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.

On a mission

Reviewed by Ryhanna Salie

Harriet The Spy, Double Agent by Maya Gold is about a twelve-year-old girl who likes observing people and considers herself a spy.

Harriet does not have brothers or sisters to play with, so she is bored. But at school, she is fascinated by one of her school friends called Annie Smith whose life she finds mysterious, and sets out to investigate more about Annie.

She is curious as to why Annie is sent to her aunt's home without living with her parents.

Harriet has a sharp mind that is able to discern character traits. For example, she is able to intelligently analyse the relationship between Annie and her Aunt Barbara and Uncle Morris.

Harriet finds more mystery surrounding Annie's life when she finds a man secretly visiting Annie, who turns out to be her father. The story takes a thrilling turn when Harriet thinks that Annie is kidnapped.

The novel takes the reader on a journey with a twelve-year-old who yearns for adventure.

Harriet learns through her adventure that relationships can be more complicated than what it seems on the surface.

The discrepancy between appearance and reality is also explored in the novel.

[First Prize]

Beast Quest

I have read many books in my lifespan. But among these books the Beast Quest ranks as the first. Beast Quest is authored by Adam Blade. Among her novels, the most interesting story book is Ellik the Lightning Horror. This interesting book was first published in Great Britain in 2010.

This story is about how the beasts capture the land of Avantia. In this land there is the king's palace, plains, a scarlet desert and two jungles namely the Forest of Doom and the mystery Jungle. Far away there are frozen fields. In this story the land of Avantia is time to time attacked by horrible beasts. The two boys named Tom and Ellena have the responsibility to protect the land of Avantia. In this story, Tom and his companion Ellena must defeat a large giant electric eel called Ellik. Why I like this interesting novel is because this is an adventurous story where the two little heroes bring freedom to the land of Avantia. There is also a battle between two little children and a powerful beast.

I hope that Adam Blade will write more interesting novels like Ellik the Lightning Horror in the future.

Vojitha Heshan herat, Grade 7,

Royal International School Kurunegala.

[Second Prize]

The Lost Hero

The Lost Hero is a book known for its modern ways of retelling Greek mythologies. Disney publishing worldwide helped in publishing this book which was born in the bedside of Rick Riordan's son. Since 2010 this book has evolved into a series with its own fan base.

Revolving around the three characters Jason, Piper and Leo, this book speaks to the hearts of the readers. All of the three characters have problems of their own yet they all team up putting their differences aside to form a team for the greater good. The threesome storm through giant kings, the queen of gods and an angry storm goddess with only friendship and teamwork. Taken place in the world of gods this book spiked my interest in mythology.

I like this book especially because of the way the story is laid out. I hope more books like this will be written.

Chamudi Semini Athapattu, Age 15, Kuliyapitiya Central College.