Just Jealous by Ann Cassidy November 30, 2009

Just Jealous did not disappoint at all – it is quite a dark book, but it captures the rollercoaster of first love, rivals and the painful experience of jealousy which can be all encompassing when feelings are raw. Elly is the main character and she is mad about Carl but has been afraid to let him know her true feelings.  When a new girl joins their sixth form with her stylish looks and American accent Carl’s attention is soon directed her way.  Elly is driven to the edge by her jealousy and she creates an explosive situation with tragic consequences.

Lesley

Underworld by Catherine MacPhail October 30, 2009

A group of students who are not normally friends, quite the opposite, are chosen to go on a team building school trip. There are tensions within the group which includes a bully, a crawler, a boffin, a loud mouthed girl and a new girl who is shy and overweight.  The teacher in charge has had cause to dislike the bully, and his personal feelings are in danger of coming to the surface. The trip includes a day exploring caves where legend has it a monster lurks, but that is just kid’s stuff – isn’t it?  Disaster strikes the trip and the only way the students will survive is by working together, but can they do it?

Lesley

Knife by RJ Anderson October 30, 2009

Knife is a fairy who is a hunter in her community and she has never had contact with a human being. She does have to hunt in the human world and she collides literally with Paul, a human boy in a wheelchair and breaks her wing. Knife is mystified by the strange behaviour of this human who she sees as lazy because he never leaves his “throne” and has everything done for him by other humans. The story tells of the close relationship that develops and is both funny and sad in places.

Beth

Forget Me Not by Anne Cassidy August 27, 2008

Wow, what a thriller!  I love Anne Cassidy’s style and this book raced along at an exhilarating pace building tension all the way.

Two missing toddlers both linked to Stella’s Mum, Terri.  Terri’s past is full of secrets and guilt and she has kept her daughter protected from all this. But now Stella is involved and her life disrupted it is time for her to know the truth – but will she cope with it?

This is a must read for crime and mystery fans, but be warned you will not be able to put it down!

 

Lesley, Oakgrove School 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

The Stuff of Nightmares by Malorie Blackman June 12, 2008

Kyle is on a school trip when the train crashes and everyone in his carriage left injured and unconscious. Death stalks the carriage and has Kyle in its sights.
The only way to escape is to enter the dreams of the other passengers and here Kyle finds that he is not the only person haunted by nightmares. Will the passengers survive and will Kyle face his greatest fear? A creepy and compelling novel from this acclaimed author.

Roz, LRE

Under a War-Torn Sky by L M Elliott May 29, 2008

 

I really enjoyed this book. It is set in France during the second world war. 19 year old American pilot, Henry Forester is shot down over France. The story is about his desperate attempt to escape the country. He befriends a young boy and his mother – they bravely hide him and lead him to the Resistance. The story is full of suspense and action – very sad too.

 

Lyndsey, Northampton Academy

Teacher’s Dead by Benjamin Zephaniah April 2, 2008

When Jackson Jones witnesses the murder of a teacher in front of the school everyone knows who the murderers are and they are quickly caught by the police.

Jackson knows the boys and can’t understand what drove them to murder and so begins his own investigation to try to understand what drove them to murder. A fascinating tale from the popular poet.

Roz, LRE

Nevermore by Linda Newbery April 2, 2008

Tizzie’s life with her mother brings her to live on the mysterious Roven Mere estate where the household seem to be permanently waiting for Lord Rupert and his daughter Greta to come home. Tizzie is determined to get to the bottom of things.

A fascinating buildup of suspense with a clever twist in the ending.

Sue, LRE

Blood Red, Snow White by Marcus Sedgwick March 17, 2008

This book is both a spy story and a love story set during the Russian Revolution.

During the Revolution, author Arthur Ransome was a journalist based in Russia. He was well placed to have access to the Bolshevik leadership, while maintaining links with diplomats in the British Embassy.

He falls in love with a Russian woman, Eugenia. The book is deeply moving – I couldn’t put it down!

Lindsey, The Northampton Academy

What I Was by Meg Rosoff March 17, 2008

 

This is a wonderful book! I loved the story of this unhappy teenager sent to a miserable boarding school in the 1960’s, a disppointment to his parents and unwilling to conform to fit in with the expectations of his third school.

His dull existance is transformed when he meets Finn, a mysterious teenager who lives alone in a beach hut and fends entirely for himself. The meetings with Finn become the centre of our characters world and he is unable to think of anything else.

The idyllic times are not to last and the story becomes tense with the dangers which face each character and I found this book exciting, dramatic, sensitive and a brilliant read.

Lesley, Oakgrove School