Good Reads: Highdown School and Sixth Form Centre

Chosen by Years 7 & 8 (12 year-old) pupils from Highdown School and Sixth Form Centre, Reading, Berks.

Thanks to Jane Tull, Librarian and Work Related Learning Co-ordinator.

Between Shades of Gray

Ruta Sepetys, Puffin, 352pp, 978 0 1413 3588 9, £7.99 pbk

This book was absolutely amazing! This book was historical but it had a twist like no other. It had all the necessities for a fantastic book such as: romance, action, thrill, emotion and much more! You need to get the tissues out for this one! The action begins from the first page where 15-year-old Lina is getting ready for art school. Suddenly, the Soviet police demand she leaves her house with her mother and brother where they capture her. But where is her father? Lina doesn’t give up though; she keeps faith in her family and other people she meets along the way. She carries on writing and producing her art work through this tough time in Siberia (where she is taken). Only her strength, determination and love can help her through this. But will it be enough? This book shows true human spirit.Puneet Garcha

Trash

Andy Mulligan, David Fickling, 224pp, 978 1 8499 2056 8, £5.99 pbk

A book that is hard to put down. But very easy to pick up. I found that every time I picked up this novel, I could once again be immersed in the adventure and mystery of it all. I think the characters really add to the feel of the novel, as usually it is more the surroundings that create the feel of the atmosphere.

What made the book that extra bit special was the suspense at the end of the chapters, the characters: Raphael, Gardo and Rat got up to a lot of adventure as they went on the quest to find… Actually I won’t say, but on their journey they find this magnificent treasure. Through many problems and traps, it leads them into a deep story and deep lies that slowly unfold… A great read, and the one to read next!Euan Sarson

My Name is Mina

David Almond, Hodder, 304pp, 978 0 3409 9726 0, £6.99 pbk

I think My Name is Mina is a really good book. It had an unusual plot and you could learn new words from it. I liked the extraordinary activities because they gave you something to do. Some words were big and some were bold so the words were used in different ways and often felt as though they were just spilling out of Mina’s head. This is a marmite book: people love it or hate it. I loved it.Bryony Garnett

A Midsummer Tights Dream

Louise Rennison, HarperCollins, 336pp, 978 0 0071 5685 6, £6.99 pbk

A Midsummer Tights Dream is a funny book of misadventures from Tallulah Casey the one and only disastrous student at Dother Hall. A gripping book for girls, this book has an enthusiastic plot to it. Louise Rennison has done a very good job writing the book and making it twice as good as the first book called Withering Tights, another good book as well. This book maybe has too many issues for the star of the book Tallulah but not an overload. It was one of those books you cannot put down and you get gripped to every time you turn over yet another page of this amazing book. I recommend this book to teenage girls who love a good laugh and enjoy a bit of the Yorkshire Dales!!!Jessica Garnett