Quote of the Day

“You are avake, yah?" said a voice in a horribly recognizable accent."Yah," I muttered, rubbing my head. "And you are still a jerk, yah?” 

-Maximum Ride, Saving the world and other extreme sports by James Patterson

The Red Pyramid by Rick Riordan

The front cover of the first book

The Red Pyramid is set in the modern day world where the Ancient Egyptian Gods and Goddesses are all real. Sadie and Carter Kane are brother and sister. Their mother died when they were young and ever since then Carter has stayed with his dad, an archeologist while he travelled the world, and Sadie stayed with her grandparents in London. On a visit to London to see Sadie, their father takes them to the British Museum. There, he is trapped in a coffin and the Kane's discover a whole new world of magic. They set off on a quest to save their father, and the world...


This book is the first of a trilogy, and I have enjoyed all three. The books are told as if they are a transcript of an audio recording, which makes the book very unique in its style. They are all very funny and I also learnt a lot about Egyptian mythology. The books aren't very hard reads, and I really recommend the whole trilogy!


Recommended age: 10-14


Rating: 8/10


Here is the link to buy the first book on amazon:
http://www.amazon.co.uk/The-Kane-Chronicles-Red-Pyramid/dp/014132550X/ref=sr_1_1?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1341769137&sr=1-1

Ruby Red by Linzi Glass

The Front Cover

Ruby Red is a book set in 1970's Johannesburg (South Africa) where segregation is at a high level. Ruby is a rich white girl who goes to a private, English speaking school. However, her mother and father are members of the ANC (African National Congress) which supports rights for blacks. Ruby is never allowed friends home and is used to underground meetings taking place at her house. Ruby's mother runs a controversial art gallery which shows black artist's work. 
When Ruby meets her new mothers prodigy, Julian and an Afrikaans boy, Johann, her life changes forever.


I really enjoyed this book, it was well written and I didn't get bored. I also found the history in the book interesting and I think it was portrayed very well. I might have enjoyed this book more than others as I have strong ties to South Africa. But I still think this book is well worth reading!


Recommended Age: 12-15


Rating: 7/10


Here is the link to buy this book on amazon:
http://www.amazon.co.uk/Ruby-Red-Linzi-Glass/dp/0141382805/ref=sr_1_1?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1341316114&sr=1-1

Quote of the day

'To the well organised mind death is but the next great adventure'

-Albus Dumbledore, Harry Potter and the Philosophers Stone by JK Rowling

The Curious Incident of the Dog in the Nighttime by Mark Haddon

The front cover

Christopher is a boy with aspergers. He doesn't understand the world and the people around him. Even though he is extremely clever, he doesn't 'get' people. When a dog next door is killed with a garden fork, Christopher decides to become a detective and solve the curious incident of the dog in the nighttime. However, he soon discovers more than he bargained for.

This book gives an unique insight into the world of autism. The view Christopher has of the world is simplistic and amazing. I think that Haddon's vision of life with autism is fascinating. The story doesn't make you pity people with autism, it makes you respect and admire them

Recommended Age: 13+

Rating: 9/10

Here is the link to buy this book on amaozon:
http://www.amazon.co.uk/The-Curious-Incident-Dog-Night-time/dp/0099450259

The Boy in the Striped Pyjamas by John Boyne

The front cover

This book is about two boys living at the time of World War II one of them is a German and son of a Commandant, Bruno as he is called, has moved from Berlin to a strange place called Out-With where there is nowhere to explore and no boys to play with. There is only one thing that is interesting, a long high fence. One day Bruno is out exploring by the fence when he spots “a dot, that became a speck, that became a blob, that became a figure, that became a boy.” This boy is called Shmuel and lives on the other side of the fence and like all the other people there, gets to wear striped pyjamas all day long.

This is quite a disturbing book at times and the author cleverly shows the horrors of war without actually describing them. The story follows a German family’s stresses and strains caused by Hitler and the Nazis.

The story made me cry and laugh, while being a brilliant story and showing war from a child's point of view.

Recommended Age: 12-17

Rating: 8/10

Here is the link to buy this book on amazon:

http://www.amazon.co.uk/The-Striped-Pyjamas-John-Boyne/dp/038560940X

Uglies by Scott Westerfeld

The front cover

Uglies is set in far away future, where when you turn 16 you can become pretty. Tally Youngblood, will be pretty in a few short weeks and she can't wait. When you're pretty, your only job is to have a good time. But when she meets Shay, who isn't sure she wants to be pretty, Tally has to make a choice that will change her life forever.


This book is exciting and thought provoking. Everyone always wants to be pretty, but this book makes the very idea sinister. The story has a great adventure and is very believable. In the trilogy, the story progresses and the plot remains unpredictable. I really like this book, and I recommend it as a thought provoking, exciting book


Recommended Age: 11-14


Rating:7/10

Quote of the Day

'It might be a trap', she said, speaking softly. 'Unlikely', he whispered. 'Traps are usually enticing.''It might be a very rubbish trap.''Always a possibility.'

-Skulduggery Pleasant, Mortal Coil by Derek Landy

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Quote of the day

"I guess it started in London, the night our dad blew up the British Museum".

-Carter, The Red Pyramid, The Kane Chronicles by Rick Riordan