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 The Girl Who Speaks Bear by Sophie anderson

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 The Girl Who Speaks Bear by Sophie anderson

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Genre:  Fantasy
Topics: Adventure, magic, family, mystery
Rating: Five Stars!
Written by: Yoyo

I liked this book because it has a neat description of nature and I love how the character improved through the journey and the highlight of the importance of team building.

This book is about a 12 year old girl trying to find out the secret of her past and why she got bear legs. In her journey, she discovered where she belonged, discovered and accepted what happened in her childhood, explored the story in the forest, facing challenges and growing from the challenges.

I would recommend it to people who read ‘The House With Chicken Legs’ because they are on the same series and both stories are related as well.

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the girl of ink of ink and stars by kiran millwood hargrave

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the girl of ink of ink and stars by kiran millwood hargrave

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Genre:  Fantasy
Topics: Adventure, geography , family , mystery
Rating: Five Stars!
Written by: Bronwen

I liked this book because of the mystery and fantasy in it.

This book is about magic and myths.

I would recommend it to anyone because it is just a really beautifully written book that just touches your heart.

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Genre: Adventure Fiction
Topics: Survival
Rating: Five Stars!
Written by: Jinisha

I liked this book because I especially enjoy teen survival, spy and adventure. This book is about a teenager who is an expert in survival. He is on a ‘ mission’ with friends to find ‘‘ The Gold of The Gods’’

I would recommend it to those who like adventure.

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Genre: Historical fiction
Topics: Religion, War, Friendship, Family, Social hierarchy
Rating: Four Stars
Written by: Zahra

The book “Crusade” by Elizabeth Laird explores the connection between a Christian boy who joins the Crusaders to try and “win back” Jerusalem from Saladin and Salim, a handicapped Muslim boy who helps a Jewish doctor treat the wounds of Saladin’s soldiers, including his private army, the Mamluks. It shows a tentative friendship between the two boys, hesitant because of their extreme religious differences caused by prejudices. The story has a gripping plot and I was able to vividly imagine the situation and sympathise with the characters. It balances the factual representation of what wars would have been like between the Muslims and Christians, whilst using fictional characters as a powerful medium for showing the effects of stereotypes our ancestors held.

I liked this book because of its informative nature and its gripping plot. I originally picked this book because I thought the cover and name was intriguing and mysterious. I found my instinct about the book to be correct; it was, in fact, an intriguing and informative book.

I would recommend this book to anyone who is interested in the original war surrounding Jerusalem or anyone interested in historical fiction around the 10th century.

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Genre: Historical Fiction, Fantasy, Mystery
Topics: World war 2, family, Animals
Rating: Five Stars!
Written by: Ruby

I liked this book because it was an inspiring book that was a really enjoyable read with vivid imagery and when you read this book you feel like you can almost feel how the characters are feeling. This was a very good book.

This book is about a boy refugee in WW2 who goes to live with this strange woman who owns a zoo and Adonis the silverback gorilla.

I would recommend it to people who enjoyed books like October October and cane warriors

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Genre: Adventure
Topics: Fantasy, time travel, magic, friendship, futuristic
Rating: Four stars
Written by: Joyce

I liked this book because I really like the exciting adventure that has happened there. The book is about two friends who have time travelled to 2473 to investigate the mysterious, and unfortunately they got lost in the Wonderscape so they have to find their way back home.

I will recommend this book to people in years 7 or year 8 to read this book because it is easy to understand and the adventure elements in the story can really attract the year 7.

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The Elemental Detectives by Patrice Lawrence

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The Elemental Detectives by Patrice Lawrence

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Genre: Fantasy
Topics: Historical Fiction, Magic, Mythology, Friendship
Rating: Five stars!

This book is set in an alternative version of London where the four elements, earth, fire, water and air, are spirits who guard London and keep it in balance.

When a strange illness starts to put everyone in London to sleep, Marisee and Robert must play detectives and follow the clues to solve the mystery and bring the elementals back into balance before it is too late.

This is a brilliant adventure with lots of twists and turns. I like the characters and enjoyed following them through the streets of London to solve the clues. I particularly enjoyed the bit about the fiery dragon elementals!

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Genre: Real Life
Topics: LGBTQ+, Fatherhood, Family
Rating: Five stars!

This book is one of my personal favourites. This story is about the difficulties of being a young adult who is faced with the consequences of his actions. He has to face his ex-girlfriend after months of not seeing her, when she shows up with a little surprise. This surprise leaves him in moments of confusion and struggle, whilst he tries continuing with his normal life. Trying to balance his life at home with his social life eventually gets too stressful for him. With the help of his younger brother and father, he slowly adapts to the situation he is in and finds a bright way to get out of his struggles.

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Genre: Animals
Topics: Mystery, Adventure, Fantasy, Friendship
Rating: Five stars!

This story is about dogs and how Marcus and Delilah both have dreams about getting a puppy. One of them finds a dog in the empty house next door. He decided to name it Moon Dog and visits him every day. However there was something wrong; he could tell that Moon Dog was in danger. This made them discover a dark secret.

I really like this book a lot because it mentions a lot of different types of dogs and this book is also a mystery about what is happening next door. I couldn't stop reading! I would recommend this book to children who like dogs and mysteries.

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The Beast of Buckingham Palace by David Walliams

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The Beast of Buckingham Palace by David Walliams

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Genre: Fantasy
Topics: Mythology, Comedy, Mystery
Rating: 4.5 stars!

This story is based around 100 years in the future, where the world is dark, there are beasts taking over the world and everyone is hungry. Prince Alfred has never been outside but now there are strange things happening inside the palace walls. I give this book a 4.5/5 rating because it is very gripping and has a lot of action but I wouldn't recommend this book to children under 7 as there are a few deaths but it is very intriguing.

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Eight Pieces of Silva by Patrice Lawrence

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Eight Pieces of Silva by Patrice Lawrence

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Genre: Mystery
Topics: Grief, Real Life, LGBTQ+, Thriller
Rating: Five stars!

Becks and Silva’s parents have gone on their honeymoon, leaving Becks in the care of her older stepsister, Silva. So, when Silva doesn’t come home after seeing her dad off at the airport, Becks goes into Silva’s room -her room that no one is allowed in but Silva - and finds a shoebox filled with eight things that may lead to finding out where Silva is. Once the shoebox is opened, Becks discovers things that are private, personal and all lead back to the boy that Silva was secretly seeing. Becks and Silva's relationship changes once she opens that box, for the better… and for the worst.

I would recommend this book to those who like mystery books as it is interesting and has a shocking plot twist near the end of the book. It is an amazing book with diversity and LGBTQ+ characters at the centre of the book, making it enjoyable and I feel myself represented in Eight Pieces of Silva. It is a highly enjoyable book, and I hope you like it!

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Genre: Graphic Novel
Topics: Real Life, Comedy, Friendship, Mental Health, School
Rating: Five Stars!

I enjoyed this book very much. I would recommend this book to people who like comics. A girl called Natalie has a best friend called Lilly and then Lilly does not want to be her best friend because she says that Natalie is a nerd. When Natalie starts creating pretty drawings, Lilly says want to sit with her at lunch. Will Natalie let her back in? Or will she discover that she is enough just as she is?

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The Rest of Us Just Live Here by Patrick Ness

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The Rest of Us Just Live Here by Patrick Ness

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Genre: Fantasy
Topics: Science Fiction, Romance, Vampires,
Rating: Five stars!

What is you aren't 'the chosen one'?

I would recommend this book to 12 and above. It is all about a boy called Mikey who is just trying to graduate from high school and trying to date a girl he really likes called Henna. But then vampires come to his town to abolish his kind and take over. But of course, Mikey does not need to get involved because the indie kids will handle it. But then the indie kids start disappearing.

I really enjoyed this book due to the romance, action and some of the relatable things they talked about.

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The Miracle of Ebenezer Street by Catherine Doyle

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The Miracle of Ebenezer Street by Catherine Doyle

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Genre: Adventure
Topics: Christmas, Magic, Family, Adventure, Retellings

When George stumbles across Marley's Curiosity Shop at the Christmas fair he finds a mysterious snow globe. The scene it contains is just the first in a series of impossibilities . . .

A Christmas Carol is a classic story about the joy of Christmas and this retelling is a more fun, magical version of it. i really liked it!

I'd recommend this to everyone, especially as a book to read during winter.

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Genre: Real Life
Topics: Family, Homelessness, School, Friendship
Rating: Five stars!

I read this book because it is about a boy and his mum who don't have a house and live in their van. I like Felix because he sounds like someone I would be friends with. he wants to be a stand-up comedian and he tries really hard to help his mum.

I would recommend this to everyone because you don't always think that families can be homeless but this book showed me how easily it can happen. The ending is really heartwarming too.

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Genre: Historical Fiction

Topics: Black history, Adventure, Family

Rating: Five stars!

Leanard has just arrived in the UK with his mother to meet his father (who he has not seen since he was 7 months old) from Jamaica. It wasn't that he did not want to see his father; it was that he didn't want to leave his grandma, whom he spent all his life with. The most weird thing he noticed was that everyone treated him differently because he was black (a proud black). It is the story of him fitting in and standing up. I would recommend this book to someone who likes black history or historical fiction books.

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Genre: Historical Fiction
Topics: Conflict, History, WW2, Oppression & Resistance
Rating: Five Stars!

This was a very moving story about real events that happened during WW2. It is about a group of refugees trying to reach safety and each person has their own story to tell. The tragedy of the sinking of their boat which was supposed to take them to safety is a war time story that I hadn't heard before.

I would recommend this book to anyone who is interested in history, wants to understand what it's like to be a refugee or anyone learning about WW2.

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The Lizzie and Belle Mysteries: Drama and Danger by J.T. Williams

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The Lizzie and Belle Mysteries: Drama and Danger by J.T. Williams

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Genre: Mystery
Topics: Historical Fiction, Theatre, Crime, Detective Story, Adventure
Rating: Five stars!

What a brilliant book! As I was reading it, I was thinking of ideas for my own story and thought the way they solve the clues was so interesting.

Lizzie and Belle become friends when they both witness a crime at the theatre. Together, they must solve the mystery and discover what is really going on.

I would recommend this to everyone! but especially people who like history or want to read about real Black people who lived in London in the past.

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Genre: Real Life
Topics: Refugee, War, Conflict, Family, Friendship
Rating: Five stars!

Boy, Everywhere is such a beautiful book. It's about an ordinary boy living in Damascus; he loves gaming, football and playing on the iPad. But then conflict forces his family to flee and he arrives in the UK where everything is scary and different, especially when they are cruelly separated in an immigration prison. It has an uplifting end, but is an important reminder of just how hard it is to rebuild a life when home is no longer safe.

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Genre: Adventure
Topics: Ocean, Friendship, Culture, Animals, Nature, Fantasy
Rating: Five stars!

I really enjoyed this book because it has themes of animals and the ocean. I find the ocean calming and liked the descriptions in the book. It's about Blue Wing who wants to be a shark caller so she can get revenge for her parents' death. But she meets Maple and slowly they become friends. In the end, they both learn to forgive.

I would recommend this book to animal lovers or people who have ever lost someone in their family. It helps to read about real experiences like that in a book.

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Genre: LGBTQ+
Topics: Real Life, Romance, Comedy, Illness, Bullying, Friendship
Rating: 5 stars!
Written by Ruby

I would definitely recommend this book because it was fun and entertaining. It was about the feelings of a young girl who has a crush on another girl. If you like a book based on reality then you would absolutely love this book. Despite the serious matters of coming out, this book is also for people who like comedy too. Overall this book is one of my favourite books of all time! I would recommend this to anyone from year 7 to year 10.

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The Passing Playbook by Isaac Fitzsimons

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The Passing Playbook by Isaac Fitzsimons

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Genre: LGBTQ+
Topics: Sport, Romance, Transgender
Rating: Four Stars
Written by Rebekah

I picked up this book because I like sport and I was interested in learning more about people who are transgender. The storyline is about a person who wants to play on a boys football team  and follows the ups and downs of being transgender. I really like reading it because it was a real eye opener to how others may feel in certain situations.

I would recommend it to anyone who wants to know more about transgender and enjoy a good romance story.

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Genre: Action
Topics: Spy, Thriller, Adventure, Orphans, Conflict
Rating: Five Stars
Written by Maya
In this book a trouble making boy named James gets suspended from school. Like most people, he didn’t tell his mum. Feeling guilty that night, he gets out of bed to go
tell his mum, but his mum is found dead. James’s mum had a shoplifting empire so all she did was sit at home and eat her heart out. James officially became an orphan and he is
sent to a care home whilst waiting to be adopted but he never did. Instead, he was recruited to join cherub- a branch of MI5 agents who are kids. At cherub he started to
train to become a fully qualified cherub agent.

I would recommend this book to anyone who enjoys action-adventure stories like Inkheart, Harry Potter, Keepers of the
Lost Cities, The Hunger Games. Or any other thrilling books. I really liked the secrecy and using children for agents is ingenious as they are never suspected. I chose the book
because I’ve heard good reviews and the cover is very eye catching the blurb is very enticing, it makes you want to grab all the books and read them all in a day!

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Genre: Graphic novel
Topics: Romance, LGBTQ+, Bullying, School, Friendship
Rating: Five Stars!
Written by Ella

Heartstopper is a book about two boys who get put next to each other in form and become best friends; Charlie is openly gay but Nick hasn't figured himself out yet. They quickly become close. Charlie is Ben's experiment; Ben is the year above Charlie but they meet up to make out. When Nick is introduced, Charlie feels more confident into saying the truth to Ben.

I chose this book because its inspiring and just a lovely book in general.

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Goodnight Mister Tom by Michelle Magorian

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Goodnight Mister Tom by Michelle Magorian

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Genre: Historical Fiction
Topics: War, WW2, sadness, love, joy
Rating: Five Stars!
Written by Daisy

I loved reading Goodnight Mister Tom because, despite it being quite large, it was interesting right from the start. It is a story of a young boy(Willie Beech) who is evacuated from war-torn London to live with Tom Oakley, a cranky old man who lives alone and never wanted a kid. Willie is a sickly child that has been badly abused by his ill mother. It takes a while for Willie to warm up to Mister Tom but the closer he gets the more he finds out.

I would recommend this book to anyone who loves learning about war (like me) and who loves a bit of sadness and happiness all in one book. I liked how it had a lot of things that I am interested in, like war, however, I also liked how it was interesting right from the start.

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The Girl of Ink and Stars by Kiran Millwood Hargrave

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The Girl of Ink and Stars by Kiran Millwood Hargrave

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Genre: Fantasy

Topics: Friendship, Conflict, Loss, the Class Hierarchy and Adventure.

Rating: Five Stars!
Written by Anna

I enjoyed the Girl of Ink and Stars due to its indulging world that it builds and the accuracy of its portrayals of human nature, as well as its fantastical adventure elements. It also handles grief realistically and potently.

The Girl of Ink and Stars follows a girl in a small village who aspires to become a cartographer, whilst trying to get through a fantastical conflict and uncovering the nature of the people she knows, whilst living through losing them.

I would recommend this book to those who enjoyed Harry Potter, due to its strong elements of fantasy and the Hunger Games as it follows a strong female protagonist who sacrifices a lot to survive.

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Genre: Non-Fiction
Topics: History, Conflict, World War II, Military History
Rating: Five Stars!
Written by Joseph

I chose this book because the front cover hooked me in and I'm into history and interested in military things like tanks, the air force and military leaders. this book is about the key events and vehicles of WW2, especially the special armament of people and vehicles. I like this book because I've read many history books about war and I thought that I'd red this and see if it was any good. It was! It also told me about things I didn't already know.

I would recommend this book to people who like history and learning about famous wars. I would also recommend it to history teachers. In my opinion, this is a really good book.

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Genre: Real Life
Topics: Family, School, Superheroes, Friendship, Racism, Sexism, Gang Culture
Rating: 4.5 stars!
Written by Aniya

I read this book in English Class and it is such a thought provoking and interesting book to read and analyse. The story follows Ilyas, a boy in Year 11 who is in a gang called DedManz - however the friendship turns very sour and toxic when Ilyas is involved in an accident with the leader, Imran. Imran is now out to get Ilyas, even if it means damaging Ilyas' friendship with Kelly, a girl who seems to be his only chance at happiness.

This book is incredibly interesting to analyse and I enjoyed looking at all the different characters and what they represent - It is very well written and I would recommend it to anyone who is looking for books on teenage struggles and the pressures of friendships at secondary school. It also touches upon issues of sexism, toxic masculinity and racism, which are very important to educate yourself on - another example of how thought provoking and interesting it is to read and understand.

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Percy Jackson and the Lightning Thief by Rick Riordan

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Percy Jackson and the Lightning Thief by Rick Riordan

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Genre: Fantasy
Topics: Adventure, Mythology Greek Retellings, Coming of Age, Politics, Friendship, Family
Rating: Four Stars!
Written by Emily

A gripping adventure of a young boy who discovers he is the son of a major Greek God. The invigorating plot starts right at the beginning of the novel where we see Percy Jackson having to fight off monsters at his school, even before he realises that he is a demigod and has powers stronger than that of most of his peers. There are losses within which result in this emotional rollercoaster of a storyline.

Great read, would 100% recommend to those interested in Greek Mythology and fantasy.

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Genre: Fantasy
Topics: Disability, Fantasy, Action, Romance, Paranormal, Vampires, Historical Fiction
Rating: Five stars!
Written by Abigail

What is, in my opinion, one of the only books to get a love triangle right, Clockwork Angel is the first in the Infernal Devices trilogy, the second instalment in the Shadowhunter Chronicles. Following Tessa Gray, a girl who suddenly finds herself in a world entirely unfamiliar once she travels from 1800s New York to England and finds more than just her brother. Seeking refuge with a Shadowhunter who saves her, Tessa soon finds herself wrapped up in adventure, torn between two best friends.

This trilogy is an absolute delight, perfect for lovers of fantasy romance, as well as just good old fantasy lovers. Clockwork Angels combines historical fiction, romance and fantasy and does it in such a way that it flows seamlessly- setting, plot and characters. The elements integrate with each other so well, the reader is left just wanting more (and crying, of course, but that's irrelevant).

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Genre: Real Life
Topics: Coming of age, Mental Health, Romance, Family
Rating: Five stars!
Written by Laila

I have chosen to do my book review on All About Mia by Lisa Williams because it is a great book that grips the reader every step of the way.

I love this book for many reasons but one that has stuck with me the most is that the main character is placed in real life situations and isn’t the typical idea of a hero. However, Mia is a different type of brave that all teenage girls should hope to be.

I would recommend this book to teenage girls because Mia has to overcome her fears and learn to speak up when something isn’t right and open up about her feelings.

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Genre: LGBTQ+,
Topics: LGBTQ+, Civil Rights Movement, Racism, Coming of age, Historical Fiction
Rating: Five stars!
Written by Daisy

This book is very good for many reasons. First of all, it is about coming of age and realising your true self and not hiding from it. It is about two girls who are supposed to despise each other but as they spend more time together, something happens that neither of the two girls expected. They soon come to realise that maybe skin colour doesn't matter all that much as they discover what they really feel about each other. This story is mainly set in two perspectives; Sarah Dunbar
and Linda Hairston. I loved this book as it relates to me and I feel quite in touch with both the characters.

I would recommend this to anyone in secondary school and above as I truly feel that it is an amazing book.

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When the Mountains Roared by Jess Butterworth

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When the Mountains Roared by Jess Butterworth

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Genre: Adventure
Topics: Animals, Travel, Poaching, India, Friendship, Grief
Rating: Five stars!
Written by Ruqaiyya

I would definitely give this book full marks. This book takes you on an adventure and shows you that brave souls out there who are willing to so what it takes to save a snow leopard and stop them from becoming extinct. This book takes you on a roller coaster and has loads of fears and problems that you never knew there was an answer to. Forget they have travelled nearly half the world already and yet the adventure still adventures on, weaving on the only way out that is possible. Villages set on fire, people run away, the mountains shake, they roar. While they ever find out who it was?

This book is a journey worth reading and to explore. It inspires the world about the endangered creatures who are yet to be warned! Be careful.

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Punching the Air by Ibi Zoboi & Yusuf Salaam

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Punching the Air by Ibi Zoboi & Yusuf Salaam

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Genre: Real Life
Topics: Poetry, Racism, Social Justice, Crime, Prison, Art
Rating Five stars!
Written by Shraeah

I picked up this book because I was interested in black culture and seeing the front cover, I was interested to learn about the story. At just sixteen years old, Amal’s bright future is upended: he is convicted of a crime he didn’t commit and sent to prison. Despair and rage almost sink him until he turns to the refuge of his words, his art.

Normally with books, I get bored and let my imagination take over, but this book really made me see in a whole new light the struggles, feelings and the path to redemption and the protagonist's truth.

I'd recommend this book to anybody and everyone!

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Genre: Real Life
Topics: Mystery, School, Adventure
Rating: 4.5 stars!
Written by Mustafa

I chose this book because it was recommended to me by family and I felt and saw myself as the main character.

Every day Stanley and the other inmates of Camp Green Lake Juvenile Detention Centre are told to dig a hole, five foot wide by five foot deep, reporting anything they find. The evil warden claims that it is character building, but this is a lie and Stanley must dig up the truth.

My favourite part is when he was thought to be guilty for the robbery. I would recommend this book to all age groups!

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Genre: Historical Fiction
Topics: WW2, Loss, War, Adventure, Mystery
Rating: Five Stars
Written by Shalom

I chose the book because the cover looked interesting and I didn't understand the blurb, which made me want to read the book even more! The book is about a young girl called Louisa Adair, who lost her parents and is determined to help in the war. She meets two others, Jamie a pilot and Ellen an RAF driver. Two other people exhausted by the war. I loved how it was hard to put down and it had very good descriptions. I could picture it in my head!

I would recommend this book to people who aren't squeamish and don't mind reading about the war.

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Geek Girl: Head Over Heels by Holly Smale

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Geek Girl: Head Over Heels by Holly Smale

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Genre: Romance
Topics: Comedy, family, drama, modelling
Rating:
Written by Mahika

This book starts with a girl called Harriet Manners, a mature and clever sixteen-year-old, who lives with her family in England. Harriet has 4 best friends (Jasper, India, Nat, Toby) and she is the sort of teenager that loves being organised and so is always making a schedule for almost every event possible. She is also a model, and this book takes you on the journey of a model who undergoes many problems. Harriet finds out her other friend, Wilbur, doesn’t have much money for his modelling agency. She decides to help him and take as many job interviews as possible. Her friend, Rin, comes to meet her, another fellow model. Sooner or later, she realises that Jasper and Rin are made for each other. But little did she know, that in fact, it was actually Toby liked Rin and that Jasper liked her instead…

I would recommend this book because it is very interesting and has many plot twists (which is the best part!). Also, it tells the story of a model and the problems she faces.

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When Hitler Stole Pink Rabbit by Judith Kerr

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When Hitler Stole Pink Rabbit by Judith Kerr

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Genre: Historical Fiction
Topics: History, War, World War II, Holocaust
Rating: Five stars!
Written by Sapphira

I would recommend this book because it is so engaging and when I read it I just couldn’t stop reading! This book is all about a girl called Anna and it is based on Judith Kerr’s story except the names of the people have been changed. It is set in World War 2 and it is about the war and what happened to her and her family. They had to move away from Germany which is where they lived because they were Jewish and Anna tells the story of what happened.

I would definitely recommend this book because it is so interesting from a historical point of view and even if you don’t really enjoy history I would definitely give this book a go because it is not what you might expect.  If you enjoy this book I would recommend the second one too which is called ‘Bombs on Aunt Dainty’.

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Genre: Fantasy
Topics: LGBTQ+, Crime, Action, Fantasy, Thriller, Disability

Rating: Five Stars!
Written by Abigail

Six of Crows is the first book in the Six Of Crows Duology. It introduces you to a cast of 6 main characters, defined as a convict, a sharpshooter, a runaway, a spy, a witch and a thief. Set in Ketterdam, a dark and crime-filled Capital City of an island nation, Six of Crows explores darker themes through it’s range of characters, all of which are somewhat morally grey. While Six of Crows is part of a larger series- the Grishaverse, it can be read as its own duology.

My recommendation would be that this novel is a good read for teenagers- especially those interested in darker stories or magical worlds. Additionally, the crime aspect is a great part, so this book is a good choice for people interested in more thrilling plots. Some of the best parts of this book come from the LGBTQ+ representation, as well as the extremely well explored disability representation, which adds another level to both characters and story. This book will run circles around you, shocking you at every surprise reveal- the plot is brilliant at drawing you in, and the fantastical setting and characters only make this novel one of my all time favourites, and hopefully yours.

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Genre: Thriller
Topics: Murder Mystery, Thriller, Romance, Crime, School
Rating: Five Stars
Written by Samuella

This book is a follow-up from the first book ‘One of Us is Lying’ which talks about the death of a young boy called  Simon Kelleher. Now there is a new copycat in town who is following ‘Simon's legacy’ to be the new biggest gossiper by playing the classic game truth or dare, which turns very deadly. The teenagers are trying to find out who this mystery person is before things take a wrong turn. This book was really easy and interesting to read and the tension just kept increasing! I kept trying to guess who the mystery person was but as I read more and more, I kept on changing my mind on who it was which was quite perplexing. The ending of this story was a huge twist that was NOT EXPECTED!

Something common that was constantly portrayed in this story was the importance of trust and how trusting the wrong people can result in serious consequences. Romance is also a big theme projected in this story and illustrates the struggles within teen relationships but results in happiness when there is a healthy balance of trust and kindness shared. This also includes relationships within family members and how it is important to cherish them before it is too late.

Overall I enjoyed this book and highly recommend it to people who love murder mysteries with a touch of romance in it! =]

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The Tattooist of Auschwitz by Heather Morris

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The Tattooist of Auschwitz by Heather Morris

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Genre: Historical Fiction
Topics: WW2, Romance, War, Love, Concentration Camps
Rating: 4.5 stars!
Written by Ben

It is a very moving book about love and war, it has many great twists and sad moments. This book is a true story about Lale Sokolov, a Jew that was sent off to a concentration camp. He was given the job of being the Tatowierer. This was somebody who would engrave numbers onto the prisoners’ skin. With this job he was able to get extra rations.

I would recommend this to anyone who would like a sad but happy story.

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Once Upon a Dork by Rachel Renee Russell

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Once Upon a Dork by Rachel Renee Russell

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Genre: Real Life
Topics: Comedy, Romance, Dairies, Fantasy, Fairy Tales
Rating: Five stars!
Written by Phoebe

I chose this book because I really like diaries. Also the front cover intrigued me to read it.

The book is about Nikki Maxwell who got hit on the head by a dodgeball thrown by MacKenzie in gym class on April Fool’s Day. Then Nikki Maxwell has a wild dream with lots of familiar fairy tales. However most people in it she recognises. And on her journey, she has to find a way out of it.

I really like how there are fairy tales that I know of but changed it slightly. I also really like the comedy side of the story.

This book would be great for people who like comedy and non fiction books, also if you like Tom Gates and Diary of the Wimpy Kid.

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The Boy Who Made Everyone Laugh by Helen Rutter

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The Boy Who Made Everyone Laugh by Helen Rutter

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Genre: Comedy
Topics: Real Life, School, Coming of Age, Disability
Rating: Four Stars!
Written by Chloe

I recommend this book because it was really funny and had a joke at the start of every chapter. It was also very interesting because it followed the life of an 11-12 year old boy who had a stutter, and it really went into detail about how he was feeling as if he couldn't do his school talent show because of his talking disability.

Billy Plimpton is a 11-12 year old boy who just joined a new school. It's very different from his primary school. However, he makes friends really quickly, but meets a bully too. William Blakemore is the school bully, he is struggling with his grades, so Mr Osho, Billy's tutor, decides that Billy can give Blakemore private lessons. Billy isn't so happy with this arrangement.

After a competing band’s rehearsal struggles, Teenplay (a teenage band) ask if Billy would like to join their band, or stick with his friends. This is a big decision for Billy; Teenplay performs rock and people always clap and whistle after their rehearsals. Billy wanted to hear people whistle for him and he wants to make his granny proud.

Will Billy join Teenplay? Will Blakemore get the better of him?  Will he overcome his stutter? Find out in ‘The boy who made everyone laugh’!

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Genre: Real Life
Topics: Racism, Justice, School,  Gang Culture, Activism and Identity

Rating: Five stars!
Written by Reeshan

The Hate U give is about Starr’s (the main characters) actions after Khalil, her best friend, was killed by a police officer when he was unarmed and no danger to society. This book leads to the exploration of racism in law enforcement and the justice system. The Hate U Give themes are about racism and police brutality as well as having a double identity of being in a private school but living in a poor neighbourhood.

I recommend this book because it gives you a sliver of an insight into what police brutality causes and the consequences it can have through a teenagers eyes.

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Genre: Fantasy
Topics: Adventure, Fantasy Science Fiction,  Magic, Fairies
Rating: Four stars!
Written by Benedict

I chose this book because it looked interesting and grabbed my attention from the first few pages. It is told excellently and I would recommend it to anyone who enjoys reading about fairies, criminal masterminds, hi-tech gadgetry and total mayhem. It all starts when 12 year old criminal mastermind Artemis Fowl steals a book from a fairy. He then proceeds to steal gold from the fairies by kidnapping Captain Holly Short of LEPRecon. This book gripped me from cover to cover, and it's one of my favourite books of all time.

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The Loneliest Girl in the Universe by Lauren James

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The Loneliest Girl in the Universe by Lauren James

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Genre: Science fiction

Topics: Death, Revenge, Loneliness, Manipulation, Thriller, Space

Rating: 4.5 Stars!
Written by Aditya

I chose this book because it was given to me by a teacher, and the author worked with us. The book is about a girl who was born in space, her parents were astronauts, but they died, and now she is all alone, and with only few brief messages from her therapist, she still feels all alone, but great news arrive when she is told a new ship is coming with her voyage piloted by J, the captain of the other ship. I loved the twist at the end, I could never expect that, it took me by surprise and I also like that each chapter is like a journal saying how many days away for the Eternity (other spaceship) to arrive.

I would recommend this to people who love murder mystery books and love unexpected endings.

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Harry Potter and the Philosopher's Stone by J.K. Rowling 

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Harry Potter and the Philosopher's Stone by J.K. Rowling 

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Genre: Fantasy
Topics: Friendship, self-sacrifice, judgment, Magic, School, Adventure

Rating: Five stars!
Written by Aditya

I chose this book because I saw the film, but never actually read the book and the cover was actually very colourful and grabbed my attention. It is about a boy called Harry whose parents were wizards, but they were killed by Voldemort. But Harry was unexpectedly saved; he lived with his uncle and aunt, but they were normal and hated Harry for being a wizard. On his 11th birthday, he is invited to Hogwarts, the most prestigious magic school in the whole world. I liked the thrill and mystery of the book, it was like a mystery book but sometimes horror.

I would definitely recommend this book to people who watched the film, but not actually read the book.

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Genre: Fantasy

Topics: Corruption, Coming of age, Responsibility, Equilibrium/Balance, Patience

Rating: 5 stars!
Written by Elias

I came to know of this book by the film adaptation of one of the four stories, released by Studio Ghibli and, being one of those people who prefer a book to a movie, left for the bookstore the very next day.

The perfect quantities of morals and life lessons balances magic and evil, making for relatable lessons that tug and play with your emotions, enhanced by witty dialogue written so perfectly that it far surpasses today’s expectation. Inside lies four stories, each with different life lessons and their fair share of adventure, from the perspective of the gifted wizard Ged who roams the archipelago keeping the balance, as is the duty of the Arch-mage.

For those who are fans of the Inheritance Cycle series or other works of fantasy starring wizards, I would recommend The Earthsea Quartet.

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Genre: Mystery
Topics: Thriller, Romance, Murder, Crime, LGBTQ+, School
Rating: Four Stars!
Written by Esha

One of Us is Lying follows the gripping story of Bronwyn, Addy, Nate, and Cooper as suspects in the murder of Simon Kelleher. Each of the high school students have secrets that they would do anything to protect, so how far would they go to make sure they're kept out of the spotlight?

What a marvellous, delectable read! There was something so addictive about this book; it felt at times distinctly young adult while also having moments that felt so well done it was beyond the stereotype of what a teenage thriller tends to be. It’s taken me 4 days just to collect my thoughts to the point that I can attempt writing a proper review, and I’m certain this will be one of the most talked about books in the YA genre this Spring/Summer season.

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Genre: Mystery
Topics: Racism, LGBTQ+, rich vs poor, bullying

Rating: Four Stars!
Written by Samuella

When I saw this book going viral, I had to pick it up. The book cover was so eye-catching and when I read the blurb, I just knew I had to read it. It's about two students, Devon and Chiamaka , who attend a very posh private school.

They are suddenly being threatened and stalked by this anonymous texter who is trying to expose them of their secrets and they need to find out who this is before it gets worse..

This story illustrates the importance of understanding racism and social status which can significantly change someone's life. It also has a bit of a 'Mean Girls' vibes which makes it more interesting to read. This story portrays the difficulties of one of the characters exploring their sexuality.

Overall, I would recommend this book to anyone who loves mystery books, understanding the causes of racism, social status and who enjoys a bit of 'Mean Girls' vibe. 😎

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Letters from the Lighthouse by Emma Carroll 

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Letters from the Lighthouse by Emma Carroll 

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Genre: Historical Fiction
Topics: Loss, Mystery, Separation, Forgiveness, Love, Kindness, War
Rating: Five stars!
Written by Maya

I really enjoyed this book. It's about war and the changes in an evacuee's life. And how refuge was really hard to get in war time. The main character Olive travels with her little brother to Devon, but before leaving, their older sister Sukie mysteriously disappears when impersonating their mother to find out what line of work her mother really does. In Devon, things change as they find out why her sister disappeared and by who she was sent away.

I would recommend this book to people who like reading stories set in war time (e.g. WW1 or WW2) and like reading about mystery, with spies and also a bit of romance.

I really liked the cliff hangers between each chapter and how they worked out secret codes and found illegal things happening.

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Genre: Adventure
Topics: Science Fiction, Fantasy, Friendship, Space
Rating: Four stars!
Written by Ella

Cosmic is a really good story for people who like adventure and a little bit of fantasy. It’s about a very tall 12 year old boy who people think is older than his actual age. He hears about a competition for a child to win a spot to go to China for a once-in-a-life-time-experience thrill ride. His dad says no, but his friend Florida agrees. Little did they know they would end up in space!

I loved this book because it's well written and has lots of twists. I would recommend this to all age types.

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Goodnight Mister Tom by Michelle Magorian

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Goodnight Mister Tom by Michelle Magorian

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Genre: Historical Fiction
Topics: Family, Belonging, Separation, WW2, War, Loss, Evacuation
Rating: Four stars!
Written by Anna

Goodnight Mister Tom is a though provoking tale of a child who is evacuated to the countryside away from his family in London. He is fostered by an elderly man names Tom and they bond whilst the horrors of World War 2 occur. They each have to adapt in their own way to the situation in addition.

I would recommend this book to those interested in history and enjoy character development.

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Genre: Fantasy
Topics: Friendship, Good vs Evil, Loss, Science Fiction, Magic, Adventure
Rating: Five stars!
Written by Rebecca

I chose this book because I love all the characters in it and it is impossible to put down. The book is about a boy who is dealing with loss and loneliness, a girl who has magic powers and wants to be free. They meet and have to try and save the white city. I really like the way the author tells the story because he tell us what is happening to the boy then leaves it on a cliff hanger, tells us what is happening to the girl then leaves that on a cliffhanger, because of this it is impossible to stop reading it!

I would recommend this book to anyone who loves fantasy and loves getting attached to characters, hope you enjoy my favourite book!

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Genre: Real Life
Topics: School, Anxiety, Friendship, Bullying, Music Mental Health
Rating: 4.5 stars!
Written by Ella

I chose this book because it sounded really relatable and the cover intrigued me. It’s about a girl called Angelica but her nickname is Jelly. She pretends to be funny but she’s actually really insecure. This book gives you a peek of her life and what it would be like to be self-conscious and unconfident. I really liked how relatable this book was and how it shows us that good things will happen.

I would recommend this to people who are struggling with their body weight or are around 8 and over.

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Genre: Adventure
Topics: Environment, Animals, Dystopia, Science Fiction
Rating: Four stars!
Written by Tom

I chose it because I read the blurb and the idea just caught my eye. I wanted to read it from the moment I saw it. Everything about it just flew off the page for me. It's about a little girl who, with the help of her animal friends, tries to save the world from an evil corporation while finding others to help along the way .

The thing I like most about it is its story - the slow burn pacing it has the encroaching feeling of fear and other wonderful things. If you enjoy books where our hero survives things they should never be able to, and you have some patience, then this is for you.

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The Supreme Lie by Geraldine McCaughrean 

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The Supreme Lie by Geraldine McCaughrean 

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Genre: Science Fiction / Dystopian
Topics: Floods, Politics, Mystery, Dogs, Climate Refugees
Rating: Four stars!

I picked up The Supreme Lie because I thought the cover was striking. It is about a 15 year old girl who suddenly finds herself having to run an entire city disguised as The Suprema, who has mysteriously disappeared just as floods begin to cause chaos across the land. She soon discovers murder plots and fake news reports and has to battle a corrupt government to save her city and keep everyone safe. The story is gripping and a little scary in places. It reminded me of the floods and fires that happened in Europe and Australia last year. It helped me understand what it might be like to be a climate refugee fleeing an environmental disaster. The main character is relatable and brave and some chapters are even told from the perspective of a dog!

I recommend this book to anyone who enjoyed The Hunger Games or is interested in the Environment.