I wish I’d written…
Matt Brown chooses a Woking-set, sci-fi classic.
I think the book I most wish I’d written is H.G. Wells’ The War of the Worlds. It was written in the dying embers of the 19th century but it feels so modern and so relevant even at a distance of more than one hundred and twenty years. The War of the Worlds tells the story of a brutal, devastating alien attack from Mars. I’m a sucker for sci-fi that’s set on earth, which The War of the Worlds most certainly is. It takes place in Woking for flip’s sake and has chapter titles like, The Heat-Ray in the Cobham Road. The idea of alien-life can seem so far-away so it’s always a treat to see intelligent life travelling across the universe to blow up buildings that I recognise. It’s much more fun than them acting out their violence in gleaming, distant worlds.
Matt Brown’s latest book Mutant Zombies Cursed My School Trip (978- 1474960236) is published by Usborne..
The War of the Worlds reflected the fears of its time. It’s a story about a catastrophic, technologically-advanced war and was written barely sixteen years before the outbreak of WW1. And yet, wars keep on being waged, with increasingly sophisticated ways of killing, and The War of the Worlds just sits there, reflecting our senseless brutality right back at us.
The War of the Worlds (978-0141441030) is published by Penguin Classic, £6.99.
Good Reads
Just Jack Kate Scott, Piccadilly Press, 9781848126244, £5.99
Just Jack is the story of a boy who has moved house a lot. He’s kind of given up on making friends and has developed a system to make it easy to start in new schools. This time there’s a problem, his system doesn’t seem to work with one of the children and Jack starts to think a friend might be a good thing. I was in love with this book within the first few
pages. Kate Scott is really funny. You get to know all of her characters
really well. Mia, Year 5 I loved going
to Tyler’s house with Jack and seeing his zany inventions, and understanding him better. I would recommend this book to anyone who likes funny stories that make you think too.
The Legend Of Podkin One-Ear Kieran Larwood, illus David Wyatt, Faber & Faber, 9780571340200, £6.99
This is a great book. A storyteller arrives on Bramblemas Eve and begins telling the young rabbits The Legend Of Podkin One-Ear. He promises that the version he will tell will be the truth! Podkin, his older sister Paz, and younger brother, Pook have to escape the safety of their burrow when the Gorm attack their home, and that’s the beginning of their adventure to defeat the enemy that is threatening rabbits across the Five
Realms.Although at times, it is a sad tale, I liked it because of all the action and adventure. My favourite part was when the Gorm attacked Podkin’s warren. The illustrations help bring the characters and the world they live in to life, and the map at the start is great for seeing where they go on their journey. Tomas, Year 3
16 Books for Keeps No.235 March 2019
Boy X Dan Smith, Chicken House, 9781909489042, £6.99
When Ash wakes up, he needs answers. He’s in a strange place that seems to be a hospital, but he can’t find any doctors or nurses. When he does find the front door he realises he’s a long way from home as the heat hits him and he stares out at the jungle ahead of him. When Isabel arrives, she takes him to where her dad should be to discover their parents have been injected with a deadly virus and they’re running out of time to get the cure. I loved this book so much! I don’t have a
favourite part - it was all better than amazing! Ash is very brave and resourceful, and Isabel is courageous and smart. They make a great team! Jasmine, Year 5
Knights And Bikes Gabrielle Kent, illus Rex Crowle, Knights Of, 9781999642503, £6.99
Demelza lives in her caravan on the peaceful island of Penfurzy. When a monster breaks in, she grabs her foam sword and prepares to defend her home and pet goat. It turns out the monster isn’t a monster, but a really cool girl called Nessa. The two become best friends and set off on their bikes to find the legendary fortune of the Penfurzy Knights hidden somewhere on the island. Knights And Bikes is great fun and full of adventure. My favourite character is Nessa; she always sticks by her friend Demelza however crazy her ideas are, and my favourite part is when Nessa gets bitten by a head! The illustrations are really funny too. There is also a clue hidden within the story for the reader to find which adds to the mystery.
Zoe, Year 5
Our Good Reads are chosen by pupils at Cannon Park Primary School, Coventry. Thank you to them and to Nicki Cleveland, HLTA & School Librarian. Nicki is one of the librarians on the UKSLA School Librarian of the Year Honour List 2018.
Mia
Tomas
Jasmine
Zoe
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