Watford Girls Shadowing Group Magazine

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WATFORD GIRLS SHADOWING GROUP

OUR REVIEWS

“Crossing the line, is one book you will never get bored of. It has a range of imagery and this book will draw you in from the first word. I have read half the book and I can already feel as though I am in the book myself watching the events unfold. This book will truly whisk you away to a new reality. It not only braces you for real life, but it changes your whole opinion of the world and other people. It has really helped me understand more about people and their actions.”

WATFORD GIRLS SHADOWING GROUP

OUR REVIEWS

“I loved this book - it was actually my favourite out of the 2024 list! It is a historical fiction, which gives it some factual bonuses alongside having the enjoyment of the book itself. I am not personally a Muslim so I learnt many things reading about the religion and also from the French attitudes to the Second World War. Safiyyah, a seemingly innocent young girl, reveals her heart of gold throughout the book as she risks her own life to save others in more danger than herself. The author has flawlessly captured the message of acting selflessly amongst the pages, and it proved to be a very motivating read. With the help of those in her community and some that she meets along the way, Safiyyah saves countless Jewish lives. I found it particularly encouraging that this fictional tale was partly based on a true story. Although aimed at younger readers, the dramatic ending really stirred my emotions and got me on the edge of my seat! Overall, I thoroughly enjoyed the hours I spent under the covers reading it after I was supposed to go to bed - a testament to its entertainment.”

WATFORD GIRLS SHADOWING GROUP

OUR REVIEWS

“Choose Love is probably one of the very few books that has ever made me feel as if I am the main character. This book is incredible. It helped me understand more about family and love, but it also helped me broaden my horizons. I am not one to enjoy poetry either writing or reading it, however this book made me enjoy and learn to appreciate the love and thoughts that go into any kind of poetry, whether it`s a haiku, a sonnet, a limerick, anything. Even though this review is probably very over exaggerated, these are the best words I could find to describe this heartfelt and moving piece of writing. Definitely read it.”

WATFORD GIRLS SHADOWING GROUP

OUR REVIEWS

“Crossing the Line is a powerful and moving book about fourteen-year-old Erik, whose life is turned upside down by grief and poverty. After his dad dies, his mom`s new relationship brings hope but ends in heartbreak, leaving them alone and struggling. The characters feel very real, especially Erik, whose tough choices make you really feel for him. The story is emotional and believable, with verses that add a nice rhythm and keep you hooked. The book does a great job showing the dangers of drug crime and county lines, using beautiful, simple text that adds depth. It also uses creative text and formatting to make the story even more interesting. The plot is well thought out, centered around a key event at school that shows how Erik`s choices shape his future. Crossing the Line is a brilliantly written book that takes readers on a gripping and emotional journey, making it a memorable read about the struggles young people face in tough situations.”

WATFORD GIRLS SHADOWING GROUP

OUR REVIEWS

“The Door of No Return has a very memorable structure. It starts with an introduction of all the characters, growing into a tragedy and relatable capabilities. The title really matches with the story: opening doors into Kofi Offin`s life, ending in a way unable to return to the original state, exiting the door once again. Additionally, this book is something that would be very well known for its unique structure: a poetry layout. Even though the layout is like a poetry book, it altogether creates one story, documenting mini chapters to Kofi Offin`s life inside the immense moments. Another thing I find interesting about this story is that it is set in a different place: the Asante Kingdom, is a region in West Africa, now known as Ghana. This opens up a new culture to learn about and explore, bringing the community of Asante culture closer, while others delve into their daily lives and beliefs. Many people, including me, have not heard of this village/culture, making us quite curious to learn about it. If you are someone interested to learn about life elsewhere, this book is sure to expand your curiosity.

The poetry layout delays time for me to understand the story, knowing that I am not really reading a poem. Although the layout is unique, making us remember this tale, I always have to read each page at least twice to understand the message. If you like historical fiction this is a book I would totally recommend, showing life in the mid 19th century, in the Asante Kingdom of West Africa. Overall, this book is definitely a tale I will remember for years, relatable to my experiences, however, the initial understanding was a slight issue to me. I would rate this book 8/10. From what I`ve read, I would consider this book most enjoyable/appropriate for people 12+, since it can be quite complex to comprehend, however, for the more experienced and curious readers, I would say people around age 10 may also find it engaging.” - Krupa

WATFORD GIRLS SHADOWING GROUP

OUR REVIEWS

“The first thing I liked about the book was the author’s style of writing. It was simple yet effective so it wasn’t as though you had to put too much effort to understand what was happening. Another thing I enjoyed was the actual idea, as with books about WW2 we usually see the story from a Jewish or British point of view and this story helps comprehend that the war also affected people of different religions and cultures. When I first started reading it, I particularly liked the relationship between Safiyyah and her Grandma as her Grandma seems sweet towards her but also wise. The book did also show some of the realities of war. For example, your friends and family moving somewhere else to escape. So overall it is a good read and would be educational.”

WATFORD GIRLS SHADOWING GROUP

OUR REVIEWS

“This book is written in the enticing form of poetry. The story is powerful and well written. The formatting on the page is also very superb as certain words are bigger or smaller, or in italics to show who`s speaking. The book follows a boy who`s brother accidentally kills a prince and gets caught up in the Father`s want for revenge. He is taken prisoner.

Would 100% recommend” - divya

WATFORD GIRLS SHADOWING GROUP

OUR REVIEWS

“Away with Words by Sophie Cameron is a story based on Gala, a girl who settles into Scotland from Spain with her dad Jordi, to live with his boyfriend Ryan. The transfer has caused Gala to lose her own personality, feeling lonely and isolated. She meets a girl named Natalie, who has selective mutism (being unable to speak in certain social situations). Just as Gala is finally feeling safe and settled with her new friend as they communicate in their own way, her personality vanishes once again, from anonymous threats, making her trying to find her own words to show everyone her true self.

I believe this story is a true one-of-a-kind as it contains lots of words in the storyline, as well as the book, using the word "noun" and "adjective" to create thoughts in Gala`s mind and a whole atmosphere surrounding her. It really captures the title inside the book. Additionally, it brings the LGBTQ+ community closer together and being inclusive with them, by including a gay couple, and also make people with selective mutism feel less alone.

Finally, I feel like this tale would have been nice for the author, Sophie Cameron, to share and express as it shows adaptation and life in Scotland, where she grew up.

If you like stories about friendship, love and bonding, I am sure this tale will expand your imagination and really get you thinking. I would recommend this book for ages 13 and above as it might seem a bit insensitive for younger ages.

Overall I would rate this book a 10/10. There is nothing I can think of to add or change about this story.”

- Krupa

WATFORD GIRLS SHADOWING GROUP

OUR REVIEWS

“"The Boy Lost in the Maze" by Joseph Coelho is an innovative and touching novel written in verse that intertwines the parallel story of two teenage boys. Theo, in modern-day Britain, is in search of his missing father. And Theseus from Ancient Greek mythology on his quest through the Labyrinth to finally face the Minotaur. Coelho has skillfully blended these narratives, exploring themes including identity, self-discovery, myth and the need for belonging through powerful and poetic writing. The Minotaur perspective is also given, and in a particularly moving voice portrayed as not only the monster but the victim too. Coelho`s clever use of writing truly immerses you as a reader in the twists and turns of the metaphorical mazes the characters navigate.

I found this book very captivating and couldn`t put it down. I liked this book very much and I would recommend it.”

- Nidhi

WATFORD GIRLS SHADOWING GROUP

OUR REVIEWS

““Choose Love” by Nicola Davies is a powerful collection of poetry that delves into the experiences of refugees. The book is divided into three sections: “Departure,” “Arrival,” and “Healing.” Each poem captures the emotions and challenges faced by those forced to leave everything behind in search of safety and asylum in other countries. The illustrations accompanying each poem add depth and meaning to the words, making it a poignant read. While the book is short, its impact is lasting, highlighting themes of survival, love, hope, and the kindness of strangers. If you appreciate thought-provoking poetry, this book is worth exploring.”

WATFORD GIRLS SHADOWING GROUP

OUR REVIEWS

“"The Song Walker" by Zillah Bethell is a captivating story that takes the reader on a journey through the Australian outback. The story revolves around a young girl who wakes up to find herself in the desert with no memory of who she is, wearing a black dress and carrying a mysterious case. She is rescued by Tarni, a First Country girl who is on her own quest.

It is an extraordinary tale focusing on the themes of friendships and self-discovery. It contrasts the two characters using their backgrounds and experiences. The book also showcases the importance of music and art.

In my opinion "The Song Walker" is a heart-warming and interesting story that empowers the importance of friendship, culture and the resilience of people. It is a well-crafted novel and I thoroughly enjoyed reading it.”

- Nidhi

WATFORD GIRLS SHADOWING GROUP

OUR REVIEWS

“This book creates a very sad, miserable feeling for the readers as it talks about refuges and how they survive. I recommend reading this book. Around the globe many, many wars are happening like Russia and Ukraine, Syria, and many other places. The amount of refugees that escape, survive and sometimes suffer are over 1000s of people. This disgraceful situation makes my heart feel sorry and I am sure yours is too. This book shows this as a poem, which makes it feels like a story all connected together. Also this made me feel that we should help those going through this, those who have lost family members, those who have been through a lot of trouble; we should help them.”

WATFORD GIRLS SHADOWING GROUP

OUR REVIEWS

“I thoroughly enjoyed this book. The concept of people being able to see your words as you speak was truly captivating. I particularly enjoyed witnessing Gala`s relationships with the new people in her life and with the new country she had moved to, as they developed alongside her growing confidence in the language. Additionally, I appreciated how Gala`s friendship with Natalie was not solely reliant on spoken words. The way Natalie and Gala found their voices through collecting other people`s words demonstrated the value of each word to them and how easily words can be wasted by others. This book also effectively illustrates how words can be used to either uplift or harm and tear people down.”

- Aanya

WATFORD GIRLS SHADOWING GROUP

OUR REVIEWS

“Two girls trek across the Australian Outback, one who`s forgotten everything about herself, and one who is on a mysterious search for answers. What first drew me to this book was its setting and adventurous theme. I was excited to find out how the amnesiac would piece together the details and discover her true self. However, it was the story of Tarni, the First Country Australian, that ended up intriguing me more. Both their stories are beautifully intertwined together as we read them venturing through the wild. On top of the plot, we are gifted with sprinkles of culture and words about the Alyawarre community. This is a topic that I admit, I know close to nothing about, but reading this has definitely taught me many interesting things and sparked an interest to find out more. Despite all this, I personally found the ending rather abrupt and uncalled for. The foundation wasn`t very well laid out until the end, and the concept is only really introduced to us at the end. I would have appreciated it so much more if the author had added more mentions of it throughout the book so we could have fully understood the impact of the ending. Nevertheless, I can understand that the author chose to only incorporate it at the end to make it a shocking plot twist. The `shock` element of the plot twist was certainly present, but in my opinion, a build up to it would have made it even more powerful and emotional. Overall, I would give this book a 6.8/10 for teaching me new things and guiding me through a splendid journey. Undoubtedly it would`ve hit a higher mark with me only if the theme of the ending (trying my very best not to spoil here) wasn`t so suddenly thrust upon us. The idea and concept is so stunning and exquisite, it really just could`ve been executed a lot better.”

WATFORD GIRLS SHADOWING GROUP

OUR REVIEWS

“On the whole, it is a really good book. The key messages of the story were communicated well and the general idea of this world where the words people speak are physical objects was very interesting - although it could have been developed further. Great book.”

WATFORD GIRLS SHADOWING GROUP

OUR REVIEWS

“Safiyyah`s War is an intricately woven portrait of the life a young girl in occupied France during WW2. The book shines a light on an often neglected part of history: that of lesser known stories of individual and collective bravery which popular history often glosses over or ignores completely.

The role of the Grand Mosque of Paris in WW2 in the rescue of French Jews, giving them an opportunity for salvation surprised me, given that I`d never heard of it before. The roles played by ordinary Muslims in Paris during the war must be recognised, and this book showcases that. Throughout the book, the empathy and compassion shown by the members of the Resistance are entwined with the horrors of Nazi occupation, but the book is written sympathetically, bringing the humanity and kindness of ordinary people to the fore. I especially enjoyed Noor Inayat Khan`s cameo as Madeleine!”

- Anjali

WATFORD GIRLS SHADOWING GROUP

OUR REVIEWS

“"Away with Words" is a captivating and well-crafted book that follows the story of Gala, a 13-year-old who has recently moved to Fortrose, Scotland from Cadaques, Spain. Gala struggles with English but finds a friend in Natalie, who has Selective Mutism and turns spoken words into poems. Together, they create poems for classmates in need, but their joy is threatened when someone starts using the poems to insult others. To preserve their happiness, they must uncover the culprit behind the hurtful poems. The book features compelling writing, authentic friendships, and true-to-life family dynamics. Overall, it`s an excellent read that I highly recommend.”

WATFORD GIRLS SHADOWING GROUP

OUR REVIEWS

“Imagine a world where, when people say words, they appear as matter. In this world, Gala moves from her home, a small town in Spain called Cadaquès to Scotland. She cannot understand or speak English very well, so she struggles to get used to her new life. At school, she meets a girl with selective mutism called Natalie and befriends her. As they spend time together, Gala discovers Natalie’s talent for writing poems from spoken words. They use this skill to cheer people up and spread happiness but do this anonymously. However, someone exploits their idea and begins to write rude and demeaning messages in the same way, with spoken words. Soon, the whole school suspects Gala and Natalie of writing the cruel notes. Tangled in these lies and suspicions, how will they prove their innocence?

Overall, this book was amazing, and a great read! I recommend this book to anyone who likes stories about mystery, but it also represents themes like family and friendship.

Thanks for reading my review and I hope you enjoy this book if you read it!”

WATFORD GIRLS SHADOWING GROUP

OUR REVIEWS

“I enjoyed reading this book as it is very engaging and the storyline is very good. I would definitely recommend it to a friend and I would give it a 5/5.”

“The Song Walker was a truly beautiful story, which had kept me curious from the very beginning. It is about a girl who wakes up in the middle of the Australian Outback, and doesn`t know what she is doing there. She is discovered by another girl. And then the mystery continues...

In my opinion this book had lots of twists and had kept me engaged from the very start, and the ending was quite unexpected. I would rate this book a 11/10, as it was a tale that was woven beautifully.”

WATFORD GIRLS SHADOWING GROUP

OUR REVIEWS

“Uniquely written and well thought out characters are only some of the things that Kwame Alexander has created. It was an interesting read for me, something unlike anything I have ever read before. Although this just wasn’t my type of book so I did not enjoy it as much as I had hoped, it was indeed a well written and well-crafted piece. I would recommend this book to people who enjoy poetry and like the unseen sides of history.”

“Although it was very quick to read, the message of the book had a deep and purposeful meaning. However, the cover you could say was misleading. This is because you would expect the book to be a romance based on the title but instead it was talking about the pain that asylum seekers and refugees go through. It was a great way of teaching readers about other’s struggles which personally made me feel thankful for my opportunity of having a good life.”

WATFORD GIRLS SHADOWING GROUP

OUR REVIEWS

“Equal Parts exciting, emotional and educational. Set in Paris during the second World War, this book is about something that I was not aware of, the fact that the Grand Mosque of Paris saved 1700 Jews, smuggling them out through underground passages. The main character, Safiyyah, is a young Muslim living in Paris with her family. She finds herself having to grow up extremely fast when war is declared. When her family begins to keep secrets and people start fleeing the city, Saffiyah is determined to find out what is going on. I absolutely loved this book; Hiba Noor Khan has a way with words I cannot even describe. It was difficult to stop reading and made me cry more than I would like to admit. Safiyyah, although fictional, is a strong character that can easily be imagined in this role, and her sense of duty to her family and friends is unwavering.”

WATFORD GIRLS SHADOWING GROUP

OUR REVIEWS

“The story revolves around two girls, each with their unique circumstances. The first girl wakes up to find herself in an unfamiliar place with only one shoe, fancy and unsuitable clothes on, and no recollection of her identity. As she tries to piece together her memories, she become confused and disoriented. The second girl, a member of the First Nation, finds the first girl and offers to help her. She knows exactly where she is going and who she is, but she is wary of sharing too much information with her new companion. As they journey across the arid outback together, they face many challenges, including thirst and danger, but they also form a strong bond. The story is a gripping tale of friendship, survival, and self-discovery that will keep readers on the edge of their seats.”

- Aanya

WATFORD GIRLS SHADOWING GROUP

OUR REVIEWS

“The Boy Lost in the Maze tells the story of two boys searching for their fathers and journeying to find the man in themselves. The parallels between ancient mythology and modern problems allured me at every twist and turn through its own maze. Its unique way of storytelling mirrored Theo`s talent in poetry and compellingly explained the story but never overcomplicated it or made it hard to understand. It was most interesting to discover the similarities in the characters` stories, though they are separated by time and reality, and I especially enjoyed getting to hear from the Minotaur`s point of view as he is typically portrayed as a villain. The illustrations perfectly accompanied the theme and provided more visuals of characters and the situations they found themselves in. I personally found the element of "choose your own adventure" in certain chapters slightly confusing when the book would have functioned perfectly fine without it. However, it did engage me more and helped me understand the meaning behind Theo and Theseus` actions better, so I can understand why the author incorporated it. Overall, I would give this book a 8/10 for its exceptional mirroring through time and enthralling storytelling.”

WATFORD GIRLS SHADOWING GROUP

OUR REVIEWS

“Saffiyah`s War has drawn me in from the very first line of the story. It is a story set in the dark times of WW2, at the heart of Paris. What I like about this book is that it explores a part of history that has been untold in the history books, and dives deeper into themes of compassion and working together at the most unexpected times. I also like the fact that the author has linked Safiyyah`s passion of cartography into this book. This is a story that demonstrates the disasters of WW2 yet shows the kindness of humanity at the same time.”

“It expresses many types of friendships and was a really good book for people that enjoy mysteries, but I felt it was alright and a bit boring in the middle and confusing near the end of chapter 20. I`d give it a 3.5/5”

WATFORD GIRLS SHADOWING GROUP

OUR REVIEWS

“I was drawn into Erik`s story, as he became drawn into a world of drugs, lies and crime. It was frightening how with each decision he made, he seemed to sink further into this life of drug supply, and at each turn, he made it harder and harder for himself to escape. Each time he was faced with a decision to turn his back on the gangs, I really wanted him to say no but he kept choosing the wrong path.

Circumstances conspired against him at the beginning; the death of his father, his mother abandoned to raise twins alone, problems at school. He seemed unable to find a way to deal with these problems, and then turned to those people who did not care about him. This is a frightening stories that shows how easy it is to become entangled in county lines drug supply, but with an important message, that there is always hope, no matter how bad things seem.”

WATFORD GIRLS SHADOWING GROUP

OUR ARTWORK

Away With Words - Rachel

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