The Resurrection Casket

Review: Justin Richards' new novel tackled by Class 5

One of a new batch of three hardback novels from BBC Books, we sent copies of Justin Richards' Doctor Who: The Resurrection Casket to Class 5 at Upwell School in Cambridgeshire.

Here, the members of the reading group (Fabian, Jessica, Nicholas, Rebecca and Rowena) give us their thoughts about this new adventure.

What was it about?

The TARDIS has a failure and the Doctor and Rose end up at Starfall where modern technology doesn't work and everything is run on steam. There are legends of space pirates and a mysterious man named Glint.

Was it exciting?

Fabian thought that "it was one of those stories that keeps you reading - you can't put it down." He added that the "excellent start throws you straight into the story". In fact, Rowena thought it was so exciting that she got told off for reading too late at night!

Was it scary?

Jessica thought that the scariest part was when Kevin tries to kill the Doctor, whereas Rowena found Silver Sally and her hissing joints especially creepy. Rebecca agreed that Silver Sally was scary, in particular the moment when she tries to get into the room.

Who was your favourite character?

Both Rebecca and Rowena voted for Rose as their favourite, mainly because she was "inventive and has good ideas" and because she's good at fighting. The boys preferred Kevin, "because of how he killed people", said Nicholas. Jessica's favourite character was the Doctor himself.

Favourite bits?

Nicholas: "I liked the description of the Krarks."
Jessica: "The bit when the TARDIS broke down."
Fabian: "Probably the bit with the snooker balls."
Rowena: "When Kevin got the gold medallion and was free."
Rebecca: "When the robots were trying to get inside, and Rose and Jimm used the catapult."

Would you recommend it?

All five of the children definitely recommended it, saying that it could be equally enjoyed by both boys and girls. Rowena said told us that "the scary bits are short and not too close together", and Jessica added that although it was scary at times, it wasn't too scary. Both Nicholas and Fabian decided to award the book 5 out of 5.

The children all wanted to know what happened to Jimm, so they would like Justin Richards to write a sequel please!

With thanks to the children of Class 5, Upwell School and their teacher Sue Dack.

daniel slack.manchester
1 chapter from end but wow... cool book, get it red now!! no realy, keeps u thinking till the end (not that iv got quite there yet ..but), cool twist on the casket.. recomend it 10-10

Justine
this was the firts dr who bok i read and it was full of adventure , scary aswell but really good . kevin is funny how he kills the people . Justin richards is a really talented writer

Sam Headey
Great book, love the part when Jimm and Rose use snooker balls in a catapult

louis
I got it on CD and haven't quite finished it but I really like Kevin and the bit when he says that he won't be a vandal. 77/77 !

Jack Hewitt
I really liked this book. And I have always been interested in pirates. A fusion of Dr Who and pirates really made me happy. I liked the twist at the end

Jack Bool
This book is brilliant.I have all the books. This one is my 2nd favourite. I'd recommend it to anyone.Because I enjoyed it very much. FANTASTIC!

Jack bool
This book was fantastic.I have read 4 who books. This was the best so far.

Belinda Wright
i loved this book i have all three of them and some of the older ones with chris eccelson on the front they are fab

Lorraine
I brought this book for my 13 year old son but thought i would have a little look at it first well i was hooked i could not put the book down it was a great story can't wait to get the rest of the Doctor Who books and read them.

lauren
i thought the book was a sort of space like treasure island and i would give it a 10/10

Danny
this doctor who book is by far the best

megan doctor whos number 1 fan
i think it was really scary when rose was in the cupboard and she heard silver sally talking to the other evil crew members

callum milligan
stuning book defentley 10 out of 10 but what happend to jimm

Ryan Jones a.k.a The Doctor
i've only just started reading these books and find they are the best thing since sliced bread!!!!!!!!!! :>

william
great could not take my eyes of it 10/10

May Llyn
This is such a brilliant book. Justin Richards has captured the Doctor in this story perfectly.

Louise
i loved the whole book i didnt won't to put it down i felt like i was right there watching the whole thing happen.

SC
much more orientated to a young reader market but generally ok even if you could see the plot lines 10 minutes before you got to them. great for the younger people, a bit too much of an easy read for older fans

michael
one of the best books i have read and i wish they would make it in to an episode but now rose is gone they can't :(

jody day
One of the best books i ever read i loved it

Eoin McAndrew (12)
I think that The Clockwise Man was a great read. The Deviant Strain was pushing it a bit, but this one was the best yet.

Danny
Robots.. pirates.. The doctor.. And a brilliant story line which Can make it feel like an actuall t.v episode. Justin Richards.. whats the news of a sequal? Brilliant book 10/10

Mark
Really loved this book, it is my favourite out of the three new ones. 10/10

torchwood
this book book was amazing! i could pacticurlaly relate to the character of Kevin and found him very amusing! a jolly goog romp for all!

tamara
i have read all 3 of the new doctor who books and they are all fab. i could not put them down. this book was brilliant. i give it 10 out of 10!

Sam Bland
This is THE BEST of all the Doctor Who books! It was amazing!!!!!!!!! It was one of the best books I have read in ages. Justin Richards is the master of Doctor Who books - I hope he writes some scripts for the series. 11 and a half out of 10!

Shelley(13)
To be honest i wasnt into the whole sci-fi ting till i watched doctor who! I now have read the book and think it was flippin fantastic!Anyone who hasnt read this book i would strongly reccomend it!

Harry
I'm only 1/2 way through the book and it's flipping BRILLIANT!!!!!

Hollie Malster (14)
I didn't think at first that this book would be good but I was so surprised when I found it so brill.

viki cooper
i really liked this book, mainly beacause it kept you reading and the story was fast-paced.

bonbon
My favourite part was when Kevin was chasing the Doctor and Drel McCavity called Rose girlie. I would recommend this book and The Stone Rose and The Feast of the Drowned. Very very very VERY good.

The Scientist
I thought Drel McCavity was the scariest character, don't know why.. but it could be the fact that he's a complete PSYCHO-NUTTER!!!! You know, just pointing it out.

Danielle Broomfield
The Books are really good! they should make them into episodes!

jack hodgiinson
I love this book the over night I was reading it that long I fell asleep

jak
the book was brillient, 10 - 10

Susan Murray
Highly recommended for children and adults who wanted to be pirates when they grew up.

owen
I think its amazing and one of the best doctor who books yet 10/10!!!

Matthew
I thought The Resurrection Casket was an amazing book. I thought the ending was brilliant, and the story line was fantastic.

Sean
I fought it was good i liked the dog

bryanna
i havent read all of it, but silver sally was scary and wierd

Eggs
Brilliant.I could'nt put it down, I payed for it the next morning though!

Amy Hudd
I thought It was brilliant and I have read It three times

Westy JR
A brilliant novel full of excitment and danger. I like the bit where Kevin (the monster) had a in depth conversation will trying to kill him. My favourite other character was Kevin, because of his humor in the way 'it's just a job'.

kayla
this book was well cool it was a fantastic story and was really funny.expecially kevin the black shadow who apologises before killing someone.i would recomend this book to anyone who loves doctor who expecially young teenagers

Laura
I love this book and would recommend it to children and adutls. Another brill Doctor Who book!

andy
i bought the ressurection casket and it is fantastic.I cant stop reading it because every bit is a good part and when you put it down it still is a good part.

jack rogers
I give this book 100 out of 100

kaz
i think the resurrection casket was brilliant and i would reccomend it! it was'nt boring for a single second.5/5! i think the the other two books the feast of the drowned and the stone rose are brilliant too. i think that the dr.who books that are written should be made into t.v episodes. i'd watch it!

Adam Woodward
An amazing book! I thought Justin Richards planned the story excetionally well and I also thought that it was quite weird to have an alien that actually says "Sorry" before he kills you! All monsters should really be as nice as that!

James Noble
i loved all 3 new books i got through them in about two and a half days!

Sam
I love this book, it made me read on, i couldn't put it down, Thanks Justin!

Amy
I read this book and thought is was the best ever. One night, I was supposed to go to sleep at 9.00 but I was so intruiged in reading it I was still reading at 10.30

Alex
IT WAS TOTALLY BRILLANT!

AJ
Doctor Who which is as fast pacey and exciting on the page, as it is on TV!

tim
i thought the book was a fantastic read and i found i was dreaming about it at night and reaching for it in the morning

weesnitch
I could not put the book down it was late when I finished it, I enjoyed it very much.

Charlie
I could reccomend all the Doctor Who books, they are all amazing. I epecially liked this one though, it's really spooky and I couldn't put it down. I don't usually read much but I read this one until my eyes stung!!!

Jaskiran Deol
I think the resserrection casket was great... I couldn't put it down as soon as I picked it up! It took me 2 days to finish it... and I've re-read it twice since then!

Louise-Olive
Your books are great. I love your books I'm a big fan of Doctor Who.

Gemma
I was ill and I decidied to read The Stone Rose, The Feast Of The Drowned and The Ressurection Casket all in the three days I was off. I did ti and i have to say I loved all three especially the Resurrection Casket. It was a gripping novel from start to finish and I couldn't put it down. It made me feel loads better just reading it. I can't wait until 'I am a Dalek' comes out!

Peter
I think the best bit was when Kevin the monster said "By the power I hold, dominion of darkness blah blah blah." Oh yes!

Brett
It took me three days to tread this, which makes it the most I've ever read in three days. It was great and I couldn't put it down. Kevin was the funniest character, always apologising! I also got in trouble for reading too late!

jake how
Doctor who is the best of the best of the best full stop nothing more to say.

Natalie
I love Doctor Who and my whole room is practicaly full of Doctor Who things.I wish I could go in the TARDIS one day.

Andrew
Great book that i loved it so much i finished it in six days!!! 5 out of 5

Jenny, 13 (so mad on DW that she's got her whole f
I loved that book! One of the best, definately! It combined three things I like the most, Doctor Who, pirates and stuff that doesn't work properly.

the biggest doctor who fan ever!!!
i have read the Resurrection Casket, 3 times now, and i love the story behind it, i would love to live in Starfall, because it sounds sort of like my surronding:). Everybody who hasent read it, has got to CAUSE ITS THE BEST!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

nikolas
this book was one of the best if not the best, it was brilliant as soon as you start the book and well they should put iton the telly as an epsode for series three.

elizabeth
i thought the book was fantastic because the doctor was really funny in it

Katie
I thought the book was great. I couldn't put it down. It really catches your imagination and im a big fan of the Doctor.

Flinn McManus
I think Justin richards is brilliant I thought the idea of a crossword playing monster is hillarius.

Ellie
It was the best book i've read in a long time. The Doctor has always been my favarit character! At my school libary all the dr who books were gone in the first day! GREAT BOOK!

Doctor Why (14)
I bought this book recently and thought it was amazing - I started reading it and couldnt put it down! I actually finished it the next day. I found Kevin the apologetic monster darkly humourous: "I'm really sorry about this, but I have to kill you." Silver Sally reminded me of something out of "AI: Artificial Intelligence". All in all, a really great book, five out of five any day!

Andy
Thought the casket idea did smack a little of the Sarcophagus idea used in Stargate to regenerate the goauld. However the regenerate to a baby idea was neat. Liked silver sally being a robot repaired with flesh rather than what she first appeared to be.

Katie
I got it on Saturday, and i thought it was brill! It would be great to have a sequel, i wanna know what happened to Jimm as well!

Holly Riglar,12
I loved this book i have read the other 2, Stone Rose and the feast of the drouwnded and they were all fantastic but if i had to choose the best it would be the ressurection casket!!

doctorwhos biggest fan!!!!!
i havent read 'the ressurection casket' but i really want to. i have read all the other books and i reckon that they are amazing and when i read the new books i am sure they will be much better than the others. even though i havent read the new books i would it a 10 out of 10 from reading the blurb

Emma
I loved the way the narrative wrapped around it's self, how cleverly worked out the timeline was and the way things mentioned at the begining would come back and play an important part later on in the story. Kevin was my favourite character because who doesn't love an apologetic monster. The best part of the story in my opinion was when the Doctor explained everything at the end, as if he was the dective and had gathered all the suspects to reveal the culprit. This is one of the those books that you wish was made into the programme!!

liam
this book was graet my fav bit was where the tardis broke down i recomomd this book for 9 and over

Adam Woodward
Amazing! I haven't finished reading it yet but so far i love it! I can't wait to get the next 2 Doctor Who books!

frank
just a sec! just got to pop to the shop to get it!!!!!!!

Kat
I think this book is awesome!! Kevin is a legend

Omega Zero
The Ressurection Casket was a great read !! I would have loved it to be a live episode of the show...that would be really amazing!! Oh, and Kevins a legend !

roise
its really great that children get to read books for the bbc.

Matthew Balne
I have read a few pages of this fantastic new novel. I am in year 6, shortly to be leaving school. I have read also The Monsters Inside and Winner Takes All, and hope that this book turns out to be just as exciting and sucessful as those two!

Sarah
All the latest books are FANTASTIC! I read all three in one day and then read them all again the next day! I couldn't put them down!

David
I thought the Resurrection Casket is a brillant book. The are lots of scary parts. But some bits good

lkcool
I got the book on the first weekend it came out, it was one of the best books in doctor who. Recommended to anyone!

Ryan Emmonds
I Thoght The Book Was Absolutly Brilliant

Lucy
I have all the doctor who books and love this one. i would really recomend it to anyone look for excitment and adventure!