Cherwell: The Story Hoard

Review: Percy Jackson and the Sea of Monsters, by Rick Riordan

Review by Amir Miasharizman (Year 7)

"It is an exciting story, full of adventures, creatures and drama. It’s also very funny."

The Sea of Monsters is the second book of the Olympians series. I enjoyed reading the first book, The Lightning Thief, and was eager to read its sequel. For those who aren't familiar, Percy is a demi-god. His father is Poseidon, god of the sea, so he has special powers over water. When he was twelve, he went to Camp Half-Blood, a summer camp for demi-gods. There he trains and learns how to be a demi-god. Grover, a satyr, is his best friend. He has the body of a boy but the legs of a goat. Annabeth is also demi-god, her mother is Athena.

Review: Wolf Brother, by Michelle Paver

Review by Tom Salter

"I recommend this book because the hero is about my age; I can relate to him and feel empathy for his situation."

There are 6 books altogether in the series called the Chronicles of Ancient Darkness. In this book, the main character is called Torak. He is around 12 years old and his father is already dead - slaughtered cruelly by a demon bear. Torak has to run for his life, unaware of the difficult journey ahead. He soon meets an orphaned wolf cub and the two of them share a bond. They meet various people, including a girl called Ren, on the way to finding out about his father’s death and trying to hunt down the bear.

Review: The Secrets Club: Alice in the Spotlight, by Chris Higgins

Review by Mia Probets (Year 7)

"I would say this book is a girly book for young readers"

This book is about a girl called Alice and her three friends as they start Riverside Academy. Alice, Tash, Lissa and Dani form a group called 'the no secrets club'. The girls promise that they will never keep any secrets from each other, but can Alice confess to her big secret?

Once I started this book I found it so easy to get into and I could hardly put it down! I would say this book is a girly book for young readers. I defiantly recommend this book.

Review: Soul Eater, by Michelle Paver

Review by Laura Goddard (Year 7)

"This book seizes you as soon as you pick it up and refuses to let you go until you’ve finished it!”

Soul-Eater is the third book in the exciting series The Chronicles of Ancient Darkness. It is about a boy called Torak, his friend Ren and his companion Wolf, who is a young, feisty wolf. Torak and Wolf have a strange connection: Torak can talk wolf! Together, Torak, Wolf and Ren have been through a lot: journeying through treacherous icy lands, destroying demons and even fighting an evil mage! Throughout all this they have become good friends, growing very close. But one day, when the three of them are out hunting, Wolf runs away from Torak and Ren. The friends follow his trail day and night, but he always seems to be ahead. They begin to wonder if they’ll ever find Wolf. Perhaps the journey is too difficult. Perhaps something terrible has happened to Wolf and maybe it’s too late…

Review: I Know What You Did Last Wednesday, by Anthony Horowitz

Review by Hammad Khan

"This book creates suspense which could get you addicted, so be warned."

This is one of the thrilling adventures of the Diamond Brothers by Anthony Horowitz. It all begins when Tim Diamond is invited to a school reunion - though being paid £1,000 to come seemed a bit fishy. He goes along with it any way and once at the island he meets his school friends. 

They are left on the island but the host doesn't arrive. He is soon discovered dead. Tim and his friends are left on island with a killer and the question - when will he strike next? This book creates suspense which could get you addicted, so be warned.

Review: Charlie and the Chocolate Factory, by Roald Dahl

Review by Jodie Bateman (Year 8)

"I enjoyed reading this book, mainly because of the title – chocolate."

I enjoyed reading this book, mainly because of the title – chocolate. It made me want to read further and further. The characters really made the story: from Willy Wonka, to the really greedy boy, Augustus Gloop (a name which really suits him!). The story (should I say book) begins with Charlie Bucket, another poor boy, but not in the way you think - he is loved a lot by his family, but they have very little money.

Review: Shine On Daizy Star, by Cathy Cassidy

Review by Elizabeth Thomas-Paine (Year 8)

"Cathy Cassidy has tried to use words that drag the reader's attention into the book."

I like her because she uses a lot of description. In this novel it is combined with a lot of imaginative and creative ideas. I like the way she puts her creative ideas and thoughts together because it makes the reader want to know what's going to happen next. This book never gets boring at any point, as it's full of description too.

I would recommend it to ages 10-13 and it's especially good to read for inspiration and ideas to help you to write and be successful in creative writing.

Review: Diary of a Wimpy Kid, by Jeff Kinney

Review by Thomas Gale (Year 8)

"Over all the series is full of bad luck and humor."

I have been reading this series since I was 7 years old. Every year, a new book is added to the series, aimed at a different age group each time. The first one was based on a younger audience but the one that came out last year is aimed at around my age.

The first book is about the first year at secondary school and the stuff he has to put up with there. I think the intention of this book was to make primary school children less scared about moving up to  secondary school.

Review: Catching Fire, by Suzanne Collins

Review by Karl Eligado (Year 12)

"Throw in a couple of fangs and some fur and we have a Twilight-like love triangle all over again. Ah, young love."

Just by the title, Suzanne Collins had promised us a sweat trickling, lip biting, fist clenching book; and that’s exactly what Catching Fire proved to be. Or at least the second half. The second book in The Hunger Games trilogy did not fail to deliver the same intensity and magnitude as its prequel. Though admittedly, the first few chapters, to be frank, were weak. As we continue to unfold the story of Panem alongside the protagonist Katniss Everdeen, Suzanne Collins had managed to capture her readers' hearts and pull on the strings as the tension and drama rise.

Review: The Recruit, by Robert Muchamore

Review by Cameron Murphy (Year 8)

"Children aren’t usually taken seriously but in this story, James (who is only 12) has as much responsibility as an adult."

The Recruit has a total of 322 pages so it is not long but at the same time it is not short. The Recruit is the first book in a series of 12 books. I have read the first three books in the series. The book begins with a typical boy named James Adams, however, his life is turned upside down when his mum dies from a drug overdose. Following from his mother’s death, James ends up in a care home and a different school until he is moved in with a foster family. Without giving too much of the story away, James gets into trouble because of some friends that he meets, and one day James wakes up in the morning in a strange place called CHERUB.

Review: Captain Underpants, by Dav Pilkey

Review by Alex Crowther

"Mean Old Mr Krupp resembles the teacher everyone loves to hate"

Captain Underpants is a super hero novel like no other that you have ever read before. Although it is a short, simple book that can be read within a couple of hours, there is much fun, laughter and excitement to be had in this simple book for children. The story is about two boys, George Beard and Harold Hutchins, who love to make comic books about their imaginary super hero Captain Underpants. However Captain Underpants becomes a reality after the two boys accidently turn their horrible teacher Mr Krupp into captain Underpants in a prank gone wrong.