September reviews from the Albert Park club...

Dread Mountain by Emily Rodda - reviewed by Alex G.

This is the 5th book in the Deltora Quest series. The three children, Lief, Jasmine and Barda, have to climb Dread Mountain and find the fifth gem. On the way they drink from a dreaming spring, are trapped by Dread gnomes and guards (monsters) try to kill them. It is adventurous, exciting and has lots of fantasy. I'm giving it...

Rated:  5 - "I think 7-12 year olds will like it!"

Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows by J. K. Rowling - reviewed by Caitlin

This is the final book in the Harry Potter series. It is mainly about 3 wizards and Harry Potter trying to find and destroy the evil Lord Voldemort. There are magic spells and it is very interesting. I love the Harry Potter series a lot.

Rated:  5

Clarice Bean spells trouble by Lauren Child - reviewed by Jo

Clarice is a girl who is always getting into trouble and does not get along with her teacher. She is trying to practice her spelling for a spelling bee and trying to get into the school play. It is a fun story. This book can be funny at times, but it's not my favourite book.

Rated:  4

The saddle club by Bonnie Bryant - reviewed by Emma

This book has two stories in it - 'Horse play' and 'Horse show'.

In 'Horse play' Stevie, Carol and Lisa think their stable is going to be taken over by their worst enemy's father. They organise a riding display to make money to buy the stable.

In 'Horse show' the girls get to go to a famous U.S. horse show in New York. They help a famous actor learn to ride a horse for his upcoming movie.

Rated:  4.7 - "I love them! I love horses, the books are exciting and the girls get to solve problems!" - suitable for 7-12 year olds.

Playschool (bk. 2 of The Floods series) by Colin Thompson - reviewed by Annabelle

It's about the Floods when they are at school. They have to travel halfway around the world to go to a school called Quicklime College for wizards and witches. It's funny and interesting because there are nine members of the family who are either wizards or witches.

"I'm giving it 4.9999 - almost a 5 but not quite - because it is not the best book in the world."

James and the Giant Peach by Roald Dahl - reviewed by Alex W.

James is an orphan - his parents were killed by a giant rhinoceros when they were shopping in London. After this James has to go and live with his two mean aunties. They make him do all the chores and are always mean to him. James gets some magic but drops it near the peach tree, and the peach on the tree grows and grows until it is huge. This is when James' adventure starts....

Rated:  5 - "I love Roald Dahl - he is really good and funny."


Ruins of Gorlan (Rangers Apprentice series) by John Flanagan - reviewed by Jade
Will is an orphan who has been raised in a castle. He has to choose a 'craft' and become an apprentice. He wants to be a knight but doesn't make it. Instead he is apprenticed to Halt who is a Ranger and is able to move around without being seen and use special weapons. He has to prepare for war and prevent the king from being killed. I like it because it is adventurous!

Rated:  4 - "because there aren't many funny bits!"

The friendship matchmaker by Randa Abdel-Fattah - reviewed by Kerstin

Laura Zany is the self-appointed friendship matchmaker at her school. She spends all her time helping others to find, make and keep friends and resolve disputes. But Laura avoids making friends herself (we find out why later in the book). When a new girl, Emily Wong, starts school and refuses her help, they decide to 'compete' to see who can find a friend for the most difficult kids in the school. It is a funny book and I enjoyed it. It deals with issues such as bullying and difference in the school yard in a humurous way.

Rated:  5 - "I think Grades 4-6 will like this book."

September reviews from the St Kilda club...

The mysterious Benedict Society by Trenton Lee Stewart - reviewed by Sam

Really popular. This is the first of 3 books, I've read the other two already. I really like it. It has different descriptions and different plots. It includes telepathic mind control.  Good book!

Rated:  4 reallys



Unreal! by Paul Jennings - reviewed by Charlie

It's a series of eight short stories. Very, very good. I liked it. It is very ironic. My favourite story is the smart ice-cream story. It is so good it is 'unmentionable'!

Rated:  5 reallys

 Reckless by Cornelia Funke - reviewed by Georgia

It's about a boy called Jacob. Through a mirror you can go into a different world where stone creatures dwell, known as 'goyles'. Jacob's quest is to stop his brother turning into one.

Rated:  4.6 reallys - "quite good".


Oriana listed 3 books she's reading:

A pocketful of eyes by Lili Wilkinson

Rated:  4.99 reallys

Charlie and the great glass elevator by Roald Dahl

Rated:   5 reallys

Calvin and Hobbs - the comic

Rated:  5 reallys

In too deep (bk. 6 of The 39 Clues series) by June Watson - reviewed by Ally

It's kind of about these 2 kids Dan and Amy who can't trust anyone, even their own 'au pair'. How they find clues, but someone that was trying to help them got killed so you can't trust anyone. This is what the series is about - trying to find the 39 clues without trusting anyone!

Rated:  5 reallys


Inkheart by Cornelia Funke - reviewed by Oliver

I just started reading this for school. It's the first of 3 books. It's about this man called Mo and his daughter Meggie. There is an evil man called Capricorn and he is read out of the book by Mo. Capricorn has taken Meggie and Mo.

Rated:  5 reallys

Wings by Aprilynne Pike - reviewed by Edie


It's about this girl in high school who is going into 3rd year. Before that she's been home-schooled. She has a bump on her back which she has to keep a secret and they turn into wings. She used to live right by the redwood.



Hurricane gold (Young Bond series) by Charlie Higson - reviewed by Noah

I read this because Charlie spoke so highly of it! We bought it for $2! It's about James, who goes to Mexico with his aunty because his parents had died. A pick-pocket breaks into his aunty's day pack - he has a knife. James sees him and chases him but Angel Corona threatens to kill him so James manages to get the knife out of his hand and get the bag back.

Rated:  5 reallys

Max recommends POD by Stephen Wallenfels

It's time to get creative again!

This competition is now over - stay tuned for the winning stories!


Yes, we've got a new writing competition for you, with 3 x $50 and 3 x $30 book vouchers to be won!

All you need to do is use the following sentence for the opening of your story

"It was Spring, and time to move .................."

Stories are to be a MAXIMUM of 1,500 words, and entries close October 21 at 5 p.m.

As usual there are 3 categories:

Category 1:   7-9 years    --    Category 2:   10-11 years    --    Category 3:    12-13 years 

So put on those thinking caps, get writing and forward your entry with your name, phone number and date of birth to library@portphillip.vic.gov.au - or drop it into your nearest library branch.

Winners will be notified on Wednesday 9 November and we will publish the winning entries on our website and Lightning Readers Blog. Enquiries to Linda Todd, 9209-6526.