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Hostage
Blindfolded, alone, no idea where you are or what will happen next. The only thing you know is that you’ve been kidnapped. And it’s up to you to escape. Are you brave enough?
Paperback
First published May 1, 2006
2 people are currently reading
143 people want to read
About the author
Malorie Blackman
156 books4,524 followersAn award-winning children's author, Malorie Blackman was honoured with an OBE in 2008. Her work has been adapted for TV and stage.
More information available at:
Myspace
British Council: Contemporary Authors
British Council: Encompass Culture
Channel 4 Learning: Book Box
More information available at:
Myspace
British Council: Contemporary Authors
British Council: Encompass Culture
Channel 4 Learning: Book Box
Ratings & Reviews
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Displaying 1 - 15 of 15 reviews
October 30, 2019
This book is dyslexic friendly due to it having coloured pages and easier to read font making this book more accessible for all readers. The story line was gripping meaning you wanted to read on due to it being about a girl who gets kidnapped and is held hostage until her dad saves her. This book is relatively short making it an easy read, it also has short chapters meaning children can read each chapter in short bursts if they struggle to read and concentrate for long periods of time.
March 23, 2014
A girl who is feeling unloved by her distant single parent father is abducted while walking home from school.
I enjoyed the illustrations throughout this edition, which portrayed various scenarios based on the books' content, but with the addition of thought bubbles, showing what the characters were actually thinking at the time. The actual story involves practical army tricks to use if children ever find themselves abducted. A major theme of the book, apart from kidnapping,is trouble at home, and being raised by a single parent. Consequently, this book has the potential to be of enormous benefit to children who may feel themselves not being loved in a difficult home situation. They may identify with a feel consoled by the travails of the main character in this book. I would use this book in upper key stage 2, for the two main themes - child safety when in the streets and emotional issues with single parents.
I enjoyed the illustrations throughout this edition, which portrayed various scenarios based on the books' content, but with the addition of thought bubbles, showing what the characters were actually thinking at the time. The actual story involves practical army tricks to use if children ever find themselves abducted. A major theme of the book, apart from kidnapping,is trouble at home, and being raised by a single parent. Consequently, this book has the potential to be of enormous benefit to children who may feel themselves not being loved in a difficult home situation. They may identify with a feel consoled by the travails of the main character in this book. I would use this book in upper key stage 2, for the two main themes - child safety when in the streets and emotional issues with single parents.
June 19, 2015
Hostage is a book written by Malorie Blackman. This book is about a girl named Angela who was walking from school angry because she had a fight with her father. She did not want to go back home and see here father so she went to get ice cream on the way there a women in a car called her name two men cought her from the back and pushed her into the car. They put a scarf over her eyes and took her far from the town to a house. On the way she was counting and noticing where they were turning. At the house they tied her up but she remembered what her dad told her and escaped after locking the kidnapers in a room and putting gum in the key hole so that they could not follow her. She calls the police and tells them where she is. The kidnapers chase her in the dark and she falls in a pit. She is rescued by the police and her dad.
May 9, 2021
Read through quickly to check appropriateness for dyslexic learners in my school. Was quick paced and I was worried it would be ‘too scary’ or ‘too realistic’ but it was just the right amount of ‘kidnapping terror’ and kid resilience and quick thinking to escape .
September 24, 2017
Fast paced, action packed, but slightly lacking empathy. Quite a grown up topic of kidnapping, but clever detail about thinking outside the box to escape!
June 13, 2018
This is the first book that I remember reading and properly enjoying as a kid. Any child that enjoys excitement and the slightly darker stories will eat this up
November 11, 2019
Quite good
April 11, 2023
Malorie Blackman has an obsession with ppl being headbutted in the stomach and I'm here for it.
October 18, 2013
Immediately into the story the main character gets kidnapped. And although Angela has a weak relationship with her father because of his depression after her mother’s death; it is the memories of her father's service in the army which helps Angela when she feels the most helpless.
Angela’s father owns a jewellery shop. He uses his business as a means of escape whenever the tension gets very awkward at home with his daughter. When Angela wanted some time away from home herself after school one day, three kidnappers hold her ransom in exchange for her father's jewels.
The worry, fear and torture experienced by both father and daughter allow them both to rekindle their relationship. When he finally finds Angela lying in a ditch after a narrow escape from the kidnappers, they both embrace each other, realising the significance and value of each other.
Blackman wasted no time in setting the mystery and therefore reached the climax equally as fast. Angela manages to escape although she was walking on fine ice!
Short, gripping and straight to the point! A great short-novel which children will be able to engage in.
The narrative goes against what the characters are actually thinking; which is represented through thought bubbles. This element would be interesting in observing to see whether the children manage to pick up on this. Packed with emotions and thought processes; the reader gets a real feel for what the characters are thinking at all times. This contradiction between the character’s thoughts and the narrative will allow readers to understand that situations are not always as they seem and that our thoughts of others are not always correct.
I think this book will be suitable for the upper key stage two; years 5 and 6. I would have it on the classroom book corner as well as allowing them to take it home to read for leisure.
Angela’s father owns a jewellery shop. He uses his business as a means of escape whenever the tension gets very awkward at home with his daughter. When Angela wanted some time away from home herself after school one day, three kidnappers hold her ransom in exchange for her father's jewels.
The worry, fear and torture experienced by both father and daughter allow them both to rekindle their relationship. When he finally finds Angela lying in a ditch after a narrow escape from the kidnappers, they both embrace each other, realising the significance and value of each other.
Blackman wasted no time in setting the mystery and therefore reached the climax equally as fast. Angela manages to escape although she was walking on fine ice!
Short, gripping and straight to the point! A great short-novel which children will be able to engage in.
The narrative goes against what the characters are actually thinking; which is represented through thought bubbles. This element would be interesting in observing to see whether the children manage to pick up on this. Packed with emotions and thought processes; the reader gets a real feel for what the characters are thinking at all times. This contradiction between the character’s thoughts and the narrative will allow readers to understand that situations are not always as they seem and that our thoughts of others are not always correct.
I think this book will be suitable for the upper key stage two; years 5 and 6. I would have it on the classroom book corner as well as allowing them to take it home to read for leisure.
September 9, 2012
Hostage by Malorie Blackman is a book about a young girl who gets kidnapped when she decides to not go home after school because she had an argument with her dad the day before.
Angela gets kidnapped because her dad owns a jewellery shop and the kidnappers want ransom in the form of jewellery from him. What I like about the book is the main character Angela who is confident, outgoing and very brave. I like the character that the book portrayed Angela to have, so was confident enough to escape her kidnappers and smart enough to lead someone to her rescue.
I really enjoyed reading the book and couldn’t put it down, the story is simple yet adventurous and would be a great book to read to inspire children to write stories where the characters are strong and confident. The book can also be used as a class read because of the great illustrations in the book which can be shown during reading time. The book would be suitable for children in key stage two and was overall a good thrilling read that I couldn’t put down.
Angela gets kidnapped because her dad owns a jewellery shop and the kidnappers want ransom in the form of jewellery from him. What I like about the book is the main character Angela who is confident, outgoing and very brave. I like the character that the book portrayed Angela to have, so was confident enough to escape her kidnappers and smart enough to lead someone to her rescue.
I really enjoyed reading the book and couldn’t put it down, the story is simple yet adventurous and would be a great book to read to inspire children to write stories where the characters are strong and confident. The book can also be used as a class read because of the great illustrations in the book which can be shown during reading time. The book would be suitable for children in key stage two and was overall a good thrilling read that I couldn’t put down.
January 20, 2009
This was a book that could teach you a lesson. The girl in the book one day got mad at her father and ran out the house because she was so mad.While she was walking up the block a man came put a pollow case over her head and kidnapped her. They kept her hostage because her dad worked at a jewlery shop and they wanted lots of jewlery in exchange of jewlery he can get his daughter back. So he went through a lot to get his daughter back. The lesson is that children should listen to their parents no matter what you want to do they make up your decision for you.
September 8, 2013
Angela is a young girl who has been kidnapped but does not know if her dad will save her due to an argument earlier on that day. I did not really like this book as I do not feel the story line was that great. However I found the message that the story sends interesting, this book shows that your parents will love you no matter what and that this is not something you need to worry about. I think this book would be best for independent reading.
November 16, 2013
A quick read that wastes no time in getting to the point. It isn't the best but it's target audience will be captivated by it's thrilling narrative and it's wonderful illustrations.
January 19, 2017
This is a horror fiction, I think. This book is scary, but lastly is joyful, I think the main character is very smart.
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January 22, 2019I think is so nice
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
Displaying 1 - 15 of 15 reviews