Book review on the Sword of Shannara by the Author Terry Brooks

This book was very enjoyable and I recommend it to people who like fantasy or to someone who is looking for an exciting read. It starts off a bit slow describing the background of the characters and what’s happening but then it gets very exciting as it splits into three stories halfway through the book. The ending is also very good and interesting.

Review by KH (year 9 reading club).

Montmorency - Series

I can thoroughly recommend these stories – I have read all of them! Back to back. And would very much like there to be another – just to find out what really does happen next……..Why can’t she write another?!!!
Anyway, if you like mystery, crime, people stories with adventure and skulduggery thrown in, friendship and loyalty aswell as humour you cannot go far wrong with these. Oh and did I mention history – not like you do in lessons but ‘applied history’ – the kind where you find yourself back in another time living with characters who could have existed (and some actually did as the writer does feature some real public figures in the mix) before we were born. Great stuff.

HS

It's Not About the Bike by Lance Armstrong

This book is not just about someone being a hero – most of us know he has won the Tour de France more times than anyone else, and the Tour is widely seen as the toughest sporting event in the world.

There are lessons here for everyone – he came from a very poor background with a single mum and a useless absent father but he applied himself to something and still made it. Then he had to face cancer and realised that his achievement in sport was not as important as staying alive, working with his mother and friends. Somehow the way it’s written doesn’t make the reader think “well that’s great but he’s above us ordinary people” – Millions have read the book and seen lessons to give them strength to face their own challenges.

SG

Private Peaceful by Michael Morpurgo

This book was one of 6 titles shortlisted for the Carnegie Award last year.

Set during the First World War, Private Peaceful looks back over his childhood while he is on the battlefield. A young man's memories of his family and friends back home. The story switches between these innocent memories to his experiences of war and the terrible affect it is having on him and others.

It is a very moving book - full of emotion. Although Private Peaceful did not win the Carnegie Medal it has won other awards.

SP

Welcome

Have you read a good book which you would like to recommend to others? We are starting this blog today, to enable students and staff to read and submit book reviews. You could include the genre, suggest the age range the book would appeal to and any other information about the book that you think would interest other readers. ( Don't give the plot away though!)

Any pupil or member of staff at Queen Elizabeth's School can submit a review by emailing it to me at
spotter@qe.dorset.sch.uk - I will check it through and then post it on the blog for you.