Book Club Reviews

Our Book Club Reviewers have been hard at work reading interesting books to share with you. Here are a few books that they enjoyed...

Chasing Vermeer by Blue Balliett
Reviewed by Caitlin in Grade 7

Calder and Petra are two people brought together by the love of puzzles and the fascination of questions without answers. But when a priceless Vermeer painting mysteriously  disappears and the thief is constantly writing letters to the the public threatening to destroy the painting unless  Vermeer's secret life is uncovered. Calder and Petra have too do everything they can to rescue the painting even if it means putting their lives in danger.

Caitlin says: I loved this book.It left me in anticipation right till the end.I recommend this book to those who are interested in misterys and questions with so many never ending,unknown answers.

The Two Princessess of Bamarre by Gail Carson Levine

Reviewed by Tanaka in Grade 6

Princess Addie's sister Princess Meryl gets sick with the Grey Death.  Princess Addie decides to go out and find a cure.  But her adventure isn't as easy as she thought it would be...

Tanaka says: "I liked that the book wasn't all about war and killing.  It had a really good message overall."

The Adventure of Super Diaper Baby by Dav Pilkey

Reviewed by Theo in Grade 2

Super Diaper Baby was created when a baby fell into Super Power juice extracted from Captain Underpants. Deputy Dangerous and Danger Dog made inventions to try and steal Captain Underpants' super powers. Danger Dog saves Super Diaper Baby. Diaper Dog and Super Diaper Baby defeat Deputy Dangerous and restore Captain Underpants' powers.

Theo says: "I liked it when Super Diaper Baby and Diaper Dog defeated Deputy Dangerous. I liked that part because Deputy Dangerous went like "Ohhh and eehhhhh and aaahh".

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"

The other day, I read a book...

We love to read so much at Sun Valley that we even sing about it! Here are our Gr 4s singing "I Read a Book"...

Five Go To Smuggler's Top

Five Go To Smuggler's Top by Enid Blyton
Reviewed by Zoe S in Gr 4 Tu

If Uncle Quentin had had the top-heavy ash tree chopped, the gale would have not brought it crashing down on Kirrin Cottage and then the Five would not have gone to Smuggler's Top to stay with Lenoir and his eccentric father. Once there, queer and highly suspicious things seemed to happen, one after another, including the mysterious disappearance of Uncle Quentin. Julian, Dick, George and Anne have a very puzzling adventure and Timmy the dog has his fair share of excitement, in and out of the underground passages, until he unearths something very interesting...

Zoe says: "I liked this book because it got me very excited, especially when Uncle Quentin disappeared, when I heard about what can happen when you step in this type of quicksand (many people have died there) and when they found a very exciting secret passage. 

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

The Beasts of Clawstone Castle

The Beasts of Clawstone Castle by Eva Ibbotson

Reviewed by Cleopatra in Gr 5 Ke

Clawstone Castle is at least 2000 years old. It keeps cattle. On open days, they would raise as much money as they could to feed the cattle but Trembellow Towers always got all the visitors. Madlyn and Rollo felt sorry for the owners of Clawstone Castle. (Madlyn and Rollo are the owner's grandchildren). When the cattle are stolen its up to Madlyn and Rollo to save them along with Madlyn's friend, Ned.

Cleopatra says: "I liked it very much. I thought it was a very fun book. You never know what will happen next. It's also a very entertaining book. I recommend this for readers between the age of 8 and 20."

Libby loves a good book...

Our library bear, Libby, is very spoiled! She's always getting cuddles and can often be found in the reading corner listening to a good story.