Horrid Henry's Sleepover by Francesca Simon

Horrid Henry's Sleepover

This book is about Horrid Henry. When Henry slept round all of his friends, his mum and dad would get a call to pick him up at 3:00 in the morning because he's being naughty and very rude. But Henry liked the sleepovers! Henry has slept round all of his friends' houses and they don't want him again. This new boy called New Nick joined his class and New Nick asked Henry if he wanted to sleep over at his house, which meant to Henry new beds to bounce on and new biscuit tins to raid. He couldn't wait. When Henry got home, he told his mum and dad about the sleepover and they said "Just don't be horrid, I don't want to get a phone call to pick you up at 3:00 in the morning". Henry said he wouldn't be horrid, so Henry packed up his bag with everything and went but Henry didn't like New Nick that much. He only liked him because of the sleepover!

By Jaya Norman (with a little help from Haiden)

Freak the Mighty by Rodman Philbrick

Freak The Mighty

This is a summary of the story! (Warning! Do not read this post if you are reading this book and don't want to spoil it)

Our narrator introduces himself by telling us he was once nicknamed "Kicker". See, when he was little, he would kick all the other kids in day care. Not the most promising introduction. But it turns out "Kicker" is really just a big softy. He outgrows the kicking phase, and now everyone just calls him Max.

Here's what you need to know about Max: he's huge and he lives with his grandparents. By the time he is in 8th grade, he is the size of a grown man. His size and a few other details make him sort of an outcast, but he soon befriends fellow outcast Kevin, who Max lovingly calls "Freak". Freak is tiny and insanely smart.

These two boys could not be more different, but they quickly become close friends. That's right: opposites attract. Freak tries to teach Max about robotics and history, and Max just sort of smiles and nods like he understands. Freak also tells Max that he is going to become the first human/robot hybrid. (A) That's awesome. (B) That means Freak is going to have an operation that will make him stronger so he won't be sick anymore. But it's a really big secret, so Max can't tell anyone.

The boys go on a bunch of adventures and quests together, one of which involves returning a woman's stolen purse. Seems like a nice thing to do, but it all goes horribly wrong. It turns out that the woman, Loretta Lee, isn't so much a damsel in distress as a woman who causes distress. And don't get us started on her boyfriend Iggy, who knows Max's dad.

Oh, and did we mention that Max's dad is currently in prison for killing Max's mom? Yikes. This horribly violent act has earned him the nickname Killer Kane. When Max and Freak finally get away from the adventure-gone-wrong, Max doesn't want to talk about his dad. All Max wants is to forget it ever happened.

Not so fast. Killer Kane ends up being paroled, and he kidnaps Max on Christmas Eve. Luckily, Freak works with the cops to find Max and rescue him. After he's safe and sound, things settle down a bit, and Max even starts doing better in school. But don't get too excited just yet.

When summer comes around, it's time for Freak's birthday. He gets a computer from his mom with some fancy new fangled invention called a modem that lets him dial up to the school computer. (Yep, this is what the Internet used to sound like.) What's with all the new technology? It's so Freak can go to school from home.

Hmmm. Max doesn't understand why Freak wouldn't be able to go to school; and when he asks, everyone gets really quiet. Before Max can get any answers, Freak has a seizure and is rushed to the hospital.

At the hospital, Freak gives Max a blank book and tells him to fill it with their adventures. He explains that he is getting his new robotic body and he won't have time to write their adventures; he'll be too busy learning how to walk with long legs. Max agrees, but he's hesitant. After all, he's not the smart one— Freak is.

The next day, Max goes to visit the hospital, but learns that Freak died during the night. Max goes nuts, kicking people and punching glass windows. Finally, after he is subdued by security, Freak's doctor explains that there never was a secret operation. Freak made it up to have something to hope for.

Max spends the next year alone and majorly depressed. Then one day, he takes out the blank book Freak gave him, and he starts writing. He writes for a long time. And when he's finished, he has written a book called Freak the Mighty.

Review by Haiden Norman.

The Mystery of Miss King (Weird Street) by Margaret Ryan

I have been reading The Mystery of Miss king. I am going to tell you no more, just listen to the blurb.

What strange events are taking place at number 67? Was that a foot in the garden shed? What was a skull doing on the TV? And why have all those holes suddenly appeared on the front lawn?

Just read the book. It starts off scary and then it's not. My favourite part was when Miss Smith told the boy what the body parts were for.

SO JUST READ THE BOOK.

The 13th Fairy by Kaye Umansky

The 13th Fairy is an amazing story and I would recommend it  to everyone.

The blurb says:
Meet Grimbleshanks, the 13th Fairy. She's mad. Hopping mad. Everyone else is invited to the royal christening- but not Grimbleshanks. Oh no, she would lower the tone. And so Grimbleshanks plans a little curse for the new baby...

I like this book because there are loads of surprises and I like how someone has to try and stop the fairy's curse. I think that boys and girls would like this book because it is exciting and funny. My favourite part was when the fairy put the curse on. The next book I will read by Kaye Umansky is The Queen's tale because it looks great.

Review by Gemma, 4JB.

North of Nowhere by Liz Kessler

I was given this book to read by my teacher because I like exciting stories. Mia is a girl whose grandad has disappeared so Mia goes to find him. She is on a boat when there is a really enormous storm which scares her and her friend who is called Dee. The cover of the book has a picture of the boat in the storm. Mia and Dee ask for help from people but everyone is really confused about what is happening. The book is really exciting and I read it all in two days because I wanted to know what happened in it. I think the author is a really clever writer and I liked this story a lot. There were some bits that made me sad. Does it end happily ever after? Well, you need to read it. 10/10

Megan

I should have read this several weeks ago but unfortunately spilled coffee on my original version! Anyway, I ordered a replacement copy and finally got round to reading it last week. The story centres around a young girl called Mia, whose grandad has mysteriously vanished. Mia and her mum go to the village of Porthaven to support her grandma with the search. While she is there, she makes friends with some of the local children.

One morning Mia and her new friend, Dee, go sailing on one of the old boats from the local harbour. Whilst they are out on the sea, they get caught up in a storm which is unlike anything either of them have ever encountered. After eventually making it back to land, Mia finds that her whole world has changed in a completely unexpected way.

This is a beautifully written book and I thoroughly enjoyed reading it. The relationships between the characters are very strong and you really get an understanding of how worried Mia is about her grandad. The mysteries of Porthaven unravel in an intriguing way and lots of seemingly minor characters all have important roles to play. The twist in the story is, perhaps, not totally unexpected, but it is written so movingly that it doesn't really matter. A fantastic story full of changing  family relationships and adventure, highly recommended for Year 6 upwards.

Mr Biddle

The Stinky Cheese Man by Jon Scieszka and Lane Smith

I really liked this book because it had funny pictures and it also made no sense, which made it even funnier.I would recommend this book to everybody. If I could give it a score I would give it 10/10. By Chloe

I really enjoyed this book I think that it would be good for anyone and for any age. Out of the whole book my best story is The Stinky Cheese Man and it is super funny for anyone. I would give it 10/10 because it is so funny. Mollie

I really like the book called The Stinky Cheese Man and other Fairly Stupid Tales.It was funny. The book was mixed with other fairy tales but funnier. I would say it would be a book for all kinds of people. Iwould give it a 10 of 10. Elise

The Girl Who Cried Monster by RL Stine

You should really read this book, it is so good! Also it's really exciting and weird.

I'm going to put the blurb. Lucy's always telling stories and scaring her little brother Randy with her monster tales. What a laugh! But now Lucy's seen a real monster. It's the librarian, Mr Mortman. Lucy's actually seen him turn into a monster and it's not funny, it's horrible. When Lucy tries telling her parents about it they don't believe here! Big surprise! Can Lucy convince them she's telling the truth this time?

If you like exciting and spooky books, this book is the one for you. Also it's a Goosebumps book.

Review by Honey King.

Mad, bad and just plain dangerous Romans by John Townsend

Mad,bad and just plain dangerous Romans

By John Townsend

In this book there are chapters filled with loads of facts! There is a joke at the end of some of the chapters. My favourite joke was "The emperor has eaten his wife. She was really wicked." "In that case I'm gladiator!"(glad-he-ate-her).

When doctors look after a wounded soldier, the Romans didn't  know about germs and infection so they put maggots on the wound to clean it up and help it heal! Doctors also used leeches to numb the wound!

Roman soldiers captured people for slaves to help them with journeys and battles. Slaves did all the chores in the house and also worked on farms.They put slaves on sale on the streets. The slaves had very strict rules, which were:
Never argue with your owner : Beating and whipping!
Never try to run away : Death!
Never kill your owner : Death to all slaves!

There's also survival quizzes to see if you would be a good Roman or not. For the quiz there's points awarded. If you get over 150, Wow, you'd make a great Roman; 100-150 Fairly good; 80-100 Not bad; 50-80 Ooer-high risk; below 50 Aah! Give up now.

At the end of the book there's people talking in English and Latin. Here's the Latin with the English under it.
"Quam operor vos rate romanorum?"
"How would you rate the Romans, then?
"Funditus dementis, nocens quod periculosus!"
"Totally mad, bad and dangerous!"

The second emperor Tiberius got two of his guards to throw a slave off a cliff over 100,000m tall!
There are also Roman soaps which are funny. If gladiators died in the Colosseum not very bravely, slaves would come and take some blood from the gladiator who died!

John Townsend books are always full of information and fun to read, and so is this one. We are doing the Romans at school and I learned lots to tell my teacher. Thank you John for another great book. There are other books in this series too, about the Victorians and World War Two.

Tyler Peel

Gangsta Granny by David Walliams

This book is mysterious because this boy finds out that his granny is a.....Well, you can guess. You will have to read the book to find out what happens! All I am going to say is it is great and wonderful. READ THE BOOK! READ IT AND ALL OF HIS OTHER ONES.

By Madison
 

4JB's book questionnaire for authors

1. What was your favourite book as a child?

2. Which of your own books are you most proud of?

3. Is there a book that you think all children in Year Four (age 8/9) should read or have read to them?

4. Do you think children should be allowed more time to read in school?

Thank you for answering our questions. Please post your answers below.

From Class 4JB.

Diary of a Wimpy Kid: The Last Straw by Jeff Kinney

DIARY OF A WIMPY KID: THE LAST STRAW

This story is all about a boy called Greg. He is having trouble at school and at home. He hates it and his only friend at his school is Rowley. That isn't the best thing to have because firstly, if he has no friends except Rowley then everyone will think he needs help getting more, and secondly, Rowley isn't really the best either because basically he's a baby. He likes playing baby games and he's afraid of the dark, so I'm thinking that's more or less being a baby. Also, I know that he's not really real but I sort of think I feel sorry for him. I know that it's hard for him at school with everyone laughing at him because of his stupidity. Greg's mum has been quite harsh on him and no one knows why. OK, well that's all I'm saying so you'll have to get the book to learn more.

Megan Smith