Doncaster Book Award - Read Reviews

Doncaster: Discover the Spirit

Tunnels
by Roderick Gordon and Brian Williams

So far we have received 33 reviews of Tunnels. You can read them below - or why not add your own review?

Bobbie from Year 6, Mexborough School:

this book is about a boy called Will and he went digging with
his father but one day his father went missing...
where do you think hes gone youll have to read this book and
find out I think you will enjoy this book if you give it a try.
I would if I was you I'd just give it a try.

Marks out of 10: 9

donkey from Year 13, Hatfield High School Visual Arts College:

i think i should kick this book

Marks out of 10: 5

Kirsty from Year 7, Adwick Park Junior School:

This book is about a boy called Will. He likes digging with
his father, but one day his father goes missing down a tunnel.
Will and his friend Chester go to find him and end up in
another world underground.
I liked the book because it was really good when you got into
the middle and then when they go into the underground world it
was exciting.
My favourite character was Will because he was adventurous and
wasn't really afraid of going down the tunnel.
I thought the start of the book was very boring but I would
recommend it because you want to keep reading it and it does
get very exciting.

Marks out of 10: 8

richo from Year 11, North Doncaster Technology College:

i think this book is boring in some parts but great in other
parts!!!!!!!!!!

Marks out of 10: 4

Callum from Year 7, Ridgewood School:

I just couldn't get into reading it, it was sooooooooooooo!
boring.

Marks out of 10: 3

Vicki from Year 9, Don Valley School and Performing Arts College:

This book was rubbish. I could not get into it. I thought that
this book was very boring and in some points I felt my self
falling to sleep. I could not get into at all. I would rather
read Fizzy Pink and i didn't like that book. In some points it
was interesting but hardly ever at all. The book was about a
boy called Will and him and his father Dr Burrows have a very
strange habit of digging big holes into the ground. Will is
hard to relate to in lots of ways and I didnt like any of the
characters really but I thought Chester was alright but I wasnt
too keen. It was alright. but I wouldnt read it again.

Marks out of 10: 4

Sophie from Year 7, Don Valley School and Performing Arts College:

In this story James and his dad were digging in this kind of
tunnel and then it led to an underground station .
I liked this book because it hooked me in a bit because at the
begining they were digging and it led to a bit of an
underground and I wanted to know a bit more about this and
where it led to.
My favourite character was the boys dad .
I liked him because he had a wered thing about him that I
thought was funny.

Marks out of 10: 5

matty from Year 8, Adwick Park Junior School:

It was good because it is a good story as it Keeps u wonting
more.3

Marks out of 10: 9

Sean from Year 11, Don Valley School and Performing Arts College:

Tunnels is a very different and unusual book and in my opinion
was not particularly good. I didn’t like the opening and felt
as though it dragged on way too much. I thought several times
about putting down and sending it back to the library and to be
honest I only didn’t because it was the weekend so the school
library was closed and I didn’t have another DBA book in to
read. I am glad-ish that I read on because the ending did save
me giving it a rating of one!
The main character, Will, is very hard to relate to in any way
since he has a very weird hobby and his personality seems to
change completely half way through. The twist at the end is
also very predictable though still very good.
In conclusion, most of the book is basically terrible but the
climax does kind of save it. I didn’t like any of the
characters and I can’t see it even making the shortlist! I
would say though to people who are reading it now you might as
well preservere with it as it does get better!

Marks out of 10: 5

Kyra from Year 7, Don Valley School and Performing Arts College:

It is about a boy and his father who like digging, but then
will goes down a hole and then he meets a girl that he thinks
is his sister but is not. I gave it a 8 out of 10 because it
is really interesting

Marks out of 10: 8

keenan from Year 6, Owston Primary School:

I didn't like this book because you can't get into it but on
the other hand it's great for people who like mystery and
adventure, people who like dark places and like to dig under
ground to solve the puzzle

Marks out of 10: 5

from Year 7, Ridgewood School:

amazing very exciting

Marks out of 10: 8

Kirsty from Year 5, Don Valley School and Performing Arts College:

I found it really hard to get into this book. It was boring and
not very exciting. It was about a boy whose favourite hobby was
digging with his dad, but one day his dad got lost down one of
the tunnels. He went to look for him down the tunnel and finds
a mysterious land. I know it sounds good but it wasnt.

Marks out of 10: 4

Thomas B from Year 7, Ridgewood School:

it was soooooooo boring and talked about nothing

Marks out of 10: 1

alex from Year 6, Hexthorpe Primary School:

I found this book very exciting & really adventurous.
I would recomend this book who likes adventures.

Marks out of 10: 10

from Year 9, Ridgewood School:

I found tunnels slightly confusing at times but once i got into
the book it was easier to understand. I think that the
charaters in the book were very enchanting. I loved to read
about the people who followed the two young boys.
Overall i enjoyed this book.

Marks out of 10: 6

Abie from Year 7, Don Valley School and Performing Arts College:

This book was about a boy called Will. He loves digging with
his father. One day they went digging and his father
disappeared in a tunnel. In some parts of the book it was a bit
boring but in others it was fantastic. I must recomend this
book to everyone.(who can read!)

Marks out of 10: 8

Emily from Year 6, Mallard Primary School:

i think that it was quiet a good book.On the uther hand it is
quiet boring because i could not relly get in to it becouse it
is a mystery.

Marks out of 10: 5

Daniel from Year 6, Montagu School, Mexborough:

This is the most boringist book I have EVER read in my entire
life. Let me do it let me do it let me give it a 0 please! I`m
on my knees I`m begging please let me give it a 0!!

Marks out of 10: 1

Travis from Year 8, Danum School Technology College:

Tunnels is quite a good book about a boy (Will) who went
digging tunnels with his dad. Suddenly one day his dad goes
missing...
I found that this book has a tiny bit of horror in it, on a
hole or should I say on a tunnel. This book is quite good. The
front cover looks good but don't read the blurb because I found
that it gave away too much. I would recommend this book as it
is relatively good.

Marks out of 10: 7

Abby from Year 6, Sunnyfields Primary School:

The main character is a fourteen year old boy called Will, who
when he is exposed to sunlight his skin doesn't rreact too
well. He dresses in baggy jeans, T-shirts and jackets, but
when he is digging he wears digging gear.
the atmosphere is quite normal but in the underground world the
atmosphere is scary and creepy.
My favourite part was when Will discovered the undergroup world
because it was freaky and you didn't know what would happen
next.
the plot is about Will - his parents have an arugment and then
his father mysteriously disappears - so Will goes to the
underground world to fin him.
I would recomment this book to people who like adventure books,
with a hint of horror!

Marks out of 10: 9

Chelsea from Year 6, Sunnyfields Primary School:

This book is about two brothers who are walking under a tunnel
and one brother goes missing. So the other brother goes back
to find his day and tell him about the disappearance.

Marks out of 10: 6

Louis from Year 6, Adwick Park Junior School:

I love this book although it has a lot of pages and that it
took me up to 4 weeks to read the reader just makes you read
on. It is an adventure story about a boy named will and his
father Dr Burrows they have a passion for digging and one day
when will comes home his mother and father are having a row
about Dr Burrows digging obsession. so his father goes to live
in the cellar when he goes missing where could he be with who
or what?

Marks out of 10: 8

Caitlin from Year 6, Mallard Primary School:

I thought it was boring.I didn't like it because it took a
while to get to the action,and when you got to the action it's
over really quick. I wouldn't really recommend it.

Marks out of 10: 3

Jessica from Year 8, Don Valley School and Performing Arts College:

What I liked most about the book was that when you got further
into the book like into the middle the mystery started to
unfold and I also liked how the characters were described. What
I disliked about the book was that it had a really slow start
and was hard to get into. I believe this book needs a patient
minded reader as it has a slow start to the story. My favourite
charecter was Will Burrows because he he seemed really
confident and determind throughout the book.

Overall I thought this was a ok book but it could have been
much better by not having such a slow start. I would recomend
this book because it got really interesting after a couple of
chapters.

Marks out of 10: 6

Luke from Year 7, Ridgewood School:

I really enjoyed this book. Thanks!!!

Marks out of 10: 7

Benjamin from Year 6, Saltersgate Primary School:

Tunnels is split into 3 parts Breaking Ground, The Colony,
The Eternal City, i think this book is brilliant and in parts
very exiting with alot of action. After reading this book I
rushed to the book shops looking for Tunnels 2 this book is so,
so briliant i love this book xxxx

Marks out of 10: 10

Thomas from Year 7, Ridgewood School:

i thought it was boring!!!!!!!!

Marks out of 10: 1

Thomas B from Year 7, Adwick Park Junior School:

i couldnt get into it. i found it sooooooooooooooooooooooo
boring. it just babbled on about nothing

Marks out of 10: 1

Daniel from Year 6, Saltersgate Primary School:

I havent even finished the book but it is sooo good THE BEST
BOOK EVER! Good author. Can't wait to read DEEPER!! FANTASTIC
BOOK B R I L L I A N T !!!!!!!

Marks out of 10: 10

William from Year 6, Saltersgate Primary School:

Tunnels is a brilliant book and I recommend it to everyone of
all ages above 8 due moderate violence. The Ist part of this
book does drag on a bit and is a bit to detailed. But it makes
up for it brilliantly in the 3rd part of the book, Eternal
City, which is outstandingly
FFFFAAANNNTTTAAAASSSTTTIIICCC!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
30000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000/10

Marks out of 10: 10

Daniel from Year 6, Saltersgate Primary School:

NEVER READ IRON HAND! READ TUNNELS INSTEAD IT IS BRILLIANT
!!!!!!
999999999999999999999999999999999999999999999999999999999999999
999999999999999999999999999999999999999999999999999999999999999
999999999999999999999999999999999999999999999999999999999999999
999999999999999999999999999999999999999999999999999999999999999
99999999999999999999999999999999999999999999999999/10 THIS BOOK
BEATS IRON HAND ANY DAY EASY PEASY IT IS BRILLIANTLY. It's
split into 3 parts breaking ground the colony and the eternal
city 1st is ok 2nd is good 3rd is brilliant

Marks out of 10: 10

Kacper from Year 8, Armthorpe School:

i realy lik e ths book but i lik e the polish ones best

Marks out of 10: 8