Wolf Man by Susan Gates

A fast-paced mystery adventure story with a spooky supernatural twist.

This book is very very good! S.H. (S1) *****

Heroes of Olympus: The Lost Hero by Rick Riordan

When Jason, Piper and Leo crash land at Camp Half-Blood, they have no idea what to expect. Apparently this is the only safe place for children of the Greek Gods – despite the monsters roaming the woods and demigods practising archery with flaming arrows and explosives. But rumours of a terrible curse – and a missing hero – are flying around camp. It seems Jason, Piper and Leo are the chosen ones to embark on a terrifying new quest, which they must complete by the winter solstice. In just four days time. Can the trio succeed on this deadly mission – and what must they sacrifice in order to survive?

Thrilling. Informative. Clever and outstandingly witty. Literally impossible to put down. A great read and a fantastic start to the new series. Riordan continues to inspire and amaze me with his stunning set of stories. I simply cannot wait till fall 2011 for book 2! R.G. (S3) *****

The Enemy by Charlie Higson

When the sickness came, every parent, policeman, politician, every adult, fell ill. The lucky ones died. The others are crazed, confused and hungry. Only children under 14 remain, and they're fighting to survive. Now there are rumours of a safe place to hide. And so a gang of children begin their quest across London.

It is really good. I recommend everybody to read it all. N.C. (S1) *****

Greatest book I've read yet. Well done Mr Higson. M.G. (S1) *****

Maximum Ride 1: The angel experiment by James Patterson

Fourteen-year-old Maximum Ride, better known as Max, knows what it's like to soar above the world. She and all the members of the 'Flock' - Fang, Iggy, Nudge, Gasman and Angel - are just like ordinary kids - only they have wings and can fly. It may seem like a dream come true to some, but their lives can morph into a living nightmare at any time - like when Angel, the youngest member of the 'Flock', is kidnapped and taken back to the 'School' where she and the others were genetically engineered by sinister scientists.Her friends brave a journey to blazing hot Death Valley, California, to save Angel, but soon enough, they find themselves in yet another nightmare - this one involving fighting off the half-human, half-wolf 'Erasers' in New York City. Whether in the treetops of Central Park or in the bowels of the Manhattan subway system, Max and her adopted family take the ride of their lives. Along the way Max discovers from her old friend and father-figure Jeb - now her betrayed and greatest enemy - that her purpose is save the world - but can she?

I love this book because there is a lot of mystery and love. You have not lived until you have read Maximum Ride! ;-) T.L. (S2) *****

The violet keystone by Garth Nix (Book 6 in The Seventh Tower series)

Tal and Milla are only one step away from death, while the evil that has controlled their world for so long is about to triumph. If the Veil is lifted, nothing can save the Dark World. Their one glimmer of hope is to confront the monster Sharrakor and regain the violet keystone.

A very good book, particularly the bit about the worm. K.A. (S3) ****

The Ely Plot by Joan Lennon

You'd think growing up in a medieval abbey, surrounded by nothing but monks and hundreds of miles of swamp, would be pretty boring. Pip thinks so too, until the day he meets Perfect, a small stone gargoyle with a life of her own. Before long, the two find themselves in the midst of an assassination attempt against the new king, escaping into the cold dark night, being chased across the fens by a man bent on killing them ...Boring? Not so much.

An amazing heartwarming story and a true fantasy story. J.B. (S1) *****

Time Riders by Alex Scarrow

Liam O'Connor should have died at sea in 1912. Maddy Carter should have died on a plane in 2010. Sal Vikram should have died in a fire in 2029. Yet moments before death, someone mysteriously appeared and said, 'take my hand'. Liam, Maddy and Sal have been recruited by the TimeRiders, to stop time travel from destroying the world.

This book is OK and it has a good story. Anon (S1) *****

Icefire by Chris D'Lacey

"The sequel to The Fire Within, Icefire continues the story of student, David Rain, and his life in the Pennykettle household. Life isn't exactly normal lodging at the Pennykettles - not when you're surrounded by hundreds of clay pottery dragons. Fate seems to be dictating an unusual course for David when his university tutor sets him a writing project on the existence - or not - of dragons. The tantalizing prize - a fully-funded research trip to the Arctic - seems just within his grasp. David starts to research the subject and soon discovers a connection between dragons and the Arctic just as it begins to snow. Is it only a coincidence? Or could deeper forces be at work?"

An extraordinarily good book.  Better than the first. ****

C.C. S1

Lady Friday by Garth Nix

"Friday is here! The race is on to find the secret of the Middle House. The fifth eagerly awaited installment in Garth Nix's best selling fantasy series,The Keys to the Kingdom. Arthur Penhaligon's adventures in the House get ever more perilous as the week unfolds."

Recommend book, also recommend that the previous books are read. ****

M.B. S2 (2008)

Hurricane Gold by Charlie Higson

"As the sun blazes over the Caribbean island of Lagrimas Negras, its bloodthirsty ruler is watching and waiting. Criminals come here to hide, with blood on their hands and escape on their minds. On the mainland, in the quiet town of Tres Hermanas, ex-flying ace Jack Stone leaves his son and daughter in the company of James Bond. But a gang of thieves lies in ambush - they want Stone's precious safe, and will kill for its contents. James embarks on a deadly chase through the Mexican jungle. On this terrifying trail of greed and betrayal, only danger is guaranteed ...Survival is not."

Fantastic book full of explosive action, gripping suspense and a handful of twists in the writing. One of my favourite books. *****

Anon (2008)

Maximum Ride: School's out, forever by James Patterson

"It's 24 hours since Max Ride and her fellow bird-kids escaped the New York Institute, and they're still on the run. But the six companions -- 98% human, 2% bird -- came away with some vital information. If they can decode the garbled words and numbers, perhaps they'll find out where their parents are. There's a lot of trouble ahead for Max, Fang, Iggy, Nudge, the Gasman and Angel -- not to mention Total, the talking dog. Their enemies, the fearsome Erasers, have acquired a new skill -- they too can now fly. After an air-battle, the badly hurt Fang ends up in hospital. There the FBI track down the flock, who have even ended up going to school! But that doesn't quite fit in with searching for parents, or with what the insistent Voice in Max's head keeps reminding her - that her mission is 'to save the world'."

Quick, snappy narration & short chapters. A little simplistic in places but an enjoyable read. ***
Anon, (Staff, 2008)

Maximum Ride: The final warning by James Patterson

"Max, Fang, Iggy, Nudge, Gazzy and Angel are six extraordinary kids created by the crazed Uber Director in a twisted laboratory experiment that left them with the ability to fly. They are back for another wild adventure as they try to save the world ...and themselves. The Uber-Director sees the group of friends as his opportunity to become a billionaire: he seizes his chance to cash in that lucrative price tag by planning a worldwide auction with the children being offered to the highest bidder. But first his mutant army must track them down and capture them - which won't be easy. Meanwhile, in hiding from their predators, all six of them wake one evening to find they are being given an important mission - to save the world from global warming. Led by heroine Max, their task takes them in a fast-paced, high-speed chase across the world to the South Pole but, as ever, danger is never far away ..."

Quite a disappointing end to the series. Although it has a valuable message about global warming it isn't what we've been led to expect. **
VB, (Staff, 2008)