The Witch Of Turlingham Academy by Ellie Boswell Review

The Witch of Turlingham Academy by Ellie Boswell review

This is the first book I have won on the fabulous GirlsHeart Books Blog.

Sophie- one of the main female characters in this book is the Headmistress’ daughter, this means that Sophie is the only day student at Turlingham Academy. Therefore she misses out on all of the late night feasts and gossip sessions. When the new student Katy starts at the school Sophie knows straight away that Katy has the potential to steal all of Sophie’s friends away from her and, when this begins to happen, Sophie feels like the whole world is against her.

Sophie manages, through some not so subtle spying, to uncover Katy’s darkest secret- she is a witch hunter! With this secret against Katy things manage to begin to look up for Sophie- and she discovers many things about herself too! When she realises that hanging around with Katy is putting her, and her friends, in danger Sophie should stay well away from the witch hunter. But, you know what friendship is like- found in the most dangerous and scary situations- Sophie can’t just leave the new girl to fend for herself can she?

My favourite character in this book is Sophie as she feels she is missing out on all of the action and being pushed out of her friendship group. This made me feel sorry for her- also I thought about how hard it must be to have your mum as the head teacher at your school.

The cover of this book fits the story perfectly as, from the girl in school uniform, you know it’s about a school and the sparkles show that there is magic involved.

Here is the cover of the book:

I think that, despite the fact that the book is advertised for 9 year olds it is a good book with plenty of morals to it- such as that true friends stick together and don’t let each other down. I would give this book a 8/10. 

Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets by JK Rowling Review

Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets by JK Rowling Book review

Well as you probably all already know this is the second book in the legendary Harry Potter Series.

Click here to see my Harry Potter and the Philosophers stone review

In this book we continue to follow Harry Ron and Hermione in their journey of magical learning. With a new Defence against the dark arts teacher, vain and self-centred Professor Lockhart, this year promises to be as eventful and magical as the last. Again everyone does a review on this book and most of you will have, by choice or not, read this book at some point.

With a mad house-elf on his case as Harry is supposedly in ‘Grave danger’ the year doesn’t start well for Harry as he gets blamed for the house-elf’s doings at uncle Vernon’s dinner party and bars are fitted over his windows. Harry is then rescued by the Weasley brothers who, without their parent’s consent, fly the enchanted car to collect Harry, his owl Hedwig and all his magical supplies from Privit drive. Harry then spends the rest of the summer at the Burrow – the Weasley’s humble and ramshackle home. Then on the day they are due to travel back to Hogwarts the platform barrier blocks them out, forced to take the magical car they break all rules and fly to Hogwarts. This causes chaos in both the Muggle and Magic world with many sightings and consequences that could get both Ron and Harry expelled from the place they love the most.  

This is the cover of the book that I own:

As you can see the cover shows that a flying car plays a large part in the travel in this book. Also there is the Smarties prize winner section at the bottom of the cover. The cartooned images of Ron and Harry highlight their most prominent features; this is for Harry his lightening shaped scar and for Ron his ginger hair and freckles. I really enjoyed this book as, despite the fact that I have read this book loads before, I picked up on many new details that I had either forgotten or skipped over inn past readings. This is why I think that this series is so fab- the way that the books have appeal to the young and old alike and that no matter how many times you read this book a new detail or snippet of conversation that doesn’t become relevant until later book can be picked up on. I like to think of it as being a book that just keeps giving and giving as there is always something to be learnt about the books and the characters in them.

I would give this book an age rating of 10+ years as they can be enjoyed by a 10 year old on one level but a few years later enjoyed on a completely different level.

Please comment if you spot any spelling or grammar mistakes so I can correct them xoxox

Harry Potter and Philosopher's stone by JK Rowling book review

Harry Potter and the philosopher’s stone by JK Rowling book review.

Well I know that everyone knows about this book and that I can’t say that many people will gain anything new from this review but I feel that its only right that I write about how much this book (and the books and films that follow) have, and continue to, make me happy and inspire my imagination.

To begin with I would just like to thank JK Rowling for creating the much loved characters like Harry, Ron and Hermione and the hated characters such as Voldermort and the Malfoy family. Even though I know she is far too busy to look at our blogs it just feels right to thank her.

Anyway onto the book…

One of the many covers designed for this book is this one

  

This cover shows a key point in Harry’s discovery into the world of magic and his dark history. His face shows shock at the Hogwarts express and also the method of reaching platform 9 ¾. The text of the title is simple with a short reviewing quote at the bottom of the page; in this case it is from the Sunday Telegraph.

My favourite character in this book is definitely Hermione Granger as she is quite a swot as she has read all of their books before even entering the Hogwarts building. Plus she is always the first to manage to complete anything in all of her classes and is often looked upon as a know it all and a goody two shoes. I see a likeness between me and Hermione as I am always the first to have read anything and am never happy to break the rules.

In this book Harry is introduced to the audience as a young baby, as his parents have been killed he then is taken in by his uncle and aunt Dursley. The Dursley’s swear to stamp out all of the magic in baby Harry and bring him up telling him that his parents died in a car crash and that is where he obtained his lightning shaped scar. Little did Harry know that every wizard child knows his name and his story as he is hailed as the ‘chosen one’ as he managed to ‘defeat’ Voldermort.

The book also follows Harry and his friends as they settle into Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry. The trials they face with the new subjects that resemble nothing like the maths and English that Harry is used to studying.

Well I find it extremely pointless saying how much I enjoyed this book as it’s kind of hard not to enjoy this wonderfully written book. I would say that a reader would have to be at least 10 to fully understand all parts of the book but there is no way a maximum age to read the book.

Please comment with spelling and grammar mistakes so I can correct them  xoxox

Boys for beginners by Lil Chase Review

Boys for beginners- Lil Chase- Review

This book is not my normal read but I am glad I did read it as it shows that sometimes even if you make a massive change to yourself it may not make a good impression on the boy who you want to notice you. So in the short “Sometimes it’s best to be yourself because that’s who your loved for being.”

This is the cover of the book- from this cover it is easy to gather that this book is mostly aimed at teenage girls rather than younger girls or even boys! It shows makeup and pretty dresses and bag but also football boots. This could suggest that either the main female character enjoys playing football or that the boys that she likes like football. 

 The main theme of the book is the transformation of Gwynnie, a teenage girl who up until the arrival of Charlie is only interested in Football and Spurs football team. The book follows her transformation from tomboyish sports person to a beautiful and boy magnet girlie girl. Will she get Charlie this way or will he forever see her as his football mate not a potential girlfriend. 

In her quest to get her man Gwynnie deserts her football mad male friends and befriends the BB club, the club is one of the most powerful and influential groups in the school. The BB club all share one goal to get their naval pierced. Whilst Gwynnie really doesn’t want this she realises that this group is the only group that can teach her all of the skills (like makeup application) that she needs to make Charlie notice her.

Will she get her man?

I really enjoyed this book even though, as I mentioned before, it is not my normal read. I think that this book is probably best suited to girls over the age of 11 as it talks about boys and sex.

 Please comment with spelling and grammar mistakes so I can correct them xox