Book Reports

Book Review by Shania Dunn

‘Five on a Treasure Island’ by Enid Blyton

‘The Famous Five’ is a great series of books written by Enid Blyton between 1942 and 1963. There are 21 books in the series, and they were and still are very popular with children all over the world. Besides this series, she is famous for writing many other children’s books such as ‘The Secret Seven’ series, ‘The Magic Faraway Tree’, ‘Noddy’, and many more. 

‘Five on a Treasure Island’ is the first in the series, written in 1942. It is a story about five kids and their uncle Quentin/father. It is also a mystery about how and why George’s father (Uncle Quentin) decided to stay on Kirrin island for work purposes without any sort of explanation, not even allowing the children to visit. After some time, these kids discover that Uncle Quentin is not alone on the island, that someone else is there spying on Uncle Quentin and his work. The plot thickens and we soon find out what’s going on!

This book is set on Kirrin island, a treasure island belonging to the Kirrin family.

George/Georgina’s dad Uncle Quentin decided to go over the island to do experiments for his work. Uncle Quentin is a short-tempered scientist, and his daughter George is one of the Famous Five gang. She is the child of Fanny and Quentin Kirrin and cousin to Anne, Julian, and Dick Kirrin. She owns Timothy, the loyal dog who is one of the Five. Aunt Fanny is the wife of Quentin Kirrin. She is George's mother and Julian, Dick, and Anne's aunt. She comes from the wealthy ancestral family of Kirrin. They used to own almost all the bay but had to sell it after they became poor, and now only own Kirrin Cottage. Anne is the youngest of the Famous Five. She is the sister of Julian and Dick, and cousin to George. Julian is the eldest of the Famous Five gang, brother to Dick and Anne, and cousin to George Kirrin. He often acts as the most responsible. In his first appearance in Five on a Treasure Island, he is 12 years old. Dick lives with his parents, older brother Julian, and younger sister Anne in London. 

Within this book many things happen such as Uncle Quentin going missing, a mystery, a discovery, a surprising signal, discovery of an old map, George’s hard decision, adventure down in the caves, etc. But these five kids George, Dick, Julian, Anne, and Aunt Fanny – ‘The Famous Five’ always come up with something to solve their problems!

I personally really enjoyed the thrilling adventures in the book and how around every corner there is a new mystery ready and waiting to be solved! I would rate this book 4 out of 5 smiley faces. 

Book Review by Eli Posi

‘Mud, Sweat and Tears’ by Bear Grylls

The air temperature is minus twenty degrees. I wiggle my fingers but they’re still freezing cold. Old frostnip injuries never let you forget. I blame Everest for that.

‘You set, buddy?’ cameraman Simon asks me, smiling. His rig is all prepped and ready.

I smile back. I am unusually nervous.

Something doesn’t quite feel right.

But I don’t listen to the inner voice.

It is time to go to work. 

Bear Grylls has always pursued adventure. Growing up on a remote island off the coast of Britain, his father taught him to sail and climb at an early age. As a young explorer, it wasn't long before he was leading night climbs.

He discovered his identity and purpose through mountaineering and martial arts as a teenager at Eton College, where he trained with a karate grandmaster at a remote camp in Japan. Through these experiences, he soon became a world-renowned mountaineer. A horrific free-fall parachuting accident broke Bear's back in three places. According to doctors, it was touch and go whether he would walk again. However, only 18 months later he became one of the youngest climbers in history.

Bear learned from his mother that before you can get, you have to give, and that money is like a river—if you try to block it up and dam it then, like a dammed river, the water will go stagnant and stale, and your life will fester. If you keep the stream moving, and keep giving stuff and money away, wherever you can, then the river and the rewards will keep flowing in.

Bear Grylls is a very influential man and self-motivated. A quotation from his autobiography is to “know your limits, don’t embark on any adventures without a solid backup plan, and don’t be egged on by others when your instincts tell you something is a bad idea.” Very inspiring. He is a great man with a big heart.

Book Review by David Ward

‘Unbroken’ by Laura Hillenbrand

‘Unbroken ‘by Laura Hillenbrand is, without a doubt, one of the most impacting and impressive books about survival during a war that I have ever read. Imagine being stranded in the ocean in a raft with no food, water, supplies or protection from the elements, surrounded by sharks and away from anything familiar. This was endured by American Air Force Lieutenant Louis Zamperini and the two other survivors of a Green Hornet crash in 1943 and that was only the beginning of their ordeal.

When their raft drifted by a Japanese-held island, the survivors were taken as prisoners of war (POW). What followed was a physical and mental torture that no one should ever have to endure. As Louis was transferred from POW camp to POW camp, his suffering gradually increased as the allies closed in on the Japanese. Louis was particularly targeted because of his past as an Olympic runner. The Japanese were ruthless forcing the POWs into submission by any means necessary. Louis’ childhood and daring spirit, however, carried him through. This is not merely a story of survival, it’s a story of redemption and forgiveness.

Louis Zamperini is indeed one incredible person. Having survived at sea adrift for 47 days and two thousand miles, he ended up on the Japanese’s front door. I do not think the words for what Louis (and other POW’s) went through exist. The Japanese killed thousands of prisoners of war through massacre, human experimentation, starvation and dehydration and forced labour. What was worse though was the mental torture that they inflicted on their prisoners. 

Louis was a great runner and a competent airman but that is not what stands out to me about him. What stands out is his ability to genuinely forgive his aggressors. This was Louis’s greatest battle but the one whose outcome made him even stronger because forgiveness led to the freedom his soul was yearning. When Louis returned home, he was a broken man and his journey from the abyss was one that tested him to the core. He came out of that abyss after reigniting his faith in God.

Book Review by Jovana Slijepvevic

‘Throne of Glass’ by Sarah J. Mass

Throne of Glass by Sarah J Maas follows the story of Celaena Sardothien, a young highly trained assassin who finds herself locked up in the salt mines of Endovier. That is until she meets Captain Westfall, a royal guard and member of the court in Adarlan who offers her only chance of survival. 

The deal the captain offers Celaena is to compete for the role of being the King’s Champion, Celaena doesn’t take her chances in trying to escape the rotting salt mines on her own as she failed to once, earning her the scars on her back and takes the offer. A dear friend of the captain, otherwise known as Prince Dorian and son of King Adarlan is quickly acquainted with Celaena and develops an interest in getting to know the young, stubborn assassin.  

Upon her arrival at Rifthold, the capital city of Adarlan, Celaena is mesmerized by the infamous Glass Palace and home to the royal family. As she does her end of the deal by competing for the King’s Championship, Celaena learns more about the Glass palace and familiarizes herself with the strange darkness that surrounds her. The assassin and captain grow closer as he trains her for the competitions and Prince Dorian grows more infatuated with the young girl. She runs into Katlain Rompier, an aspiring court lady who will do anything for the prince’s hand in marriage and views Celaena as a threat.

Celaena doesn’t even have time to consider the prince in that way after the unforgiving death of Sam, her previous partner and finds comfort in being on her own. That is when Princess Nehemia enters her life, a royal member of the Kingdom of Eyllwe that stands at war with Adarlan, in which sparks a friendship between the two girls as they learn to work together in their enemy's territory. Celaena continues to train hard to defeat her primary competitor Cain for the rewarding freedom that comes with being the King’s Champion, while simultaneously uncovering her true destiny.