Category: Student Book Reviews

Reviewed by Deepana (Year 12)

The Final Gambit by Jennifer Lynn Barnes is the third book of the bestselling series ‘The Inheritance Games’, which follows 17 year old Avery Kylie Grambs, and her chilling mysteries with the Hawthorne brothers. This book series is one in which the previous instalments must be read. As I was transported to the chaotic world of the Hawthornes, the intricate puzzles that fill this novel are ones that entertain and mystify, with its plot line even more incredible than the sequel. As a hopeless fan of mystery and crime, this book left me enraptured in its world for days after I finished. The style of writing combined with the intricacy of its mystery, this novel is my favourite out of the series. The depth to the characters of this world makes this exceptional novel heartfelt and emotional. Overall, a wonderful book that I would recommend to all. 

This book is recommended for ages 13 and above due to violent themes. I rate this book 5 stars. 

The Killing Code by Ellie Marney

Reviewed by Christina, Year 11

Whisking us back to 1943 and the middle of World War II, Ellie Marney’s The Killing Code plunges us into the lives of Kit, Dottie, Moya and Violet in her YA historical fiction, where four girls work as code breakers at Arlington Hall in Washington DC. 

I thoroughly enjoyed this novel as the mystery itself was compelling, adding complexities of security checks and curfews, as well as the racist policies and actions at the time. The tension I came across derived from several sources; Kit’s constant fear of being unmasked as an imposter, the stress and urgency of codebreaking and the war itself, and a string of gruesome murders perpetrated against young female government workers in DC. I adored the combining features of a murder on the loose, a sapphic romance, a deftly incorporation of historical prejudice at the time, and of course the emphasis on women involvement in war efforts. 

The sheer amount of research that Marney has done for this novel, shown from the way she describes the girl’s codebreaking, is amazingly well done. The attention to detail is phenomenal and I found myself amazed by this throughout the entire novel. Additionally, I loved the quotes at the top of each and every chapter, and upon reading the author’s note at the back of the book, seeing the effort that Marney went into to retrieve and gain permission for these quotes left me in utter awe.

The Killing Code is the first book I’ve ever read by Ellie Marney, and after reading it, I’ve decided that I definitely want to read more. The historical setting felt immersive without being distracting, and the murder mystery had me hooked from the very first chapter. 

Overall, highly recommended for those who enjoy a twisty, and bloody, historical YA thriller!

Recommended for 14+                                                                                                              

Rating: 5/5  ★★★★★

 

Reviewed by Gretel, Year 12, Cerdon College, Merrylands, NSW 

Everyone should read this book. That could be the whole review. ‘Anything But Fine’ by Tobias Madden follows Luca, a Year 11 student from Ballarat. When a missed step leaves his foot broken, his dreams of a career in ballet crumble as well. As his life is flipped upside down he meets Jordan (who everyone says is straight) and Luca finds himself falling for a second time. Ultimately this book is about self-discovery and the things one loses and gains on that journey. I saw myself in Luca and his friends as they conquered high school. I laughed. I sobbed. I almost fell off of my bed. I love this book and I would recommend it to everyone, young and old, but most specifically to those who have yet to discover themselves in one way or another. This book is for you. 

Rating: 5 stars

Reviewed by Millen, Year 9, Cerdon College, Merrylands

Girls in Boys’ Cars follows two high school students named Rosa and Asheeka who want to escape their homes because they want to have fun and adventure. They make a decision to go on a road trip. They have no money so they decide to break the law. 

Askeeka and Rosa are having so much fun, they have forgotten about their families. During their time Rosa’s parents are worried and scared and something serious has been exposed on social media which will ruin Asheeka’s life.

The novel opened my eyes to the world of bullying, abuse and acceptance.  It taught me how to face problems and how to resolve them.

I enjoyed reading this book but I believe the ending could have been more detailed. I would have liked for the characters’ journeys to have been more thoroughly described. I could connect with this novel because of the emotions and storyline. I rate this book a 4 out of 5 stars. 

I recommend this book for children who are 13 years and older due to the language and some of the situations. 

‘Good for Book clubs’ 

Review by Deepana, Year 11, Cerdon College Merrylands

Aurora’s End by Amy Kaufman and Jay Kristoff is the fantastical end to the Aurora Cycle series, with exciting twists and turns in every chapter. It follows the intense cliffhanger that was presented to readers at the end of book two and answers the mysteries presented in the first and second book. The story is about Aurora and her crew attempting to fix everything that went wrong, and this book heavily focuses on multiple time travelling instances. The romance is alive and the action is never ending. This book was really well written as the two authors brought the series to a good ending. I enjoyed reading it and never once lost the magic that only science fiction can bring. I recommend Aurora’ End for ages 13+ as there are still many battles and deaths during the span of the book. This book would appeal to any person that enjoys science fiction, romance and fantasy, so it has wide appeal and is easy to enjoy. 

I give this book 5 out of 5 stars. 

Reviewed by Audrey, Cerdon College, Merrylands

Lakesedge by Lyndall Clipstone is a gothic dark fantasy novel with horror and romance coexisting together in a seamless storyline and plot. This novel includes monster boys, super old gardens that no one knows about, gods of darkness and death that speak to you at night, squeal-worthy almost kisses (at midnight too, for the aesthetic) and more. This book had me hooked by the end of the first chapter and intrigued as I kept reading. It’s a fun read overall and I can’t wait for the next book in the series!

A defining aspect of this story would be the relationships all the characters have with each other; especially the main character, Violeta, and her relationships with her love interest Rowan and her little brother Arien (the banter between her and Rowan is just adorable and almost makes you forget about the horror). The writing of this novel mixes romance and horror perfectly and I never wanted the story to end (especially with that cliffhanger!). 

I do wish however, that there was more world-building in the story. The world in this novel is very interesting so I hope in the next book there’s more background description and explanations. The writing and the plot make up for this though!!

Overall, I give this book 4.5/5 stars!! It has great writing lush with gothic fantasy elements and an amazing storyline. I can’t wait for the next book!! 

Reviewed by Bethany, Cerdon College, Merrylands

Six Crimson Cranes by Elizabeth Lim, is about Shiori, the only princess of Kiata, who has a secret of her own. Magic has long been forbidden from Kiata, but Shiori has her own magic running through her veins. However, Shiori isn’t the only one with magic, her step mother also possesses her own dark magical powers. Raikama uses these powers to banish Shiori from Kiata and turn her brother’s into cranes, threatening her that for every word she speaks, one of her brother’s will die. This leaves Shiori feeling alone, voiceless and extremely vulnerable. 

I thoroughly enjoyed this book, feeling encapsulated by the fantastical setting of the novel mixed in with classical fairytale notes. The descriptive and lush mythology filled writing style of Lim is something that I fell in love with whilst reading and I felt like it complimented the strong characters that the book embraces. I am excited to see where the series goes, and hoping to see the relationships between the characters continue to grow and flourish. 

Overall, I absolutely loved ‘Six Crimson Cranes’, where it retold the story of ‘The Six Swans’, in a East-Asian inspired setting which is something that I always love to see in contemporary fiction. I rate this novel a 4 out of 5 stars, and would recommend it to anyone aged 14 and over. 

Reviewed by Thuy, Cerdon College, Merrylands

Although many taboos have developed around the topic of consent, it has received more affirmative attention recently, thanks to a refreshing focus on the importance of effective communication in our relationships. Welcome to Consent: How to say no, when to say yes and everything in between cleverly captures the vital essence of consent from various angles, within and beyond what is sexual, whilst also tackling seemingly-embarrassing issues in a professional manner. I deeply appreciate Yumi Stynes’ and Dr. Melissa Kang’s creative efforts to convey to younger audiences what consent truly entails. 

The guide features charming drawings and subtle humour, making what appears to be a difficult topic very approachable. A range of scenarios is skilfully included, some being personal accounts submitted by enthusiastic students willing to explore consent alongside fellow curious and confused peers. This sense of collective puzzlement can be reassuring for adolescent readers as they embark on shared journeys to engage with unfamiliar experiences.

I find it especially admirable how the book briefly touches on the issue of young students feeling obligated to laugh about taboo topics in order to shrug off the awkwardness. It sheds light on how these students do feel that, underneath the humour of it all, they ultimately want to learn more without feeling the need to conform and laugh about the topic of consent. 

Despite being incredibly informative, this guide behaves more as a starting point than a place to further prior knowledge of consent. Hence, I recommend it to students aged 11 to 14 years old, as older teenage students would prefer a guide that more boldly confronts the deeper questions uninvestigated by this book. 

Overall, it was a wholesome, comforting read and I hope younger students will enjoy the guide’s witty jokes and adorable doodles as much as I did.

Rating: ★★★★☆

Reviewed by Siena Mia, Cerdon College, Merrylands

Written and curated by English actress and author Rosie Day, Instructions For a Teenage Armageddon is the ultimate uplifting, witty guide for any young girl dealing with the “misfortunes” of adolescence. 

This book includes the personal experiences of 30 incredibly brave women who look back on their teenage years and discuss their biggest and most difficult moments; accepting yourself, standing up for what you believe in, dealing with the falling out of friendships and, most importantly, being a girl. These women are the role models for the next generation of the world’s female pioneers and their advice is guaranteed to help all girls, no matter their age, culture or any definitive features, thrive in the future. Instructions for a Teenage Armageddon teaches all people that the first step to accepting the harsh realities of adolescence is to accept yourself and what makes you, you! From the 30 inspiring stories, to the bits of advice from Rosie herself, the book ensures that we can get through teenage-hood and be prepared for a world that will accept us for who we are.

I personally received a lot of helpful advice from reading this book. Being a teenage girl myself, I found I could really connect with some of the situations that were presented by the collaborators. Their stories opened my eyes to the fact that I am not alone in this ever-changing world and I am sure that other young girls like me would feel the same after reading it. I thoroughly enjoyed reading about other peoples’ experiences of their own adolescence and the calm and amusing way in which advice was delivered.

Rating: Overall, I give this book 4.5/5 stars as I believe that it could prove useful for any young girl who is struggling with the obstacles that being a teenage girl brings.

Age recommendation: I recommend this book to ages 13+ as it does deal with some mature themes and there is some mild vulgar language.

Reviewed by Bethany, Cerdon College, Merrylands

Maisie and her mum are heading to Maisie’s first ever fan convention, where Maisie hopes to meet her hero, an amputee actor, who plays a kick-arse character in her favourite show. As much as Maisie is excited to be at the fancon, it is also exhausting and overwhelming, however she then meets Ollie, who is a cute volunteer at the con…

Jessica Walton is a proud disabled and queer author who has written a beautiful story, where disabilities and identities have been explored, allowing various individuals to find themselves represented in a positive way. This has been paired with the stunning illustrations by Aśka, which compliment the story in an amazing way, and really capture the atmosphere that the convention holds. 

I really enjoyed this graphic novel, filled with soft hearted moments, along with the characters ‘nerding out’, which is something which I personality relate to. I find disability representation all too rare in YA fiction, so this book really reinforced the value of this, which I really loved. Furthermore, I also liked how Walton chose to have various queer identities represented in the novel, which really shows the importance of the inclusivity of identities outside of cisgender and heterosexual in media. Overall, I fell in love with the characters and their own stories that were created, I was just left craving more once finishing it. 

4 out of 5 stars