Review of The Catcher in the Rye - Jodie Granger

Salinger appropriately composed this tale by using aspects of his teenage life to create a familiarity with the surroundings of his protagonist, including the setting, and a sense of displacement driven by his failures in several prep schools. The Catcher in the Rye offers so many traits that different readers can relate to. Often it's audience can sympathise with Holden's angst and teenage rebellion, and in some cases pity this character's 'madman' phase, which links to the 'coming of age' theme in literature, or 'Bildingsroman'.

"I share Caufield's contempt for 'phonies' as well as his sense of being different and loneliness..." - Jonathon Yardley, Washington Post
I think an important feature to the novel is this character's opinions and perceptions of other people and himself; on the subject of adolescence, at 16, this boy's unveiling to society and the adult world is explored and developed, which typically to most children, increases their understanding of the world around them. But to Holden it seems, increasingly through his journey, he experiences confusion and is openly clueless towards why certain things happen; questioning about the ducks, and his change of character when he's faced with the harsh reality of the prostitute, suggesting his trouble with accepting these new thoughts and events.

This all relates to the pursuit of maturity and understanding; to seeking the unknown truth seen within the style of a monomyth. But strangely, Salinger doesn't intend to depict a typically structured monomyth, instead he strips this style apart to something rather different, which could be seen as just about a "spoiled rich kid kicked out of a fancy prep school..." - Yardley

"Some have argued that Salinger's tale of the Human Condition is fascinating and enlightening, yet incredibly depressing." - Eric Lomazolf
I feel the protagonist continually suffers from the Human Condition, due to him beginning the stage of life where one starts to question the issue of 'purpose'. This could involve having a certain insight to religion, and in chapter 14, he argues how 'after he committed suicide...Jesus never sent old Judas to Hell' whilst the 'Disciples would've', he may understand that without Judas forming the role of betrayer, Jesus wouldn't be a Messiah, therefore it would be unfair sending him to Hell. Although Holden claims he's an 'atheist', he still understands that Jesus is a forgiving person.
It's also interesting how he questions the morals of religious beliefs, but still respects it, shown by using capital letters for pronouns in his narration; 'Disciples', 'He' etc.

Other features like this in the novel display how Holden is looking for understanding, whilst other characters are just conforming to their role in society, with material perspective. And through Holden's curious nature and explorations - like the scene with the cab driver - Salinger forces the reader to ask questions about our own lives, social systems, and human behavior.

Ostrich Boys:A Review by Jay Bevan

I think Ostrich Boys is a good story because it takes you along with the boys (Blake, Kenny and Sim) on their    journey to take Ross (their dead friend) to Ross (a small hamlet in Scotland) for a proper, fitting funeral. Also, it has lots of description so you really get a feel for the characters and where they are. However, I think the ending was a little rushed and did not complete the story.

This book has a lot of sarcastic humour from the boys mocking one another. Also, a lot of compound nouns. These words will certainly make you giggle. This provides the story with some light-hearted comedy.

Overall, I think I would rate this book 4 out of 5 stars,    because although it has a great storyline, comedy and a lot of description, the ending (one of the biggest parts of a story could have been a little better.

Ostrich Boys: A Review by Rory Mead

The ostrich boys is a very good book. Lots of imagination and thought has been put into it. The writer, Keith Gray, uses a lot of good vocabulary and punctuation to add information, and emphasis.

The book is about three fifteen year old boys whose best friend; Ross is hit by a car whilst riding his bike. At the funeral lots of people the boys, Blake, Kenny and Sim, don’t like turn up. So Blake, Kenny and Sim decide that they will steal the urn containing Ross’ ashes and take them to the small Scottish town of Ross. The thing they don’t know is that journey to Ross will be a lot harder than expected. With a lot of squabbling and new friends along the way will Blake, Kenny and Sim make it?

My opinion of the book is that it is very dramatic book with language for older people. At some points it is funny but overall it is adventurous. Although most of the book was excellent I didn’t really like the ending because I didn’t like the how they weren’t all together at the end after all they had gone through. Overall it was a very good book and I would read again. I would recommend this book to people who are in their teens and who like adventure.

A review by Rory Mead.

Lord Loss: Review by Harry Murphy

Lately I have been delving into a book I saw in my room. A gripping horror novel written by Darren Shan, Lord Loss. Packed full of gruesome murders and miscellaneous undead foes. Set in a normal, dull town home of Grubbs Grady, the hero in a book of evil. With a tell-tale sister who he can get nothing past and parents who are a pain in the backside Master Grady hates his life, but that all changes when he returns home to a horrific sight…

…this first book in a great series has action, horror and takes you on an emotional rollercoaster from grief to happiness. This book shows you how one misunderstood scared boy has no-one to turn to but his uncle and friend, Bill-E, while everything in his life is turning from bad to super extra bad.

The characters in this book are based on someone you would see every day on the street just another Bob or Tom. They are easy to relate to for everyone because there are young characters old characters and some middle aged.

The language, the use of tension and surprise keeps the readers interested and makes you feel like you’re living the terrible horror; this is one of my favourite books because of these few factors it kept me hooked.

What I liked most about this story was how Darren Shan (the author) used so much detail to describe the characteristics of the demons, it helped me to really visualise the monster’s faces.

By Harry Murphy

A Hero’s Guide To Deadly Dragons: A Review by Lee Mitchell

The book, A Hero’s Guide To Deadly Dragons written by Cressida Cowell is a story about a young Viking called Hiccup Horrendous Haddock III. Hiccup has a dragon named Toothless who is going to be banished, he  has to stop this by stealing a sacred  book from the Meathead Public Library, but does he succeed...

The story is very entertaining and has very good illustrations which are always relevant to what is happening. The illustrations are drawn in a naive (basic) way which encouraged me and I’m sure other people to read the story. The pictures help you imagine what the characters look like, this always helps get more into the story and want to read on. The font for the book is bigger than usual so there is not as many words per page.

Hiccup is the Hope and Heir to the throne of the Hairy Hooligan tribe, he is in his first year of Pirate Training Academy but isn’t turning out to be much of a hero.  He is expected to be a hero, like his dad Stoick The Vast, the leader of the tribe.

In the back of the book there is a section that says about all the dragons in the story and all their specifications and specialties.

I was glued to this book when read it and you couldn’t get me away from the story. I would recommend this book to anyone that can read because it is so fun and enjoyable and has a good storyline that keeps you hooked. The words used in the story are easy to understand so many people can read it without getting confused. I would recommend reading all the story’s before because it is a series of books, this is one of the last. I never enjoyed reading but i loved this amazing story.

By Lee Mitchell

The Ostrich Boys: A Review by Joseph Hussey

Ostrich Boys: Review by Joseph Hussey

I think Ostrich Boys is a great story because it is imaginative and can be read easily. In it three friends think that their best friend's funeral just didn't quite cut it. They decide that they should take there recently deceased friend, Ross, to the small Scottish hamlet of Ross. The three friends, Kenny, Blake and Sim are constantly bickering all the way to Ross.
Ross (their friend not the place) was cremated and stored in a burial urn. The three friends plan to steal the urn and catch a train to Ross...
The book opens up with three of them hiding outside their history teacher's (Mr Fowler) house, planning to graffiti their enemies door, their reasons being that Mr Fowler had made Ross' life hell for the last week. They sprayed on the door 'Haunted by Ross Fell'. Their next victim, Sean Munro, was the school bully, always picking on Ross. This time they sprayed it on his dad's brand new sports car. Overall the book is a good read and I enjoyed it although the ending brought it down a bit. Just before the boys steal the urn Ross’ dad, Mr Fell, reveals a bit of information that shocks the trio…