Book Reviews |
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 Zeze is a blindingly precocious 5-year-old boy often known as the naughtiest “troublemaker” of the town. His misdeeds are meant simply for his entertainment and his attempt to get attention from his family and friends, but his poor family cannot give him the love he craves. He gets beaten, abused, and teased at school but his curious mind and his golden heart remains forever. His only true friend being his Sweet Orange Tree, Pinky. He can tell Pinky anything - all his secrets, his wild pranks and interesting stories. Pinky is always there for him as reliable as the sun rising and the moon descending behind the clouds. But that is until he meets Portuga, the richest man in town. He tries to ride on the bumper of Manoel Valadares, "Portuga", but is caught and spanked. Zeze feels humiliated and seeks revenge, however Portuga ends up understanding Zeze and shares his world of fantasies and a new friendship is formed.
To Zeze, Portuga is not only a friend but the caring father figure he needs.To Portuga, Zeze is a source of inspiration and the light in his otherwise mundane life. Zeze would almost live for Portuga, he would look forward to every time they would meet or take a ride in his car. He would eve forget about the poverty drenched city he lives in. This book is beautifully written with believable characters and vivid descriptions and I would recommend it for children aged between 11-14. This is definitely a book you should put on your Christmas List!
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 The Great Network is a place of wonder and mystery. Beautiful locomotives and drones. Station angels, hive monks and mischevious boys just like Zen. The maze of a million gates, where trains whizz through the galaxy in a heartbeat. This complex maze links hundreds of rich and varied world, each one different from the other.
The story follows Zen, a street urchin on the bottom rungs of society, barely able to support his family. Soon he becomes entangled with a shady master criminal, Raven, who sends Zen and Nova on a mission and has a sinister plan for the Network... This book is full of inventive concepts and intriguing ideas and I was driven to keep reading. There's an alien species called hive monks, who worship the "Insect Lines", a set of railway lines beyond the network. These compelling sci-fi concepts make Railhead such an original and captivating book. The characters are vivid and believable. Zen is a prejudiced likable petty thief who is desperately trying to break free from his poverty-stricken lifestyle. Nova, a female Moto and Raven, a mix between an anti-hero and a villain, you decide. Overall, I absolutely loved this book. I recommend it for children aged between 11-14. Filled with twists and turns, amazing description and lovable characters; you are gripped from the beginning. Will Zen complete Raven’s robbery and be able to ride on his beloved intergalactic trains once again? Read this incredible book to find out! |
