Magnus Chase and the Sword of Summer, Rick Riordan

Magnus Chase and the Sword of Summer is the first book I've read by Rick Riordan, although I must admit to watching the 2 movies based on the Percy Jackson books. 

Magnus Chase has been living on the streets of Boston for the last 2 years since his mother was killed. On this his 16th birthday he learns who his father is, dies and becomes an accidental hero who only succeeds with the help of his friends! Magnus has special abilities and that means people want to use him to get what they want. However, Magnus has a steady heart and is not easily swayed. So into the fray he and his friends leap - their adventuring leads them to battle with giants and dwarves, wolves and valkalyries.

I really enjoyed this and think that Magnus is a likeable hero, I'm looking forward to the next book.

This is a chunky book with 595 pages for Magnus and then the bonus of a short Percy Jackson story.

Rating is 8/10

By Mrs Silver-Hessey

The Adjusters, Andrew Taylor

Henry Ward has to move to Newton, because his mum got a new job there at the Malcorp Complex. In Newton all the kids are nice, amazing athletes, and really smart. The town cop is a scary dude though. Henry starts to notice that things are a little 'odd', especially when a boy nearly drowns at the pool and none of the other kids do anything to help. In fact they hardly seem to notice the incident at all! Henry meets a couple of other teenagers and they work together to figure out what is going on in this town where the owner of Malcorp seems to rule, And the teenagers are so well 'adjusted'.

This book is an ebook available on our Wheelers ebook platform.

By Mrs Silver-Hessey

Are you there God? It's me Margaret. - Judy Blume

This is a classic book. It is a book I would recommend to all girls to read so they can feel like they are not the only person who has stuff happening to them that no one else understands. In the story Margaret has to move away from the life she loves in New York City and her Grandmother to life in the suburbs in New Jersey. She is about to turn 12 and is concerned with what is happening to her body, making new friends in this new place, boys!, and religion as her parents are Jewish and Christian by upbringing but no longer practise any religion. Judy writes sensitively about all those subjects while injecting humour and being realistic.

Rating

8/10

Mrs Silver-Hessey

Other books by this author:

Otherwise known as Sheila the great, the Fudge series.

The Unwanteds series - No: 5 -The Island of Shipwrecks, Lisa McMann

I have read all five of the books in this series and am looking forward to the next, (maybe the last?). The story is based around the people of the Island of Quill, where when you turn 12 you are assessed and it is decided whether you are a Wanted, a Necessary or you are an Unwanted. The Wanted go for further schooling at the Quill University, Necessaries train for those necessary jobs that need to be done and the Unwanteds are killed or are they? To be designated as Unwanted you have shown emotions and been seen to be creative. Not desirable characteristics on Quill. Book One tells of what happens to Alex and his twin brother Aaron, when it is found out what really happens to the Unwanteds. The other books continue to follow them as they grow up and learn about the other islands around them. There is magic and magical creatures, friends are made and lost, relationships develop, adventures occur.

Rating

9/10

Mrs Silver-Hessey

The Extraordinary Mr Qwerty, Karla Strambini

This is the book that I read to the Years 4/5's this week.Mr Qwerty is an extraordinary character, with fantastical ideas. This book combines minimal text with mainly black and white illustrations, the text includes a few idioms and is well-paced. The illustrations are extraordinary they are made to be pored over, they add an extra layer of meaning to the story. The children really enjoyed the story, and got the idea that imagination and believing in yourself is vital as well as the point that no-one knows what is going on in anyone else's mind. A wonderful book.
Rating 8/10

Mrs Silver-Hessey

The Executioner's Daughter, Jane Hardstaff

This book is historical fiction with fantasy intertwined as superstition. The time and place is Tudor England, with Anne Boleyn making an appearance. Moss is the 12 year old daughter of the executioner in the Tower of London, she has the job of catching the heads in a basket, a job she detests. Moss wants out of the job and the Tower, but her father tells her she cannot leave. Then she learns that her father has lied to her. Her search for the truth and freedom begins when she finds a tunnel that leads to the banks of the river Thames. As she travels along the Thames she meets some very interesting characters and finds out about what is important about her past and makes decisions about her future. This is a great finding oneself/coming of age story with a great look into what it was like for people in the time of the tudors.
Rating 6.5/10

Mrs Silver-Hessey

Bedtime is Cancelled, Cece Meng

'Bedtime is Cancelled' is the picture book that I read to the junior classes this week. It was very well received with lots of positive comments. The story follows the exploits of a brother and sister as they write a note to their parents to cancel bedtime, the wind carries off the note and the message is published and believed by people all over the world, the consequences of having no bedtime are funny as depicted by both the ideas in the text and the illustrations. The power of the press and of the impact social media can have are perhaps a little over the heads of the children but as an adult I appreciate the point made. Of course the new note penned on the last page gets all the children laughing. 

Excellent as a read-a-loud. Rating 7/10.

Mrs Silver-Hessey