Category: Reviews

Percy Jackson Series

Percy Jackson by Rick Riordan

What the Author says about the book: The gods of Olympus are alive in the 21st Century. They still fall in love with mortals and have children who might become great heroes, but most of these children meet horrible fates at the hands of monsters by the age of twelve.

Only a few learn the truth of their identity and make it to Half Blood Hill, a Long Island summer camp dedicated to training young demigods. Such is the revelation that launches young Percy Jackson on a quest to help his real father, Poseidon, avert a war among the gods. With the help of Grover the satyr and Annabeth the daughter of Athena, Percy must journey across the United States to catch a thief who has stolen the original weapon of mass destruction – Zeus’ master bolt. Along the way, they face a host of mythological enemies determined to stop them. Most of all, Percy must come to terms with a father he has never known, and an Oracle that has warned him of betrayal by a friend. (www.rickriordan.co.uk) (more…)

A Monster Calls

Source: Focus features

What Wikipedia said about the movie: A Monster Calls is a 2016 dark fantasy drama film directed by J. A. Bayona and written by Patrick Ness, based on his novel of the same name. The film stars Sigourney Weaver, Felicity Jones, Toby Kebbell, Lewis MacDougall, and Liam Neeson, and tells the story of Conor (MacDougal), a child whose mother (Jones) is terminally ill; one night, he is visited by a giant tree-like monster (Neeson), who states that he will come back and tell him three stories. (more…)

Auggie and Me : Three Wonder stories

Auggie & Me by Raquel J. Palacio

auggieandme

What the Publisher says about the book: Wonder tells the story of Auggie Pullman: an ordinary boy with an extraordinary face, whose first year at school changed the lives and the perspectives of everyone around him. Auggie & Me is a new side to the Wonder story: three new chapters from three different characters – bully Julian, oldest friend Christopher and classmate Charlotte – giving an insight into how Auggie has touched their own lives.

What I Thought: This book is life changing just like Wonder! (more…)

Wonder – a life changing must read!

Wonder by Raquel J. Palacio

wonderWhat the Publisher says about the book: August (Auggie) Pullman was born with a facial deformity that prevented him from going to a mainstream school—until now. He’s about to start 5th grade at Beecher Prep, and if you’ve ever been the new kid then you know how hard that can be. The thing is Auggie’s just an ordinary kid, with an extraordinary face. But can he convince his new classmates that he’s just like them, despite appearances?

What I Thought: Life changing, amazing, 3rd favourite book of all time, must read, all things to say about Wonder. Have you ever wondered about how it feels being the odd one out at school? This is a book about how he deals with it and it also gives you some insights in to how he has dealt with it. It has different stories from different people including Auggie, Summer and Via.

It is beautifully written, emotive and has an amazing life lesson. This is the first in a set of two. The other book is Auggie and me (below), although the stories of Auggie and me can be bought separately. One of the saddest parts is when Daisy, (full name Darth Daisy) gets put down and they get a new dog called Bear. It was written well because after the sadness of this event there was happiness at the end. It shows you how hard it is to lose a pet; Daisy was always there for him, to give him a lick, to give him a hug. WARNING: When reading have a massive box of tissues next to you or your house will flood of tears!

I am looking forward to the movie in 2017….

 Score: 4½/5 cowbells

My recommended age range: 9- ∞ years old

Released: 2012

 

Fantastic Beasts and Where to Find Them

Movie Review

fantastic-beasts-2

Source: fantasticbeasts.co.uk

What fantasticbeasts.co.uk said about the movie: ‘Fantastic Beasts and Where to Find Them’ takes us to a new era in J.K. Rowling’s Wizarding World, decades before Harry Potter and half a world away.

There are growing dangers in the wizarding world of 1926 New York. Something mysterious is leaving a path of destruction in the streets, threatening to expose the wizarding community to the Second Salemers, a fanatical faction of No-Majs (American for Muggles) bent on eradicating them. (more…)

David Walliams does it again with Midnight Gang!

The Midnight Gang By David Walliams 

midnight-gangWhat the Publisher says about the book: Welcome to the Midnight Gang! Midnight is the time when all children are fast asleep, except of course for… the Midnight Gang. That is when their adventures are just beginning…

When Tom gets hit on the head by a cricket ball, he finds himself at Lord Funt Hospital, and is greeted by a terrifying-looking porter. Things go from bad to worse when he meets the wicked matron in charge of the children’s ward… But Tom is about to embark on the most thrilling journey of a lifetime!

The Midnight Gang tells an extraordinarily heartwarming and, of course, funny story of five children on a hospital ward – and on a quest for adventure! It is a story of friendship and magic – and of making dreams come true. Readers are set to be utterly spellbound by this heartfelt story that will bring magic to everyone’s Christmas.

What I Thought: It was a very different David Walliams book. It still had the creepy person they don’t trust, a long introduction and, of course, Raj and his so called deals! I love the way his books are illustrated by the imaginative Tony Ross. The book itself was a good read but is not one of my favourites. Billionaire Boy is still one of my favourites. I loved how the Matron stole the chocolate off George and then ate it all for herself. The hard back edition still has the free hospital dinner which is always good fun (particularly if you cant taste anything!!). And the actual cover includes a different illustration than the dust jacket, the fun illustration of the Midnight gang chasing Nelly the 99 year old hanging for her life onto Helium balloons.

Score: 3.5/5 cow bells

My recommended age range: 8 + years old

Released: November 2016

Note: image has been sourced from publishers

Harry Potter & the Cursed Child, worth the wait?

Harry Potter and the Cursed Child by J.K. Rowling, Jack Thorne and John Tiffany

Genre: Fantasy

cursed-child-coverWhat the Publisher says about the book: Based on an original new story by J.K. Rowling, John Tiffany and Jack Thorne, a new play by Jack Thorne, Harry Potter and the Cursed Child is the eighth story in the Harry Potter series and the first official Harry Potter story to be presented on stage. The play will receive its world premiere in London’s West End on 30th July 2016. It was always difficult being Harry Potter and it isn’t much easier now that he is an overworked employee of the Ministry of Magic, a husband, and father of three school-age children. While Harry grapples with a past that refuses to stay where it belongs, his youngest son Albus must struggle with the weight of a family legacy he never wanted. As past and present fuse ominously, both father and son learn the uncomfortable truth: sometimes, darkness comes from unexpected places.

My summary: Albus Severus Potter is starting his first year at Hogwarts yet something is not as it seems, his only friend is his father’s old enemy, Scorpius, he is sorted into Slytherin and he is the most unpopular child in the school. All of which a Potter is complete opposite but when an unexpected visit comes this will turn everything upside-down. All he needs is a time turner, an invisibility cloak and a nerve to get him through the hardest of challenges. If one thing goes wrong he could resurrect the most horrible wizard of all time.

What I Thought: I started reading this book as soon as I woke up on the 1st August! From the first chapter of the book I thought it the complete opposite of JK Rowling’s excellent works and not just because of the different writing style. I found that it was sort of up and down for me. Some of the quotes were beautiful but others were weird, some messages were life changing but some of the dialogue was disappointing. I found this is a very confusing book and I would love to hear what you thought.

Score: 3/5 cow bells

My recommended age range: 7 + years old

Released: 31st July 2016

Note: image has been sourced from publishers