Holiday Reads

Since October holidays are almost near, we've gathered together a few books we think you might enjoy reading on your week-long break. 


For Younger Readers...

Horrible Harry's Secret by Suzy Kline

When Song Lee brings her water frog to school and feeds it liver in front of Room 2B, Harry falls in love. His best friend, Doug, can't stand all the mush - love notes in class, secret glances across the room, and even a gift wrapped in red foil. Doug wants Harry to be his old, horrible self again. Harry is even being nice to Sidney! But something is bothering Harry. Is it love or is it something horrible? (Be sure to check out the other wonderful books in the Horrible Harry series)

Pony Pals: A Pony for Keeps by Jeanne Betancourt

Anna loves her pony, Acorn. But her parents think Acorn is the reason that she's doing badly at school. If she doesn't get better marks, they'll take him away. Pam, Lulu, her Pony Pals, want to help. Can they find a way to make sure Acorn is a pony for keeps? (Be sure to check out the other wonderful books in the Pony Pals series)

Jack Stalwart - The Escape of the Deadly Dinosaur: USA

by Elizabeth Singer Hunt

An eager young scientist has brought to life a dangerous flesh eating dinosaur by crossing its DNA with that of his pet dog, Freddie. Can Secret Agent Jack Stalwart capture the dinosaur before it destroys New York City? (Be sure to check out the other wonderful books in the Secret Agent Jack Stalwart series)

Let's Do the Pharaoh by Jeremy Strong

Ben and Carrie live at 27 Templeton Drive with their mum, dad and a 4,00-year-old pharaoh! That's right - an ancient Egyptian ruler who wears make up (WEIRD!) and dances! And when he struts his stuff at a modelling competition and WINS, Ben and Carrie can't believe it! Suddenly everyone's wearing designer mummy bandages and doing the strangest dance.

Judy Moody - Girl Detective by Megan McDonald
Judy Moody is in a mood. A sleuthing, Nancy Drew kind of mood. So what's a WBMS (world's best mystery solver) to do? Go find a mystery, that's what! And she doesn't have to snoop for long: when Mr. Chips, a beloved crime-dog-in-training, goes missing, Judy Drewdy and her chums, Agents Dills Pickle (Frank), Spuds Houdini (Rocky) and James Madagascar (Stink) find themselves smack-dab in the middle of a real-life, scare-your-pants-off whodunit. Was Mr Chips stolen by dirty dognappers? And why are chocolate chip cookies disappearing all over town? 




For Older Readers




The Hunger Games by Suzanne Collins
In a dark vision of the near future, a terrifying reality TV show is taking place. Twelve boys and twelve girls are forced to appear in a live event called the Hunger Games. There is only one rule: kill or be killed. When sixteen-year-old Katniss Everdeen steps forward to take her sister's place in the games, she sees it as a death sentence. But Katniss has been close to death before. For her, survival is a second nature.

My Sister Jodie by Jacqueline Wilson
When their parents get new jobs at the Melchester College, Pearl and Jodie are suddenly thrust into a new life. In their new home things seems different. Jodie has always been the leader but now it's Pearl who's making new friends. Jodie doesn't fit in with the snooty teenagers in her class and just seems to be getting into more and more trouble...Maybe Pearl doesn't need Jodie anymore but Jodie needs her. And when the school Fireworks night comes around and a tragic event occurs, Pearl realizes how much she does need her big sister.





I Am Number Four by Pittacus Lore

Nine of us came here. We look like you. We talk like you. We live among you. But we are not you. We can do things you dream of doing. We have powers you dream of having. We are stronger and faster than anything you have ever seen. We are the superheroes you worship in movies and comic books--but we are real. Our plan was to grow, and train, and become strong, and become one, and fight them. But they found us and started hunting us first. Now all of us are running. Spending our lives in shadows, in places where no one would look, blending in. we have lived among you without you knowing. But "they" know. They caught Number One in Malaysia. Number Two in England. And Number Three in Kenya. They killed them all. I am Number Four. I am next. 


How To Be Popular by Meg Cabot

Steph's been the least popular girl in her class since a certain cherry Super Big Gulp catastrophe five years earlier. Does being popular matter? It matters a lot--to Steph. That's why this year, she has a plan to get in with the It Crowd in no time flat. She's got a secret weapon: an old book called--what else?--"How to Be Popular." All Steph has to do is follow the instructions in The Book, and soon she'll be partying with the popular kids. But don't forget the most important thing about popularity! It's easy to become popular. What isn't so easy? Staying that way.

The Red Pyramid by Rick Riordan
'I guess it started the night our dad blew up the british museum...' Carter and Sadie Kane's dad is a brilliant Egyptologist with a secret plan that goes horribly wrong. An explosion shatters the ancient Rosetta stone and unleashes Set, the evil god of chaos ...Set imprisons Dr Kane in a golden coffin and Carter and Sadie must run for their lives. To save their dad, they embark on a terrifying quest from Cairo to Paris to the American South-west and discover the truth about their family's connection to the House of Life: an Egyptian temple of magic that has existed for thousands of years. The pharaohs of ancient Egypt are far from dead and buried. And so, unfortunately, are their gods ...

Seekers: Smoke Mountain

Seekers: Smoke Mountain by Erin Hunter
Reviewed by Logan Isola in Gr 6 Fe

The four bears have left for the place of Endless Ice but on their journey there Kallik's brother, Taqqiq, took her on a hunting expedition but really wanted to take Kallik and run away. Kallik didn't want to leave her friends so she didn't go with him. Then they met an old bear named Oopuk who told them about the Last Great Wilderness and about the bear that goes hunting for bears at night. They eventually reached the place but Ujurak still isn't sure that their journey has ended.

Logan says: "I really liked the book because it was really interesting and daring. I also didn't get bored at any point in the book"

New Books for Older Readers...

Melly, Mrs Ho and Me by Edyth Bulbring

April-May February hates: Her name, Her new school - Trinity College, Her new teacher - Mrs Ho. That she doesn't have a cellphone, That her mum now lives with a guy called Sarel/ Sarel's wig/ Sarel. April-May February doesn't really care about: Frogs, Not having a proper school uniform, The mouth-breather Melly, Mrs Ho's son - Sam Ho, Two-minute noodles, April-May February loves: Stephenie Meyer, Fluffy - her dad, Doors that lock, That Sarel is allergic to chillies, Sebastian.

Into the Wild by Erin Hunter

For generations, four clans of wild cats have shared the forest according to the laws laid down by their warrior ancestors. But now there is trouble. In the midst of this turmoil appears an ordinary house cat named Rusty, who may turn out to be the bravest warrior of them all.

Scorpia Rising by Anthony Horowitz

This gripping final mission brings together Alex Rider's old enemies to frame the teenage superspy in an unstoppable plot of revenge, from which he can never return. Pursued from Europe to North Africa and Cairo's city of the dead - this is the twistiest and most deadly plot of any Alex Rider mission yet, and will reveal Smithers' ultimate gadget and see the shock death of a major character.

* All blurbs quoted from www.loot.co.za

New Books for Older Readers...

Vapmire Dusk 

by Sebastian Rook

On an archaeological expedition into the steaming heart of the Mexican jungle, something terrible happens. Ben is the only survivor, the only one who witnessed it: something so hideous that he can barely speak of it. Now Ben returns as a stowaway on a ship of horrors, sailing into the chill and fog of 1850s London. But the evil cargo that the ship carries is already stirring. As the whole world falls into the awful grip of the vampire hordes, only three young fighters can prevent its total destruction…

The Mysterious 

Benedict Society

by Trenton Lee Stewart

Four children with unusual talents are recruited for a top-secret mission. There is only one rule - there are no rules. How can they work together to save the world? A crackling adventure begins...

Chasing Vermeer

by Blue Balliet & Brett Helquist

A stolen painting.

A series of unexpected events.

Two smart children.

Petra and Calder live in a neighborhood where strange things have started to happen. Seemingly unrelated events connect, a sharp old woman seeks their company - and a priceless Vermeer painting disappears. Before they know it, the two children are drawn into an international art sensation where no one is above suspicion. They must rely on their intelligence, and a newly-acquired knowledge of the artist Vermeer, to crack an art crime that has left everyone baffled.