ARSENIC FOR TEA by Robin Stevens

“I looked at Daisy. Her eyes were glittering and her cheeks were pink. This was Daisy with a plan. Daisy Wells and Hazel Wong are at Daisy’s home, Fallingford, for the holidays. Daisy’s glamorous mother is throwing a tea party for her birthday, and the whole family is invited, from eccentric Aunt Saskia to dashing Uncle Felix. But it soon becomes clear that this party isn’t about Daisy at all. (Naturally, Daisy is furious.) Then one of their guests falls seriously, mysteriously, fatally ill – and everything points to poison. Suddenly, Fallingford feels like a dangerous place to be. And when someone close to Daisy looks suspicious, the girls must reveal the truth…no matter the consequences.”

What is the book about?

This book is about the investigation of Mr Curtis’s death and how the girls, once again, investigate and solve the crime but this time the murder weapon is a deadly poison; ARSENIC!!!! Hazel and Daisy are trapped in Daisy’s house with a murderer; Hazel felt sick yet excited while Daisy’s eyes lit up and grinned to any sign of murder which led to their next, important, case. Once again they are both in life threatening danger yet the excitement of a murder begins. There are some ups and some downs in this book but in the end, Hazel and Daisy never give up on the investigation – even if the clues are getting them nowhere. Daisy and Hazel begin their night time adventure to discover vital clues to lead to the murderer, they also investigate the house during daylight hours but they must keep away from the grown-ups! 

What were your initial thoughts on the book?

Since I was very pleased with the first book, my sister insisted I read the next book of this series. The first line of the book is very interesting and pulls you into Daisy and Hazel’s world very quickly; it makes you want to read on and know what happened to poor Mr Curtis; you want answers. It then tells you how it got to that moment and then the investigation begins. What I quite like about this book is that every chapter ends as a cliff hanger; there is a murderer out there and it feels like you must find out, you immediately have more questions and you can’t wait for answers. By the time I had gotten to the middle of the book, I was very committed to reading the book and intrigued to find out more. 

Who was your favourite character and why?

In this book, Daisy is my favourite character; she is rich, bossy, clever, and this time she was a much more understanding about the suspects and didn’t play favourites, even though some where her family. It was interesting to learn about Daisy’s life outside of Deepdean and it was also very interesting to meet her family as they had only been slightly mentioned it the first book. I like that she takes charge as the leader and is always very confident and won’t hesitate to confront people – even a dangerous murderer. She is a very curious character and goes up to other people to listen to their conversations; they might be useful for the investigation. I like her personality in general and like how smart she is and how she always stands up for her friends. She never loses sight of what’s really important and focuses on what matters although it is really have for her to suspect her own family to be a murderer. I chose her because she just stood out to me more than Hazel in this book and I enjoyed her thorough explanation of all that was going on.  

What was your favourite part of the book and why?

My favourite part of the book is when they go to investigate the place where the murderer struck and they find something unexpected… In my opinion it is the most exciting and mysterious part of the book because it is not what I first had in mind. When I read this part, I seriously felt a chill crawl up my spine and I shivered with excitement as though I was really there with them joining in the investigation. They were in the dining room and the cakes from the earlier feast were still there, untidied and uneaten. This setting was very eerie and alarming as the murderer and the victim had both been in that very room.

What was your overall impression of the book?

So far I think that this is one of my favourite books that I  have read and I would like to share this experience, hoping that others will enjoy this book as much as me. I have only just started reading these books and I am racing through them as I have adored both the second and the first murder mystery books. I really liked this book and look forward to reading the next book of this series. This book involved many breath-taking and daring moments which I was particularly fond of yet I also quite liked when they discussed the case, filling me in with all the details. It was very interesting and informative and I like the way everything is explained to the reader. This book had many twists and turns, some in the right direction, others not which is very useful seeing as they need alibis. In my opinion, the murderer is either ruled out quickly or not even in the suspect list at all which is sometimes confusing but also intriguing because in order to find the murderer I had to think of things that not even Daisy or Hazel had thought. Overall, the book was amazing and I can’t wait to find out more about the girls adventures.

Which was your favourite book, the first or the second?

This was a very difficult question to answer as both books are quite similar because both are filled with such excitement yet at totally different settings and such different murder weapons. I enjoy the style of which this author writes in and so both books were very fun to read. The girls are the same (Daisy and Hazel) but now instead of being at Deepdean, they are at Daisy’s house, Fallingford. There is a numerous amount of suspects but throughout the book they narrow it down. In both books, they have hired a detective but in the end, the girls always solve the crime before the professionals do. To be honest, I think, that the murderer, in both books, is the most unlikely to be a suspect; they usually leave them out or would never believe that they would ever be able to commit a crime successfully. Although this was very hard, I have chosen the second book as my favourite because there is more investigation since they don’t ask about the suspects alibis to other witnesses; there are no others, unlike when they were in school. The murder weapon is excitingly dangerous and the reason the murder even happened is very interesting.

Would you recommend this book?

I would definitely recommend this book because it is full of mystery, investigation and this book really makes you think hard about who you suspect the murderer will be. In my opinion, I would say that this book is a 9+ and especially for all readers who love murder mysteries.

Summarise the book in one sentence. (Verdict)

A clever and action-packed book. 

Reviewed by Aldara Gutierrez Reviriego 

PLANET PATROL – A Paw Patrol Story

What is the book about?

The book is about the Paw Patrol who help an alien get home to his mum.

Who was your favourite character and why? 

My favourite character is the alien because he has a funny head that looks like a melon.

What was your favourite part of the book and why?

My favourite part was when the alien went back home to his mum because he was happy.

What did you think of the book and why?

I think the book was good and fun to read and I liked it a lot.

Reviewed by Fabiola Gutierrez Reviriego

BREAKING DAWN by Stephenie Meyer

“When you loved the one who was killing you, it left you no options. How could you run, how could you fight, when doing so would hurt that beloved one? If your life was all you had to give, how could you not give it? If it was someone you truly loved? To be irrevocably in love with a vampire is both fantasy and nightmare woven into a dangerously heightened reality for Bella Swan. Pulled in one direction by her intense passion for Edward Cullen, and in another by her profound connection to werewolf Jacob Black, she has endured a tumultuous year of temptation, loss and strife to reach the ultimate turning point. Her imminent choice to either join the dark but seductive world of immortals or pursue a fully human life has become the thread from which the fate of two tribes hangs. Now that Bella has made her decision, a startling chain of unprecedented events is about to unfold with potentially devastating and unfathomable consequences. Just when the frayed strands of Bella’s life – first discovered in Twilight, then scattered and torn in New Moon and Eclipse – seem ready to heal and knit together, could they be destroyed…forever?”

What is the book about?

Bella and Edward announce their engagement and the wedding plans begin. Jacob arrives at the wedding and returns from his time alone as a wolf causing more problems that no one could have possibly imagined. Bella and Edward marry and the story follows them through their eventful honeymoon on Isle Esme. When they return a chain of unpredictable events unfolds with the potential to destroy more lives than ever before. Bella’s decision has the potential for devastation consequences and her human life is now where the fate of two tribes hangs. More catastrophic events occur and the start of a new life begins to complicate things even further. As Bella’s life seems ready to heal and piece back together, will it finally be destroyed forever?

What were your initial thoughts on the book?

When I finished Eclipse I was desperate to start reading Breaking Dawn. I immediately grabbed the book and read the blurb, which encouraged me to begin reading. Unfortunately, I knew what was going to happen during the book after reading the blurb and was a bit annoyed about it because I would have like to be surprised. Luckily, I had already predicted Bella's transformation and wasn't to frustrated by the fact it was implied in the blurb. When I started reading, I was already hooked and determined to find out more. The story didn’t have a big introduction which was good because I am always bored when a book has a long opening it is extremely tiresome. I was glad that the story began right away and that the wedding was quickly planned because it meant that the first few chapters wouldn't be dull and that the interesting part would start soon.

Who was your favourite character and why?

My favourite character was Bella mainly because of her transformation. I really liked her because of how powerful and strong she was as a newborn vampire and how she was able to resist human blood in a way that not even an older vampire with more control could have done. I also liked learning about how her powers worked and how she could use them not just for protecting herself, but for protecting her whole family. I would have liked to understand more about why Bella was able to cancel out certain abilities as a human and why she had so much control over her actions. In Breaking Dawn, I got to see another side to Bella and witness her choice to save someone else and not just think about her own wellbeing.

What was your favourite part of the book and why?

My favourite part was near the end when the new vampires were introduced because it was really interesting. It was really fascinating to learn about the extensive range of extra abilities vampires can have and how special and unique they are. I also got to understand more about how the gifts some vampires get work and understand clearly why they get them. I also liked learning about Bella’s own ability and how it worked, however I would have liked to know more about why she was able to cancel out some vampire abilities in her human life, I think that although a lot of my questions were answered Stephenie Meyer could have given an explanation about Bella’s human mind and why it was different to everyone else.

What was your overall impression of the book?

Overall I really liked Breaking Dawn because of many how it was written and the new characters introduces. One reason I really enjoyed the book was because of the new perspective we are given. In the epilogue of Eclipse, we read a small taste of Jacob Black’s point of view and how the wedding announcement influences his decision to run away. Breaking Dawn is not just written from Bella’s view but a part of it is also Jacob’s so we get to understand how Bella’s choices also cause major consequences in others’ lives, in particular the werewolves. Another aspect of the book that really caught my attention was he front cover. The cover specifically foreshadows Bella’s transformation and the huge leap she makes, taking the role as the strongest and most powerful member of her new family. In my opinion, I think that it is very clever how Stephenie Meyer uses cess pieces to show this and it really got me thinking about the other front covers too. One thing at I didn’t enjoy about Breaking Dawn was the end. When was nearly finishing the book, I got a bit frustrated at how it ended because a fight had been predicted and everyone was prepared for it but then there wasn't one. I understand that the Cullen's aren't very violent so they like to resolve everything in a more civilized manner and wished there was a way to stop any unnecessary battle, but they were planning to fight and I think that the book could have been better if it had actually happened. 

Which is your favourite book in the Twilight Saga? (1, 2, 3 or 4)

I really enjoyed reading all of the Twilight books and found this question almost impossible to answer. However I think that I especially liked Breaking Dawn because it was so much more interesting and had the most information. Another reason I liked Breaking Dawn the most was because it included a different perspective. Although Eclipse did have a short part where it was written from Jacob Black’s point of view, it was very small compared to part 2 of Breaking Dawn that is written completely form Jacob’s viewpoint. Reading Breaking Dawn also answered a lot more of my questions and didn’t leave me too curious about anything. Even though there were some things that I wish had turned out differently, as a whole I think Breaking Dawn is a really intriguing book and was my favourite book.

Would you recommend this book? 

Breaking Dawn has become one of my favourite books and I am sure that many people will enjoy it as much as me. I recommend this book for anyone who enjoys romance and fantasy books and I think that it’s most suitable if you are 15 or older.

Summarise the book in one sentence. (Verdict) 

Another gripping novel with the potential to destroy more lives than ever before.

Reviewed by Jimena Gutierrez Reviriego

MURDER MOST UNLADYLIKE by Robin Stevens

“‘Are you sure we shouldn’t just go to the police?’ I asked. ‘Don’t be stupid,’ said Daisy severely. ‘We don’t have any evidence yet. We don’t have a body. They’d simply laugh at us. And anyway, this is our murder case.’ When Daisy Wells and Hazel Wong set up a secret detective agency at Deepdean School for Girls, they can’t find a truly exciting mystery to investigate. (Unless you count The Case of Lavinia’s Missing Tie. Which they don’t.) Then Hazel discovers the body of the Science Mistress, Miss Bell – but when she and Daisy returned five minutes later, the body had disappeared. Now the girls have to solve a murder, and prove a murder happened in the first place.”

What is the book about?

This story is based on two girls who are investigating on a murder, one girl is called Daisy and the other is called Hazel, the book is written in Hazel’s point of view as though it was her journal. Hazel is a girl from Hong Kong, with dark hair, dark chocolate brown eyes and pale skin, while Daisy is a pure English girl with golden swaying hair, crystal blue eyes and rosy cheeks. They made their own club, a secret detective society, Hazel is the secretary and Daisy is the president of this club where they investigate mysteries. The story follows them throughout the investigation of the Case of the Murder of Miss Bell. The girls have to find out who the murderer is and prove their case.

What were your initial thoughts on the book?

My sister kept on bugging me and trying to persuade me to read a book but I always said no. For me it is hard to find a book that I like since I’m such a picky reader. Usually, when I start a book, I never get to finish it or if I do I take years. That was, until I finally agreed to read a book, and my sister recommended this one since I like mystery and adventure. Honestly, I didn’t think I would get through the book but I got through it faster that I thought I would. My sister told me all about how the book starts very quickly and that pleased me because I hate having to read a thousand chapters just to get to the interesting part. I read the blurb and it really interested me because it already informs you about the body being found. In the first few pages of the book, there is a map of the school which I found quite helpful because I could see the location of all the rooms and how they got around Deepdean. Then when the story began I read for ages, seeing that in the second page Hazel had already found the body and went back in time to explain how. After the first two chapters or so, I wasn’t that interested but when I got around half way or a bit less, they were deeper into the investigation and found many clues, many of the suspects had alibis but some were fitting just right to be the murderer and by half way through the book, I could not lose sight of it. I read for hours on end and I could not wait to find out who the murderer was and why they had killed in the first place.

Who was your favourite character and why?

To be honest, I can’t choose between Daisy or Hazel because without working together they would have never figured out the crime. Hazel liked to think about the clues then slowly process the information and find out where the clues lead to, while Daisy just found a clue and then launched right to the suspect to find more evidence. Some of the time they were fighting but in the end they always made up and appreciated each other’s differences, even if they are totally different people, they are best friends and that’s what makes them such a great team. Without working together they would have never solved the crime.

What was your favourite part of the book and why?

My favourite part was when Hazel and Daisy found out who the murderer was and informed the inspector. This was because it was the most exciting part and the murderer then was locked up never to hurt anyone again. The case was finally solved. In this part of the book, everything was explained in detail and all questions were answered. The girls were also able to complete their notes because they found out the alibies of each and every master and mistress, except for the murderer, of course. It was very interesting and I really enjoyed these last few chapters.

What was your overall impression of the book?

Overall, I loved the book because of many reasons. One reason I liked the book was because all the notes were written down with all the suspects and alibis, it really felt as though I was investigating in the crime itself. This book was very clever, the smallest of clues had such importance and every little thing mattered. I kept on thinking about all the suspects and how exactly they could have murdered the victim and why. I also love how everything is unexpected and this book gives you the feeling to read on. Every once in a while I got this sudden chill crawl up my spine and my heart started beating faster and faster, this only happens with a very good book. This book truly was an experience worth sharing.

Would you recommend this book?

I absolutely love this book and would definitely recommend this to mystery lovers. I think it would be best for children over the age of 9 because although it’s very easy to read there are some exhilarating moments when your heart races as much as described in the book.

Summarise the book in one sentence. (Verdict)     

A thrilling and breath-taking murder mystery.

Reviewed by Aldara Gutierrez Reviriego