Doncaster Book Award - Read Reviews

Doncaster: Discover the Spirit

Teacher's Dead
by Benjamin Zephaniah

Shortlisted

So far we have received 42 reviews of Teacher's Dead. You can read them below - or why not add your own review?

Hannah from Year 9, McAuley Catholic High School:

I really like this book. it has an original storyline and I
would recommend it to any older readers. I was really surprised
by the ending though. Benjamin Zephaniah is a really talented
author.

Marks out of 10: 10

Jessica from Year 7, Hayfield School:

Teacher’s Dead is a brilliant book, it is definitely the best
book, in the Doncaster Book Awards! Most people will be put off
by the title and front cover, but it is really not like that.
It is more about understanding why the two boys killed Mr
Joseph. My favourite character is Mrs Joseph, because she is so
forgiving, she even becomes friends with the Mum of the boy
that murdered her husband. I also like Jackson, because he is
loyal to Mr Joseph, even after he is dead, and he won’t give
up, until he finds out exactly what happened. Although this
book is definitely for older readers (around 11 or 12 years) I
think boys and girls will enjoy it.

Marks out of 10: 10

Megan from Year 10, Ridgewood School:

I really enjoyed the plot to this story. The upset that was
caused by the teacher being stabbed really got you but it was
very humourous too so it was a perfect story

Marks out of 10: 10

Callum from Year 7, Ridgewood School:

This book is about a teacher which is killed in front of
almost everyone in the school. One child thinks there is more
to it than meets the eye and is out to find the truth of why
Mr. Joseph’s killers, killed him.
I liked it when Miss. Ferrier threw urine all over Jackson.

My favourite character was Jakson, because he is cleaver
and knows how to solve things the police don't think about.
I disliked the way the book was organized because in parts
it got realy confusing.
I would recommend this book because it is a good detective
story with funny aspests in it.

Marks out of 10: 9

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

I loved this book because it was so gripping and exciting!It
was unusual because it was sort of back to front and a very
interesting book!

Marks out of 10: 9

Amelia from Year 9, North Doncaster Technology College:

Teacher’s Dead is an intriguing tale of mystery and is very
different from most other books that you will find. A teacher
is murdered in school, many students witness it including the
main character Jackson. After seeing this horrific act commited
by another student Jackson has to find out the truth. He wants
to know why this crime was commited. He befriends the wife of
the murdered teacher and the mother of the murderer. At first
when you read this book everything seems black and white, good
guy, bad guy. However, as you progress through the book, you
realise that life isn't that simple. Some of the things people
have done were the result of the actions of others. The story
shows that you shouldn't judge people on things that you have
heard about them or on stereotypes. Most of all this book is
about finding the truth. This book was like no other book I
have ever read, it felt so real and I would reccommend anybody
to read it. Amazing!

Marks out of 10: 10

Sophie from Year 6, Hexthorpe Primary School:

At first I thought this book was utterly disgusting , and I
wanted to put it down and read a girlier book.
But then it had me gripped.
Fab book I'd recommend it.

Marks out of 10: 10

Hannah from Year 10, Don Valley School and Performing Arts College:

This book was great. I really enjoyed it and thought that the
story line was good. I liked the way the book was sad but
humorous at the same time. I would recommend this book to
anyone who is looking for a good book to read but which is also
easy to read.

Marks out of 10: 9

Lara from Year 6, Saltersgate Primary School:

This book was probably the best book written in all of the
Doncaster Book Awards! Jackson was definitely a very clever and
determined boy. The ending had me by suprise evennthough I knew
it wasn't all that it seemed. It was so fantastic I couldn't
put it down. I especially like the beginning because of how
well it was described. This is definitely my favourite ever
book. The only doubt I have would be to children to read under
the age of at the most 10 because it has some bad language.
Also I liked the part where Miss Ferier threw urine over
Jackson even though they were friends now!

Marks out of 10: 10

Abby from Year 6, Sunnyfields Primary School:

the main character is a young teenage boy who loves doing
detective work. You do not know what he wears.
The atmosphere is stronge but mysterious. My favourite part
was when the boy Jackson Jones doscovers the thing that
actually happended on the day of the murder. The plot is a boy
who watches a murder, so he wants to find out why the boy
murdered the teacher.
The book is about his investigation.
I would recommend this book to anyone who likes a murder
mystery.

Marks out of 10: 10

lily from Year 6, Adwick Park Junior School:

this book was scary at first and i was a bit put off by the
title and cover as i dont realy read or watch horror very
often.But i want to make a sensible desision when i vote so i
gave this book a fair chance of being voted for and read it.It
was an amazing mix of horror and humor witch amidiantly had me
hooked. Its a great book but i would recomend it to the older
children as it gets scary at times. To conclude the review its
a exelent read and the people who choose the books for the long
list have good taste and i cant wait to read what else they've
chosen!

Marks out of 10: 10

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

Teachers Dead is agreat book. I loved it. I would recomend it
to older readers. At times I was scared. My favourite charter
is Jackson. He thinks there is more than meets the eye. A
teacher is killled in front of everyone but why. To find out
what happens read the book.

Marks out of 10: 10

Haseeb from Year 6, Bessacarr Primary School:

Teacher's Dead is an amazing book. I won't tell you what
happens because it will spoil it for you but it is a brilliant
book to read. The book isn't that scary well the first page is,
but its a great book.

Marks out of 10: 10

Charlotte from Year 8, Hayfield School:

Teacher’s dead is a story that makes you think the ‘ Who, What,
Where, When, Why, How.’ Thing. First it tells you what happened
at the crime scene. Then, for the rest of the book, it gives
you the information that lets you know everything that happened
about the murder, like fixing the last piece of a jigsaw
puzzle. I think it’s very mysterious because you don’t know
what you’re going to know next until you read it!

Marks out of 10: 9

Jordy from Year 9:

School: Rossington All Saints

This is a rubbish book in my mind. its just not a good read. i
think this is aimed more for people in there 20s and over. mi
would not recomend this to anyone.

Marks out of 10: 1

Karla from Year 8:

I realy liked this book it was mysterious yet very able to draw
you in to it and it always keeps you on your toes it also makes
you wonder what it would be like to be in the witnises shoes
and makes you wonder what would the killers feel!!! ;]

Marks out of 10: 8

Karla from Year 6, Adwick Park Junior School:

I realy liked this book it was mysterious yet very able to draw
you in to it and it always keeps you on your toes it also makes
you wonder what it would be like to be in the witnesses shoes
and makes you wonder what would the killers feel!!! ;]

Marks out of 10: 8

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

This book was really good and i very much enjoyed it. i thought
that it was funny i liked that it was a mystery until he solved
it. the story was a bit strange because it is not something
that i would normally read. the title kind of put me off
because it was different and i normally dont like books that
are scary and this gave me the impression that this was scary
but it wasnt. It was interesting and it made me laugh in some
bits. the story starts with a boy called jackson jones and he
saw a murder, because he saw the murder at school along with
lots of other students they are all offered councilling.
Because Jackson knows that this type of councilling would not
work for him. So he starts his own sort of councilling, trying
to figure out the murder of his teacher. It was a really good
book but in some points it was rubbish.

Marks out of 10: 7

Tia from Year 5, Balby Street Primary School:

This book is alright when I had finished reading I couldn't
remember half the stuff its a bit confusing but its good

Marks out of 10: 8

jessica from Year 5, Owston Primary School:

OK. I have been having nightmares ever since I started reading
this. I like Mrs Joseph because she is really nice.
But, if you dont like murder mysterys, or are easily terrified
beyond belief, (Not me.) then put it down and pick something
else.

Marks out of 10: 6

Kasey from Year 9, Rossington All Saints School:

I really like this book beacause it's a Murder adventure.
If anyone like murder programe and murder stories this is the
book for you. ;)

Marks out of 10: 8

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

I really enjoyed this book and I would definitely recomend it
to my friends. I really liked the adventure and mystery in it.
When i got to the part where Jackson Jones turned detective and
secret meetings were arranged I thought it was brilliant. The
beginning chapter(the ending) was shocking but to think that
has really happened to some people.... Overall it was brill.

Marks out of 10: 9

Amy from Year 9, North Doncaster Technology College:

I thought Teacher's Dead is a fantastic book. I loved every
single bit of it and the author couldn't make it better. The
part where Mr. Joseph gets killed by Lionel sonds really
realistic therefore I would recommend this book for people
atleast over 10. It sadly isn't one of my best books to read
but I do like it.

Marks out of 10: 9

Emma Jayne from Year 11, North Doncaster Technology College:

i think that this book is really good and i would read it again

Marks out of 10: 8

Alan from Year 10, North Doncaster Technology College:

i think it is amazing book and very detailed in the gore
introduces in the book to draw you in i give it 8/10

Marks out of 10: 8

from Year 5, Hatfield Sheep Dip Primary School:

I thought it was really gross

Marks out of 10: 10

David from Year 9, Hatfield High School Visual Arts College:

I thought this book had a great view on real every day life.
Stabbing is becoming more common and as this book shows it even
happens in schools. But the book also shows a reason why the
stabbing took place, therefore, showing bullying can cause this
to happen. The plot is easy to follow and does not confuse the
reader. The characters and thier emotions, speech, and
descriptions such as facial features are realistic. Their
smells are described as well as looks.
The way the characters speak is as I would expect them to talk,
they use and place words the same way I do.
When reading this book I felt as if it pulled me in and I lived
life as the protagonist. It made me laugh at points but also
brought a tear to my eye.
The ending made sense but was a bit sudden. It made me think
what the writer was thinking to write and what other ideas he
had.
I think this book is amazing, a complete mind blower and has
earned its place in the Doncaster Book Award short list, it
definitely gets ten out of ten from me. The author is amazing
and I can't wait to read his other books.

Marks out of 10: 10

Neelam from Year 7, Hall Cross School:

I thought this book was really good but I thought that Mr
Joseph should have been introduced to us and should not have
been killed in the first 2 sentences.

Marks out of 10: 9

leonie from Year 6, Saltersgate Primary School:

This book is the best book i have ever read in my whole eleven
years as reading as a child.You may get over 1000 people every
day saying this,but this review really does come from my
heart.You will pick up my review and look at it see all the
spelling erroes and say some avarge girl reading a avrage
book.This is not a avarege book this is a fantastic book yhat
wants to gobble you up and swakkow you whole and even belce at
the end.I may only be elen but i know a winner when i see one
so thank you ben because you have boosted my point of reading
to a whole new lwvel.THIS BOOK MUS WIN.

Marks out of 10: 10

courtney from Year 8, Armthorpe School:

i really enjoyed the book it was serious and at the same time
absorbing i really wish there was a series of it .You should
read it it'll blow you away

Marks out of 10: 10

Thomas B from Year 7, Ridgewood School:

The best bit was the beggining but then it got boring

Marks out of 10: 3

Clayton from Year 7, Ridgewood School:

I found this book interesting but gory in certain such as the
beginning.

Marks out of 10: 9

Clayton from Year 7, Ridgewood School:

I found this book interesting but gory in certain such as the
beginning.

Marks out of 10: 9

luke from Year 7, Ridgewood School:

i loved it

Marks out of 10: 10

Joshua from Year 5, Saltersgate Primary School:

Fantastic Book. I got the other books in the series and I love
them all. If I had to pick I think This Book Should win. I
haven't read alot of the Shortlist but I think ,so far, it
should win. 10 out of 10

Marks out of 10: 10

gerard from Year 6, St Peter's Catholic Primary School:

This book was disapointment from the start. I did'nt enjoy the
ending. This is'nt the book for me and I would'nt recomend it
to anyone else.

Marks out of 10: 3

Kyle from Year 10, Ridgewood School:

I found it could be very annoying at times but all revolved
around the idea that a teacher is dead, so alls well that ends
well.

Marks out of 10: 8

Chiara-Lucia from Year 6, St Peter's Catholic Primary School:

I loved this book! It was funny and also has such an amazing
story line. I loved how strong the story was and how the
adjectives leaped off the paper.
Half way through the two boys that killed their teacher Mr
Joseph went to jail and i thought well what else could possibly
happen! Then everything started to make sense . All the tiny
little pices of this investigation came together. The best part
of this book is when Miss Ferier threw urin (wee) over
Jackson's head!
I gave this book a nine out of ten because it had a great story
line that carries you away. Iread half the book without a
notice of how far i got! i marked this book down one because in
the cort the prison sentence was a bit hard to understand and
parts like that but i still got the point. I would have marked
it ten maybe if i was a little older. I would recomend this
book for 12 to any age year to read. Altogether this book was
great!

Marks out of 10: 9

Anna from Year 7, Hayfield School:

Marks out of 10: 10

Anna Lifsey from Year 7, Hayfield School:

I think that this book is fantastic however most people are
pulled away from the front cover 'Teachers dead'. I would
recomened this book to year5 onwards. I have never put this
book down it is that
FANTASTIC!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Marks out of 10: 10

Shannon from Year 7, Danum School Technology College:

I found this book was a very good mystery book and tried to
solve it myself as I was reading. I liked Jackson Jones
characteristics because he was brave and was a very good
investigator. I felt sorry for Lionel's mum because she
couldn't control the fact that her son was killing people!!! I
would definitely recommend this book.

Marks out of 10: 9

lily from Year 7, Armthorpe School:

this book was amazing, Benjamin realy wrote the book with
feeling. i was totaly gripped i couldent put it down! i love it
and i feel like i am there! 10000000 out of 10!

Marks out of 10: 10

Colony
J A Henderson

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