Young Crime writers' Competition

                                      
          CWA Young Crime Writers' Competition
                      

                                     

                                                                  

Can you write a first rate crime story?

That’s the challenge issued to you by the Crime Writers’ Association (CWA).

You can pick up your entry form and competition requirements at your local library.  Entries will be accepted at your local library from 10 January to 18 February.

You have up to 1000 words to get the readers hooked, although you don’t have to write as much as that – perhaps you can create such a brilliant story that even 100 words will be enough to knock the judges dead…

Crime novels include a very wide variety of material – detective stories, creepy psychological thrillers, historical whodunits, spies, terrorist plots… from cops and robbers to vigilantes and robots, the choice is yours and if you’re short of inspiration, why not borrow some crime novels from the library and see how the professionals do it?

Book Review

This is a great first book of the shapeshifter series, Ali Sparkes does a great job or correctly portraying the emotions of a teenage boy, which makes her characters real and believable. The story is a great adventure that has a little bit of everything - drama, action and comedy. These books really capture your imagination  as you dive into the world of shapeshifting and telekinetic. Can't wait for the next instalment!

I give this book 4 out of 5 stars!

www.alisparkes.com/Ali Sparkes is a local author to Southampton and was the winner of the blue Peter book of the year.

• What shapeshifter animal would you like to be?
• Do you think Ali Sparkes does a good job of explaining the emotions of a 12 year old boy?
• Do you think the 'evil step-mother' character was too cliche?
• Do you think Ali Sparkes portrays Dax's confusion well?
• What is it about "Finding the Fox" that is so gripping?
• Who was your favourite character?
• How would you feel being hauled off to boarding school?

Book of the Month

December - The Immortals - by Paul Stewart and Chris Riddell

 This review is from:  G. LAWE
The Immortals is the final instalment in the Edge Chronicles, but it can be read as a stand alone book too. It's epic, packed with adventure, I love the creatures and monsters in it. Some bits are really tense and dark, and then there are moments are real humour to keep the reader guessing. The illustrations match the text perfectly and bring the world of the Edge to life. I love the way nothing is black and white in the story, there are real moral dilemmas which the characters must face and it gets you thinking about what you would do as the reader. I really enjoyed it and would definitely recommend it!!!

Read more review here 

Book Review

                         The Twilight Saga

I love reading and will go from one book to the next, a never ending chain of reading.

When I finally succumb to the teen phenomenon that is Twilight and decided to read Stephanie Meyers books to see what all the fuss was about ,  I think I can safely say I have never read a book which has gripped me so much!

I read Twilight In a couple of days, and when I had finished it I needed my next fix! What is it about the books that leave you wanting more? I can't put my finger on what it is that makes them so uniquely great. Is it the romance between Bella and Edward, the love triangle or the whole vampire thing? Personally I think Meyer produces a complicated love story that is believable and the audience can emotionally relate to. She doesn't produce a sugared coated love story that is all happy endings but shows that love comes with choices and consequences.

Stephanie Meyer may not be the next literacy genius but she knows how to write a compelling story that leaves you wanting more.

I love the characters, plots and clever story line, and can't wait to read anything else Meyer will write!

I give these books 5 out of 5 stars!

Book Review

The Hunger Games - by Suzanne Collins

is amazing.”Stephenie Meyer

“The story kept me up for several nights

in a row, because even after I was finished, I just

lay in bed wide awake thinking about it . . .

The Hunger Games

http://www.thehungergames.co.uk/

Could you survive on your own, in the wild, with everyone fighting against you?

Twenty-four are forced to enter. Only the winner survives. In the ruins of a place once known as North America lies the nation of Panem, a shining Capitol surrounded by twelve outlying districts. Each year, the districts are forced by the Capitol to send one boy and one girl between the ages of twelve and eighteen to participate in the Hunger Games, a brutal and terrifying fight to the death - televised for all of Panem to see.

Survival is second nature for sixteen-year-old Katniss Everdeen, who struggles to feed her mother and younger sister by secretly hunting and gathering beyond the fences of District 12. When Katniss steps in to take the place of her sister in the Hunger Games, she knows it may be her death sentence. If she is to survive, she must weigh survival against humanity and life against love.

WINNING WILL MAKE YOU FAMOUS. LOSING MEANS CERTAIN DEATH.

Suzanne lives with her family in Connecticut, USA. In The Hunger Games, she explores the effects of war and violence on those coming of age.

I have had this title on my book shelf for a while waiting to be read. Eventually I picked it up from its quite resting place and found myself wonderfully immersed in a gripping adventure! This is such an original story which reminded me of George Orwells classic book "1984," where the people are surpressed  and closely watched by 'big brother.' The Hunger games are nail biting. A great under dog tale!

I give this book 5 out of 5 stars!

Book Review

Higher Institute Of Villainous Education - by Mark Walden

'...There's plenty of humor and plenty of adventure here and while some characters are over-the-top, the main characters are generally likable and you do hope they will succeed. In the end, a good story and characters you can care about are the most important elements of a good novel.'

Taking evil to a whole new level!

 Otta Malponse has been drugged, taken to a secret island and is now expected to spend the next 6 years of his young life training to be a super villain. Otto is no stranger to a little villainy and sets out to give the institute a taste of its own medicine.

If you love Harry Potter and Skulduggery Pleasant  then you will love this series of books! 'H.I.V.E' is full of fast paced action along with interesting and humorous characters. The Books have a James bond vibe with an evil twist. The children are all evil geniuses, and in any other book or film they would be the characters you wouldn't like, but Mark Walden has changed the stereotypical villain into the Hero!
'H.I.V.E' is the first book in the series by Mark Walden and does a good job of setting up the characters you want to know more about and leaving you on a ciff hanger ready to sink your teeth into the next instalment.

I give this book 4 out of five stars!

Decorate the Library!

Decorate the library for Christmas at the next Reading Group meeting on Friday the 3rd December.

Website

We have been putting together a website in our book Group. Visit the site - http://fectiousfiction.webs.com/

Our Next reading group

Our next Reading Group will be on the 3rd of December at 4pm. We are reading ''The Recruit' by Robert Muchamore. Come and join us to discuss the book and join in doing some quizzes

Ever tried - Bookcrossing?

news, bookcrossing, Bookcrossing is and exciting and fun craze where you can follow your book on a journey around the country or even the world! Tag your book with its own special identity number and then leave it somewhere for another special reader to find. Follow your books journey from reader to reader online...

Breath new life into books instead of letting your old favorites collect dust - pass them along to another reader. The online archival and tracking system allows members to connect with other readers, journal and review literature and trade and follow their books as lives are changed through “reading and releasing”. Users are able to tag and track their individual books by marking them with BCIDs (BookCrossing Identity Numbers). Each BCID is unique to each book – once it’s registered on the site, the book can then be followed and journaled forever. BookCrossing is free to join and free to play. So don't be 'shelf'ish with your books - read and release!

start bookcrossing!

bookcroosing blog

Waterstone's Speacial Event!

LOCAL AUTHOR CHRISTMAS EXTRAVAGANZA!

Thursday 18^th November 5.30pm – 7.30pm

Enjoy a stress free start to your Christmas Shopping by meeting the brightest of our local talent, including Ali Sparkes, Anna Dale, Andrew Norriss, Alex Bell, Alastair Arnott, Penny Legg, Mike Roussel, Sarah Haynes and Alex Hibbert.

Waterstone's, West Quay, Southampton, SO15 1QE

Tel No: 02380 232118

Review "Finding the Fox" by Ali Sparkes

2/11/10

So what did you think of "Finding the foxs?" leave your comments on our We are reading...  page...

This months book...

1/11/10

                                                         The Recruit by Robert Muchamore



Who needs MI5 when you can have a CHERUB agent!



CHERUB: The Recruit tells James Adams' story from the day his mother dies. Read about his transformation from a couch potato into a skilled CHERUB agent.



Meet Lauren, Kyle, Kerry and the rest of the cherubs for the first time and learn how James foiled the biggest terrorist massacre in British history.

This months book is 'The Recruit' join us at Woolston Library to borrow your copy that we will discuss in December. Or maybe you have already read the book or can't make the group meeting, no worries. You can still join in and blog  your comments, reviews and opinions right here, we wanna know your thoughts!
 Instead of meeting on Friday this month we will be meeting this Wednesday at 4pm.

Are You Thirsty for some book like Twilight?

30/10/10

Vampires gone mad...

So you loved the Twilight saga and have read and re-read all the books. What now!?! Here are a few books which should provide you with that necessary vampire/romance fix...

• Vampire Diaries - L. J Smith
• Vampire Academy - Rachelle Mead
• Fallen - Lauren Kate
• Vampire Kisses - Ellen Schreiber
• Blue Bloods - Melissa De La Cruz
• Kiss Me Forever - Rosemary Laurey
• Night World - L. J Smith

Thirsty for more books like Twilight? CLICK HERE

18/10/10 - Relaunching our reading group

Two years ago our reading group was set up and we called it "Reading Rescuers!" (saving the world one book at a time) Now that we are at secondary school...and older, we still want our reading group but we want to mix things up and have a fresh start. So now we have a new name! 'fectious fiction.

Each month we are reading a different book, discussing it, and blogging about.