Escape room meets reality TV - on an unknown planet. Teen contenders must work together as a team to decode clues and survive alien threats, all whileEscape room meets reality TV - on an unknown planet. Teen contenders must work together as a team to decode clues and survive alien threats, all while secretly battling for limited spaces at an elite intergalactic academy. And yes, it's all being livestreamed and the whole universe is watching. No pressure.
I found the chapter titles a bit condescending, but I'm not the target audience! Younger readers may well appreciate the prompts and find them helpful.
This is sure to be popular at school and I'll need more copies. Hoping for a sequel....more
Katherine Rundell's writing is sublime. And this tale is magnificent.
You know how you have those rare few books that continue to delight you more at eKatherine Rundell's writing is sublime. And this tale is magnificent.
You know how you have those rare few books that continue to delight you more at each rereading? Pride and Prejudice and The Hobbit are two of mine. Now, Impossible Creatures has joined that elite book group. ...more
There is so much to love about this book. It's clever, creative, and certainly thought-provoking on issues of leadership, power, disinformati4.5 stars
There is so much to love about this book. It's clever, creative, and certainly thought-provoking on issues of leadership, power, disinformation, manipulation and corruption.
These topical concepts, so important in this current age, are presented in just the right amount of truth and lies, good and bad, control and helplessness, humour and cruelty, to skillfully inform our junior readers, Years 7-9.
Scrumptious covers and endpapers with great formatting. If this doesn't entice our junior readers, ages 10-14, into exploring life on Earth, I'm unsurScrumptious covers and endpapers with great formatting. If this doesn't entice our junior readers, ages 10-14, into exploring life on Earth, I'm unsure what would....more
This is truly a profound and masterful story, full of heart and emotion. Intense emotions of outrage, frustration, and shame, yet there was room to ceThis is truly a profound and masterful story, full of heart and emotion. Intense emotions of outrage, frustration, and shame, yet there was room to celebrate pride, humour and hope as well.
A small town with colossal expectations on its teenage ice hockey team. A horrific incident that splinters the team and the community apart. A community prepared to overlook justice for the 'greater good' of the team and the town.
The depth of the characters in Beartown is exceptional, they are vivid and relatable, all well-developed with important roles to play.
Fredrik Backman has woven a complex story of community, loyalty, friendship, racism, parenting, and right versus wrong. It is so much more than a story about ice hockey; exploring issues and asking deep questions about the characters and the community.
This may well be my favourite book of the year [she says on the second day of January!]...more