May Reviews from St Kilda

The Magician: The secrets of the immortal Nicholas Flamel by Michael Scott, Review by Jaxon

This is the second book in the series. So far what's happened is that Josh and Sophie have been awakened. This basically means that Sophie and Josh are "the twins of legend." Apparently they can combine their powers. Right now Sophie who has a silver aura, has been trained in air; the witch of Endor gave her all her memories so that Sophie knows everything, Saint-Germain taught her fire. He gave her a tattoo and when she presses her thumb on it, she can easily access her fire magic. Josh hasn't been trained in any elemental magic. The God of war has been cursed and his aura turned to stone by the witch of Endor. Even if he throws the stone off it will just regrow. Nicholas Flamel, the so-called immortal alchemist, is "protecting" them. But Sophie and Josh don't even really trust him.

Rated: 4.5/5 Reallys "A really good book. It's one of those cliff-hanger books, like you're in the room about to discover something and then the perspective suddenly changes, sometimes it's really anti-climactic. Hearing about the prophecy all the time is a bit repetitive for the reader."

Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix by J. K. Rowling, Review by Zoe

I reckon it's a good book, but there's a bit too much talking in some parts. It's probably my least favourite book out of the series. When it gets going it keeps on building up until the last moment. At the moment I'm up to the part where everyone thinks that Harry is a liar. Currently he's in detention with Dolores Umbridge. Umbridge works for the Ministry of Magic. None of the students think her teaching methods are appropriate, for example she teaches Defense Against the Dark Arts but doesn't let them use their wands!

Rated: 4/5 Reallys "I like that it's very descriptive. Sometimes in the tense moments you really feel for the character."

Tilly and the Wild Goats by Joan Lingard, Review by Zara

It's about this girl called Tilly. Tilly thinks this woman who is their landlady wants to take their house because her nephew is coming to Australia and needs somewhere to live. So Tilly went to the next door neighbour William and they went out to hunt for houses. They go to a village through a shortcut. They find a really creepy house and in the attic, there's a ghost. The manager of the house never goes outside. Some people think he's 19 years old and some people think he's 90 years old and some people think he's the ghost!

Rated: 4/5 Reallys "I didn't really like the start with the billy goat"

The Angel Experiment: Maximum Ride by James Patterson, Review by Cailey

It's about these people who have wings that they try to hide from people. They have to go to the mountains so they can test them. The oldest person in the group, Max acts like a mum, because they have no mum or dad between them. When she was little they put a microchip in her arm. She's running away from people. She meets this little girl who was also being chased. She asks her to go home with her and she meets her mum. Her mum is a vet and she takes Max for an X-ray because her wing is broken. The others split up to hunt the monsters because they took the littlest girl in the group, Angel. The monsters work for the adults from the lab. Max comes up with a plan to bomb the lab... 

Rated: 5/5 Reallys "I like how you never know what is going to happen next"

The Silver Brumby by Elyne Mitchell, review by Ava

I really like this book because it was action packed the whole time and was really telling you the details. It actually felt like you were there experiencing the same things that Sarah was facing against. You could feel the character's emotions while reading it. It was like when you're reading a fairy tale where they invite you into the book. It felt magical. I really enjoyed the whole series, they are great books for bedtime. 

 Rated: 5/5 Reallys "An action packed book, it actually feels like you're there."

April Reviews from Albert Park

Wed Wabbit by Lissa Evans reviewed by Daisy.

11 year old Fidge has a little sister named Minnie who has a red rabbit (Minnie can't say red rabbit that is why the title is 'wed wabbit'). The rabbit is evil and when he gets thrown down the stairs he comes to life. Fidge has to save her little sister from the rabbit otherwise she will die.

5/5 - I really liked it. It's funny







A Guide to British Birds reviewed by Phoebe.

It has all the different birds that live in Britain. It's about how they live. It's my parents book but I like to read books about animals.

6/5 - I really like animals ... I really like birds.






 Turtle Trackers by Samantha Wheeler reviewed by Flynn.

The main character is named Isaac. His mum owns a caravan park on the Queensland coast and he has to help. Isaac wants to play with his friends and not just work at the caravan park. He goes on a turtle tracking tour and wants to save a nest of turtles. Now he has to figure out how to juggle friends, turtles and work. It all gets tricky.

5/5 - It's interesting but also a little bit funny. It's a good book!





Shadow by Michael Morpugo reviewed by Holly.

The story is about a boy named Aman who lives with his grandmother and mum. His father has been killed because they are from Afghanistan. His grandma and mum fight about money because his mum wants his grandma to sell jewelry as they are poor. One day Aman steals food from the store but his mother takes the blame and goes to jail. She is released but his grandmother is unwell and in a lot of pain.

Aman befriends a dog but his mum and grandma think it is a pest. He lets the dog in when they are sleeping. The police come and wreck their home (which is a cave) and hit his grandma on the head and she dies.

Aman and his mum take jewellery and money that his grandma had hidden. They escape on a donkey. I think they end up in England with the dog (I haven't finished the book yet).

4/5 - I don't like how they treat the dog ... but I was told that at the end of the book they end up loving the dog.


Our Race for Reconciliation by Anita Heiss reviewed by Quincy.

This book is about Mel. She has a twin brother who likes to play cricket and Mel likes running. Mel and her family are Aboriginal. The year is 2000 and the Olympics are on in Sydney. Her hero Cathy Freeman is going to race in the Olympics, she is also coming to visit Mel's school.
They live in Sydney and go to the Sydney Harbour Bridge to march on Sorry Day. Mel's grandmother was taken away from her family when she was little.

4.9/5 - I really liked it and I wanted it to be longer so I could get into it more.






Captain Underpants and the Attack of the Talking Toilets by Dav Pilkey reviewed by Lily.

George and Harold are walking to school when they see a poster for the Invention Convention. The last time they competed they glued people to their seats so they don't think they will be able to enter the competition again. First prize is being a principal for a day. While in detention Harold and George write a comic about a talking toilets. Their comic accidentally comes to life. They win and become principal for the day. They have recess all day and free fairy floss and hot dogs.

Infinity/5 - The book is really funny and really long. But I want it to go for longer and longer!