2 minute read
Book Trails
from WIN Times April 2021
by Mishal Faraz
A collection of book reviews written by the participants of the Winchester summer reading challenge 2020
Matilda, Roald Dahl
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Matilda Wormwood is a lovely 5-year-old girl with an extraordinary mind. She suffers at the hands of her own parents, who treat her as a scab, and it gets worse. She is sent to a school, where she is treated badly by her terrifying and ferocious headmistress, Miss Agatha Trunchbull. Matilda was assigned to a teacher whose name is Miss Honey. When Miss Honey finds out the intelligence of this astonishing child, she was shocked and immediately agreed that she should be placed in the top forms. She speaks to Matilda’s parents about the same. When they refuse, the teacher works with Matilda to figure out plans that will give the headmistress and the parents a good taste of their own medicine.
Mehek Agarwal, Year 5, WIN Jebel Ali
One of my favorite books is Harry Potter and the Philosopher’s Stone by J.K. Rowling. It is a story about Harry Potter, an orphan brought up by his aunt and uncle because his parents were killed when he was a baby. Harry is unloved by his uncle and aunt, but everything changes when he is invited to join Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry and he finds out he’s a wizard. At Hogwarts Harry realizes he’s special and his adventures begin when he and his new friends Ron and Hermione attempt to unravel the mystery of the Philosopher’s Stone. I can read this book repeatedly. From the very beginning until the end J.K. Rowling has me gripped! There is never a dull moment, whether it’s battling trolls, a three-headed dog, or Harry facing Lord Voldemort.
The Jungle Book, Rudyard Kipling
The story is about a human kid Mowgli, who was abandoned in the Seeonee Jungles of India and was raised by a pack of wolves with Raksha, the mother wolf and her litter of wolf cubs. Soon Mowgli grew up into a fearless and a courageous boy yet very kind and caring. He was taught the Laws of the Jungle by Baloo the bear, his best friend and Bagheera the panther, his protector. But evil Shere Khan had returned to that part of the jungle and heard of the man cub and wanted to kill him. The story unfolds great adventures of Mowgli in the jungle with many animals. In the end Mowgli kills Shere Khan and everyone in the jungle rejoices and praises Mowgli for his bravery and courage.
Aarush Dangra, Grade 4, GEMS Modern Academy
Grandpa’s Great Escape, David Walliams
Grandpa is getting forgetful. But his memories of flying war planes are sharp as bayonets. Grandpa and Jack love watching World War II films, eating Spam a la Custard, and visiting the Imperial War Museum. But when Grandpa goes missing and Jack finds him stowed away in the Museum's Spitfire, Jack's parents decide it's time for him to move to Twilight Towers. Sneaking in to visit Grandpa under cover, Jack spots the scary matron forging the residents' wills, discovers a room full of pills to keep them asleep and another piled high with ominous coffins, it's up to Jack to help Grandpa escape!
