Reading Recommendations from VB Pupils

‘The Hunger Games’

Suzanne Collins

Dystopian

Year 9+

Review:

In a dark vision of the near future, twelve boys and twelve girls are forced to appear in a live TV show called the Hunger Games. When sixteen-year-old Katniss Everdeen steps forward to take her sister’s place in the games, she sees it as a death sentence.

This book (the first in the trilogy) is tense, action-packed and a terrifying look into a world of oppression and social construct as people in the capital live the perfect life, people in the districts live in poverty.

English Literature pupils found this as a fascinating look into a dystopian world and that Collins’ writing style is captivating, keeping the reader on edge while illustrating to them how to utilise the tropes of compelling narrative to construct a novel. If you like this book then you may like ‘1984’ and ‘Divergent’. One Year 9 pupil said,”A gripping story that has a unique view into a possible future”.

‘City of Bones’

Cassandra Clare

Teen Fantasy

Year 9+

Review:

Clary Fray is seeing things: vampires in Brooklyn and werewolves in Manhattan. Irresistibly drawn to the Shadowhunters, a secret cadre of warriors dedicated to ridding the world of demons, Clary encounters the dark side of New York City.

This is the first book in the Mortal Instruments series, a gripping magical world with mystical creatures and compelling characters.

English Literature pupils found that this novel balances a world with both magic and ‘real world’ issues. They feel that the novel successfully holds the reader’s interest and works well as the first book of a series. With plenty of books in the series to read, you will be entertained for a long time. If you like this you may also like ‘The Raven Boys’ and ‘The Chaos Walking Series’. A year nine pupil said,”A unique series with magic and mythical creatures, the story is amazing and well written”.

‘Mortal Engines’

Philip Reeve

Dystopian

Steampunk

Year 8+

Review:

“London is on the move again. The city has been lying low, skulking in the hills to avoid the bigger, faster, hungrier cities loose in the Great Hunting Ground. The great town moves off after its quarry as events within the walls begin to take a sinister turn…”

In this dystopian novel, all towns are on wheels, they fend off smaller towns to avoid being eaten for scrap and fight for the few resources that are still available.

Pupils taking interest in STEAM subjects (Science, Technology, Engineering, Arts and Mathematics) found that this book “get your gears turning” as it delves into the construction of both towns and social constructs. If you like this you may like ‘Clockwork Angel ‘ and ‘A Series of Unfortunate Events’. One Year 11 pupil said, “It’s a good book with twists and turns that keep you guessing, I really enjoyed it”.

‘The Boy in the Striped Pyjamas’

John Boyne

Historical Fiction

Year 8+ (Ages 12+)

Review:

A story seen through the innocent eyes of Bruno, the eight-year-old son of the Commandant of a German concentration camp, whose forbidden friendship with a Jewish boy on the other side of the camp fence has startling and unexpected consequences.

This novella has a strong theme of friendship which is apparent in the boys’ devotion to one another, despite their different backgrounds and circumstances. This novel may be of interest to our History students as in Year 10 pupils study World War Two and the Holocaust and are offered the opportunity to visit Germany and learn more about the holocaust.

‘Jurassic Park’

Michael Crichton

Science Fiction

Year 9+ (Ages 13+)

Review:

An astonishing technique for cloning dinosaur DNA has been discovered. Now, creatures extinct for aeons exist again, their awesome presence and profound mystery on display for all the world to witness – for a price. Until something goes wrong.

This novel links to the school subject ‘Science’ along with the broader ethological themes of wisdom, humility and forgiveness as it explores questions about scientific knowledge yet asks, ‘What is more important? Whether we can or whether we should?’ Conversely, the novel also touches on the theme of perseverance as it postulates that ‘Anything can be possible if you put all of your effort into it’.