Book Reviews: Week 11

To Wee or Not to Wee by Pamela Butchart

Review by Neva (3JO)

To Wee or Not to Wee! is an extremely funny book where Izzy retells four Shakespeare plays in the most dramatic and completely crazy way possible. Somehow she manages to bring in ghosts, love potions, sword fights and a surprising amount of weeing emergencies. 

I like the part where Izzy brings the story to life and manages to make everyone go crazy . Izzy explains everything like it actually happened at her school yesterday. She gets all important Shakespeare bits right but in a jumbled up way. The illustrations are bonkers and help make the reading more interesting. 

I would recommend this book to people who like funny and exciting books. I would not recommend this book to anyone who does not like dramatic stories.

Impossible Creatures by Katherine Rundell

Review by Sarra-Lina (4ED)

What if the mythical creature you have dreamed of was real? This is an ‘initial impression’ of the book review. Although l have not finished reading the book yet, from the very first page of the story, it has hooked me in with its vivid descriptions of mystical creatures, making me feel that I could reach out and touch them. For example, a creature called Centaur has the body of horse and the waist and head of a human; Manticore has the tail of a scorpion and the face of a human, etc. There are two main characters in the story – Christopher and Mal. Christopher is a boy who finds himself drawn into animals constantly; Mal is an inquisitive, brave and secretive girl who has connection with the magical world.

I am incredibly eager to explore more of this impossible world of myths!

I would recommend this book to people who like diving into fantasy and adventure stories. So far, I would rate this book 10/10.

The Boy at the Back of the Class by Onjali Q Rauf

Review by Lyla (4ES)

This book is about a group of friends in Year 4 who come across a new boy who has joined their class from another country. The new boy, Ahmet is mysterious, quiet and does not include himself much with the others. However, what the group does not know is that Ahmet comes from a war torn country and has secrets that remain uncovered. Will the friends discover Ahmet’s story or will he always remain a mystery?

One thing I liked about this book is that although Ahmet was very distant and antisocial in the beginning, the group of friends still continued to be kind and befriend him. One thing I found quite difficult about this book is that some parts of the story were very sad to read because Ahmet had a difficult journey throughout the book.

I would recommend this book to anyone who has felt as though their problems did not have a solution because Ahmet’s story is all about overcoming hardships and finding happiness. I would recommend this book to ages eight and above.

Swan Song by Gill Lewis

Review by Anika (4JL)

Swan song is about a boy named Dylan who is sent to stay in rural Scotland after having a difficult time in his school. Over there, he discovers the beauty of nature specially the wild swans and how they help him heal. The story is about friendship, recovery and the power of natural world. 

I liked the beautiful nature description especially the landscape and the wildlife. It made me feel like I was right beside the swans. Also Dylan’s feelings were shown in a realistic thoughtful way. 

I would recommend the book. It is great for readers who enjoy nature and gentle stories full of emotions.

The Owl who was Afraid of the Dark by Jill Tomlinson
Review by Arjun (4LN)

This book is about a beautiful baby barn owl named Plop. He is perfect in every way except for just one thing, he is afraid of the dark! His mother sends him to learn about the dark and he faces many challenges and meets various people who teach him about the dark. He experiences many new things like fireworks, campfires and a telescope with the stars and this teaches him new things about himself and his fear.

I enjoyed this book very much because Plop is an adorable owl, and it was a comforting story about overcoming fear. I compared myself to Plop, and learnt to always look at things in a positive way. 

I would recommend this to any age group as it is an enjoyable read. Are you ready to find out whether Plop conquers his fears and becomes a true night owl?

The Explorer by Katherine Rundell

Review by Aydin (5AG)

First of all, I would like to say that this is one of the best books that I have ever read! Just incredible. This book is about a teenage boy called Fred and 3 other kids who are called Con, Lila and Max. They all were on the same airplane that crashed into the Amazon rainforest. They discover items that make them think that someone is currently with them in the forest and as a matter of fact, their thoughts were actually true! Read this book to find out more… 

I loved the part where they got to meet a person who they called ‘The Explorer’ and how they find out his most defiant secrets! 

I would recommend this book to children who are aged 6 and above as they could possibly get scared at one point in the book. Please read this book! It is just so interesting!!!

Stories Grandma Forgot (and How I Found Them) by Nadine Aisha Jassat

Review by Amber (6EC)

Nyla Elachi’s dad died when she was four, or that’s what she been told. So when Grandma Farida says she saw him at the local supermarket, Nyla is convinced she is ‘time – travelling’ again. But when Grandma asks Nyla to find her dad (Basim) and bring him home, Nyla promises she will. But ‘promise’ is a strong word and Nyla is determined not to break it. Elachi sets off on her journey into the wide, wild world. But will she uncover the past to work out who she really is? 

I liked this book because it is formatted like a poem and all the poems tie together and create a story.

I would recommend it to anyone who likes adventure but in a solemn way. This book is an easier read and is good for people who like shorter books.