Momentum

By Saci Lloyd.

During this book, Momentum, two main characters, Hunter and Uma are brought together by unusual circumstances, together they fight to protect everything they know, love and care about. This book is set in the near future where supplies are scarce. Hunter is very energetic and he lives in an upper-class society. However Uma has the opposite life, spending her time running from soldiers and living in the slums.

I think Lloyd has done particularly well joining these characters together as they both have so extreme backgrounds. The way the characters both have such different characteristics, yet still work together when everyone is in danger is done amazingly.

I think the book has a great plot, although it takes a while to pick up. However from that initial stage, the action keeps coming and you don’t want to put it down! Personally, I feel that Lloyd has added an extra section to the book. This is about the situation London may be in a few years’ time. This you have to read deeper into the book as it is an ‘extra’ to the book rather that the main plot. This insight has been done incredibly. Overall, I thoroughly enjoyed this book!

Jess, year 8.

Return to Ribblestrop - Andy Mulligan

Return to Ribblestrop is about a school full of orphans, a handful of fee-paying children, and only one girl. You first meet Millie, the only girl, and she is in a car with two priests joining the school when she crashes into Sam, Ruskin and his brother Oli. They then meet a wild animal tamer, Flavio, who used to work for a circus. He needs somewhere to look after his animals, but he has no money, from then on, the whole school is preparing to create Ribblestrop Circus!
I was surprised at how funny this book was, because, even though I enjoyed the first few pages, when Flavio was introduced, I got a little bit bored, until you got into the school term. I still haven’t read the first book, but it all made sense.
My favourite character was Professor Worthington, because she was the calmest of all the adults and she had a lovely relationship with her pupils. I couldn’t stop laughing at some of the things that she said, even if they weren’t all that funny.
This book was a work of genius, and I will definitely read the first book. 9/10!
Molly
Year 7

Momentum - Saci Lloyd

Momentum is set it the near future, in a world where oil and electricity are hard to come by, and run out often. Hunter is an upper-class boy, who has many energy privileges. Uma lives in the slums, cheating the system and constantly hiding from the Kossak soldiers. Thrown together in a moment of panic, their mission begins.
At first when I started reading this book, I wasn’t sure what to think. I couldn’t get into it and had no idea what was going on, but as I continued to read, all was explained. By the time I was halfway through the book, I couldn’t put it down!
I thought that Uma would be my favourite character when I first read about her, but when Rose was introduced I was immediately drawn to her. When you find out that she betrayed Hunter and Uma for her brother, you immediately think that she is an awful person. Maybe she is. But her actions were realistic and I would certainly do the same thing for my sisters in that situation. I admire her for protecting the one she loved.
An amazing plot, but 8/10 because of the beginning.
Molly
Year 7

Return to Ribblestrop

By Andy Mulligan

Ribblestrop Towers is a school filled with boys who are either orphaned or unwanted. There is only one girl- Millie- who is the leader. She, Sam and Oli are brought together, just before the term starts, by fate. They meet an assortment of animals (and their keeper) and two strange monks, who all end up coming to their school. This hilarious novel follows the children as the term commences and the adventure begins.

I didn’t think I would enjoy this book, however, it surprised me- I found Mulligan’s tale irresistible and I had to finish it. The author has transformed boring school life into fun and mischief as Miles’ unexpected actions cause havoc throughout the building. The plot is clever and as the children were drawn deeper into the mystery of the sword and the monks I couldn’t wait to read on!

Each of the children have clearly defined personalities and Mulligan has done a great job making them all unique. My favourite characters were Millie and Oli as they were described so well and played a vital part in the storyline. I also loved the daft, blind, lioness! Overall I really enjoyed this book. Surprisingly super and stupendously strange!

By Eleanor Lavender
Year 8

Momentum

By Saci Lloyd

Hunter and Uma are completely different but they soon prove that they are good team as they are forced together to help stop the Kossaks and protect the people of the Favelas. They fight for what’s right and as fuel runs out they must try and save everything they believe in. This novel follows the two brave teenagers as their love for ‘jumping’ and their determination carries them through their struggle to find the new keeper.

Right from the start I was drawn into this book as the plot was interesting and Lloyd grabbed your attention straight away. However it took a while for me to grasp the situation London was in. The constant action keeps your pulse racing and the storyline stays strong throughout the book. Lloyd addresses the issue of fuel running out and gives you an idea of what Britain could be like if we don’t change it.

Both Hunter and Uma were delightful characters with alarmingly different personalities. Uma, from the slums, is experienced and tough and although Hunter, from the city, is brave, he is sometimes caught out by his lack of knowledge regarding Uma’s life. Overall I enjoyed this novel, exciting, energetic and extreme!

By Eleanor
Year 8

Moon pie by Simon mason

Moon pie

Martha Is an  11 year old girl with a lot of responsibility, including looking after her 5 year old brother,tug, and her newly alcoholic father. However her life suddenly spirals put of control when her drunken father takes it a step to far.Martha is a brave girl who can see the good in everything and everyone. Yet her younger brother tug is the opposite, a micheavous stroppy child who usually gets what he wants!

The modern and realistic storyline makes it easy relate to and understand and increases your knowledge and understanding on the subject. The author makes what could be a depressing or boring topic into a exciting interesting one. Making me laugh at times, the personality and quotes of tug and Marcus were very funny. Mason manages to make the deep connection in this family clear even throughout upsetting situations.

The storyline was slightly predictable at times, dragging down the plot.  I didn't really like The begging of the story as it was less exciting and unrelated to the main story.

I liked this book as it was a touching and bittersweet book and would recommend it! 
8/10 by Chloe yr 8

My Name is Mina - David Almond

My Name is Mina is about life from Mina’s point of view, a character you will recognise if you have read Skellig. It is a notebook kept by Mina up until the point where she meets Michael.
I thought this book was completely amazing. I loved the way Mina thought, especially about life and writing. It was beautiful the way she made words into art, a story out of gobbledygook and a blank page full of possibilities. It was really clever how, not only was this book a story about Mina, but it was full of Mina’s poems and her own stories. Even though it was just Mina’s thoughts and feelings, it still drew you in and I found that I couldn’t put it down.
Mina was an incredible character. She was so feisty, and yet she seemed so vulnerable when you read her writing. She poured her emotions out through words and it was beautiful.
I’ve never read a book like this before and I don’t think I ever will again. Some books stay with you forever, and this was definitely one of them. I couldn’t find a single thing wrong with it. 10/10!
Molly
Year 7

My Sister Lives on the Mantelpiece - Annabel Pitcher

My Sister Lives on the Mantelpiece is about Jamie, a boy whose sister was killed by Muslim bombs in London. He finds it hard to grieve for her, because he never really knew her, but he feels pressured by the rest of his family to mourn. One day, after his mum and dad split up, he moves to the country with his dad and other sister, Jas, and befriends a Muslim girl. He doesn’t know what to do.
I thought this book was beautiful, and I found that I could really empathize with the characters. I felt really sorry, for Jamie when he met Sunya, and then felt he couldn’t be friends with her because of his dad and sister. I think it was written really well from a young boy’s point of view.
Sunya was definitely my favourite character, because of her carefree personality and determination to be friends with Jamie, even after he told her why they couldn’t be friends.
I thought that this was a very moving book, but I didn’t find that it gripped me, and I found it quite hard to get through it at some points. For that it gets 8/10.
Molly
Year 7

Mr Gum and the Secret Hideout - Andy Stanton

Mr Gum and the Secret Hideout is about Mr Gum and Billy William the Third, who are always trying to destroy the town of Lamonic Bibber. In this book, they had a secret hideout where they were burning loads of meat to try and pollute the town. Polly, Friday O’Leary and Alan Taylor had to save the town.
I loved reading Mr Gum and the Secret Hideout. It was a funny, light read which was a nice change for me. The plot and the characters were very random, but that was part of what I loved about this book. It was unique, and even though it was seemed to be aimed for a younger age group, I could still enjoy it.
My favourite character was probably Surprising Ben, who I found really funny, but most of all, he actually was surprising. I also enjoyed the story, and how I never knew what was going to happen next, especially with Captain Brazil.
I would definitely recommend this book (and the rest of the series) and I give it a 9/10. I’m deducting one point because the size of the text and the waste of paper annoyed me.
Molly
Year 7

My name is Mina - David almond

The book focused on the diary of a small quirky girl called mina, who is home schooled by her mum. She writes freely expressing what she is thinking and talking about the world and it's creatures. Mina is a strong minded and well knowledged  girl, yet finds it hard to make friends or be the same as other children her age.

I have read skellig and I liked reading the prequel afterwards, as minas life slotted into the story of skellig and you got to know more about mina and how she met Michael. I loved how mina expressed her thoughts and how she looks at things differently than I would, giving you a new view.

It was a change to usual, and when reading even though every page wasn't a cliff hanger I still wanted to read on.The book was quite subtly emotional and made you feel upset for mina, as her dad had died and I think this had changed her. Also you could see she did actually want friends, but didn't know how to make them, with her being the unusual character she is.

Loved the book, it was beautifully wrote and the pages seemed to skip by magically!

10/10! Review by Chloe  year 8

Momentum by Saci Lloyd

London, sometime in the future; the way which his everyone lives is dependant on oil and as the last drips of oil are slowly running out, It's a crisis. The gap between rich and poor is huge when all the country needs is teamwork.In all this teenager, hunter Nash, a citizen. Not into the virtual life, he free runs. Accidentally becoming a witness to a murder, he meets uma an outsider. They set off to find the keeper to some important codes that help protect an online network.

At first I wasn't really glued to this book, it seemed a chore to read it than a pleasure as it was difficult to understand. Yet I persevered and the plot got more tense exciting and I got to understand the quite complicated storyline.

 Lloyd is writing about a very important issue, while making it more exciting and readable with her characters and plot. She expressed her view on what she thinks is going to happen and it was very interesting to get an insight of what life could be like in the future.

I absolutely loved this book, It had my heart racing and felt like  watching a movie!

10/10! review by Chloe year 8
9-14

Small Change For Stuart

By Lissa Evans

Small Change For Stuart is a simply written children’s story about a little boy on a quest to find a magician’s workshop. The book is written in the same way as a typical children’s book- the hero has to follow clues to find the prize. This book was a fun read for me, and I would recommend it for, perhaps, children inn primary school.

It excited, puzzled and entertained me. This is not a very complex book so is easily understandable and readable for people of many different levels and age groups. The title didn’t really attract me to the book, as it gave me an image of a young boy earning money, but the cover of the book interested me, so I picked it up.

I am very glad that I read this book because after several depressing books I have read recently, Small Change For Stuart was an uplifting light at the end of the tunnel. My main views on this tiny wonder of a book are that it was a good idea with a classical structure; for an uplifting, light read.

By Mia, Year 7

9/10
Recommended age: 8-13