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__Reading Task 1 Term 4 2009__
Title: Remembrance Author: Theresa Breslin Publisher: Random House Children’s Books ISBN: 0 552 54738 7 No. of Pages: 303 Genre: War/History This story starts in 1915, the year after the assassination of Franz Ferdinand. Charlotte has joined Red Cross as a nurse and her brother, Francis, is fighting to delay becoming a soldier. John Malcolm cannot wait for his 18th birthday so that he can join the army, his twin sister Maggie is deciding whether to join a munitions factory and John Malcolm and Maggie’s 13 year old brother Alex is hoping the war will go on long enough that he can join the army and go to war. But things can change and for these five teenagers they will, and just a few small letters do it. This book is brilliantly in depth and draws the reader into the story so that they are never bored and never confused by the constant switching between characters even though books that are set out in this format can often become very confusing when they are set out like this. This is a very good book and Theresa Breslin definitely deserves her Carnegie Medal. This book draws you into lives of these five teenagers and definitely brings a few tear jerking moments that are well thought out and full of meaning for example John Malcolm’s dying scene where he is talking to a stretcher-bearer in a shell-hole after being shot in the chest, ‘ “Are we winning?” The stretcher-bearer looked out beyond the shell-hole where the Irish and Scots were piled in front of the enemy’s uncut wire, and t “All along the line?” “All along the line,” ’ My favourite character was headstrong Maggie, she went hen back to the face of the dying boy. “We’re winning,” he lied. against the will of her over protective father and joined the munitions factory just so that she could help with the war effort and then even though nursing wasn’t her forte she joined her friend Charlotte, got a nursing certificate, lied about her age and went to France to nurse wounded and dying soldiers. She was strong defiant and she kept loving and caring for Francis all through his sickness even though he himself had given up hope. I recommend this book for people between the ages of 12 and 16 as it is a good subject that many age groups can relate to but the language may be a bit too simple for older readers, and it is probably more suited to female readers.

__Reading Task 2 Term 3 2009__ 
Title: Trickster’s Choice Author: Tamora Pierce Publisher: Scholastic Press ISBN: 1 86504 592 6 No. Of Pages: 496 Genre: Fantasy

Trickster’s choice is a compelling read that reaches inside the reader’s soul and pulls on their heartstrings. It follows the tale of Alianna Cooper; a noble girl that is captured from her home in Pirate’s Swoop, Tortall and sold as a slave to her new home in the Copper Isles. Alliana is a cunning spy and with her talents, and some help from Kyprioth the trickster god, she works to save the people that have housed her and been kind to her where most slave masters would be brutal.

This is an amazing book that draws the reader in and provides them with a story that is fast paced, full of complication and secrecy and has a soft edge that any romantic will enjoy but also has a strong sharp side complete with female knights and princesses trained in the skills of war.

The poisoned ways of the crown are a key part in this story as the family Alianna is with is exiled by an over anxious king who kills those he thinks are against him. As new kings are crowned and killed, the plot gets more intense and the reader is drawn even further in to Alianna’s story.

This is a book that you never want to put down. If I hadn’t had the second book close at hand when I did finish it, then I would have despaired.

My favourite characters are of course Alianna, Chenaol, who is the head cook in the household, she is also the armourer for the rebellion that Alianna is leading. Chenaol is a fiery, quick witted woman who is very proud and strong, she is very cheeky and was Alianna’s first friend in the household, and the last is Dove or Dovasery, she is only twelve, but dove is quick witted, smart and has amazing skill with a bow and arrow. All of Tamora Pierce’s characters are individual and realistic, they all seem like they belong in this story.

I think that this book could be good for readers of ages 12-16. It is a really good book and I think that both boys and girls, but probably mostly girls, will enjoy it. **Book Review Reflection**

Reading Task 1 Term 3 2009
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