I liked ‘The Bone Sparrow’ a lot because it made me realise what life for people living in refugee camps is really like and the conditions they face. I also liked the way the book switched from first person with Subhi and then into 3rd person with Jimmy. I think it told a very emotional story, which I really enjoyed and it was great to read. I would definitely recommend it to anyone who wants a good book to read.

Railhead is an outstanding book totally free from the stereotypes of sci-fi.I am not a massive fan of science fiction and so my first impressions of Railhead were clouded by that. I often don’t like science fiction books because I find emotion lacking and characters not relatable. How wrong was I! Railhead is a fantastic novel that plays on dreams. I loved every minute of the thrilling ride around the galaxy. Every moment of the story is richly imagined. Railhead is set in a future in which humanity has left Earth and settled in many worlds. Zen a teenage boy embarks on a mission that changes the galaxy forever. Interplanetary travel is achieved by trains that pass through gates. The trains have artificial intelligence and as result have dreams, feelings and thoughts. This was my favourite aspect of the novel. I love how Reeve skilfully examines the feelings and dreams of the characters. We are invited to slowly peel away the layers of characters revealing their inner thoughts. There is a strong sense of wonder throughout the book, of seeing a new world for the first time. The depth of Reeve’s novel surprised me. A recurring theme is artificial intelligence and whether machines can ever be truly alive. Zen travels with a Motorix (a robot) who is adamant that she is alive. The books has beautiful moments in it that steal your breath away. I liked how zen is not an innocent and straightforward hero but someone whose actions lead to death and destruction. In conclusion I was startled by this book’s uniqueness and its sense of true wonder. A powerful and compelling read that showcases what is so wonderful about Sci-Fi.

One of the shortlisted titles for the 2016 Kate Greenaway Award was Something About A Bear by Jackie Morris. It didn’t win the award, but it was one of our shadowing group favourites. Amelia in Year 8 asked her family what they thought about the book, to give a perspective view from different age groups

“I liked the book because of the baby bears and the mummy and daddy bears.” Tancred age 4

” I thought the book was really informative and I liked the bear fact files at the end, but the illustrations were the best. They made me feel like the bears were right beside me!” Felix age 11

“I love The Snow Leopard, her other book. Something About a Bear is a brilliant bedtime story for 3 to 7 year old kids. The illustrations were brilliant. I thought I was there and the writing was very clear and easy to understand.” Esme age 9

“I thought it was good but they didn’t need to call them mighty and king”  Valentine age 7

“I liked something about a bear because I thought it was a perfect balance between facts and fiction. It is suitable for a wide audience and older children can then discuss the effects of humans on bears and the importance of conservation. The images in water colour are for me untamed and slightly wild,  capturing the free spirit of the bears.” Amelia age 12

“I thought this book was a beautiful and very imaginative way to show children the variety and wealth of just one species. The illustrations are stunning and when I read it to my 7 and 4 year old boys, they both listened very carefully and immediately wanted to read the story right through again. The end is great for children too, as it personalises all the information and brings it down to point they can relate too. I am very tempted to rush out and buy this book.” Caroline Platt (Mum)

I really enjoyed ‘The Sleeper and the Spindle’. The way the words and the drawings seemed to merge together was almost magical. Even though the book is very simple in a lot of ways,  it’s also really complex in the way it’s written. It’s like starring at your reflection in a mirror when really you should be looking behind the glass. The book is a twist on the traditional stories of Snow White and Sleeping Beauty. I would recommend this book to anyone who is above the age of 7, as younger readers may enjoy the book but it would probably scare them.

Not only do the pictures take you another world but the text is inspirational as well. I’m not sure whether this is because of its countless twists and turns, that after reading it you can’t imagine the book without,  or because it’s just pure genius. If I was to give this book a rating it would be ten out of ten. I think this book is a must read to all. If you haven’t already –  pick up the book and start reading now!

Fire Colour One is a interesting portrayal of life, family and love. I often find family stories hard to read and also find it difficult to stay gripped. Fire Colour One is a moving, intelligent story about a girl’s struggle to escape her family’s tangled web of lies. Iris (the main character) leads the reader down a road of forgiveness as we witness her attempts to reconcile with her dying father Ernest. Art has a major part in the story with paintings often being referenced to in the text. I loved this as I felt it really helped to enhance the text. However, I felt that without pictures of the paintings mentioned, it was sometimes difficult to visualize them. The artist Yves Klein work features heavily in the book with one if his paintings, Fire Colour One (hence the title), representing Iris’s dangerous and unstable relationship with fire. Iris is a pyromaniac and Valentine’s descriptions of her relationship and encounters with fire were without a doubt the favourite part of my book. She perfectly described the want and lust of a addiction. I also think the book really showed how people in their teenage years can often feel alienated from others. I liked the structure of the book and the way it flashbacked however, I found the ending a little rushed. Altogether I enjoyed the book and found it a interesting novel which stands out from other family stories. I am know definitely going to read others of Jenny Valentine’s books.

Willy’s Stories is a delightful picture book that introduces readers to the wonderful world of literature. Following the brave Willy on his adventures we discover classic stories such as Robin Crusoe, Treasure Island and Alice in Wonderland. Each illustration holds a hidden reference to books, great for spotting with other kids. I love how the text in the book represents illuminated manuscripts with the first letter of each page done in the said style. Certain words are in larger font which makes reading aloud fun as you can put more emphasis on certain words. The drawings are stylish and simple. Wally (a chimp) is the perfect hero! The book has a wide age range. My shadowing group aged from 13-14 found the book hilarious and enjoyed guessing the story behind the illustration. Young children I think can enjoy the stories for its pictures and funny stories. At the end of each page a question is asked to the reader which makes, in my belief, the book great for children as they can become more involved in the book. I loved the start of the book where we see Willy setting off on his great adventure via the doors of a library. This is my favourite book on the Kate Greenaway shortlist as it honours old classics but also breathes new life into them.