Younger readers - Books By George

■ REVIEW: When Mr Dog Bites
Hilarity amid deluded need for bucket list

Life for the average 16-year-old can be pretty tough, and for Dylan Mint, it is tougher than most. Dylan isn’t particularly average. In fact, he has Tourette’s and his life is a constant battle to control his swearing, his tics, and – when he’s under stress – his howling like a dog. Could things be any […]

■ REVIEW: When Mr Dog Bites
Hilarity amid deluded need for bucket list Read Post »

■ REVIEW: True Grit Junior Edition
Grylls delivers – and some

General non-fiction, Younger readers

I wasn’t really expecting to enjoy this book but am pleased to say I was proved wrong. Let me begin by owning up to one thing in particular: I’m not greatly enamoured of Bear Grylls. While his fans watch his various “boy’s own adventure” TV shows and no doubt puff out their chest in collective

■ REVIEW: True Grit Junior Edition
Grylls delivers – and some Read Post »

■ REVIEW: Snake Bite
Not-so-gentle coming-of-age story

Romance, Younger readers

Jez is 17, bored in a downtrodden Canberra suburb, and coming to realise she’s in love with her best friend, Lukey. It’s summertime and Jez has little to do but hang out, get high and argue with her mum. She takes it for granted that she and Lukey will be hanging out together, but then

■ REVIEW: Snake Bite
Not-so-gentle coming-of-age story Read Post »

■ REVIEW: Blood Brothers
Engaging tale set in China

Younger readers

As a young novice monk in a Buddhist monastery, Tao’s life is simple, ordered and inward looking. All that changes when Kai enters his life. Kai is a young dragon whose arrival spells disruption and adventure for Tao, whom he has sought out because he believes they are linked. On their perilous journey of discovery

■ REVIEW: Blood Brothers
Engaging tale set in China Read Post »

■ REVIEW: A Necklace of Souls
Good pace in author’s first novel

Sci-fi & fantasy, Younger readers

Dana is a princess in the hidden Kingdom of the Rose, a sheltered, magical land that allows no war or disease to penetrate its borders. Protected by the Guardian – always a woman of the royal family who pays a terrible price – the kingdom is eternally at peace. However, Dana is special. Not just

■ REVIEW: A Necklace of Souls
Good pace in author’s first novel Read Post »

■ REVIEW: The Chronicles of Narmo
Columnist’s early life a fun read

Younger readers

First published by Corgi in 1992 and republished in January 2014, this delightful home-school romp was written by 16-year-old Caitlin Moran who is now an award-winning The Times critic, interviewer and columnist. She has authored two other novels in the intervening years. My favourite part of the book is Moran’s introduction in which she details

■ REVIEW: The Chronicles of Narmo
Columnist’s early life a fun read Read Post »

■ REVIEW: Broken
Excellent teen fiction from NZ author

NZ books, Younger readers

Zara is in a coma, immersed in a subconscious world where she has to come to terms both with the terrible accident that took her brother’s life and a traumatic event from her childhood. The first-person narrative is always Zara’s voice but the varying styles add interest to the story – we go deep inside

■ REVIEW: Broken
Excellent teen fiction from NZ author Read Post »

■ REVIEW: Awful Auntie
The good, the bad, and the fun

Younger readers

Comedian David Walliams continues to show just what a talent he is in the world of children’s literature with his latest offering, Awful Auntie. We hear so much about the young-adult fiction genre these days, on the back of the likes of Suzanne Collins (the Hunger Games trilogy) and Patrick Ness (the Chaos Walking trilogy),

■ REVIEW: Awful Auntie
The good, the bad, and the fun Read Post »

■ REVIEW: Teddy One-Eye
Sweet story of a boy and his bear

Younger readers

Award-winning writer and illustrator Gavin Bishop has produced what is likely to become a well-loved classic in the adorable Teddy One-Eye, The Autobiography of a Teddy Bear. Our hero, Teddy One-Eye has had a rough life, being dragged around, chewed and trampled. Over time he’s lost an eye and sometimes even gets left outside at

■ REVIEW: Teddy One-Eye
Sweet story of a boy and his bear Read Post »

■ REVIEW: The Eye of Minds
A clunky disappointment

Younger readers

James Dashner may be better known for his bestselling dystopic Maze Runner series. He returns with The Eye of Minds, the first in his new series, The Mortality Doctrine. Set in the not-so-distant future, The Eye of Minds follows Michael and his friends into the VirtNet, a virtual reality gaming series where anything can happen.

■ REVIEW: The Eye of Minds
A clunky disappointment Read Post »