These new books are recommended by Mrs Sharrock.

Come and tell us in the LRC if you have a favourite book you’d like to share.

Bad Alice
by Jean Ure

Alice is bad news…or so everybody seems to believe. Duffy goes to visit his gran whilst his mother is away in America with his sister, awaiting a life-saving operation. Alice lives next door, and Duffy soon strikes up a friendship with her and appreciates that she doesn’t find his Taurette’s Syndrome off-putting, as so many other people do. As their friendship grows, Alice and Duffy share their innermost secrets, until Duffy becomes worried that Alice may be a victim of abuse. Will he be able to make anyone believe her side of the story?

A sensitive story of an unlikely friendship, and a struggle to see beyond people’s “outward face” to what’s really underneath.

Pirates
by Celia Rees

Excitement, mystery, conflict, and thrilling adventure on the high seas. All that you would expect from a pirate story…except these pirates are girls!
Find out how and why a prosperous merchant’s daughter and a runaway slave have joined forces to begin a life of sailing the waters of the Caribbean and the African coast. What have they escaped from?

Set in the 1700s, this gripping novel rattles along with great pace, and takes you into a harsh world dominated by men, injustice and inequalities, but also shows the ultimate strength of friendship, loyalty and love.

A Gathering Light
by Jennifer Donnelly

Set in America in the early 1900s, we see Mattie growing up and yearning to escape the small community in which she lives and works. She dreams of becoming a writer and moving to New York but pressures from her family, and secrets from a murdered woman’s letters combine to make this seem impossible.

A warm story outlining the struggles of young women at this time, who are forced to choose between pursuing their ambitions or fulfilling their duties as wives and mothers.

Pupil Reviewer: Sarah Abbasi 9G

Midnight
by Jacqueline Wilson

Midnight is truly an amazing book. It tells the story of a young girl who feels lonely. She has two friends, but not the friends she really wants. Then she meets an amazing beautiful girl, who is new at her school, and becomes best friends with her. But her best friend seems to be only interested in her brother, who all the girls at school fancy, but who doesn’t really get along with anyone, including his adoptive parents.

This book is very realistic and can interest anyone.

Don’t forget, all of these stories are available in the Learning Resources Centre.
Why don’t you borrow one today – it’s free!

We want your views!
See LRC staff if you wish to review one of your favourite books on the school website.