Today we're posting some Halloween special mini-reviews.
The first is by a 6-year-old Isabella, who chose a Halloween-themed book in the Rainbow Magic series of fairy books.
Trixie the Halloween Fairy by Daisy Meadows
Trixie the Halloween Fairy makes sure that Halloween is fun-filled and exciting for everyone! But when a gang of greedy goblins steal Trixie’s Enchanted Sweets, all Halloween plans are thrown into chaos. Can Kirsty and Rachel help Trixie find the Enchanted Sweets before this special day is ruined for everyone?
This is a book about Halloween sweets that have gone missing and can ruin Halloween if they're found by the wrong person. Rachel and Kirsty with Trixie the Halloween Fairy try to find the sweets in three separate stories. The book comes with a free bookmark shaped like a fluttering fairy.
I enjoyed this story. I like the kitten called Moonlight because she has a secret. I like the way the book ended with a surprise about Jack Frost. The Halloween party house was really spooky.
Review by Isabella, aged 6.
Next is Flood and Fang, the first Raven Mysteries book by Marcus Sedgwick, reviewed by 8-year-old Rocco.
Flood and Fang by Marcus Sedgwick
"Meet the wonderfully weird Otherhand family and their faithful guardian, Edgar the raven, and discover the dark secrets of Castle Otherhand. Edgar is alarmed when he sees a nasty looking black tail slinking under the castle walls. But his warnings to the inhabitants of the castle go unheeded. As the lower storeys of the castle begin mysteriously to flood, and kitchen maids continue to go missing, the family come ever closer to the owner of the black tail..."
I thought this book was very scary. It's all described by the raven, and he pieces together the growing danger, especially after they find the only thing left of the missing kitchen maid is her shoes in the rhubarb patch. The words were scary. The family were quite silly, stupid and weird. The monster was terrifying. I can't wait to read the next book.
Review by Rocco, aged 8
Watch Marcus Sedgwick read an extract below
Lastly, here's my own mini-review. Trick or Treat is the latest in the Fame School series by Cindy Jefferies, set in a school for aspiring performers.
Trick or Treat by Cindy Jefferies
"This time at Fame School they've got the ghost factor..."
The latest instalment of the Fame School series is a Halloween-themed adventure. Danny is worried about an upcoming performance and his friends decide to cheer him up. But when spooky things start happening, the students of Rockley Park need to work out whether someone's playing tricks - or could Fame School really be haunted?
This series is aimed at readers aged 8+ and it focuses on a group of very loving and supportive friends at a performing arts boarding school. I found the story easy to get into, with lots of fast-paced dialogue and some mysterious goings-on. A sweet, entertaining and feel-good story for younger readers.
Review by Luisa, aged well over 8













