Good Reads: Weatherfield Academy

Thanks to Liz Millett, Teaching Assistant/Library Co-ordinator and SLA School Librarian of the Year 2014.

The Wonderful Story of Henry Sugar and Six More
Roald Dahl, Puffin, 978-0141304700, £5.99

The Wonderful Story of Henry Sugar and Six More is a Roald Dahl collection of seven stories. There are stories about a boy who talks to a giant sea turtle, about Roald Dahl driving a car with a tramp, about a man called George Butcher who finds a roman artefact, two annoying boys who try to shoot a swan with their gun, about Roald Dahl becoming a writer and Roald Dahl’s first ever story about Roald and his friend Peter flying a plane. When they crash Roald has eye injuries. Henry Sugar is about a rich and selfish bachelor who travels to India. I enjoyed this book because it shows some of Roald Dahl’s sense of humour. One of the stories is set in a foreign land, it is amazing to read the Henry Sugar story.  I would recommend this book.

Andrew Year 12

Awful Auntie

David Walliams, HarperCollins Children’s Books, 978-0007453603, £12.99 hbk

I liked the book very much. I read some of the book on holiday in Spain and finished the book when I got home. The story concerns a young girl called Stella who has a very mean aunt called Aunt Alberta. Aunt Alberta poisons Stella’s parents’ tea which causes their car to crash. Stella’s parents are killed but Stella survives and is left as the sole heiress to Saxby Hall. Aunt Alberta wants Saxby Hall for herself! She tries to get rid of Stella – but at the end Aunt Alberta gets her just deserts (she gets taken into the sky by a large group of owls and falls to her death!!). Stella inherits Saxby Hall and turns it into a welcoming home for children who don’t have a home. The characters I liked best were Stoot (Stella’s Uncle), Stella and Gibbon the butler. Gibbon was deaf and blind and kept getting into scrapes.

I enjoyed the book and laughed out loud – but also found the Awful Aunt scary!

Sophie Year 8

Midnight for Charlie Bone

Jenny Nimmo, Egmont, 978-1405225434, £6.99pnk

This book is Charlie Bone’s first exciting magical adventure. Charlie Bone is an eleven year old boy who lives at number 9 Filbert Street. He lives with his nice grandma Maisie, his loving mother Amy, his strange Uncle Paton, who only comes out at night, and his mean old grandma Grizelda. Charlie Bone discovers he has an amazing talent which no one else has. This takes Charlie to Bloor’s Academy, a frightening school for talented young children. This is where Charlie makes friends and enemies as his journey goes on, as he and Benjamin (his best friend) and Runner Bean, Benjamin’s dog try to help Mrs Ingledew.

This book is a gripping fantasy tale of mystery, suitable for children and adults. If you like Harry Potter you will love this.

Harry Year 8

Young Bond Shoot to Kill

Steve Cole, Doubleday Children’s Books, 978-0857533739, £12.99 hbk

This book is about James Bond when he was young. The story starts after James had been expelled from Eton. Aunt Charmian, his guardian, had sent him to board at Dartington Hall for the summer. The adventure continues as James and a group of friends fly over to Hollywood in an airship. James and a friend watch a movie reel where a man is tortured and this turns out to be real!

This is a typical James Bond story with lots of action, adventure and suspense. I enjoyed reading this book as the plot keeps you hanging on every chapter and I find the James Bond character fascinating. I would recommend this book to any Bond fan.

Miles Year 11