THE LONDON EYE MYSTERY by SIOBHAN DOWD Reviewed by Mrs. D STAR RATING: ⭐⭐⭐⭐️⭐️ RECOMMENDED YEAR GROUP: a mature Y6 or KS3 INTERESTS: mystery story, London, autism THEMES: family, unreliable narrator (ASD), teen dramas, crime solving IF YOU LIKED THIS, YOU’LL LOVE: The Curious Incident of the Dog in the Night-Time by Mark Haddon Wonder…
Secrets of a Sun King
SECRETS OF A SUN KING By EMMA CARROLL Reviewed by Jude, age 11 Thrillingly mind boggling; this is a novel to be read by anyone who is hungry for twists, turns, and literary excellence. The story is of a girl – Lil – in 1922. One day, she sees a newspaper stating the death of…
The Jamie Drake Equation
THE JAMIE DRAKE EQUATION by CHRISTOPHER EDGE Reviewed by Miss G STAR RATING: ⭐️⭐️⭐️ but the other two in the series are ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ RECOMMENDED YEAR GROUP: 5/6 INTERESTS: space, science, physics, maths THEMES: family, science, divorce IF YOU LIKED THIS YOU’LL LOVE: The Many Worlds of Albie Bright by Christopher Edge The Infinite Lives of Maisie Day…
Ella on the Outside
ELLA ON THE OUTSIDE By CATH HOWE Reviewed by Keira (Year 5) STAR RATING: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️1/2 RECOMMENDED YEAR GROUP: 5/6 This is an amazing book about secrets, lies and friendship, and how Ella the new girl in school cant believe her luck as Lydia the popular girl decides to be her new best friend. But what…
Kid Normal
KID NORMAL by GREG JAMES and CHRIS SMITH Reviewed by Miss Walsh STAR RATING: ⭐⭐⭐⭐ (but it doesn’t work well as a whole-class read) RECOMMENDED YEAR GROUP: 4 (that’s who I read it with but it may suit Year 5 more) INTERESTS: superheroes, villains, school, superpowers, insects, technology THEMES: friendship, teamwork, good vs. evil, science fiction,…
Snowglobe
SNOWGLOBE by AMY WILSON Reviewed by Miss Daunt STAR RATING: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ RECOMMENDED YEAR GROUP: 5/6 INTERESTS: magic, family, friendships, different worlds, adventure THEMES: being different, bullying, friendship, family, right & wrong IF YOU LIKED THIS, YOU’LL LOVE: Pages & Co by Anna James Nevermoor by Jessica Townsend Journey by Aaron Becker How To Live Forever…
My Brother is a Superhero
MY BROTHER IS A SUPERHERO by DAVID SOLOMONS Reviewed by Miss Walsh STAR RATING: ⭐⭐⭐ RECOMMENDED YEAR GROUP: 4/5 INTERESTS: superheroes, villains, gadgets, school, comics, aliens, space THEMES: science fiction, family, friends, secrets, jealousy IF YOU LIKED THIS, YOU’LL LOVE: Kid Normal by Greg James and Chris Smith Iguana Boy by James Bishop My Evil…
The Boy Who Grew Dragons
THE BOY WHO GREW DRAGONS by ANDY SHEPHERD Illustrated by SARA OGILVIE Reviewed by Jessica (Year 5) STAR RATING: ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ RECOMMENDED YEAR GROUP: 4/5 A funny story of Tomas, who finds the most mysterious and magical fruit in his grandad’s garden. Imagine finding something so brilliant but you have to keep it a secret! Dragons…
Fergus Crane
FERGUS CRANE by PAUL STEWART and CHRIS RIDDELL Reviewed by Miss Walsh STAR RATING: ⭐⭐⭐⭐ RECOMMENDED YEAR GROUP: 4 INTERESTS: pirates, treasure, cake, mechanical inventions, ships, sailing THEMES: adventure, travel, deception, missing parent IF YOU LIKED THIS, YOU’LL LOVE: The Edge Chronicles by Paul Stewart and Chris Riddell, Arabel’s Raven by Joan Aiken MY THOUGHTS:…
The Unforgotten Coat
THE UNFORGOTTEN COAT by FRANK COTTRELL BOYCE Reviewed by Olivia, age 10 STAR RATING: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ The Unforgotten Coat is an amazing book! It is a book about two boys, Chingis and Nergui, who it is thought may have moved from Mongolia but as you read the book you discover they may be from somewhere else….
The Great Elephant Chase
THE GREAT ELEPHANT CHASE by GILLIAN CROSS Reviewed by Miss Daunt STAR RATING: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ RECOMMENDED YEAR GROUP: 6 INTERESTS: elephants, animals, pets, adventure, America THEMES: perseverance, good vs. bad, loss, self-worth, friendship & loyalty, honesty & trickery IF YOU LIKED THIS, YOU’LL LOVE: Charlotte’s Web by E.B. White Flora and Ulysses by Kate DiCamillo The…
The Bubble Boy
THE BUBBLE BOY by STEWART FOSTER Reviewed by Ms. F STAR RATING: ⭐️⭐️⭐️ RECOMMENDED YEAR GROUP: 5/6 INTERESTS: realistic fiction, friendships, humour, medicine THEMES: loneliness, coping with illness, relationships, loss, hope, bravery IF YOU LIKED THIS, YOU’LL LOVE: Wonder by R. J. Palacio The Goldfish Boy by Lisa Thompson The Thing About Jellyfish by Ali…
The Sheep Pig
THE SHEEP PIG by DICK KING-SMITH Reviewed by Miss Walsh STAR RATING: ⭐⭐⭐ RECOMMENDED YEAR GROUP: 3/4 INTERESTS: pigs! Sheep, sheepdogs, farm animals, farms, competitions THEMES: self-belief, individuality, family, adoption, growing up, respect IF YOU LIKED THIS, YOU’LL LOVE: Charlotte’s Web by E.B. White, Junkyard Jack and The Horse That Talked by Adrian Edmondson MY…
Wolf Wilder
WOLF WILDER by KATHERINE RUNDELL Reviewed by Mrs. B 🐝 STAR RATING: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ RECOMMENDED YEAR GROUP: 5/6 INTERESTS: adventures, Russia, Russian history, wolves, tsars THEMES: re-wilding animals, friendship, Russian hardship, Russian landscapes IF YOU LIKED THIS, YOU’LL LOVE: Eye of the Wolf by Daniel Pennac The House with Chicken Legs by Sophie Anderson Wolf Brother…
The Nothing To See Here Hotel
THE NOTHING TO SEE HERE HOTEL by STEVEN BUTLER Reviewed by Miss Daunt STAR RATING: ⭐️⭐️⭐️ RECOMMENDED YEAR GROUP: 3/4 INTERESTS: magic, fantasy, travel, humour THEMES: magic, good vs. evil IF YOU LIKED THIS, YOU’LL LOVE: You Ain’t Seen Nothing Yeti! by Steven Butler The Magic Faraway Tree by Enid Blyton The 13-Storey Treehouse by…
The Explorer
THE EXPLORER by KATHERINE RUNDELL Reviewed by Mrs. B 🐝 ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ RECOMMENDED YEAR GROUP: 5/6 INTERESTS: adventures, nature, environment, rainforests THEMES: global warming, deforestation, survival IF YOU LIKED THIS, YOU’LL LOVE: Wolf Wilder by Katherine Rundell, The Girl of Ink and Stars by Kiran Millwood Hargrave, The House with Chicken Legs by Sophie Anderson MY…
Beaver Towers
BEAVER TOWERS by NIGEL HINTON Reviewed by Miss B STAR RATING: ⭐⭐⭐⭐ RECOMMENDED YEAR GROUP: 3/4 INTERESTS: animals, nature, adventure, magic THEMES: family, friendship, good versus evil, mystery, loyalty IF YOU LIKED THIS, YOU’LL LOVE: The Animals of Farthing Wood by Colin Dann, Knitbone Pepper Ghost Dog by Claire Barker. MY THOUGHTS: A relatively simple…
The Boy With The Bronze Axe
THE BOY WITH THE BRONZE AXE by KATHLEEN FIDLER Reviewed by Miss Huddy STAR RATING⭐⭐⭐⭐ RECOMMEND YEAR GROUP: Y3/4 INTERESTS: Stone Age, historical fiction, adventure THEMES: friendship, family, loyalty, jealousy, revenge, teamwork, perseverance and leadership MY THOUGHTS: Thoroughly enjoyable read linked to the topic of the Stone Age. The setting for this story is the…
A Darkness of Dragons
A DARKNESS OF DRAGONS by S.A. PATRICK Reviewed by Cerys STAR RATING: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️1/2 RECOMMENDED YEAR GROUP: 5/6 This book is interesting, and involves a lot of things that wouldn’t happen in our own world, such as talking animals, mythical creatures and sorcerers. The basic plot is about a boy who escaped from prison, trying to…
The Sandwich Thief
THE SANDWICH THIEF by ANDRÉ MAROIS Reviewed by Mr. Price STAR RATING: ⭐⭐⭐ RECOMMENDED YEAR GROUP: 3 INTERESTS: food, mystery, clues. THEMES: solving a crime (stealing a sandwich), friendships & family, sandwiches! IF YOU LIKED THIS, YOU’LL LOVE: Roller Girl by Victoria Jamieson, Sunny Side Up by Jennifer L. Holm MY THOUGHTS: Easy to read…
The Creakers
THE CREAKERS by TOM FLETCHER Reviewed by Miss Walsh STAR RATING: ⭐⭐⭐ RECOMMENDED YEAR GROUP: 3/4 INTERESTS: monsters, friends, Scouts, mess!, magic, other worlds THEMES: environment, growing up, responsibility, accepting differences, missing parents IF YOU LIKED THIS, YOU’LL LOVE: The Girl with the Lost Smile by Miranda Hart, The Magic Faraway Tree by Enid Blyton,…
Llama United
LLAMA UNITED by SCOTT ALLEN Illustrated by Sarah Horne Reviewed by Miss Daunt STAR RATING: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ RECOMMENDED YEAR GROUP: 4/5 INTERESTS: football, animals, humour THEMES: perseverance, diversity, friendship IF YOU LIKED THIS, YOU’LL LOVE: Llamas Go Large by Scott Allen The Mighty Dynamo by Kieran Crowley Football Academy series by Tom Palmer You’re a Bad…
The Care and Feeding of a Pet Black Hole
THE CARE AND FEEDING OF A PET BLACK HOLE by MICHELLE CUEVAS Reviewed by Miss D STAR RATING: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️1/2 RECOMMENDED YEAR GROUP: 5/6 INTERESTS: pets, space, family THEMES: grief/loss, emotions, responsibility, sense of self IF YOU LIKED THIS, YOU’LL LOVE: Michael Rosen’s Sad Book by Michael Rosen The Truth Pixie by Matt Haig The Boy…
Primary Book Reviews 