Between - Jessica Warman

We say: ****


A thrilling book with constant twists and turns. Grips the reader right from the first page. A ghost story that changes everything Liz (the main character) thinks about what happens after death.

A highly enjoyable read which I would recommend to anyone.

Summer's Dream - Cathy Cassidy

We say: ****

A lovely book. It made me laugh, it made me cry. A book about Summer's struggle to achieve her dream and how you can work too hard for something you really, desperately want.

Summer has a passion for a dance and when she is offered a second chance to join a ballet school that could make her a preffesional dancer she is determined not to mess up. Soon ballet takes over her life, she is always practicong, can't sleep at night and is overcome by a fear that she is overweight. (She really isn't.)

Not my favourite Cathy Cassidy book, but it's close.

Gingersnaps - Cathy Cassidy

We say: ****


A brilliant book, my favourite book by Cathy Cassidy, I've read it so many times I can recite whole chapters!

A touching book about choosing between the boy and your friends, bullying and finding out who really you are. The main character is the same age as me (12) so I can relate easily. I feel that in the end she made the right choice, read it and decide for yourself!

"It's ok I'm wearing really big knickers!" - Louise Rennison

We say: ***

A hilarious book for teens. I bought the first one after watching the film and loving it.

I fell in love with the character Georgia Nicholson from the first chapter. Not a challenging read, but perfect for holidays or if you want something to make you cringe or just laugh out loud!

The title is a quote from the book, it’s not actually Georgia wearing the big knickers, it’s her best friend Jas.

Overall a feel good comedy!!!



The Hunger Games - Suzanne Collins

We say: *****

Three of my favorite books of all time; I literally couldn’t put them down.

The first book is about an event called the Hunger Games where a boy and a girl (called tributes) from each district (there are 12 districts) are thrown in an arena and must fight to the death. All three books follow the heroine Katniss Everdeen and is about her fight to keep herself and everyone she loves alive. 

My favorite character is definitely Rue, who appears in the first book, but tragically dies, her death scene had me in tears.

Overall a highly enjoyable book which I would recommend to anyone, no matter the age. Mainly it is targeted at teens, but I think anyone who doesn’t mind a bit of gore will love it!

I capture the castle - Dodie Smith

We say: **

What a wishy washy book this is!
The romantic family who is poor as church mice but can't work so sells their furniture, eats nothing but what they grow in the garden but hey ho, still has live in servants!

The girls' characters are extremely limited by today's standards and the parents worse than useless!
"oh we are so posh that no one would employ us but everyone wants to be our friend and share their good fortune with us...." - a good work experience stacking shelves at Tesco was what I was left wishing for them all....
Irritating and narrow minded.
Don't really understand how so many people - from Isherwood to JK Rowling - quote it as one of their main sources of inspiration. Maybe they could relate. I certainly didn't.

However, curious to see the film, may need to track in down somewhere on the web.
I am sure an exceedingly posh British cast under clever direction can transform it into a spiffing good film.
After all, that is what happens with the Harry Potters isn't it?

Wikipedia link: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/I_Capture_the_Castle

The night circus - Erin Morgenstern

We say: *****

Just finished this book and its been a while since i was so engrossed.
Read it over what felt one seating throughout the whole weekend.

The way its written is really visual and evocative transporting the reader to a parallel universe of magic, manipulation, circus acts and impossible settings.
With just a wisp of reality to ground us and attach us to the story, this books transported me across the world, to he beginning of the century and back. All I needed to join the fans was a red scarf.

All characters are strong and have their own animated plots to follow. They make independent decisions and suffer the consequences.
The plot is so well achieved, no gaps no questions....and the best is that we know there are more things to explain just round the corner but this is just a window and we can't see it all.

Can't wait to read more from the author.

Also, an interview with the author that gives a bit more insight into the whole story:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dY_Rh6j1WFo