9N+Novel+Reviews

__**Speak**__ //Speak// is a haunting, phsycological maze that has Laurie Halse Anderson written all over it.Her incredible understanding and skillful portrayal of the thought processes of an emotionally damaged teenager are evident and, like her other novels, fascinating to the end.

//I know my head isn't screwed on straight. I want to leave, transfer, warp myself to another galaxy. I want to confess everything, hand over the guilt and mistake and anger to someone else.//

Something has happened to Melinda that greatly disturbs her, and as the novel unfolds we gradually discover what it is. This is a gripping story and I recommend it to anyone above 12. I rate this book 9 out of 10. (Alex De Vylder)


 * __ The Power of One __**

//The Power// // of One // is a book by Bryce Courtenay,first published in 1989. Set in S outh Africa during the 1930s and 1940s, it tells the story of an Anglo-African boy P eekay and his determination. It is written from the first person perspective, with Peekay narrating (as an adult, looking back) Five-year-old Peekay is sent away to a tiny rural Afrikaans boarding school. He is severely bullied and teased for being English and soon moves to a town called Barberton. Peekay befriends a guard named Hoppie. Hoppie shares his love of boxing with peekay who is mesmerized by the sport and aims to become the welterweight champion of the world. Over the course of the book, Peekay makes numerous friends. The another is a professor nicknamed Doc who soon becomes Peekay's mentor. Part of the way through the professor is imprisoned. While spending time with Doc in prison Peekay meets and befriends a boxing coach who starts Peekay's formal boxing training. Through his time around the prison and the professor, Peekay begins to see the injustice of apartheid South Africa. Throughout the book Peekay discovers that nothing can defeat the determination to be true to yourself, this is the power of one. I would definitely recommend this young readers edition to anyone in their early teens. It’s quite an It may not be an action thriller, but it is a truly inspirational read that will leave you feeling good. Bryce Courtenay has wrote book very well and for this I give it 10/10.

H.I.V.E //**(By Ryan Butt)**// 15 year old master criminal Otto Malpense has been chosen to attend **H.I.V.E**, the top-secret school of villainy. But there is one small catch, he can not leave until his training is complete. There's no way Otto is going to spend six years studying something he has such a natural talent for. He is left with one option, escape. He just needs to figure out how. I give this book a 9/10.

H.I.V.E T** he Overlord Protocol ** //**(By Ryan Butt)**// A new power is rising to challenge Number One, the most formidable villain alive.But who is it? And why do they wannt to assassinate Otto Malpence, star pupil of **H.I.V.E**, and his best friend Wing Fanchu? Otto faces his toughest challenge yet- surviving the next twenty-four hours... and uncovering the terrifying truth which is behind the Overlord Protocol. I give this book a 10/10.

__**Forgotten**__ **(By Chika Kojima)** //Forgotten// is a beautifully written book by Cat Patrick. The confusion and mysterious plots will keep the reader sitting on the edge of their chair.

London is an average teenager - well that's what you'd think. At 4:33am every morning, London's memory is wiped out and instead, she sees the future. So she'd know what she'll wear the next day and the car crash that won't happen for a few days. Here's the thing - she can see the future, but her past is blank. // I remember forwards. //// I remember forwards, and forget backwards. //// My memories, bad, boring, or good, haven't happened yet. So I will remember standing in the fresh-cut grass with the black-clad figures surrounded by stone until I do it for real. I will remember the funeral until it happens - until someone dies. //// And after that, it will be forgotten. // When she meets Luke, she starts getting this undeniable feeling towards him; she's falling in love. But London has yet to solve the great mystery: why does her memory get wiped out at 4:33am?

//Forgotten// is an amazing book and is definitely worth the read, but I would recommend it more towards teenage girls. I give it a 8/10.

__** Shift by Em Bailey ** ( __ By Brenda Ngo)
//Shift : She’s going to tell you she is a shifter. And that you’re her next victim...// There were two things everyone had heard about Miranda Vaile, even before she started at school. The first was that she had no parents. And the second? They were dead because Miranda had killed them. Ever since the arrival of Miranda, Olive Corbett's life has coincidentally turned upside down:she doesn’t sneak out of home anymore or hang out with her best friend Ami and stays far far away from "The Populars". She doesn’t need the drama of the weird creepy new girl, Miranda, who has started following her ex-best friend, Katie. Yet, Olive can see there’s something weird about that new girl. Something almost...parasitic, like Miranda is trying to take over her life. Maybe these rumours about Miranda are true. She could be a killer... But who would believe Olive? She’s not exactly popular at school anymore. Things have changed. This book will keep you on the edge of your seat until the very last page. This is the perfect book for teenage girls who enjoy fast-paced thrillers.