September '17 Reviews

The Odyssey by Gillian Cross, Illustrated by Neil Packer. Review by Ari

This isn't the original, but an adaptation of Homer's poem. It's like the sequel to The Iliad; the story of the Trojan War. The Odyssey follows the story of Odysseus and his son. Odysseus is coming home from the Trojan War when he experiences a series of misadventures, eventually getting stranded on a deserted island with what he thinks is a nymph but is actually the goddess Calypso. He was trapped there by Poseidon, whose son had been killed by his hand. Eventually he makes it across the seas and meets a man in Sparta. He tells him his full story, about his ships and his crew being turned into animals and visiting the land of the dead. Meanwhile back at home, his wife Penelope who has been waiting for him, has been swamped with a bunch of suitors who are pressuring her to remarry, and their son is in danger...

Rated: 4/5 Greek Mythologies. "Very interesting, I really liked the adventures, it had funny moments, epic" 


City of Ashes: The Immortal Instruments by Cassandra Clare, Review by Natasha

This continues on from Clary's adventures in the first book. After finding out Jace is her brother, she tries to move on with her best friend Simon. But when they travel to the Sealie court the Queen makes them play a game where only the kiss Clary most desires will set her free.

It's a little slow going at the moment, but I really like her writing style, it's really simple language but very descriptive.

Rated: 3.5/5 Sealies. "It's really good because it's got action and adventure but real romances going on as well"


Four: A Divergent Collection by Veronica Roth, Review by Riya

This is about Four's journey into Dauntless, before he met Tris. You find out about what happened to him at home which led him to change factions, leaving Abnegation and his parents behind. At times it's really sad. You get to find out how he achieves his place in the Dauntless ranks.

Rated: 4/5 Factions. "It's really well written and interesting backstory for fans of the trilogy"

One of Us is Lying by Karen M. McManus Review by Henrietta

It's about these four kids who are all high school stereotypes. This guys runs an app which has all the school gossip on it, sort of like Gossip Girl. After some mysterious phone scandal, they're all put into detention. Then they find out the guy who runs the app has been killed and they are all suspects with something to hide.

Rated: 2.5/5 Apps

I'll Give You the Sun by Jandy Nelson, Review by Wei Li

You should never read I'll Give You the Sun at school because you'll be screaming your lungs out from either heartbreak, anger, despair or happiness, because the twins are such beautiful characters with such conflicting personalities. It's a story about romances that go wrong and don't go wrong. The plot line is beautiful, parts of it are a little slow, which is sort of cool but sort of not.

Rated: 3/5 Grandma's Bibles.