But after an accident he dreams that he is the young Chinese boy who lives across the street He is caught up in slavery and danger. Low is a young boy living in Malaysia with his grandmother until his father turns up and takes him to England. Occasionally he slams home the same point in three different ways on one page; but it is very readable and bursts with enthusiasm PFSweet 'n' Sour By Nina Milton, Lions pounds 3.99. Although this book never gets much further, it is still very original. Spinelli switches the mood so smoothly that your own reactions change without your noticing. What was Jesus like as a teenager? John Farman attempts to give us some idea: who he dated, what his grades were like at school, everything's here Everything? No; certain things have been misplaced. Well-written and constructed sentences, for example, and perhaps some type of plot.
Like too many books based on a half-decent inspiration, the author gets carried away. What starts off good-humoured, if a little thin, soon becomes patronising PFManiac Magee by Jerry Spinelli, Hippo pounds 3.50. Magee is an orphaned 11- year-old drifter who has been on the run for two years, until he stops at a small town, where he is seen as a legend when he performs what seems like a miracle - he unites the black and white children of Two Mills. PFJesus: The Teenage Years by John FarmanBodley Head pounds 9.99. Perhaps there are a few too many biblical quotations, but it lives up to its title Essential reading for under-15s. It carries no aggressive religious message, so should not be considered as pious propaganda.
His mates are disgusted but Ross is secretly impressed and wants to learn more. This book is very well-written; you understand how Ross's mind works, and why he is so confused. Ross is leading a gang of stereotypical fans, The Judges, into battle when they discover a small Sunday School. Are football hooligans only motivated by football? This is the surprising story of one who is into the Old Testament. FW The Kid Who Only Hit Homers by Matt Christopher, Little, Brown pounds 2.99.
Obviously geared towards Americans, this fails to teach you the game (baseball), or the jargon if you don't already know it. When a mystery figure helps Sylvester Coddymer III get into the team and hit a home-run every single shot, you'd think it would be too blatant a copy of the other books in the series to get published - however he's added a "surprise" twist Would you believe that this man is actually a ghost ... wow! When he goes, Sylvester's golden streak leaves him, and it leaves you wondering why the ghost ever came, and why Matt Christopher wrote this book The latter question is easily answered FWThe Good Book By Alan Durrant, Bodley Head pounds 8.99. Soon utopia comes under threat when a river dries up, and two newly installed "habitat partners", a 13-year- old girl and Paddlefoot the dinosaur, are sent to save the capital As you might expect, the journey is fraught with dangers It does make you want to read on, even if not on seat-edge Not a bad read for under-14s. Still, it's two-thirds of the way to being an excellent book. FW Dinotopia - River Quest by John Vernholt, Red Fox pounds 2.99.
The concept is quite hard to get used to - humans and talking dinosaurs. However, this provides all the imagination-expanding features needed for a "young girl saves the world" book. It starts on a distant, perfect island where dinos and humans live in harmony. Out of It by Maureen Stewart, Puffin pounds 3.50. Clay falls in love with Carrie, an attractive 15-year-old; however she deals drugs and soon he is whipped into the scene.
