Children’s Book Reviews by Yollie

At the Sign of the Sugared Plum is one of those books that draws you in and really makes you feel like you are in London; alive while you watch others become infected and cry out in pain before slipping away. This is a gripping tale of terror!

When the plague strikes London people begin to drop like flies. Can sisters Hannah and Sarah stay alive during this terrible time, when the Bills of Mortality are saying that there are 10 thousand dead in a week.

Here is what the dust jacket reads:

” You be going to live in the City, Hannah? ” Farmer Price asked, pushing his battered hat up over his forehead. ” Wouldn’t think you’d want to go there . . . Times like this, I would have thought your sister would try and keep you away.”

It is 1665 and Hannah is full of excitement at the prospect of her first trip to London. She is going to help her sister, Sarah, in her sweetmeats shop, ‘The Sugared Plum’. But Hannah does not get the welcoming reception she expected. Sarah is horrified that Hannah did not get her message to stay away: the Plague is threatening to take hold of London . . .

Through Hannah’s eyes, Mary Hooper brilliantly recreates the smells, sounds and sights of seventeenth-century London life. Hannah’s excitement at coming to the big city is vividly evoked, as is the growing terror of a seemingly unstoppable plague that takes hold of the city, street by street, house by house.

An amazing book that everyone should read! With delicious recipes for sweetmeats and candies!

‘ Talk about Horrible History!!’ Henrietta

‘ Couldn’t put it down!!’ Susie

The fourth and final book (so far) of the Gallagher Academy Series. Another amazing read, a fast-paced, exhilarating book.

After having a very close encounter with the Circle of Cavan, Cammie, Bex, Liz and Macey are trying to discover as much about the Circle as possible but with one of their teachers accused of aiding the Circle the girls no longer know who to trust. Can they defeat the Circle and prove their teacher isn’t a double agent at the same time?

Here’s what the dust jacket reads: Despite having known him for almost a year, there were a lot of things I still didn’t know about Zachary Goode. Like how soap and shampoo could smell so much better on him than anyone else. Like where he went when he wasn’t mysteriously showing up at random (and frequently dangerous) points in my life. And, most of all, I didn’t know how, when he mentioned the jacket, he made me think about the sweet, romantic part of the night last November when he’d given it to me, and not the terrible, bloody, international-terrorists-are-trying-to-kidnap-me-part that came right after.

The third book in the Gallagher academy series and another exhilarating read!
Ally Carter is a truly amazing author and she has had all of my friends at school frantically trying to get their hands on these books.

Here’s a little bit about the book: Here’s the thing about covert operations: bad things happen when you least expect them. The enemies __________ don’t give you a heads-up. And they never let you stop to put on comfortable shoes.

A spy-in-training, Cammie Morgan has a cover for every occasion. But what happens when she is forced to break it to save her best friend, Macey? Cammie and her friends are determined to hunt down the group that threatens to tear their secret sisterhood apart. This time it’s personal.

Book Two of the Gallagher Academy series and another incredible read.
With adventure, missions, fake Id’s and …….. BOYS!!!!

This book is fast paced, exciting with a fabulously gripping story-line. You can’t help but turn over the page. This book will keep you reading all day and all night. I finished it in a day : it was THAT good!!!!

Here is what the dust jacket reads: There I was: the Gallagher Girl who had risked the most sacred sisterhood in the history of espionage. For a _____________ boy. But I was through with lying. And sneaking around. I was going to be . . . myself.

Despite Cammie’s best intentions to be a normal student, danger seems to follow her . . . and this time the stakes for Cammie’s heart – and her beloved school – are even higher.

‘If ever there was a new series to make Harry, Ron, Hermione et al look like wimps, then this is it.’ THE BOOKBAG