Good Reads: Weatherhead High School, Wirral
This issue’s Good Reads were chosen by young people at Weatherhead High School, Wirral. Our thanks to librarian Heather Grainger for her help. Heather is on the Honour List for the 2024 Secondary School Librarian of the Year. Through lessons, book recommendations, author visits and clubs, she seeks to engage all readers whatever their interests or needs, empowering students to gain skills too through her Student Librarian Leadership Scheme.
Last Gamer Standing
Katie Zhao, Scholastic, 978-0702318252, £7.99 pbk.
I enjoyed reading Last Gamer Standing – I think the excitement and tension makes it thrilling. If you are into girls beating boys then this book is for you! It’s about a young Chinese-American girl secretly disguised as one of the best players ever in a huge gaming tournament. Will she win that big game?
Reviewed by Tay, Year 11
Excuse Me While I Ugly Cry
Joya Goffney, Hot Key Books, 978-1471410116, £7.99 pbk.
This is an emotion-filled romance with running themes of friendship, and it also zooms in on racism and how the main character Quinn struggles with finding who she really is. The author really captured how Quinn was feeling, and threw you into her shoes, which was a great aspect to this book. However, I do feel it could have been extended with more storyline, and it felt as if it was cut too short! It is such an enjoyable read that makes you want to read more!
This book portrayed each character very well – it is almost as if you can see the people in front of you, and they were all very unique and had their own stories and backgrounds.
If you want a rollercoaster of emotion then read this book! Anger, sadness, happiness, love and betrayal are all packed in. I recommend this book for young teens (13+) who love an emotion-filled book.
Review by Molly, Year 10
The Hunger Games
Suzanne Collins, Scholastic, 978-1407132082, £8.99 pbk
The Hunger Games is a series for teenagers that shows the power everyone holds to change their own fate. In the Hunger Games, Katniss Everdeen sticks up for her sister and volunteers as a ‘tribute’ in the brutal annual fight-to-the-death that children face in this world.
It is a great book that is empowering and a brilliant read.
Reviewed by Claudia, Year 9
The Creakers
Tom Fletcher, illus Shane Devries, 978-0141388847, £7.99 pbk.
I am reviewing the book The Creakers, as it is one of my favourite books. It is very funny but very strange, and is about a girl finding out that all the adults have disappeared, and discovering ‘monsters’ under the bed! If you like a mysterious book with lots of comedy, then this book is for you. My favourite part of the book is the end, because everything is happy and fun!
Reviewed by Kaitlyn, Year 8
Songs About A Girl
Chris Russell, Hodder Children’s Books, £3.49 Kindle
I love this book so much! I love the music, and how it is so relatable. When you finish it, you want to read the other books in the series. It is about a girl called Charlie who loves photography but doesn’t like being in the spotlight. She gets an opportunity to take photos of a new boy band, which ends up leading to lots of mystery and a bit of a love triangle.
Charlie is the main character, and I really like her because she is relatable and has an amazing heart-felt relationship with the reader. I enjoyed all the music references, and the established and new relationships between the characters.
Reviewed by Ava, Year 8
