The Declaration by Gemma Malley

'The Declaration''

Imagine a world were you could live forever, where you could never die. All thanks to the Longevity pill, it replaces cells in people's bodies. It cures people of all illness. No one dies so no one is born.

If you want to take the Longevity pill, you sign the deceleration, saying you can never have children. Some people are irresponsible, they break the rules, and they're selfish. They take the longevity pill and they have children. They're children are found, taken away to a surplus hall.

Surplus Anna's parents were irresponsible. They broke the rule about not having children. Now Anna lives at Grange Hall, a place where she must
learn how to repay society for the selfish act of her parents. She must learn to be a Valuable Asset.

Then one day, her whole world and what she believes turns around… Peter arrives at Grange hall; he's the oldest surplus to be found, he's spent so much time hidden away. Peter says he knows Anna's parents, that they told him to tell her they love her. And most importantly, he's here to take her back home…

This book taught me no matter how bad that past was, you can always have a better future! I'd thoroughly recommend this book to anyone.

First published at: http://www.guardian.co.uk/childrens-books-site/2011/sep/30/the-declaration-demma-malley-review?INTCMP=SRCH

Bang, Bang You're Dead by Narinder Dhami

'Bang, Bang, You're Dead!'

Mia’s twin brother, Jamie, has always protected her. Until now. Mia and Jamie seem to be growing apart.  It’s all to do with their mum’s illness; it causes her to have mood swings. There are pills that could help her but their mum stopped taking them after grandpa died. With their mum refusing to see a doctor and Mia terrified of social services splitting her and her twin up and of anyone at school finding out it seems Mia and Jamie are stuck. Mia knows none of this is her mum’s fault, however Jamie has less sympathy. He’s fed up of trying to make things right. Recently he’s been threatening to do something drastic. Something to show their mum how this is affecting them, and he won’t tell Mia what it is……………

When rumours start about a man in school with a gun and Jamie’s no where to be seen Mia knows something bad is going to happen. Then she remembers the gun she and her twin found when they were little. Mia knows she has to stop this. The only problem is the man’s not Jamie, and it seems that Jamie died the day he was born. Soon Mia discovers she is Jamie and all the things she thought Jamie had done, had been her……..

I really enjoyed this book as it was different and unusual. Also, it showed me what life could be like for other people. However, I found it a bit confusing when Jamie turns out not to be real.  It is written in Mia’s point of view and I would recommend it to anyone over the age of ten as it can be quite upsetting.

First published at: http://www.guardian.co.uk/childrens-books-site/2011/oct/03/bang-bang-you-re-dead-narinder-dhami?INTCMP=SRCH

A Little Piece of Ground by Elizabeth Laird

'A Little Piece of Ground'

Karim Aboudi has a list of the things he wants to do in his life. One of them is to destroy the Israeli tanks that block the street. Karim can no longer play football or see his friends. All he can do is wait until the curfew ends. With his older brother doing anything to annoying him and Karim not be being able to go outside he's is ready to go crazy.

When the curfew ends, Karim is delighted! He and his new friend Hopper find a piece of wasteland to play football on. But the tanks and the guns come back and Karim is trapped in the wasteland…

This book taught me that even in the worst situations, you can survive.

I would recommend this book to any teenager, girl or boy.

First published at: http://www.guardian.co.uk/childrens-books-site/2011/oct/10/a-little-piece-of-ground-elizabeth-laird-review?INTCMP=SRCH

Girl Missing by Sophie McKenzie

'Girl Missing'

Imagine you'd always been told you had been adopted when you were three, that your real mother didn't want you. And when you asked more about your past, no one answered your questions. Until one day, on a missing children's website, you see a little girl who you think may be you. What would you do?

That's exactly the dilemma Lauren is faced with. With the help of her friend Jam she goes to find out to find her biological parents, to discover who she really is and whether the people she had known as her parents all these years were involved. Only to discover that her kidnappers will do anything to keep her silent...

I really enjoyed this book; you feel really involved in the story and can't wait to see what happens next. It taught me that sometimes your family are not always the people who gave birth to you and that things are not always as clear as they seem… I would recommend this book to anyone who enjoys reading and is over ten years old.

First Published at: http://www.guardian.co.uk/childrens-books-site/2011/dec/12/girl-missing-sophie-mckenzie-review?INTCMP=SRCH