February reviews from St Kilda

Wonderstruck by Brian Selznick (this is the sequel to "The invention of Hugo Cabret", the book the movie "Hugo" is based on – the movie was fantastic!!!) - reviewed by Lily

It’s about this boy called Ben, and he’s from 1975, and a girl called Rose from 1925, and they are both about 10. Rose is deaf so she needs to have tutoring, and Ben is deaf in one ear as well. It tells about their lives.

Rose’s mother is Lilian Mayhew, who is a famous actress at that time (the 1920’s). Ben is living with his aunt and uncle and cousin because his mum has died in a car crash. Then, one day they meet up. Rose is 60, and we find out that Rose is Ben’s grandmother.

I won’t say anymore because I don’t want to give away the whole lot. Both Hugo and this one are very visual, told in a lot of pictures, which are their own part of the story. You have to read the pictures. Amusing at times, sometimes you might want to cry.

Rated:  5 reallys

Dork diaries 2 : Tales from a not-so-popular party girl by Rachel Renee Russell - reviewed by Elsa

Nicky likes this boy at school, Brandon, and wants to go to the Halloween dance with him. Nicky’s other friends are going. 

Her sister, who is 9, is scared of fairies and she hasn’t been getting enough sleep. Nicky’s enemy is a girl called Mackenzie, and both she and Nicky are invited to the party. When she gets there, there is a chocolate fruit fountain. 

Nicky and her 2 friends meet boys going to the dance. Mackenzie’s friend plays a mean trick on Nicky and she thinks they have invited her so they could be mean, but Brandon asks her for the dance at the end.

Rated:  5 reallys

When you reach me by Rebecca Stead - reviewed by Lucy

Set in 1978, it is really amazing. It's about a girl called Miranda who has a fairly normal life. 

One day she gets a letter in her school bag but before that she is walking along with her friend and a boy came and punched her friend in the stomach. The boy ran away and the friend ran away and won’t speak to Miranda again. The letter she found in her schoolbag says “I want to help your friend” but Miranda wonders who wrote it. 

There is a homeless man who is always on her street who they call “the laughing man”. Another two more letters over the next month say the same thing.

The novel chronicles the events of her year. In the end they find out who the letters are coming from.

Rated:  5 reallys - "My mum bought this for me."

Her debut novel was called “First light”, and Lily made a comment that these titles "appeal to me, they make you want to read them!"

It was only a small group to start the year off with, and we ended with their film holiday highlights over January.

Lily and Lucy recommend "Hugo"; 


while Elsa recommends "Red dog".