adults, as it can be quiet gruesome in some places, and requires a large vocabulary. Aside from those two things, it is a really good read, I knew it was a page turner right from the start. I wouldn't recommend it for all teenagers, but all together it is an amazing book and there are plenty more in the series, and it doesnt really matter that much if you dont start from the start. 10/10.
 * Gone tomorrow - Lee Child**
 * Rosie Cinnamon**

__**True Colours- Adam Gilchrist**__ This Biography is about my cricketing hero Adam Gilchrist. I started reading this book last year as I got it for Christmas It has been a long read for me but it has been worth it. It's all about Adam's Life from when he was born to his debut in first class cricket to his final retirment in 2008. This is great book and I recommend it to all cricket fans. 7/10 (Laing Goostrey 8G)

__**The Hunger Games**__ The hunger games is a fantastic book for all ages including girls.It's the 74th anual hunger games and katniss everdeen sister was chosen and katniss agreed to take her spot in the hunger games.Katniss will fight to the death against 11 other districts. After a few weeks of practice she was all prepared to fight and was put in a big area to fight and the bell rings she spoted a bag and quickly ran over to get to it took it and ran off into the bush. I rate this book 4 out of 5 stars. (Riley McCrea).



//The Book Thief, //by Markus Zusak //The Book Thief //is an enthralling book about a young orphan girl living in Germany in the heart of the Holocaust. As told through the eyes of “Death”, Liesel Meminger is first noticed by the invisible being when her brother dies, leaving her Jewish mother no choice but to put her up for adoption. As a kindly German family takes her in, Liesel slowly learns about Hitler, the War, and her love of reading, which starting with the stealing of a single book. Over the next few years, with the help of her best friend Rudy, her collection grows, and with Death keeping a watchful eye over her, she becomes The Book Thief. But these are dangerous times for a love of reading, and Liesel is even more in danger when her family shelters a Jewish fist-fighter. //The Book Thief// is a story of courage, friendship, loyalty, love, and death, with a slow start but great description. It’s a great book to read if you love historic and sad stories. 10/10.