Bree's Brilliant Blog.

Writen by Lian Tanner, Cover and Text illustration by Sebastian Ciaffaglione

Goldie lives in the city of Jewel, where children must be chained to an adult to protect them from the dangers of the city. Because of this, Goldie runs away to the cities ‘Museum of Dunt’. While hiding there she met a boy called Toadspit, who has also run away. Herro Dan, Sinew and Olga Ciavolga are ‘The Keepers of the Museum’ and they welcomed Goldie. Together Goldie, Toadspit and the Keepers learn about the evil Fugleman and his plans to destroy the museum. While trying to stop him, Goldie and her new friends discover dangerous things about the museum.

Will the friends be able to stop the Fugleman? Or will they suffer? Read this book to find out.

I recommend this book to people who like fantasy and adventure.

Today was a horrible day. While practicing high jump I fractured my right elbow. I basically jumped straight over the mattress and landed on the ground on my elbow. Man how it hurts Some of you may remember that three years ago, I broke my left albow, is someone trying to tell me that I should not be playing Touch Rugby?  Because of this I have to pull out of a Kapa Haka, athletes and the front portion of touch rugby. I may even have to pull out of my Irish Dancing performace, I am so, so, so sad now. Oh, and I will have to learn to write with my left hand, that will be strange :-\

The sun shone high in the sky. Thea and Lilly stumbled along, pulling a cart of biscuits. The road was deserted. As the gentle breeze blew along the empty landscape, Thea said “Look up ahead Lilly it looks like a house”. She was right. Just up a head stood an old, rusty house. Windows were smashed and a light flickered on the top floor. The house groaned as the two girls walked up the path to the door. As Lilly knocked on the door it slowly swung open with a creak. Something fell on the top floor and a bone chilling groan echoed through the house. Theo looked at Lilly with an unreadable expression. “Let’s go see what that was” Thea said shaking. Lilly nodded white in the face. Letting go of the cart, the two girls stepped into the house. SLAM!!! The door closed behind them and locked itself. “What’s happening?” Lilly asked shaking.

“I don’t know” Thea answered weakly.

Finding the stairs they headed to where the groan had come from. The groan was getting louder as the girls climbed the stairs. Suddenly Lilly found herself falling down, down, until…..

BANG!! Lying on the ground, Lilly rubbed her sore leg.

Meanwhile, Thea had not noticed that Lilly was missing and had carried on, climbing the stairs. Reaching the top, Thea opened the door and turned around to find Lilly gone. Back down the stairs Thea went and fell down the same hole as Lilly. Thea screamed like mad and Lilly hearing this felt relieved that she was not alone any more. Thea landed with a bang, got up and tripped over Lilly. “Lilly, is that you,” Thea whispered.

“I wish I wasn’t, but yeah it’s me,” Lilly replied.

Thea got up and the two girls started to look around the dark room. “It looks like we’re in a dungeon Lilly,” Thea said “underground.” Lilly stopped walking, sat down and started mumbling words. “What are you…” Thea stopped and looked at the wall Lilly was touching. It was moving upwards and a light was creeping in through the bottom. “Lilly” was all Thea could say. All of a sudden they were surrounded in light but not daylight. It was very hot in the dungeon now. The two girls walked towards where the light was coming from and found a ladder. They climbed it.

It went on for ages, when suddenly a trap door appeared in the wall and they climbed through it. On the other side of the door stood their cart. Lilly looked back where the door should have been but, nothing was there. “Strange, that door is no longer there Thea” Lilly said surprised. Theo stayed quiet and continued walking. “Coming” she said and turned to Lilly who was looking at the house. “Yeah” Lilly said and followed Thea.

Written by Carol Drinkwater, Illistrated by Richard Jones, Published by Scholastic

Suffragette, written by Carol Drinkwater is about a 14 year old Edwardian girl. Her name is Dollie. Dollie was separated from her mother when she was little and now lives with a lady called Flora. Flora treats her like a sister, but when Dollie joins a group fighting for women’s rights, things get rough between the two. When Dollie and her group march against parliament, things start to get violent between them and the police.

How far will Dollie go? Will she end up in jail like the others?

I recommend this book to people who would like to read about how women got the right to vote.

Written be Pamela Oldfield, illistrated by Richard Jones, Published by Scholastic

Factory Girl, written by Pamela Oldfield is about a 17 year old Victorian Girl called Florence. When her Grandpa died, she is forced to work in the local Match Factory to help support her family. Soon after starting, she hears talk about a strike. They will be striking for better money and conditions. If she goes on strike it will mean no money will be earned for her family. Will she go on strike or won’t she? What will she do?

I recommend this book to people who like to read history through a girl’s eye.

Today I was reading an email and wanted to share it with you. It made me feel very sad because it is so true.

I ran into a stranger as he passed by, “Oh excuse me please” was my reply.

He said, “Please excuse me too; I wasn’t watching for you.”

We were very polite, this stranger and I. We went on our way and we said goodbye.

But at home a different story is told, how we treat our loved ones, young and old.

Later that day, when cooking the evening meal, my son stood beside me very still.

When I turned, I nearly knocked him down. “Move out of the way,” I said with a frown.

He walked away, his little heart broken. I didn’t realize how harshly I’d spoken.

While I lay awake in bed, God’s still small voice came to me and said, “While dealing with a stranger, common courtesy you use. But the family you love, you seem to abuse. Go and look on the kitchen floor, you’ll find some flowers there by the door. Those are the flowers he brought for you. He picked them himself: pink, yellow and blue. He stood very quietly not to spoil the surprise. You never saw the tears that filled his little eyes.”

By this time, I felt very small and now my tears began to fall.

I quietly went and knelt by his bed; “Wake up little one, wake up,” I said. “Are these the flowers you picked for me?”

He smiled, “I found ‘em, out by the tree. I picked ‘em because they’re pretty like you. I knew you’d like ‘em, especially the blue.”

I said, “Son, I’m very sorry for the way I acted today. I shouldn’t have yelled at you that way.”

He said, “Oh, Mom, that’s okay. I love you anyway.”

I said, “Son, I love you too, and I do like the flowers, especially the blue.”

I know how this Mother feels, as at school I have a lot of patience and time for the younger children. But when it comes to my own younger sister and brother I can get very frustrated and angry with them. I find this really strange and it saddens me.

Have you ever noticed that when you bump into a complete stranger, you are very polite and apologise?

If this was a family member, would you be polite and apologise? Or would yell at them for getting in your way?

One more thing, FAMILY.  Please tell me what you think each letter stands for.

Written by Pamela Oldfield, Illistrated by Richard Jones, Published by Scholastic

The Great Plague, written by Pamela Oldfield is about a 13 year old London Girl whose name is Alice. Alice’s mother died when she was a little girl so her aunt has been looking after her. But when her aunt catches the plague her life changes completely. Locked up in her own home, poor Alice gets tired out looking after her aunt with hardly any food. What will become of her? Will she be strong enough to survive?

I recommend this book to people who are interested in history through a girl’s eye.