Carnegie Shortlist Announced

The importance of finding common ground and forging friendships across seemingly unbridgeable divides forms a unifying theme for the six novels for young people on the 2011 CILIP Carnegie Medal shortlist.
"In the context of a fascinating variety of settings, each novel shortlisted for this year's Medal offers a compelling narrative of its time" comments Ferelith Hordon, Children's Librarian for Wandsworth Library Service and Chair of this year's CILIP Carnegie Judging Panel.
"These writers are brave, and some might say controversial in their choices of subject matter for young people – the Spanish Inquisition; gruesome investigations into the afterlife; and the violence at the heart of Robert Mugabe's Zimbabwe to name but three. But the quality of their writing ensures that the big questions are always treated in a way that is both thoughtful and completely absorbing." Now in its seventy fourth year, the CILIP Carnegie Medal is the UK's oldest and most prestigious book award for outstanding writing for children. It is the prize writers describe as the one they want to win.

Readathon Winners

Congratulations to the winners of the Reading Rocket Readathon that took place over the last 2 weeks. Prizes and certificates were awarded to the following students for reading the greatest number of books:
Alysha Maiorov and Simon Underhill, Year 7.
Emily Hurn and Daniel Holder, Year 8.

Need some help with revision?

Then try this website:
http://www.sparknotes.com/
This site has Sparknotes for loads of different subjects.

Just click on the list of Sparknotes on the Homepage to see the full list of subjects covered.

Great for GCSE and beyond!

Students in Key Stage 3 took part in a Book Title Treasure Hunt for World Book Day. All staff wore a badge showing a famous children’s book and students had to collect as many book titles as possible by the end of World Book Day. Prize winners were Caitlin Martin, Adam Fullwood, Chelsea Scott and Joseph Enos. Well done everybody!

Happy World Book Day!

Key Stage 3 students should now have been given a World Book Day voucher each. If you haven’t had your voucher, come along to the LRC to collect one. Just take your token into W H Smith and exchange it for one of the great books on the World Book Day stand.
Also, GOOD LUCK for the book title Treasure Hunt! Collect as many book titles as you can by writing down the title on the badges that the staff are wearing.
Prizes for those who collect the most!

World Book Day

There are only 3 days to go until World Book Day. Look out for some great competitions in school for Year 7 & 8 students and don't forget to pick up a World Book Day token for a free book available from W H Smiths or Waterstones. Tokens will be available from Year 7 & 8 form tutors.
If you want to learn more about what's going on, go to http://www.worldbookday.com/

Book Club chooses a Richard and Judy read!

Our Key Stage 4 and staff Book Club are about to start reading a novel from the Richard and Judy shortlist. 'Major Pettigrew's Last Stand' by Helen Simonson is set in a sleepy village, where the Major likes to lead a quiet life. All that changes when he finds his feelings deepening towards the village shopkeeper, Mrs Ali. Now, Major Pettigrew must look at his life in a new way and decide what matters most - family, tradition or love.....

Look out for the review board in the LRC to see what we think about this novel. Will we agree with Richard and Judy??

Eric Carle to write first book in four years for Puffin

Do you remember reading 'The Very Hungry Caterpillar' when you were younger?
This book is much loved by children and adults alike.

Puffin is to publish a new picture book by author Eric Carle, his first in four years. 'The Artist Who Painted a Blue Horse' will be published in October 2011. The book is inspired by Expressionist painter Franz Marc, who used blue horses in his paintings, with Carle's work telling the story of an artist who paints the world as he sees it, imagining a red crocodile, an orange elephant, a purple fox and a black polar bear.

Carle said: "When I was in high school, in World War II Germany, I was secretly shown works by the banned Expressionist painters by my teacher Herr Krauss. This was an experience that changed my life and had a deep impact on me."

We have a good selection of picture books in the LRC for all ages. Why not come in and and see for yourself?

Holocaust Memorial Day

Holocaust Memorial Day (27 January) is a national event dedicated to the remembrance of the victims of the Holocaust. It was first held in January 2001 and has been on the same date every year since. The chosen date is the anniversary of the liberation of Auschwitz concentration camp by the Soviet Union in 1945.
Some absorbing reads about the Holocaust are shown here.

Calling Key Stage 4 & 5 Readers!

The 2011 list of titles for the Richard and Judy Spring Book Club have just been announced.
Once again Richard and Judy will review one of the eight books selected every fortnight, and exclusive interviews with each author can be read by going to the W H Smiths website at http://whsmith.co.uk/ and following the link. Why not get involved in what is on its way to becoming Britain’s biggest Book Club?
Don't forget, you can also write your own reviews and vote for your favourite book too!