A CDNIS Student Blog

Spirit Walker by Michelle Paver is the second book of the Chronicles of Ancient Darkness. It is also the sequel to Wolf Brother. This mystery packed book is about Torak who goes on a quest to find the cure to a sickness that has occured in the Forest, killing many people, including people from his Clan. Soon, he arrives at the Sea, where the Seal Clans live. At that place, he starts off with enemies, but slowly, he starts to make new friends. Torak also realizes he is a Spirit Walker, someone who can put themselves in someone else.

I like this book because it has a lot of mystery and action inside it, so there is always something new and interesting happening. I also like this book because the dialogue and thoughts that are included makes the story seem more alive.

My favourite part of this book was when Torak finds out that he is a Spirit Walker because at that time, I didn’t know what a Spirit Walker was also, so it was interesting for me to figure out what it was and what they do. I also liked this bit because it got me very engaged and this changed Torak’s life because before he didn’t know a single thing about this, but now that he knows he is a Spirit Walker, his life could be easier or harder.

I liked how Michelle Paver wrote this book because she used many descriptive words to make the book more interesting. Also, she added lots of dialogue and sentences about what the characters were thinking and feeling to make the readers be able to understand more about the “insides” of the characters.

I also like Michelle Paver’s style because she writes in different perspectives of different characters (Torak, Renn, and Wolf). I particularly liked it when she wrote in Wolf’s perspective because Wolf calls humans Tailesess because they don’t have any tails. Since Torak is Wolf Clan, Wolf calls him Tall Tailess, and calls Renn “the Female Tailess”. I find this very interesting and creative of the author to do this. Wolf also calls the ocean The Great Wet because he sees things differently.

I think you should read the Chronicles of Ancient Darkness if you like mystery and adventure. I hope you will consider reading the series of 6 books!

{ 0 comments }

Matilda by Roald Dahl is a very famous book about a girl, Matilda, who is actually really smart and talented but is ignored by her very own parents. But at school, it’s a different story. Matilda is loved by her teacher, Ms. Honey. Unfortunately, Miss. Trunchbull doesn’t like her at all. In fact, she doesn’t like a single student. But Matilda seems to be able to outsmart her, and it seems to be working.

My favourite character is Ms. Honey because she is really kind to Matilda. I also like how she knows that Matilda is smarter than everyone else her age, so she gives her more advanced things to learn about. This is good because this way, Matilda won’t have to waste her time at school learning about things that she already knows. Ms. Honey is also very helpful and friendly to her students and everyone else, unlike ‘The Trunchbull’.

I like how Roald Dahl wrote this book because at the beginning, he gave an introduction to how parents always never underestimate their children, and no matter who they are, parents always love them. But later on, he states the exact opposite because Matilda’s parents are always underestimating her and not liking her. I also like the beginning because Roald Dahl gives a brief introduction of what she has been doing so that the readers would have a better understanding of how smart Matilda is. Also, he writes down the books that she has been reading at the age of 4. Roald Dahl also added some humor and suspense to the story so that the audience would be engaged. The story was also really creative.

My favourite part of the book is when Matilda uses her ‘eye-power’ to control the chalk and write things down on the chalk board. I like this part of the story because it is interesting to see what she can do with her power and how the message on the chalkboard will affect people. I also find this part one of the most creative parts because not only does she use her power in front of everyone, including Miss Trunchbull, but she also seems to be able to outsmart The Trunchbull by doing this, since the message affects her quite a lot.

Roald Dahl is one of the best authors ever known across the world, so I strongy suggest you to read his books, if you haven’t. He writes all types of stories a poems that are all very interesting for everyone, child or adult. Some of his best known books are Matilda, The BFG, The Witches, Fantastic Mr. Fox or Charlie and the Chocolate Factory. So hopefully, you will be able to read Roald Dahl’s books!

{ 1 comment }

Poppy by Avi is about a brave mouse who goes on a journey to save her family. Since she didn’t ask for permission the first time, Mr. Ocax – the “ruler” of the forest – has now forbid her family from moving to a new place called New House. During the journey, she meets some kind animals, some mean animals and encounters some interesting things. But Mr. Ocax is watching her, and she didn’t ask for permission to go into the forest. Will she make it back to her family?

My favourite character is Poppy, because she is a really brave mouse. She knows that she is risking her life, but she also knows that if she doesn’t do anything, her family will suffer. I also like how she is really smart with being able to get away from Mr. Ocax every time he tries to catch her – she knows which places would be best to hide and where she has to move to. She is also brave like her friend, Ragweed.

My favourite part was when Poppy became friends with Ereth, a porcupine. I find this interesting because Ereth tells Poppy that Mr. Ocax has been lying all along about him not being scared of anything and Poppy finds out that her parents have been lying to her to. I also like this part because Ereth and Poppy become friends quickly and Ereth helps Poppy get to New House, while Poppy helps him get some salt.

I like how Avi wrote this story because at the very beginning, there was already lots of action, engaging the readers very quickly. I also liked how he alternated from Mr. Ocax’s perspective and Poppy ‘s perspective so that we would know how both of the main characters were feeling and thinking.

If you like reading books about animals, you should read this book, and also the other books that are in this series, such as Ragweed, Poppy and Rye, or Ereth’s Birthday, because it they are very engaging and interesting.

{ 0 comments }

“Winning means fame and fortune.
Losing means certain death.
The Hunger Games have begun……”

The Hunger Games by Suzanne Collins is about 24 chosen tributes – 2 from each district – who have to fight to be the last one standing in the 74th annual Hunger Games. Those 24 people will have to leave their districts, go through a few days of training and finally be sent off to the arena, where they will fight. As  the tributes from District 12, Katniss Everdeen and Peeta Mellark fight in the arena, they experience life-changing things.

My favourite character is Katniss because when her 12-year-old sister, Primrose Everdeen is called out to be tribute, she quickly steps up to volunteer so that Primrose won’t have to go to the Hunger Games. I think this is very brave of her and requires a lot of courage to be able to volunteer as tribute. I also think she is being very kind to her little sister because Katniss knows that if Primrose goes to the Hunger Games, she would suffer for a long time.

I like how Suzanne Collins wrote this book because  she used a lot of adjectives to describe how the place was like, how people dressed, and how the characters were feeling so that her audience could feel like they were there. Suzanne Collins also put in tons of action, adventure and small problems that made her readers very engaged in the story.

I also liked how Suzanne Collins included a lot of dialogue and sentences about their thoughts, so that it can show the perspective of Katniss and the different characters. I think it is quite important to know what they are thinking during the Games because everyone would have a different opinion.

I strongly advise you to read The Hunger Games, Catching Fire and Mockingjay by Suzanne Collins. She also wrote the Underland Chronicles series. I also hope you can watch the movie!

{ 1 comment }