Having their say

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This article was published 26/07/2025 (431 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current.

The Free Press’s Summer Reading Challenge for Kids is in full swing, and a host of young reviewers have submitted their thoughts on some of the 12 books on the reading lists.

The Free Press offered a few guidelines for the reviews — write about what they liked, what they didn’t like, and include a star-rating out of five — but the rest was up to them.

And, as you’ll see, we’ve got some candid young critics on our hands.

A second batch of reviews will run in print and online at the end of August, so there’s still ample time for kids to register for the reading challenge, check out the book lists (curated by McNally Robinson Booksellers) and submit their reviews.

Visit Kids Book Club to register for free and for more information about all the books on the three reading lists (for reading levels 7 to 9 years, 10 to 12 years and 13 to 15 years).

Once registered, you’ll receive reading guides and activities for each book, as well as information on upcoming deadlines for review submissions. Any questions can be sent to bookclub@winnipegfreepress.com.

 

Katrina Hyena, Stand-Up Comedian

By Sophie Kohn

OwlKids Books, 64 pages, $22

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I liked the book because I thought it was an inspiration, because I think animals telling jokes just makes my brain pop.

I disliked nothing about this book because I just thought,”Ooooh I like this,” and, “Ooh I love this.”

★★★★★ out of 5 stars

— Audrey Oldfield, age 8

 

This book was about Katrina Hyena, who laughs for a different reason. She laughs because she thinks the world is so funny, but the other hyenas think she’s laughing because she’s in trouble. My favourite part was when Katrina did her stand up comedy show.

★★★★★ out of 5 stars

— Kinley Alexander, age 8

 

Two Green Birds

By Geraldo Valerio

Groundwood Books Ltd., 88 pages, $15

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I read this book with my Grandma. It was a book about a grandma and her grandson and spending time together in the garden and caring for one another and pet birds.

Sometimes the book was sad when the birds wouldn’t eat. Then Francisco and his Grandma knew that even birds need their family to be happy and feel love and let the birds fly away with all the wild birds. I would not read this book again.

★★★ out of 5 stars

— Tannen J., age 9

 

A Constellation of Minor Bears

By Jen Ferguson

HarperCollins, 352 pages, $25

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A Constellation of Minor Bears by Jen Ferguson is a really great book! I loved that the story got right into it, without a bunch of boring backstory stuff. In my opinion, there was a perfect intro. I also really enjoyed the way the author wrote from different perspectives. It adds depth to the writing, and as a reader it is nice to “hear” what the other characters are thinking.

My favourite character was Brynn, who showed up at the perfect time and she caused some drama, which really got me invested into this book! Finally, I feel like the ending was just flawless (SO GOOD) and you HAVE to read the book all of the way through for it!!!

All in all, A Constellation of Minor Bears was a book that I loved and will recommend to everyone!

★★★★ out of 5 stars

— Lianne Beirnes, age 12

 

The Ghosts of Bitterfly Bay

By Mary Averling

Penguin Random House, 224 pages, $25

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Maudie, Scratch, and Kit aren’t normal kids. They are ghosts haunting Mayflower Cottage, which is by the sea and is a spooky place. Their job is to scare away visitors.

This time the Edevanes come, and Maudie tells her scariest story yet about a monster called Longfingers. He’s super tall with nails so long they scrape the floor and teeth sharp like knives.

At first Maudie doesn’t believe Longfingers is real. But then Kit and Scratch go missing, and everything changes. Who would want to take them? Could Longfingers actually be real?

I liked that the book was spooky but also kind of funny sometimes. I liked how Maudie is bossy but brave, Scratch is jumpy and Kit is curious. They try to protect each other, even though they are pretending to be scary. I liked the mystery about the legend. I even read it under the covers in bed at night when I was supposed to be sleeping!

I give it 4.5 out of 5 stars. I would have given it 5, but I like graphic novels a little more. Kids who like ghost stories and mysteries would like to read The Ghosts of Bitterfly Bay.

★★★★ 1/2 out of 5 stars

— Rafaela LeGoff, age 10

 

The book was interesting and I liked how in the end, Maudie, Scratch and Kit turned back into humans.

There was a part that was surprising when Longfingers was playing tricks on Maudie. They live on Ponderosa Island in Bitterfly Bay in Mayflower Cottage.

★★★★★ out of 5 stars

— Natalie Neufeld, age 8

 

The Kodiaks: Home Ice Advantage

By David A. Robertson

Portage & Main Press, 200 pages, $13

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I liked this book because it had diversity, and I liked how it was told in a play-by-play. I would recommend it to people who like hockey and/or people who are bullied, but they’re too shy to tell an adult.

I also liked it because it was the first book I have EVER read that was set in Winnipeg! It was cool how I knew all the places! It wasn’t my favourite because I felt like there could’ve been more girls (there were only two), but at least they both like hockey (I do!). I would rate it a four out of five! It was a good book!

★★★★ out of 5 stars

— Katie Verch, age 10

 

Three Thieves: Tower of Treasure

By Scott Chantler

Papercutz/Simon & Schuster, 128 pages, $20

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Dessa Redd is a 14-year-old acrobat in a circus. She is trying to find her lost twin brother, so she starts looking in the big city of Kingsbridge. She plans to rob the royal treasury with her friends Fisk and Topper. Fisk is big and super strong like an ogre, and Topper is small with big ears and really sneaky. They aren’t humans, but other creatures that live in the same world.

I liked all the guards and traps they had to get past and how they tried to escape. The pictures were really good and the story is exciting and funny too. I want to read the next one to see if Dessa finds her brother.

★★★★★ out of 5 stars

— George LeGoff, age 8

 

Three Thieves: Tower of Treasure by Scott Chandler is an interesting graphic novel. It was quick and easy to read. The pictures look hand drawn and are well done. The illustrations add to the graphic novel.

The characters are weird and cool at the same time. There’s a human girl, an elf and a giant. The story was very exciting and I wanted to keep reading, but I wish we could know more about her back story. I feel like it’s a book that you really have to read the next book in the series to fully understand.

★★★★ 1/2 out of 5 stars

— Stephanie Boon, age 10