Secret Breakers - The Power of Three reviewed by Charlie Eldridge

“Secret Breakers

The Power Of Three”

Written By: H. L. Dennis

Reviewed By: Charlie Eldridge

In 21^st century London young teenager, Brodie Bray gets a mysterious letter from the postman that turns her life upside down. Brodie discovers that her family has been obsessed with an ancient document that has been kept secret for many generations, the Voynich Manuscript. In this truly terrifying quest to read the unreadable Brodie discovers how her mother was killed and why this terrible crime was committed.

Leaving her hometown, Brodie moves to a small area at the back of a museum improvised as a mini school codenamed Station X. At Station X Brodie learns the ways of code breaking with the wisdom and experience of her teachers Mr. Smithies, Miss Tandari and Mr. Ingham. Brodie was one of the only three people who came to Station X, out of the dozens that were invited.

Brodie meets some new friends, Hunter and Tusia and together they try to discover why the manuscript was written and how to decode it. They receive mysterious clues from people who have passed away 50 years ago. This team of code crackers never gives up, even in the hardest times. This may be the first time in many years that anyone has ever come this close to decoding the highly confidential Voynich Manuscript.

Secret Breakers kept me on the edge of my seat the whole way. It was fantastic! I could really feel the challenging moments and emotions that Brodie was going through. The book becomes so intense and exciting particularly when the team uncovers the answer to a riddle or code.

I liked the book because unpredictable and mysterious things happen when you least expect it. It is all about the thrill of solving the impossible. I also like it because there are weird and wacky characters like crazy Mr. Ingham who straps coffee mugs to his wrists and wears pajamas all day every day.

Secret Breakers is the first exciting book in a series of six for young teens who love mystery and adventure.

There are some interesting hand drawn illustrations in the book that allows the reader to imagine how Brodie resolves each problem she encounters. I would have liked more illustrations throughout each chapter to help me visualize Brodie’s surroundings. On the down side, I personally don’t like the front cover because it is dull and doesn’t look very appealing. I also think that the ending is very sudden and doesn’t tell you a lot about what is to come in the next book.

But seriously, don’t judge this book by its cover. Overall it is a fantastic read that keeps you on your seat waiting to know what is going to happen next. 9/10

Title: Secret Breakers The Power Of Three

Author: H. L. Dennis

Illustrator: Meggie Dennis

Publisher: Hodder Children’s Books UK

Publication date: 2012

Release date: May 2012

Format: Soft Cover

For ages: 9 and up

Blog update

Hi everyone,
After a wonderful holiday season, the Written Dimension is back and ready to start bringing you news about the exciting new releases and events instore.
Stay tuned tomorrow for reviews on the new Patrick Gale novel "A Perfectly Good Man", Tony Edward's "My Life as a Pork Chop" as well as some worthy musings form our dedicated team of readers of young adult fiction.

Favourite reads

We have all been thinking about our favourite books in store and our favourite hidden gem (the book that doesn't necessarily get all the publicity or the prizes but is a guaranteed great read). Which book is your favourite and which book is your hidden gem?
I'll start the ball rolling and suggest Jasper Jones and the hidden gem is Modoc.
Just add your comments below...

About us

The Written Dimension book shop and ABC Centre is proudly independent. It is the oldest book shop in Noosa, having been in business for over 20 years. It is owned by local resident, Keith Moore, and ably managed by Rachel Burgoyne, a local resident of more than 20 years standing. With over thirty years of combined experience on tap, we offer our customers the ultimate book buying experience, providing an extensive range of titles and the best in customer service standards from our knowledgeable staff. With a wide range of books always available, across all genres and age groups, the Written Dimension has become a literary oasis for discerning book buyers in Noosa. Through our ABC Centre we also offer access to music and DVDs, including the latest in ABC, BBC and SBS products.


We pride ourselves on our ability to meet all your needs, so if we are unable to supply the title you want from our extensive range, we are more than happy to order anything not in stock, with delivery for the vast majority of titles, dependent upon supplier, usually within 7 to 10 days. If we need to get a title for you from overseas this will of course take longer, but is still usually within 4 weeks.


All of us here at The Written Dimension keep up to date with the latest releases and, whatever your taste in books, one of our friendly, experienced staff members will be able to make recommendations to suit your needs. Whether choosing a book for yourself, a friend or relative, we’re here to help you find what you’re looking for.

Being an independent business run by locals, for locals, we are proud to support our local authors, stocking and promoting their titles whenever possible. We arrange book signings and author visits – please let us know by subscribing to our monthly newsletter if you would like to see details of these events. At The Written Dimension we aim to provide the best service and widest range of products available to fulfill all your literary needs. Visit us in store, online (www.writtendimension.com.au), contact us by email (info@writtendimension.com.au) or call us on (07) 5447 4433.

At the Written Dimension, we love people who love books.

Our Favourite Reads

The Unlikely Voyage of Jack de Crow by A J Mackinnon

I love travel narratives, and this one is one of the best I’ve read. A J (Sandy) Mackinnon is an Australian born teacher and now writer, who decided to quit his job at a school on the Welsh Borders, and sail away in an ancient little Mirror dinghy he’d “borrowed” from the school. His original goal was London, no mean feat in itself, but on reaching there, he decided to keep going, and ended up, 12 countries and nearly 5,000 kilometres later, on the shores of the Black Sea.

Told with wit and flair, this is the ultimate slow travel story, in the company of an eccentric raconteur of great charm.
  

Jasper Jones by Craig Silvey

This multi award winning book was our pick for the Book of the Year in 2009, and went on to win the Indie Award (the award made by independent Australian booksellers, for the best book that year written by an Australian author) and many others. It tells the story of Jasper Jones, a 14 year old half caste aboriginal lad growing up in rural Western Australia in the early 1970s, and his relationship with the narrator of the story, 13 year old Charlie Bucktin. Both misfits, the boys are thrown together one night when Jasper appears at Charlie’s window and asks for help.

A coming of age story which has been compared to the seminal “to Kill a Mocking bird”, this books is beautifully written, combining humour and life-affirming narrative, and setting it against the challenging issues of the age in which the book is set (and of today)  – racism, war and prejudice. The characters are well rounded and believable, as are the emotions. A real page turner, with a strong message.
  

One Day by David Nichols

I’m a sucker for a good ‘feel-good rom com’ and this book, soon to be a movie, is one of the best I’ve read in a long time. With loads of genuine laugh out loud moments and for those inclined that way, many tears, this book will brighten your day. Following a one night “fling” on the night of their graduation in 1998, Emma and Dex go their separate ways. So where will they be and what will they be doing on that very day next year? And the year after that?   And every year that follows? 20 years years later?....

We’ve just got this book in an exciting new book format called “flip-back”. Printed on bible paper and hand stitched for strength, these wonderful little new books are designed to fit in your back pocket or hand bag, yet are still easy to read. Light and easy to handle, flip-backs are taking Europe by storm.
  

Azincourt, by Bernard Cornwell

One of my favourite genres is historical fiction, and Bernard Cornwell is, in my opinion, the master. He combines meticulous historical detail with a rollicking good pace, to produce page turners which are so good you can almost “smell” the atmosphere of the times.

I first read a Cornwell because he wrote a series about King Alfred (b: 848, d: 899), the first king of a unified England. I was drawn to the series because, as a Winchester resident before arriving in Australia, I walked past Alfred’s statue in the High Street on an almost daily basis. I’m so glad I did, because the “Alfred” series, as it is known, is simply brilliant. This book though, Azincourt, is a stand-alone book set in 1415, documenting the epoch defining battle better known as Agincourt, when the English longbow archer defeated the much better equipped and far more numerous French army.

This book is widely regarded as his best book yet, and describes the battle from the viewpoint of one archer, Nicholas Hook. The historical detail is a reward in itself, but when combined with the fast-paced, heart stopping narrative, the result is simply brilliant. Story telling at its best.

Some Dogs Do by Jez Alborough

I just had to put this book in. My soon-to-be eight year old daughter, who has been reading by herself for a year now, still allows me to read this to her if I’m very, very good. We’ve been reading it together for nearly six years (and with my elder daughter for a year before that) and we both know it by heart. With rhyming text, perfect illustrations and a great message, this is a book for all kids from 2 to 92. I’ve yet to meet anyone who doesn’t smile broadly at the last page.

Just A Girl

by Jane Caro

Reviewed by Jessica

Just a Girl was an interesting historical book, but I think it's for a much older age group. QUC needs to re-define the age group: it's not suitable for 12-14 year-olds. My mother very much enjoyed this, so I think the book should be for uni-students studying Elizabethan history, or 20+. 

The Clockwork Three

by Matthew Kirby 

Reviewed by Jessica

The Clockwork Three had my attention right from the beginning. I was reallly getting into
the story and loving it. Like the title suggests, each character's story is intertwined with the
other main characters. One thing that I didn't like though, was the fact that J. Kirby made
a 'spiritualist crackpot' or in other words, a lady who could commune with the dead, (witchcraft) a GOOD character. How does that work? In my mind you cannot mix good with evil.. so a witch shouldn't be a good character!!! Perhaps it doesn't bother other people, but to me it as if Sauron out of Lord of the Rings were a good character... It just doesn't work... y'know? All in all, I was disappointed