The Memory Cage

So many issues are covered within this book.  The heartbreak of coming to terms with a grandparents alzheimers, the issues of adoption and the conflicts of war.  

Alex, who has been adopted and has hidden his own memories of the trauma he has suffered in Bosnia.  When his Grandfather deteriorates to the point where he is going to be sent to a home, Alex decides to try to help him by making a memory book.  However, as Alex begins to gather pictures from the past he also begins to uncover some family secrets.

This book is thought provoking and very moving.  The relationships are very realistic, the sibling rivalry and Alex's love for his Grandfather are developed well.  The family tension throughout is portrayed realistic throughout the book and you find yourself wishing Alex's parents could see what was going on because he has already been through enough in Bosnia.  

This is a fantastic debut all the children who have read it so far have said how much they have enjoyed it.

The Girl Savage

Wilhelmine, better known a Will, wildcat or cartwheel is growing up on a farm in Africa when suddenly her world is tipped upside down.  Will has grown up living wild and free, she hasn't been sent to school but instead has been able to play with the farm boys.  When her dad dies and Captain Browne who is taking care of her remarries she is sent to England to a boarding school.

I have only reached the point at which Will arrives at the boarding school.  The sense of despair and frustration I feel for her as she is sent away is awful.  All I am hoping is that as I get further through the book Cynthia will somehow get her comeuppance.

Now I have reached the end I am somewhat disappointed that Cynthia didn't seem to get what she deserved however the way the school girls changed was great.  The ending was a real surprise but really was a great way to end.  It was very moving to see the courage and strength that Will showed at the end and made me cry.
It took me a while to become really engrossed in this book but I am so glad I kept going.  The experiences of Will in the two different setting are so starkly different that you just wish that you could take her back to Africa.  I felt so proud of Will at the end.  This is a fantastic debut.

A Girl Called Dog

I was completely gripped by this book and read it over two days.  When I began reading the book I wasn't convinced by the girl called dog, I just couldn't understand how someone could get away with keeping a girl in a pet shop but I had to remind myself that it was fiction.  There are some very scary moments in the book, the black box in particular.  The author takes us on Dog's journey to safety with some very scary and emotional events on the way.  This is a real heart breaking book that stays with you long after you have read it.
I could picture the small but brave girl in the pet shop and loved it when she stood up to her uncle through Carlos the parrot.  I was so relieved when she found the village in which she may have come from.
I really felt though that her journey was not over and hope that the story continues.

I gave it to a girl in my class to read and she read it over 2 days as well.  She wrote 'I think the book is fantastic because Carlos can talk.  I would recommend it to class 3 girls because it is a little bit scary and hard.'