Albert Park club's October reviews...

Emil's clever pig by Astrid Lindgren - reviewed by Caitlin

Emil has a pig that is very clever and can learn tricks. Emil also makes little wooden men when he is sent to a shed when he is naughty. One of the naughty things he does is lock his dad accidentally in a hut. I really liked this book.

Rated:  5/5


The fear files - Zac Power : the special files, bk. 1 by H. I. Larry - reviewed by Alex W.

Zac needs to go to a strange, horror-type house. The person in the house (Big) does fake tricks. He also traps Zac. Zac manages to escape from Big in a dragonfly vehicle.

Rated:  5/5 - "I like action, that's why I like Star Wars and Harry Potter too!"

AP Lightning Readers pointed out that Zac Power was written to try and get boys interested in reading.

Jade said that apparently J.K. Rowling only used her initials and kept her identity a secret so that boys would not be put off. She wanted to get boys to read her book, too!

The magic begins (Charm Hall series) by Tabitha Black - reviewed by Harriet

This is the first book in the series. Page has to go to boarding school all year except for the holidays. Page is a new girl at school but makes friends with Shannon who is a non-stop talker - she goes on and on. A cat turns up in their dormitory and they decide to keep it even though no pets are allowed at Charm Hall.

Rated: 4/5 - "It's OK, I like it but it's not my favourite book. I do like it but it's a bit boring with not much action in it."

The curse of the cheese pyramid by Geronimo Stilton - reviewed by Alex G.

Geronimo's grandfather is loud and bossy and likes things 'cheap', for example he likes replacing expensive things with plastic ones. Geronimo goes to Egypt on a cheap air ticket and airline (his grandfather gives him), so he can interview a famous archaeologist. The archaeologist spits when he talks and keeps camel poo in his laboratory. They go to see a giant pyramid but get lost and the archaeologist goes into a coma ... but he is the only one who knows how to get out.

Rated: 4/5 - "Good, but not my favourite book." Recommended for 7-8 year olds.

Artemis Fowl by Eoin Colfer - reviewed by Annabelle

12 year old Artemis is one of the 'Fowls' who were very rich and also comes from a long line of criminals. He also has a butler who is also the bodyguard/cook. Artemis' mother has gone mad because she has lost her husband. Artemis is evil and he captures Holly Short - a fairy - so he can get to the fairy gold and make his family rich again. He gets the gold, which halves when he makes a wish. Fairies can be bad too, and they get back at Artemis.

Rated:  5/5 - "I like the way his personality changes from bad to good."

Halt's peril - Ranger's apprentice, bk. 9 by John Flanagan - reviewed by Jade

There is a religious cult that are trying to takeover Hibernia. They burn, terrorise and kill as the kings of Hibernia are weak. Halt, Horace and Will, who are the Ranger's apprentice, are attacked by the Genovesan Assassins but succeed in killing them. Halt is shot by a poisoned crossbow and the healers don't know how to cure him.

Rated: 9/5!!!! - "I don't know why I like it, I just do!"

October reviews from the St Kilda Club...

Death bringer (Skulduggery Pleasant, bk. 6) by Derek Landy - reviewed by Charlie

Skulduggery Pleasant has to stop the death bringer somehow. You will need to read the others in the series first. If he doesn’t stop the death bringer they will open the passage and bad stuff will happen.

Rated:  5 reallys

Clarice Bean : don't look now by Lauren Child - reviewed by Ally

A new kid comes to school and Clarice Bean thinks she's mean and she is playing with all the bullies. But the bullies are bullying her. The new girl invites Clarice Bean to a party but Clarice doesn’t come because she thinks she plays with the mean kids. The new girl, Clem, stops talking to Clarice Bean. In the end they find out they both like ‘Ruby Redford’ - a character in a children’s book series. Clem leaves because her mum’s a famous writer and gets a job in America. Clarice Bean is very sad.

Rated:  4.9 reallys

Nation by Terry Pratchett - reviewed by Oriana

A boy called Mau lives on an island called Nation but he has to go to Boy Island. While he is coming back from Boy Island to Nation there is a humungous wave and he nearly dies. There is a shipwreck, there is also a parrot and a girl and the boy and more! They end up being the only ones alive on the island.

Rated:  3.99 reallys

Harry Potter and the Philosopher's stone by J. K. Rowling - reviewed by Buddy

It’s about a mean aunty and uncle and a mean son and a boy called Harry Potter. Harry Potter finds out he’s a wizard but they don’t want him to go to wizard school. He gets taken to Hogwarts the school by Hagrid. He has to find the Philosopher's Stone.

Rated:  4.5 reallys

The truth about Verity Sparks by Susan Green - reviewed by Lily

Verity Sparks is a girl in 1878 who works for someone who makes hats and who pretends to be French. She is making a hat that’s full of feathers and it’s got a stuffed bird on the rim. Verity has to take it to Lady Throttle. Her husband Sir Bertram Throttle is allergic to feathers so she has to take the hat back. While she’s at Lady Throttle’s home she is shown the Throttle diamond. Sir Throttle’s grandfather had stolen it from India. Later Verity comes back with other hats. Lady Throttle accuses her of taking the Throttle diamond and there is a member there of the Confidential Enquiry Agency.

Rated:  5 reallys

Don't pat the wombat! by Elizabeth Honey - reviewed by Noah

I've met the author and the book is signed. It’s about a dude who has a really crap teacher and really annoying class mates and they go on camp and he brings lollies when he was not meant to. Camp is like a cowboy training type of camp in the hills of Victoria. It’s a nature place where they look after injured animals. There’s a wombat who thinks it’s a dog. It’s mum was run over by a car. There is another wombat who is much older called ‘Bulldozer’ and he is why they say ‘don’t pat the wombat’ because he is still a wild animal and he is about to be put back into nature.

Rated:  5 reallys

A reader's review

How exciting - our first 'emailed in' review from a 'cyber' lightning reader!

Diary of a Wimpy Kid by Jeff Kinney - reviewed by Leon

Greg is friends with Rowley, but an incident broke out and Rowley's popularity rises. Their friendship starts to break and Greg finds himself battling for popularity. Greg claims to have the "cheese touch" to save Rowley.

For ages 7-11 - rated 4/5 "because I have read it four times!"

Thanks Leon - we hope to receive more reviews from you!