Beowulf by Michael Morpurgo.

This is an exciting tale set in Anglo-Saxon times that many Anglo-Saxons told to their kids. I read Michael Morpurgo’s version of it. It is about a brave Prince called Beowulf, who killed many malicious monsters that were terrorising scared- to – death kingdoms. The first monster he fought was called Grendel, who was terrorising a large mead-hall belonging to King Hrothgar. Beowulf had incredible strength, which he thought was a gift from God. He actually fought this foul beast with his bare hands, because he heard that Grendel didn’t carry a weapon, so neither would he! Because of his stunning strength, he tore Grendel’s arm off, and killed him! They celebrated in the hall, and King Hrothgar hung the arm from the rafters so they could all stare at it in the feast.
The second monster he killed, was in fact Grendel’s mother. She wanted revenge for Beowulf killing her son. One dark night, she struck! Grendel’s mother snatched loads of poor, unsuspecting soldiers, and carried them to her underwater cave, to feast on them! King Hrothgar called this ruthless beast ‘The Sea Hag’, because it lived underwater. Beowulf told King Hrothgar that he would put an end to this bloodthirsty family, by killing the sea hag. He took a sword called Hrunting, that had never failed a hero before. Together, Beowulf, and a few warriors, including King Hrothgar, went down to the lake where the sea hag lived. Beowulf dived into the lake of horrors, and fought Grendel’s mother. He took a swing at her with Hrunting, but the sharp sword could not break through the sea hag’s tough skin! He spied a giant sword hanging on the wall, and with his incredible strength, swung it at Grendel’s mother, breaking through her tough skin, killing her! They went back to the mead hall and celebrated Beowulf’s second victory, and he chose not to mention that Hrunting had failed him, so as not to hurt anyone’s feelings.
The third, and last monster Beowulf killed, was called the Death Dragon of the Deep. A fire – breathing dragon, was shooting fire at anyone who crossed his path. Beowulf tried to fight the dragon but it killed him. The dragon was slain by one of the brave people who accompanied him to the dragon’s dangerous cave and who plunged a sword into the dragon’s throat. This hero then ran over to Beowulf who told that that his last request was to build a beacon on the cliff, so his name would be remembered forever.
I liked the book, because there was a lot of action, although the ending wasn’t so happy after all. I would recommend this book to people who like action.
I give this book a 5-star rating.

Author Thomas Taylor.

In a mysterious place called Eerie-on-sea,in the modern day, there is a legend about a half man- half fish monster called the Malamander. Is it real? If so, who will get it’s egg of wishes?

Herbie Lemon ( the lost and founder of the Grand Nautilus Hotel in Eerie-on-sea) lives in the hotel’s basement. When a mysterious girl crashes into his room, and cries “Hide Me!”, he is shortly visited by a man Herbie calls ‘Boathook man’, because he has a boathook on one hand. He used to be the captain of a battleship called the Leviathan, but he got into a battle with the Malamander, and he got cursed to live forever. Now he is Boathook man, and he always wishes he could turn back into his old self. When Herbie asks him what he has lost, he says ‘Girl’. When Herbie lies to him that he doesn’t have a girl, Boathook Man starts ramsacking the place, and searching for the girl. Miraculously, he doesn’t find her, but every once in a while in the book, he finds them and starts chasing Herbie and Violet (which was the name of the girl) until he loses them. The author doesn’t describe the characters as good or evil, however, the actions that the characters do, tells us whether they are good or bad.

In the story, a lot of strange things happen, which leads them to believe that the Malamander is real. When they find the missing page of a book about the Malamander, they are about to read what the Malamander’s weakness is, when Sebastian Eels, the bookseller snatches it from them and reads it! Then he goes to the wreck of the Leviathan to kill the Malamander, and Violet and Herbie follow him…

I liked the book, because it was very exciting in my opinion. My personal favourite part was the ending, because there was a lot of action, although it wasn’t such a happy ending. I would recommend this book to people who like magic, and also to people who like thrillers. I would give this book a five star rating.