Black Rabbit Summer

Black Rabbit Summer by Kevin Brooks

This book was about a sixteen year old boy who is quite shy and doesn't go out with is mates much. When he is invited to go to the fair that is in town with a couple of old mates he decides to go but only if Raymond, who every one thinks is an idiot, when they get to the fair there are disastrous consequences including Raymond being lost, alcohol and drugs. I think this shows modern day Britain and many other countries as quite a lot of teenagers are illegally getting drugs and alcohol and are using it. I think it is quite lifelike as well and that is what I like about a book that's trying to make a novel set in the modern day. I am giving it 8/10.

MB

This book surprised me greatly. I was not sure I would enjoy it. However I must admit once I got into it I found it was hard to put down. The story revolves around a group of friends and a hot summer before they all move on to different schools following their GCSEs. They have grown apart already but get together when the fair is in town to have a last party in their old den. However the subject matter gets quite dark and moody and there are a number of disappearances. The story deals with a lot of issues regarding teenage sexuality, drinking and drugs. There is also a wistfulness about moving from childhood into the adult world. I highly recommend this story and give it an 8 out of 10

JB

Overall 8/10

Holes

Holes by Louis Sacher

I read this book with school last year in English so it took us about two to three months to get through it. It is about this overweight boy called Stanley who is arrested for stealing after a pair of expensive shoes falls off a bridge and onto his head. He is put to work in Camp Green Lake where there is now a desert. He has to dig one hole five feet deep, five feet wide every day. When one of the other 'prisoners' runs away Stanley decides to go after him. This book in the long term makes everything fit in place from scenes to family trees. I am giving it 6/10.

MB

I have to admit I enjoyed this book. The story is a simple one which tells the tale of a lad sent to a correction facility for a crime he did not admit. However there are a number of links which are all pulled together by the end of the story. It is cleverly written and I think that a great deal of thought went into making this as interesting and relevant to children, which market this book is aimed at. The story is clear and well written and even though it is set in the USA it is relevant to children in the UK. It is clever and weaves the story together almost to the point that you are expecting the twists and turns and can relish them. I did enjoy this book and give it an 8 out of 10

JB

Overall 7 /10

War Horse

War Horse by Michael Morpurgo



This book was about a horse that lived on a farm in England. Suddenly World War One breaks out and Joey (the horse) is forced to join the war. He is looked after by many people before is put on a charge near the trenches. This unfortunately leads to him and his friend being captured by the Germans and used to carry injured back to the hospital. He eventually escapes and makes it back to the British side where he is looked after and finds his old master and friend Albert. I found this book hard to put down. I like Michael Morpurgo's books and I have read others of his such as: Kensukes Kingdom and Alone on a Wide Wide Sea. I am giving it 9/10.

MB

This is a very short book and can be digested in a matter of a few hours. I found it moving and extremely intelligently written. As described it is the story of a horse told by the horse of his experiences and how he ended up going to war. Sometimes it is in a very matter of fact style which you would expect from a person (or animal) who does not understand the enormity of the experience. It finishes with a mixed happy and sad ending (don't worry I will not spoil it for you) It was poignant that I was reading this at the time Harry Patch the last survivor of Passiondale was being buried. Makes one think.......I give this an 8 out of 10

JB

Overall 8.5/10

Fillets of Plaice

Fillets of Plaice by Gerald Durrell

This book is split up so it is like many books in one. The first section was set in Greece where Durrell took his mother on a boating holiday which had disastrous effects. The second section was set in London where he gets a job and finds two new friends. One unfortunately dies at the end of the section. The third section is set in a jungle where he has to help a friend socialise with his boss to get a promotion. The fourth section is also set in England and he obtains and injury and is forced into a nursing home for three weeks with occasional trips to the hospital. The fifth and final section is about him getting a weird girlfriend who gets married to another man in the end. I like Gerald's books although it took me quite a while to get in to them. This is another book that i read on holiday. I am giving it 7/10.

MB

I was given this book by my mother when I was Matthew's age and I enjoyed it greatly. I suggested to Matthew that he might enjoy it and I am glad that he has. This is typical Gerald Durrell and is gentle and most amusing. He has the ability to pick out and observe behaviour in others in a clever way. He is no literary giant ( His brother Lawrence was the novelist of the family however I am sure Gerald sold more books) His books are wistful and reminiscent of another time when the Empire was setting and the colonial days . It is as described by Matt a collection of short stories relating to earlier times in Gerald's life. I did enjoy the descriptions and you get a feel for the environment that he is in. I do recomend his other works especially 'Rosie is my relative'. I give this an 8 out of 10.

JB


Overall 7.5 /10