Dear Junior readers,

The Junior Observer launches 'Junior Readers’ Club' to which we invite all you Junior Readers to join up! The Junior Readers’ Club will hold activities and competitions to encourage you to read and read and read more, for fun and to learn. Do join in!

One activity will be to introduce books for you to read. We will introduce a book from Vijitha Yapa Bookshop and tell you about it in our 'Book Review'. You are also invited to write in and tell us about a book you have read and liked. Write up to 150 words and email your entries to [email protected] or post them to Lake House, 35, D.R. Wijewardane Mawatha, Colombo 10.

NOTE: Vijitha Yapa Bookshop will give away prizes for a write-up on a book available in their bookshops. The best book review will receive a book as first prize, and the second will be a gift voucher from Vijitha Yapa Bookshop. Contact 2429237 to collect your gifts.

Royal Mess

Reviewed by Ryhanna Salie

Do you like humour? The novel Happy and Glorious by Hilary McKay is a humorous tale of a 10-year-old Queen. The misadventures of the Queen form the events in the story. The Prime Minister, the Treasurer, Ladies-in-Waiting, the Royal Gardener, the gardener's boy Michael and the Cook are important characters in the novel. For example, in the chapter titled 'Home Improvements', all these characters come together in a humorous scene.

The humour arises from the young Queen's inability to understand the way in which the royal palace and the country functions. She demands renovations to the palace and wants everyone including the Prime Minister to camp outside in the palace garden while the builders do their work.

The author's portrayal of the Prime Minister seated on a soapbox, and the treasurer inside a tent adds to the humour. The Queen swapping roles with the Cook causes chaos, and the Cook cannot endure being the Queen. The reader is taken through another unusual event where a burglar enters the palace and makes friends with the naïve Queen. This adds to the humour of the story. The novel paints a funny picture of a young Queen's obstinate ways, and the disaster and chaos that results from it. It is a comic novel in which problems are resolved and there is a happy ending.

The Hunger Games Trilogy

The Hunger Games Trilogy by Suzanne Collins, talks about the pleasure rich people get by watching the poor suffer. Collins' skillful writing brings out every emotion very tactfully.

Katniss Everdeen, aged 16, is forced to step into the arena to let her sister survive. In the 24th year of The Hunger Games, two tributes were allowed to win. She never let her hopes get too high as she left home with the other chosen tribute, Peeta Mellark. As fate wanted, Katniss finds herself on a journey with Peeta. Their journey helped them through hard times and finally, they were crowned victors of the 24th Hunger Games.

The story emphasises the value of love and friendship. The book provides a perfect base to build one's future.

Zainiya Ali, Grade 11, Ilma International Girls’ School, Colombo 5.

My family and other animals

My family and other animals by Gerald Durrell is my favourite book. This was first published by the Penguin Group in 1956.This book is about Gerald's childhood experiences at the Greek island Corfu.

Ten-year-old Durrell and his family moves from England to Corfu expecting a change in their lives. The island turns out to be the best place for them with sunny weather and wilderness. Gerald, with his great curiosity about animal life organises many expeditions to explore the wilderness. During these expeditions, he discovers many interesting creatures and brings them home amidst the loud protests of his family.

Due to Gerald's unusual pet collection, his family has to face many unexpected situations like snakes in the bath and scorpions on the lunch table. In the island, Gerald meets Theodore, a natural scientist with whom he carries out expeditions to discover new life among the wilderness. After spending some fascinating five years in Corfu, the Durrell family moves back to England.

According to Gerald, this gorgeous trip to Corfu has inspired him to be a naturalist and an animal conservationist.

Chamodi Lakshani de Silva, Grade 11, Sanghamitta Balika Vidyalaya, Galle.