BIRMINGHAMTHEBLUECOATSCHOOL1722

The Magic Finger by Roald Dahl

Review by Eryn (3JO)

This story is about a little girl who has a magic finger which activates when she gets angry. She lives next to the Greggs who love to hunt animals. This makes the girl really angry and she points her finger at them. The magic in her finger makes the Greggs small in size and gives them wings. 

I like that the story is funny whilst teaching the reader an important lesson about kindness and thinking about the others. It is funny that the Greggs had to live outside whilst birds took over their house. The author makes the story funny and imaginable about how the Greggs live outside and how they struggled. The story is easy to read and follow. 

I would recommend this to children my age (7-8) because it is funny but teaches an important lesson about treating everyone and everything with kindness.

 

Tintin: Red Rackham’s Treasure by Herge

Review by Georgiana (3SM)

This is about a 16-year-old journalist named Tintin and his dog Snowy. With his friend Captain Haddock, he tries to find the treasure of a pirate that Captain Haddock’s family members fought. He also goes with a man called Calculus. Calculus is my favourite character because he is a little bit deaf which makes him really funny because when someone asked him a question you can’t hear very well so that means he answered in a very funny way. 

My favourite part is when they find the treasure.

I would recommend this book to anyone who likes funny and adventure stories. Also the people who have just read the adventures of Tintin the Secret of the Unicorn they should read Red Rackham’s Treasure next.

Rescue Princesses: The Rainbow Opal by Paula Harrison

Review by Sophia (4JL)

This book is about Princess Summer and her friends in the Kingdom of Mirrania. While they are exploring, they find a tiny baby koala named Custard who is very sick and won’t eat. The princesses find out that the only thing that can save him is the magic of a Rainbow Opal from the river. They have to use their secret ninja skills and their magic jewels to get the opal and help Custard get better. 

My favourite part was when Custard finally felt well enough to eat again because of their hard work! 

I would recommend this book to anyone in Year 2, 3, or 4 who loves animals, secret missions, and stories about friends working together.

 

Harry Potter and the Philosopher’s Stone by J K Rowling

Review by Adam (4LN)

This book is about a young orphan called Harry who grows up miserable in his aunt’s house. He is treated cruelly by them. One day he receives an invite to “Hogwarts”, a school of witchcraft and wizardry. Here he is finally happy, with friends and exciting lessons. He finds out how his parents died and that he is actually famous for defeating an evil wizard called Voldemort. During this book, with his friends, he gets up to an exciting adventure to rescue the philosopher’s stone from evil forces. 

I liked when Hagrid, the games keeper, kept accidentally revealing top secret information to Harry and his friends without realising! 

I would recommend this book to people who enjoy magic, humour and adventure.

Do You Know Me by Libby Scott and Rebecca Westcott

Review by Ishani (5NB)

This book is about a girl called Tally and she is proud about herself. Except she has one deep secret she doesn’t want to tell anyone, she has autism. In the book before she had a huge argument and her only friendship ended. Now she’s made a new friend called Aleksandra. Since it’s the school residential, she wants to be in the same cabin as Aleksandra but the tables turn. Now Tally has to spend five nights with a bully, her ex-friends and a quiet girl named Jade. 

I loved the part when Tally stands up for Jade when the mean girls and her so-called “friends” read Jades letters and make mean comments on them. It made me shocked when Tally figured out Jade’s deepest secret.

I would recommend it to anyone 8+ as younger children might not be able to understand autism and why autistic people do what they do.

 

The House with Chicken Legs by Sophie Anderson

Review by Tara (5GT)

This book is about a young girl called Marinka. She wishes she could have a normal life and living friends because she only gets to meet the dead. However, her house has chicken legs and makes it impossible to fulfil her dreams. Marinka lives with her Baba ( her grandmother) who is a Yaga. Every night Marinka’s Baba makes a special feast for the guiding ceremony. Yagas guide the dead to the pathway of the stars. Marinka doesn’t want Yaga to be her destiny so with the help of Yaga and a reckless lamb and a cheeky jackdaw along the way Marinka tries to change her destiny but she is bounded to the house. During the story Marinka learns her secret… 

I enjoyed this book immensely because Marinka goes through lots of different things in her adventure to change her destiny. Also she meets lots of different people on the way some she can trust some she can’t.  My favourite character is Jack the Jackdaw because he is very cheeky and stuffs dead insects and bugs into Marinka’s ears and pockets. My favourite part is when Marinka’s Baba gets stuck in the gate and Marinka tries to get her out but Jack saves her from getting stuck in the gate. 

I recommend this book to children 8-12 who loves fantasy, adventure and children who love a little laugh.

The Wolves of Willoughby Chase by Joan Aiken

Review by Lana (6EC)

This book is set in a time in history that never happened, when Good King James III was on the throne and the wolves of the country have moved north. There are two girls, Bonnie and Sylvia, who have to overcome challenges that come their way while Bonnie’s parents are abroad. They have to escape from Miss Slighcarp and her network of con artists, snitches and cruel people, all while trying to run from the wolves. 

I liked the suspense that the author used in the book and how the characters are constantly trying to outwit one another. 

I would recommend this book to anyone who loves and book full of suspense, action and mystery.

 

The Guggenheim Mystery by Siobhan Dowd

Review by Hannah (6EF)

The book is about a mystery, where ‘in the black square’ was stolen. Gloria McCloud was framed and being questioned, when she didn’t commit the crime. Ted, Kat and Salim have to find out who stole the painting – before it’s too late! Kat is also really interested in art…

I like how the tension builds up throughout the book, and how near the end, the last suspect gets ruled out. I especially love how Ted gets lost in the middle.

I would recommend this book to anyone who loves mysteries, and is for anyone in year 4 and above.