The Traitor and the Thief

By Gareth Ward

My book club was held at the Wardini Book shop. Where the resident author and his wife hold court. We all have a fabulous evening. Sharing the latest read and being entertained with discussion around the latest finds the couple had discovered.  I'm sure if it was the intended plan, but I bought a copy of this book for my boy. He polished it off in 4 hours and loved every minute of it. I try not to be jealous when I'm still pouring over it four weeks later.

Synopsis

"If you join us, you too may die, but your sacrifice will save the lives of millions. COG does not fight for the Empire; it fights for humanity."

Discovered thieving at Coxford's Corn Market, fourteen-year-old Sin is hunted across the city. Caught by the enigmatic Eldrich Moons. Sin is offered a way out of his life of crime: join the COVERT OPERATIONS GROUP (COG) and train to become a SPY.
At Lenheim Palace, Sin learns spy craft while trying not to break the school's CAST-IRON RULES. Befriended by eccentric Zonda Chubb, together they endeavour to unmask a traitor causing HAVOC within the palace. After an assassination attempt on COG's founder, Sin realises that someone close to him could be the TRAITOR.
Sin is forced into an ALLIANCE with the school bully, Velvet Von Darque. But can he trust her? And will COG try to bury him with the SECRETS he discovers?

Author 

Gareth Ward, a.k.a. The Great Wardini is a magician, hypnotist, storyteller, bookseller and author. He has worked as a Royal Marine Commando, Police Officer, Evil Magician and Zombie. He basically likes jobs where you get to wear really cool hats – as writer and compere of Napier City’s inaugural Steampunk murder mystery evening he wore a rather splendid bowler.... More.

Novels by the Author

The Traitor and the Thief

Amulet

By Kazu Kibuishi

My boy recommended this one to me. And when we went to the LIT QUIZ this year there was practically a whole section dedicated to it.
This is the first book in a series and it's a goodie. The illustrations are wonderfully done. The dialogue sharp, the story begins explosively and doesn't let you go. 10/10

Synopsis

THERE'S SOMETHING STRANGE BEHIND THE BASEMENT DOOR...
After a family tragedy, Emily, Navin and their mother move to the ancestral home to start a new life. On the family's very first night in the mysterious house, Em and Navin's mom is kidnapped by a tentacled creature. Now it's up to Em and Navin to figure out how to set things right and save their mother's life!

Author

Kazuhiro "Kazu" Kibuishi is a Japanese–American graphic novel author and illustrator. He is best known for being the creator and editor of the comic anthology Flight and for creating the webcomic Copper.

Other works

• Flight, Vol. 1 (Flight, #1) 2004 
• Daisy Kutter: The Last Train 2005 
• Flight, Vol. 2 (Flight, #2)2005 
• Flight, Vol. 3 (Flight, #3) 2006 
• Flight, Vol. 4 (Flight, #4)2007 
• The Stonekeeper (Amulet, #1) 2008 
• Flight, Vol. 5 (Flight, #5) 2008 
• The Stonekeeper's Curse (Amulet, #2) 2009 
• Flight, Vol. 6 (Flight, #6) 2009 
• The Cloud Searchers (Amulet, #3) 2010 
• Copper 2010 
• Flight, Vol. 7 (Flight, #7) 2010 
• The Last Council (Amulet, #4) 2011 
• Flight, Vol. 8 (Flight, #8) 2011 
• Prince of the Elves (Amulet, #5) 2012 
• The Mystery Boxes (Explorer, #1)2012 
• The Lost Islands (Explorer, #2) 2013 
• Escape from Lucien (Amulet, #6) 2014 
• Firelight (Amulet, #7)2016 
• Supernova (Amulet #8) 2018

Novel Study

Amulet Book One Reading Guide: This is a reading guide for book one of the Amulet graphic novel series by Kazu Kibuishi. The guide is broken down into eight days of assigned reading pages and corresponding comprehension questions.

Predator Gold (Predator Cities #2)

 By Philip Reeve

As soon as I finished Mortal Engines I immediately went to get this follow up novel. I have enjoyed all of them, but this was a bit of a low point in the series, mainly because not much happened, I mean, sure, he introduces a lot of new characters, but nothing cool happened. It was a little disappointing for the second in the series but I'm hoping it'll just get better and better from there.

 Synopsis

Anchorage is fleeing across the ice wastes. Far above a tiny aircraft falls from the sky. Having escaped from London, Tom and Hester seek refuge in a city devastated by plague, haunted by ghosts, and filled with deadly secrets...

 

 

Author

Philip Reeve is an author and illustrator. First known as the creator of the fantasy fiction quartet Mortal Engines. He won the Guardian Children's Fiction Prize with his Mortal Engines series, as well as the Nestlé Book Prize - Gold Award and the Blue Peter Book of the Year Award.

Others in the series:

• Mortal Engines (2001)
• Predator's Gold (2003)
• Infernal Devices (2005)
• A Darkling Plain (2006)
• Traction City (World Book Day, 2011), a novella

The Burning Bridge (Ranger's Apprentice #2)

By John Flanagan

This Ranger's Apprentice series was a particular favourite of my son's and I've been really enjoying them too. The Burning Bridge sees the growth and development of Will. His relationship with Horace deepens especially when it comes down to the two them  holding the line and preventing a strike against the Kingdom. 

Synopsis

As the Kingdom of Araluen prepares for war against Morgarath, Will and Horace accompany the Ranger Gilan on a mission to Celtica. But Celtica's villages are silent. Only and exhausted and starving girl called Evanlyn can tell them why: Morgarath has sent his foul creatures to enslave the Celts. While Gilan rides swiftly back to Araluen to report this news to the King, Will, Horace and Evanlyndiscovers the true purpose behind Morgarth;s actions. The Kingdom is sure to be defeated in a surprise three-sided attack - unless they can find a way to prevent it.

Author

 John Anthony Flanagan is an Australian fantasy author best known for his children's books. His best-known work is the Ranger's Apprentice medieval fantasy novels and companion series Brotherband Chronicles. He also writes novels for adults.
His bestselling Ranger’s Apprentice adventure series originally comprised twenty short stories, which John wrote to encourage his twelve-year-old son, Michael, to enjoy reading. Michael was a small boy, and all his friends were bigger and stronger than he was. John wanted to show him that reading was fun, and heroes weren’t necessarily big and muscular. Now in his mid-twenties, Michael is six feet tall, broad-shouldered and powerful – but he still loves The Ranger’s Apprentice.

(Wikipedia and WoJF)

Other Titles by this author

The Ruins of Gorlan (2004)
The Burning Bridge (2005)
The Icebound Land (2005)
Oakleaf Bearers (2006)
The Sorcerer in the North (2006)
The Siege of Macindaw (2007)
Erak's Ransom (2007)
The Kings of Clonmel (2008)
Storm Peak (2009)
Halt's Peril (2009)
The Emperor of Nihon-Ja (2010)
Avalanche Pass (2010)
The Lost Stories (2011)
The Outcasts (2011)
The Invaders (2012)
The Hunters (2012)
The Royal Ranger (2013)
Slaves of Socorro (2014)
Scorpion Mountain (2014)

The Grey Raider (2015)
The Tournament at Gorlan (2015)
The Ghostfaces (2016)
The Battle of Hackham Heath (2016)
De jacht op het schaduwdier (Dutch exclusive) (2017)
The Caldera (2017)

Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban (Potter #3)

By J.R. Rowling

1999 was the second year of my teaching career and I read a review in the Times Educational Suppliment about the this new author whose books were taking the world by storm. I began that year with my first reading of Harry Potter and the Philospher's Stone. My students were gripped and we continued reading through all three of the pubished books into 2000. In my opinion The greatest thing that any author has done, save for Roald Dahl, for eight to ten year old boys was when Rowling wrote the Harry Potter series of books. Arguably, the biggest thing that happened to counter that was when Rowling sold the movie rights. But I guess this is part of the reason I've started these novel-studies and structured them around available resources, including the movies inspired by them.

Synopsis

Harry Potter, along with his best friends, Ron and Hermoine, is about to start his third year at Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry. Harry can't wait to get back to school after the summer holidays. (Who wouldn't if they lived with the horrible Dursleys?) But when Harry gets to Hogwarts, the atmosphere is tense. There's an escaped mass murderer on the loose, and the sinister prison guards of Azkaban have been called in to guard the school...

Author

Born in Yate, England, on July 31, 1965, J.K. Rowling came from humble economic means before writing Harry Potter and the Sorcerer's Stone, a children's fantasy novel. The work was an international hit and Rowling wrote six more books in the series, which sold hundreds of millions of copies and was adapted into a blockbuster film franchise. In 2012, Rowling released the novel The Casual Vacancy.

Books by the same author

• Harry Potter and the Philosopher's Stone (1997)
• Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets (1998)
• Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban (1999)
• Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire (2000)
• Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix (2003)
• Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince (2005)
• Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows (2007)

Other novel studies on this site

Study Unit

There are a raft of study units for supporting literacy through Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban.

But here is my favourite:

This novel study resource is This includes the assignment page, rubric, character tracker, glossary, and chapter pages. This is meant to be printed double sided and the stapled into a booklet.

This is a companion to Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban, Can be used for the whole class or small literature circles.

Movie tie-in

Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban (2004) - It's Harry's third year at Hogwarts; not only does he have a new "Defense Against the Dark Arts" teacher, but there is also trouble brewing. Convicted murderer Sirius Black has escaped the Wizards' Prison and is coming after Harry.

Available for purchase: 

Mighty Ape

Amazon

 

The Ruins of Gorlan (Ranger's Apprentice #1)

By John Flanagan

The last time I travelled to the UK I thought it a good idea to get Nicholas a decent size book that he can enjoy. He loves fantasy fiction, this was right up his street. However, he refused to even look at it, on the whole trip, there and back. I thought "what a waste". But 6 months later he he can't put the series down. He now has every book on his shelf, including the Early Years books. I strarted reading them too but there was no way that I could keep up with him.
An excellent series of books for the fluent 9-12 year olds. Highly recommended.

Synopsis

Will is small for his age, but fast and quick-witted. All his life, he has dreamed of becoming a great knight like the father he never knew, so he is devastated when he is rejected by Castle Redmont's Battleschool. Instead he is apprenticed to HAlt, the mysterious Ranger whose uncanny ability to move unseen is thought to be the result of black magic. Reluctantly, Will learns to use a Ranger's secret weapon: bow and arrows, a mottled cloak and a stubborn little pony. It may not be the sword and battlehorsehe longs for, but when Will and Halt set off on a desperate mission to prevent the assassination of the King, Will finds that a Ranger's weapon are not so useless after all...

Author

 John Anthony Flanagan is an Australian fantasy author best known for his children's books. His best-known work is the Ranger's Apprentice medieval fantasy novels and companion series Brotherband Chronicles. He also writes novels for adults.
His bestselling Ranger’s Apprentice adventure series originally comprised twenty short stories, which John wrote to encourage his twelve-year-old son, Michael, to enjoy reading. Michael was a small boy, and all his friends were bigger and stronger than he was. John wanted to show him that reading was fun, and heroes weren’t necessarily big and muscular. Now in his mid-twenties, Michael is six feet tall, broad-shouldered and powerful – but he still loves The Ranger’s Apprentice.

(Wikipedia and WoJF)

Other Titles by this author

The Ruins of Gorlan (2004)
The Burning Bridge (2005)
The Icebound Land (2005)
Oakleaf Bearers (2006)
The Sorcerer in the North (2006)
The Siege of Macindaw (2007)
Erak's Ransom (2007)
The Kings of Clonmel (2008)
Storm Peak (2009)
Halt's Peril (2009)
The Emperor of Nihon-Ja (2010)
Avalanche Pass (2010)
The Lost Stories (2011)
The Outcasts (2011)
The Invaders (2012)
The Hunters (2012)
The Royal Ranger (2013)
Slaves of Socorro (2014)
Scorpion Mountain (2014)

The Grey Raider (2015)
The Tournament at Gorlan (2015)
The Ghostfaces (2016)
The Battle of Hackham Heath (2016)
De jacht op het schaduwdier (Dutch exclusive) (2017)
The Caldera (2017)

Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets (Potter #2)

By J.K. Rowling

When the seies of Harry Potter Books first came out it wasn't until a write up in the newspaper about this one that I went back with my class and began my very first novel study. I have often heard it said that the biggest contribution to boys literacy was when J.K. Rowling began the Harry Potter series- it got boys back into reading once more. Equally though all those gains were lost when she sold the movie rights a few years later. Well, it was fun while it lasted.

Read: Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets
Mighty Ape
Amazon

Synopsis

Harry Potter is a wizard. He is in his second year at Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry. Little does he know that this year will be just as eventful as the last...

Author

Born in Yate, England, on July 31, 1965, J.K. Rowling came from humble economic means before writing Harry Potter and the Sorcerer's Stone, a children's fantasy novel. The work was an international hit and Rowling wrote six more books in the series, which sold hundreds of millions of copies and was adapted into a blockbuster film franchise. In 2012, Rowling released the novel The Casual Vacancy.

Books by the same author

• Harry Potter and the Philosopher's Stone (1997)
• Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets (1998)
• Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban (1999)
• Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire (2000)
• Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix (2003)
• Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince (2005)
• Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows (2007)

Other novel studies on this site

 Study Unit

There are a raft of study units for supporting literacy through Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets.
But here is my favourite:
This novel study resource is a 72 page literature unit for J. K. Rowling's novel Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets. It is a digital copy in PDF format. Each chapter of the novel has two chapter study worksheets and there are 20 additional worksheet activities to reinforce key concepts. In total this resource is 72 pages long. Answers are included for the chapter study worksheets.

Movie tie-in

Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets (2002) - Harry ignores warnings not to return to Hogwarts, only to find the school plagued by a series of mysterious attacks and a strange voice haunting him. 

Available for purchase: 

Mighty Ape

Amazon