Doncaster Book Award - Read Reviews

Doncaster: Discover the Spirit

The Long Weekend
by Savita Kalhan

So far we have received 24 reviews of The Long Weekend. You can read them below.

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

I don't really know what to say about this book, on one hand I
hated reading it and on the other it was really good. This book
covers a situation which is horribly true and does happen, this
makes the book hard to read. However, I was scarily unable to
put it down as I had to know what happened. In my opinion I
don't think this book should have been put on the DBA list as
it is not for younger readers however confident they are.

Marks out of 10: 6

leah from Year 7, Armthorpe School:

this book is a spinchiling story with blood trails and a killer
eye ! the story is soooooooooo scary i hade nightmeres for a
week and that was just the blurb! warning this book is not for
the fant hearted (if u aret friten u are a god.

Marks out of 10: 10

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

Lloyd and Sam are two boys who met when Sam started at there
school and they become great friends. One night when they are
waiting to see who is going to pick them up, whether it is
Lloyd's parents or Sam's parents they end up having to wait for
ages until finally a car draws up and tells them to get in.
They both get in thinking it is the other ones dad, when they
realise after scoffing there faces with sweets that this is a
complete stranger to them they also end up realising that there
is no way out of the car. They end up stuck in a mansion house
with this man who they think intends to harm them.
This book is definitely not something that I would read again.
I did not like the storyline at all. It is a really scary read.
I have to say I would not recommend this book ever. I didn't
like it and my reason for it was that it scared me. After
getting into it I didn't want to read it. This book was a short
read but a difficult one at that and I really could not get
into it.

Marks out of 10: 5

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

I really think that this book has a really strong story line
but I had to rate it down for the simple fact that it's meant
to be a "teen title" when I think personally it's aimed at
people that are older than year nine. It is a really addictive
book because you just want to keep reading but I didn't really
enjoy the plot because it was very adult and shouldn't really
be in the Doncaster Book Awards. I definitely wouldn't
recommend reading this book but if you enjoyed it then you have
some extremely worrying tastes in books...but like I said it
was a really captivating story-line it's just not one of those
"Ohh that looks awesome I'll read that" and then later on say
"wow that was amazing". It's gripping I'll give it that.
Basically it's about these two boys (Sam and Lloyd) who make
the wrong decision and get into a car but are both blinded by
the fact that it's a suprise. Then by chapter 9 things get
dodgey. The boys want to go home and soon find that when they
got in that car their lives were completely changed. My
favourite part of the book was the ending because well you'll
just have to find that out but it all ends with the sport that
saved their lives. But I would make sure it's ok with your
parents first and you're REALLY sure want to read this book
before you do so.

Marks out of 10: 9

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

This book is one of those books where you want to carry on
reading, but at the same time you don't want to know what
happens. It is a very disturbing book and in my opinion it
shouldn't be on the Doncaster award, it is more a Carnegie
book. It is about two boys that get kidnapped by this man in a
posh car. The two boys, Sam and Lloyd, get taken in straight
away, thinking its a surprise that was arranged by LLoyd's Dad.
what they don't know is that they are about to have the worst
weekend of their lives. You will have to read the book to find
out what happens. I would recommend this book to age 14 and
older because in my opinion it is horrible.

Marks out of 10: 8

rebecca from Year 7, Rossington All Saints School:

This book was very scary, i'm 11 and i think that this book
isn't for anyone around my age unless they are good with horrer
and gory, bloody books!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Marks out of 10: 10

sarah from Year 6, Adwick Park Junior School:

I enjoyed this book but it scared the living daylight out of
me. At first I thought it wouldn't be that scary but when I
read on it became more scary and terrifying. It had lots of
suspence and cliffhangers. This book kept me reading nearly all
night long, just couldn't put it down. I wouldn't recommend it
to the faint-hearted. Just remember before you read this book
it's scarier than it looks.
(get your parents permission first!)

Sarah Y6

Marks out of 10: 10

Carys from Year 9, Hall Cross School:

This book was absolutley amazing. Once you start reading it you
can't stop. The best part of it was from the middle to the end.
Although it did get a bit dodgey from around chapter 9, It
didn't need any more description. I thought the characters in
this book matched the story perfectly. I would say first read
is best, but I would read it again anyday.

Marks out of 10: 10

josh from Year 8, De Warenne Academy:

i did not enjoy this book. I didn't find it much of a thriller.
I was very sad as i was looking forward to this book :(

Marks out of 10: 4

Rebecca from Year 7, Rossington All Saints School:

I think this book was very scary and I couldn't put it down!
But I wouldn't reccomend this book to children under 12 years
old, because I think it would be way to scary for them. But top
10!!!

Marks out of 10: 10

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

Sam and Lloyd are two boys who have been friends since Sam
started the school. But one day after school they were waiting
for each others parents. A car pulled up and told them to get
in, they both thought that it was each others parents so they
didn't ask questions. Then they started to ask each other how
their dad has got that car. They started to realise that it
wasn't either of the boys parents. It was a complete stranger!!
Further and further they were heading away from their homes,
then they ended up in the countryside at a mansion. It was
their worst nightmare they were kidnapped!! But the horror was
not over yet. This book is one of those books you can't put
down. Also so so so scary. WARNING DO NOT READ AT NIGHT!!!

Marks out of 10: 7

Paige from Year 9, Hall Cross School:

This book was very good it was a real cliffhanger.Any one who
likes mystery you will like this book

Marks out of 10: 10

Callum from Year 8, Ridgewood School:

I liked this book alot. It was about a boy that moved schools
alot. At this school he finds a rich friend who invites him
over to his house. Little do they know that when they acsept a
lift home it could be there death sentence. The house that they
eventualy stop at is jamed paked with the latest geer but the
man who owns it is a murderer. It takes skill and enjinuety to
get free and make it back home alive

Marks out of 10: 8

Emma from Year 8, De Warenne Academy:

The Long Weekend is a really good mystery - except it is not
marked as a teenager book and it talks about blood and people
getting impaled on spikes. I recommend it for Year 8's to Year
10's.

Marks out of 10: 8

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

I couldn't put this book down, I wouldn't say I liked it, but
the way it grabbed you so you always wanted to know what
happened made the book well writen in my opoinion. The book is
about two friends Sam and lloyd, who foolishly accept a lift
from what they think is each other dad. It turns out they end
up trapped after having the time of their life in the limo an
end up in a mansion with a ruthless man. The suspense as they
realise what has happened is amzing. However, don't think this
book should be on DBA because it is scary and about real
issues.

Marks out of 10: 7

Kash from Year 6, Hatchell Wood Primary School:

This book is based on children above eight because there are
words like crap, and some swear words. I thought it was a bit
boring at the beginning but it gets better at the end.
It was about two boys who got kidnapped, they got put in this
cool games room with loads of games and other cool stuff. At
the beginning the man tried to act nice but later on he was
tring to kill them with an axe. It was stupid because they were
always trying to hide somewhere and once one of the boys tried
to jump out of the window. I kind of like it at the end where
the wimpy boy chucked a glass marble at the man's head, and the
man [deleted by moderator as spoils the ending]. That was a bit
stupid because you are not exactly going to fall off a wall
when a marble hits you.

I rate this book seven out of ten because of the boring parts
at the beginning and the middle of the book. If you are reading
this book and you are bored I think you should read all of it
as it gets better at the end.

Marks out of 10: 7

Jack from Year 9, Danum School Technology College:

Hmmm...I don't really want to give this book a 10/10, because
it scared me to death, but then again, that is what it is
supposed to do, so I've got to give it marks for that! In fact,
The Long Weekend is just the perfect horror story, keeping you
alert at every page, waiting to be shocked by the countless
twists and turns, definitely very frightening, yet still, I
enjoyed the book...I think! Just am hoping it won't give me
nightmares! Basically, the story is about two friends, Sam and
Lloyd, who get kidnapped by a weird, disgusting man, who never
gets named until the very end. The story just calls him "the
man" which is quite mysterious and also quite scary, just the
perfect horror villain. In fact, there were quite a few of
great horror techniques of writing used by the author in this
book, which are really mysterious, and make the reader
cautious. After being kidnapped, the two lads are placed in a
room where they have all the luxuries a boy would like. From
pool tables to games consoles. It all seems good and well, and
the boys believe it was all arranged for them by Lloyd's rich
father. But belief is not fact. All is not what it seems, and
when Sam sees red cameras around the room, the lads soon become
aware that they are being watched. This leads to further
questions, who is this man, is he really who they thought he
was, and most important of all, will they stay alive in the
very long weekend to come? The horrible truth is about to
unfold, in what will be a scary, but convincing read. Now, I
would definitely recommend this book to older readers, it
definitely is scary, and could influence your thoughts, maybe
turned into nightmares, after you have felt the experience of
the "scary" read. I really should not have read this book at
night! Either way, this book is a thriller, and I think it
deserves its chance of a place on the longlist, it just matters
whether the audience can take the fear???

Marks out of 10: 10

Billy from Year 6, Edenthorpe Hall Primary School:

I have not read this book but it looks good and my freind has
commented on this book. He said "yes its rite good." so il
give this book an rating of 8.....

Marks out of 10: 8

Nick from Year 6, Edenthorpe Hall Primary School:

I think the book was amazing it was scary at some parts I think
that everyone should read it!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Marks out of 10: 10

Kyle from Year 11, Ridgewood School:

The suspense of this book is what creates the horror. Every
moment we're left wondering if the next move he makes will be
his last. The book shows friendship on a deep level, deeper
than most friendships.
The book has a lot of twists that make you think you know what
is about to happen, then makes it completely different.
You can feel the emotions they are feeling and it almost feels
as if you're there with them.

Marks out of 10: 7

Abbie from Year 6, Edenthorpe Hall Primary School:

This book was uterly fanttastic I couldent stop reading it (I
have read this book once before) I was waiting for the libery
to give me it it took 4 weeks. I hope that this book will win I
liked it when Sam tryed blocking it and jummped out the
bathroom window on a cord of some sort please vote
peaseeeeeeeee thanxs :) :) :) :) VOTE NOW please.

Marks out of 10: 9

dominic from Year 8, Hall Cross School:

This book made me want more every time i finished a chapter i
had to read another amazing 10/10

Marks out of 10: 10

dominic creed from Year 8, Hall Cross School:

This book made me want more every time i finished a chapter i
had to read another amazing 10/10

Marks out of 10: 10

Connor from Year 7, De Warenne Academy:

i did not like this book i would not read it i looked at the
blurb and put it down straight away and swapped it at school
after the holidays DON'T READ THIS BOOK

Marks out of 10: 2

Colony
J A Henderson

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