Book reviews by Milan

The cover of an ebook for children aged 10+: Hover Car Racer by Matthew Reilly.

Hover Car Racer by Matthew Reilly, Pan MacMillan Australia, ISBN 9781743283707

REVIEWED BY MILAN, 10, NSW

Milan reviewed his own copy of this title.

Hover Car Racer is a science fiction novel written by Matthew Reilly. This book is about two brothers who dream of becoming the world’s best hover car team. A hover car is a futuristic vehicle that is similar to a regular car but flies above ground and can reach a potential speed of 770 km/h. The story is set in the future where the two main characters are in a National Championship in Sydney and follows their journey as they compete around the world.

At the beginning, brothers Jason and the Bug are chosen to attend the International Race School after showcasing their skills. As the year progresses, the team is paired up with Sally McDuff, their new Mech Chief. Together they train and gradually improve in their pit stops, speed and accuracy.

I really enjoyed the journey Matthew Reilly described. It seemed very realistic because Jason had to face his fears and not everything went right for him. I have never read a science fiction book before this one and it was eye opening the way he described the futuristic scene.

I think Matthew Reilly could improve the description of Ravi Gupta and his motivations behind becoming a gambler. Although I disliked this character, I would have appreciated understanding him better.

I would rate this book 4/5 stars because it was exciting, fun and engaging. The racing scenes made it an absolute page turner. I would highly recommend this book to readers keen for adventure and those who love science fiction books.

Milan is a regular book reviewer for Alphabet Soup. You can read another of his reviews on 20 October 2025. To send us YOUR book review, read our submission guidelines.

The cover of a children's novel: The Light in Everything by Katya Balen and illustrated by Sydney Smith.

The Light in Everything by Katya Balen, illustrated by Sydney Smith, Bloomsbury Publishing (AUS), ISBN 9781526622983

REVIEWED BY MILAN, 10, NSW.

Milan reviewed his own copy of this title.

The Light In Everything is a very intriguing fictional novel written by Katya Balen. The story is set in a seaside cottage. Here we meet Zofia and her dad, Marek, as well as Tom and his mum, Fiona. Each chapter switches perspectives between Zofia and Tom. Their personalities are the polar opposite of each other. Tom is a shy, timid boy who has trouble trusting others due to a traumatic experience with his father. Zofia, on the other hand, is an energetic, confident girl who has a close relationship with her dad and finds it difficult to share his attention. As the story progresses, Marek and Fiona fall in love and the families move in together which poses many challenges. The four of them quickly discover their differences and this causes tension in their relationships. Later, Fiona and Marek have a baby who is born with complications which forces Tom and Zofia to spend more time together.

Overall this was a very engaging book and I thoroughly enjoyed it. I really liked the description of the pain Zofia and Tom were going through. The language she used made me feel as if I was really there and experiencing their emotions. One of the quotes I really liked was “The sea is bright today. Far out towards the inky horizon are little licks of white foam that mirror the lazy clouds above them.” This quote shows us how powerful Katya Balen’s descriptions are and it made me imagine how the characters might feel.

One thing I didn’t like was how ruthless Fiona’s last husband was and how brutal he was towards Tom. The quote “I tell her that Dad used to hurt us and now he’s in prison but I’m still afraid” shows the impact Tom’s dad made on him. This made me empathise with Tom but I also found it difficult to read because it made me feel fearful. I thought that the end was quite predictable and I usually prefer a twist at the end of a book.

I would rate this book 4/5 stars and highly recommend it to readers who enjoy a heartfelt story about relationships and family.

This is Milan’s first book review for Alphabet Soup. To send us YOUR book review, read our submission guidelines. Happy reading!

Category: Book reviews by Milan

Book review: Hover Car Racer

Book review: The Light in Everything