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 the Junior Observer on 2429239 or 2429234 to collect your gifts.

In search of her roots

Reviewed by Ryhanna Salie

The Charlotte Years by Melissa Wiley is about a spirited little girl who embarks on a spontaneous adventure to Scotland. Charlotte's parents had migrated to America from Scotland, and she yearns to meet her ancestors and trace her roots.

Charlotte's adventure to Scotland forms the centre of the plot. She thinks there is a bridge across the sea to Scotland, and she ventures out on her own, knowing little of the dangers she might encounter.

Charlotte also goes on an imaginary adventure to fairyland, and meets a beautiful fairy, who has a child similar to her baby sister Mary, whom she adores. She likes to play with her baby sister Mary and her dolls. When Charlotte is six years, her mother teachers her how to sew dolls’ clothes which she enjoys doing.

The novel explores familial relationships as well as an individual's relationship with society. It paints a pretty picture of a little girl whose protected childhood and sheltered life enable her to grow into a mature young lady who forms meaningful relationships with the people that matter in her life.

[First Prize]

The Alchemist

My favourite story book is a novel by a Brazilian author Paulo Coelho. This book was originally written in Portugese, but now it has been translated into at least 67 languages. This book is an allegorical novel. It is an international best seller and now it has sold more than 67 million copies.

The Alchemist tells the story of a young shepherd named Santiago who is able to find a treasure beyond his wildest dreams. Along the way, he learns to listen to his heart, and more importantly he realises that his dreams or his personal legend are not just his, but a part of the soul of the universe. Santiago is the main character in this story and he lived in small town called Andalusia.

He decided to become a shepherd, who can travel around the world freely. Once he was in a Church, and he dreams of a child telling him that if he goes to the Egyptian pyramids he will find treasure. This story is based on his dream. I like this story very much because it gives me good advice and human values which are important to a child.

Savinduni Dahanayake,
Grade 10, Visakha Vidyalaya,
Colombo 5.

[Second Prize]

The Secret Seven

My favourite story series is The Secret Seven. It is written by Enid Blyton. The publisher is Brockhampton Press. It is an adventure series. Apart from this series, the author has written other series of stories such as The Famous Five, St. Clare's and Malory Towers. I have read the entire Secret Seven series.

The Secret Seven always solves mysteries. The main characters are Peter, Janet, Barbara, Pam, Colin, Jack, George and Scamper. Scamper is a clever and active dog who finds mysteries. They establish the Secret Seven Society and have secret meetings and a badge of their own.

My favourite book is Fun for the Secret Seven. It was published in 1963. Jack has a friend named Bob Smith who has a problem to tell the Secret Seven Society. The owner of a farm wants to shoot his horse as it is old. Tolly who works on the farm loves this horse and wants to save it. The horse's name is Brownie. The Secret Seven save Tolly's horse. I love this book because it teaches a lesson about treating animals.

S.M. Sashmitha Thathsarani,
Grade 8,
MR/Narandeniya National School.