Shiver By Maggie Stiefvater

This is a thriller love story that is gripping and amazing A bit like the Quileute tribe in the Twilight Saga, one of the main characters is a shape shifting wolf.

The story is told by two different people Grace and Sam. The story starts with a flashback of both their memories of when Grace was bitten by a gang of wolves six years ago. Ever since she has been watching Sam in the woods when he is a wolf. Then, one of the boys from Graces' school, Jack was 'supposedly killed' by the wolves. When the shooting starts in the woods Grace is driving past to discover that Sam, in his human form, was shot. After he was taken to hospital, they become friends leading onto true love that was meant to happen but never should have occurred. As Grace realises that Jack was never killed, just changed, danger awaits her as its winter, the time when the wolves change. As Sam realises this love may end as he is close to changing, Grace and Isabel (Jack's sister) try to cure this horrible way of living but is it little to late.

I really enjoyed this book. At first I was a bit reluctant to read it as love stories are not my usual books, however I found it really gripping and interesting and I couldn't put it down. I would recommend it to anyone who loves any books that contain romance or a bit of thriller in them as this book certainly contains both of these things. I  especially liked the part when Isabel and Grace inject the meningitis into the wolves, the way Maggie builds up the suspense and tension brings so much to the book.


My favourite character is Isabel as she is extremely stubborn and is different to all other people. When she belives her brother is dead she is of course extreamly sad yet she still belives he is out there. She trusts Grace in the fact that werewolves excist, on eof the few characters to. Throughout the book she is determined and has ideas on everything. She adores her brother but does not show it in her words or actions but in her expressions described by Grace. My favourite quote ios "I remember this:his yellow eyes. I thought I'd never see them again". I thought the quote was dramatic and set off the book especially as the yellow eyes are mentioned throughout the book.

I would give this book **** 4 stars as it was enjoyable gripping but at the beginning it is quite complicated as it travels through time without telling you and it took me a while to undrestand what the where trying to say.

For this trailer of Shiver click on the link below: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bBtsHbJ1eFU&feature=related

Ark Angel- Anthony Horowitz

This book has action, adventure and death from the beginning to end. It grips you at every page, every word and is one of my favourite books so far. Alex Rider is back again but faces more death than ever before with fires, sea traps and space bombs.

From the beginning, Alex Rider is already in hospital after being shot just above the heart, only millimetres away from death. Then when a gang called force three come o kidnap the boy next door to Alex, he decides to sacrifice himself, with knocking out the men. However he is caught by one of the gang, and take him to their leader- Kasper- who thinks he is the other boy,Paul. After a lot of arguing a few newspaper articles they decide that it is not Paul. But Alex is still put in danger as he is then made prisoner in  a building yet the building is then set on fire. Therefore, Alex has to use all his skill to escape. He is then rewarded by Paul's multi billionaire father who decides to give Alex a two week holiday with him. After Alex reluctantly agrees, he finds out that Dervin (boys father) is launching a space hotel at his island and Alex will be there for the lauch. After many killings, bad losers and another encounter with Force Three, Alex is asked to help the CIA to arrest Dervin response to many murders they think he is linked to. After many more near death experiences, Alex is sent up to space to defuse a bomb which will destroy Washington,but is it to late?

I really enjoyed this book as my favourite types of book are action and this book is full of it. It grips you and even though you know Alex survives because there is half the book left or there are still two more in the series, it still has you on the edge of seat the entire time as you pray he survives. I thoroughly enjoyed this book and would recommend it to anyone who was looking for a good book. In especially enjoyed the part where Alex was trapped in the fire lit building, the way Horowitz described it so well.

IN this book my favourite character is defiantly Mr Dervins personal assistant Tamara Knight. Personally, I think it is how she changes throughout the book and has one of the biggest surprises in the end. After starting out being so boring and hardly ever smiling, one who would never think about danger she surprises everyone by not only saving Alex's life but also turning out to be a CIA officer. My favourite quote is " 'Alex' he says, ' I'm afraid we're going to need your help'" I like this quote as it is one of the few repetitive quotes in the book and each time it is right at the end of a chapter, leaving suspense  as you never know what they will need him for . I think its a really interesting way to finish off a chapter and adds so much to the books concept.

I would give this book ***** 5 STARSM as it is gripping, full of suspense ans action as is a book that you can not put down, even once you have finished it.

For more reviews, both good or bad visit the website- http://www.readingmatters.co.uk/book2.php?id=274
Or watch this series of book trailers 1-5 http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5klvuMgyv7o&feature=related

Baker Street Boys- The Case of the Disappearing Detective- By Anthony Read

This book is the first of a series of books. The series is al about Sheklock Holmes young helpers, who live on the street, running errands and now helping him to solve mysteries along with himself and Dr. Watson.

In this story, the 7 young street children are Wiggins, Beaver, Queenie, Rosie, Shiner, Sparrow and Gertie, each have a very important role to play in this mystery. Each looking desperatly for money they find themeselves doing jobs like undercover work, working backstage at the local thertare or helping out at the train station. Soon Holmes gets them to investigate an American, whom he has met on a case before. While investigating, coming apon a few clues, Holmes himself disappears. After a little bit of investigation, they realise he's been kidnapped not gone undercover. On a quest to find him again they discover tthe gang who kidnapped him. After a bit more they find out that there is another plan in this crime to kill the Queen. The gang struggle to find her point of death but will it be to late.

I really enjoyed this book as it was interesting and it had the perfect balance of adventure, mystery and crime. I was gripped the whole way through, it was a thrilling tale and I would recommend it to anyone. However I found that seeing as it was set in 1897 it was quite old fashioned but I did understand most of it. Howevetrsome of the terms I did have to find out.

My favourite quotation in the book is" 'That ain't lamp wick' he announced solemnly.' Thats a fuse. And them carboard tubes you saw, Sparrow, they wasn't fireworks. They were sticks of dynamite.'". I think its such a gripping quote and once I heard this I was dying to read what was happening next. Its right at the end of a chapter so it brings so much suspense to the book.

My favourite character in the book is Beaver. Firstly because I think its a really cool name it brings atiny bit of comedy. Also it states in the book that he follos Wiggins around everywhere, never leaving his side. I think thats starnge but also quite amusing.

I would give this book a rating of **** 4 stars!!

I gave this 4 stars because it was very good and enjoyable but it was a bit hard to understand at first.

I f you do ever read this book I hope you enjoy!! :P

Young Sherlock Homes- Red Leech By Andrew Lane

This series of books is about the first few crimes in which the great detective Sherlock Holmes solved. This book starts off as Sherlock's brother coming  back to see him along with Amyus Crowe from America. Soon after soon investigating Sherlock's Holmes finds out that a assassin, apparently dead is in Surrey and once again planning something mad. After visiting his house Sherlock nearly dies only to be saved by his friend Matty. Then Matty gets kidnapped leaving Sherlock's Holmes, Crowe and his daughter Virginia to find him. Nearly being killed a number of times, they find Matty but cannot save him until he is on a train to Virginia, the American state. Figuring out there evil plan to take over Canada they try to stop them. After nearly dieing a number of times and a numerous number of disguises they finally foil there plan!!

Personally, I found this book exciting and gripping, capturing you at every page. At fist, I found the book a little bit boring but do not be fooled. Once the character introduction is over the proper tale really begin. In each page we feel a different emotion for each character drawing us more into the book. However to improve it could maybe us a bit more emotion feelings/thoughts as we experience all the emotion from the actions of the characters.

Personally, my most interesting quote is ' You think you so clever, yes'. I like this quote as it gives a slight sense of humor to the book as whenever Sherlock is caught trespassing or investigating they always say to him ' You think you're so clever' and that he will never be able to stop there plan from becoming reality. I find this quote good as this whole book and the series is all about how people don't think that a child can solve crimes like this, yet it always turns out that he can.

My favourite character in this book is defiantly Duke Balthassar as even though he is the villain and we only see in the last few chapters in this book, he is an entertaining character. He was full of shocks and surprises after reveling he had a mask on to hide the fact that there were hundreds of leeches sucking out his blood. It sounds disgusting but as he explains more about them, about how he keeps them to suck out the family illness which has been running for generations it has a humorous effect on me and many other readers. Also the pets he keeps.

I would give this book ***** 5 stars as it was funny, exciting and kept me interested the whole way through.