Demon Hunter- iHorror

Demon Hunter is a very good book because you can pick your choices about what is going to happen next and it's like you are controling the hunter. Also, you get to pick what weapons you want to use to take down the demons. But if you pick the wrong choices then it will tell you to go back to page 1 and start again. You need to be a pro to take down the demons and succeed the mission. People should read this book because its very spooky and interesting. Once you've started to read this book, you can't stop reading it. Beware of the demons!

Tommy

Horrible Histories (may include sad ending!) by Haiden Norman

Horrible Histories is a series of illustrated history books published in the United Kingdom by Scholastic, and part of the Horrible Histories franchise. The first titles in the series, The Terrible Tudors and The Awesome Egyptians were published in June 1993. As of 2011 with more than 60 titles in the series, the books have sold over 25 million copies in over 30 languages.
                                

Sad News
 

Terry Deary announced that the series would officially come to an end in 2013. The Daily Telegraph said Terry Deary was reported to have given up the bestselling series because he had run out of tales to tell.

Terry Deary commented in an interview, "If I had it my way, I wouldn't have schools at all. They don't educate, they just keep kids off the streets. But my books educate, because they prepare kids for life...It's outrageous, why don't we start telling children the truth about history? I hope my books do just that."

I really don't want Horrible Histories to come to an end because I absolutely love reading useful information.

~Haiden Norman~

Fizzlebert Stump: The Boy Who Ran Away From The Circus (And Joined The Library) by AF Harrold

A really simple (but highly entertaining) story which is more or less summed up in the title! Fizzlebert is a young boy who is growing up in a travelling circus. Both of Fizz's parents are performers, his mother is a clown and his father is a strong man. Although he is happy, he has quite a lonely life as there are no other children in the circus. Because they are continually travelling from city to city, he never gets the chance to go to school and make friends, and is taught by the adults in the circus. When he is out exploring one day, Fizz walks into a library for the very first time. As he has never experienced one before, he is amazed by all of the incredible books that are available and tries to join and become a member. The librarian tells him that he is too young and that he needs to have his parents with him to fill in the paperwork. Fizz, bitterly disappointed, leaves the library. On his way back to the circus, he is approached by a very strange old couple. They tell him that they will happily pretend to be his grandparents so he can go back and join the library...but why?

I managed to read this book in one sitting, it's quite long but a very simple (and addictive) read. The writing is quite similar to Philiip Ardagh in style, with lots of asides for the reader, and some very funny scenes (one of my favourites is when Fizz tries to buy the books from the library as he doesn't understand how it all works). There isn't really a huge amount of plot but there doesn't need to be, as it is so engagingly written. I don't normally worry too much about the illustrations too much when I'm reading but these ones are great, full of life and energy. There is already a sequel available, Fizzlebert Stump and the Bearded Boy, which was published earlier this year and I have no doubt that the series will continue. It certainly should.

 

Highly recommended for Years 3-6. Any book which mentions how important libraries are for children is alright by me!

 

Mr Biddle.

Alex Rider series almost finished.

I finished reading the eighth book in the Alex Rider series, Crocodile Tears, a few weeks ago. However, I've been delaying reading the ninth, Scorpia Rising, as it is the last one, and I think I'm going to be quite sad when it all ends. Some of the books in the series have been better than others (Snakebite is my personal favourite, closely followed by Scorpia), but I've enjoyed them all.

Luckily, I'm halfway through a couple more amazing series, the Young Bond books by Charlie Higson and the Jimmy Coates books by Joe Craig (the seventh book has just been published). I've also just read the first Vampirates book by Justin Somper, so I've got lots to read over the summer.

My top ten eleven twelve series of children's books:

1) Alex Rider (Anthony Horowitz)

2) Young James Bond (Charlie Higson)

3) Artemis Fowl (Eoin Colfer)

4) Harry Potter (J.K. Rowling)

5) Jimmy Coates (Joe Craig)

6) Cirque du Freak (Darren Shan)

7) Hunger Games (Suzanne Collins)

8) The Chronicles of Narnia (C.S Lewis)

9) The Mystery books (Enid Blyton)

10) Percy Jackson (Rick Riordan)

11) The Enemy (Charlie Higson)

12) Gone (Michael Grant)

What have I missed? What series do I need to read next? What is your number one series?

Mr Biddle

Lost Worlds by Andrew Lane

Over the past few years, Andrew Lane has written five Young Sherlock Holmes books, based on the adventures of the character created by Sir Arthur Conan Doyle. Conan Doyle also wrote a very famous book called The Lost World, which was the inspiration for Lost Worlds (in fact, the main character is the grandson of the original hero!).
 

The book is an extremely fast paced adventure, set in a remote mountain wilderness. Calum Challenger, the main character of the book, is unable to walk due to an accident and has been in a wheelchair for the past few years. He is convinced that there are undiscovered animals and plants in the world that could help him walk again. A team of 'adventurers' are assembled, including Gecko, a free runner, Tara, a computer hacker, Natalie, a spoilt American child, and Rhino, an all-action hero. The team travel to Georgia to track down some mysterious creatures called the Almasti, a lost tribe of human-like creatures who are believed to be extinct. The team are being pursued by Nemor Incorporated, an evil company who need the Almasti for their own reasons, and who will stop at nothing to get what they want.
 

I thoroughly enjoyed reading this book. All of the characters, with the exception of Rhino, added to the story and each of them had an interesting background. I loved the idea of the main character not being part of the action (Calum can only follow what's going on via a set of cameras). The ending did feel a little rushed, although that is partly because the author is already working on a sequel. If you like books full of technology, action and excitement, you will definitely enjoy this. (After writing this review, I've just remembered that I haven't yet read the latest Young Sherlock Holmes book!)

 

Mr Biddle

Diary Of A Wimpy Kid: The Third Wheel by Jeff Kinney

My favourite book is Diary of a Wimpy Kid: The Third Wheel because it's really funny and you could learn something from it. Another reason why I like the book is because at the back there are some boxes that you have to tick. Next to the boxes are sentences that say things like 'Have you ever had a sleep over?' or 'Have you cut your own hair?'. If you have, you tick the box next to the sentence.

By Tommy B.

Molly Moon by Georgia Byng

Molly Moon is a great book. It is about a girl called Molly who she goes to see a Japanese band. Molly and her friends, Gerry and Micky, end up meeting them backstage and they all become friends. Hiroyuki, Chokichi and Toka (the members of the band) tell Molly and her friends that they can come back to Japan with them. The next day they all end up travelling there, apart from Micky who chose to stay with his parents. Molly has magic powers and can hypnotise people so she hypnotises the flight manager so they don't have to show their passports. When they got to Japan they met the band members again. Later on in the story, they all have dinner with the band's manager (who doesn't care about the band, just the money). When they had finished there dinner Molly played her mouth organ with the whole restaurant enjoyed it.

Review by Alisha Harris.