Book reviews by kids

Book review: The 26-Storey Treehouse

Posted on October 16, 2013January 6, 2015 by Alphabet Soup

The 26-Storey Treehouse by Andy Griffiths, ill. Terry Denton, ISBN 9781742611273, Pan Macmillan Australia

Reviewed by Celine, 11, WA

Have you read The 13-Storey Treehouse? Well, Andy and Terry are back with another 13 new storeys! When Andy tries to tell us a story, he is rudely interrupted by Terry, who’s apparently made the sharks sick by feeding them his underwear. Then Jill comes and helps. Inside one of the shark’s bellies, Andy finds a wooden head that belongs to Captain Woodenhead. This leads into the story of pirates with Jill, Andy and Terry. Then a real pirate ship pulls up at their shore, and out comes a captain with a disgusting head. Apparently he found it in a fish’s tummy.

Could this possibly be Captain Woodenhead, and if so, how will Andy and Terry shoo away the captain and his crew?

I liked this book, however — it was quite gruesome and this book would suit pirate lovers better. I would give this book a rating of 7/10.

—

Celine is one of our Junior Book Reviewers. Here are two other books reviewed by Celine on Soup Blog: Blood Brothers, and Rotters and Squatters. If YOU would like to send us a book review, check out our submission guidelines. Happy reading!

Book Review: Liar & Spy

Posted on October 10, 2013January 6, 2015 by Alphabet Soup

Liar & Spy by Rebecca Stead, ISBN 9781921922947, The Text Publishing Company

Reviewed by Philippa, 11, WA

(A review copy of this book was provided by the publisher)

Georges has just moved house. His mum has gone away to the hospital and his dad is keen for him to ‘meet friends his age’. Then a notice for a Spy Club meeting appears and Georges meets Candy and Safer and is recruited to the Spy Club. He starts tracking the comings and goings of Mr X, a mysterious man in the building.

But the Spy Club’s activities start becoming dangerous and Georges has to decide — how far will he go for his new best friend?

I really liked that you never knew what was going to happen next in this book. The author gave you jigsaw pieces of the story and the plot had twists and turns. This story was set in the USA and usually I prefer books that are set in Australia because I like it when the school-settings and the places are familiar … but I couldn’t put this book down.

This is a great book for 11 to 14 year olds.

—

Philippa is one of Alphabet Soup’s Junior Reviewers. If you are aged 12 or under, you can email us your book reviews, too — check out our submission guidelines!

Book reviews by Joseph, Book reviews by kids

Book review: The Nelly Gang

Posted on September 20, 2013January 6, 2015 by Alphabet Soup

The Adventures of Nelly Nolan: The Nelly Gang by Stephen Axelsen, ISBN 9781921977916, Walker Books Australia

A review copy of this book was provided by the publisher.

Reviewed by Joseph, 9, WA

This book is a graphic novel — it’s a bit like a comic book with lots of picture frames but it tells one long story through the whole book.

Nelly’s gang are Nelly and her friends Miro, Jin, plus Nelly’s goat. Nelly lives in Christmastown in Victoria in 1860 with her Pa who is looking for gold. When he finds gold (lots of gold!) they decide to go back to Sydney to find Nelly’s Ma. But someone knows about their gold and bushrangers are everywhere — like Captain Sunbeam and also Captain Moonshine. (The title of the book made me think of Ned Kelly, but Ned Kelly is not in this book.) The Nelly Gang have to fight the bushrangers.

The pictures in The Nelly Gang have interesting things to look at in the backgrounds. In a normal book you would have lots of description in words but the comic-style pictures do that in a graphic novel. I like the message tree — the posters on it made me laugh. Nelly’s goat (Queen Victoria) also makes me laugh. That’s my favourite character. And I liked funny lines like ‘as rich as pigs in a parsnip patch’ which is what Pa says to Nelly when they are weighing his gold.

Boys and girls age 8+ would thoroughly enjoy this. You learn a bit of history like what clothes are like in 1860, what school was like (the kids used slates instead of books and pencils), what money they used, how people lived in the goldfields, how they weighed gold and what their transport was like (horses and carriages).

When I got to the end I wondered what will happen to Nelly next so I would like to read a sequel. I would rate this book 9.5 out of 10.

Book reviews by kids, Book reviews by Pippa

Book review: The Amazing Spencer Gray

Posted on June 30, 2013January 6, 2015 by Alphabet Soup

The Amazing Spencer Gray by Deb Fitzpatrick, ISBN 9781922089328, Fremantle Press

Reviewed by Philippa, 11 (A review copy of this book was provided by the publisher.)

Spencer Gray, his mum and dad, and his younger sister Pippa live in the country, near Perth. Spencer’s dad loves to fly in a glider over the mountains and Spencer is finally old enough to join him. His mum is not so sure about him going, and then one rainy night Spencer and his dad don’t come back after a flight. It seems that no-one knows where they are or if they are hurt …

I like the pictures this story paints in your mind and the excitement and fear of Spencer’s flights in the glider. You may have read part of this book serialised in the West Australian — and I can recommend reading this longer book version. I think The Amazing Spencer Gray is suitable for 9 to 12 year olds who like a bit of adventure.

Book reviews by Joseph, Book reviews by kids

Book Review: Maximum Maxx!

Posted on February 6, 2013January 6, 2015 by Alphabet Soup

Maxx Rumble Cricket: Maximum Maxx! by Michael Wagner, ill. Terry Denton, ISBN 9781922077806, Black Dog Books

Reviewed by Joseph, 9, WA*

This is about Maxx’s cricket days—it’s all 8 of the cricket books in one book. Maxx has to captain the team to victory against some teams that cheat.

My favourite book in the collection is Tricked. It’s a lot different from the other stories. (Maxx and Rexx find a way to stop The Outhouse Rodents team from cheating at all.)

The illustrations definitely go well with the stories. They make me laugh and I already like Terry Denton’s illustrations from The 13-Storey Treehouse so I knew I would like them here, too.

I think 5 to 9 year olds would like this book because they sometimes have quite big words but in short chapters.

—

* Joseph is a member of our Undercover Readers Club. (Download information about the club on the magazine’s website.) A review copy of this book was provided by the publisher.

Book reviews by kids

Book Review: Show Day

Posted on February 1, 2013March 22, 2013 by Alphabet Soup

Show Day by Penny Matthews, ill. Andrew McLean, ISBN 9781862916890, Scholastic Australia

Reviewed by Jin Xiang Wilson, 7, VIC*

This story is about Lil and her family going to a show. Dad was in the wood-chopping contest and entered his orange marmalade in the Craft and Cookery contest. Mum entered her pumpkin, jam, cheese scones and an iced birthday cake in the show. Henry, Lil’s brother, entered his guinea pig in the Best Pet contest. Lil has a special entry for the Most Unusual Pet but it’s a secret.

I enjoyed reading this book.

—

* Jin Xiang Wilson is a member of our Undercover Readers Club. (Download information about the club on the magazine’s website.) A review copy of this picture book was provided by the publisher.

Book reviews by kids

Book review: Eric Vale Epic Fail

Posted on January 29, 2013March 22, 2013 by Alphabet Soup

Eric Vale Epic Fail by Michael Gerard Bauer, illustrated by Joe Bauer, ISBN 9781862919221, Scholastic Australia

Reviewed by Dalong Xing, 9, NSW*

This book is a comedy fiction book. It is about a boy called Eric Vale who got a nickname—Eric Vale Epic Fail. He got it because he was always doing things wrong. Then one day a new girl named Aasha Alsufi from Africa came to Eric’s class. But the new girl wouldn’t talk to people, so the whole class tried to make her talk or laugh. The class was so excited about the new girl that they all forgot about Eric’s nickname.

–

Then one day they had a swimming carnival and Eric wanted to beat Martin Fassbender so he could get a nickname called Eric Vale Epic Win but instead he made it worse. At last someone made the new girl speak and guess who that is?

–

I liked the whole book because it was funny and long. There wasn’t anything I didn’t like about the book. My favourite part was when Eric got a nickname. I liked all the pictures because they were very interesting. I think the book would suit mostly boys because there might be some rude parts. It will suit ages 7 to 12 and my friends will like it.

–

* Dalong Xing is a member of our Undercover Readers Club. (Download information about the club on the magazine’s website.) A review copy of this book was provided by the publisher.

Book reviews by kids, Book reviews by Matilda, Christmas

Book Review: Heipparallaa!

Posted on December 18, 2012January 6, 2015 by Alphabet Soup

Heipparallaa! by Liliana Stafford, ill. Elina Järvinen, ISBN 9781921136306, Windy Hollow Books

Reviewed by Matilda*, 6, WA

Heipparallaa means almost hello. This book is about two girls sending emails to each other. One lives in Finnish Lapland in the snow, and one girl lives in Australia. They write about what they are doing. It’s December. One place is snowy and one place is hot. Both girls are telling each other about Christmas in their place. Maaria lives in Finnish Lapland and she said that they make ‘new bread’ called uutisleipä. Alidia goes to Carols by Candlelight.The best bit was the imagination when the girls pretend to send sun and fruit and the cool wind to each other.People who like writing letters and people who like imagination would like this book. I wish that I was the Australian girl and I had a penpal. I think this book is good for kids 6 to 14.

–

* Matilda is a member of our Undercover Readers Club. (Download information about the club on the magazine’s website.) Matilda reviewed her own copy of Heipparallaa!

Book reviews by Celine, Book reviews by kids

Book Review – Blood Brothers

Posted on November 30, 2012January 6, 2015 by Alphabet Soup

Dragonkeeper: Blood Brothers by Carole Wilkinson, ISBN 978742031897, Walker Books Australia

Reviewed by Celine, 10, WA

Recently I devoured the most exquisite yet enchanting book, Blood Brothers. It is the fourth book in the series ‘Dragonkeeper’. It tells the story of a monk named Tao. He is the only monk in his family for one reason. He is accumulating good karma for his brother Wei. His brother Wei is unable to move his limbs or talk, but Wei has the powers of a dragonkeeper. When Tao and Wei hold hands, some of the powers are transferred to Tao, as Wei cannot use them. Tao can then talk to a dragon that was following him throughout his journey so far.

Kai the dragon is in search of a dragonkeeper. As Tao journeys on from his house, he comes face to face with some terrible bloodthirsty nomads. Will Tao escape? Can Wei survive?

I believe the title is very suitable for this story and you will understand it when you finish the book. Blood Brothers is very hard to put down. I experienced the feelings with the character as if I were in his shoes—sad, relieved, excited and worried.

This book is recommended for ages 9 and above. My favourite part was when Tao called Wei ‘Wei-Wei’. I would rate this book all the stars visible in the night sky.

Now I’m going back to read books 1, 2 and 3!

–

* Celine is a member of our Undercover Readers Club. (Download information about the club on the magazine’s website.) A review copy of Blood Brothers was provided by Walker Books Australia.

Duncraig Primary School, National Year of Reading

Book Review: Then by Morris Gleitzman

Posted on November 16, 2012January 6, 2015 by Alphabet Soup

This week we are pleased to be featuring book reviews from students at Duncraig Primary School* in WA. Welcome to today’s guest reviewer, Zak.

Then by Morris Gleitzman, ISBN 9780670072781, Viking (Penguin Australia)

Reviewed by Zak, 10, WA

This type of historical fiction fascinates me. I love to learn about Nazi times.

A boy and a girl named Felix and Zelda have to get away from Nazis and they find a German woman, her name is Genia. She looks after Felix and Zelda who are Jewish and keeps them safe from the Nazis.

My favourite part of the book is when Felix goes into a Nazi camp with a boy named Dove he met through Genia, and together they blow up the Nazis.

I enjoyed this book because it draws you in from the start and it is about war and action and is awesomely cool. There is nothing I don’t like about it. This book would be suited for both boys and girls if they’re into war books and that sort of stuff. All of my friends read this book and said I should read it, so I did and now it’s my favourite book. There is more to the series—Once, Then, and Now. I have read Once and Then but I haven’t read Now yet. I can’t wait to start to read it. I would recommend this book for 9 years old and up.

This book was also an honour book in the Children’s Book Council of Australia Awards.

–

* Duncraig Primary is a member of our Undercover Readers Club. (Download information about the club on the magazine’s website.) Zak reviewed his own copy of Then.