Wonder by RJ Palacio, Random House UK, ISBN 9780552565974
Aashi reviewed her own copy of this book.
Wonder is a multi-award-winning book by RJ Palacio. It features August Pullman, a boy with a facial deformity. August faces bullies, fake friends, and lots more disastrous, catastrophic events. How will he survive fifth grade?
August doesn’t just face bad stuff; he also faces good stuff. He has a loving family and a courageous dog who will always be there for him. He is a lovely character who has challenges.
I loved reading Wonder and I recommend it to 8–12-year-olds. They will truly love reading about August’s story. It teaches kids about important life lessons which they will never forget about.
I hope you read Wonder as it is an amazing book. I’m sure you will love it!
Kitty Black has a background in psychology and teaching and believes stories are at the heart of who we are. Kitty is the author of many picture books, two of which have been translated into German and Turkish! Today we’re chatting to Kitty about her latest picture book: The Starting School List, illustrated by Cate James.
The publisher provided Alphabet Soup with a reading copy of The Starting School List.
It’s Little Brother’s first day at school tomorrow. Luckily, Big Brother knows what that feels like. And what’s more, he has a list of what to expect …
You’ll learn where the loos are, and all about bugs. You’ll learn a sad friend could do with a hug. You’ll learn the best spot for sand that is slushy. You’ll learn that tomato makes sandwiches mushy.
How did you come to write about startingschool?
I was actually asked if I wanted to write a picture book about starting school by my publisher, I’d never thought about it before, but I instantly loved the idea. We knew that we wanted the book to be full of good advice, and who’s better at telling younger kids what to do than their older siblings. In a loving, helpful way of course!
What’s your favourite memory about starting school?
I wouldn’t call this my favourite memory, but it’s definitely the strongest memory I have of starting school, I got left behind on my first day. My older siblings told me to wait outside my classroom and they’d come get me on the way to the bus stop, but they forgot! A teacher drove me home, and just as we were pulling into the driveway my Mum was marching out of the house, car keys in hand, shouting at my siblings about how could they forget their little sister. They never forgot me again!
You’re the author of many picture books … and this one is written in rhyme. When you get an ideafor a picture book, how do you know whether a story should be told with or without rhyme?
This is my first rhyming book, and I was honestly surprised that I wrote it in rhyme. I tried writing the book without rhyme over and over again, but it just didn’t feel right. There was something about the first words in the book ‘Hey little brother, are you asleep?’ that just WANTED to rhyme. So, I guess I don’t know when a story should rhyme or not, but the story knows.
Do you have a tip for young writers who’d like to try writing their own picture books?
Go for it! Writing should be fun, so if an idea makes you giggle, make it into a book!
Can you tell us a bit about what you’re working on next?
I am working on ANOTHER rhyming picture book, which was inspired by my cheeky dog.
The Starting School Listisout now! Ask for it at your favourite bookshop or local library.
The Third Form at St Clare’s by Enid Blyton, Hachette Children’s Books, ISBN 9781444930030
Aashi reviewed her own copy of this book.
School days at St. Clare’s are never dull for Patricia and Isabel O’Sullivan.
When the mistresses announce that the third form shall be running their production, trouble starts. However, that’s only the beginning of their problems! Will the show still go on? But despite all the chaos pranks are still being pulled on poor Mam’zelle, the French mistress.
I adored The Third Form at St. Clare’s, a fantastic book. The book is full of surprises, mischief, jokes, and mysteries. I rate it a five out of five.
However, I wasn’t the only person who thought so. Here are some quotes from other readers …
'A great story with some new characters along the way.'
by Felicity
'A great book. Never bores you.'
by Phoenix
'I loved this series, it's one of my childhood favourites.'
by Bhavya
I enjoyed this great book and it made for a spectacular read. I hope you read it too and like it.
REVIEWED BY KATE, 11, WA (IONA PRESENTATION COLLEGE)
Mel and Shell by Julia Lawrinson, Fremantle Press, ISBN 9781760990725
The publisher provided a review copy of this book.
Mel and Shell is a book about friendship, laughter, friendship problems and of course ABBA. This book is set 40 years ago when the world was obsessed with the sensational band ABBA.
In this book Shell and her classmates are writing to a pen-pal from 1829 about their day, what they would be surprised about and what they would like.
Another character in this book is Sharon the girl who can’t get enough of herself. She is a mean person but gets people to think that she is nice.
There were many surprises in this book but one of my favourites was that they went on school camp and Sharon forced Shell to push her and some boys out to an island and something happens to one of them.
The cover of this book is amazing and tells a lot, and I love the characters; Shell is just so outgoing, kind and funny and Mel is adventurous and nice. I recommend this book for kids aged 10 and up and for anyone who needs a good book to laugh.
I give this book 5 stars for the creativity and the good plot.
Iona Presentation College students are members of Alphabet Soup’s review team. This is Kate’s first review for Alphabet Soup. If YOU would like to send us a book review, check out our submission guidelines. Happy reading!
The School for Good and Evil by Soman Chainani, HarperCollins Publishers, ISBN 9780007492930
Kobe reviewed her own copy of this book.
Two girls that are friends are kidnapped at a certain time of their lives to find that one learns cruelty and evil while the other learns loyalty and good. In the end, the result is least expected because the two friends turn out to be great enemies.
Agatha was fine living in her town, Gavaldon and her friend Sophie. One night she was staying awake until she saw something black going towards Sophie’s house, she rushes over to find that they are both in a worse situation than she had planned. Then they are both kidnapped and taken to their true home. Agatha is surprised to see the location she is in because she had never known that fairy tales were real. She finds that she starts to like this new life that a black shadow of some sort has driven her in to. After that she finds that trying to be with her best friend Sophie was going to be impossible because a princess can never be friends with a witch. After an attempt to change clothes with each other, they find it not accomplishable to do.
My favourite part about this fantastic book is that this book always keeps you wondering what is going to happen, like when Agatha and Sophie both get kidnapped and Agatha tries to use matches, but it still doesn’t stop the shadow from pulling them on to a tree and a bird made from bones taking them to their rightful schools. You wonder which school are they going to go to and what they’ll learn and do in their school. I also like that it always seems that Sophie and Agatha are going to somehow die or at least be in great danger, but they always seem to avoid it, like when Agatha was hanging on the School of Evil’s roof and there was a gargoyle ready to breathe fire at her or eat her.
Jacky Ha-Ha by James Patterson and Chris Grabenstein, illustrated by Kerascoet Kerascoet, Little Brown & Co, ISBN 9780316262491
Jacky is known for her pranks, jokes and her stutter. Ever since she introduced herself as “My name is Jacky Ha-ha-hart,” in primary school, people made fun of her. She always played along, but middle school is a whole new area of trouble. She starts off with twenty detentions and is left with two options: get a double detention at home or go into a school play directed by a new teacher. But Jacky has another problem. Her loving mother is in Saudi Arabia because of war!
My favourite scene was the food fight at McDonalds. It started off as a rhyming competition and the loser was supposed to pay for all of the milkshakes. But in the end, everyone starts throwing pepper packets, squirting ketchup and mustard … even spraying Coke everywhere!
I also love the bit where Jacky and the people in the play put on a show for Jacky’s unwell Nona (her Italian grandmother) and the people in the old folks’ home. It is so heart-warming because her Nona is happy after the show. She couldn’t wipe the smile off her face.
The message of the book is that it’s ok to be yourself. Don’t let people mould you like some kind of clay. Cherish your personality because it doesn’t matter if other people don’t like it. I also learnt to not let the little things seem big. You have to let it go and just flip the page.
Harriet the Spy by Louise Fitzhugh, Collins Modern Classics, ISBN 0007155026
REVIEWED BY MATILDA, 9, WA
Matilda borrowed a copy of this book from her local library.
Harriet is 11 and she likes to know everything about people, so she watches them without them knowing (and writes all about them in her notebook). Her best friends are Sport (whose name is really Simon) and Janie.
One day Harriet is playing chasey with her classmates — they run around knocking books out of each other’s arms. One of her books is her notebook and a classmate picks it up and starts reading it. (Harriet hasn’t only written good things. This is a disaster.)
There were some interesting old-fashioned things in this book, like a dumbwaiter.
I liked how Harriet never gives up. Some of the book was funny, like the school play and the way Harriet’s dad talked (and sometimes how Harriet copies him) and when her dad joins Harriet in trying to act like an onion.
I like this book because Harriet wasn’t like anyone else I’ve met.
People aged 9 to 14 will like this book because it’s about kids at school, friendship and how writing mean things can break a friendship.
REVIEWED BY KOBE, 9, WA
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