Every week we are featuring one of the brilliant books in the running for the 2013 Guardian children's fiction prize. This week it's Maggot Moon by Sally Gardner.
What's the book about?
Zone Seven in the Motherland is a horrible place to be growing up. Fun is forbidden, colour is absent, hunger is the norm and danger is everywhere. Worst of all, people just disappear. Fifteen-year-old Standish's parents have disappeared, so he and his grandfather struggle on alone. But Standish grows increasingly restless. His outsider's view of the world makes him a prime target for small-minded teachers and classroom bullies. But it also gives him a different perspective on the distorted world the authorities have built around him. When the Motherland's plan for a moon landing threatens to make life even worse, Standish decides to fight back. In his own curious and powerfully individual language, he describes his stand against oppression. This is a thrilling and inspiring story of individual courage.
Find out more about the book
Now's your chance to read the book, hear from the author, write a review and enter our young critics' prize.
Try the first eight chapters of Maggot Moon
Sally Gardner's top 10 books for children with dyslexia
Read site member SophieScribe's review
Read site member Lydia's review
Write your review!
The Young Critics competition is for all young readers to share their views on any of the longlisted books. Anyone under 16 can enter by writing a review of no more than 200 words of one of the books longlisted for the prize. Individuals or school classes can enter and there are great prizes to be won.
You can find out more and enter here.
Two of the Guardian's top children's books critics, Philip Ardagh and Linda Buckley-Archer have given some great advice on writing book reviews. And, of course, it must all be your own work. If you decide to quote from anybody else's review, then you MUST credit them.
Or comment!
If you'd just like to share a quick comment about the book, email it to childrens.books@guardian.co.uk and we'll add it to this page
Find out more about the Guardian children's fiction prize book club
Next week's book: Gillian Cross's After Tomorrow
