this is an interesting link to a magazine for kids.
http://news.bbc.co.uk/cbbcnews/hi/newsid_4690000/newsid_4693600/4693601.stm
checked it out and saw this article that has tips on how to write a book review -- was very clearly set out in an easy to follow language and structure. But felt that there was something missing. a book review is more than this, isnt it? what do u think?
ADS
Sunday, January 20, 2008
Wednesday, December 26, 2007
Diana Wynne Jones
Not lightly named! She's a winner ! Amazing. Fantasy and Fiction par excellence. Really good at fleshing out character, has a sense of fun and adventure and has original ideas. Even if you don't like her characters, you know them and they all do quirky things.
I have enjoyed most of her books and will post the list asap! One fan has even set up a forum to discuss her books.
She's awesome.
The Chrestomanci series
The Dark Lord of Derkholm
The Year of the Griffin
The Dalemark Quartet
I didn't like The Merlin Conspiracy that much but it was OK.
Comments by NTB
I have enjoyed most of her books and will post the list asap! One fan has even set up a forum to discuss her books.
She's awesome.
The Chrestomanci series
The Dark Lord of Derkholm
The Year of the Griffin
The Dalemark Quartet
I didn't like The Merlin Conspiracy that much but it was OK.
Comments by NTB
The Whispering Road
Recently read a book called "The Whispering Road by Livy Michael about a boy called Joe or Tom or Dodger depending on who he is with. It's fairly harrowing because he and his sister are workhouse children who are farmed out to people as unpaid slaves, kept and fed the bare minimum to keep them alive and working, but it has a reasonably happy ending -thank goodness,- and manages to hold the interest in a Dickensian kind of way. It also has an element of magic, fantasy, and psychic abilities which make it more intriguing. If you can stomach all the tragedies and get to the end you may even realise that hundreds of kids in India live like these children. Not a pleasant thought!
The story originated out of a real situation in the author's neighbouring farm and has been cooked and stewed with historical facts,people and places. If you get to the end of the book ,there is an author's note which is also worth reading.
For older children..................
The story originated out of a real situation in the author's neighbouring farm and has been cooked and stewed with historical facts,people and places. If you get to the end of the book ,there is an author's note which is also worth reading.
For older children..................
Monday, October 22, 2007
a little funny, a little sad...
i recently read a book called "the music of dolphins". it is about a girl called mila who was found on a deserted island. she has grown up with dolphins since she was 4 years old. when i started reading, i expected the book would be all about her life with the dolphins -- all the time she spent with them on the island. instead, it was about her life after she was found on the island and how she learnt to speak and sing like humans.
still i liked the book. it was a bit sad though -- even though mila was funny in parts and got into all kinds of strange situations. i like books about animals and all creatures so i finished the book quite fast.
mekaner10
Thursday, October 18, 2007
bow wow, bleat bleat
I find the books in the animal ark series by lucy daniels quite nice. some are better than the others. the one i read last is called badgers by the bridge and its not only about a badger but about a badger and a dog. both are equally important in this story.
i liked the book called goat in the garden best. it was very funny because. once the goat chewed up the grass in a neighbour farmer's garden and then it decided, just for fun, to run away from home and went to the ANIMAL ARK which is a vet clinic run by the parents of Mandy Hope -- the main person in the book. She loves animals and has a lot of adventures with them.
mandy is an adopted child and she thinks that animals must always come first. this is what i like about her. i like james who is her friend too and he is sometimes better than mandy in the books because he is not always obsessed about animals!!
please read these books and tell me what you think of them.
By mekaner10
i liked the book called goat in the garden best. it was very funny because. once the goat chewed up the grass in a neighbour farmer's garden and then it decided, just for fun, to run away from home and went to the ANIMAL ARK which is a vet clinic run by the parents of Mandy Hope -- the main person in the book. She loves animals and has a lot of adventures with them.
mandy is an adopted child and she thinks that animals must always come first. this is what i like about her. i like james who is her friend too and he is sometimes better than mandy in the books because he is not always obsessed about animals!!
please read these books and tell me what you think of them.
By mekaner10
Tuesday, October 2, 2007
reviews of 3 books by Kamini
‘Gifted’ by Nikita Lalwani
‘Gifted’ is a very well written book in the sense that the reader is compelled to carry on reading, I could not put this book down! However, I felt some of the issues raised in the book and some of the terminology used is quite dated. Having moved to the UK in my early teens I sympathise with the authors concept of belonging neither with the British nor with the Indians especially when I was trying to fit in at school and then make my mum happy by not compromising my results. Nevertheless, I do not think Indian parents still put as much pressure on their children as they did before. In my experience and in others I know, the parents did not view their move to the UK as a sacrifice or an unpleasant experience.
As for the terminology it was simply confusing when the author referred to ‘O’ levels as this is no longer relevant and has not been for a while, GCSE’s are a more appropriate term. On the whole though the social, educational and romantic journey the protagonist goes through are entertaining and heart wrenching at the same time!
‘Northern Lights’ by Phillip Pullman
The first book in the trilogy ‘His Dark Materials’ is a thrilling read. The adventures had by Lyra an orphan in ‘Oxford’, but in a world completely different to ours, are vividly described. The book is spellbinding as we travel through Lyra’s world, time and other worlds in search of her best friend guided by a ‘magical compass’. I would recommend this book to anyone interested in fantasy or mysteries in particular, although, I believe it is an interesting read even if you are not. All in all though, a fantastic book, with 2 more fantastic books to follow.
‘Artemis Fowl’ by Eoin Colfer
‘Artemis Fowl’ is essentially a fairy story. However, I don’t think we have been presented with fairies that have made superior technological advances, continue to live below ground at present to avoid Mud People (us humans) and have their own LEPrecon unit with feisty elf Holly Short at the helm, at least she likes to think so! Artemis Fowl the protagonist is essentially a genius who has lent his talents to criminal activities, he is also just 12 years old. The description of the chaos that ensues between the two worlds when Artemis decides to take on the fairy world makes a fascinating read. Very original and not patronising.
"Artemis Fowl is great…a new thriller fairy tale that will grab your interest, no matter your age." -- The New York Post
These reviews are by Kamini, who lives in London. She is 18 years old.
‘Gifted’ is a very well written book in the sense that the reader is compelled to carry on reading, I could not put this book down! However, I felt some of the issues raised in the book and some of the terminology used is quite dated. Having moved to the UK in my early teens I sympathise with the authors concept of belonging neither with the British nor with the Indians especially when I was trying to fit in at school and then make my mum happy by not compromising my results. Nevertheless, I do not think Indian parents still put as much pressure on their children as they did before. In my experience and in others I know, the parents did not view their move to the UK as a sacrifice or an unpleasant experience.
As for the terminology it was simply confusing when the author referred to ‘O’ levels as this is no longer relevant and has not been for a while, GCSE’s are a more appropriate term. On the whole though the social, educational and romantic journey the protagonist goes through are entertaining and heart wrenching at the same time!
‘Northern Lights’ by Phillip Pullman
The first book in the trilogy ‘His Dark Materials’ is a thrilling read. The adventures had by Lyra an orphan in ‘Oxford’, but in a world completely different to ours, are vividly described. The book is spellbinding as we travel through Lyra’s world, time and other worlds in search of her best friend guided by a ‘magical compass’. I would recommend this book to anyone interested in fantasy or mysteries in particular, although, I believe it is an interesting read even if you are not. All in all though, a fantastic book, with 2 more fantastic books to follow.
‘Artemis Fowl’ by Eoin Colfer
‘Artemis Fowl’ is essentially a fairy story. However, I don’t think we have been presented with fairies that have made superior technological advances, continue to live below ground at present to avoid Mud People (us humans) and have their own LEPrecon unit with feisty elf Holly Short at the helm, at least she likes to think so! Artemis Fowl the protagonist is essentially a genius who has lent his talents to criminal activities, he is also just 12 years old. The description of the chaos that ensues between the two worlds when Artemis decides to take on the fairy world makes a fascinating read. Very original and not patronising.
"Artemis Fowl is great…a new thriller fairy tale that will grab your interest, no matter your age." -- The New York Post
These reviews are by Kamini, who lives in London. She is 18 years old.
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