Hi my name is Ozzy and I like reading. Some of my favourite books are The Dogman Collection, The Brownstone Family Collection and Roal Dhal books (I’m reading the BFG at the moment which is great!). I like chocolate, ice cream, dancing, playing ultimate tag and I like maths too! I love reading funny voices in stories and trying different accents, it’s fun! I have a little sister she is small and very funny😜she copies everything I do and it’s weird! I read books to her and she “reads” to me too.
Category: The Review Crew Middle Grade
Dog Man and the Tale of Two Kitties by Dav Pilkey, reviewed by Ozzy
Hi my name is Ozzy and I like reading. Some of my favourite books are The Dogman Collection, The Brownstone Family Collection and Roal Dhal books (I’m reading the BFG at the moment which is great!). I like chocolate, ice cream, dancing, playing ultimate tag and I like maths too! I love reading funny voices in stories and trying different accents, it’s fun! I have a little sister she is small and very funny😜she copies everything I do and it’s weird! I read books to her and she “reads” to me too.
About the book
Howl with laughter with the THIRD book in the hilarious full-colour, illustrated series, Dog Man, from the creator of Captain Underpants!
He was the best of dogs… He was the worst of dogs… It was the age of invention… It was the season of surprise… It was the eve of supa sadness… It was the dawn of hope…
Dog Man hasn’t always been a paws-itive addition to the police force. While he can muzzle miscreants, he tends to leave a slick of slobber in his wake! This time, Petey the cat’s dragged in a tiny bit of trouble — a double in the form of a super-cute kitten. Dog Man will have to work twice as hard to bust these furballs and remain top dog! Dav Pilkey’s wildly popular Dog Man series appeals to readers of all ages and explores universally positive themes, including: empathy, kindness, persistence, and the importance of being true to one’s self.
Rainbow Grey by Laura Ellen Anderson, reviewed by Niamh
Rainbow Grey is the brand-new rainbowtastic adventure from the creator of the amazing Amelia Fang book series, the brilliant Laura Ellen Anderson!
Laura has created a whole new world called The Weatherlands, based on all of the different types of weather. The main character is 10-year-old Ray Grey who is a Weatherling with no powers, but that’s all set to change the night of the eclipse festival… the book title and Ray’s multi-coloured hair on the front cover may be a big clue!
Ray must try to save Earth from a massive storm, alongside her two friends Droplett and Snowden. And no Laura Ellen Anderson book is complete without a loveable, cute companion – this time in the form of exploding cloud cat Nim (short for Nimothy, not Nimbus!).
Rainbow Grey is an amazing adventure, with lots of twists through the story. Just like Amelia Fang, her new book series has the winning formula of the power of friendship, an adorable sidekick (Nim is the new challenger to Squashy in cuteness), and a feisty main character that never gives up.
I love the funny bits when Nim’s body parts get all muddled up when he explodes, often at the worst times! I really like that Droplett has the rain power to puddle-port anywhere and the exploding rumblebuns from the Rising Bun Bakery made me laugh! I also enjoyed that the book had lots of little hidden references to Amelia Fang – try to spot them all!
I think that Amelia and Ray would be great friends, and what I like so much about Laura’s books is that you feel like the characters are your friends too.
I recommend this book to everybody! I can’t wait for the next Rainbow Grey instalment and I think there’s going to be a lot of rainbow wigs and waistcoats being bought for next World Book Day. Laura Ellen Anderson is one of the best authors and illustrators in the world (and in Nocturnia and the Weatherlands!) and everyone should have all of her books on their bookshelves.
Rating: 5/5
Perfect for fans of: Amelia Fang by Laura Ellen Anderson; Evil Emperor Penguin by Laura Ellen Anderson; Frostheart by Jamie Littler; and The Worst Witch by Jill Murphy
Reviewer: Niamh Wilson, aged 8
About the book
A magical new series from best-selling author and illustrator, Laura Ellen Anderson! Ten-year-old Ray Grey lives in the magical Weatherlands, high in the sky. Ray is surrounded by Weatherlings with astounding weather power at their fingertips . . . but she doesn’t have ANY magic! Then, after a trip to Earth, Ray’s life changes forever. She is transformed from Ray Grey into RAINBOW GREY! With the help of her best friends (and exploding cloud cat, Nim) now all Ray has to do is master her powers AND save the world from a mysterious, powerful enemy .
The Amazing Edie Eckhart by Rosie Jones, reviewed by Mia and Kate
Mia says:
Edie and her best friend, Oscar, are about to start secondary school. Edie is excited and thinks things will be just the same, but it turns out a lot of things will change. Edie must learn it’s good to make new friends, try new things, and become even more independent.
Edie has Cerebral Palsy. Before I read this book, I didn’t know what Cerebral Palsy was, but I do now, and Edie tells us how she’d like people to talk to her about it. I really liked the way it was written as Edie’s diary. It’s like a friend chatting to you and you learn about her feelings. Edie is also very funny.
I liked the messages about giving people a chance and getting to know them, and following your heart and not doing something just because it’s what everyone else seems to be doing.
I read lots of fantasy books and I wasn’t sure I’d like this book, but I loved it! Five stars 🌟🌟🌟🌟🌟
Mum Kate says:
What a great book! It’s such a good conversation starter too. I think most people could identify with someone or a situation in this book; starting secondary school and those pre teen years are a huge deal for everyone. I love the diary style which affords us access to Edie’s feelings. I’d like to see this book in every KS2 classroom.
About the book
A sparky middle-grade series from TV comedian Rosie Jones. Perfect for fans of Jacqueline Wilson and DORK DIARIES.
‘Fresh, funny and ultra cool’ – Jacqueline Wilson
Hello! My name is Edie Eckhart and I’m eleven years old.
I’m a little bit different. I have a disability called cerebral palsy, so I talk slowly and fall over a lot. It’s never really bothered me because I’ve never known anything else.
Edie Eckhart is Excited with a capital E to start secondary school with her best friend Oscar – the fish to her chips, the bananas to her custard. But when she and Oscar are put into different tutor groups on their first day, Edie is devastated. Who will play secret hangman with her in class? Who will she eat sausage rolls with? But while she’s plotting her reunion with Oscar, she accidentally gets cast as the lead in the school play.
As Edie discovers a passion for performance, she also finds new friendships, talents, and dreams. After all, it’s easy to shine on and off the stage when you’re Amazing with a capital A.
Pop! by Mitch Johnson, reviewed by Ben
POP is an adventure story about an overly popular drink called mac-tonic. The story starts where the drinks secret formula is lost at sea and a Mac-Tonic lover called Queenie finds it on the shore. The story continues with the trillion-dollar Mac-Tonic company’s attempts to regain the recipe of their bestselling drink.
I enjoyed the book. The many plot twists and lies fed to the consumers – and the overkill marketing schemes – made the whole novel packed with adventure, discovery, and shocking truths about the company, which many of the population relied on to produce their favourite sugar and caffeine-packed drink. Another great theme to the book is its many morals and messages related to climate change, greed, and addiction. I thought the book touched well on these areas while still appealing to younger children (7–10-year-olds) as well as young teens.
I can’t say I disliked any aspect of the book as it was such an incredible read. The messages are well put out and it has a very real side as it shows the evil of the Mac-Tonic corporation and its extreme marketing, which is a strategy that some companies use today.
Mitch Johnson has a theme running through his two books- well written messages for the world today- kick his debut novel tackling children’s rights.
I loved reading Pop – a well written adventure novel for a wide age range.
-
Pop! by Mitch Johnson£7.99
About the book
An outrageous theft. A huge reward. Two friends on the run.
An uproariously funny, action-packed new adventure about the power of courage, standing up for what’s right, and fizzy drinks, from the award-winning author of Kick. Queenie stares out at the ocean and dreams of a world beyond her small-town. She’s about to get her wish…
When the priceless recipe to the world’s most popular drink – thought to be lost forever – washes up at her feet, Queenie’s life instantly changes. Everyone wants it, and with a $10 million bounty on her head, Queenie’s soon on the run. Pursued by bounty hunters, black-ops helicopters and angry mobs, Queenie’s journey involves a trip to Area 51, a man-eating alligator and an unlikely new friend, Todd.
But being on the run also makes Queenie begin to see the world around her more clearly – a world in which a big corporation’s excess has left the planet covered in its plastic bottles and waste. Suddenly, the home she always dreamed of escaping, and the ocean she grew up with and took for granted, don’t seem so bad. If Queenie and Todd can bring down the bad guys, maybe she can go back home and make a difference…
Mystery of the Night Watchers by A.M. Howell, reviewed by Leontine
I really enjoyed this book. I like how it’s written as it never got boring and when a character was feeling a particular emotion I felt it too.
This is a story about family, doing the right thing and standing up to bullies.
Nancy -the main character- is determined, brave and will stop at nothing when righting wrongs. She’s accompanied in the book by her friend Burch and Violet her little sister. You’ll join these characters as they try and solve the mysteries piling up. This fascinating story is based in the Edwardian era in Suffolk at the time Halley’s comet (a comet that passes Earth every 75 to 76 years) was approaching the globe.
I loved how there were a lot of details about how it would have been in those days.
This gripping story is written by the author of The garden of lost secrets and The house of one hundred clocks.
The mystery of the night watchers is an exciting,new book, great for fans of The good thieves by Katherine Rundell.
About the book
From the bestselling author of The Garden of Lost Secrets and The House of One Hundred Clocks, A.M. Howell, comes a gripping new adventure filled with buried secrets and dark lies, set against the evocative backdrop of the Edwardian era. MAY, 1910As the blazing Halley’s comet draws close to the earth, Nancy is uprooted to start a new life in Suffolk with a grandfather she has never met.
With every curtain drawn shut, Nancy is forbidden from leaving her grandfather’s house: no one must know that her or her mother are there. Yet, when Nancy discovers the house’s secret observatory, she watches her mother and grandfather creep out every night… Where are they going? And why mustn’t any of them be seen? As the mysteries pile up, Nancy must bring dark secrets from the past to light – even if doing so will put her own life at risk.
The Train Mouse by Uwe Timm and Axel Scheffler, reviewed by Katy
I really like it because I like stories with adventure, and I really like the mice in the pictures because they are cute and cool.
Katy aged 8
So, there’s this family of mice and one of the brothers he tells his family that he is going to go and get food, but he actually ends up going on a train and he ends up in France/ Paris. He finds another mouse and he helps him get back to his real home with adventures on the way. I really like it because I like stories with adventure, and I really like the mice in the pictures because they are cute and cool. Children who like having lots of adventures will enjoy this. The pictures are very good. The mice always have two round ears and teeth sticking out at the front. I like the Paris mouse because he has a funny mouse moustache. I now want to read the book illustrated by Axel Scheffler that was advertised at the back- Zippel: The little keyhole ghost. I did not know Axel Scheffler had illustrated books that weren’t picture books for younger children.
About the book
When Nibbles, an inquisitive young mouse, scampers onto a waiting train at the local station, little does he know he is about to be swept along on a cross-country adventure. Nibbles travels across his homeland of Germany, picks up a new friend in Switzerland, samples the delights of French cuisine in Paris and finally ends up as the star performer in a circus in England! But then Nibbles begins to feel homesick. How will one little mouse find his way home again?Translated by Rachel Ward.
All the Money in the World by Sarah Moore Fitzgerald, reviewed by Farrah
The premise of this book immediately appealed to me and I was eager to begin. With an engaging, fast-paced plot that follows the main character Penny as she navigates poverty whilst longing for a better life. Without wishing to give away spoilers, opportunities arise from Penny’s newfound wealth and the author, Sarah Moore Fitzgerald, skilfully discusses topics such as privilege, poverty and money in a way that is accessible and understandable for all ages, including younger readers. I found the characters realistic and their stories immersive, with the message the book provides lingering with you long after you turn the last page. I highly recommend you pick this book up when it is released. Click here for my BookTok review @readbyfarrah. Enjoy.
My current favourite book is ‘The Song of Achilles’. I defy all my reluctant reading friends not to be crushed by Madeline Miller’s masterpiece. My passion for Greek Mythology started with a beautifully illustrated Usborne children’s guide, which has certainly influenced my choice of GCSE Classics. Moving forward, I hope to study it at A Level, & fingers crossed at university along with English Lit. I’ve read Stephen Fry’s fantastic ‘Mythos,’ Natalie Haynes’ ‘A Thousand Ships’ & Mary Beard’s Ancient Rome book entitled ‘SPQR.’ Even though I tend to steer clear of horror stories I do actively seek strong female role models & stories with good representation from the lgbtq plus community & books by authors of colour.
If you need to reach me, I’ll be in my room ‘manifesting’ the third Six of Crows book!
About the book
One day you’re broke. The next, you have all the money in the world. What would you do? A gripping, timely story about cold, hard cash and little white lies for fans of Jenny Valentine, Siobhan Dowd and Lara Williamson.
Fifteen-year-old Penny longs for something better. Better than a small, damp flat. Better than her bullying classmates and uninterested teachers.
Better than misery and poverty day in day out. An unlikely friendship and a huge sum of money promise a whole lot of new chances for Penny, and she realises that not only can she change her life, she can change herself. But at what cost?Perfect for readers of 10+.
The Cartoons that Came to Life by Tom Ellen and Phil Corbett, reviewed by Niamh
About the book
Perfect for fans of Liz Pichon’s Tom Gates series!
Finn loves drawing comic strips featuring his two cartoon heroes, Arley and Tapper. But after being teased at school, he finds he can’t draw them any more – and is shocked to see them climbing out of his sketchbook for real! With the help of his friend Isha, Finn needs to find a way to draw them back to their comic world – and quickly …
A brilliant action-packed comic series for readers aged 8-12, illustrated by Phil Corbett! A big-hearted adventure about celebrating individuality, friendship and true loyalty.
Deals with children’s insecurities, worries and the debilitating effect of anxiety with a lightness of touch. Author Tom Ellen is the co-author of three books for teens, including Lobsters, shortlisted for the YA Book Prize.
The Astonishing Future of Alex Nobody by Kate Gilby Smith, reviewed by Sophie
About the book
‘A wonderful time-travelling adventure with more twists and turns than the hands of a clock on a helter-skelter. Alex and Jasper are a fantastic dynamic duo, and the book has genuine friendship and warmth at the heart of a timey-wimey mystery. I loved it.’- L.D. Lapinski, author of The Strangeworlds Travel Agency.
Have you ever thought what it might be like if you were famous in the future? A brilliant middle-grade adventure for fans of Ross Welford – a story about friendship, courage and embracing our talents even when they make us stand out.
On the day Alex was born, crowds surrounded the hospital. On her first day of school, people spied from the gates. And recently, strangers came to watch her perform in her school play … as the llama. But why? Alex has always been a nobody.
Then a mysterious boy named Jasper starts at school and he alone seems to know the answer. But before he can tell Alex, he disappears … into the year 2100.
Can Alex brave traveling into the future to discover what’s happened to him and to unravel the secret of her own astonishing destiny … before time runs out?