Noah Barleywaters Runs Away by John Boyne

Noah Barleywaters Runs Away is a fantastic and imaginative book by John Boyne. It tells the story of Noah, an eight year old boy, who runs away from home. Along his travels he meets some interesting characters like talking animals and a beautiful talking apple tree. His journey leads him to a village where he meets a friendly old man who owns a magical toyshop. The old man tells Noah amazing stories.

John Boyne is a great author and I've read a few of his books. I would definitely recommend this book if you like imaginative 'fairytale' reads. Although a children's book I think adults would also enjoy it.

By Rebecca Carey

The NO.1 Ladies Detective Agency by Alexander McCall Smith.

I thought that this book was great. It was about a lady called Mma Ramotswe and she was a private detective in Bostwana. It all started up because when her dad had died and he wanted her to set up her own business or shop. She once lived with her cousin and her cousin’s husband and he owned buses so Mma Ramostwe worked in the office dealing with the money and there were two men there who one day took the money and she had figured that out and then told her cousin’s husband. So Mma Ramostwe is really a great people person .

I advise the book to anyone who likes something new to read instead of always reading the same kinds of books. Once you start this book you really will not get bored of it .

Amy McLean

Montmorency by Eleanor Updale

Montmorency is quite an exciting book. It is about a man who is a thief and he goes into a place one night aiming to steal but then he gets caught and he falls threw the roof .The doctor manages to fix Montmorency again and then Montmorency goes to jail.

He is a very lucky prisoner because every day he gets to go out with the doctor so then the doctor can show off what he has done. Once Montmorency gets out of jail he starts to steal again but only this time he is two people: Scarper and Montmerency .

When he is Montmorency,he is a gentleman but when he is Scarper, he is a thief. He is Scarper at nighttime, and steals to live as a gentleman during the day. He lives in a luxury hotel but nobody knows what Scarper is up to .

I recommend this book to people that are into adventures because you really don't know what will happen next.

Amy McLean

Nootka

Nootka

Nootka is an exciting book. It starts of with the main character John Jewitt telling us about himself and about the ship he is in. One day the boat they’re on, the Boston, visits an Indian tribe. The captain wants no trouble with the Indians because there were reports of sailors shooting the Indians. So the crew are all nice to the Indians but when the crew is caught off guard the Indians strike, killing all but two.

The story goes on with them building trust with the Indians and starting friendships. Will they escape?

I recommend this book to someone who likes an adventure and an escape story.

By James Mole

Diary of a Wimpy Kid by Jeff Kinney

Diary of a Wimpy Kid books are a series of books about a boy called Greg Heffly and his mum, dad, his brother Roderick and Manny. Greg's friend is called Rowley and Rowley is his friend until Rowley breaks his arm and is punished for an offence that wasn't him but that was Greg. The story goes on from there and goes down the exact same road of humour. The books are very funny and the funniest so far was the Dog Days book. This book was extremely funny and I enjoyed every second. I recommend this to every reader out there.

Nicol Robertson

Swallows and Amazons by Arthur Ransome

This is a book by Arthur Ransome and it is about 4 children called John, Susan, Titty and Roger who all go on holiday.

While they are on holiday in a farm house on the side of a lake, they see an island that looks interesting. They decide that they want to sail over to it in a small boat that they have borrowed. Once they have got permission from their parents, they sail to they small island and camp on it for a few days. They are soon under attack from the "amazon pirates", Nancy and Peggy. The two girls come onto the island and they become friends with the other children. There is also a man from a houseboat that is angry with the children from the farmhouse, although it's the pirates he should really be angry with. They have been on his boat and done things he didn't like. The six children then decide to declare war on him and call him Captain Flint. In the night, however, his houseboat gets burgled and one of the children hears the robbers hiding the stolen items on an island.

You'll need to read the book to find out what happens next!

I enjoyed this book because you didn't really know what was going to happen next and what you expected to happen, didn't end up happening.

Christopher Scholes

The Beak Speaks By Jeremy Strong

The Beak Speaks starts with Dad who is a Vet. There is no mum and the two children, Mark and Tammy live with their dad and of course Dinah the Mynah. Dinah is a mynah bird and thinks that all humans are stupid and is trying to save Dad from the evil woman, Divine. She was determined to win Dad after Mark thought that it would be a good idea to put a lonely hearts column in for Dad. But she has competition when a Spanish woman is determined to win over "Mr Vet Man". But Dad falls in love with the evil Divine and is caged in a house while she plots her evil plan. But Suddenly a chimpanzee comes down the chimney, and his name was Arnold Teebag and he might just save the day!

Nicol Robertson