Alex Rider

If you like teenage spies, criminal organisations, and awesome gadgets, then this is the book for you. Set in Britain, a young boy named Alex Rider is forcibly recruited into MI6, while learning that his late uncle was a spy and was shot dead. After training with the SAS, Alex is ready for his first mission. Armed with cool gadgets, Alex Rider investigates Herod Sayle's sudden generosity of donating a new computer known as Stormbreaker to all the schools in Great Britain. There, he finds a diabolical plan, involving a new virus capable of destroying a whole city...

Alex Rider Stormbreaker is a great book and I really like how Anthony Horowitz made it so exciting. There's a lot of action going on and I couldn't stop reading after I read the first page. I also like how in the book, Alex faces a problem and yet solves it pretty easily. There are some real cliffhangers over some points in the story and those are my favourite parts in the book. My favourite character in Alex Rider would be either Alex Rider himself or Smithers, the guy who makes the gadgets. This book is awesome and I recommend it to any person who has outgrown Zac Power or any boy aged 10 and above. 

Thanks to Marty from Book Club for this great review.

The Hunger Games

'Happy Hunger Games! And may the odds be ever in your favour!
                Effie Trinkett- The Hunger Games

 A gripping and suspenseful novel, 'The Hunger Games' follows the powerful story of sixteen-year-old Katniss Everdeen. Her world is Panem, a country ruled by the harsh Capitol which is surrounded by twelve districts, most of which are barely scraping by. As punishment for the Great War and in order to keep the rebels in line, the Capitol forces the districts to send one young man and woman to compete in the all-dreaded Hunger Games, a fight to the death on live national TV.

When Katniss volunteers to take her sister's place for the Games, she takes it as a death sentence until she realises she has a chance to win, by putting life before love and humanity. 'The Hunger Games' is intensely enticing, fast-paced and has delightfully dry humour. It is the perfect adventure novel for 12 years and up, and entwines a race for survival, heart-touching moments and a struggle against inhumanity.

Review by D. Robinson.
From our Book Club

Brian Falkner

It was wonderful having NZ author (now living in Australia) Brian Falkner visiting our school last term. Brian is a real entertainer and had the students enthralled with his ‘Story Sports’ TM game that ‘takes the concept of a writing workshop and turns it into a competitive sport’. www.brianfalkner.com

We got to participate as judges for the game and give scores to each team for the line they had to quickly come up with - Great fun.

Brian also talked about his books for Young adults and children. You may like to have a look at his latest YA titles such as: Tomorrow code, Brainjack and The Project. For younger readers his latest book Northwood has been very popular.

Dragonkeeper

Dragonkeeper by Carole Wilkinson

Dragonkeeper is the delightful tale of a timid little slave girl named Ping and the last imperial dragon left in ancient China.

An unwanted adventure begins when a Dragon Hunter arrives at the imperial palace where Ping and the dragon are both captives. Although terrified, Ping realises she must help the dragon find a way of escape. The wise and tolerant dragon soon becomes friend and mentor to the insecure Ping, as they take off on an exciting adventure together, being pursued across ancient mystical China by the ruthless Dragon Hunter.

 Alternate cover

“A truly fabulous journey. I loved every dragon’s tooth, claw and scale of it.”
Gary Crew, Author
SEE MORE REVIEWS AT
http://www.carolewilkinson.com.au/books/dragonkeeper