Good Reads 140: Craigholme School, Glasgow

Chosen by girls in Senior 2 (13-year-olds) from Craigholme School, Glasgow.

Thanks to Mrs D Luc, Librarian, and Mrs K Longmuir, Head of English.

Charlotte’s Web

E B White, Puffin, 0 14 036449 8, £5.99

The book I have chosen is Charlotte’s Web by E B White. It is about a little girl called Fern who saves a small pig from the usual fate of the runt of the litter. The little pig meets an affectionate spider who teaches him what life is all about.

The character I found interesting was Wilbur the pig. He is a bit confused about his identity. ‘I could spin a web if I wanted,’ said Wilbur, boasting, ‘I’ve just never tried.’ I feel really sorry for Wilbur because this makes him look very stupid.

The main theme of the book is friendship. I particularly liked this book because it is written with childish themes in an adult way. The image that will stay with me is Wilbur jumping off the manure pile!

Katrina Millar

Fools Errand

Robin Hobb, Voyager, 0 00 648601 0, £7.99

Are you bored with Harry Potter and Lord of the Rings?

Then read Fools Errand by Robin Hobb. It’s a funny fantasy biography of Fitz Chivarly Farseer. Fitz, in this book has assumed the name Tom Badgerlock and has been dragged kicking and screaming into the world he hates… politics. Worst of all his son, Prince Dutiful has been taken prisoner by the evil Pibalds who are Witted folk and want to destroy the Farseer throne and take what they think is rightfully theirs. As the Prince’s bride-to-be is on her way Fitz has to do some quick thinking and retrieve the Prince in time for the wedding ceremony!

Munuza Sheikh

There’s a boy in the girls’ bathroom

Louis Sachar, Bloomsbury, 0 7475 5257 6, £4.99

Kirsty Robertson takes on the persona of Jeff Fishkin for her book review:

It was a complete accident, but Bradley didn’t believe me. By the way, I’m Jeff Fishkin, a new kid at school. I had to sit beside Bradley Chalkers, a boy who has problems and told me to give him a dollar or he’d spit on me. He is my friend now. As a new kid, I had to go to the school counsellor, Carla Davis. I thought she was really nice and so did Bradley, although not at first. He hated me until I walked into the girls’ bathroom by accident. He thought I did it to be tough and when I tried to tell him it was a mistake, he didn’t believe me. Carla was really helpful and helped me settle in at school. She left because some parents thought it was wrong for us to talk to a counsellor. I am not missing my visits to Carla, but I think Bradley is. I wonder if he will ever forgive her for leaving?

Louis Sachar wrote this book with an intriguing storyline. It is very descriptive and highly enjoyable. The title is particularly clever as it makes you want to find out why he called the book ‘There’s a boy in the girls’ bathroom’. All in all, a very funny and pleasant book.

Kirsty Robertson

Stargirl

Jerry Spinelli, Orchard, 1 84121 926 6, £4.99

Jerry Spinelli created Stargirl. What an amazing character. The name Stargirl she gave herself seems to fit. I have never heard of anyone with a name so fitting. She is as distant and far off, as close and as bright as a star. Her name fits her, but she doesn’t fit in. At Mica High School there is no such non-conformity. Then Stargirl arrives. She is amazingly different and wonderfully unique. She seems almost like a saint as she delivers messages to people she doesn’t know and gives anonymous gifts. With her radiant happiness and love everyone takes to her. But not for long. She is shunned and excluded by the students and the boy who likes her. He tries to force her to conform but she is like a delicate butterfly – if you try to catch her she just flies away.

Ronit Wolfson

Noughts and Crosses

Malorie Blackman, Corgi, 0 552 54632 1, £5.99

Persephone Hadley (Sephy) is a rich Black girl with a White best friend, Callum. White people are discriminated against and so is everybody who associates with them. So when Callum is among a small group of White children being moved to a Black school, problems arise. Together Sephy and Callum learn to stick to their belief that everyone is equal. Later in the book when Callum joins an anti-black association their friendship is again tested.

This is a gripping novel that shows the stupidity of racism and the importance of friendship. A tear jerking, thought provoking read that you will never forget.

Emma Worboys