START WITH A STATEMENT

Have been reading this type of story for over 42 years now. First read it when I was 10. What genre is it Year 5?

“‘Where’s Papa going with that axe?’ said Fern to her mother as they were setting the table for breakfast.”

east of the jungle and south of the mountains, there lived a Firework-Maker called Lalchand and his daughter Lila.

Description of setting and character

START WITH DIALOGUE

   The knife had done almost everything it was brought to that house to do, and both the blade and the handle were wet.

I love how the author has built up suspense by leaving so much information out; he says the knife is 'wet', rather than it is covered in blood - so much more powerful to allow this to slowly dawn on us. There is just enough in there for you to be thoroughly chilled: we realise something sinister and cruel has happened/is happening and await that horrid realisation that we may just have already been hurt! Brilliant.

This is such a seemingly plain string of first words, up until 'London was', but as you read on, suddenly something odd strikes you about the scene. in so few words, Reeve superbly orientates the reader and makes them see they are in a strangely different world - one we should recognise, but one in which our capital city can move, and a sea no longer exists! you want to read on, don't you?

Who would not want to read on to find out how that happened?

Start with a statement and build the rest of your story on this premise!

I love how the descriptions the author uses to create a mental picture in the readers minds with only a few sentences - Norry Leonard. 

Added by Seren, "I like the start of this book because it's funny, and it's a bit of a tongue twister".

A fabulous read aloud for any classroom - esepecially with the frying pan weilding fairy!

Cheesynz

This is such an ordinary start to a book and it gives you no idea just how exciting things are going to get!

I like the start of this book (I like all of the books to be honest) because I think it builds suspense. You want to keep reading to find out who the men are. At first you don't know if they are friend or foe, and even when you know they are on the same side, you still don't know which side they are on.

Bronte builds up intrigue in this one sentence by painting a picture of isolation and solitude but hooks you in by letting you know that troubles are on the horizon.

"Need a poo, Todd."

"Shut up, Manchee."

"Poo. Poo, Todd."

"I said SHUT IT."

Amusing, very unusual start to a tremendous young adult book. How had the dog learnt to "talk"?

This makes me laugh each time I read it ! How do you get a name you 'nearly' deserved? 

Simple but engaging.

It is spring, moonless night in the small town, starless and bible-black, the cobblestreets silent and the hunched, courters'-and-rabbits' wood limping invisible down to the sloeblack, slow, black, crowblack, fishingboatbobbing sea.

I love the evocative description of the sky and sea. Bible-black also has marvellous alliteration.

I like this because it tells us a lot about Vimes' world weariness, and hooks us in wanting to know who screamed and why.

The start of this book raises so many questions in my mind as the reader. I am hooked and want to read on.