Fantasy: It was an instant classic, but The Colour of Magic still stands up decades later.
Sebastian Lawless has been doing work experience at the News this week, and has put pen to paper on recommendations for children looking to lose themselves in other worlds.
The Colour of Magic by Terry Pratchett
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The Colour of Magic takes place on the fantasy Discworld, which is ‘threatened’ by the arrival of its first tourist, TwoFlower, who’s eager to see the sights but unaware of the dangers the world possesses. The incompetent wizard Rincewind must ensure his safety as he avoids death everywhere he goes.
Terry Pratchett has created a unique fantasy world, which expanded every chapter. I loved when Death (yes, the person) tried to convince Rincewind to hand over his soul. Want a world and characters like no other, as well as a good laugh? Then The Colour of Magic is for you.
Mortal Engines by Philip Reeve
Meals on wheels: Cities that move seem strange; however, Philip Reeve twists the concept into a city-eat-city world.
Cities roam the earth on wheels and eat each other for parts. In this dystopian world, apprentice historian Tom Natsworthy is stuck on the wasted soil the cities roll on with Hester Shaw, a girl with a disfigured face. Together, they must make it back to London, or die trying.
Cities that move seem strange; however, Philip Reeve twists the scenario into a city-eat-city world, with cyborg zombies, cities in the clouds and some slight romance. It’s a dark and mature story that takes its idea and fleshes it out wonderfully. A great dystopian tale for any teenager.
Death Note by Tsugumi Ohba
Take note: Tsugumi Ohba masterfully crafts interesting ways a notebook can be used, creating a thrilling story.
Top student Light Yagami sees a notebook fall from the sky. It’s the death note. Dropped by a Shinigami, the notebook kills any human who has their name written inside. Light now uses it to rid the world of evil, all while trying to avoid getting caught by the police.
The initial concept doesn’t seem anything special, but Ohba masterfully crafts interesting ways the notebook can be used by giving it tons of rules, as well as changing the circumstances drastically. It is a thrilling story where you don’t know who will win until you make it to the end.
Options by Robert Sheckley
Sci-fi twist: Options is not a conventional book.
Stranded on another planet, Mishkin must travel to a store house that contains the one part he needs to escape. With a security robot that isn’t good at its job, he encounters random hallucinations all while trying to avoid the planet’s many ‘deadly’ creatures.
The best way to describe Options is ‘strange’. Due to Mishkin’s hallucinations and the random events that occur, you will never see the next part of this sci-fi story coming. It’s a funny, shorter story that does what it wants, when it wants, and is perfect for a quick read.
Murder on the Orient Express by Agatha Christie
Whodunnit?: Murder on the Orient Express is a classic murder mystery.
Renowned detective Hercule Poirot and his moustache return in this thrilling murder mystery by Agatha Christie. The Orient Express is stopped in its tracks in the middle of a blizzard and with a murderer in his midst it’s up to Poirot to solve the mystery before the killer can get away.
I love a classic murder mystery, and Agatha Christie delivers with Murder on the Orient Express. The characters are well written, and the way Poirot investigates them never gets boring. The mystery only expands as the story continues until the big reveal where all of the pieces fall into place.
Renegades by Marissa Meyer
Fresh take: Renegades breaks the mould of superhero stories.
Superpowers were oppressed for years until the anarchists rose, creating a lawless world. The Renegades, a superpowered law enforcement organisation, brought order, forcing anarchists underground. Anarchist Nova joins the Renegades as a double agent, but soon grows attached to her team, causing her to question who she wants to be.
If you’re tired of the same old superhero stories, then Renegades is what you’re looking for. It takes a world where everyone is born with a ‘superpower’ and creates a story about infiltrating and bringing down a political system, showing the views and motivations from both sides of the battle.
