The Brilliant World of Tom Gates

The Brilliant World of Tom Gates
by Liz Pichon

I like this book because Tom is always trying to trick his sister Delia and his teachers. My favourite character is Delia. She is really cool.

My favourite part is when Mr Fullerman tells Tom off for getting ink all over his work.

My favourite drawings were the front cover and the class portraits of the class. Poor Marcus Meldrew put I'm and idiot or was it Tom?...

I really enjoyed it. I love the little pictures of the eye's when he writes down Mrs Worthington, who has a moustache (it's tricky not to stare). It is also cool when he draws a moustache.

Comic like books I don't really read but this one was really funny and full of things that you just wouldn't do.

Writing like this is really smart in books like this. BIG AND Wide.

Liz Pichon is a really good author. Sometimes chapter books can be boring but comic chapter books are different.

The writing is different than normal Times New Roman (boring- I'm so tired) but the types of writing that Liz does is exciting and enjoyable.

I really do think this book is exciting to read and fabulous laughter.


review by Rebecca
age 10

6/12/2011

I Shall Wear Midnight

I Shall Wear Midnight
by Terry Pratchett

Tiffany Aching never really wanted to be a witch, but had witchood thrust upon her when she was scouted by the 'witch finder' Miss Tick. It sort of ran in the family, the being a witch that is, although no one spoke of it, as it wasn't the done thing on the Chalk where they live.

Now, seven years later (and three books later), Tiffany is truly a witch and practising openly much to the consternation of many of the villagers, who don't want to think about it too closely, even though Tiffany is the first person they turn to if they need help of any kind.

Tiffany and her wee (when I say wee I mean it, they are little folk or fairy folk as they are sometimes known) tribe of faithful Scottish warriors - the Nac Mac Feegles have there work cut out for them this time around. As rumour, suspicion and prejudice swirl around the Chalk after the Baron dies while being tended to by Tiffany.

As if that isn't enough she is also pursued by the mythical Cunning Man a demonic creature filled with hatred and has to cope with the suspicions of her ex-beau Roland, the Baron's Son and his silly wife-to-be Letitia.

It is hard enough being a teenager, but being a witch too is a real trial!


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If you want to read Tiffany's story from the beginning, start with Wee Free Men, the story in which nine year old Tiffany is initiated into the witchood by Miss Tick when the Queen of the Elves makes an attempt to enter the Discworld, by stealing children and infesting dreams. Tiffany's baby brother is one of the stolen children and with the help of the 'Wee Free Men' - The Nac Mac Feegles, she attempts to rescue him and save the Discworld.

In book two, A Hat Full of Sky, Tiffany is preparing to leave home and take up witchcraft properly. Tiffany goes to live with Miss Level to learn herb lore from her, but while she is with her a strange presence called 'the Hiver' inhabits Tiffany, making her do all sorts of things she wouldn't do and abusing her new powers. The Nac Mac Feegles and Mistress Weatherwax, a legendary witch arrives in the nick of time to help.

In the third story, Wintersmith, Tiffany is continuing her training with a witch called Miss Treason. When Miss Treason takes Tiffany to witness the Dark Morris - a morris dance which is performed wearing black clothes and octiron bells and is danced in the winter. Tiffany joins the dance and finds herself face to face with the Wintersmith. The Wintersmith is very taken with Tiffany and starts to give her gifts and powers which get her into all sorts of trouble, but as ever the Nac Mac Feegles and Mistress Weatherwax are there to help.

Enjoy!

Doubting Thomas

Doubting Thomas
by Morris Gleitzman


Thomas is mortified, it just isn't funny at all! It shouldn't happen to a decent human being!

Morris has itchy nipples!

Very, very itchy nipples!

It is a secret that Thomas is keen to keep to himself, but soon Thomas realises that his nipples have a special talent, they can tell when people are lying. Thomas secret leads him to adventure with his friends in Paris.

This is such a funny book! I urge you to pick it up sometime soon.

Eating Things on Sticks

Eating Things on Sticks
by Anne Fine

Such a great title for a book, don't you think? It intrigued me as soon as I read it. Of course, I don't plan to reveal what those things on sticks are, that would just spoil the fun, but I will tell you a little about the story.

This is the latest offering from past Children's Laureate, Anne Fine and I do enjoy an Anne Fine book, although there have been one or two over the years that I haven't been so keen on. I suppose it is a case of "you can't please all of the people, all of the time!". Saying that, most of them are pretty darn good and Eating Things on Sticks is one of the gems.

On another note, Eating Things on Sticks has been shortlisted for the Roald Dahl Funny Prize 2009 in the 7-14 age category. The £2,500 prize was founded in 2008 by Michael Rosen as part of his Children’s Laureateship to honour those books that make children laugh. The winner will be announced on 10th November.

Anyway, back to the story!

Eating Things on Sticks is the story of a boy named Harry. To call Harry accident prone, would be an understatement! The story opens and Harry has just burned down the family kitchen. Harry is left feeling a bit astonished that it happened and woebegone at the outcome. Harry's mum wants to send Harry away to live with his Aunt, while the kitchen is rebuilt. The last thing Harry wants to do is live with his Aunt Susan. Aunt Susan takes him on long nature walks and that is bad enough, but spending any time with his lisping, frilly frock wearing cousin Titania, just doesn't bear thinking about at all.

Harry manages to persuade his mum to let him stay with his Uncle Tristram. Next, Uncle Tristram has to be persuaded, but a little blackmailing later and Harry is on his way to a remote British Island to spend the summer with Uncle Tristram and his dotty girlfriend Morning Glory.

Did I mention Harry is accident prone? Yes? Well, as you can imagine, Harry stumbles from one disaster to another whilst on the island.

Angels, men with funny beards, helicopters and eating funny things on sticks.

A must read! Very funny.

Hate That Cat

Hate That Cat
by Sharon Creech

Well, I love cats, but I didn't let it put me off picking up this book. I always eagerly await any new offering by Sharon Creech, so I was very happy to see this new title.

Hate that Cat picks up the story of a boy called Jack and his ventures into poetry. The story began in Love That Dog, with a very reluctant young boy and a very keen teacher, who is eager to share the joy of poetry with her class. Both books are written in rhyme, which is quite refreshing and both follow the story of Jack through his own poems. At the start of Love That Dog, we learn that Jack hates poetry, or thinks he does, his first poems are very short and disgruntled, but as we move through the book, we can see an interest in poetry developing and we learn more about his family and his beloved dog.

Hate That Cat picks up the story with a new school year and Jack moving into a new class. Jack is very relieved to see teacher has moved classes with him, "You understand my brain," Jack says to Miss Stretchberry. And so the new year continues though Jack's poems, but this time Jack is focused on a neighbourhood cat he really dislikes, no lets make that hate, well to begin with anyway.

These are quick reads that are well worth picking up.

And on a final note, I cannot end a post on cats without a reference to Simon's cats. So here is an old favourite for you to enjoy.

Dumb Creatures

Dumb Creatures
by Jeanne Willis

This is a short book, but a memorable one. The main character is eleven year old Tom. Tom can hear, but he can't speak. He has a lot to say about everything, but the only way he can communicate is by sign language. It is all very frustrating! He can have a conversation with his teacher, but his classmates don't make the effort to learn sign language and even more infuriating, they talk to Tom as if he is stupid. Tom isn't stupid, in fact he is very smart.

Tom loves visiting the zoo. It is the one place he feels really content. Tom can even tell how the animals are feeling by watching their body language. One day Tom is at the gorilla enclosure with his mother, when the female gorilla Zanzi points at Tom's mother who is pregnant and signs to Tom, "Baby". Tom's mother is leaning against the enclosure resting, with her eyes closed, so she doesn't see, but Tom does. He wonders if he has imagined the whole thing, but then Zanzi points to her own stomach and signs "baby here too".

Tom keeps Zanzi's secret. She doesn't want anyone to know, not even the zoo keeper, but when Zanzi's baby goes missing Tom decides it is time to speak out.

Malice

Malice
by Chris Wooding

I am probably not the first person lured into picking this book up because of the fabulous 3-D cover, but hey, if it means that people read this dark tale, then it can only be a good thing. The format is quite unusual too, as it is part novel and part graphic novel.

Be ready for chills up your spine as you read this book!

Malice is the name of an underground comic. Most think it is an urban myth. Some children have heard of it, but few have actually seen it.

Malice is the world portrayed in this comic book. A world full of menace and horror where children fight for their lives.

Kady and Seth's friend, Luke disappears after he reads the comic book and all that is left in the book are blank pages. Something odd is going on and Kady and Seth are determined to find out the truth. They begin to suspect that children are being lured into Malice....

This novel is great from beginning to end. The characters are all well grounded in reality, which only serves to make the fantasy world more chilling and it ends on a real cliff-hanger which leaves you desperate for more. Roll on the next book which is to be called Havoc and should be out sometime next year.

Hatchet

Hatchet
by Gary Paulsen

Thirteen year old Brian Robeson is flying in a bush plane over the Canadian wilderness on his way to spend the summer with his dad. He is alone in the plane with the pilot, when the pilot has a heart attack. Brian has no choice, he has to take over control of the plane and try to land it. He crash-lands the plane into a lake. He is alive, but he is alone. He has nothing but the clothes he is wearing and a small hatchet, which was a parting gift from his mother. Brian needs shelter and he needs food. Can a city boy survive in the wilderness? Will he be rescued?

Each time I read this novel, I find it as thrilling as the first time I was lucky enough to pick it up. Hatchet is an exciting, roller coaster ride of a book. Once you pick it up, it is impossible to put down. Woe betide anyone who tries to gain your attention whilst you are reading this novel!

Johnny And The Dead

Johnny and the Dead
by Terry Pratchett

Johnny Maxwell is a pretty average 12 year old boy. He spends his time playing computer games and hanging out with his mates - Big Mac, Wobbler & Yo-Less. He doesn't think anything remarkable will ever happen to him. That is, until....

The day he walks through the cemetery on the way home from school. The day he decides to stop and have a look around. The day that changes the rest of his life!

It seemed like such a good idea at the time, to run up to one of the tombs and knock on the door. He really didn't expect anyone to answer, but they did! The ghost of Alderman Thomas Bowler to be precise.

Johnny turned and ran like the clappers.

But then he stopped and thought "what if I don't go back, what if I never know the truth?" So Johnny turns back and knocks on the tomb again.

This meeting is the start of a friendship between Johnny and the dead. Only Johnny can see and hear them, so when the council decides to sell the cemetery for 5p to a company who want to knock it down, the dead decide that Johnny is just the boy to stop them.

This is the second in a trio of books about Johnny Maxwell.

1 Only You Can Save Mankind

Johnny is playing his new computer game. He is about to blast the alien fleet to smithereens when a message appears on screen that says "We surrender!".

What happens when a computer game turns into real life? Johnny is about to find out!

2 Johnny and the Dead

3 Johnny & The Bomb

Johnny and his friends travel back to World War II in a wonky shopping trolley that belongs to Mrs Tachyon, the local bag lady.

It could only happen to Johnny Maxwell!


This is a great set of books to read. Pratchett at his best. Funny, poignant and unforgettable! The one I always go back and read again is Johnny and the Dead, although I really enjoyed Only You Can Save Mankind. Johnny and the Bomb is my least favourite, but still a good book and worth a read.

Tins

Tins
by Alex Shearer


Fergal is a bit of a loner and considered to be swotty by everyone he knows. Actually, it quite annoys him. He doesn't want to be labelled. He wants to be different. So, no boring hobbies for him, no! No collecting stamps or spotting trains. Fergal collects tins!

What kind of hobby is that, you say? Well, Fergal collects those sad lonely tins with no labels that sit abandoned in bargain bins at the supermarkets. The mystery of them is quite exciting. Anything could be inside!

His project is all going quite well and Fergal has nearly 100 tins, all weighed, measured and dated. But Fergal's parents are going insane. All of books are on the windowsill and all his tins are on the book shelf, where his books should be. They demand that some of his tins must be opened, if he wants to buy more.

And then, he makes a gruesome discovery! The contents in this tin don't slosh about inside. They go thunk, thunk thunk! No baked beans in this tin then, but a finger, yes, a human finger! Gross!

What will Fergal find next?

If you are looking for a good sit-on-the-edge-of-your-seat book, then this is it! It's brilliant!

Vesuvius Poovius

Versuvius Poovius
written by Kes Gray
illustrated by Chris Mould


There is a problem in Ancient Rome, a very whiffy problem.

IT WAS ANOTHER PONGY DAY IN ANCIENT ROME...

Soldiers gasped on their way to war. Children fainted on their way to school. Everyone hurried on, as fast as they could, trying to get away from the whiff. The whiff of the unmentionable.

The unmentionable is pooh. The Emperor has declared this word a FORBIDDENUS WORDUS!

The good people of Rome still have the problem, they just can't mention it. Instead they have to be creative, using phrases such as "sugar lumps" and "chocolate custard".

Something has to be done about the situation and along comes our hero and inventor Vesuvius Poovius. He is just the man for the job! Vesuvius has a eureka moment and starts work on an,ahem, let's say a Jam Tart Disposal System.

This is a picture book for older readers, many an adult has laughed out loud whilst reading it! Lots of amusing illustrations from the talented Chris Mould and a very funny story.