SUMMER HOLIDAY READING

Yay... the hols are here and I've got plenty of time to catch up on some reading. There are so many great books I want to read there never seems to be enough time to read them all. 

Here's some reviews so far....

Let us know what you've been reading and we can post them for everyone to see.

UGLIES

by Scott Westerfeld

Wow! This story was a great concept and left you thinking how shallow we have become. This is the first book in a trilogy and I'm looking forward to reading the next 'Pretties'.

Set in the future, where your whole world changes when you become 16, Tally is waiting for the day that she will no longer be an 'Ugly' but will have an operation to become 'pretty'. This involves becoming symmetrical, being sculptured, skin sanded, implants and basically cloned to be like a Barbie Doll. Once this operation has been done you then get to live in New Pretty Town where life involves having constant parties and fun, and this is what Tally is waiting for, where she will be united with her good friend Peris.

Tally has a rebellious nature and is always doing 'tricks' on her hoverboard to annoy authorities however when she meets Shay her life goes in a new direction. Shay does not want to become 'pretty' and wants Tally to come with her and escape to the 'Smoke' where you don't have to worry about being perfect and living in a perfect world.

Circumstances arise and Tally has to choose if she will spy on her new friends to save her life and fulfill her dream of becoming 'pretty' or stay an 'ugly' for the rest of her life. The author has created such a wonderful futuristic world which I felt I was living in and I felt close to each of the characters. Clever concepts and great imagination.

THE ROSIE BLACK CHRONICLES

EQUINOX  -  BOOK 2   by Lara Morgan

It's a pity I hadn't read Book 1 first as it would have given me the overview of what was happening, but it didn't take long to get my head around the Sci Fi jargon and characters, so I could be emersed into this trilogy.

It is action packed from the very first chapter. Rosie is a brave teenager living in a futuristic world. After losing her mother and friend in book 1 to a terrible disease, her father is now in hospital with the same disease, along with many others, and this sequel tells of her plan to find a cure and for revenge to bring down the Helios.

Reilly, who is in charge of operations, goes missing,  but before he does he places an implant in her brain to give her the clues to find him if he ever has to flee. The implant however malfunctions and causes Rosie to be in terrible pain and she's only getting distorted messages. As Rosie is once again on the run from the Helios, the implant becomes life threatening, but she must persevere with the help of her friends Pip, Dalton and Cassie to find Reilly and find out what the Helios are building that will effect millions of people.

Along with this fast paced action Rosie has to deal with her feelings between her and Pip, and her new relationship with Dalton. Can Dalton be trusted and will they be able to find a cure for this fatal disease? All will be revealed.

Look forward to book 3.

THE WINNER

THE WINNER   by David Baldacci   (STAFF)   (LWH)


This was my first Baldacci book but my hubby is hooked and has read quite a few.

When LuAnn Tyler is asked to be part of a crooked lottery scheme, she refuses, even though it would mean millions of dollars. But when she is framed for murder, the frightened single mother is forced to participate. Ten years later she has become a wealthy woman determined to live a normal life. But it will take more than money to escape the attention of the FBI who may want her for murder, and the dangerous man from her past who wants to kill her--if she doesn't stop him first.

I must admit it did have me hooked and I will probably read a few more Baldacci's... there's a few to choose from, he's such a prolific writer.

THE LITTLE COFFEE SHOP OF KABUL

THE LITTLE COFFEE SHOP OF KABUL

by Deborah Rodriguez   (LWH)

This was a fabulous read. A group of five very different women (Sunny, Yazmina,  Candace, Isabel and Halajan, brought together through different circumstances and become friends, meeting together in a little coffee shop in Afghanistan, one of the most dangerous places on earth.  They form a unique bond and find they have much more in common than they thought, and are much stronger than they think, and through their actions set about changing things in their community in Kabul.

The story is based on the author's experiences and people she met while living in Afghanistan as a hair dresser. It is an eye opener to what women face living in Afghanistan and how terrible they are treated and punished for things that we would consider normal life.

Read more about how she came to write this book and how living in Afghanistan and returning to America has changed her life and much more on her website.

http://www.debbierodriguez.com/kabul.php

LOLA'S SECRET

LOLA'S SECRET   by Monica McInerney   (LWH)

Another lovely story by Monica. Her books are so easy to read and as always wonderful characters to draw you into her fictional story. This book carries on from 'The ABC Sisters' five years after Anna has died and life has gone on, as it must, but family have dealt with her death differently and continue to deal with the loss of a mother, daughter and grand daughter. 

Lola's up to her old tricks matchmaking and this time planning a secret Christmas party at the Motel in the Clare Valley, while her family have all gone on their own holiday.  She has invited guests from far and wide for a free holiday and Christmas dinner and is excited about her secret, if she can carry it out on her own. However, circumstances change in everyone's life to threaten her gathering and rearrange plans for them all. 

There is never a dull moment in Lola's life, a lively 80+ yr old, who is constantly having to sort out problems between family members. She is witty and charming and a lot of fun. This book is full of drama within relationships and family and thought provoking at the same time. It's good fun!

P.S.  I really love the beautiful covers on all of Monica's books

PRIVATE PEACEFUL

PRIVATE PEACEFUL

By Michael Morpurgo    (LWH)

A lovely easy to read book about a young boy named Tommy Peaceful. Tommy tells his story over a 24hr period, each chapter brings you closer from past to present tense. He recounts his life growing up, the death of his father, dealing with the cruelness dealt to his retarded brother, the struggle of his mother providing for the family with little money, and falling in love with his best friend. The relationship with his brother is so strong as he is the one always looking out for Tommy.

He enlists, although underage, as he doesn't wasnt to appear to be a coward, and is now serving alongside his brother as they look out for each other's safety. As he looks over his life he knows death is eminant.  The real sense of fear is felt as he describes the situation he is in and the absolute horror of war and loss of lives and how sensless it all seems. The touching end comes with a twist that will leave you in tears.

Although it's aimed as a YA audience, I think anyone would enjoy reading this book.

SISTER

SISTER

by Rosamund Lupton   (STAFF)   LWH

It took me a while to start to enjoy this book I will admit. The story is told as a letter from one Sister to another which I didn't like at first, but then came to see the layers being peeled away as Beautrice writes to her sister, Tess, who has gone missing, and reveals her inner thoughts and fears.

Living in New York, Beautrice, a successful art designer, gets a message that her sister living in London has gone missing. Single, pregnant, a struggling art student, Tess has been reported missing by the landlord. Was she a runaway, has she suicided or been murdered? ... you will find out as the mystery unravels. Although the Police believe one of these, Beautrice wont stop until she finds out what has really happened to her sister in the lead up to her disappearance.

A gripping story that has a giant twist that I didn't reallly see coming, with a story that is far more complicated than first thought. Throughout the book we see a change in the perfect and well organised Bee until she transforms little to little to be more like her sister than she ever thought possible. There is a connection with her younger brother who died at an early age from Cystic Fribrosis and the disappearance of her sister that will be revealed.

Well worth the a read.

THE BOOK THIEF

THE BOOK THIEF   by Markus Zusak   (LWH)

- Australian Writer 

WATCH THIS INTERVIEW WITH MARKUS TO SEE WHAT INSPIRED HIM TO WRITE THIS BOOK...

I so loved this unforgettable book. I was taken on an incredible journey from the very first page and by the time I got to the final chapters, I was ‘sobbing’ all the way to the end.  With ‘death’ as the narrator, you may think this would be gruesome, but on the contrary, it is told in such a sensitive way it astonished me. Death explains at the start that he can be cheerful, agreeable, amiable and fair. He refers to himself as the 'soul carrier'.  It was like no other book I have ever read… it touched my soul.

I actually forgot it was ‘fiction’ the descriptions were so real. It truly mesmerized me and I found myself re-reading descriptions and sentences over and over. It was wonderful reading it on my Kindle as I highlighted many of the precious thoughts and sentences I wanted to revisit.  I also loved the way it flowed, previewing what was going to happen in each chapter was really different, along with many facts.

Set during WWII, (yes another war story… why do I do it to myself), you meet a small girl named Liesel Meminger who is travelling with her mother and brother, to live with her new foster parents outside Munich. On the way her brother dies and they need to bury him. It is snowing and at the site of the grave Liesel discovers a book stuck in the snow. She secretly takes it, although she doesn’t know how to read.

Liesel's foster mother is rather scary and harsh, but she grows to love her foster father, who plays the accordion and through the long nights of her loneliness and nightmares, and begins to teach her to read her only book. From there her love of reading and books grows until she must steal another, and another. Her foster parents hide a Jew in their basement and they must keep this a secret, even from her best friend Rudy, as their lives depend on it.

The story tells of being part of the Hitler Youth, the rationing of food, the difference between the poor and rich during war, the burning of books on Hitler’s birthday, the mayor’s library, giving a gift when you have nothing to give, and much more. With the patience of her foster father Liesel learns to read so well that during the bombing raids she reads to her neighbours, as they are huddled in the basement, bombs landing close by. I’m sure I’ll be reading this novel many more times.

From now on I will try to remember the colours of the day, not just it’s beginning and end.

 About the author:

Australian author, Markus Zusak, now lives in Sydney, but grew up hearing stories about Nazi Germany, about the bombing of Munich and about Jews being marched through his mother’s small, German town. He always knew it was a story he wanted to tell.

With the publication of The Book Thief, Mark is now being dubbed a ‘literary phenomenon’ by Australian and U.S. critics. He is also the award-winning author of four previous books for young adults: The Underdog, Fighting Ruben Wolfe, Getting the Girl, and I Am the Messenger, recipient of a 2006 Printz Honor for excellence in young adult literature.

HITLER’S DAUGHTER  

HITLER’S DAUGHTER   by Jackie French   (LWH)

Although this is not a new release this was a great little book and a real easy read. A group of four school friends waiting for their bus ask Anna to tell them a story, which she had done many times before, but this time it was a little different. She tells the story of a girl named Heidi who was the daughter of Hitler. The story is told with such feeling and great detail and the children are mesmerized, none more than Mark, who thinks what he would do if he was put in Heidi’s place. Questions arise for Mark like… if he knew his father was evil or doing terrible things to others would he be able to do anything about it? If your mother or father are capable of evil things does that mean their children will follow in their path?

ABOUT THE AUTHOR:   There is far too much to write about Jackie French and she is a prolific writer so CLICK HERE to go to her website and find all the questions to everything you need to know, including all her other novels, tips on writing and getting your work published and lots more. There’s even photos of her beautiful garden.

To go to an interview with Jackie about what inspired her to write this book CLICK HERE

LIST OF JACKIE’S BOOKS

AUSCHWITZ: A DOCTOR'S EYEWITNESS ACCOUNT

AUSCHWITZ: A DOCTOR’S EYEWITNESS ACCOUNT   

by Dr Miklos Nyiszli   (LWH) - (STAFF READING)

This book was quite disturbing as the title would assume it was recounting some of the atrocities of being a doctor in a most inhumane situation. A Hungarian Jewish Physician, Dr Nyiszli became a chief pathologist and retells what he had to endure living through his experience of living in one of the worst concentration camps, Auschwitz, and what he had to do to survive. The writer tells his story and the events of living next to the crematoriums, in great detail. Working for the notorious, Dr Mengele, the writer tells how he was forced to perform many medical experiments and autopsies on the Jews, and particularly those who were twins, dwarfs or had medical abnormalities. He tells of the gruesomeness of seeing and hearing hundreds of thousands of Jews go to their death in the fires and through starvation, disease and exhaustion.

This was not a feel good read but I am fascinated by the plight of the Jews during the Holocaust and how Hitler came to have so much power over the German people.  Dr Nyiszli goes into great detail of what happened in the  dissection rooms and how occasionally he was able to ‘delay’ death for some.

CLARA IN WASHINGTON

CLARA IN WASHINGTON   by Penny Tangey   (LWH)

The main reason for wanting to read this new release YA novel was because it was written by the daughter of one of our teaching staff, Marilyn Tangey (who is currently on leave and teaching in East Timor). This is not Penny's first novel but as I hadn't ever read one of her novels I thought I'd give it a try, especially being a young Australian writer.

Clara, who has just finished VCE and has decided to travel with her mother to Washington and spend the Summer holidays rediscovering herself and to be someone else other than 'a studious geek' which some of her friends describe her. Clara's mum was always working long hours so Clara, who is sick of staying indoors watching TV, decides to don the gloves and scarf for the chilly Winter weather in Washington, to venture out on her own in a new and strange country, where at times she is fearful and very nervous getting around on the subways by herself, and constantly scared she may be mugged. She decides to overcome her fear of leaving the apartment and visit a few museums and do some 'tourist' thngs.

She eventually decides to join a few charity groups to get to know people and stop from getting board. She helps serve breakfast at a women's homeless shelter each morning and makes a few friends, and joins a group called 'Reading Beyond Bars' which sends books to prisoners. Through this group she meets Campbell, falling head over heals for him, and can't wait for the next time they can meet. He is a member/leader of an anarchists group and Clara is swayed into their teaching and ideas, mostly to impress Campbell and his friends. Clara has to comes to terms with what she really believes and what really matters to her.

It wasn't a bad read but I got a little bored with it. It is a 'coming-of-age' story I guess, which I think based was on the author's personal experiences in Washington. Clara wanted an adventure and thought moving to the other side of the world would do that for her but she didn't have much confidence and everything became very overwhelming to her. It was interesting when she joined the Anarchists group and was determined when her VCE results came not to open them as that would put labels on her. I don't think I could've left the envelope unopened if it was me waiting for results. Most YA would identify a little with Clara I suppose so it's worth a read.

ABOUT THE AUTHOR:   CLICK HERE to read an interview with Penny and Tristan Bancks and learn more about her writing.

Penny's first YA novel 'Loving Richard Feynman' was shortlisted for the CBCA Book of the Year Award for older readers and shortlisted for the WA Premier's Book Award for Young Adults. Penny lives in Melbourne.

THE VELVET ROOM

THE VELVET ROOM  by Zilpha Keatly Snyder   (LWH)

This book was my special Christmas treat to myself. I loved reading as a child and in primary school read every book I could get my hands on, but I distinctly remember my favourite book ‘The Velvet Room’ by Zilpha Keatly Snyder. Over the years I had forgotten the actual story except that it was about a girl finding a secret room, draped in velvet curtains, that she would  run to when she wanted to get away from her family. I guess that book started me, without me realizing it, to love stories of suspense, mystery,  and secret places.

I had searched many libraries and second hand bookshops trying to find this book and was delighted to finally find it online, so I ordered it and hoped that it would live up to all I had remembered about it being a fabulous book. It didn’t disappoint. It was so lovely to read this book and enjoy it as an adult. Memories came flooding back of how I felt when I had first read it in the early 70’s… yes, 40 years ago! Can you believe it?

I AM NUMBER FOUR

I AM NUMBER FOUR   by Pittacus Lore        (LWH)

BOOK BLURB:  Nine of us came here. We look like you. We talk like you. We live among you. But we are not you. Not even close. We can do things you dream of doing. We have powers you dream of having. We are stronger and faster than anything you have ever seen. We are the superheroes you worship in movies and comic books— but we are real.

Our plan was to grow, and train, and become strong, and become one, and fight them. But they found us and started hunting us first. Now all of us are running, all of us are hiding. Spending our lives in shadows, in places where no one would look, blending in. We have lived among you without you knowing.

But they know.

They caught Number One in Malaysia.

Number Two in England.

And Number Three in Kenya.

They killed them all.

I am Number Four.

I am next.

I was anxious to read the sequel to this book, as I'd read reviews from other library staff who enjoyed the sequel 'The Power of Six' (one review can be read by clicking HERE), but knew I needed to read 'I am number four' first, however when my daughter offered to hire the movie for me I thought that I'd take her up on it. With Michael Bay and Stephen Spielberg bringing it to our screen I didn't think I'd be disappointed... and I wasn't... I did enjoy the movie. Having not read the book it may not as been as good, which is often the case, but now I know the underlying story I will be able to jump into the sequel.  Here is a movie trailer to wet your appetite...

GONE

GONE  by Michael Grant    (LWH)

Book blurb:   In the blink of an eye. Everyone 15 yrs and older disappears. GONE.  Not one single adult. No teachers, no cops, no doctors, no parents. Just as suddenly, there are no phones, no internet, no television. No way to get help. And no way to figure out what's happened. Hunger threatens. Bullies rule. A sinister creature lurks. Animals are mutating. And the teens themselves are changing, developing new talents—unimaginable, dangerous, deadly powers—that grow stronger by the day.

It's a terrifying new world. Sides are being chosen, a fight is shaping up. Townies against rich kids. Bullies against the weak. Powerful against powerless. And time is running out: On your 15^th birthday, you disappear just like everyone else...

 

The story transpires in a small town of Perdido Beach (Southern California). In a twinkling of an eye everyone over the age of 15 vanishes – poof! Teachers in mid-sentence, drivers in cars, parents… all gone, but where? It is an intriguing start to the novel and at first the children at school seem thrilled as they ransack the school of food and drink, until panic sets in, interestingly thought it’s not until they realize their cell phones and the internet no longer work that they truly become FREAKED! There is at least electricity.

They soon discover the whole town and its environs have been isolated from the world by an egg-shaped force-field. Our reluctant hero, Sam Templeton (an ordinary unassuming guy), and his friends Astrid, Quinn and Edilio assume responsibility for holding anarchy at bay. The smaller children in the community must be sought out and looked after and fed with no parents around and as panic has totally set it by now.  Mary takes charge of the pre-school nursery, Albert  reopens McDonald's, aware that the availability of burgers and fries will keep the 200 odd children fed for the time being. As hunger eventually threatens, new problems arise as bullies rule, a sinister creature lurks and animals are mutating. 

The teens themselves are changing, developing new talent - unimaginable, dangerous, deadly powers, that grow stronger by the day that they don’t know how to use or why they have them. It's a terrifying new world. Sides are being chosen, a fight is shaping up. Townies against rich kids. Bullies against the weak. Powerful against powerless. And time is running out for those about to turn 15. Before long a convoy of cars from Coates Academy creeps into town. Coates is a residential school for "difficult/weird” children. The leader of the contingent is Caine, a charismatic boy who assumes power. He is, of course, bad, and soon enough a battle between Sam and Caine, Good and Evil, develops.

Interestingly Michael Grant questions "What can we write to lure boys away from their PlayStations and Xboxes?" His answer  "Books that are prose versions of games".

My fav line in book:  Albert goes to the library to research as there is no internet. He found a set of encylopedias - "It's like Wikipedia, but paper and very bulky ... It was exactly like following hyperlinks, but slower, and with more lifting."

MOVIE TRAILERS AND INTERVIEW WITH MICHAEL ON NEXT PAGE...

COMEDY IN A MINOR KEY

COMEDY IN A MINOR KEY  by Hans Keilson

(Review by:  Elizabeth Stoel)

This is a book that looks at what really happens in war and how normal peole are affected when someone they hardly know dies in their home. Overall one of those books that make you think and question.





About the author:  Hans Zeilson was born in Germany but, following the Nazi's rise to power, was forced to move to the Netherlands before the outbreak of World War II. An award-winning psychiatrist, he is particularly renowned for specialising in the traumatic effects of the Holocause on Jewish survivors.

THE VIOLET EDEN CHAPTERS

THE VIOLET EDEN CHAPTERS  by Jessica Shirvington

(Reviewed by:  a student)  Genre: Paranormal Romance

  

EMBRACE  -  Book 1

Violet Eden is crazy about Lincoln, who she met two years ago, but refuses to be more than friends. When she finds out why he keeps his distance, she finds that he has kept a huge secret from her. He is a Grigori, part angel part human, and so is she. Violet is shocked and turns away from Lincoln. Then she meets Pheonix, who is an exile, and an enemy of the Grigori. Pheonix may be dark, but he is always there for her and they grow closer. Soon she has some choices to make, ones that could cost not only her own, but also Lincoln's life.

Overall it is a good book, but it is a bit predictable. I also found that it can be a bit confusing if you have read a lot of other angel stories because the hierarchy and history is different, and very puzzling, but the writing is brillian and draws you in.

ENTICED  -  Book 2

Violet has come to terms with bein Grigori, but she defiantly doesn't know everything. As she learns more and more she realises there might even be a future for her an dLincoln together. but Lincoln has his own secrets, and so do some of the other Grigori in their town. Then there is Pheonix, who is more powerful than they thought, and who holds the ultimate hand over Violet. As they race to find the scriptures, Violet and her powers are tested as they are pushed to their extreme.

This is the continuing story of Violet Eden, set one month after book 1 finishes. The hierarchy gets even more confusing, but the great writing continues with a better plot. But sadly no ohappy ending, so we will have to wait for book 3 for that.

EMBLAZE  -  Book 3

 

Came out in October - haven't read it yet!

NOTE: These are books that you will either love or hate. This series is not one of my favourite, but it is a good read if you don't mind reading ANOTHER angel book!

DAYS LIKE THIS

DAYS LIKE THIS   by Alison Stewart   (LWH)

This book was full of surprises. For a genre I don't usually read I must say I found this novel to be fabulous. The concept of the story was very clever and I read it in two sittings, reading well into the night. The plot was thrilling and there was danger around every corner (or page) and I was on the edge of my seat as to how it was all going to play out.

 Lily is a prisoner in her own home, along with her brother and sister, Blacktroopers and the 'Committee' make sure of that. Her parents are acting very wierd, like they don't have emotions anymore, and they seem to not be aging. A wall has been built to keep out the poor (and to keep those wishing to escape in!). When Lily and her brother discover the Committee are planning to farm teenagers for a special serum, her brother suddenly disappears. She plans to escape to find her brother and get over the wall to see what lies beyond. Along with all this, global warming has damaged the weather and atmosphere, and resources, including water is scarce.

Lily was a great character, very brave, and the budding romance with Kieran (towards the end) wasn't overwhelming and didn't distract from the main story. I love the fact that it was set in Sydney and I could definately picture it. This story touches on many subjects and would be a great class novel to explore with themes on global warming, corruption in society, a dying world, morality, playing God with Science.

Author the author: Alison is a Sydney journalist and writer.  She has lived in Sydney for more than 30 years after growing up in Cape Town, South Africa. The idea for Days Like This came from a growing unease about our diminishing natural resources, combined with the rise of a heartless individuality. The book explores the consequences – a world where people are shockingly exploited to serve the desires of an elite few.

HEARD OF DYSTOPIA?

[DYSTOPIA (noun)  An imagined place or state in which everything is unpleasant or bad, typically a totalitarian or environmentally degraded one. The opposite to Utopia.]

 I've just discovered this genre (which I thought came under Science Fiction...doh!) so I thought I'd like to share it with those out there who haven't discovered it yet. The following information comes from an article by Danielle Binks, which she wrote for 'Off the Shelf', a publication by Penguin. The full publication can be accessed by clicking on the link (forward to pages 22 & 23). It's aimed at teachers but I'm sure you'll enjoy reading it and get a lot of great ideas fro it.

"The word ‘Dystopia’ was coined by Thomas More in 1516, as a counter-point to his theoretical creation of the perfect society called a ‘Utopia’. Dystopia can be post-apocalyptic, alternate universe, science fiction or a prediction of what’s to come. Barren, bleak and disturbing?

Dystopic society is characterised by human misery and oppression – stories are often set in cities, where humans have little contact with nature and are suffocated by their modernized surroundings. Politics in such novels are often brutal and dictatorial, exemplifying the belief that ‘power corrupts’. The genre is bleak by its very definition. It explores and fictionalizes the worst traits of humanity and often predicts a desolate future. So should we be concerned that a genre which exemplifies human misery should be so popular for young readers? How can such storytelling be considered beneficial, let alone entertaining, for young adults?

Bleak it may be, but the Dystopian genre is also a YA category that demands the highest quality of authors and the finest of writing. Complex themes are layered with heroic journeys as writers hold up a fun-house-mirror version of our society – embellished and ruined."

Open publication - Free publishing - More australia

THE MEMORY CAGE

THE MEMORY CAGE   by Ruth Eastham   (LWH)

This is a very powerful and emotional story dealing with war, Alzheimer’s and family secrets. It is beautifully written and the compassion Alex shows for his Grandfather is beautiful. The story tells of Alex who was adopted at the age of 6 from a refugee camp in Bosnia and is now a teenager. His parents and younger brother are all dead and he is haunted by memories of not being able to save his younger brother from drowning. He is adopted into the Smith family, lives in Doverham, England and adores his adopted Grandfather, who is suffering from Alzheimer’s and is about to be put into a home.

He is desperate to help his Grandfather to remember the past so he doesn’t have to be put in an aged home, but as Alex delves into the past and tries to create a scrapbook of his life, secrets are discovered that have been hidden away for many years. With the town losing so many of their young men in the war some people don’t want the past dug up. Remembering the past is not want Alex wants for himself either as it is too hurtful and he tries to cut all memories of Bosnia from his life. The story concludes with a dramatic incident that had me in tears. Secrets are revealed and lies uncovered to culminate in a truly wonderful ending.

About the author:  Ruth Eastham was born in Lancashire, England, and trained as a teacher. She has worked in more than a dozen schools in UK, NZ, Australia and Italy. She likes photography, secondhand books and world maps.. This was Ruth’s first novel but I’m sure not her last. She likes to write anytime and everywhere! She likes to catch a new idea before I forget it so she always keep a notebook handy, or she writes up my arm if there's no paper about.

 

H.I.V.E. ZERO HOUR

H.I.V.E.  ZERO HOUR   by Mark Walden

(HIGHER INSTITUTION OF VILLAINOUS EDUCATION)

(Review by:  Zac Abbott)

This is the sixth book in the H.I.V.E. series. It is a very enjoyable book with a couple of laughts and it is a very involved book with a storyline that takes you around the world. The main character is a boy named Otto Malpense and he was created to be a home for the A.I. Overlord who is evil. The book is based around his adventures with his friends and his mentor Nero.

Book rating:  8/10

Book Blurb: Otto Malpense is in peril. The evil A.I. Overlord has developed the ability to move from body to body, but only Otto can contain him and survive. Overloard will cease at nothing to locate him. Then no one will be able to stop him. Nero must activate Zero Hour, a plan designed to elimate any villian on the brink of global dominatin. Nero also knows that Otto must not be allowed to fall into the Overlord's hands. The stage is set for a final battle.

To find out more about the other books in the HIVE series click here

H.I.V.E.
1. H.I.V.E.: Higher Institute of Villainous Education (2006)
2. The Overlord Protocol (2007)
3. Escape Velocity (2008)
4. Dreadnought (2009)
5. Rogue (2010)
6. Zero Hour (2010)
7. Aftershock (2011)

About the author:  After spending ten years as a video games designer and producer Mark has recently left the games industry to write and be a full-time dad to his daughter Megan. He studied at Newcastle University where he received a BA in English Literature and an MA in Twentieth Century Literature, Film and Television. It was here he met his wife, Sarah. H.I.V.E. won the Confident Readers 9+ category in Richard and Judy's Children's Book Club in October 2007.