Children's Bookclub (9-12 year olds) - December 2009

Private Peaceful by Michael Morpurgo

The main characters in this story are brothers Charlie and Tommo Peaceful.
The first half of the story is set in the village in which Charlie and Tommo live with their family. Here we see Tommo struggle with a secret that burdens him but he is afraid to tell to anyone; Charlie takes the place of father figure in the family when their own father dies; Charlie and Tommo meet and make friends with Molly, and their friendship is tested when they both fall in love with her; their oldest brother Big Joe goes missing; and all the while Grandma Wolf and the Colonel undermine the close family and inflict cruelty on them...and thats just the first half of the book!

In the second half of the book the story moves to the trenches in World War I where both brothers have enlisted in the army. The book dosen't flinch from the realities of war - trenchfoot, lice, loneliness, fear and death; and Michael Morpurgo writes so descriptively that the kids said they felt they were there with Charlie and Tommo living the story.

This book has many themes and plots running through it but never get complicated. It's interesting, exciting and sad and you wont put it down until you come to the last page...and if you're Hugh you'll get to the last page...and then start reading it all over again!
Everyone in the Bookclub without exception loved this book. We gave it 9 1/2 out of 10.


Michael Morpurgo has written over 100 childrens books...
War Horse
The Butterfly Lion
The Wreck of the Zanzibar
Arthur, High King of Britain
Kensuke's Kingdom
Farm Boy
Cool!
Why The Whale Came...


He has won lots of awards for his writing including The Smarties Prize, The Whitbread Award and The Childrens Book Award.


His favourite book growing up was Treasure Island by Robert Louis Stevenson.

Childrens Bookclub (9-12 year olds) November 2009

Count Karlstein by Philip Pullman

If the name of Zamiel, the Demon Huntsman, doesn't send shivers down your spine now, it will when you have read this book.

The Demon Huntsman? Well, he usually conducts his business on All Souls' Eve, the day when we are all supposed to pray for the souls of the dead. Zamiel, the Prince of the Mountains, the Demon Huntsman prowls through the great forests on that night in search of his prey. If you ever think you could do with a bit of supernatural intervention to help your worldly ambitions come to fruition, don't strike a bargain with Zamiel ... He'll remember you, and come a-hunting.
Evil Count Karlstein has a bit of a problem, accounting with Zamiel. He struck a bargain ten years ago, and it is payback time now:
This year,' said Count Karlstein, 'I have to provide a human prey -'
A gasp (oily) from Snivelwurst; a gasp (stifled) from me, and I clung to the little tin candlestick with both hands as I strained to hear what Count Karlstein said next.
'A living human,' he went on, 'or two, complete with soul. Now,' he said briskly, and I heard a chair being pulled across the wooden floor and the creak of the ancient floorboards as the count settled down in it - 'the question, is who shall it be?'
'Ah, yes, a very vexing question, I can well imagine, your grace. Who shall it be? Indeed! A sorrowful task, picking the right merchandise,' said Snivelwurst carefully. He wasn't sure what Karlstein was up to, and he didn't want to say the wrong thing.
'To be sure, Snivelwurst. But in this case there's only one thing for it. It'll have to be my nieces.'...
His nieces! Lucy and Charlotte. A nicer pair of girls you wouldn't come across. I don't know what would have become of them if it hadn't been for Hildi. Hildi, you see, happens to be standing quietly round the corner, and hears the terrible plan. What can she do to save the girls?
You'll have to read on for yourself. It's a rip-roaring tale of drama and suspense, suitable for reading under the bedclothes.
(extract from http://www.readingmatters.co.uk/)

Philip Pullman has written other books including:
Clockwork
The Firework-Maker's Daughter

I Was A Rat!
The Scarecrow and his Servant
His Dark Materials Trilogy:
Northern Lights, The Subtle Knife and The Amber Spyglass
(which has been made into a film The Golden Compass)

Junior Book Club

Calling all readers!

Have you always got your head stuck in a book?

Have you been caught reading under the bedcovers by torchlight?

Meet other kids once a month with the same addiction to books

for chat & activities on books, books & more books!

Watch House Cross Library

Children's Book Club

for 9-12 year olds

Starting in October 2009

If you are interested in joining

talk to us at the Library Desk

or call us on 061-457726