*Shortlisted

Review by Rory, Year 8, The Kingston Academy
I saw this book and thought it was too long.  I read it and wished it could go on for longer.  I found this book interesting due to its separated time periods in the book, which I had seen no other book like before.  My favourite character was Lad because although I thought he was quite a pointless character towards the beginning, I thought he played a vital role towards the end, and it would be a completely different, unfinished story without him.  I found that Lad was a character that was always there to help and his determination to help Kirin and Ribby lead them to succeed on their endeavours, and I don’t think he gets enough credit for it.  Most of the time people choose their favourite character as the main character because they were the most important or were just there throughout the entire story, however I think that it is usually the people who seem less important and less interesting as the most important characters because they give the book its detail and are the main reasons why the main character succeeds, there would be no main character without supporting characters.  However, my least favourite character was Kele as I thought she was just there and played no crucial role that would affect the book's outcome.  This made her, in my opinion, not important or interesting and made the book less enjoyable.  Throughout the book, I found this unique plot line extremely interesting and exciting and when I thought I knew what was going to happen next, something completely different happened and it left me engrossed in the book, wondering what was going to happen.  What stands out for me in this book is when you put a character, for example Tirtos, to the back of your mind they re-enter the text and do something you would’ve never expected.  I would recommend this book to everyone I know, some younger, some older than me due to its versatility and enjoyableness across all ages.  From Kirin stealing a slave from his uncle and helping them get back home, to the Romans arriving and trying to take over, this book is filled with never ending excitement and wonder, it is truly unforgettable and unique to so many other books. This book taught me of how dangerous the tribes in Roman Britain could be to each other, but how powerful they could be if they united. Before I read this book, I thought I knew a lot about this period but after I read it I knew there was so much more I could learn, and it has given me inspiration to find out more.  If I were to improve this book, I wouldn't let Kirin, and his sisters flee from Beindubn without putting up more of a fight because it felt quite sudden and there was not enough detail about it. but apart from that I couldn’t think of anything to improve.   

Review by Rasul, Year 8, Ashcroft Technology Academy
The time setting of the book is interesting because it is the prehistoric times before Christianity has arrived which I found quite fascinating in terms of what England was like before everyone followed the same religion.

The most interesting character was Lad because I liked the way he emerged from the story which I found amusing. The plot also has a good build up in terms of development because events are all leading towards a rebellion at the end. The novel was exciting, and I experienced a roller coaster of emotions as Kirin is faced with characters that throw his family out of the kingdom where they live. The underlying threat of the Roman Empire growing adds to the tension of the book. I would recommend this book to other students.