WINNERS REVEALED: Youngsters write book reviews with a chance to win great competition prizes

And we were bowled over with the response.

Hundreds and hundreds of budding critics sent in their write-ups – and now it’s time to reveal the winners.

We had a host of prizes on offer for the winners and runners-up in each of the three age categories – 7-10, 11-14 and 15-16.

Waterstones bookshop in the Wool Exchange in central Bradford put up £100 worth of book vouchers for the winner in each category, while the Bradford hub of the National Literacy Trust – along with Waterstones – provided packs of books worth more than £50 for the runners-up.

And Bradford company Qube Learning offered a wonderful iPad Mini for the young reviewer deemed to have written the best overall piece.

The winners and runners-up gathered at Waterstones in Bradford where the prizes were dished out – and today we can reveal their names.

In the 7-10 category, the winner was George Grech, runner-up Sadiya Hussain.

In the 11-14 category, top prize went to Alex Gallucci, with Charlotte Clarkson getting the highly-commended slot.

And Emily Holden was the winner in our 15-16 age group, with Hassan Chowdhury the runner-up.

The entries were judged by David Barnett of the T&A, Ian Oldfield, manager of Waterstones in Bradford, and Imran Hafeez, of the National Literacy Trust’s Bradford hub.

At the event, Imran said that he was amazed at the quantity and the quality of the entries.

He added that it was heartening to see so many young people not only reading but able to put their thoughts down about their favourite books in a critical way.

Ian Oldfield added that the judging process had been really difficult because the quality of the entries was so high overall.

He said that ultimately the judging panel had been unanimous in their verdicts.

Below you can read the winning entries and we’re hoping to put many more on our website at www.telegraphandargus.co.uk.

Dawn Greenwood, traineeship tutor at Qube Learning, handed over the iPad Mini to Alex Gallucci and said that the company was proud to be associated with such a valuable competition.

Alex herself said: “I read a lot – that’s something of an understatement.

“When I saw the competition I really thought that it would be a good thing to enter but I never thought I’d win. I’m really pleased.”

READ THE WINNING ENTRIES IN OUR BOOK REVIEW CONTEST

The winner of the seven-10 age group is GEORGE GRECH, seven, of Shipley. He reviewed The Wreck of the Zanzibar by Michael Morpurgo. 

George wrote: “I’ve read The Wreck of the Zanzibar with my Daddy. At the beginning it is a bit sad because Laura Pennyman’s brother, called Billy, went away in a boat called The Zanzibar.

“Nothing was joyful in Bryher until the chapter named ‘December 9th’. When Billy came back to Bryher and The Zanzibar crashed on rocks, Bryher was back to normal.

“Because of the wreck they could build Bryher back to life.

“Laura Perryman and Billy were cleaning the cowshed after church on Christmas Day when Granny May said, ‘There’s been a dead turtle’.

They all ran down to Green Bay, they had to squeeze through the crowd to see, but it wasn’t a real turtle it was only a figurehead off The Zanzibar.

“I liked this book because it was very adventurous and deep into mystery.”

Runner-up was Sadiya Hussain of Fagley, who reviewed I Think I Murdered Miss, by Billy Bob Buttons.
She said: “What I like about this book is it’s funny and the main character is smart and you can learn things from him.

“My favourite part of the book is when Simon’s friend Isabella said: ‘Don’t get your knickers in a twist.’
“I would recommend it to anyone who wants a fun book or a mystery book.”

OUR overall winner, and winner of the 11-14 age group, is ALEX GALLUCCI:

Markus Zusak’s mind-blowing novel, The Book Thief, made me laugh, cry and miss part of my science lesson; refusing to be parted from my favourite story!

As you bury yourself in the ink-filled pages, you fall through time being caught by friendlier characters. Narrated by Death himself, we are able to be introduced to the unique characters that he plucks from poverty-riddled Nazi Germany and talk to him as if he stood before you in person, ‘because even Death has a heart’.

Often referring to problems happening at the time, The Book Thief shows the development of a young girl in Germany WW2. Understated and beautiful, this story embarks on explaining the truth behind war, they believe they are running into battle when really they are running to death’s outstretched arms.

If this attempt to kindly remind you that books of beauty are still out there and not a myth has worked, then I hope you devour this book. Every last word. With a box of tissues in one hand and the book in the other, we can cry together, my friend.

WARNING: This book must not be left untouched on the shelf in any book store as the writer of this review will be heartbroken, and she thought you were becoming friends.

• Runner-up CHARLOTTE CLARKSON said Under My Skin by James Dawson was gripping.

EMILY HOLDEN was the winner in the 15-16 group with her review of Wonder by RJ Palacio:

Born with a facial deformity, August “Auggie” Pullman has been sheltered all his life by his parents to try to protect him from the brutal world. Now after being home schooled all his life he is about to start public school.

Auggie now faces a daunting school schedule, new friends and sometimes the cruelty of his classmates. Wonder starts in Auggie’s perspective but then switches to other characters’ points of view throughout the book, which really expands the story beyond Auggie’s view. We also see how other people react to Auggie’s personality and physical features.

Things are tough for Via, Auggie’s protective sister, she feels like Auggie is the sun and the rest of her family orbit around him. She sees all the torment Auggie goes through and she feels she shouldn’t complain or bother her parents with minor things.

One of my favourite lines of the book was “I wish every day could be Hallowe’en. We could all wear masks all the time. Then we could walk around and get to know each other before we got to see what we looked like under the masks.” Wonder is very moving and thought-provoking. I recommend it to anyone; it’ll make you reflect on how you feel about yourself and other people. 

• Runner up was HASSAN CHOWDHURY, who reviewed If I Stay by Gayle Forman, and said: “Gayle keeps us on tenterhooks throughout.”