Good Reads: Saint Stithian's Girls’ Preparatory School

Chosen by girls from Saint Stithians’ Girls’ Preparatory School in Randburg, South Africa<!--break-->

Thanks to Marilynn Berrington, Media Teacher.

Out of the Dust

Karen Hesse, not available in the UK but could be ordered from amazon.com or other internet sites.

Are you looking for a book with excitement, sorrow, romance, adventure and bliss? Well then you’re reading the right book review! This amazing book is set in the state of Oklahoma during a time when there are huge dust storms and hardly any rain. A girl, Billie Jo, lives on a panhandle of a farm with her mother and father. Billie Jo feels unwanted and unloved, as she knew her father was disappointed that she had not been a boy. Her mother becomes pregnant and this brings joy and excitement into Billie Jo’s life. One day her hopes of having a sibling are dashed. Her father left a bucket of kerosene next to the stove. Billie Jo’s mother thought that it was water and put it into the pot on the stove. This burst into flames sending her mother running outside to call her father. Billie Jo saw this and, trying to help, threw the contents of the pot out of the front door not knowing that her mother was coming back through the door to rescue her.

To find out what happened you just have to read this fantastic book. It is written in blank verse and is a super read!

Catherine Edward

Walk Two Moons

Sharon Creech, Macmillan, 0 330 39783 4, £4.99 pbk

All I could say when I reached the end of the book was ‘Wow!’ This book will keep you hooked till the very end. It has amazing twists that will keep you guessing. It is fairly sad and the main character is thirteen-year-old Salamanca who is very proud of her Native American roots. Her life is turned upside down when her mother suddenly decides to take a trip around the United States to rediscover herself. When she doesn’t come back, her father decides to move to Ohio to start a new life. Here she meets paranoid Phoebe whose family seem to be having problems. When Phoebe’s family starts receiving notes from a supposed ‘lunatic’, Salamanca begins to view life in a totally different manner. Who knows, but maybe when you finish reading this book, you will also view life differently! This is a ‘must’ read.

Thokozani Makuyana

The Wind Singer

William Nicholson, Mammoth, 0 7497 4471 5, £5.99

Today, my teacher asked me why I looked so tired. I told her that it was because I had read the most amazing book that I could not put down until I had finished it. It was The Wind Singer by William Nicholson. Let me tell you a little about it.

Kestrel Hath is tired of living in Aramath where life is based on ratings and tests. When Kestrel embarrasses herself and her family they are moved down to the lower level of life. When she sees the underground caves, which are to become their new home, she runs. Eventually she seeks refuge by running up a flight of stairs where she meets the aged emperor who has a mission for her. But, wait a moment. I’m not saying another word. Read the book yourself and find out if she accomplishes this mission. This book will not disappoint you.

Lucy Kennedy

Charmed Life

Diana Wynne Jones, Collins, 0 00 675515 1, £4.99

Leave Hogwarts! Exit at platform 9¾. Rather head for the magnificent worlds of Chrestomanci. Charmed Life is one of the most exciting books in this series. In this book two children are sent to live in a castle with the famous nine-life enchanter, Chrestomanci. Gwen has supposedly all the magical ability and the cat none. But, no matter how hard she tries, Gwen can’t get Chrestomanci’s attention. The spells Gwen does to get attention get worse and worse. Charmed Life is a very interesting fantasy book and after you have started reading it, you will find it difficult to put it down. Don’t leave yourself in suspense any longer, just read this book straight away!

Robyn Charlton

The Suitcase Kid

Jacqueline Wilson, Corgi Yearling, 0 440 86311 2, £4.99

This is a wonderful book. I enjoyed reading it and I hope that you will too. It is an emotional roller-coaster ride for Andrea, whose parents are in the process of getting a divorce. She is a ten-year-old who moves from her mom to her dad and back again. Both her parents are now newly married so this makes her feel unwanted. She feels as if she has no home and that she is living out of a suitcase. If you want to find out more, rush to your library or bookshop and get this amazing book to read!

Nicolette Lange

Artemis Fowl

Eoin Colfer, Puffin, 0 14 131212 2, £4.99

Artemis Fowl is a criminal mastermind at the age of twelve. He now wants to find ‘The Book’ which is one of the books that all fairies use. There is only one problem. He neither speaks nor reads the language. A leprechaun officer kidnaps him and suddenly things become more dangerous. I recommend this book to anyone who likes fantasy. This book is awesome, quite gruesome, active and exciting. Rush into your Media Centre and take out the book to read now. I give it a star rating of four out of five.

Sabrina Hamilton-Payne