The Land of Stories, book one: The Wishing Spell

The Wishing Spell is a book by Chris Colfer. Alex and Conner Bailey were twins, but they couldn’t have been more different. Alex was a smart, studious girl, while her brother could be lazy, and yet had a sense of humor which sometimes got him into trouble. After their dad’s death when they were eleven, their lives changed drastically. They had to move to a smaller house, and they could rarely see their mom, who was always at work. But they had a small ray of light: their grandmother. On their twelveth birthday, she gave them a book about fairy tales, which magically teleported them to the Land of Stories. More surprisingly, all the famous fairy tale heroes were alive. Cinderella was even pregnant, and Goldilocks was an outcast. But they couldn’t stay in that land, they had to find a way back to their world. A kind frog man told them of a Wishing Spell, which could fulfill any wish. They just had to get the materials for the spell. Though there was a catch. The Wishing Spell could be done only twice, and it was used once before, so there was only one wish left. Worse, Snow White’s Evil stepmother had escaped from the dungeons, and was looking for the spell too! So now it was a race, and the Bailey twins had to finish the spell before the Evil Queen, or they would be stuck in the land of stories. This book was really enjoyable. I was impresed at Alex’s knowledge, and Conners humour and wry remarks made me laugh.

The Bed And Breakfast Star by Jacqueline Wilson

The bed and breakfast star is about a girl called Elsa. This book is about herself, her life, her family (including her stepfather, Mack the Smack), and the Royal hotel. Her family lost money, and had to go to that dreadful place. But, amidst it all, Elsa kept her sense of humor by her side, and released a never-ending torrent of jokes. She also made a few friends, a brainy girl named Naiome, and a rude boy who she calls ‘funny-face’. Elsa was never appreciated for her remarkably loud voice, but when a fire burst out, it was her voice which saved the day. This book was a really funny, plus, also had a variety of jokes.

The Diamond Girls by Jacqueline Wilson

The Diamond Girls is a book about a family of four girls, and a mother who is getting another child. But the girls aren’t sisters. They are half sisters. All of them are by different fathers. The story is told by the youngest, Dixie Diamond. They used to live in an apartment, but moved to a house, to make room for the next Diamond. But the house was nothing like they thought it was. It was old, and damaged. But Dixie still tried to help her mother set the house. The oldest, Martine, wasnt happy, and ran away. The sisters didn’t get along really well. The second oldest, Jude, always got in a lot of fights., While the third daughter, Rochelle, was very girly. When the child was born, the mother said it was a boy. But Dixie discovered otherwise. This book was a combination of funny, emotional, and a bit sad.

Little Foxes by Michael Morpurgo

Billy was found in a box outside a police station as a baby. No one knew who his real family was. He was passed from place to place, but finally got an adoptive mother, who nagged him all the time. He was bullied at school for being so silent. But he had a special place, which gave him peace: the canal outside his house. The nature gave him a calm feeling, and he watched the kingfishers and owls. He saved a cygnat, who was being chased by a dog, and took care of 4 fox cubs after their mother was killed. But they were soon found out, and three out of four were killed. Billy and the last cub ran away to find a safer place for both of them. This book was so emotional, it drove me to tears. Yet somehow, I still love it.

Cookie by Jacqueline Wilson

Beauty Cookson’s name is rather ironic. She is a plain and timid girl. She is not ugly, but is in a posh school filled with posh girls who look down on her. Not only that, by she lives in fear of her father, who has a fearful temper, and is always scolding her for breaking his house rules. But Beauty’s mother is a different story. She is kind to her daughter, but is also timid, and also receives the father’s anger. One day, after a disastrous birthday party, they ran away with their belongings, to a seaside. Over there, things started going better for Beauty and her mother, and their luck changed. I actually read it a long time ago, when I was nine actually, but it only occured to me now to make a review, as it was really nice book.

The Midnight Gang

The Midnight Gang is the latest book by David Walliams, about a 12 year old boy named Tom, who goes to a posh boys boarding school. He had hurt his head while playing cricket, and he had to go to the Lord Funt Hospital. He was placed in the children’s ward by the porter, where 4 more children occupied. Their names were George, Robin, Amber, and poor little Sally, who was the youngest and most ill. George was recovering from tonsils removal, Robin had an eye operation, Amber had broken both legs and arms, and Sally had a very serious illness, and the treatment had cut all her hair. In the morning, they all seemed regular kids, but at midnight, all except Sally, were in a gang called the midnight gang, which helps kids dreams come true. Tom joined them the very night he came, but because Sally was so ill, she wasn’t allowed to join. This is the funniest book I have ever read. I was laughing on every single page.