Eclipse of the Crescent Moon (Monika Dombay)

Book: Eclipse of the Crescent Moon

Book By: Géza Gárdonyi

Review By: Monika Dombay

The siege of Eger in 1552 was an astonishing event. A small Hungarian garrison commanded István Dobó successfully resisted a huge Turkish army for nearly six weeks and forged it to retreat disgarace. Dobó became a celebrated hero. But little is know of his brilliant explosives expert, Gergely Bornemissza, whose ingenious devices demoralized the Turks. It is his story that Géza Gárdonyi tells in Eclipse of the Crescent Moon, an exciting tale of chivalry and love, adventures and disasters, heroes and villains, culminating in the siege itself. Gárdonyi’s story, a convincing blend of history and fiction, has become a Hungarian literary classic.

To be continued…..

Kringle (Juyoung park)

'Kringle' written by Tony Abbott is about a boy namedKringle, who finds the power to change the world.

'Deep in the lands of ghosts and frost, back in the days of long ago, when elves and goblins still roamed the earth, there was a boy named Kringle...'

This is a story about Kringle, a 12 year old boy who lived in a quiet, solitary life until the goblins attacked his hom and cast him out into the bitter wilderness. Through encounter with elves, pirates, the ancient magic of time, and the dark threat of the goblins growing bigger for an epic battle, Kringle realises a destiny he has to fill- and that even a small young boy has the power to change the world.

Kringle is a book of fantasy and Magic, suitable for eager children's bedtime stories. This is the epic story of a lone boy destined to become a legend throughout the ages.

Black Beauty (Juyoung Park)

'Black Beauty' written by Anna Sewell is a fantastic book which conveys emotions of kindness to the reader. This book is about a horse names Black Beauty (literal meaning) who spends his life loyally workng for a different master everytime he is sold or given away.

Everything started in a powerful, quiet meadow where he can close his eyes next to his mother in 1877, where horses were the main transport system. Everything ends in a peaceful meadow where he is reunited with his love of his life, Ginger, together they can close their eyes for eternity....

"Whether pulling an elegant can or a ramshackle cab, Black Beauty tries to live as best as he can. This is his amazing story, told as only he could tell it" -Anna Sewell

'Black Beauty' is a lovely, compassionate book written from the perspective of Black Beauty- the horse-. This book was an instant success in USA and people slowly started to recognize that these horse werent just dumb animals but had feelings and lived in a world where they were just considered as one of the many..

Black Beauty has many owners-Some of them cruel and some of them kind. All he needs is someone to love him again.

Harry Potter and the Philosopher's Stone (Juyoung Park)

'Harry Potter and the Philosopher's Stone' written by J.K.Rowling, is a mix between fantasy and 'real' life. When Harry Potter, a 14 year old boy finds out that he is a son of a brilliantly powerful wizard/witch couple, his life starts to change dramatically. Before he has time to think, Harry is transported to the Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry, and is greeted by royal friends, melicious enemies, rather strange teachers and a suspicious stone.

This book arouses our imagination with a 'BANG!' and helps us to unite together as readers to accuse or criticise the wrong deeds or praise the heroic.

'J.K.Rowling has woken up a whole new generation to reading.' -The Times.

This is the perfect read for anyone interested in fantasy, talking portraits, powerfull life-changing stones and more! The story starts off in 4 Privet drive, where Harry has lived 14 years of his life, thinking that his parents had died of a car crash. The mysterious Hogwarts School, where the teachers look at him suspiciously and hides a secret. What is the truth...?

Toad Rage (Juyoung Park)

'Toad Rage' written by Morris Gleitzman is an epic story of a slightly squashed young cane toad's quest for the truth. Toad Rage is a story about a young cane toad who is on a journey to find out why humans hate cane toads so much. It is easier for Limpy to relate the questions back to humans, being a cane toad afterall.

"I had spotted the sings. The cross looks. The unkind comments. The way they squash cane toads with their cars..." -Limpy

'Toad Rage' is set in a thick swamp in Australia. It is full of bull ants and mosquitos. Limpy decides to go to South Australia and tell the humans just how adorable and nice cane toads really are. But with all the purposeful runovers aimed at Limpy and his cousin Goliath, it will be the most wart-chillingly dangerous journey of his life. But also the funniest.

'Toad Rage' investigates the themes love and loyalty even shown among the lowest of animals. 'Toad Rage' is written in the perspective of Limpy, the cane toad. But Limpy discovers that not all questions are meant to be answered...

The Phantom Tollbooth (Ju young Park)

'The Phantom Tollbooth' written by Norton Juster is a book that is full of fantasy, magical lands and talking dogs. When Milo recieves a Phantom Tollbooth given to him to cease his bordom, he decides to take a tour on it, with a statement:

'RESULTS MAY NOT BE GUARANTEED, BUT IF NOT PERFECTLY SATISFIED, YOUR WASTED TIME WILL BE REFUNDED.'

But Milo is a very, extremely bored boy who doesn't know what to do with himself. He meets different characters, goes to different places and takes on a whole new positive perspective to the world. Milo will have to save princesses, fight demons and go through the Kingdom of Wisdom to come out again.

But is he really in the Kingdom of Wisdom? Is Milo really driving a Phantom Tollbooth? Or is he just realising something that has always been there?

Face



Written By Benjamin Zephaniah

In the book face written by Benjamin Zephaniah.

Martin is on top of the world thinking life could not possibly get better , he’s the coolest guy at school , has a fantastic girlfriend and is a leader of a gang of three(Mathew , Mark and himself).That is until his world turns upside down - literally .After a night out partying at the club in town Martin finds himself drunk and wandering home when one of his schools students , that he doesn’t know , offers him a lift home. Martin thinking he is only getting a lift home jumps in the car not realizing who’s driving. After the accident , Martin doesn’t realize he’s been in , he wakes up in a room, not his room, a blank white sterile smelling room. Later on questions are being fired at him one after the other….exhaustion takes over and questions bother and fill his mind. Where is he?Why am I here?Where are my friend and family.Why do I feel so stiff ??????? He doesn’t want to be seen by anyone , everyone always stares at him , his friends treat him differently and suddenly it seems as if his girlfriend isn't really his anymore.

In this book the characters are martin, Mathew, Mark, Natalie, Martin’s parents , Martin’s counsellor and Anthony. Anthony is a boy in hospital who meets Martin while he is in hospital .He makes Martin realize that he is still not suffering as bad as some people ,especially Anthony who has to still go in for operations years after his own birth defect in which he had no control over it. Mathew and Mark are Martin’s best friends as well as having Natalie as a close friend and girlfriend . Throughout the whole book the person that stays Martins good friend is Mathew. Mark slowly breaks off from being part of the gang of three after Martins accident and finds another group of friends to hang out with.Natalie is a great girlfriend until after the accident when she finds it hard to see Martin with his burnt face .Martins parents are also very important and are very kind and help Martin through his operation and facing school. Martin also has a very important counsellor who helps with facing his friends, school, and other little problems he faces along the way.

I really enjoyed this book because it had you feeling like it was a true story .I felt that this book always had new little problems that were popping up . The thing that kept me hooked was that you always wanted to see what was going to happen next.

In conclusion I would recommend this book to people around the age of fourteen as it would be a situation that a few teenagers would get into not realizing what their in for.

By Jess Maxtone