Fantasy novels

The Secret of the Stone by Kathryn Lefroy, Fremantle Press, ISBN 9781760994648

REVIEWED BY AASHI, 10, VIC

The publisher provided a review copy of this book.

The Secret of the Stone is an exciting book about adventure and loyalty, packed with surprises. When Olive and her friends discover a mysterious stone, they realise it has the power to grant wishes. They know that they should use it for good purposes. However, they can’t resist having a little fun with it first!

Since the stone is so powerful and magical, other people with malicious intentions want to possess it. Olive and her friends must protect the stone no matter what.

I really liked Olive who was always kind and sympathetic to her friends. She was a good friend who tried her best at everything.

This book is great for people who liked the books Keeper of The Lost Cities or The Sugarcane Kids and the Empty Cage. Kathryn Lefroy used lots of exciting vocabulary and great imagery.

The book is amazing as it teaches you about loyalty and friendship. The book is suitable for ages eight to ten. I recommend the book to anyone who loves adventure and excitement.

Read the first few pages of The Secret of the Stone.

Aashi is a regular book reviewer for Alphabet Soup. You can read more of her book reviews here. To send us YOUR book review, read our submission guidelines.

Happy reading!

REVIEWED BY SADIE, 10, VIC

The House with Chicken Legs by Sophie Anderson, illustrations by Elisa Paganelli, cover illustration by Melissa Castrillón, Usborne, ISBN 9781474940665

Sadie reviewed her own copy of this book.

Mariska lives with her grandmother, a guardian known as a Yaga, who’s job is to guide the dead through the gate. She knows that one day she will be the next guardian, but she doesn’t want to be a Yaga. She dreams of being with the living and does not like listening to the dead or helping them on their journey.

Mariska’s house has a personality of its own and cares for her and her grandma, Baba Yaga. The house has chicken legs, and like all Yaga houses it gets up and walks somewhere new, whenever it feels like it.

12-year-old Mariska wants nothing more than to have a friend, a friend that isn’t the house. She may be able to play fun games with the house, but she can’t talk to the house about her thoughts and problems or share secrets. So when Mariska meets Benjamin all she wants to do is be his friend. She knows not to cross the fence, but to be with a human is what she has wanted her whole life. But the house ruins it all.

I think my favourite part would be when Mariska gets startled by the sight of a girl her age sitting on the front porch. She said to Mariska that, she doesn’t want to go through the gate and wants to get back home.

This is definitely my no. 1 book this year.

Suggested age: 11+
Rating: 5 stars

Read a sample chapter from The House with Chicken Legs on the publisher’s website.

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

Tag: Fantasy novels

Book review: The Secret of the Stone

Book review: The House with Chicken Legs