Book Reviews
Finding a book that your child engages with and enjoys is so important when it comes to fostering a love of reading. Even better when your child finds an author whose work they love and can't get enough of.
Our reviews are here to provide a 'lyttle help' and include reviews written for children by children.
The age bands are just a rough guide as children have varying abilities and interest levels. You will see our reviewers frequently recommend books in a different age category.
8 +
This David Walliams' story follows Elsie a 10 year old orphan in Victorian England and Woolly a 10,000-year-old mammoth. It is packed with Walliams' trade mark humour.
" Friendly mammoth character and great adventures. "
Read
aged 8
when review written.
Big Nate is a series of books written by American cartoonist Lincoln Peirce. The stories evolved from a successful newspaper comic strip Peirce wrote. The author was a teacher for 3 years and the stories include a lot of school humour, as you read about the life and exploits of the 11 year old Nate.
" An interesting book which has funny comic drawings. "
Hector aged 9
when review written
Read about Evie an eleven year old girl with the ability to hear what animals are thinking! One of Matt Haig's many engaging stories. I will always feel grateful to Matt Haig. One Christmas my two sons (my youngest was 5 at the time) and I had 3 hours to kill at Oxford train station. Waiting there to collect my Mum who had misread when her train arrived. We purchased a copy of Haig's 'A Boy Called Christmas' which I read to them as they drank hot chocolate and they were so captivated with the story, not once did they complain about the cold or the long wait.
"The reason I love this book so much is because I loved the characters and the way it is described. I really couldn't stop reading this book. It filled me with adrenaline and excitement"
Isla aged 9
when review written.
This volume contains the combined stories 'The Magic Bedknob' (1943) and 'Bonfires and Broomsticks' (1947) by award-winning author Mary Norton. The stories revolve around the adventures of an amateur witch and three children. Norton also wrote the acclaimed Borrowers series which follows a family of tiny people living secretly in the walls and floors of a house.
"I liked this book because it was magical and interesting. The settings and characters are described really well. This book in 3 words: funny, magical and interesting "
Isla aged 9
when review written.
The Tail of Emily Windsnap by Liz Kessler is the first in a series of books which feature Emily, who in this story discovers she is half mermaid. Liz Kessler lives by the sea in Cornwall and previously worked as a teacher and journalist.
"
This book is amazing!
The tail of Emily Windsnap is about a girl who has her first swimming lesson and finds something pretty unusual. This book in 3 words: exciting, funny and surprising. "
Isla aged 9
when review written.
The story of the Iron man by Ted Hughes has definitely stood the test of time. Another plus is that it is a manageable length for children. I remember thoroughly enjoying reading it at bed time to my eldest when he was younger. He then chose to read it again to himself. It obviously made an impression as he chose to dress up as Iron man one World Book Day, a lot of cardboard and silver spray paint was involved!
9 +
This is the first in a series of four books by Cressida Cowell, the English author well known for writing the How to Train Your Dragon series. The Wizards of Once is packed with adventure in an ancient, magical time of Wizards, Warriors, Giants and Sprites.
"I found this series exciting and magical."
Seth aged 9
when review written.
There
are currently 9 books in the Murder Most Unladylike series by Robin Stevens.
" This is a brilliant set of stories about two girls Daisy and Hazel who become great detectives and solve murders. It is extremely fun and exciting to try and figure out the mysteries along with them. You should definitely read these. "Beth aged 12when review written.
Can you see me by Libby Scott and Rebecca Westcott follows 11 year old Tally as she starts secondary school. Tally has autism as does co-author Libby Scott who is also 11 years old.
"This is a story about the life of an autistic girl starting secondary school, it helped me understand people in my life that might be going through similar difficulties."
Beth aged 12
when review written.
If you have not already done so, make time to read the incredibly special story Skellig."Michael steps into the crumbling garage. What is this thing beneath the spiders webs and dead flies? A human being, or a strange kind of beast never seen before?"An utterly unique, magical, and engaging story written by David Almond. Before becoming a successful author, Almond had a variety of jobs including being a primary school teacher which he loved. He remembers wanting to be a writer since he was young and persevered with his dream despite his first novel which took five years to write, being rejected by every UK publisher. Then came Skellig his first story for young people which took six months to write and was taken by the first publisher that read it.
10 +
Rick Riordan's The House of Hades, is the fourth book in The Heroes of Olympus series of which there are five books. They are a sequel to the Percy Jackson and the Olympians series. The story lines revolve around the adventures and conflicts of Greek and Roman demigods.
" Excellent book you will want to read it again and again, and I have in the last 3 years. A really powerful character appears in this story "
Harrison aged 12
when review written.
The graphic novel The Legend of Sally Jones is the prequel to The Murderer's Ape, both written and illustrated by Swedish author and illustrator, Jakob Wegelius. Mystery and adventure surround the central character, a gorilla and ship's engineer, named Sally Jones.
" The title of the book and the original style of the pictures inspired me to read this, It is a graphic novel, and the illustrations are as exotic as the adventures of Sally Jones, the gorilla "
Imogen aged 11
when review written.
The Murderer's Ape by Jakob Wegelius
" I was so hooked by the main character, Sally Jones the gorilla. that I had to read this sequel! This is a novel about Sally's future adventures and the weird and wonderful friends and enemies she meets travelling the world "
Imogen aged 11when review written.
The City of Night Neverending, by Australian author Steven Lochran, is the second in his series of four Paldero fantasy novels. A Paledro is a cross between a knight and a cowboy and they exist in an eclectic fantasy world.
"It has action, adventure, a good storyline and is a long read. It is also part of a series."
Arthur aged 12
when review written.
The Hidden Oracle is the first in The Trials of Apollo series which includes five books, which form a sequel to the Heroes of Olympus series. The series follows the trials of the god Apollo, who has been turned into a mortal as a punishment from his father Zeus.
" I found this series, funny, mysterious and exciting, if you like other Rick Riordan books you'll definitely like this."
Seth aged 9
when review written.
Long awaited, The Tower of Nero is the fifth and final instalment in The Trials of Apollo series. What will the outcome be for Apollo cast down to earth in mortal form at the start of the series.
“ I waited for months for this book to come out because I had read all the others and this is the last in the series. I found it exciting, thrilling and intriguing, it is an amazing mix of myth and magic.”
Seth aged 10
when review written.
Louis Sachar’s novel follows the story of Stanley Yelnats an unlucky teenager falsely accused of theft and sent to a juvenile corrections facility.
“Holes is full of unexpected adventure and strong characters. 'Camp Green Lake' sounds good, until the unfortunate Stanley Yelnats arrives there, and finds that it is really just a prison for boys. I would recommend it to both boys and girls for its humour and style.”
Sophie aged 9
when review written.
11 +
There are currently thirteen books in this series by Irish author Derek Landy. They centre around the adventures of the skeleton detective, Skulduggery Pleasant and include a mix of comedy and horror.
Playing with Fire Skulduggery Pleasant
" Second in the Skulduggery Pleasant Series with an interesting evil character Serpine "
Finn aged 12
when review written.
Author and cartoonist Randall Munroe has a degree in Physics and previously worked as a roboticist at NASA. Christina Doe
" You learn much more than you do in school about anything and everything about the physical laws on earth " Lucas aged 11when review written.
13 +
Demon Road is the first in a trilogy by Derek Landy. It follows 16 year old Amber who is forced to go on the run after discovering a horrifying secret. A mix of horror, action thrills, and wit.
"Dark and exciting storyline "
Finn aged 12when review written.
The Art of Being Normal revolves around David, a transgender teenager and a new student at David's school, Leo who has his own secret. The British author Lisa Williamson was inspired to write this story, after working for two years as an administrator at the
Tavistock Centre in London.
"I really liked this book because it was adventurous but also interesting"Beth aged 12
when review written.
Noughts and Crosses is the first in a series of five books by Malorie Blackman. Sephy a member of the Crosses, the dark-skinned ruling class, has been friends with Callum, a Nought the ‘colourless’ underclass, since childhood. A forbidden romance grows, putting them in terrible danger. The author has revealed there are plans for a sixth book."This book is a wonderful dystopian novel, there are five books in the series and one more coming soon. The cliffhangers are so exciting you want more but give you enough so it's not annoying"
Beth aged 12when review written
The Hunger Games is the first in a trilogy written by Suzanne Collins. Set in a frightening future with a totalitarian government, we hear the story through the voice of 16 year old Katniss. The Hunger Games refers to an annual televised reality show which involves teenagers battling to the death.
“If you love dystopian books you’ll love this one. It makes you ask so many questions about society. I really sympathise with Katniss who is the protagonist, she is a very well developed character.”
Bethan aged 13 when written.
