Tuesday, May 24, 2011

and the winners of the "Create a character" Library Writing Competition are.....

Just to refresh your memories - the challenge was to create a character in a minumum 50 / maximum 200 words, choosing one of the following names for a character:

Lucy Jones
Dora Reichman
Fred Burke
Justin Jarvis
Felix Stand
Nabi Kong
Ellen McGonagle


Up for grabs were 3 x $50:00 and 3 x $30:00 book vouchers.

It was a hard choice with many wonderful stories and great character development, but there could only be six 'winners' and following are their entries.


Ari, aged 9 years

Ellen McGonagle is a young girl but she was a class favourite. She always got what she wanted, but if she didn't she would go mad.

But there was one thing, she had no friends but like I said if she didn't get what she wanted she will go mad. But when I said mad I mean she looks like a burnt pancake that went in a steam frier with black smoke pouring out. She also has a big mouth, short nose and grey eyes like a monster. She has small plaits sticking out of her head like stiff snakes.

Ellen knows how to be sweet to the teachers and brings them heart-shaped strawberry-filled chocolates. But when it comes to the kids at school she's mean and selfish.

When I asked to borrow her ruler she said yes and when I leaned over to get it she whacked me on the knuckles. My knuckles were red and burning so I started crying. Ellen put her arm around me and pretended to look after me. While she has one arm patting my shoulder the other one is sneakily pinching me so the teacher can't see. She got a sticker for being a good girl and I had to stand in the corner for being a cry baby!

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Josh, aged 12 years

Felix Stand's long white nose drooped as he walked through the pelting rain. The rain was sharp and stung like acid on the skin, but Felix didn't flinch, not once. His wispy grey eyes swirled like two bottomless wells. Felix's well groomed hair wilted over his eyes, but Felix didn't raise his hand to brush it away.

Felix was born an orphan. No one knew his parents, but they weren't exactly nice people for Felix Stand was found in the middle of the road. He was brought up in an orphanage but ran away when he was just 7 years of age.

Although no one properly knew him, everyone always said he was more lugubrious than anyone they had ever seen and even thought he might have a severe case of floccinaucinihilipilification.

He was a mystery, Mr. Stand. Sometimes he could be found late at night, wandering the streets, just him and his secret he was keeping.

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Morris, aged 11 years

Fred Burke is 16 years old. He is short, chubby, has a wobbly chin, dull blue eyes and curled lips. Fred had to shave his head due to lice infestation. Fred is sad and lonely because he has no friends and is constantly bullied by a gang of thugs led by a boy named Ox.

When Fred runs away from the gang, he resembles an overheated hippo. Fred's scream is squeaky and breathless when he is being chased. In conversation, he constantly repeats what he says because he is very keen to make people understand his point of view.

At school, Fred is good at English, not maths. He is interested in politics and protecting the environment and regularly uploads his opinions on Facebook. Fred uses Facebook to complain about all of the things that bother him in life - his weight, his loneliness and his misery with the world. 
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Phoebe, aged 16 years

The clearing had a tranquil air about it, with its long, wild grass dotted with lavender and vibrantly burbling creek surrounded by lush green trees. Near the creek sat a petite figure, shoulders hunched over miserably, feet dangling in the cool, fresh water.  Her jet black hair fell between her shoulder blades and her blue eyes darted around fervently, as if she was looking for something she could not find. Her full mouth crinkled into a pout as she concentrated on the currents gentle flow, her mind racing.

Dora Reichman was unwell. Not in an obvious way. On the surface she appeared to sparkle, her beauty immense. But inside a dark monster threatened to consume her every thought, taking away all that was good and convincing her, slowly, to give up. She pushed it away, but every time it crept back in she found it harder to see the light.

She lay back on the prickly grass and looked up at the turquoise sky dotted with plush, dreamy clouds. Her courage and resilience was enormous. Every time she came to her sanctuary she whispered the same thing: "Find the light in the darkest of times, and focus unwaveringly on the brightest".

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Bridget, aged 8 years

Nabi Kong is a girl who is 10 years old. Her friends Mitchie Adcar and Tess Widcer say "she's upside down more than she's the right way up".

Nabi is skinny, athletic and as bouncy as her brown curls. She has four older brothers, their names are Ed, Locky, Gabe and Flynn. Nabi has a scar on her arm, she has a tan, light brown eyes and has one silver tooth.

Her enemies are Berta, who is Tess' sister, and Emma - they are the teachers pets and are always getting Nabi, Tess and Michie in trouble.

Nabi's brothers tease her because her name's the same as the Princess of France, who is mean, but she doesn't care because in Turkish Nabi means brave.

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Hannah, aged 13 years

Fred Burke was an ordinary man. His old frame painted a picture in your mind of a small pond, not going anywhere, lying there slowly getting smaller as time went by.

He was one of those people who blended in with the crowds. His dusty brown hair, hazel eyes, and large, bulbous nose looked as though they had been sketched onto his face.

He had fought in world War II as a member of the army and had many medals presented to him. Even there he wasn't particularly well known by the other men.

During his time in the army he had made one friend. Fred was there when he died. It was night time and suddenly he heard a shot. He turned around and his eyes locked with his friends.

When Fred arrived back at Shepparton, Australia, he discovered his wife Jenny was dead. Fred was devastated. He buried her at the town cemetery and held his own private funeral.

If one looked from the gates of the graveyard one would have seen an old man, weeping silently, rocking back and forth, back and forth. Everyone thought Fred had gotten over his losses. But he never healed again.

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CONGRATULATIONS to all who entered - your stories were a delight to read. 
Stay tuned for the next competition - coming soon!!

Reviews for May from Albert Park

Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix by J. K. Rowling - reviewed by Charlie

This is the fifth book in the series and Harry is about 15 years old in this book.  A new teacher keeps putting him in detention because they do not believe Harry when he tells him that Lord Voldemort (Harry’s enemy) is back.  I am halfway through the book and I want to keep reading it and all the books in the series.

Rated 3 out of 5


The Silver Brumby by Elyne Mitchell - reviewed by Emma

This book is about horses and people who like horses will like it more, but I think anyone will enjoy it.  This book is the first in the series and is set in Australia.  It is about a horse called Thowra who is very fast because from when he was young he has been chased by hunters who want him for his silver coat.  This book follows him from birth to stallion when he has his own herd.  I liked the book because it keeps you in suspense.  I think it could contain a little more description to make you feel like you are there so I’m giving it... 4.9 out of 5


Well Done Noddy!  by Enid Blyton - reviewed by Alex

Big Ears smashes his bike in an accident and Noddy tries to earn some money to buy him a new one.  Unfortunately Noddy gets into all sorts of trouble like when someone tricks him into stealing a sailor’s vegie sack.  Some parts are not that interesting.

Rated 4 out of 5


Eragon by Christopher Paolini - reviewed by Annabelle

Eragon finds a blue stone which he thinks is a precious stone.  Instead it hatches a dragon named Saphira.  Eragon and his dragon have to run away from their home when an evil king finds out about them.  This book is the first one in the Inheritance cycle.  I like it because it has adventure with a boy and his dragon.  It is very sad near the end so that’s why I’m giving it... 4.9 out of 5.

The Dragon of Trelian by Michelle Knudsen - reviewed by Annabelle

The main characters are Calen a magician’s apprentice, Meg is a princess with a secret and a dragon named Jakl.  It is a bit of fantasy and adventure.  I’m not giving the book 5/5 because the dragon is not very smart!

Rated 4.9 out of 5



The Twits by Roald Dahl - reviewed by Kerstin

This book features two of the most horrible, smelly, ugly and despicable characters you will ever find in a kids book!  All they ever do is spend their days plotting and carrying out the nastiest tricks on each other.  They are also extremely mean to animals particularly to birds and a family of monkeys.  No sanitised ‘everybody is shiny and nice’ that you usually find in kids stories!  But they get their comeuppance in the end when the animals get their revenge! 

Definitely a 5 out of 5 and more!


Thursday, May 12, 2011

Reviews from St Kilda for May

Harry Potter and the half-blood prince by J. K. Rowling - reviewed by Ally

It was mostly exciting, but some parts were a little boring.

4 reallys




Double or die : Young Bond 3 by Charles Higson - reviewed by Charlie

James Bond goes to Eton. His parents have died in a mountain climbing accident, now he lives with his aunt. There are 4 books in this series.

Charlie says this is the best book he’s ever, ever read!

5 reallys



The strange case of Origami Yoda by Tom Angleberger - reviewed by Sam

It's about this Origami who gives advice to people. It’s weird with a pretty good plot but a bit too weird.

4.5 reallys



Grey wolves by Robert Muchamore - reviewed by Oliver

This is the series before the Cherub series, called Henderson's boys.

It’s set in the second world war. They go on a boat to France which is occupied by Germany and they are all spies and all children.

4 reallys


George's secret key to the universe by Lucy & Stephen Hawking - reviewed by Noah

It’s about a kid called George who has a pet pig. The pig was left in a box at his door and his name is Freddie. The pig runs away to the house next door which was thought to be empty. Freddie was found there. A girl was there and she gave George grape juice and he loved it. She was a famous ballerina. The girl's father is a scientist who can open a portal into space. George isn’t meant to know anything about it. George has really eco-parents but he really wants a computer. This is part of the good sub plot which finally merges onto the same page as the main plot.

5 reallys

Necropolis by Anthony Horowitz - reviewed by Max

This is part of a series called The power of five. The five have weird powers and are trying to stop evil people from stopping the world. A girl can predict the weather, can control hurricanes.

5 reallys for the whole series!



Artemis Fowl by Eoin Colfer - reviewed by Oriana

It’s about a bad guy, smart guy and very smart girl trying to catch devils. There is a bad goblin who kills people and there is a fairy called Holly.

4.9 reallys