Today's post is a lucky dip of recommendations from 6B. There’s something for everyone: non-fiction, murder mysteries, young adult fiction, stories to read to younger siblings or revisit, and general fiction.
MURDER MYSTERIES
A Good Girl’s Guide to Murder by Holly Jackson
Recommended by Adsayan Ganesh
‘The case is closed. Five years ago, schoolgirl Andie Bell was murdered by Sal Singh. The police know he did it. Everyone in town knows he did it. But having grown up in the same small town that was consumed by the murder, Pippa Fitz-Amobi isn't so sure.’
I found the plot of this murder mystery book really great, and the characters felt well-developed. There were also a good number of twists and turns (and I was genuinely surprised by the big reveals at the end). I genuinely enjoyed all of the book, though some people may not like murder mystery jokes as much. I’d still recommend it though!
And Then There Were None by Agatha Christie
Recommended by Luke Barker
“One of us in this very room is in fact the murderer.”
The start was quite slow so people may lose interest, but I enjoyed the style of this murder mystery and how there was a twist at the end. It was also fun to make my own assumptions throughout the course of the story.
BOOKS TO REVISIT OR TO READ TO YOUNGER SIBLINGS
Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince by J K Rowling
Recommended by Nathan Anton
'It is the unknown we fear when we look upon death and darkness, nothing more.'
Harry Potter discovers an old potions textbook, supposedly belonging to the ‘half-blood prince’ and learns new spells that he and many others had never heard of before and new potions never previously conceived. Meanwhile, Lord Voldemort is at large, regaining followers and preparing to take control of the magical world. The hunt to get rid of his invincibility is on. The novel is a family action book. It’s very intriguing as at first the half-blood prince seems to be almost a myth, a pseudonym with no connections whatsoever, but later on in the novel we realise it has great significance to both Harry and Voldemort. It is a part of a long series, so in order to understand the book you have to have read the books preceding it.
The 13 ½ lives of Captain Bluebear by Walter Moers
Recommended by Gabriel Pomerance
'Wednesdays were the best thing about Atlantis. The middle of the week was a traditional holiday there. Everyone stopped work and celebrated the fact that half the week was over.'
This is a comedy about the journey of a blue bear in a fantasy world. It is written in such a ridiculous comedic style that means it's almost guaranteed to make you laugh but it still retains a sense of sophistication. It can be a little over the top sometimes but it’s one of the few books I have enjoyed reading all the way through.
Tiddler by Julia Donaldson
Recommended by Jamie Grimstone
“Tiddler? Tiddler? Tiddler’s late!!!”
This children’s book is about a story-telling fish who is late to school and comes up with creative stories in order to get out of trouble, until maybe one day the story comes true…
My sister liked it and got to sleep easily; it’s a nice, happy story with some twists and turns. If you hate fish you might dislike it but it’s a great book to read to younger siblings.
Norse Mythology by Neil Gaiman
Recommended by Oli Powell
“Because,” said Thor, “when something goes wrong, the first thing I always think is, it is Loki’s fault. It saves a lot of time.”
This book about Norse gods was well written with interesting information and great stories. People may not like it if they are more into factual or at least realistic books.
Kensuke’s Kingdom by Michael Morpurgo
Recommended by Gus Hatt
'I disappeared on the night before my twelfth birthday.’
This adventure is about a boy who is stranded at sea. He gets washed off the boat and alights upon a desert island where he befriends a man who inhabits it. Together they help him escape. You very much feel a part of the boy’s world as he grows from terrified and afraid to brave and nicely integrated into the island and becomes independent. It is a little short, but is nonetheless highly enjoyable.
YOUNG ADULT FICTION
Girl, Missing by Sophie McKenzie
Recommended by Alex Perkins
'Sometimes life just doesn't allow for a totally happy ending.'
This is about a girl called Lauren who starts to realise that her parents are not in fact her real parents and it is an action novel. I enjoyed the subtle changes in character to the people around her as Lauren starts to discover the mystery that is her childhood.
Ready Player One by Ernest Cline
Recommended by Amaan Aziz-Khan
'Being human totally sucks most of the time. Videogames are the only thing that make life bearable.'
This sci-fi adventure is about a boy who lives the majority of his life in a virtual world, and his journey to find a hidden egg. I liked the idea and the massive world the author creates. It gets a bit long sometimes but it is worth it.
NON-FICTION
Touching the Void by Joe Simpson
Recommended by George Speake
'Life can deal you an amazing hand. Do you play it steady, bluff like crazy or go all in?'
This is about a mountain climber and it’s non fiction. I enjoyed all the tension and twists.
I’ll Show You by Derrick Rose
Recommended by Alexander Tanielian
'When I played AAU I wore no.1 for the first time.'
This is an autobiography by a basketball player who played for the Chicago Bulls. I really enjoyed it as he is my favourite player and it was an insight on his upbringing and his path to becoming a professional basketball player. If you aren’t interested in basketball it wouldn’t appeal as it is solely about that.
The Rising Sun: The Decline and Fall of the Japanese Empire, 1936-1945 by John Toland
Recommended by Nicolas Zigrand
'After WWII most Westerners felt that General Tojo … was no better than Hitler and his Nazi cohorts.'
This is about the decline and fall of the Japanese Empire 1936-1945. I liked the history, how vivid it was and the tragic story of Japan. It didn’t leave much room for imagination - but a good read.
Done Deal by Daniel Geey
Recommended by Jacob Leigh
'Done Deal explores the issues from pitch to boardroom that shapes the modern game and that impact on leagues, clubs, players, agents and fans alike.'
This book gives an insight into modern day economics in football. It’s a very real concept we see very often. Not for someone who doesn’t like football
GENERAL FICTION
Heads You Win by Jeffery Archer
Recommended by Josh Thomas
'Loyalty doesn't have a price. It has to be earned.'
This is a thriller, about a Russian boy named Alexander who escapes the clutches of the KGB after they kill his father, before escaping to either New York or London, and the decision is made by the flip of a coin. I enjoyed the way that Jeffrey Archer showed the importance of a decision, as he showed how Alexander’s life played out in both New York and London, as well as crossing the characters over so they met people from the other character’s life. However, I thought that the end of the book was rather disappointing as an integral part of the book became unclear, and therefore left me wondering about how the storyline ended, and what happened to the characters.
The Catcher in the Rye by J.D. Salinger
Recommended by Sebastian Vanger De Madariaga
'“How old are you? I asked her.
"Old enough to know better," she said.'
This is about a teenager who spends a weekend in New York. It is a coming of age story about a character called Holden Caulfield. I enjoyed the subtle humour. The plot was interesting and the way in which he reacts is good.
War and Peace by Leo Tolstoy
Recommended by Victor Mikheev
'“I don’t at all say that all the plans are good,” said Prince Andrew.'
This is about multiple characters, like Pierre, who wander through Russia. We follow their lives, culminating in war with Napoleon. People might say it's too long or spends too long on small details, but I enjoyed the constant action.
Shogun by James Clavell
Recommended by Leon Gissing
'A man's fate is a man's fate and life is but an illusion.'
This is a long historical novel about a British Pilot (Blackthorne) who arrives in Japan and has to learn and adapt to the ways of the Japanese. I enjoyed the historical relevance and also the way in which it was written vividly portrays what it would be like to be in Blackthorne's position which is exhilarating and interesting for the reader.
The Alchemist by Paulo Coelho
Recommended by Yusuf Baig
'It's the possibility of having a dream come true that makes life interesting.'
This adventure tells the story of a shepherd boy who goes on a quest for treasure despite his family telling him not to. It was a short novel so I finished it within a day, and the story is still very detailed and so the adventure is gripping to read. Sometimes the detail isn’t that necessary, you can skip a few pages because the attention to detail can get boring:
Assassin’s Apprentice (The Farseer Trilogy, Book 1) by Robin Hobb
Recommended by Zain Ackrim
'Don’t do what you can’t undo, until you’ve considered what you can’t do once you’ve done it.'
I enjoyed the plot of this fantasy about the kingdom of the Six Duchies, which is on the brink of civil war.
Thank you, 6EnB, for the recommendations. One extra from the fourth form...
American Gods by Neil Gaiman
Recommended by Tom Baughan
This is a fantasy set in America. It is based around a man who has recently left prison and just found out his wife has been killed in a car crash. He meets a mysterious man called Wednesday and accepts a job offer from him as a bodyguard/handyman. They embark across America recruiting strange and wondrous people who claim to be gods. Along the way Wednesday explains that they are versions of the original spirits or gods, brought to America by people who worshipped them who had travelled them to America, while explaining they are in the middle of a war between the old gods and the new gods - Town, Stone, World and Television.
The book is very well written and keeps you hooked until the very end, wondering what happens on the next page. It is dark in some parts, but does have some funny parts as well. It has won the Bram Stoker Award for Novel, the Hugo Award for Best Novel and the Nebula Award for Best Novel. Overall, I think it’s a very good book and would recommend it to anyone, as it isn’t one of those novels where you have to flick between pages to remember who characters are, like Lord of the Rings, and the plot is straightforward and easy to understand.
Many thanks also to Mrs Waller for kindly collating this lucky dip of reading suggestions.
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