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Click Here to Start by Denis Markell

Book of the Week: 15 October 2017

Cover art by Katrina Damkoehler

The third book of the week in a row that deals with a mystery must mean that the genre has taken over from dystopian adventure in the popularity stakes (perhaps). Coincidentally this story, like last week’s, is set in the USA (although in California rather than New York) and has a central character called Ted. The similarities end there, however.

When Ted’s uncle dies, he leaves him some cryptic clues to finding some sort of treasure that lies in his cluttered apartment. Ted loves a puzzle and spends a lot of his free time solving escape-the-room games on his computer. One evening, after attempting to sort out his uncle’s apartment, he goes to his favourite game site and discovers, not only a game named after him, but one that mirrors his uncle’s rooms. Can this mysterious Game of Ted, help him solve the puzzles and find the treasure? Together with his friend Caleb, and an irritating girl called Isabel who is new to the neighbourhood, he sets out to figure out how the little information given to him by his uncle, can lead to a huge reward.

If you liked The Mysterious Benedict Society series or The Westing Game by Ellen Raskin (both in the School Library) then this will be a great read. Read an excerpt here.

Holiday reading

Here are some books that have been added to library stock over the last few weeks that you might want to read over half-term. Some of them may be on loan, but you can reserve anything you want to read that isn’t on the shelves, or look for them in your local public library.

 

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The Guggenheim Mystery

The Guggenheim Mystery by Robin Stevens

Book of the Week: 8 October 2017

Cover illustration by David Dean who illustrated The London Eye Mystery.

Those of you who enjoyed The London Eye Mystery will be pleased to know that there is now a sequel. Sadly its author, Siobhan Dowd, died from cancer in 2007, so mystery writer Robin Stevens has taken the central characters: Ted, Kat and Salim, and woven a whole new mystery set in New York.

Aunty Glo and Salim have moved to the USA for her to pursue her career as a curator in the world famous Guggenheim Museum.  Ted, Kat and their mum go to New York to see how they have settled in, but during their very first visit to the museum, the alarm sounds and thick, white smoke pours everywhere. Everyone is evacuated safely, but once the hubbub has died down there is an even greater panic when it is found that a valuable painting, In the Black Square by Kandinsky, has been stolen. When Aunty Glo is considered the chief suspect by the police; Ted, Kat and Salim must use their detective powers to solve the mystery.

Robin Stevens has done a great job of capturing the spirit of the original book, as well as writing a carefully-plotted mystery. Just like The London Eye Mystery, this is a book that tells you some fascinating facts along with the story. You may have read From the Mixed-Up Files of Mrs Basil E. Frankweiler by E.L. Konigsburg (and if not, why not?) when you were in primary school. Robin Stevens acknowledges as influential when she was considering writing this story.

If you enjoy books that feature art, then you could try Fire Colour One by Jenny Valentine. If you like mysteries set in New York, She Is Not Invisible by Marcus Sedgwick (Book of the Week on 23 November 2014) would be a perfect companion read.

Visit of author Chris Bradford

We are looking forward to a visit from Chris Bradford on Tuesday. He will be talking about his work to Years 7-9 and, no doubt showing us some of the skills he writes about in his most famous series: Young Samurai and Bodyguard.

I know many of you have read, or are reading, these at the moment, and will be ready with some good questions for the author.

One of Us is Lying

One of Us is Lying by Karen M. McManus

Book of the Week: 1 October 2017

Five students at Bayview High School are given an after-school detention: studious Bronwyn who has never been given one before; Cooper, the school sports star; Addy, whose aim in life is to keep her boyfriend Jake happy; Nate who lives in the ‘wrong’ part of town and is suspected of being a drug-dealer; and Simon, the author of a poisonous gossip app about his fellow students. When there is a crash in the school car park, Mr Avery, the teacher in charge of the detention, goes to investigate and by the end of the detention session, one of the students has died.

The resulting who-done-it-and-why is told by each of the characters, revealing their personalities and the secrets they want to keep. Expect plenty of twists and turns and be very grateful that you don’t attend this school.

Some of the content makes this more suited to older readers. You can read an excerpt here and some content guidance here.

 

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