Doncaster Book Award - Read Reviews

Doncaster: Discover the Spirit

Bloodchild
by Tim Bowler

So far we have received 31 reviews of Bloodchild. You can read them below.

Tamara from Year 7, Ridgewood School:

it was very good and it is my favirte book.

Marks out of 10: 10

Jack from Year 9, Danum School Technology College:

Well, Bloodchild was the first book I chose to read on the
Doncaster Book Award longlist this year, and it definitely was
a brilliant, fascinating start to what could be a very good
Doncaster Book Award longlist this year. Basically, bloodchild
starts when a boy named Will has had an accident. He thinks he
is dead, but the angel with Blue eyes like the ocean and Black
hair comes to save him and keeps him fighting to stay alive.
Basically, this encouragement brings Will back to life, but his
memory of life before has completely gone. He can't remember
anything, even his own name, or his deepest friends, even his
mum and dad. But when mum and dad come to take him home from
the hospital, Will starts to attempt to discover his previous
life. He finds out from his parents that he is hated by most
people of the town called Havensmouth, because he is seen to be
a little weird, in fact, very weird, and tends to have
"hallucinations" as they call it, quite regularly. Obviously,
Will doesn't remember anything, but as the story goes on, Will
starts remembering things and keeps on getting visions of the
angel with Blue eyes and Black hair, sometimes leading him to
try and follow her, which leads him outside into the town or
the harbour-not a friendly place to be, especially if you are
Will. With teen gangs and men in Balaclavas, Will gets beaten
up and badly hurt regularly, and trying to describe his visions
to everybody just doesn't work and nobody believes him, they
think he is having "hallucinations." So Will gets frustrated,
and for some reason, these visions, which always come in bright
red when anything is important, lead him into thinking there is
an illness, or sickness to the town. He finds out that in his
previous life, he had also thought this as well, and was
possibly close to discovering what was wrong, but now, Will has
to start all over again. In a story which involves death,
violence, love, although happiness and sorrow, Bloodchild
clearly is shown to be a teen title, and Will gets to know his
past and discovers what is wrong.
I honestly was simply attracted by this book from the start by
the front cover, which displays a picture of Will and what can
be seen as a scary stare, which people also don't like him for.
When reading this book, I became very attracted to it and
became in love with the storyline-which lead me into reading it
every day. I have to say, the story was very impressive, with
an amazing storyline and a brilliant conclusion to the ending.
I honestly couldn't fault it, and although I haven't read the
other 19 books out there on the longlist, I can't help but
believe Bloodchild stands a great chance of making it to the
shortlist. I can understand why it was a Carnegie winner, and
it could well become a DBA winner too, recommending it to more
older readers, because of it's strong language and heavy
storyline which can possibly upset readers and have a big
impact on them or their emotions, possibly leading to fear. A
great book and a great start to a great award!!! An easy
10/10.

Marks out of 10: 10

Adam from Year 5, Woodfield Primary:

coolest book ever don't want to give u too much abut the
thrilling book it will spoil your read. 10 out of 10 best book
ever.

Marks out of 10: 10

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

This book starts with a boy, Will who can only remember that he
had an accident, he has lost all his other memory and can't
even remember who he is. He saw a grey light as his first
impression after the accident. At first he thought it was a
sign of death, but it wasn't.
I felt sorry for Will because he doesnt have the chances we
have in life if he doesn't have any memory whatsoever. I would
recommend this book to people who like sad books, beccause Will
is not reliable enough to do things on his own, he has to have
other people by his side.
I loved this book even though it is for older people. It has
murders in, and a scarey man on the beach, and is a bit creepy,
but I think this makes the book.

Marks out of 10: 9

Abbie from Year 9, Mexborough School:

This thrilling book was a real page turner. I thoroughly
enjoyed it and would reccomend it to any book lover who thrives
on adventure and mystery.
There are many twists to the story, all of them entirely
pleasurable, and although the book seems dark throughout, it
still ahs a happy ending, which many books lack nowadays.
A completely enthralling book for people who can spot a good
book a mile off ( this one :] ). x

Marks out of 10: 9

melissa from Year 8, Rossington All Saints School:

i think this book was very bad it took me 4 weeks to read up to
chapter 8 and the last book i read took me two days.it just
seemed to drag on and i was losing intrest in the book

Marks out of 10: 1

Joshua from Year 8, Rossington All Saints School:

I thought that this particular book was ok but I had to stop
half way as it made no sence as what was happening. I lost
interest and also I recomened this to older more suphisticated
readers.

Marks out of 10: 5

lewis from Year 6, Hatfield Manor Junior School:

i love blood child but some times it goes on about diffrent
things i would recommend it but its not my fave

Marks out of 10: 9

Nathan from Year 5, Owston Primary School:

It was superb but you should have more action, It is very good
when he goes unconshes scary to. If people like scary story's
then this is perfect. The child is my favirate chareter in the
book.

Marks out of 10: 9

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

Blood Child is a really amazing book! After reading it I wanted
to read it again. This book is a truly fantastic read. A child
who has had an accident is wondering whether he is dead or
alive, and can hear people talking to and about him. He doesn't
realise it but he can talk in small sentances to the people
around him. And when he gains conscousness, something feels
different to him...
He feels that something evil is in the village and its coming
closer and closer...

A truly unputdownable book!

Marks out of 10: 10

bryn from Year 6, Hatfield Manor Junior School:

i liked this book alout but i thought it is more for teenages
and not for kids becouse it had alout of hard words in it but i
rilly ingoyd it it was rilly goodand tim bowler is a rilly good
riter

Marks out of 10: 8

Callum B from Year 6, Montagu School, Mexborough:

This book is so interesting and if you start to read it you
can't stop till you finished. It is a little sad at one bit but
it is mostly action. I highly recomend this book

Marks out of 10: 10

Liam from Year 9, Armthorpe School:

I love Tim Bowler's books and this is no exception! It's a
psychological thriller that really hits the spot! Set in a
small West Country seaside town the residents seem like they
have something to hide! Will, the main character finds himself
almost nearly dead after an accident and he can't remember what
has happened. When he returns from hospital he can't help
feeling something is not quite right in the village, in fact he
has a very bad feeling about the villagers and that there is
something evil going on.
He sets off to find out much against his parents wishes and
ends up with people questioning his sanity.

So many unanswered questions and strange goings on.........can
will trust anybody. Can he recover his memory? Who is the girl
who seems to want to tell him things? Is he dreaming?

All these questions, Will needs to find the
answers...........if you do too read the book!

Marks out of 10: 10

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

Will has lost his memory, all he remembers is that he had an
accident. I liked how this got scarier and scarier as the
story went on. Will was my favourite character because even
though he had lost his memory he was really brave. I would
freak out if I lost my memory. I didn't dislike anything about
this book and I would recommend it to anyone who likes thriller
stories or Tim Bowler books, as I think they they will love
this book.

Marks out of 10: 9

jordan from Year 9, De Warenne Academy:

good book but hard to get your head round
wooo!!!

Marks out of 10: 8

Isobel from Year 9, Danum School Technology College:

Wow, that story is amazing, only written by a genius.

The story's main character is a boy who sees the towns'
illness, but someone doesn't want 'Mad' people sprouting 'lies'
and will do everything to stop him... the question you're
probably asking - 'WHAT IS THIS ILLNESS?' well it all becomes
clear when he can solve who has (or had...) blue eyes and black
hair.

I rated this book 7/10 because it took time to get into (it's
the only fall back).

THIS IS AN AMAZING BOOK!!!!

Marks out of 10: 7

Toni from Year 9, Armthorpe School:

I really enjoyed the book it was a mystery it was really
complicated in places and a bit hard to keep up with,however
the story line was great and ,also, a bit sad but any thing you
found complicated was sorted out at the end its a great book if
you like mystery with a twist this is your book!!!
:D Loved it XD

Marks out of 10: 10

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

Bloodchild is a boy called Will and he has an accident, but he
thinks he's dead. But an angel with blue eyes keeps him alive.
He is alive but he has lost his memory of the life he had. He
can't remember his name, his friends or even his mum and dad.
His parents pick him up from the hospital and take him home as
Will is trying to remember his previous life.

Bloodchild was an interesting book when he was trying to
remember his life. 3 stars!

Marks out of 10: 6

Kieren from Year 6, Hatfield Manor Junior School:

Bloodchild is a brilliant book. I would recomend it for 9+ as
it has some tricky words in it but it is a good book to read

Marks out of 10: 10

travis from Year 6, Hatfield Manor Junior School:

This book is quite a slow book to get into, but once you get
into it it is an enjoyable read. There are some long words so I
would recomend this to an age range of 10+.

Marks out of 10: 6

Tammy from Year 6, Owston Primary School:

This book is fantastic and I would recommend it to anyone that
ain't fainthearted but I loved this book

Marks out of 10: 10

Emily hulbert from Year 13, Edenthorpe Hall Primary School:

this is book was very confuseing but i could not put i down my
mum in joned it to i love this book lol. :):):)

love XxX emiz

Marks out of 10: 10

Beth from Year 6, Hatfield Manor Junior School:

Great at beginning but as you get further in to it, it gets a
bit boring . It drags a bit.

Marks out of 10: 6

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

The main character, Will I thought was really brave if I lost
my memory I wouldnt like it. In fact I would hate it,
horrible!!! In all I thought it was a fantastic book. The only
downer was that it was hard to get your head around.
Especially at the beginning. Its like no one knows what's going
on but still it is brilliant! I would recommend this book to
maybe mature yr 6's and over as it is hard to get into. You
need to stick with it. Fantastic 4 3\4 stars!!! ****...

Marks out of 10: 9

Elinor from Year 8, Danum School Technology College:

I didn't really like this book.

It is about a boy called Will, who has had an accident and
can't remember anything, not even his parents. He questions
them about what he was like before the accident. He learns that
he used to have strange 'hallucinations' which nobody could
explain. Sure enough, the next day, these visions start to
occur again. The most often appearing one is of a teenage girl
with black hair and deep blue eyes. As he explores his town, he
learns more things about his past, including some very dark
secrets...

Now, the blurb and any other description of this book make it
sound brilliant, but it is not. The plot is absolutely amazing,
but I don't think it is too well written. I ended up on the
townspeoples' side, thinking of him as a mad, hallucinating
boy. I am sure this was not intended, judging by Will's
reaction when anyone calls him 'madboy' in the book.

Marks out of 10: 4

robert5 from Year 5, Hatfield Manor Junior School:

I give Bloodchild 3 marks out of 10 because I was geting bored
of it

Marks out of 10: 3

beth from Year 7, Ridgewood School:

i loved this book, i very liked it

Marks out of 10: 8

Abigail from Year 6, Montagu School, Mexborough:

I really enjoyed this book because each time something exciting
had ended the auther moved straight on to something else
exciting. Ever since Will has moved to Havensmouth he has
sensed a sickness in the town and, he has been having
illusinations and trances. He intends to find out and defeat
the sickness. I'd have to say Beth is my favourite character
because she was always there for Will and after his accident it
was really hard for her to see the state that he was in.

Marks out of 10: 9

Jack from Year 7, Ridgewood School:

Brilliant!

Marks out of 10: 10

Charlotte from Year 7, Ridgewood School:

I didn't really understand this book so therefore I didn't like
it. I thought it would be greater but I was dissapointed. I
liked the start but it gradually got too strange for me before
I began to really dislike it.
I may read other books by the same author and see if I prefer
them but this book (in my opinion) should not be in the
shortlist.

Marks out of 10: 3

holly from Year 9, Owston Primary School:

i would recomend this book to everyone who likes a bit of a
scary things and it was a bit slow and not very good i just
couldent get into it

Marks out of 10: 8