More Great Book Reviews - get your schnozz into these...

		Van Helsing: The Terrifying Lost Journal of Dr Cornelius Van Helsing HARPER COLLINS Reviewed by JACK, 10 Medbury Preparatory School, Christchurch This book tells you about DrCornelius Van Helsing and his companion Mr Gustav de Wolff. It tells you of vampires and their deeds; of vampire myths and lore; of their arrival at the Black Bear; of the guises they turn into; and of the partsof the body they most like to bite.
It also tells you how to recognise vampires. Van Helsing didn’t just hunt vampires. He also cameface to face with werewolves. He writes about going in search of evil and describes his spells of protection. There’s a picture of a man transforming into a werewolf; a picture of a fang; and a picture advertising a vampire kit. Van Helsing’s journal describes how people died by vampires and includes the journal of Mr Gustav de Wolff. The book has lots of features and little notes to pull out. I recommendthis book to any Van Helsing fan! Rated: 5/5

		Kiwi Bites: Charlotte Frisbee and the Slime Attack By Sally Sutton PENGUIN Reviewed by NAOMI, 8.5 years Wilford School, Petone  There it is – that strange smell again… and more trails of green slime! The P.A.W.S gang(Perfectly Amazing Word Society) is four friends who hate learning and generally get up to mischief. They have followed the smell. Their caretaker, Mr Slutch, nearly catches themhanging around in his shed but they find a door and all dive through it.
It’s then they realise they have shut themselvesin an old broom cupboard with a four-eyed slime monster!Charlotte Frisbee and the Slime Attack is a well thought out story. I think that Sally Sutton did a good job and youcan tell she put a lot of effort into it. It is an exciting story and you never know what isgoing to happen next. I also think that Phillip Webb is a good illustrator. I recommend this book for 6-8 year-old girls and boys. Rated: 3/5

Hocus Pocus – A Tale of Magnificent Magicians and their Amazing Feats by Paul Kieve ALLEN & UNWIN Reviewed by Matthew Dekker, 12 Lindisfarne College, Hastings Many years ago (from 1850-1930) there were variety shows. These shows featured grand illusions of people floating in mid air and other spectacular stunts. This was known as the golden age of magic. The story follows the life of young magician Paul Kieve.

He performs on stage but he isn’t very good at it so a few grand magicians from the golden age of magic give him a hand by teaching him a few tricks. This book is great for entertaining friends because of the step-by-step magic tricks scattered throughout the book. It also comes complete with an envelope at the back of the book full of magic props and tricks to use on your friends. I recommend this book for anyone aged 11 or over because in places it’s a little complex. Rated: 4.5/5

Antonia Cutlass Walks the Plank By Nicky Greenberg MACMILLAN PUBLISHERS Reviewed by Kate Brook, 7 St Martins School,Christchurch Antonia Cutlass Walks the Plank is about a girl called Antonia who wants to ruin her Mum’s theatre restaurant. She thinks it is embarrassing because the food is horrible and there are cockroaches in the kitchen. I really enjoyed reading this book because it was veryfunny and Antonia did not walk the plank – another man did. I wished the book was longer. Rated: 3/5

		Grimpow – The Invisible Road By Rafael Abalos RANDOM HOUSE PUBLISHERS Reviewed by MICHAEL BLANKS, 12 Francis Douglas Memorial College, New Plymouth As soon as I picked up Grimpow – The Invisible Road I knew I would enjoy it because I am interested in events that happened in medieval times. The main character Grimpow is destined to be the holder of a magic stone which will lead him on a journey to discover the secret of the wise. Along the way he befriends a knight, Salietti and his childhood friend, Weienell. Together they must solve mysterious codes and puzzlesand avoid many dangers.
My favourite part of the story is the description of thejousting tournament which Salietti competes in. There are plenty of other interesting parts too and I think this book would be enjoyed by good readers of all ages. Rated: 3.75/5

Chicken Dance by Jacques Couvillon ALLEN & UNWIN Reviewed by THEO, 13 Wellesley College This book is about a boy who really loves chickens. He researches them, feeds them, talks to them and confides in them. When he wins the local chicken judging contest he thinks life is perfect. But he soon finds out that his family have some large skeletons in the closet. The main character is an 11 year-old boy called Don Schmidt.

He knows his name was changed from Stanley when he was young but doesn’t know why. He lives on a small island in America set in about the 1980s. The main story line is about Don finding out about his sister who ‘died’ from scarlet fever; and losing his ‘loserism’. I thought it was a good book. I think it would most appeal to someone who enjoys novels by Louis Sacharor Jerry Spinelli. I recommend it for aboutages 9-12. Rated: 3/5

		Dare & Double Dare Edited by Barbara Else and illustrated by Philip Webb RANDOM HOUSE PUBLISHERS Reviewed by TIM PAISLEY, 13 Tauranga Intermediate School Dare & Double Dare has it all. There’s softball, cross-country, rugby, and mountain climbing right through to gumboot tossing and canine obedience competitions. This book has a huge range of short, sporty tales to get the heart pumping. All 30 of the stories are made for Kiwi kids and are written by Kiwi authors. David Hill, Sandy McKay, Melanie Dixon and Janet Pates have
stories in this book, along with 24 other authors, making a fantastic line-up of energetic literature with that great get-up-and-go Kiwi attitude. A must read for those sport fanatics – a perfect Christmas gift for children between the ages of 8 and 12.