Undercover Readers Club

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.

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* 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

February 1, 2013March 22, 2013 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.

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* 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

January 29, 2013March 22, 2013 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.

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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?

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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.

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* 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 Celine, Book reviews by kids

Book Review – Blood Brothers

November 30, 2012January 6, 2015 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!

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* 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.

National Year of Reading

Book Review – Sword Girl: The Secret of the Swords

November 27, 2012November 27, 2012 Alphabet Soup

Today we have 7-year-old Lucinda stopping by as our guest reviewer. Welcome, Lucinda!

Sword Girl: The Secret of the Swords by Frances Watts, ill. Gregory Rogers, ISBN 9781742377285, Allen & Unwin

Reviewed by Lucinda, 7, WA

The Secret of the Swords is a story with a lot of unexpected surprises. For example, lots of things talked. I really enjoyed it because it felt like I was in the story.

The book was about a little girl named Tommy who wanted to be a knight. My favourite character was Tommy because she liked knights and I do too. I really liked the ending because it has lots of action in it. Girls would like this book, but boys would too. People who are 7 or 8 would like this book. The part I didn’t like was the start because it had no action at all. I really liked the illustrations because the illustrations were full of action too!

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* Lucinda is a member of our Undercover Readers Club. (Download information about the club on the magazine’s website.) A review copy of Sword Girl: The Secret of the Swords was provided by Allen & Unwin.

Welcome to Sophie, who is a member of our Undercover Readers Club and our guest reviewer today!

Ghost Club: The Haunted School by Deborah Abela, ISBN 9781742750835, Random House Australia

Reviewed by Sophie, 10, WA

Ghost Club: The Haunted School is a ghost story where you never know what will come around the corner. This is one of the few stories that will get you down on your knees pleading for more. If you were to read this, you will come to accept that people make some big mistakes in life, some so big you can never make up for them.

I love this book. I might have read more complicated books, but this one is right up there on my list of fabulous books. It does not go on for so long that you find yourself asking mum if you can tidy up the whole house. I love this book because it has a ghostly theme, it explains the characters’ emotions and it gives you a real picture of what the characters look like.

This book does not have illustrations. It does not need them. It tells the story extremely well without them. I personally think that a book with illustrations spoils your imagination as you don’t give yourself a picture of what YOU think that particular character looks like.

I think that this wonderful book would suit both girls and boys. Ghosts are not just for boys!

This would suit anyone between ages 5 and 100! (I am 100 minus 90!)

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* Sophie is a member of our Undercover Readers Club. (Download information about the club on the magazine’s website.) A review copy of Ghost Club: The Haunted School was provided by Random House Australia.

Tag: Undercover Readers Club

Book Review: Maximum Maxx!

Book Review: Show Day

Book review: Eric Vale Epic Fail

Book Review – Blood Brothers

Book Review – Sword Girl: The Secret of the Swords

Book Review – Ghost Club: The Haunted School

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Book Review: Rotters and Squatters

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