Felix reads

Book recommendations from a nine-year old.

[felixreads]

Time Travelling With A Hamster by Ross Welford

Al’s dad, Pye Chaudhury, died when Al was eight. Now, on his 12th birthday, Al receives a four-year-old letter from his dad, saying... Wait. What’s all this gibberish about a time machine? In the cellar? But there’s only one problem with all this. How was Al’s dad supposed to know that his family moved 20 miles upcoast when he died?

When Al has to travel a long way in the middle of the night to steal what belongs to his Dad, he is faced with the challenge of thieving and a big adventure to save his father’s life by going back to 1984.

Al can’t be in two places at once, so how is he going to succeed in saving Pye?

You’ll need to read this book to find out.

There are some really cool time travel tips in the book. One of them is, it doesn’t matter if you’ve seen something happen right in front of you (for example, your parent/guardian vomits because of the cherryade they had earlier); you can go and change it anyway (make your parent not have that cherryade). I always thought you couldn’t change something that you’ve already seen, but, obviously, this author has a different point of view.

I just couldn’t put the book down. Between you and me, I got in trouble for reading at lunch. And it’s interesting. Very. It got me interested in Einstein’s theory of relativity, so now I have a hope of actually understanding Einstein’s work before I die. Anyway, this book will get you thinking.

Great doesn’t sum it up, but I couldn’t think of another superlative. Majestic, maybe? No. Too pompous. Anyway, I recommend this book to humans of all ages. Of course, if your pet can read, why not hand him or her the book after you finish it? (Don’t tell me you have a hamster.)

[felixreads]

The Invention of Hugo Cabret by Brian Selznick

This is a beautiful book, and I’m not only referring to the text. And it is quite thick, but don’t let this intimidate you. About two thirds of the story is told through detailed, beautiful drawings. They are not even accompanied by text (no captions, no text bubbles, nothing) as they perfectly tell the story on their own.

As for the story itself: Hugo Cabret loses his father to a fire and must go live with his uncle in a big train station. They are both experts in clockwork but Hugo’s uncle disappears one day, leaving Hugo all by himself. The boy must keep himself alive, so he steals his food. He must also keep the clocks working, or the Station Master will send him to the orphanage.

But a notebook, an automaton (that’s a kind of robot), and a friend (hint: it’s a girl) help him reveal a lost identity and, most importantly, the truth. What remains of the past? What will Hugo’s future be? What is reality? What is fiction?

I really recommend this book to anyone, because it’s gripping. One moment you’re like ‘I’ll finish the paragraph and read on later,’ next moment you’re thinking, ‘Oh, wait! I’ve got to find out what happens.’

Literally, there is nothing boring in this book, not even a word. And don’t see the film before reading the book, please.

[felixreads]

Jessica’s Ghost by Andrew Norriss

Francis had never seen a person like Jessica before. Apparently he is the only one who can see her. Jessica can pass her hand through solid metal, float, and even think herself into any clothes she wants.

But things get even more interesting when Francis learns that two other children can see Jessica as well. The three of them want to find out together how Jessica died, as she doesn’t remember a thing.

When they find out, they are very surprised by the result.

I LOVED this book. There is always something to hook you on. Norriss has a very clear writing style. Everything is carefully explained.

However, if you’re looking for something funny, this isn’t exactly the book for you. Something a bit sad? Yes. Some serious issues are tackled -- bullying, for example. Overall, a wonderful book.

[felixreads]

Joe All Alone by Joanna Nadin

Joe’s Mum is going to Spain with her boyfriend, Dean. Joe is going to be left all alone for a week. Well, at least it’s a break from the all-time annoying boyfriend who swears a lot.

It turns out to be really fun without parents. After all, Joe is 13. He hangs out with his neighbour Asha, and soon she’s his new girlfriend.

But food runs out and Mum doesn’t come back. Plus, the local thugs are catching up. And some strange guy shows up every night to ask for money. What will Joe do?

You’ll have to read the book to find out. What I can tell you right now is, I really liked ‘Joe All Alone’. It’s fun reading about Joe, because of all the weird stuff that happens to him.

The only thing I don’t like is that the book’s a bit short (or maybe I just read it too fast?).

So yes, get this book, especially if you like the ‘Home Alone’ movies. Just a little warning: there are some four-letter words in there.

[felixreads]

Demolition Dad by Phil Earle

Oh... My... God! Jake’s dad George is finally a wrestler! Hoo-yah!

But... every weekend when George Biggs fights some other big wrestler, only about ten old grannies come to see him. (They couldn’t be happier playing Bingo!)

Jake really wants the whole world to see Demolition Dad fighting, but never has the occasion come...  until now. (I could really do with some dramatic music here. Really.)

The judges from W.O.W. (hint- it’s a wrestling show) have started a competition online. Just send in a video of you wrestling and the best contestant will get to have a chance to fight The Tsunami Terror in Hollywood.

There’s just one problem: Jake and his Dad have vowed to keep wrestling a secret. But George must prove himself! So Jake signs Dad up -- in secret.

Dad and Mom are both very cross. But somehow, they agree.

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      (Sorry, this content was hidden because it was detected as a spoiler.)

Dad is absolutely ruined. Ruined!

What shall Jake do?

This book starts about wrestling and continues about wrestling, so yeah, If you’re a wrestling fan, get this book.

And also, if you like drama books, this is THE ULTIMATE book for you. Full of drama.

This book was so fun my parents got angry I wasn’t coming to eat lunch! I really loved reading it. There were always surprises coming out of nowhere.

Too bad you have to wait another two months for this to actually come out. (You can still pre-order it, though.)

[felixreads]

The Astounding Broccoli Boy by Frank Cottrell Boyce

Hmmm.... Why would Rory suddenly turn green after he emerges from a lake he had been pushed into?

Well, nobody knows why. Rory is taken into a hospital and cared after. Everyone avoids touching him, in case he's "contagious".

And then... Pow! His nemesis "Grim" Komissky also turns green. Oooo...

They fight. Rory's catapulted into the wall. And he doesn't get hurt.

After that, Grim sleepwalks off the roof. And Rory teleports. They both fall a 12-storey drop.

Anything bad happened to them?

Nope.

Okay, children with superpowers. At least it's a reason to read this book, isn't it?

I can only say this book starts with action, continues with action, and ends with action (unlike a lot of other books). I have to admit I had a bit more fun reading this than other books I've read. 

If you're a fan of sci-fi, then definitely get this book.

[felixreads]

Doctor Who: 12 Doctors 12 Stories

Doctor Who, the last of the Time Lords, must continue saving the world with his TARDIS and his companion.

From Alpha Centauri, Atraxi and Axons to Patchwork People, the Family of Blood and Reapers... what other aliens will the Doctor fight?

If you're a fan of the TV series, this will be a treat for you, and if you're not, it will be even better: read the book, then you'll probably want to watch the movie.

If you are like me, you will undoubtedly like all the Doctors, from the first old TARDIS-thief to the twelfth grey-haired cross-eyed Doctor.

The book includes 12 short stories (basically episodes) for each Doctor, each one of them written by a different author. Neil Gaiman (Coraline, The Graveyard Book), one of my favourite writers, is among the contributors, and so are authors like Philip Reeve (No Such Thing as Dragons) and Marcus Sedgwick (The Dark Horse).

I liked this book because of the dramatic and right-when-you-need-them entrances of the Doctor and because of all the surprises – right when someone (or something) is about to die, a good guy pops out from nowhere and saves the day.

You might also want to check out this book to go along with it: Doctor Who Character Encyclopedia! 

Here is the full list of short stories in the book:

A Big Hand for the Doctor, by Eoin Colfer

The Nameless City, by Michael Scott

The Spear of Destiny, by Marcus Sedgwick

The Roots of Evil, by Philip Reeve

Tip of the Tongue, by Patrick Ness

Something Borrowed, by Richelle Mead

The Ripple Effect, by Malorie Blackman

Spore, by Alex Scarrow

The Beast of Babylon, by Charlie Higson

The Mystery of the Haunted Cottage, by Derek Landy

Nothing O'Clock, by Neil Gaiman

Lights Out, by Holly Black

[felixreads]

The Story Behind Maps by Barbara Somervill

Did you know that in the old times people thought that ships lost at sea had fallen off the edge of the world and been eaten by dragons? Yes, old maps have dragons at the edges!

This book teaches you all about maps, from the time when maps were simple drawings in the sand to the present time when maps can be very detailed and can show even the bottom of the ocean.

I learned a lot from this book and it was very fun to read. It has lots of pictures of old and new maps inside.

Educational and with lots of pictures... what could you want more from a book?

[felixreads]

Percy Jackson: Heroes of Olympus: Blood of Olympus by Rick Riordan

The Earth is in trouble. Gaia, the evil Earth goddess, will awake in a week.

Percy, Annabeth, Leo, Reyna, Hazel, Nico, Frank, Jason and Piper need to fight snake-men, giants, cyclops, and, most of all, Gaia, while ending the conflict between the Greek camp and the Roman camp.

Leo's ship is slowly getting worn out and destroyed along with his dragon, Festus. Does Piper's charmspeak still work? And along comes crazy killing robot Hygeia! Things couldn't get worse! (Actually, they could.)

Luckily, Jason manages to get one minor sea god off Gaia's side and on theirs. But... that doesn't really help.

Gaia's party has gone crazy. Can Camp Jupiter and Camp Half-Blood get together and defeat the Earth itself?

Maybe.

Rating: 10/10 

            not for people who haven't read other Percy Jackson books

[felixreads]

The Name of this Book is Secret by "Pseudonymous" Bosch

  Ha! That's actually the very first page!

As you have seen, at the beginning, the author really tries to stop you from reading the book. 

Ignore the warning and continue. (The first chapter is full of "X"s. And the names of the characters aren't the real names. And a few things are... well, let's just say changed. At least that's what the author says.)

Until Cass finds the Symphony of Smells, she leads a normal life, along with Mr. Talkity-Talk, Max-Ernest. What are all those smelling vials for? What secret is hidden?

Cass and her friend find out. There was a magician. The two children "break" into his old and deserted house. They find the magician's diary, and they discover riddles like "ELEVEN PLUS TWO is TWELVE PLUS ONE".

The children are very puzzled about this. Suddenly at their school a boy goes missing! Luckily, Cass has a Smoochie to pretend she's one of the Skelton Sisters. Boy, oh, boy! Cass gets into the mysterious spa, The Midnight Sun, to save lives.

I really loved this first novel of the "Secret" series. The characters are fun and adventurous (well, two of them at least). The author heavily describes how everything is "secret" and blah blah blah. I actually want other kids to read this book. It stirs up their imagination!

Rating: 10/10

[felixreads]

I am Malala by Malala Yousafzai

This book tells the story of a Pakistani teenager who wants every girl in her country to be allowed to go to school. Malala is determined to do anything against even the most terrible of barriers. And the worst, in her mind, is the fact that the Taliban are trying to stop girls from being educated.

Backed by her father, she has spoken a lot about how girls and women should be free, and about how unfair life can be for them because of the Taliban. 

On the 9th of October, 2012, Malala was shot in the head. Surprisingly, she survived. She now lives in her new home in Birmingham, and she continues to be passionate about women’s rights in her country and all over the world.

In her book, she tells the story of her life until 2013. She describes everything in great detail, and writes not only about crucial moments, but also about everyday events, like the day when she saw a few poor children picking up things from the dump. Malala begged her father to offer them free places in his school.

This true story is very touching and reading it I have learned lots of things about the world that I never new before — some terrible, and some beautiful. Yes, Malala is famous all over the world for being shot in her head and surviving, but mostly for her fight for human rights. This year she received the Nobel prize for peace. This auto-biography will tell you lots more about her.

[felixreads]

The Ministry of Ghosts by Alex Shearer

Mr. Beeston, a man of economics, thinks the Ministry of Ghosts is a useless place, like having the Ministry of Ducks. So he visits the strange building and says to the four employees that they have three months to find and capture a visible ghost, or the Ministry would be shut down and they would work at the Department of Sewage.

Luckily for the Ministry of Ghosts, two teenagers called Thruppence and Tim are there when the place needs lots of help. Together they try saving The Ministry of Ghosts, but what if they fail?

I loved this book because I like ghost stories. Also I like how it's funny that the two children only talk using the literal sense and don't understand any metaphors. There is always a surprise waiting for you right around the corner. And there is a huge one at the end to make you feel really SPOOKED.

[felixreads]

A Dog So Small by Philippa Pearce

Ben always wanted a dog. But instead of getting a dog for his birthday, he got a drawing of a dog. Ben was disappointed, but he soon went to the countryside to stay with his grandparents for a while. They had a dog, Tilly, so Ben was happier there.

Ben soon began to see his own pet dog... but only with his eyes shut. He started having problems at school because he wasn't paying attention, but rather "watching" his dog leap from desk to desk. 

You can't really keep dogs in the crowded, noisy streets of London, so Ben just accepts the truth. Though maybe...?

I like this book because I think it is pure magic. It has lots of pleasant and unpleasant surprises, so it just makes you want to read on. Loads of fun to read, I couldn't put it down. I recommend it to anyone. You'll certainly love it if you have enjoyed other books by Philippa Pearce. I also reviewed two other books written by her: Tom's Midnight Garden and The Way to Sattin Shore.

Other books by Philippa Pearce: What the Neighbours Did and Other Stories, The Little Gentleman, The Battle of Bubble and Squeak.

[felixreads]

The Girl Who Wasn't There by Karen McCombie

The Girl Who Wasn't There is a book about Maisie and her big sister Clem moving in their new house with their father. Dad becomes the site manager at Nightingale School, which is just 75 steps away from the house (counted by Maisie).

Maisie has no friends until she sees a nice girl named Kat. They have a lot of fun together until Maisie finds out that Kat actually... well, isn't there. 

Maisie helps Kat find out her lost story in this epic adventure.

In the meantime, Maisie and her sister become anxious to find out more about their dad's mysterious girlfriend Donna.

One of the best books I've ever read. Couldn't put it down. I just read, read, read, anxious to find out what happens next.

[felixreads]

The Story of Britain by Patrick Dillon

The Story of Britain is a great read telling you everything that happened since before England was conquered by the Romans to modern life.

It is beautifully told, in a way that even children can read it. The author gives great attention to details. For example, he doesn't just mention the "trees" in a certain story, but the "tall oak trees."

My favourite part of the book was the one about the 20th century. But I loved the whole book.

Great for any person from 8 to 80. Even my father read this one, before me!

[felixreads]

The Top Secret Diary of Pig by Emer Stamp

Pig and Duck find out that the "Evil Chickens" have a secret plan. They want Pig to fly them to Pluto. But they land on another planet.

In the same time, Pig finds out that Farmer doesn't love him, but he gives him so much slops because he wants to eat him.

This book? Yeah, it's okay. No age restrictions. Well, except if you're learning English. Because Pig talks like: "This is I! I is Pig." 

I would give this book a good 9. 1 point substracted because of how short the book is and because of how Pig talks.

Find it on Amazon.

[felixreads]

The Girl Who Walked on Air by Emma Carrol

The year is 1876. Louie is an orphan circus girl. She performs with her dog, Pip. One day, she witnesses her dearest friend, Jasper, the showstopper of the circus, fall from 30 feet in the air. He stays in bed for the rest of the book. 

Louie, who has a secret talent, would like to take over from him, but first she needs to deal with Gabriel Swift, a famous showstopper from another circus who also wants the job.

Gabriel and Louie embark on an adventure when Mr. Wellbeloved, Gabriel's old manager, tells them that one of them would come to America to perform an incredible act that was never performed.

I loved this book. It's a page turner, and it happens in the very interesting 1800s, like Carroll's first book, Frost Hollow Hall (which I suggest you read before this one to get a bit of a feel of those times).