The Dragonfly Pool by Ibbotson
Children's: 11 - 12 years

I thoroughly enjoyed reading this book. Eva Ibbotson is a very good writer. The way she portrays the tension and surroundings in a time of war really makes you wonder how it must have been back then. Sometimes the book excited me, made me feel sad, but I was at times utterly frustrated at how people can get in the way of the children’s friendship. The characters are all different, varying from shy and panicky little Kit to the mysterious and strange Matteo, all trying to work together to help Karil escape from Berginia and come back to school with them. Sometimes this book does make you angr – teasing you and putting the characters in very infuriating situations, but I would definitely recommend it to anyone who loves tales of determination and friendship. I just couldn’t put it down. Reviewed by Emma aged 13.

James and the Giant Peach by Roald Dahl
Children's: 9 - 10 years

James’s aunts call him names, beat and starve him and make his life a misery. If only his parents hadn’t been eaten by an escaped rhinoceros, he wouldn’t be in this mess. But one day he meets a man who gives him a bag of magic crocodile tongues and so begins the adventure of his dreams.

What I thought:

This is one of the best Dahl books ever written. The hilarious characters of the
Grasshopper, Earthworm, Miss Spider and Centipede each with his or her own song to sing. Roald Dahl’s rich imagery and amusing characters ensure that you will not tire of reading this classic aloud, which they will no doubt be called to do over and over again!

Princesses by Usborne
Children's: Babies

Princesses. What do princesses do all day? Discover their enchanting world in this delightful touch – eely board book.

What we thought:

The pictures on each page for this book are really beautiful. The children can touch each page and feel the different fabric textures this will help the children to retain their concentration and helping them to engage in the story. The bookshop recomends this book

Bloodchild by Bowler
Children's: 13 - 14 years

In the beginning of this book I found it slightly difficult to understand. I quickly got used to it, and found the book very enjoyable! It is unsettling at times, but in a slightly good way. You really get to know what its like for a boy who people label as “a freak” and “a nutcase”. I liked the adventures and the writer really expresses the character’s feelings. The only thing I found a bit disappointing was the ending, which in my opinion could have been better. Suitable for those people looking for an adventurous read. Reviewed by Emma aged 13

Ruby Red by Glas
Children's: 13 - 14 years

In Ruby Winters’ world, colour opens some doors and slams others shut. Her opulent Johannesburg neighbourhood is a far cry from the streets of Soweto where anger and hatred simmer under the surface. Ruby can’t resist the blu – yed Afrikaans boy who brings her the exciting rush of first love, but whose presence brings hushed whispers and disapproving glances. She might not see race, colour or creed – but it seems everybody else does…This dazzling novel will entrance teenage and adult readers alike.

What I thought:

Its not overly heavy but it is powerful and touching story with tender relationships and observations of love and friendship. For me it helped to explain the relationship between not only blacks and whites but also between the English and the Afrikaners. The tension is kept throughout, with the growing unrest and the danger of the police who are trying to prove that Ruby’s family are involved in illegal practices. As well as an entertaining story I like to finish a book having learnt something and having read this I felt I did.

The Silver Blade by Gardner
Children's: 13 - 14 years

With Sido safely in England and the Terror at it’s height, Yann returns to France to smuggle out aristocratic refugees who will otherwise face the guillotine. But when Sido is kidnapped, he must use all his strength and courage to outwit the evil Count Kalliovski, and rescue her for a second time. Set against a vivid historical background, prize winning author Sally Gardner brings to life the horrors of the French Revolution in this breat – aking adventure, complete with intrepid heroism and a touching love story.

What I thought:

The year is 1794. The book takes you to a world filled with gypsies, the guillotine, a count and a monstrous wolf. In the many dark passages under Paris, a darkness lurks of unimaginable power. A stirring tale of magic and revolution. Its the continuation of the book The Red Necklace and if you liked that book, you wouldn’t want to miss this one. I would definitely recommend it! The author’s words put you in the world of the book. You really believe your witnessing the French revolution! When there is suspense in the book, you feel suspense. When there is love in the book, you feel love. But throughout the whole book, you feel excitement, passion and adventure. Reviewed by Emma Turmaine Aged 12

A Company Of Swans by Ibbotson
Children's: 13 - 14 years

Harriet is a gentle and loveable eighteen year old girl with an eagerness for life. When her mother died, her rigid aunt took over her fathers household, draining all the life out of it. Her father seems incapable of expressing love, her aunt keeps imposing restrictions on her and she’s not at home in her own home. The only real joy left in her life is ballet. She is offered a position with a ballet company that is travelling to the Amazon. A chance meeting with a young boy, who is the heir to a beautiful country estate and who asks her to look for his hero in the Amazon, inspires her to defy her father and accept the offer. She embarks on a journey of a lifetime, finding love and friendship and slowly untangling the complicated history of the boy’s family. But Harriet’s father has sent someone to retrieve her..

What I thought:

This book will appeal to any girl who is intrigued by the world of ballet or likes romance, or both. Eva Ibbotson has a very pretty style of writing, although the vocabulary is quite tough sometimes. The characters are slightly stereo type but very likeable and easy to sympathize with. This is an easy reading girlie book, but at the same time not to cheesy. Part of the story is set against the background of the Amazon. The exotic atmosphere and extravagant city add something unusual to the book. Reviewed by Ens van Welmoed 15 years.

Mockingjay BK3 by Collins
Children's: 13 - 14 years

This book is the third part of the hunger game – rilogy. And if you like to read really wel – ritten adventure stories than I strongly recommend you to read these books. Be prepared to read an amazing, mindblowing , touching story. A story with real impact.

The trilogy is about Katniss, who lives in the U.S.A.. Only not the U.S.A. as we know it, because she lives in a different era. In a fictitious future where North America is divided in twelve districts ruled by the Capitol. Katniss lives in the most neglected one district twelve. She takes care of her mother and sister, ever since her father died in a mining accident when she was little. She provides for her family by hunting in the woods illegaly every day. She keeps her family from starving and likes the hunting together with her best friend Gale. Everything’s alright. But then Katniss’s sister is picked to participate in The Hunger Games and Katniss takes her place. This decision changes her life and that of everyone around her foregood.

In the third part of the trilogy Katniss has to face new challenges. She has become the face of the rebellion, and she has to inspire people by saying inspiring things to the people on camera. Being charming is not one of her best skills, being passive and doing nothing for her other best friend Peeta who is being held prisoner by president Snow is also something she struggles with. I found this part the most intense and realistic one. The writer has that special skill to draw you into her story. Katniss’s story stayed in my head for a couple of days after I finished this book.

Breaking Dawn by Meyer
Children's: 13 - 14 years

Breaking Dawn, the fourth and last volume of the twilight saga, is the longest as well as the most surprising in the series. Whereas Eclipse, the third volume, didn’t really seem to add to the story, I thought Breaking Dawn was captivating. Maybe Stephanie Meyer has matured as a writer, because the plot was great. I was pretty sure I knew the direction things were headed with Bella, (she marries Edward, joins the vampire world and they live happily ever after) but instead the things that happened took me completely by surprise.

What I thought:

This book has a great way of throwing you off balance by something you had never dreamt would happen, then making you realize that things were always meant to be this way and that the pieces finally fit together. This book was also refreshing with a lot of new feelings involved that made the characters a lot more interesting.
I would recommend this book for readers aged approximately 1 – 6. It’s not really necessary to read the first three books first, but this one’s more fun if you understand the inside jokes. This is the kind of book that you read without putting it down, I really enjoyed it! Book Reviewed by: Welmoed van Ens, 15 yrs old

Malice by Wooding
Children's: 11 - 12 years

Everyone’s heard of it, but nobody’s read it…Seth and Kady have heard all the stories about MALICE – a secret comic about a strange and awful world full of traps and tricks, overseen by a sinister master of ceremonies, Tall Jake. But if rumours are to be believed, the children in this comic are real…

What I thought:

This book is really cool! They story is funny, exiting and even creepy at times. The idea of having a comic book inside a reading book is just brilliant. The characters are lovable and the next book in the serie – Havoc, is just as good! You just have to read them both! Reviewed by Emma Turmaine aged 13

Are These My Basoomas I See Before Me? by Rennison
Children's: 13 - 14 years

This book’s the tenth and also the last part in the Georgia Nicolson series. Georgia Nicolson is a teenage girl from a small village in England, she has a crazy cat, and a very funny perspective on things. Georgia has gone back to school and things are kind of boring. Then the rehearsels for Romeo and Juliet begin, which will be the schoo – lay of this year. For Georgia’s best friend Jas this is serious business, as she auditions for the part of Juliet. Georgia doesn’t care too much, she is more involved with what she should do with Masimo, her Italia – in – – oyfriend, who is mad at her for dancing with Dave The Laugh. Dave is her best friend, but has been acting a little weird lately.

What I thought:

This book was really funny. I also just love the ending, everything just ends perfectly (in my perspective). I would certainly recommend this book to everyone.

If you haven’t read anything from this series yet, I would advice you to start with the first volume, because then you’ll understand the storyline better. This book can be read separately but there will be a few parts in the story that are hard to get that way, but the book’s still really funny.

The Carbon Diaries by Lloyd
Children's: 11 - 12 years

The story basically takes you to London in the year 2015, not a lot has changed, except for the extreme weather conditions. The main character Laura, who lives in England, lives in a world where carbon rations have been issued, and only a certain amount of energy can be spent per month. Because of this you aren’t aloud to fly on a plane, or buy a mango that has been shipped in from Sout – frica. Some people have a hard time adjusting, for example Laura’s sister Kim who misses the glamour of her former lifestyle and secretly flies to Ibiza, four times. And then has to go to the carbo – verspender – ehab. Or Laura’s family that doesn’t cope too well being in one room, and is now forced to watch the telly together, because watching separately would take too much carbo – oints. And with all this madness going on, Laura still has to think about her social life, her school and her secret crush on Ravi Datta.

What I thought:

I would certainly recommend this book to you because it’s not only a really fun book to read, it also makes you think about important things, like the environment. But the story doesn’t get too heavy, because the main character Laura does have other things in her life, like her band, her best friend and the –very importan – the boy she likes. Book reviewed by Wilemijn Beks

Inkdeath by Funke
Children's: 13 - 14 years

Meggie’s father, Mo, has an wonderful and sometimes terrible ability. When he reads aloud from books, he brings the characters to life literally. Mo discovered his power when Maggie was just a baby. He read so lyrically from the the book Inkheart, that several of the book’s wicked characters ended up blinking and cursing on his cottage floor. Then Mo discovered something even worse when he read Capricorn and his henchmen out of Inkheart, he accidentally read Meggie’s mother in.

What I thought:

From the first pages of this wonderfully well constructed tale, to the very last page, I was hooked. The words of the author evoke wonderfully clear pictures in my mind and the air of suspense was maintained without making me terrified. I would recommend this book to any reader. The characters were believable and, as a reader, I cared what happened to them. The reverence for books made it doubly rewarding. …

How I Live Now by Meg Rosoff
Children's: 13 - 14 years

It would be much easier to tell this story if it were all about a chaste and perfect love between Two Children Against the World at an Extreme Time in History. But let’s face it, that would be crap. Daisy is sent from New York to England to spend a summer with cousins she has never met. They are Isaac, Edmond, Osbert and Piper. And two dogs and a goat. She’s never met anyone quite like them before – and, as a dreamy English summer progresses, Daisy finds herself caught in a timeless bubble. It seems like the perfect summer. But their lives are about to explode. Falling in love is just the start of it. War breaks out – a war none of them understands, or really cares about, until it lands on their doorstep. The family is separated. The perfect summer is blown apart. Daisy’s life is changed forever – and the world is too.

What I thought:

This is the story of Daisy, a fifteen year old who goes to England to live with her cousins. Daisy begins a love affair with her cousin Edmond. Their lives are changed as a war breaks out and England becomes an occupied state. At first the kids are sel – ufficient and untouched by the horrors, but as the story develops, shades of World War 2 begin to overcome them as they face separation, deprivation, and ultimate loss. Daisy speaks in a believable voice that takes you into her soul and makes you feel what she does. This one is highly recommended.

The Graveyard Book by Gaiman
Children's: 11 - 12 years

Winner of the Newbery Medal When a baby escapes a murderer intent on killing the entire family, who would have thought it would find safety and security in the local graveyard? Brought up by the resident ghosts, ghouls and spectres, Bod has an eccentric childhood learning about life from the dead. But for Bod there is also the danger of the murderer still looking for him – after all, he is the last remaining member of the family. A stunningly original novel deftly constructed over eight chapters, featuring every second year of Bod’s life, from babyhood to adolescence. Will Bod survive to be a man?

What I thought:

I really enjoyed this book. It has ghouls and ghosts, and i like that sort of thing. The lovable characters made the book interesting and fun. The beginning is chilling and scary, but very cool at the same time! This is a really cool book, you should read it!

Ballerinas by Usborne
Children's: Activity Books

Nikki, Grace and Katy are three ballerinas who love dancing. They all went to the same ballet school and have been best friends ever since. They train with each other, dance in the same ballets and travel all over the world together.

What I thought:

I bought this book for my nieces as a holiday present and can only conclude that this books is wonderful. The children are busy for hours using their imagination when sticking stickers on the ballerinas. They design costumes and mak – p. A true winner.

Here, There be Dragons by James A. Owen
Children's: 11 - 12 years

The year is 1917. Following the sudden death of his Professor, a young man and his two companions are approached by a strange man who gives them a book to safeguard. This book, the Imaginarium Geographica, is the reason the Professor was killed, and now, they too are in mortal danger.

Chased by the ferocious Wendigo, hal – an hal – erewolf creatures, the three companions seek refuge on a ship – a ship that leads them to the extraordinary lands of myth and legend mapped in the precious book they carry. As their adventure unfolds we learn that the friends are in fact C.S Lewis, J.R.R Tolkien and Charles Williams – and as they discover that events in the known world mirror those in the imaginary realm, they come to realise the importance of the Imaginarium Geographica , and if not protected, there will be no peace from the war that rages in our world.

What I thought:

When I first saw this book, I was exited about reading it. When I started reading it however, I found it difficult to understand what the complicated vocabulary meant. When I read further though, I got more and more into it. This book is about dragons and werewolves, living shadows and fauns. Oxford scholars and animals that talk. The words are complicated, the explanations long, but the mak – elieve, excitement and rea – ess of it all made this book a plesure to read for me!

Northern Lights by Philip Pullman
Children's: 13 - 14 years

‘Without this child, we shall all die’. Lyra Belacqua and her animal daemon live hal – ild and carefree among scholars of Jordan College, Oxford. The destiny that awaits her will take her to the frozen lands of the Arctic, where witc – lans reign and ic – ears fight.

Her extraordinary journey will have immeasurable consequences far beyond her own world…

What I thought:

A great book! The plot is original. The film The Golden Compass was based on it, but the book is much better! Sometimes it forgets it’s a children’s book and it can go on a bit but it’s worth it. You can just imagine the world in front of your eyes and visualize the characters. If you read this book, you have to read The Subtle Knife and The Amber Spyglass, the other books in the series. You just can’t put them down!