NEVER FADE by Alexandra Bracken

“They call her the Leader. Their saviour and only hope. Only Ruby knows what she really is - a monster, capable of destroying them all. Ruby never asked for the abilities that almost cost her life. Now she must call upon them to bring down a corrupt government in a world where children have been eliminated. When she is entrusted with an explosive secret, she embarks on her deadliest journey yet: leaving the Children’s League to track down Liam Stewart, the boy who carries the truth about the disease that threw the world into chaos. The boy she once loved and hoped never to see again…”

What were your initial thoughts on the book?

As soon as I got the book I wanted to read it and start reading it immediately. It wasn’t because it looked good or sounded interesting, although those were factors that contributed slightly, it was because I had just read the first book and it had ended in the biggest cliff-hanger I have ever read. I wanted to read so badly and once I read the blurb I got even more excited and found the book even more interesting, which I thought couldn’t possible happen. I was so happy that Ruby would see Liam again and I knew that I would love the book as soon as I read the first page.

Who was your favourite character and why?

My favourite character in this book was Jude. I liked his bouncy personality and that he always filled the silence, if there ever was any, and that he was chatty. I liked this about him because I am chatty too and liked how happy he always was. My favourite thing about him was something that he said to Ruby when they were on a cargo plane, “I don’t just want to see someone’s face; I want to know his shadow, too.” I really liked when he said this because it told me that he liked to know what was on the inside of people and didn’t just care about the outside like some people, it also told me that he like meeting knew people and liked to know everything about them. Another great quality that Jude had was that he really cared about his friends and always wanted to help them.

What was your favourite part of the book and why?

My favourite part was when Liam finally remembered Ruby and all the memories that she took from him in the first book. Ever since I read the ending of the first book I had been waiting and hoping that Liam would remember Ruby, it was the most important part of the book because to me I felt that they were meant for each other and that if he didn’t remember the book would never be as good as the first. I also liked this part because they would finally be able to get on with returning to the Children’s League with the flash drive and, as I had thought when I had read it; find out more about the disease and how to cure it. I loved this part and was happy that Liam finally knew what was going on and they would finally be able to get back together.

What was your overall impression of the book?

Overall, I loved the book but I still feel that like the first book it was very slow-moving. Unlike the first book, I don’t think that anything was boring or unnecessary but I do think that they could have been faster at getting to Liam and that Liam could have remembered Ruby faster. Some parts of the book were great and I really liked the fact that Ruby got to meet Cole, Liam’s brother, and that they came across Clancy because I think that meeting a new character and seeing Clancy again were important parts that would have changed the store if they didn’t happen. However, I didn’t like the initiation at “East River” because it was a bit gory and I don’t really like that sort of thing, I think that it was important for Ruby to tell everyone the truth but that she could have done it differently. I also think that something that could have been done differently was the ending and that it was very sad and it didn’t really need to be. Even including the not so amazing bits I still think that this book was great.

Which book did you like better, the first or the second?

I think that I like the first book better because although I think that they are both equally amazing, I think that the ending of the second book wasn’t very good. I feel that the unnecessary death really ruined the book and that this character really didn’t deserve to die, he was important, and helped make the book amazing and I think that his personality would have helped bring up the mood in the book and probably will too in the third. I think that his death will probably have more meaning in the third book, and hopefully a better explanation, and that I will probably feel different after reading it but so far, I think that the first book was better.

Would you recommend this book?  

I would recommend this book to anyone who likes thrillers and adventure books. If you have read the first book then this book is definitely for you. I think that it is perfect for children over 12 and that you will love it.

Summarise the book in one sentence. (Verdict) 

An exciting, emotional book that will keep you on the edge of your seat.

Reviewed by Jimena Gutierrez Reviriego

THE DARKEST MINDS by Alexandra Bracken

“Ruby is sixteen. She is dangerous. And she is alive. For now. A mysterious disease has killed most of America’s children. Ruby might have survived, but she and the others have emerged with something far worse than a virus: frightening abilities they cannot control. Pressured by the government, Ruby’s parents send her to Thurmond, a brutal state rehabilitation camp, where she has learned to suppress her new power. But what if mastering it is a whole generation’s only chance at survival?”

What were your initial thoughts on the book?

When I first looked at the book I didn’t really have any idea about whether or not I would like it. I had read a set of books similar to it and so I thought that if they were similar maybe I would enjoy them just as much. Once I read the blurb, I knew immediately that I needed to read the book, because from reading that short paragraph I already had too many questions to leave them unanswered so I decided it was time to dive into it. When I had a quick glance at it I also saw that there weren’t any pictures and I really liked that because I like having my own idea about what the characters and places looked like, I really wanted to read it and although I didn’t know if I would like it I knew I had to give it a try.

Who was your favourite character and why?

My favourite character was Ruby because of how kind she was and how cared about everyone she met and didn’t want to put anyone in danger. I loved how when she didn’t even know who the little girl she was following was, she didn’t was to be the reason she got caught and taken by the people chasing them. I also liked the fact that she didn’t want Liam, Chubs and Zu to find out about her true abilities because she didn’t want to lose them or to have them send her away. I liked this about her because it showed me that although Ruby was different, she was still like every other teenager, worried about showing people who they really were in case they were judged, this was a good addition to the story because it gives people something to relate to. I also really like the character Zu because she pulled Ruby into the van not worrying about the consequences, instead of seeing Ruby as a danger, she saw a scared girl with nowhere to go. Although she didn’t speak in the book, I feel that she was an important character and that without her it wouldn’t have been the same.

What was your favourite part of the book and why?

My favourite part was when Ruby finally showed her true abilities to Liam, Chubs and Zu. I didn’t necessarily like when she used her abilities but the part that I liked was afterwards when Ruby thought that they were going to tell her to leave because of what she really was. I loved this part because Ruby learned that her friends didn’t care what she was because liked for who she was and her personality and that it didn’t matter to them what colour she was, Green or Orange. I also liked this part because they were finally on their way to East River and I also found out what had happened to her parents so it answered one of the questions I kept asking myself.

What was your overall impression of the book?

As a whole, I really loved the book but there are some parts that I thought could have had more action or mystery. One thing that really annoyed me was that in the book we weren’t told how the disease started or what caused it. I understand that the book is a part of a series but I still would have liked to find that out. I found that some parts were boring and slow-moving, for example in the warehouse Ruby could have taken a shorter amount of time to figure out the clue and it could have been more interesting. Although some parts were boring and unnecessary, I also found some exciting and although cliff-hangers tend to frustrate me, I found this one really exciting and as soon as I finished the book I knew I wanted to read the second one.

Would you recommend this book? 

If you like science fiction, action and adventure then you should definitely read this book, I would recommend it for children over 12 and even if you don’t like books like this or have never tried them then you should still try this book because I am sure that you enjoy it just as much as I have.

Summarise the book in one sentence. (Verdict) 

A thrilling sci-fi adventure with love, friendship and enemies around every bend.

Reviewed by Jimena Gutierrez Reviriego

DIARY OF ANNA THE GIRL WITCH 1: FOUNDLING WITCH by Vic Connor

“Anna Sophia doesn’t know much about herself. Not what happened to her parents. Not why she was found living with wild bears in Siberia, and certainly not why an eccentric, rich couple in Switzerland is trying so hard to adopt her. She has always known she was different. She didn’t know just how different until her 13th birthday, when she discovered her supernatural powers, both delightful and a little frightening. She also learned that these powers make a dark cloud grow inside her soul, bit by tiny bit. And now she’s in danger. Her friends, too. It’s so tempting to use her magic to save them all, but would she sacrifice her soul for that? She just doesn’t know. Anna Sophia can ignite things. She can fly in a bucket and stop time. And she has some serious choices to make.”

What were your initial thoughts on the book?

My first thoughts about this book were that it wasn’t going to be any good and that I would find it boring because I have read a million stories about witches already, and they are nearly always about the same thing, but when I started reading it I discovered that this was not like all the other witch books that I had read and I actually really began enjoyed it. Soon, I was near the end of the book and once I had finished it, I felt like I needed to read more and  I hope one day I can read the next 2 in the series, and I know that I will love them just like this first one.

Who was your favourite character and why?

My favourite character was Anna Sophia because she was very curious about what had recently happened to her and immediately had hundreds of questions. She didn’t just stop after danger came past; she carried on whatever the problem was ready to achieve her goal. She would step up and be brave to save her best friend from terrible danger even if she thought she would be in great trouble if she was caught saving her, and many others, with her friend; she showed courage even though inside she was burning with fear. She is also my favourite character because through the book I really got to know her, and it felt like I was going through every step of what was happening to her and that I was feeling everything that she was feeling.

What was your favourite part of the book and why?

My favourite part in the book was when Anna Sophia manages to fly in a bucket. I really liked this part because it meant that she was one step closer to saving everyone and it was really funny. I found that it flying in a bucket instead of a broom made Anna unique and different to all other witches and made this book special and definitely made me want to read on. Although I found flying in a bucket weird at first, after thinking about it I realised that this was part of Anna’s personality and that if she was flying in an ordinary broom that this book wouldn’t be that interesting.

Would you recommend this book?  

I would recommend this book to anyone who enjoys thrilling adventure stories between the ages 10-14. I loved this book and I think that everyone will like it too if they just try and read it!

Summarise the book in one sentence. (Verdict)

A very creative and imaginative story, that anyone who reads the first couple of chapters will enjoy and love straight away!

Reviewed by Jimena Gutierrez Reviriego

THE FRIENDSHIP BRACELET by Arlene Stewart

“As class klutz and all-around misfit, Olivia Jones thought that starting middle school would be tough enough. What’s worse, her BFF and next-door neighbour, Alex, is moving to Paris. Then Olivia discovers an old friendship bracelet in her mother’s drawer and realises there might be a way for her to feel connected to Alex, even when they’re an ocean apart. Life without her BFF is hard, but when Olivia’s cousins move into the neighbourhood, she discovers there are lots of opportunities for making new friends.”

What were your initial thoughts on the book?

My first thoughts about this book were not good, I wasn’t really sure if I was going to like it because I hadn’t heard of this author and I don’t really like reading books that I know nothing about. I had also gotten the book in kindle form so I couldn’t read the blurb to find out what it was about, so I decided started reading it and thought that if I found the book boring I would stop but soon I was near the end, enjoying each chapter wanting to read more. After I read this book I realised that it is very important to try new things even if you have no clue how they are going to turn out.

Who was your favourite character and why?

My favourite character was Olivia because of her courage to talk to new people and make new friends. She might have not been very brave at first and might not have been able to fit in but she really showed me that I need to braver and take on new things no matter how difficult they may seem. I like that she although she was afraid to try and she was clearly worried about what people would think of her and of being turned away, she still wanted to try, she was worried about not having any friends and when she tried to make new ones she tried to think about all the positive things that could come from friendship to help her along the way.

Would you recommend this book?  

I would recommend this book to anyone between the ages 10-14 who like stories about friendship.

Summarise the book in one sentence. (Verdict) 

A story that represents what friendship can really achieve and the true importance of it.

Reviewed by Jimena Gutierrez Reviriego