WAR HORSE by Michael Morpurgo

Joey is a warhorse, but he wasn’t always. Once, he was a farm horse and a gentle boy named Albert was his master. Then World War I came storming through and everything changed. Albert’s father sells Joey to the army where the beautiful, red-bay horse is trained to charge the enemy, drag heavy artillery, and carry wounded soldiers not much older than Albert off of battlefields. Amongst the clamoring of guns and slogging through the cold mud, Joey wonders if the war will ever end. And if it does, will he ever find Albert again?

War Horse is one you will all probably be familiar with through the stage play or film. But I must say try the book first! If you read the book then nothing has been changed or altered! A truly awe- inspiring tale of courage, beauty and the unique love or cruelty that exists between man and horse. We hope with all hope that our horse Joey can make it through his trials and through the war. Read it and find out if he does!

THE AMAZING STORY OF ADOLPHUS TIPS by Michael Morpurgo

It’s 1943, and Lily Tregenza lives on a farm, in the idyllic seaside village of Slapton. Her life is scarcely touched by the war until one day Lily and her family, along with all of the other villagers, are told to move out of their homes – lock, stock and barrel.

Soon, the whole area is out of bounds, as the Allied forces practice their landings for D-day, preparing to invade France. But Tips, Lily’s adored cat, has other ideas – barbed wire and keep-out signs mean nothing to her, nor does the danger of guns and bombs. Frantic to find her, Lily decides to cross the wire into the danger zone to look for Tips herself…

One can truly say that there is a very happy ending to this eventful war story. I grew very fond of the three main characters: Lily, Adie and a wandering-prone female feline named Tips! This was a novel full of suspense as Lily tries to evade the soldiers in the fenced off village in order to find this lovable cat. She must evade the soldiers at time but also plead them for their gracious help as well. A thoroughly satisfying tale that covers Lily's lifetime from child to old age. Does she find happiness through a cat's tale? Well I will let you guess!

STIG OF THE DUMP by Clive King

It all starts when Barney goes down the chalk pit, where everyone tells him not to go, to find a little dilapidated, scruffy hut. That was not the only thing; he also found a man. But not just an ordinary man, no! A cave man named Stig.

It is amazing even the most unbelievable stories can turn out to be true. In this extraordinary tale Stig opens Barney to a world he never knew existed. He teaches him such skills and shows him true friendship. An unforgettable book and on that even involves a time-travelling adventure, even if his family take it all with a pinch of salt!

THE SILVER SWORD by Ian Serraillier

On a cold, dark night in Warsaw in 1942, the Balicki children watch in horror as Nazi Storm Troopers arrest their mother. Now they are lone. With the war raging around them, food and shelter are hard to come by. They live in constant fear.

Finally, they get word that their father is alive. He has made it to Switzerland. Edek and Ruth are determined to find him, though they know how dangerous the long trip from Warsaw will be. But they also know that if they don't make it, they may never see their parents again.

I thoroughly enjoyed this thrilling journey across Europe to seek out their parents and find refuge. It is always difficult to resist a plot that involves parentless children clinging to each other's love and making a terrifying but exciting journey where friends, strangers and the Nazis lie in their path.

THE THIEVES OF OSTIA by Caroline Lawrence

In this atmospheric debut novel, the first instalment of a series of Roman mysteries, readers are whisked to the first century A.D. to help girl detective Flavia Gemina solve a brutal crime in the Roman port city of Ostia. When the guard dog belonging to Flavia's neighbors is slaughtered, Flavia sets out to find clues. She is accompanied by four trusty companions...

This was engaging from the first page and you are captivated right until the last word. Of course after a taste of Roman Mysteries I wanted more. Luckiliy there are nineteen more in the series! Caroline Lawrence is a master of both creating suspense within the detective genre but also brings the Roman Empire alive to the reader. I felt as if I had stepped out of a time machine. One experiences the sights, sounds and stenches of ancient Rome! One also realises very quickly that violence is commonplace in Roman society or at least the author's vision of history.This is an adrenalised ride and at times a tragic one as we witness the tragedy of Avitus.

LIFE OF PI by Yann Martel

An anonymous author figure explains that he traveled from his home in Canada to India because he was feeling restless. There, while sipping coffee in a café in the town of Pondicherry, he met an elderly man named Francis Adirubasamy who offered to tell him a story fantastic enough to give him faith in God. This story is that of Pi Patel.

After deciding to sell their zoo in India and move to Canada, Santosh and Gita Patel board a freighter with their sons and a few remaining animals. Tragedy strikes ....

I felt inspired when Pi and Richard Parker forge a relationship of mutual trust, respect and understanding. Their circumstances force it upon them but as time passes one feels that they are truly gaining knowledge of each other. This is a thrilling adventure that begins at a leisurely pace in Pondicherry with his family and his father's zoo and takes us through his comical exploration of religion and then to a fight for survival.

TARKA THE OTTER by Henry Williamson

In this remarkable book, we follow Tarka the Otter through his entire life. We are there from his first to his last breath, through the joys and trials of his life, struggling through the harshest of winters, his life alone and with other otters, as a cub and as a grown otter with cubs of his own.

One feels unease and worry as Tarka has to fight for his life on countless occasions but this is interspersed with wonderfully joyous and comical moments as he grows up from puphood and finds play partners and ultimately creates his own family and takes on the proud role of father.

WHY THE WHALES CAME by Michael Morpurgo

“The Birdman puts spells on people. We mustn’t talk to him. We’re not supposed to.”

Gracie and Daniel have been warned to stay away from the mad Birdman- but the message in the sand tells them that the Birdman isn’t what he seems.
Then they get lost in the fog and stranded on Samson Island. Should they believe the Birdman’s story that the island is cursed?

I felt great sympathy for the Birdman who is distrusted and reviled by the island people. The novel taught me much about not judging people by first impressions. Gracie and Daniel's experience on Samson island is extremely harrowing for the reader and has the feel of a ghostly tale. Thankfully this helps them to find the truth behind the curse and they must then desperately try to use the answer to aid them when the curse threatens to cast its shadow over Bryher as well.

THE SONG OF PENTECOST by W J Corbett

The Song Of Pentecost is an amazing story of the journey of small animals from their old home deep within a building site to a wonderful hill, far away. The story unfolds with tension and suspense around every corner. The party of animals have to face a deceitful frog, an angry snake and a cunning fox. Do they make it to the paradise they are all longing to reach, are there casualties along the way? 

I would recommend this book to anyone because of the amazing journey that the harvest mice tribe undertake in order to seek a new sanctuary. One feels uneasy and anxious for them as they fall victim to the treachery of those they have placed faith in. It is therefore all the more satisfying when

some of the characters delightfully surprise us by their generosity of spirit and genuine love for these humble protoganists.

WHITE FANG by Jack London (Book Review)

In the desolate, frozen wilds of northwest Canada, White Fang, a part-dog, part-wolf cub soon finds himself the sole survivor of a litter of five. In his lonely world, he soon learned to follow the harsh law of the North—kill or be killed.

But nothing in his young life prepared him for the cruelty of the bully Beauty Smith, who buys White Fang from his Indian master and turns him into a vicious killer—a pit dog forced to fight for money.

Will White Fang ever know the kindness of a gentle master or will he die a fierce deadly killer?

I think White Fang's journey through life is extraordinary, as he passes through the hands of many owners. I was overjoyed when this unloved wolf dog finds eventual solace and pampering amongst the Scott family. I found the description of his puppyhood quite distressing and one realises how harsh nature can be, particulary in the setting of the Yukon.

THE OLD MAN AND THE SEA by Ernest Hemingway (Book Review)

The Old Man and the Sea is the story of an epic struggle between an old, seasoned fisherman and the greatest catch of his life. For eighty-four days, Santiago, an aged Cuban fisherman, has set out to sea and returned empty-handed. So conspicuously unlucky is he that the parents of his young, devoted apprentice and friend, Manolin, have forced the boy to leave the old man in order to fish in a more prosperous boat. Nevertheless, the boy continues to care for the old man upon his return each night. He helps the old man tote his gear to his ramshackle hut, secures food for him, and discusses the latest developments in American baseball, especially the trials of the old man’s hero, Joe DiMaggio. Santiago is confident that his unproductive streak will soon come to an end, and he resolves to sail out farther than usual the following day.

I think this is a scintillating but rather sad tale. I was inspired by Santiago's courage and patience as he suffered his eighty four day drought without a catch to his name.One feels great happiness towards him when he finally finds redemption and conclusion. This almost mirrors his journey in life.

Book Review

A Carnegie Medal winner tells the true story of an urchin in Victorian London: the orphan boy whose plight inspired Dr Barnardo to set up his famous children’s refuge.Jim Jarvis is a runaway. He has fled the dark and terrible workhouse where he was dumped when his mother died. But London in the 1860s is a dangerous and lonely place, and life is a constant battle for survival. Just when Jim finally finds some friends, he is snatched away and enslaved by the cruel Grimy Nick. Constantly watched and hounded by Nick’s vicious dog, Snipe, will Jim ever be free?

"It was a very impressive book. The story took me through a rollercoaster of emotions.The book is extremely engaging and hard to put down at the end of an evening.

I really did feel sorry for Jim when fate caused him to end up in the workhouse.But I felt happy when Jim outsmarted his captors to achieve his freedom from this madness-filled and malevolent institution.

I felt particularly worried when Jim Jarvis fell into the company of Grimy Nick and Snipe.The descriptions during these chapters are hard to bear because of his terrible maltreatment.

This is an outstanding novel of superb description, packed with heartfelt emotion and based on fascinating historical fact."

by John

John's Book Review of The Machine Gunners by Robert Westall

'Some bright kid's got a gun and 2000 rounds of live ammo. And that gun's no peashooter. It'll go through a brick wall at a quarter of a mile.'

Chas McGill has the second-best collection of war souvenirs in Garmouth, and he desperately wants it to be the best. When he stumbles across the remains of a German bomber crashed in the woods - its shiny, black machine-gun still intact - he grabs his chance. Soon he's masterminding his own war effort with dangerous and unexpected results....

"The book has a fantastic plot and I loved the way Chas McGill uses his intelligence to dastardly effect. There are wonderful relationships that form between Chas, Cem, Audrey, Nicky, Clogger and Rudi (the downed German airman). Using all their initiative and effort they create a magical hidden world for themselves -- the ultimate den that we all dream of. Will Nicky find a new father figure? Will Rudi make his way to safety? These are some of the plotlines that keep the reader desperate to jump back into the novel for another exciting dose of Second World War adventure."

                                                     Book Review by John

Book Review by John

SWALLOWS AND AMAZONS by Arthur Ransome

Synopsis: 

The Walker children - also known as Captain John, Mate Susan, Able-Seaman Titty, and Ship's Boy Roger - set sail on the Swallow and head for Wild Cat Island. There they camp under open skies, swim in clear water and go fishing for their dinner. But their days are disturbed by the Blackett sisters, the fierce Amazon pirates. The Swallows and Amazons decide to battle it out, and so begins a summer of unforgettable discoveries and incredible adventures.

"There is a great sense at the end of the adventure that it is the beginning of a new adventure.This is a brilliant novel and one of the best stories that I have ever read. One has the drama of the burglary and of the mini-war between the Swallows and the Amazons. I enjoyed the descriptive writing, and personal illustrations by the author himself. I loved the characterisation and the beautiful relationships between the different members of the family.There is something very alluring and romantic about the idyllic holiday setting in the Lake District. I also took great pleasure in the imaginative world of pirates and high-seas adventure that the children themselves create to enliven each day of their vacation."  John 

Catch the reading bug in Class 4