Friends with Boys

Friends with Boys by Faith Erin Hicks

This book is a graphic novel

Maggie is just starting high school, after being home schooled all her life. Her brothers have started without too much bad stuff, but Maggie feels feels she just doesn't fit in. Then she meets school outcast Lucy and Lucy's brother, and she learns a lot about the way the school works, as well as what good friendship is about. Oh, and one other thing, Maggie is haunted by a ghost.

Although the actual story line story line wasn't amazing, the artwork was. There were funny parts to the story, such as Maggie's two twin brothers fighting all the time. I thought the characters were great, and there look suited there personality.

I am going to give it an 8/10
and an age rating of 11+

The Apple Tart of Hope

The Apple Tart of Hope by Sarah Moore Fitzgerald

When Oscar goes missing, everyone presumes he's dead. Everyone, that is, except Meg and Stevie. Meg can't think of why Oscar would run away. It turns out, however, that there is a lot she doesn't know.

I was captivated by this story. So captivated that I was still awake at 11p.m. reading it. The plot is genius and the characters are well thought up. I think it reflects the way that a lot of bullied young people probably feel and could help to identify it. My only criticism is that, you actually know what's happened to Oscar all the way through, which I found ad you (mentally) screaming at the book to speed up.

I am going to give it a 9/10

and an age rating of 12+ due to some slightly inappropriate sections

Check it out!

Have a quick look at the vote at the bottom of the page!!!

The Rest of Us Just Live Here

The  Rest of Us Just Live Here by Patrick Ness

Mike is just a normal kid. Not one of the chosen ones. All he wants to do is graduate before the high school gets blown up. Again. So when the mysterious Immortals come, there's not a lot he can do about it.

What a brilliant book. Seriously well written and I love the idea of a normal child who really is just that, normal. I thought the little love story entwined, and I thought the fact that mike's friend is a quarter god. It just mixes things up even more (in a good way).

I am going to give it a 10/10
and an age rating of 12+

A seven Letter Word

A Seven Letter Word by Kim Slater

Finlay's mum left two years ago and Finlay has no idea[5]*  where she is. But then one day, Finlay meets Alex, on an on line scrabble[14]  website, and thinks that Alex and Finlay's mum might be related[8]  in some way. Unfortunately[19] , there's is only one thing stopping[13]  Finlay,  his stutter[7].

*the scrabble score

I think this book is a great book. Just the ideas Kim Slater came up with to make it. My favourite idea from the book is that chapter headings are made from the rules of scrabble (chapters one's being scrabble is a popular word that is played with one hundred tiles, chapter two's being of those one hundred tiles, two of them are blank). I like the way that it was a unique mystery because Finlay literally could not say his suspicions.

I am going to give it a 9/10

and an age rating of 11+

The Tragedy Paper

The Tragedy Paper by Elizabeth LaBan

When Duncan walks into school on the first day of his senior year, he has two things on his mind. Firstly, his tragedy paper and secondly, what treasure has been left for him. There is a tradition at Irving School that, when they leave, all seniors leave behind 'treasure' for the person that gets there room. But when he finds it, Duncan's room is the worst in the building, and his treasure is just a pile of CD's. But when he goes to put on the CD, he finds that maybe it isn't what he was expecting.

Once you get past the fact that it's not going to win any prizes for the quality of the writing, the idea isn't that bad. One thing I didn't like was the twist at the end, it just didn't work with the rest of the story. Although, to be honest, it sure did make it tragic. The characters were well thought up and I liked the way it was kind of two stories rolled into one.

I am going to give it a 7/10
and an age rating of 12+

The Recruit : Graphic Novel

The Recruit Graphic Novel. First in the cherub series. By Robert Muchamore

When James' mum dies, he feel's that his life is going down the toilet. His living in a rubbish foster home and his sister has gone to live with his horrible step dad. But then, after getting in trouble with the police, James wakes up on Cherub campus, a spy agency for kids. Things might just be looking up.

I didn't really read this for the story,  I read it for the art work. One of my friends had recommended it and it definitely lived up to expectations. The stile was,  I think, Manga but I could be wrong. All the pictures were colourful and well drawn.

I am gong to give it a 9/10
and an age rating of 12+

Butter

Butter by Erin Lange

Butter is an obese teenager who has decided that he can't take it any longer. So he decides that he is going to kill himself. And, if the thought of that doesn't horrify you enough, the method surely will. Because Butter has decided to eat himself to death. He thinks his friends will try to stop this gruesome suicide, but instead, they become cheerleaders for it.

Once you get over the slightly scary idea of it all, it's not a bad book. It's well written. The story was told through first person and I think that, in this case, anything else wouldn't work. I also like the way that there is a love story entwined into the plot.

I am going to give it a 9/10
and an age rating of 12+

Dash and Lily's Book of Dares

Dash and Lily's Book of Dares by Davis Levithan and Rachel Cohn

When Dash finds a little red notebook in The Strand bookshop, in Manhattan, he is not expecting it to be full of dares from a girl called Lily. Dash does the dare, and then returns the book to it's place, with another dare. Lily excepts the dare, and then Dash excepts another, and so on. As they do this, they get to know each other more than they think...

Possibly one of the best books I have ever read. The second I picked it up, I literally did not put it down. The plot is just genius, and I like the way that Dash and Lily are written by different authors, it makes it a whole lot more realistic.

I am going to give it a 10/10
and an age rating of 11+

The Beano's Prankipedia

I know, not really a tween book. But still, what better way to celebrate April fools day than with the Beano!


The Beano's Prankipedia by The Beano

The Prankipedia is a book full of the worlds greatest pranks. These include the spaghetti tree prank and the digital Big Ben prank.

It may not really count towards your easter reading target, but it's still good to read. The Prankipedia is a really funny book that not only tells you about a bunch of hilarious pranks but also gives inputs from the characters. And, if that wasn't enough, it comes with a free catapult. I not only recommend it for the people reading this, it is also good for presents to younger kids.

I am going to give it an 7/10
and an age rating of 7+