*Shortlisted

Review by Cora, Victoria Academy, Barrow in Furness, Cumbria
I enjoyed the book because it was exciting but also serious at time with lots of twists and turns in the story. You would be thinking one thing and then it would change. This book was set in Tudor times however I only really knew this because of the blurb. I liked Grace and Benedict best. Benedict was an unusual character but very brave and I like that he was a diverse character. Grace was very mischievous but also very brave against the enemy. I didn’t like John Turner because he was the enemy and pictures in the book of him made him look very strange. One thing I learnt from this book was how many invaders made their ships black so that they were camouflaged in the night and the enemy didn’t know they were coming. My favourite part was when John Turner threatened to burn Benedict, but Grace saved him. The reason I enjoyed this was because it kept me on the edge of my seat and made me want to read on to find out what was going to happen. I learnt a new word which was heretic. This meant a person who has an opinion against the normal. I even taught my teacher what it meant! I would definitely recommend this to other people as it has such an exciting story, but it is definitely for more confident readers.

Review by Nivriti, St Andrew’s CE Primary, Oxford.
Score: 4.8 out of 5

The book was very interesting with many special characteristics which you wouldn’t find in many books these days. Also, it was the first book I actually wanted to read in a very, very, very long time.

If you are wondering what are those ‘special features’ are, well then, here are them: one thing, I think books should have useful vocabulary books should enhance your vocabulary and this one did with words like zounds, ruefully, vernacular, livery, contrite, pageboy etc; it had a real perspective, and that what made it interesting, it gave a view of living in the Tudor times whether your area criminal, nobility or even royalty It even racks your brain a lot at the point in the book (when Grace has the decision to expose the criminal or not.)

The plot was very interesting, thought provoking, serious and very little bit of moral lessons. It even includes a lot of thought provoking about religion, a lot means a lot.

Although one disadvantage is that I feel as if the author rushed the ending. You read so much of the rising action that you become excited and hooked to at what’s coming next, but suddenly it's all rushed and finished.

One thing, I really loved about the book is that the author just didn’t add the historical time period as additional information, they actually included it in the whole plot. Other books, on the other hand, if you notice just don’t use it to its full potential in a book/story. Trough Water and Fire did do that though. Even the title of the book is spectacular.

Overall, it was a spectacular, fantastic, unique, extraordinary book and I’m giving it a rating of 4.8 stars out of 5 stars.

Review by Cecilia, Parliament Hill School, Camden, London
The book Through Water & Fire was set in the perilous world of Tudor England right before the reformation, it is full of exciting adventures and puzzles that I loved exploring.

This book begins when a young girl named Grace Somerford is sent away to stay with her distant relatives, along with her she brings her best friend Hannah. Together they discover the difficulties of living at Lockwood Hall and soon Grace discovers that everything is not as perfect as it may seem.

The character I was particularly intrigued by was one of the young girls also living in the hall. Her name was Felicity, and I was interested in her because she seemed to have had a hard past and a troubled childhood, she also had quite interesting character development. Despite me finding her interesting she was also my least favourite character as she was rude and malicious.

I would recommend this book to any keen readers as I learnt a lot about religion and about the political troubles of that time. Overall, I would 100% read this book again and definitely recommend it to other students.