Doncaster: Discover the Spirit
Shadow Goblins
by David Melling
Shortlisted
So far we have received 76 reviews of Shadow Goblins. You can read them below - or why not add your own review?
Jordan from Year 8, Don Valley School and Performing Arts College:
This book is about two goblins learning how to steal shadows,
but it all goes wrong. What I liked most was when one of the
goblins had to to dress up in a rabbit costume, and I liked the
teacher, though I've forgotten his name. I liked when he is
teachoing the two goblins and it all goes wrong (he turns into
a sheep) There is nothing I disliked about this book, it is
funny and David has changed an everyday thing (shadows) into a
book about goblins stealing them.
Jack from Year 6, Saltersgate Primary School:
A funny Yet silly story about shadow stealing goblins who like
to pick on sheep! I enjoyed this book but it did not get 10/10
because it was a little strange. I would recmend it for the
younger and crazier readers.
Callum from Year 7, Ridgewood School:
THIS BOOK IS ABOUT SHADOW GOBLINS THAT CAN TAKE AWAY OTHER
SHADOWS, IN OTHER WORDS STEAL THEM. THEY PUT IT IN A JAR THEN
DRINK IT. THEN THEY TRANSFORM INTO IT.
I LIKED ALL THE FACTS ABOUT THE DIFFERENT TYPES OF GOBLINS THAT
WERE IN THE BOOK. I ALSO LIKED THE STORY AS IT SHOWS HIS
IMAGINATION AND HIS ABILITY TO WRITE BOOKS.
MY FAVOURITE CHARACTER WAS BONEZZZ, HE IS MADE OUT OF BONES AND
CAN SPLIT HIMSELF INTO PIECES AND STILL PUT HIMSELF BACK
TOGETHER. HE ALSO SEEMS TO HAVE A JOLLY PERSONALITY.
THIS BOOK IS GOOD FUN TO READ AND THIS BOOK MAY BE SUITABLE
FROM YEAR 4.
Aysha from Year 7, Hayfield School:
I think this is a really funny book that you can get caught on
to. It cheers you up if you had a bad day. I reccomend it for
all readers because I like Horror books and this is really
funny.
Jessi from Year 6, Edlington Victoria Primary School:
this book is very funny and is also suitable for children that
are young and children my age(11) its a very easy read and i
read it in one night yet thoroughlyenjoyed evry page of it.
Georgia from Year 7, Don Valley School and Performing Arts College:
The story is about a teacher (Goblin) called Murkbag and there
are two students called Punget and Stinglip. Murkbag is
teaching them how to shadow shift.
I really didn't like much about this book other than the
pictures of Goblins.
I liked Pungent, who always wears a bunny suit and the monkey
goblins arms and legs are really long.
I didn't think the book really made sense and they seemed to be
talking about the same thing for a long time. I wouldn't
recommend this book to anyone!
Aiden from Year 8, Don Valley School and Performing Arts College:
The book is about three Goblins and one of the Goblins is
disguised as a sheep and they nick shadows.
I enjoyed learning how to make shadows with my hands.
I liked Murkbag the best because he was very loud and bossy but
I didn't think the book described the other characters very
well. This book is suitable for the younger reader, say years 3
to 8.
Emily from Year 6, Tranmoor Primary School:
I found this book very intresting because I never expected
Stinglip to turn into a sheep and why would he chew on himself?
My favourite character was Bonezzzz because I like the little
fly that flys around In his belly with no flesh.I just remember
how you catch a shadow :you have to get some ear wax out of
your ear and place It around the shadow,put a bottle on the
floor and watch the shadow come to life.In other words it was
ACE!!!!
Jemimah from Year 8, Danum School Technology College:
Shadow goblins is about two goblins called Pungent and Stinglip
and they must learn how to change shape before dawn comes but
Pungent is hopeless at animal hand shadows (to hypnotise the
creatures they take the shadows from) so he has to wear a
rabbit costume. Stinglip is Pungent's best friend and he's a
little nervous of things that go bump in the night. That's not
good if you're a shadow goblin. Their teacher is called Murkbag
but he likes to be called SHADE. He likes to show off with his
cloak and gets flappy when he's scared! Pungent and Stinglip
have to do a test of retrieving an ink pot full of ink by
stealing a creature's shadow from the field. The only animal
they could choose from the field was sheep and when they got
there, they found a full ink bottle with a sheep's shadow in
it! That's where the trouble begins.
I think this book was very funny.
lauryn from Year 6, Montagu School, Mexborough:
This book it a fantasy book. Its about 2 goblins who learn to
steel shadows. Their main victim is sheep! One night their
teacher asks them to steal a shadow unaided, as they struggle a
little they find a pot with a shadow in it so they use that for
evidence that they have succeeded in the test but on accident
Stinglip drinks the shadow and turns into a SHEEP! They
suddenly meet a friend called Bonezz but something also goes
wrong.
I was a little disappointed with this book as it wasn't as
funny as I thought it was but it certainly cheered up my day. I
recomend this book to children 8 and over as there is long
words. Read this book when your feeling down it will turn your
frown upside down!
James from Year 9, Hatfield High School Visual Arts College:
I thought that this book was a bit weird at the start; but it
wasn’t, it was kind of what I expected to read. I thought it
might have been a bit scarier and a bit freakier. It had what I
thought a lot of humour, when reading this book it had scary
characters but doing funny things, I found the the plot is
straight forward to follow as some of the books just got me
lost. The characters actions and speech were not really what I
thought. What I liked is that there are not a lot of characters
and there’s the odd few speaking. The dialogue is straight
forward to read.
The style of writing is very good for this type of book, when I
was reading this book I always had the odd chuckle to myself. I
felt like I was being pulled into the book. I actually felt
like one of the goblins, well most of time, the pictures in the
book are realistic and really good drawings, (I’m not really a
drawer but I wish that I could draw like that), they actually
help to remind the reader of what’s just been said. The book
had a lot of information before the story and after. This was
all about characters and the scene etc. The activities in the
book and the part on showing you how to do shadow animals are
all things children like. These are all really good ideas; I
think the writer put a lot of hard work into getting a good
story like this. I thought the ending didn’t really turn out
like I thought but revealed a good ending. Now it’s time for
the score seven out of ten
Sophie from Year 9, Ridgewood School:
I found that shadow goblins was entertaining. It mostly made me
laughs about the silly things that the book would talk about,
however i dnt hink the book was long enough and is more suited
to beginner readers.
Ruby from Year 7, Hayfield School:
I found this book interesting. Even though I
enjoyed it, I thought that the ending was not specific enough
and I said "Where's the rest of the book?".
I thought it was very funny when the monkey
appeared and the smoking tree confused me. My favourite
character was Bonezzz. I feel that this book is good for
children from year 6 to year 7 but it's anyone's choice.
Alicia from Year 6, Montagu School, Mexborough:
This book is exciting in some parts! It is so easy to read. I
read it in about a day! It is about 2 shadow goblins on there
1st day at this school! Their teacher is new too! They go out
to learn how to catch shadows (mainly sheep shadows).
Everything starts to go wrong! Soon after they meet Bone-zzz (a
skeleton). Everyone would enjoy this book!!!
Recommended to all years!!!
Bethany from Year 6, Sunnyfields Primary School:
I ABSOLUTELY LOVED THIS BOOK!!!!!!!!! It's very funny and is my
favourite book (so far) I have read.
What made it stand out you may ask? there is humour on nearly
every page, there is cliffhangers and... I CAN'T SAY ANY MORE
IT WILL RUIN IT JUST TRUST ME AND READ IT!!!!!!!!!!!
It is recomended for any age and any gender. :-)
Ben from Year 6, Hatchell Wood Primary School:
This book is a good book but is a bit hard to understand. It is
about goblins at goblin school that need to learn how to take
shadows off of people or animals. He tells them a potion how to
do it, so then they can do the spell. I also liked the
illustrations on every page.
from Year 6, Hatchell Wood Primary School:
This book is a good break for readers that read really long
books. Shadow goblins is a very good book that I read quite
quickly. It took be 2 days. I recommend this book for Boys and
Girls, age 8-12. So if you're in that age group, just read read
read!
charlotte from Year 6, Edenthorpe Hall Primary School:
The part of Shaddow Gobblins i like the most is when -the
master spnns around and the goblin says his part that was
really funny it is awsome...................
Adam from Year 5, Owston Primary School:
Shadow Goblins is a brilliant book!! It's really good for it's
awesome characters and good sense of humour. I love it when
Bone zzz comes into it.
kiera p from Year 5, Owston Primary School:
I think shadow goblins is an ace book it was quite funny and
very interesting i think the characters are brill this book is
cool!!!
Brandon from Year 8, Don Valley School and Performing Arts College:
This book is about two shadow goblins called Punget and
Stinglip. They go to a night school to learn how to be shadow
goblins so they go on to a field to do their first shadow steal
then they get chased by a shadow and get lost then the
adventure begins.
My favourite character is Murkbag (teacher) because he's funny.
I would recomend this book to younger kids because its funny
and a easy read.
Bethany. from Year 6, Edenthorpe Hall Primary School:
I REALY LIKE SHADOW GOBLINS BECAUSE THERE ARE 2 GOBLINS TRYING
TO BE TAUGHT HOW TO STEAL SHADOWS.THIS BOOK IS REALY FUNNY AND
ACE.........
Charlotte from Year 5, Edlington Victoria Primary School:
I liked this book it made me laugh at times.
I think it is really interesting and for ages 9 to 10/11 it is
a funny but silly story I would say it is for imaginative
readers (a bit like me).
Chloe from Year 6, Edlington Victoria Primary School:
This book is my second favourite so far because it is
sooooooooo funny and everyone will love it. It's about three
goblins (1 is the teacher and the other 2 are the naughty
students). One of the reasons why I love this book is because
it just changes every day things comical. I gave this book a 9
out of 10 because of it's child-friendlyness and child humour.
from Year 6, Mallard Primary School:
I enjoyed this book because it was set out really good.
Most of it was good, but just some bits were quite boring.
there was always something different happening in different
chapters.
Abie from Year 7, Don Valley School and Performing Arts College:
I liked the beginning of the book where the author was telling
us who the characters were, what shadow goblins used and what
the story was about. I wasn't so pleased with the actual story
because I couldnt get my head in it. I read quite a lot of the
book but couldnt finish.!!!!!!!!!!
Natasha from Year 6, Edlington Victoria Primary School:
I think this book was slightly funny but oh-so silly. I've got
to say though this book was not for me and that's why I am
giving it a seven five for being silly and two for being quite
funny.
Daniel from Year 6, Montagu School, Mexborough:
THIS BOOK IS AMAZING!!!!!!!!!!!!!!PLEASE DAVID MELLING I NEED
ALL OF YOU BOOKS!IENJOYED EVERYTHING EXCEPT THAT IT WASNT LONG.
Joshua from Year 9, Danum School Technology College:
This book was very funny but a bit on the short side.
The story was well written with a funny ending to come to the
slight horror.
I think it could have been a bit longer but on a hole it was a
very good read and I would recommend it to anyone with a funny
nature.
Jack from Year 8, Danum School Technology College:
Shadow Goblins is an easy book to read. It is easy to
understand, and the story is really simple. It is about two
young goblins who go to school to learn all the shadow goblin
skills. It all sounds so simple doesn't it? However, there are
many adventures just waiting for these two goblins. To find out
what some of these dark, shadowed adventures are, read the
book. I have to admit, I did enjoy reading the book, but I
don't think it will reach the shortlist. There are so many good
books in the longlist this year, it is going to be tough to
qualify for the shortlist. I would recommend this book to
younger readers and I would rate it a 7/10.
Megan from Year 6, Montagu School, Mexborough:
This book is exciting in some parts but i had read it in a day
and i wanted it to go on a bit more because at the end I
didn't understand some of the bits at the end so I had to read
it again.
Beth from Year 6, Edlington Victoria Primary School:
I really enjoyed this book and everything about it. In my
opinion it is one of the best books in the read. I found it
quite funny but very stupid in places. It is suitable for any
age if you are a good reader.
Megan from Year 5, Owston Primary School:
This is a very funny book. If boys think that it is for girls
because it has a purple cover, just read it this book is full
of fun.
david from Year 6, Hexthorpe Primary School:
i think this a very, good book to read it has very funny
characters and has a lot of good, most brilliantly features.it
makes my brother laugh and laugh and i think that david melling
has real talent.well done david melling
Heather from Year 6, Sunnyfields Primary School:
The characters in this story are Pungent, Stinglip and Murkbag.
They are all perfect characters for this story as one is
stupid, one is smart and all are scardycats!
The setting is okay because it was set in a forest and perfect
prey was there for them.
It is a brilliant story becasue it had many different genres:
comedy, adenture, horror and many more.
I loved this story because of all the different genres and
characters.
Bethany from Year 6, Sunnyfields Primary School:
The main characters are Pungent, Stinlip and Murkbag. Murkbag
tries to learn Punget and Stinglip how to change shape.
Stinglip turns into a sheep by drinking a sheep's shadow. I
like this book because it is funny and really interesting to
rerad, even though it is a short book!
Matthew from Year 6, Sunnyfields Primary School:
Shadow Goblins is good because its about two Goblins who try
learning how to 'shadow' steal, but he drinks the ink and turns
into a sheep!
Paige from Year 6, Sunnyfields Primary School:
It is about two children who are trying to catch shadows and
the Goblins get involved with it. The characters are fantastic
at what they do and the pictures in the book are wonderful.
Chelsea from Year 6, Sunnyfields Primary School:
It was amasing .Very funny.I love the chartors soooooooooo
good.
heather from Year 6, Sunnyfields Primary School:
its absolutely amazing .the characters are fab and it as funny
as it can get.no way that any book can top it ! it amazing
Chelsea from Year 6, Sunnyfields Primary School:
This book is very mysterious. There are three main characters:
Murkbag, Pungent and Stinglip. They have to go to the black
wood as they say that is where you steal 'shadows'. They have
to dress up fin fancy clothes and go on a mission, trying to
get shadows.
Murkbag is the the teacher, showing the others how to do it.
Craig from Year 6, Sunnyfields Primary School:
It was amazing - the main character was Murkbag.
He was wearing curved over shoes, pants and a cloak with
spirals at the bottom. Pungent and Stinglip wore the same
until Pungent had to wear a rabbit costume and Stinglip wore a
small cape with spirals on.
Bone-zz wastn't a main character. He came after Stinglip and
drank some shadow ink.
Monkey Goblins nicked all the ink pots and ran off with them,
but he eventually got caught!
jaimie-lea from Year 6, Adwick Park Junior School:
I loved this book so much, it is so silly. I like it when
Pungent and Stinglip are getting to learn how to Shadow swap
and shape shift.
It is such a funny story, my favourite character out of them
all is Muckbag because he is the leader and is very bossy and
that is how i like them to be.
;) ;) ;) ;) ;)
:) :) :) :) :)
Cohan from Year 6, Hexthorpe Primary School:
A funny yet silly story about shadow stealing goblins who like
to pick on sheep! I enjoyed this book but it did not get 10/10
because it was a little strange. I would recomend it for the
younger and crazier readers and its a great book.
charlotte from Year 5, Owston Primary School:
The best book ever i love it!
Shadow Ggoblins is grrrrrrrrreat!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
David Melling is one of my favorite story writers!
i think any-one can read this book, you can get into it realy
quick.
i think i sould be 10 out of 10!
daniel from Year 6, Saltersgate Primary School:
A possible winner brilliant book just like his other ones
Travis from Year 8, Adwick Park Junior School:
Shadow Goblins is a really good and funny!!!! book by David
Melling.It is about two young goblins stinglip and pungent
trying to learn how to become shadow goblins.It is really funny
when everything goes wrong.At the back of the book their is a
page that teaches you how to hand shadow its cool.
Kasey from Year 9, Rossington All Saints School:
I think this book could be in the top 10. I would recorgmend
this to a friend.
alex from Year 9, Adwick Park Junior School:
it was really funny but i wouldn't read it again beacause it is
alittle boring!!!
from alex (rossington all saints)
Travis from Year 8, Danum School Technology College:
Shadow Goblins is a really good and funny!!!! book by David
Melling. It is about two young goblins stinglip and pungent
trying to learn how to become shadow goblins. It is really
funny
when everything goes wrong. At the back of the book there is a
page that teaches you how to hand shadow, it's cool.
Callie from Year 5, Adwick Park Junior School:
WHY DID YOU CHOOSE THIS BOOK? IT IS BORING AND REALLY REALLY
REALLY STUPID!!! IT WAS AWFUL!!!
Jack from Year 6, Mallard Primary School:
This book wasn't brilliant but was readable, it was a bit too
easy though. The characters were very interesting, it was also
funny the way they stole a shadow. I got bored easily!
Rhys from Year 6, Mallard Primary School:
Shadow Goblins is a short book book but it has a great story
and a very intresting and one of my favourite characters is a
skeleton called Bone-zzz.Overal this book is not one i would
provide you to buy this year.
Karla from Year 8, Rossington All Saints School:
This was a good book, quite funny. The charictors wre good and
really linked in to the whole point of the story and what its
about. I thaught all in all it was good.
Reece from Year 6, Mallard Primary School:
I thought it was realy good because it shows you what can
happen when your not looking.And I like all the shape shifting.
Simone from Year 6, Intake Primary School:
The cover wasn't good it would be better if it was real!!!!
Charlotte from Year 5, Owston Primary School:
I can't stop writing about this book its so cool!
Bone zzz is the best, he's really funny!
Both old and young kids might like this.
10 out of 10!!!!!
charles from Year 6, Adwick Park Junior School:
I loved this book because it was verry funny and silly. I think
this book should win over all
Laura from Year 8, Hatfield High School Visual Arts College:
The story of the shadow goblins took a long time to start, as
they were explaining the book, then I thought the book was more
for my younger brother than me!
The plot was extremely easy to follow as the basics were
explained in the first 1/3, it was about these shadow goblins.
So basically ever thing has already been explained.
The characters have a lot of characteristics of normal people
with a little twist.
While reading the book I got incredibly bored, and I didn’t
like it at all!!!
Normally, I like children books, but I hated this book.
I would give the book 2 out of ten.
Jake from Year 8, Danum School Technology College:
loved this book and I thought that it's the best book I have
read. It's really good I like the illustrations and how it's
described, the only problem was there was not much writing so
older people might not be interested in it so much, but over
all I thought it was amazing.
chris from Year 7, Ridgewood School:
It was very funny and cool
Charlotte from Year 5, Owston Primary School:
I really like this book its great!
I like it when Bone zzz comes in because he is so funny.
I think this book should win!
Lewis from Year 6, Saltersgate Primary School:
I have not yet finished this book but this is the best book I
have ever read!!!
The illustrations are up there with the book aswell!!!!
this is the funniest book I have ever read!!!!!
luke from Year 7, Ridgewood School:
i loved all the interesting stuff great!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
William from Year 6, Saltersgate Primary School:
Shadow Goblins is an excellently written book but is not
detailed enough and is, I think, designed to entertain younger
readers. If you want to read a short book which is humorous
then I strongly recommend it to you. I thoroughly enjoyed this
book and I'm 10 but I still do NOT recommend this book for
older readers.
Connor from Year 6, Edlington Victoria Primary School:
This book is a one hit wonder. It should win with the great
vocabulary and description. If only people see this book like I
do.
Ellie from Year 6, Owston Primary School:
This book was soo silly all the way through. I would recommend
this book to silly people as stinglip was extreamly stupid and
murkbag has a cape of darkness and pungent can not do the
rabbit shadow.
charlotte from Year 5, Owston Primary School:
Name of book: Shadow Goblins
Mark out of ten: 10
About: Two student goblins called Stinglip and Pungent, who are
very silly Goblins and have a teacher called Murkbag.Murkbag
has a robe what he calles the robe of darkness and Stinglip and
Pungent make fun of him by calling it a dress and saying that
their mum has one just like it. Finaly bones zzz comes into it
and he has a little friend fly. Shadow Goblins steal shadows
and they think that the most dumb animal is a sheep.
Kyle from Year 10, Ridgewood School:
I found this book very boring. My favourite image left in my
mind was a sheep staring, that's how bad it was. I nearly fell
asleep, not due to the fact it was 11PM but because it was so
boring. Why else would my favourite image be a sheep?????
daryl from Year 9, Ridgewood School:
this book is about goblins who try to steal different types of
shadows but it doesnt really go as planed.
i liked how it was based on sheep.
it got a bit boring in some parts but i still liked it.
Clayton from Year 7, Ridgewood School:
This book was very comical and humorous book and I would
recommend it to anyone who is thinking about loaning this book.
Thomas B from Year 7, Ridgewood School:
This book is very funny and houmerous but can be silly and
stupid (houmer wize)
Neelam from Year 7, Hall Cross School:
I thought that the cover looked and made the book look like a
childs book and thought it would be full of pictures but when I
started reading it Ireaally enjoyed it so like they say don't
judge a book by its cover
Lewis from Year 6, Saltersgate Primary School:
This book is absolutely awesome! It is everything a ten year
old boy could want for a book. The illustrations are ace, the
description of characters is ace and the story overall is
absolutely brilliant! I am definitely bying the other goblin
books.
Christopher from Year 7, Ridgewood School:
IT WAS A GREAT BOOK TO READ IT WAS FUNNY AND A BIT
CRAZY!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!1
Benjamin Smith from Year 6, Saltersgate Primary School:
This book is super shadowy! I'd read it, well I did, if I were
you please read it because it literally took about 30 minutes
for me! I don't know if I read it too fast but still read it
anyway! My favourite character is the monkey goblin because
she/he is the (queue the scary music) "KEEPER OF THE POTS" yes
you heard me she keeps pots! THE TERROR! no not really, the
biggest terror is the shadow with no head and all who read all
the information bits on the book (Blurb, chapter about the Dark
forest ect.) will no what I am talking about. The monkey goblin
is really quite friendly and would not hurt a fly, he/she
shouts but would not hurt a fly. The shadow goblins by the way,
are a race of shadow stealing, shadow swapping, sheep annoying,
goblins.
WARNING: all who like the nice gnomes over the hill do not get
a job with them! So read now pull your finger out! Yes go on...
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