Gang Lands: Brazil - Ross Kemp

Gang Lands is a book written by Ross Kemp. It is mostly based in the shanty Brazilian towns known as 'favelas', in Rio de Janeiro. Luiz, a Brazilian teenager is taken by a secret organisation called Trojan. This is because Luiz's sister, Ana, was caught in a car that had a boot full of drugs and was arrested, although she knew nothing about the drugs and was innocent. Trojan then tell Luiz that they can get Ana out of custody if he goes on a mission for them. Trojan are trying to stop a gang that is newly formed in the Santa Marta 'favela'. They are known as the 'Commando Negro'. Trojan want Luiz to go to the 'favela' and try and get a place in this gang so he find a out who is running and financing them. It turns out they are making money from drug dealing on a major scale. Luiz needs to find out who is supplying the drugs so he can free his sister, but if he is discovered by the gang, they will kill him. Luiz finds himself lose to death many times but he sees a different side to some of the gang members and begins to become friends with them. This turns out to be a bad mistake and he finds himself in an even worse situation as a result of it...

Christopher Scholes


- Posted using BlogPress from my iPad

Montmorency's Revenge is a really exciting book. It's the 4th one in the series. It is mostly set at the borders of Scotland and England where the Fox-Selwyns want revenge for George's death.

Montmorency has to handle many problems: one being Doctor Facett, who is beginning to lose the plot and another is that a dangerous man is after Frank Fox-Selwyn.

If you want a good read filled with fighting, adventure and misconception then this is the book for you.

James Mole
- Posted using BlogPress from my iPad

Scorpia Rising By Anthony Horowitz

Action, Adventure, Guns, Terrorists. This can only mean one thing, Alex Rider in his final book Scorpia Rising.

This is about a terrorist group named Scorpia who Alex defeated in Scorpia, but as the title suggests they are active once more. Their job is to protect this item that was in London, which they stole and to return it back there without notice. The government then heard of this and set up a squad but Scorpia are smart and decide to make this visit a hoax. Alex Rrider then hears of Scorpia arising again. He goes to infiltrate their base. It all happens now. It's either Victory or Death.

Find out soon in Scorpia Rising by Anthony Horowitz.

Nicol Robertson


- Posted using BlogPress from my iPad

Malcolm X Autobiography (with Alex Haley)

This inspiring autobiography of Malcolm X was published in 1965 and describes his life story. Unfortunately, Malcolm didn't live to see the publication. Haley, later went on to write the family history, Roots.

This book just gives you more of an insight of what Malcolm's life and family life was actually like, and how he completely turned his life around for the better to prove to everyone who doubted him that he could do and and to try and make his mother proud as she always believed in him.





- Posted using BlogPress from my iPad

The Boy in the Striped Pyjamas by John Boyne

The Boy in the Striped Pyjamas by John Boyne is a tale of a young German boy named Bruno. Bruno and his family have to up and leave his best friends and his big house in Berlin to move elsewhere. They have to move because his father, a high ranking officer for the army, was promoted. Bruno is unhappy with the move because of all the things he has left behind.

In the house Bruno begins to feel lonely and bored so he decides to go exploring the area despite being told not to do so by his mother. He is searching for something he could at least have fun with when he comes across a fence, with a little boy on the other side wearing striped pyjamas. The two boys introduce themselves and after a while they become best friends. Bruno visits the little boy named Shmuel every day for a long period of time.

One day Bruno goes on one last adventure to visit his friend on the other side of the fence. Bruno is able to get through to the other side of the fence, where he is greeted by Shmuel. The two young boy enter further into the enclosed area surrounded by the fence. They both get mixed between a large group of people all wearing stripped pyjamas unable to escape from the people walking in one direction. They follow them in search of Shmuel's father that had recently gone missing.

The ending of the book is a great ending, even thought the happenings are shocking -the book couldn't have ended better. This is a great tale of friendship and the war.


- Posted using BlogPress from my iPad

The Eagle of the Ninth by Rosemany Sutcliff

The Eagle of the Ninth tells the story of the mysterious disappearance of the Ninth Legion, four thousand Roman soldiers and the search for their eagle standard. This book is set in Roman Britain and gives a very good view of what life was like in these times

Marcus Flavius Aquila is the main character in the book. He is the son of the soldier who led the Ninth Legion and he is trying to find out what happened. Marcus's early years have been spent thinking about this last march of the Legion and he wants to get to the bottom of the mystery.

Marcus is a centurion in the second legion. The story begins when he is marching to a Roman garrison and his troop is attacked by natives. During the attack Marcus tries to slow down a chariot that is coming towards them by throwing himself at it. The chariot overturns and is stopped. At the same time, Marcus is knocked unconscious and his leg is badly damaged.

His bravery saved the men in his legion, but he is badly hurt and cannot continue in the troop. His uncle arranges for him to come and stay with him until he recovers. Marcus's uncle stayed in Britain when he finished his career in the Roman army.

An important part in the story is Marcus's visit to the Saturnalia Games. He is in a fight with a slave, Esca, and rather than end his life he gets the crowd to agree to spare his life. Marcus then buys Esca as his personal slave. The relationship between these two men grows and become almost like brothers.Their relationship develops despite the cultural differences between them.

The story continues with Marcus setting out to find the Ninth eagle after hearing rumors that it has been found by some tribes. He sets off with Esca to track down what he can find about the legion and the eagle.

The next part is about Marcus and Esca and the events around getting the eagle back. This is an exciting part of the book and goes into a lot of detail around their plans on getting and keeping the eagle from the tribe. We also hear about other characters in the book including Dergdian the chieftain and his almost blind son. We are also introduced to the ceremonies and rituals of this tribe. This is a part of the book that you would find hard to put down.

By Melissa McNeal

- Posted using BlogPress from my iPad

H.I.V.E. by Mark Walden

H.I.V.E. Higher Institute of Villainous Education by Mark Walden is the first book of the high-praised H.I.V.E. series. As usual, the start of something, in this case the first book, is always about the beginning. So imagine living in an orphanage, you have the IQ that would probably impress Bill Gates. You probably realise you're not the average child that you're supposed to be. Oh, and just for the book, your name is Otto Malpense and you're 13 years old. If you are now scared to read on in case something else is changed about you, fear not! I'm not going to change anything else about you and the effects should be temporary.... Should be. Not making any promises. So, yeah, you've just woken up in a helicopter even though you were just in an orphanage. Confusing, right? Beside is your new friend. Please say hello to them. Now, so I don't end up making a longer and probably less interesting introduction, I'll speed things up. The helicopter lands in a secret place, you and a bunch of other kids meet the rather dark and mysterious and rather mean man who owns the large facility you are in. H.I.V.E. You are then told you have been picked for a training program for all things bad. Yeah, probably better than an orphanage. However, you are then told the course lasts six years. And you can't leave until it's over. Now, you're already pretty awesome at this whole "evil" thing (sorry, forgot to mention that, probably won't happen again), and you really can't be bothered with it all. Well.... Read on then. By Nathan Bonner - Posted using BlogPress from my iPad