Trash by Andy Mulligan

Synopsis

Raphael is a dumpsite boy who, one day, finds a wallet holding the keys to a mystery--two passports, a map, and a locker key. With the police hot on his heels desperate for that wallet too, Raphael and his friends Gardo and Rat run away, not only to save their lives, but also to decode the meaning of those clues...

Review

Genre: YA, Adventure, Mystery

Age Group: Children or Young Teens

Star Rating: 6/10

Verdict

An interesting book, but not particularly well written. The concept itself is fascinating, following the journey of three kids living in a dumpsite. How do they survive? How do they find clean water and food? I was hoping to learn more about the life of a dumpsite boy but only the first few chapters briefly touch on Raphael's life, so in that aspect, the book was a little disappointing.

I'm not a huge fan of mystery or adventure but it was well crafted. The thing I do have a quibble with is how neatly Raphael, Gardo and Rat managed to find and solve everything. I was hoping for a few trials and a few crossroads in their path but, no, everything just sort of fitted together like a jigsaw puzzle. On the other hand, one could argue that I should lay off Mulligan in this sense since the book is for children or young teens, and the content can't be too disturbing. 

The writing style is simple and keeps readers flicking through the pages. Overall, it's not a bad book but not the masterpiece of the century.

Rangers Apprentice: The Ruins of Garlan (Book 1) by John Flanagan

Synopsis

Will and the few others in the ward are all orphans in the castle. When they are of age (15 years old), they can choose a profession and become an apprentice, as long as their mentor agrees to accept them. Of all the people in the ward, Will is the only one that does not know what profession he is suitable for. He wants to join the Battleschool, but he has not had his growth spurt nor does he have many muscles. On Choosing Day, all of his ward-mates are officially apprenticed to something, but Will still remains unknown. A Ranger had a note in which he gave the Baron, "the big boss". Will, who is nimble and can't stand not knowing, secretly breaks into the Baron's room to find out what the message says. The Ranger lies in the shadows, watching every movement and catches Will guilty. Little did Will know that by doing this proved he was going to pass the test to become a Ranger, instead of having to get in trouble.

As a Ranger's Apprentice, Will trains himself hard, until one day something unfortunate happens. On the day of the Rangers' Gathering, a problem appears. Wargals and the two remaining Kalkara have been released and are on the loose, and it is up to Will, his mentor and his mentor's ex-apprentice to take care of the Kalkara.

Review

Category: Fantasy

Age Group: Teens

Star Rating: 9/10

Verdict

This book captured my soul. End of story. It really was fascinating, and once i picked it up i couldn't force myself to put it down. I took it everywhere with me, the bathroom, i read while eating, it was simply too good to stop. I loved the way Flanagan wrote this because it blew my mind. This book is a case of "Don't judge a book by its cover" because I thought it wouldn't be my cup of tea. However, once I started reading I really took that back. 

~Also, thanks to the person who suggested we review the series! We really love your feedback and if you would like a book reviewed, do tell us!

News from Nikki

Hello Everybody,

First of all, sorry we've been neglecting the site. We have been quite busy but now we have some time to catch up with everything we've missed lately.

Thanks to all of the authors who signed up and are now posting! We truly appreciate how passionate the online community is, and without all your help we would've gone nowhere. Please continue asking your friends to sign up and keep on posting there!

Here is some exciting news: we will be launching a FanFiction area of the site where you can post stories to do with your favourite books. Of course, we're not hoping to rival fanfiction.net, but we will be closely moderating and editing so hopefully we'll have a good collection of good-quality Fanfics to share with our community!

Thanks,
Nikki.

Hush, Hush by Becca Fitzpatrick

Synopsis

When Nora's biology class has a new seating arrangement, she is devastated, scared, and interested. Previously, she was sitting with her best friend, Vee, but now she has to make do with Patch, a transfer student. He doesn't give much information about himself, but somehow he is able to know a lot about Nora without even asking, just from a glance! This really peeves Nora off and she finds it really irritating and freaky that he can know so much about her when she knows basically nothing about him. Who could've known the deepest and darkest secrets about Patch, when he is usually quiet and keeps to himself? Meanwhile, Nora meets a new student that transferred from Kinghorn Prep, a private school, to a very ordinary CHS. Nora finds this a little bit strange and eerie. Nora is about to find out the stunning truth about Elliot and his friend that never shows up to parties as well as Patch.

Review

Category:

Age Group: Teens

Star Rating: 7.5/10

Verdict

I found this really interesting because i have never read about fallen angels before and I know there are quite a bit out there, in the big world of books. I was really interested in the way Fitzpatrick and structure the story so well, where all is revealed at the end and where the Prologue makes sense at last. She keeps the reader in suspense all throughout the book, although if you have read something similar before you might find it quite obvious, I don't know and I can't say. Based on someone with no experience whatsoever in reading books about fallen angels, I couldn't stop myself from stopping. No, it doesn't give you nightmares if you read before you sleep without having finished the book, but it certainly kept me awake and took me some time before i could fall asleep. I was wondering what would happen next; the suspense was really killing. If you love reading books where you can't wait to find out what happens next then this is the right book for you!

The Dragonfly Pool by Eva Ibbotson

Synopsis

Tally doesn't want to go to a boarding school, but for the safety of herself she must obey her father for World War II is almost upon themselves. Getting to the school, she settles in easily and meets many good friends. One day, Daley, the principal of the school receives a letter inviting some students to go to Bergania to perform at an international folk dancing festival. Previously while at the cinemas with a friend she saw a travelogue about Bergania and wants more than anything to go there, so at this opportunity she bullies her friends into training for the dance and going with her. She had no idea what an important deed she would be doing there until she arrived...

Review

Category:
Age Group: 12+
Star Rating: 8/10

Verdict

I found this book, to put this simply, quite amazing. Ibbotson describes things in this book quite marvelously and her imagery use is very strong. When, in the book, she describes Bergania "A ridge of high mountains with everlasting snow, wide valleys planted with orchards and vineyards, and meadows where children herded goats like in Heidi." (Page 67, chapter seven: matteo's moan.) I was astonished. When I was reading that i could see, like I was watching a movie instead of reading, the actual land in my mind. That goes for all the other parts of the story as well.

Letter of Apology

Hi Everyone,

From what I have gathered from recent posts there has been a slight technical hitch in the submission of Author forms; we have fixed it and it is up and running again. Please check it out and become an author!

Thanks and Best Regards,
Nikki.

Journey to the Centre of the Earth by Jules Verne

Synopsis

When Professor Lidenbrock opens an ancient book, a sheet of paper comes out and he decides to take his nephew, Axel, with him to discover more information on what the sheet is saying. They travel deeper and deeper into the earth in order to find the centre of the earth.

Review

Category: Fantasy, Science Fiction

Age Group: Young Teens

Star Rating: 7/10

Verdict

This book was really interesting because it is fun to read about the adventures of Professor Lidenbrock and Axel travelling further and further down into the centre of the earth. The reader is able to feel as though they are on the journey with these characters, suffering the lack of food and water and sighing with relief once a new supply has been found.

Breaking Dawn by Stephanie Meyer

Warning: If don't want to hear Breaking Dawn being criticized please don't read my ranting verdict.
Synopsis
In the final book of the Twilight series, Bella has made her choice. She is going to leave everything she knew, humans and all, behind, and start her new life as a vampire.

Twilight tempted the imagination. New Moon made readers thirsty for more. Eclipse turned the saga into a worldwide phenomenon. And now, the book that everyone has been waiting for...

Goodreads


Review
Category: Teen Fiction/Romance (Mild Violence)
Age Group: Teens
Star Rating: 0.5/10


Verdict (Beware: Rant)
What can you say about an absolutely rubbish book with no plot? Funnily enough, the book's initials are B.D., which suits the contents perfectly. Breaking Dawn is an absolute Brain Drain. Bella, who never bothered me from the start of the series, started really bugging me in New Moon. Please leave Edward alone if he's convinced he's too dangerous for you. Stop whining about the amazing 'after' car your fiance has bought you. If you are THAT displeased sell the car and donate the money to Salvation Army. Bella has become so much of a whiner that it totally spoils the book as readers stop to stab at her name with sharp fingernails and glare.
On the plot. Stephanie Meyer has previously spent three long books describing the supernatural world and what can and cannot happen in it. Then she turns around and totally ruins everything I was reading about. Rule: Vampires cannot have kids. Bella has a kid. Rule: Newborn vampires spend years being bloodthirsty and out of their head. Bella is not.
Come on. Supposedly, Bella has to struggle with the fact that if she wants to become a vampire, she will have to cut off ties with all humans she ever knew; she will be out-of-her-head-crazy for at least a few years; she will never be able to have kids. All this is spoiled with the author's obsession for having a happily-ever-after ending that Bella gets the best of both worlds by being beautiful, controlled, having a talented, amazing child, being amazingly talented herself. She opens her eyes and sees the world in a whole new perspective. After reading this, doesn't everyone want to be a vampire? There are absolutely no downsides to it! Mummy, I want to be a beautiful vampire with paranormal powers too. This total Brain Drain killed me to read and I ended up throwing my hardback copy across the fence to my three year-old neighbour who will hopefully enjoy tearing them up and chewing on the hard cover.

Chasing Orion by Kathryn Lasky

When Georgie moves houses, she has to face new neighbors. However, this is not usually a problem except this time of the year is Polio season and back in 1952 the vaccinations were not yet invented. What is strange about her neighbors is that their daughter had Polio so is now in an iron lung. Georgie learns to make friends with this girl, Phyllis, who is around the same age as her elder brother. They all get to know each other and soon Phyllis starts a relationship with Emmett, Georgie's brother. This is all perfectly find until Georgie finds out about Phyllis' lies and plans.

I think this book was quite interesting; the reader can learn of the past and compare differences with the current day and life 60 years ago. It is fun to know what they used to do for relaxation purposes withoutany of the current technologies such as computers, PSPs, iPads etc.

Age Group: 12+

Star Rating: 6/10

It was quite cool to read but some bits dragged on for a while.

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