Schools & Libraries Book Reviews
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The Wizards of Once
Name: Emily Marcuccilli
09 October 2017;Genre: Fantasy
My review copy of Cressida Cowell's The Wizards of Once was barely out of its packaging when an eager Year 5 reader, desperate to read it, asked whether she could borrow it first. She devoured it in two days flat and declared it to be 'entrancing and mysterious'. How right she...
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The Dollmaker of Krakow
Name: Josie Age 10
06 October 2017;Genre: Historical Fiction
I would rate this fabulous book 10/10!!!! An emotional story of magic, friendship and hope, yet also the shocking reality of life in 1939 Poland. It is a lovely read for 10+. A unique combination of fantasy and history - with a tragic ending which reflects how many stories ended during World War...
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The Spectre Collectors: Too ghoul for school
Name: Joseph Age 10
06 October 2017;Genre: Adventure
I found this book easy to understand and it was well written. The characters were funny and interesting. I liked the ending because it was tense and exciting.
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Sky Dancer
Name: Emily Marcuccilli
05 October 2017;Genre: Environment & Nature
Sky Dancer is a bold and beautiful tale of friendship, nature and community. It is a story about three young people from very different backgrounds who find themselves swept up into a complex world of communities at war with one another over issues of tradition, conservation a...
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The Wizards of Once: Book 1
Name: Susan Wilsher
19 September 2017;Genre: Fantasy
Once there was a boy who had been brought up as a Wizard, believing that all Warriors are bad. However, Xar (the wizard) had no magic - and would do anything to get some.Once there was a girl who was a warrior - people who believed that ALL magic was bad and should be destroyed. Ho...
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Overheard in a Tower Block
Name: Alison Kelly
11 September 2017;Genre: Poetry
This powerful collection of poems was published before the catastrophic Grenfell Tower fire and my first reaction to the title and front cover of this book was dismay at the untimely depiction of a black tower block with its illuminated windows. Kate Milner is a talented illustrator but the image...
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All the Things That Could Go Wrong
Name: Clare Wilkins
05 September 2017;Genre: Adventure
Stewart Foster's follow-up to his poignant children's debut, The Bubble Boy is another powerful and emotional read. It focuses on bullying, friendship and family and cleverly uses a dual narrative to give the perspective of the bully and the victim. Alex has OCD and spends his life endlessly co...
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Name: Melanie Chadwick
01 September 2017;Genre: Friends and family
Pax is the story of how a boy and his abandoned fox reunite against all the odds. Despite his father, a 300 mile trek, a broken leg and a war zone, Peter proceeds with unwavering determination to find his fox, Pax. He is reluctantly helped by Vola, who has been damaged by her...
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Simply the Quest
Name: Beccy Judge
31 August 2017;Genre: Adventure
Simply the Quest is Maz Evans's second book in her marvellous middle grade series and follows the success of last year's Who Let the Gods Out. As before, Maz Evans writes with bags of charisma and knows how to engage her readers. 12-year-old Elliott is back at home living with several Greek Go...
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Name: Emma Jones
10 August 2017;Genre: Adventure
When 11-year-old ace detective Laura Marlin and her classmates are treated to an unexpected visit to Australia, Laura is just as thrilled as the rest of them. But then strange phenomena and odd coincidences start to occur and Laura can't shift the sensation that something isn't right... But wi...
