White Fang by Jack London-a review by Roxy

I would never have known how White Fang’s mind worked or even any other dog’s if Jack London hadn’t written this book. It was like a movie was playing in my head; Jack London made it like there was actually someone inside White Fang’s head explaining him.eg. “They were his environment these men, and they were moulding the clay of him into a more ferocious thing than had been intended by nature”. Pg 181.
In the frozen wilds of northwest Canada, a cub called White Fang is thrown out into the harsh wild and finds himself having to fight and learn the laws of the wild to survive. He encounters ferocious dogs and has to face being treated with hate and respect.
Jack London’s style of writing is so descriptive you can imagine that you’re there. Jack London helps you to understand how White Fang’s feeling about his mother leaving and being hurt every day.
You will just want to keep reading and then the book is over too fast. Don’t worry Jack London has written another book called “The Call of The Wild” that you can read. It is also a movie.I think this book is full of description and is a great story of a wolf’s life. “White Fang stood over the shine-bone, bristling and menacing, while Baseek stood a little way off, preparing to retreat. He dared not risk a fight with this young lightning-flash, and again he knew and more bitterly, the enfeeblement of oncoming age”. Pg 144-145. This book is great for someone who loves adventure and a dog’s journey for survival.

Stink by Megan McDonald review by Cameron Mcinnes

Stink is a story about a boy, called “Stink”. His sister Judy measures Stink each morning, and every morning he is 1 metre 12 centimetres. One day to Stink’s horror, he has shrunk half a centimetre, and only measures 1 metre 11 and a half centimetres. Stink worries about being so short and hates being picked on at school.
One of my favourite parts of the story was when Judy (Stink’s sister) accidently drops the school pet lizard in the sink and switches on the wrong switch; it made me laugh. Characters are Stink, Judy, Lizard, Mrs Bell, Mum and Dad. It is 111pages long. The book is mostly set at Stink’s home and school.
I liked this book because it was about a boy worrying about something that was big to him, which happens to a lot of kids. It was really interesting and cool, reading about how he dealt with his worries, and how his family helped him. I liked the way the book ended too. I would recommend this book to 7-13years old.

Angus Thongs and Full Frontal Snogging by Louise Rennison review by Jamie Mccormack

Angus Thongs and Full Frontal Snogging, by Louise Rennison, voted the funniest book of the year in the Nestles smarties book of the year. In this story Georgia can't live without a boyfriend. She has plenty of boyfriends throughout the book, but not the right one. Georgia has a cat called Angus and a baby sister. Georgia finds out about a lot of things to become a successful adult. To find out more read this hilarious book!!

The story’s high point is when Georgia stalks a girl called Lindsay. Lindsey is the girlfriend of Robbie (who Georgia has a crush on). Georgia finds out a lot of stuff about Lindsey and tells Robbie some very interesting things. Lindsay wears an engagement ring, but Robbie doesn’t know, so the girls at school think Robbie and Lindsay are engaged.

The important characters are: Georgia the main character and her best friend Jas, Georgia’s cat Angus, Mum and Dad, Robbie and Lindsay. Angus is a bit of a special cat and he enjoys chasing the neighbour’s poodle! Angus is a really funny character.

This book takes place at Georgia's college and house. The setting in this book is England because the title is Angus Thongs and Full Frontal “SNOGGING” which is an English word.
An interesting way this book is written is it’s in a diary structure. The story is told through Georgia’s entries in her personal diary. Another interesting point is that for New Zealanders reading this book , Georgia’s father goes on a work trip to Whangamata New Zealand.

I really think this book is awesome! I like this book because Georgia really tells you about everything going on in her life and it’s adult stuff, not a kiddies book. There is also a movie for this book. I recommend you read the book first, then see the movie. If you want a laugh - READ IT!!

Danny the champion of the world by Roald Dahl a review by Abbey Wilton

Danny the champion of the world, a story by the famous author Roald Dahl, is a fantastic adventure story that has stood the test of time. It is a story about a boy named Danny and his father. When Danny turns 9 years old his father lets him in on a big secret of his, a habit that he had promised himself that he would give up... pheasant POACHING! Sadly Danny’s father couldn’t resist the thrill, then Danny finds out about it and this adventure will be real trouble for both of them. Find out what happens and how they solve the problem.
The main characters in the story are Danny and his father. Danny’s mother died when he was very young so his father has had a hard job looking after him as well as trying to manage the filling station.
The part that is probably the most interesting is when Danny’s father takes him poaching and they use one of the secret methods. To find out what the secret method was then read this book.
This story takes place in the country where Danny’s father owns a little filling station (petrol station) and Danny and his father live in a small old caravan. About half an hour down the road lives Mr Hazell who owns Hazell Wood. This is where Danny’s father goes poaching.
I really like this book because it gets really funny like when Danny and his father make a joke on Mr Hazell and crash the flashest pheasant poaching party, man does Mr Hazell get mad when he finds out who did it. It also gets really sad when Mr Hazell’s guards start chasing Danny’s father with guns. This book is aged for about eight plus and is a great and exciting book to read!
By Abbey Wilton

The Return of the Killer Cat, by Anne Fine-A review by Caralena

The return of the killer cat is a great story about a cat called “Tuffy” and a cat sitter. When Tuffy’s family goes away for the week the cat sitter comes to stay.
There is a war between them both and I wonder who wins? My favourite part of the story is when Tuffy falls out of the tree and gets dressed up as a baby boy by Melanie the annoying neighbour.
Anne Fine is the author of this book she is a great children’s author. She has written other stories like “the diary of a killer cat “and “not so hot so” and many, many more.
I reckon this book was a funny and awesome book because of the war between the cat and the cat sitter. The book was easy so I think I would have been better for year 4-5-6.

Holes by Louis Sachar-Review by Amber

Holes, by Louis Sachar, is a book about Stanley Yelnats, an unfortunate boy who is sent to a juvenile detention centre for a crime he didn’t commit. Each day Stanley and the other boys at Camp Green Lake must each dig a hole 5 feet by 5 feet in the hot desert surrounding the camp. This is supposed to “improve on their bad attitude”. But what are they digging for? Stanley and his new best friend Zero are determined to find out. Join them in this book which goes between past and present events at Green Lake Texas, with all the threads of the story coming together in the end.
If you enjoy creative and exiting books, I would recommend Holes as Louis Sacher’s style of writing is really easy to understand even as it flicks backwards and forwards between times. His style is really creative as it slowly pieces key events together.
If you have enjoyed reading this book I would recommend the movie of Holes, which is just as exciting as the book.
I would say that the theme of this book is friendship between Stanley and Zero. Stories of Stanley’s great great grandfather’s past and the excitement of what goes on in the camp and what Stanley finds out about his past, contribute to the idea that good people get their reward in the end and bad people get punished.
I definitely would recommend this book as I found it really exiting to read. I would give this book to Adults and kids 9+ to read.
By Amber.S

The Wild West Gang Review By Caralena

The Wild West Gang (by Joy Cowley), is a really adventurous book about a boy who goes to his cousins’ house the Wild Wests. The Wild West house is disgustingly weird! Michael’s Dad gives him $10 to buy lollies, but cousin Royce has a different plan! The adventure is muddy!!!
I thought this book was a really cool and super funny story. However it needs more things to happen in it. Still, read it to find out what happens!