*Shortlisted

Review by Dylan, St. Peter’s CE Primary, Heysham
I really enjoyed this book and I would recommend it to other people because it really encourages you to use your voice and never give up on being what you want to be.

This book is set in an orphanage where you have to unlock the legends to save your home. The name of this wonderful story book is the one and only Fable House. Fable house is a really long book but it is good for people who love to read and to learn new things and vocabulary every day.

I particularly like how the author has described the characters really well and what the characters were doing from time to time. My favourite character was Miss Isolde because she is well described as a good teacher.

Miss Isolde is my favourite character because she is the one that quoted ‘never back down from what you want to do when you grow up.’ I think this sends a great message to all children.

Review by Maia, Pembridge Hall School, Central London (independent)
I adored Fable House, it’s adventurous and suspenseful. There is nothing bad to say about in my opinion.

The magical aspect of the book made it an interesting and fun read. The descriptions were very visual, I was shocked at the scene where ‘The Champion’ is described he comes across as larger than life. I took a dislike to him, to me he is mean, ugly and generally horrible. Heather, Lloyd, Pal, Arlene and Nat were all equally as interesting with their cool super powers and bravery. I would love to join them!

My dictionary was used a lot when I read this book. I learned such new vocabulary such as ‘clattering, healthland and glimpsed,’

The plot was thrilling and it kept me on my toes, I would definitely recommend it to my peers.

It’s a tale of overcoming challenges and believing in yourself. I found it inspiring.

Review by Jasper, Mordiford CE Primary School, Hereford.
Fable House opened my eyes to something shocking that happened after the war, when mixed race children, whose fathers were visiting soldiers from overseas, were cruelly abandoned by their families and put into children’s homes. Heather is one of them. Heather has been passed from orphanage to orphanage where she makes sure not to make friends so that she will not miss anyone when moved on. Eventually, she is sent to Fable House. But this was a very different place and Heather finds herself interacting with Knights of King Arthur’s court. This leads to heather making some true friends and finally finding a place she belongs.

But Heather must find a way of saving the place she has begun to love and she finds a strength inside her that she was previously unaware of.

I really enjoyed this book. We have been learning all about the war in school, but it is interesting to see what happened to people once the war was over, and I realised that the effects of war lasted for many people for the rest of their lives.