Third Form Academic Scholars Book Reviews 2024

Third Form
Academic
Scholars
Book Reviews
November 2024

Table of Contents
The Beatles, Hunter Davis
The Curious Incident of the Dog in the
Night-Time, Mark Haddon
Life of Pi, Yann Martel
Skandar and the Skeleton Curse, A F Steadman
Hickory Dickory Dock, Agatha Christie
Wool, Hugh Howey
Life of Pi, Yann Martel
Lord of the Flies, William Golding
Letters from the Lighthouse, Emma Carroll
Girl Missing, Sophie McKenzie
On Fire, Ben Stokes

The Beatles
The Only Ever
Authorised Biography
Hunter Davis
Genre - Biography
This book gives a deep and detailed insight into one
of the most influential and culturally significant bands
of the modern era. Built on years of extensive
research, observance and interviews by the Beatles
personal biographer and friend, Hunter Davis.
This book describes each band members upbringing,
the band’s formation, their rise to fame, international
tours, spirituality and drug usage, one of their
massive musical influences, along with other detailed
topics about the band and anyone remotely involved
with them.
I would recommend this book to anyone with even
the slightest interest in modern or past music, as
knowledge of how the Beatles were as musicians and
how they came to pass gives a deeper understanding
of past, present and future genres of music that they
have influenced and continue to influence.
James C - Churchill’s

The Curious Incident of
the Dog in the Night-Time
Mark Haddon
Genre - Mystery
The mystery novel of ‘The curious incident of the dog
in the night-time’ starts with the discovery of a chilling
occurrence in the night. Then it is up to Christopher, a
15 year old boy with autism who loves maths and
murder mysteries, to crack the puzzle of what
happened, and who was involved that night.
While Christopher navigates the country, he finds a
hidden secret that he was not meant to know.
Christopher must overcome his challenges to solve
this mystery, and what he finds changes his life
forever.
My favourite bit in the book is where Christopher
discovers the truth about his mum. Also my favourite
character is Mrs Alexander because she is a
mysterious lady that helps Christopher find his family.
This book is a great fiction mystery novel and perfect
for any young adults or teenagers who like this sort of
genre.
Samuel T - Oldham’s

Life of Pi
Yann Martel
Genre - Contemporary Fiction
For my book review, I have chosen Life of Pi by Yann
Martel. I found this book so great because there are so
many different views and elements to it. I first read this
book when I was 11 and enjoyed it. I saw it as a light
read with a very original and obscure plot. I then read
this book again, this year in class. When we looked at it
in further detail, I found that it was Pi’s spirituality that
saved him. I found all of the analogies hidden in there
and that it is a tale with many different morals.
The book is divided into two parts. The first tells of Pi’s
upbringings in Pondicherry, India. Pi was raised in a zoo
by his parents, and lived with his popular, sporty, clever
brother, Ravi. Pi is introduced to religion from a very
young age and is raised as a practising Hindu. Pi then
discovers other religions and wants to know them
better, believing things in each one, resulting in a very
funny scene. The second part is the main story. Pi’s
family attempt a voyage to Canada, to start a new life
and sell zoo animals. Along the way, a disaster happens,
abandoning Pi on a lifeboat with an unexpected friend
and foe.

There are very few characters in this book, one of the
main characters being a tiger. The story is written from
the perspective of Pi Patel. The two main characters are
both developed very well, and both have unexpected
traits and, when they are left with nobody but each other,
they form an unlikely bond.
My favourite scene occurs in the first part of the book.
Trying not to spoil this as much as possible, it is an
argument between a priest, an imam and a pujari about
the religion of Pi Patel. They all claim different things that
contradict each other, yet all of them are true.
The book is genuinely available to anybody. People may
read this as a light read, because it is very entertaining
and had a great plot. People may also dig deeper into
this book, and find the hidden meanings in there. This
book has so many different layers, which makes it so
accessible.
Frederick R - Ridgemount

Skandar And The
Skeleton Curse
A.F.Steadman
Genre - Fantasy
Skandar and the Skeleton Curse is a fantasy novel
written by A.F. Steadman. It is the fourth book in the
Skandar series and is based on the same plot themes
as the other three books. It follows Skandar and his
friends - Mitchell, Bobby and Flo, in their life around
the Eyrie after the recent Chaos Trials. Skandar has to
deal with the fact that his mum has died, his sister has
abandoned him, and his aunt is grieving over the loss
of her unicorn. These catastrophes add an extra layer
of depth to Skandar’s character throughout the book,
with Rex introducing some interesting new rules into
the Eyrie. Will Skandars’s friends fight the Skeleton
Curse against Rex’s laws or stand by and trust him?
My favourite character in this book is either Bobby
Bruna or Jamie the Blacksmith. Bobby is a very funny
and likeable character with her feisty spirit and
emergency sandwiches. When her sister comes and
joins the Eyrie, we found out more about the caring
side of Bobby. Jamie is a very loyal person and always
helps Skandar through difficult times, even if it isn’t

exactly what Rex wants, My favourite quote from the
book is, ‘Kenna fixed him with the fiercest stare. ”We
fight a war”’. This illustrates Kenna and Skandar’s
indomitable spirit, which is the theme throughout the
whole book. I recommend this book for anyone who
enjoys tales about magic, mystery and friendship.
Watch out for splashes of betrayal and treachery along
the way as well as exciting Chaos Cups!
Annabelle D - Queen Elizabeth Hall

Hickory Dickory Dock
Agatha Christie
Genre - Crime/Mystery
Hickory Dickory Dock is a murder mystery novel written
by Agatha Christie. It is part of a series of several books
following Hercule Poirot as a famous detective solving
various crimes. This book is based on a series of crimes
that have recently happened in a youth hostel run by
Miss Lemon’s sister, Mrs Hubbard. When a student owns
up to the various crimes, it seems to just be a simple
crime of kleptomania. Why the does she vehemently
deny taking a few thing? Surely, she would just own up
to everything she has taken? We follow Poirot in a race
against time to solve the unusual crime.
My favourite character in this book is either Sally Finch
or Mr Akimbo. Sally is a young American student on a
scholarship to study in the UK. She is very likeable and
intelligent. Mr Akimbo is also a foreign student staying in
the hostel. He is very clever although his teacher does
not think so. My favourite quote from the book is
‘Congratulations, Mrs Hubbard, on having a unique and
beautiful problem’. This is what Poirot says to Mrs
Hubbard after discovering the unusual nature of her
problem.

I would recommend this book to anyone who loves
murder mysteries. Watch out for goriness, stolen goods
and poison smuggling.
Annabelle D - Queen Elizabeth Hall

Wool
Hugh Howey
Genre - Contemporary Fiction
In Hugh Howey’s Wool, imagine a world where
humanity’s entire existence is compressed into an
underground silo, buried hundred of levels beneath a
bleak, toxic surface. The air outside is fatal, and simply
asking about it could lead to exile. This silo isn’t just a
shelter, its a prison of sorts, built on strict rules and rigid
power structures that have held society in a tight grip for
generations.
The story opens in Holston, the silo’s sheriff, who has an
unsettling hunch about the world beyond the walls. His
wife, Allison, grew obsessed with the idea of escaping to
see what lay outside, eventually leading her exile and,
presumably, her death. Holston’s quiet desperation drives
him to make the same decision, leaving behind the bleak
familiarity of the silo for an unforgiving unknown. This
haunting choice sets the tone for the story, hinting at
secrets waiting to be uncovered.
Enter Juliette, a fiercely intelligent and capable mechanic
from the lower levels, where people spend their days

mending machinery and eking out their lives in the
depths of the silo. She’s tough and doesn’t fit the
stereotype of what the silo expects from its law enforcers,
but she’s picked as the new sheriff after Holston’s
apparent demise. Her curiosity and technical skills lead
her to uncover disturbing truths about the silo, from the
true purpose of their society’s rules to shocking
revelations about the silo’s origins and its true nature.
The author makes us care deeply for the lovable rogue
thus drawing us into the multitude of tense and heart
breaking moments.
The line ‘We live in a world full of people who are content
to repeat what they have heard and to claim it as
something they know’ reflects the novel’s themes of
control, conformity, and the dangers of ignorance in a
society that suppresses the truth and therefore has to be
one of my favourite quotes in the book.
Wool weaves a rich tapestry of suspense and discovery,
bringing readers into a confined society where knowledge
is power - and fiercely controlled. With each secret
Juliette uncovers the thin threads holding this community
together that begin to fray, risking the stability of the silo
itself. The book is one of my favourites and I would
highly recommend to anyone wanting to take a dip into a
deeply fascinating dystopian future.

As the first entry in the Silo series, Wool leaves readers
eager for more, layering its suspense with a deep, almost
existential exploration of human nature.
Joe E-B Severn Hill

Life of Pi
Yann Martel
Genre - Contemporary Fiction
Yann Martel’s 2001 fictional novel; Life of Pi tells the
story of a young boy named Pi from an Indian family
living in Pondicherry. Part one of this book describes Pi’s
upbringing; growing up in a zoo, his family, his interests
and the forming of his spirituality, interrupted by a
somewhat fictional author talking to an adult Pi, all
building up to his family moving to Canada and taking
their animals with them. Filled with twists, animals, a
large range of emotions and lots of foreshadowing; Part 2
of Life of Pi tells the aftermath of the tragic sinking of the
family’s cargo ship completely from Pi’s perspective on a
lifeboat in the middle of the Pacific Ocean. Lastly, Part 3
of Life of Pi switches to the fictional author’s perspective
and his resources for the story; reports etc..
Both perspectives in this book are written brilliantly and
realistically. As an engaging, knowledgeable and
entertaining character, Pi himself was a highlight for me
as most readers, along with the Bengal Tiger, Richard
Parker.

Being a 5 - star rated book across the board, it is hard to
pinpoint an outstanding part of this book as it is both
memorable and written incredibly. However, some key
moments in the book consist of the author’s note being
like few others, as it not actually written truthfully from
Yann Martel’s honest perspective, but instead from a
perspective that is consistently referenced throughout the
novel, setting the story up well. Other highlights include
Chapter 36, the last Chapter of Part 1 which describes
Pi’s adult life from the perspective of the author, and the
last 2 chapters of the book leaving more unanswered
questions whilst also concluding the book.
The novel has a great amount of entertaining and
intelligent quotes, but I must conclude that my absolute
favourite quote has to be from the author’s note, the
famous line ‘I have a story that will make you believe in
God’.
This book was amazing overall but did include lots of
graphic imagery and themes of cannibalism related to the
effects of survival conditions - so it certainly is not for the
light hearted. However, anyone who enjoys a mystery or
adventure may particularly enjoy those themes in this
novel in combination with engaging storytelling.
Catherine J - Queen Elizabeth Hall

Lord Of The Flies
William Golding
Genre - Dystopian
Lord of the Flies is a 1954 novel by William Golding. Its
storyline is about a group of British boys whose plane
crashes on an island and they are left to their own
devices. Without adult supervision, the boys attempt to
govern themselves, but everything quickly descends into
chaos. Eventually the group split into two sides one led
by Ralph and the other by Jack. Jack’s side is savage and
Ralph’s is ordered. Over time, the boys give in to fear,
symbolized by the “beast” they believe is haunting them.
The novel focus on the innate human evil that is within
everyone, even children, which is ironic as children are
often associated with innocence.
When William Golding wrote this it was the early days of
the Cold War and Lord of the Flies is an extended
metaphor and represents the Cold War. The “beast” in
Lord of the Flies represents the paranoia throughout
people at the time. The novel’s setting in a post-war,
nuclear era highlights the threats caused by advanced
technology and the fragility of human civilization. Lord of
the Flies is a great novel for everyone.

Personally, I prefer thriller books and mystery books, but
I still really enjoyed studying Lord of the Flies and
researching about the deeper meaning behind the book
and how it related to the time it was written in.
Overall Lord of the Flies is really fascinating, and I
strongly recommend it, whether it is something you
would normally be interested in, or not. However, this is
a a particularly terrific book if you are interested in
History, Ethics and English.
Ella S-K - Moser’s

Letters from the
Lighthouse
Emma Carroll
Genre - Historical Fiction
My review is on the book ‘Letters from the Lighthouse’.
This book is one of my favourites because it shows some
realistic concepts that people were struggling with in
World War II and I think it is a very well written book.
The book is about a family living in London during the
war, their father joined the forces, his plane got shot
down early in the war causing their mother (Rachel
Bradshaw) to fall into depression and become unwell.
Despite this she continues to work late shifts. One night
the children have a dinner to reheat which they remark
that is was a wonder they were still alive after eating it.
Sukie then takes her younger siblings out to the movies.
The movie starts with a newsreel but before this finishes
the air raid alarm goes off and they have to escape to the
safety of the shelters (with some unfortunate
complications). Olive and Cliff are evacuated from London
after it gets deemed unsafe and they discover a mystery
their family is deeply involved in.

This book features sensitive topics about how different
races were treated in the war, the use of microdetail and
vivid imagery makes you feel within the book. The
characters are well developed, and Carroll’s descriptions
make you feel as though you know the characters on a
personal level. Olive is one of my favourite characters
because you can tell that she feels a lot of pressure to
look after her younger brother. The responsibilities she
takes on during the book are massive, but as Gloria says
“that’s what the war does to people - it makes them
grow up faster”.
This quote was in reference to Queenie, who originally
took the children in, but I think it applies to Olive
because she definitely seems to be very grown up and
take on any responsibility the world throws at her, even
at the age of 13.
I think anybody would enjoy this book because even
though it is written about World War II, the way in which
Carroll writes makes it accessible to many ages. It being
written mainly about young children could make younger
readers feel connections to the characters and
understand how people lived during this war. even as
children.
Constance T - Mary Sidney Hall

Girl Missing
Sophie McKenzie
Genre - Thriller
I really enjoyed this book due to the way it always kept
me second guessing and on my toes. I believe anyone
who has a true sense of adventure, not just the view that
an adventure is something that you can go on but a way
to perpetually live your life, would be enthralled by this
book. Not just people similar to Christopher Columbus,
but people akin to Rosa Parks and even Jesus Christ, who
lived their lives like never-ending adventures always
challenging the rules that surrounded them.
If I could ever create a synopsis for such an intricate
story this would be it. The story depicts an average
teenage girl with a seemingly average story. Lauren has
always been curious about everything. This time she
seems to have struck a chord leading to an adventure
that throughout constantly changes her life
simultaneously for the better or the worse. The only
person that could even begin to understand her is Jam,
he is the only friend she thinks she has or needs, but she
is wrong on both statements.

For as long as her memoires go, she knows she is
adopted that is definite, but with a cross -continental
journey the details seem much clearer.
My favourite character must be Madison or Madi. Although
only six (turns seven later in the book) she is the
sweetest character in the book with ‘eyes like a bush
baby's’, Lauren almost instantly assumes the role of her
protector, they seem alike in many ways. She is so
innocent and helpless she cannot help but become prey,
Lauren puts all her heart in protecting her.
Overall, I really loved this book every time I opened the
pages, I felt tension and excitement the more the book
went on. I felt like I was living in the book. This book
showed how big the world is and if you close your mind
off to possibilities you could never truly live the truth, but
then again it is fiction.
Hebe W - Queen Elizabeth Hall

Ben Stokes
On Fire
Genre - Autobiography
This book is about Ben Stokes and his England’s summer
of cricket in 2019. In the autobiography Ben Stokes talks
about how England fared in the 2019 world cup and the
Ashes, in which he contributed a major role into the
successor in both of those events.
Some major characters in the book include, Ben Stokes,
Trevor Bayliss and Eoin Morgan. Some people who might
like this book are people who watch cricket and just like
the sport in general, as they may find it helpful with how
to cope during a major tournament.
Reuben K - Ridgemount