The Great World of Books

Author: Veronica Roth Rating: 9/10 Age: 12+ Genre: Fiction, Family, Science Fiction Pages: 487 Published in: April 2011 Main Characters: Tris, Caleb, Four, Christina, Will, Al Synopsis:   The word “divergent” is defined as “differing from each other or from a standard .” This story begins with a 16 year old girl named Beatrice. In Chicago, society is divided into five factions, or groups, each dedicated to the personality of a person. These groups consist of the following: Candor (the honest), Abnegation (the selfless), Dauntless (the brave), Amity (the peaceful), and Erudite (the intelligent). On an appointed day of every year, all sixteen-year-olds must select the faction to which they will devote the rest of their lives. Beatrice, her parents and her brother all belong to the Abnegation faction, and for her, the decision is between staying with her family or being who she really is—she can’t have both. So sh...

  Author: Jackson Pierce Rating: 10/10 Age: 12+ Genre: Fiction, mystery, Horror, Paranormal Fiction Pages: 336 Published in:  2011 Main Characters: Gretchen, Ansel, Samuel, Sophia Synopsis:   This book is a modern recreation of the famous fairy tale, Hansel and Gretel.  As a child, Gretchen's twin sister was taken by a witch in the woods. At least that’s what they convinced everyone. No matter how hard they tried, no one ever seemed to believe them. Ever since, Gretchen and her brother, Ansel, have felt the long branches of the witch's forest threatening to make them disappear too. Years later, when their selfish stepmother casts Gretchen and Ansel out, they find themselves in sleepy Live Oak somewhere in South Carolina. They're invited to stay with a girl similar to their age, Sophia Kelly, a beautiful candy maker who molds and sells sugary magic-covered treats that create confidence, brav...

Author: David Walliams Illustrator: Tony Ross Rating: 09/10 Age: 9+ Genre: Fiction, Adventure,Humour Pages: 477 Published in: Nov 2016 Main Characters: Tom,  Porter, Midnight gang members, Sally Synopsis: This story is about a young boy named Tom Charper. Tom woke up confused in the very strange Lord Funt Hospital. He soon realised he’s there because he had been hit on the head with a cricket ball at St Willet’s Boarding School for Boys and, after being assessed by a doctor (not much older than himself), he is moved to the Children’s Ward. It isn’t very pleasant here, as the whole ward his run by a matron who HATES children. Even when Tom thought that these days will be the most boring days in his life, he soon found out that he was wrong. It is here that he discovers the Midnight Gang. The Midnight Gang was a secret gang of children who went on midnight adventures in the hospital. Not just any adventures, ...

  Author: Enid Blyton Rating: 9/10 Age: 9+ Genre: Fiction, Mystery Main Characters: Larry, Daisy, Bets, Pip, Fatty, Mr Goon Synopsis:   In this series, we are introduced to 5 young children with the names of Bets, Pip, Fatty, Daisy and Larry along with a tiny black dog named Buster.  When Fatty moved to the new town, the children were intrigued with his cleverness and immediately became friends. However, they all realise that have to face many mysterious happenings in Peterswood such as thievery, codes, clues and many more. And everyone is relying on them to solve the case. Well, maybe not everyone. The find outers are always solving the puzzles before Mr Goon, the unpleasant village policeman, much to his annoyance.   Introduction to the characters:   Frederick Algernon "Fatty" Trotteville  – the leader of the Five Find-Outers from the third book on, when he justifies his leader...

  Author: Roald Dahl Illustrator: Quintin Blake Rating: 8/10 Age: 9+ Genre: Fiction, Humour, Family Pages: 232 Published in: 1988 Main Characters: Matilda, Miss Honey, Miss Trunchball, Lavender     Synopsis: This story is about a young girl named Matilda. You might just think of her as an ordinary girl, but in reality, she is an extremely smart girl for her age. She was able to read at the age of 3! Now, you would expect her parents to be very proud of her, wouldn’t you? Unfortunately for Matilda, however, her parents sometimes forget that she was ever alive. Matilda has a brother, Michael, and her parents think very highly of him. Matilda is used to being treated like this, but deep inside all she ever wanted is for someone to love her and praise her for her talents. Harry (Matilda’s father) is a second-hand car salesman, who enjoys swindling his customers. Zinnia (Matilda’s mother) prefers to play bin...

  Author: David Walliams Illustrator: Tony Ross Rating: 8/10 Age: 9+ Genre: Fiction, Humour Pages: 448 Published in: Feb 2015 Main Characters: Alfie, Gabriella, Winnie, Miss Root, Alfie’s dad   Synopsis : This story started with a young boy called Alfie. He was famous for having the most horrid teeth! He hated going to the dentist, and, as a result, the boy’s teeth were almost all yellow.  The ones that weren’t yellow, well, they were brown. The teeth that were neither yellow nor brown simply weren’t there anymore. They had fallen out! Alfie lived with his disabled father as his mother had died after giving birth to him. After a traumatising experience in the dentist’s surgery a few years ago, Alfie had vowed that he would not go to the dentist ever again.  Never. Never ever. Hopefully his Father never found the letters from the dentist at the top of the cupboard… When Alfie had gone back to schoo...

Author: Jacqueline Wilson Illustrator: Nick Sharratt Rating: 8/10 Age: 9+ Genre: Fiction, Friendship, Family, Pages: 188 Published in: 1995 Main Characters: Ruby, Garnet, Dad, Rose. Synopsis: This story is about two identical twins, with the names of Ruby and Garnet. The twins have been living with their father and grandmother since their mother, Opal, died. The two have always been close despite their differences—Ruby is sociable and dreams of being an actress, while introverted Garnet is content to let Ruby dominate their relationship. The twins have their own secret language, and they don't like to make friends at school because they have each other. When their father gets a new girlfriend, Rose, and a new job, their once stable relationship is thrown into turmoil, as the relationship leads to feelings of betrayal from their father to their late mother, and it comes with a big price—leaving their grandmother ...