Book Club News

The Book Club are currently reading The Ostrich Boys by Keith Gray.
'It's not really kidnapping, is it? He'd have to be alive for it to be proper kidnapping.'

Kenny, Sim and Blake are about to embark on a remarkable journey of friendship. Stealing the urn containing the ashes of their best friend Ross, they set out from Cleethorpes on the east coast to travel the 261 miles to the tiny hamlet of Ross in Dumfries and Galloway. After a depressing and dispiriting funeral they feel taking Ross to Ross will be a fitting memorial for a 15 year-old boy who changed all their lives through his friendship. Little do they realise just how much Ross can still affect life for them even though he's now dead.

Drawing on personal experience Keith Gray has written an extraordinary novel about friendship, loss and suicide, and about the good things that may be waiting just out of sight around the corner . . .

Half Boy, Half God, All Hero

Percy Jackson & the Olympians is a series of fictional adventure and fantasy books written by Rick Riordan. The books are based on Greek mythology, with the first book being the basis of a film called Percy Jackson & the Olympians: The Lightning Thief. Check out the website at http://www.percyjackson.co.uk/ for lots of fun and info.

Roald Dahl Day

Roald Dahl Day 2010

Roald Dahl Day takes place on his birthday, 13th September, every year. Why not come along to the LRC and vote for your favourite Roald Dahl story? Also, go online to check out some great activities on the Roald Dahl website.

http://roalddahl.com/

Key Stage 4 Online Book Choice

The Winter House is a new short story film and website that has been designed by Naomi Alderman who won the Orange Prize for New Writers in 2006 for her novel Disobedience.
The story, which plays on the website like an animated film and includes game-like interactive elements, focusses on a central character, Millie, whose father has been murdered.
'The Winter House' hopes to encourage young adults to read stories online, by making them interesting and visual, so that being on a computer is an encouragement to reading, rather than as opposing it.
It’s also a useful teaching aid in subjects such as History, Citizenship, English and Media Studies, and there are some educational links on the site to help with this.
This story was commissioned by Booktrust and supported by Arts Council England, as part of the Story campaign.

To read 'The Winter House' go to http://www.booktrustchildrensbooks.org.uk/

Book Club News

The key stage 4 and staff Book Club is currently reading 'My Swordhand is Singing' by Marcus Sedgwick. This is a fast-paced story that brings vampire legends to life. There is a real sense of menace in this book and is the sort of story you read in one sitting.

'... breathes new life into the tale of the living dead...'
The Bookseller

The Book Club meets for the new term on Friday 17th September. Look out for our comments and reviews!

Many thanks

A huge thank you to Year 7 students who have been raising money for sick children by taking part in Readathon.

It works just like a sponsored swim or walk, but the children read books instead!

Over £280 has been raised by students doing extra reading in their lessons in the Learning Resource Centre, classroom and at home.

Well done to all who took part. You should be very proud of yourselves!

Mrs B

Carnegie Shortlist

Here is another of the Carnegie titles from the competition shortlist.

GAIMAN, NEIL THE GRAVEYARD BOOK
Bloomsbury (Age range 9+)
ISBN: 9780747569015
Nobody Owens, known to his friends as Bod, would be a completely normal boy if he didn't live in a graveyard, being raised and educated by ghosts. For it is in the land of the living that real danger lurks, a danger that has already killed Bod's family.
A fantastic story full of humour, humanity and wonderfully drawn characters. The beginning manages to be horrifying without a single mention of blood, and though episodic in its structure, the story comes together beautifully at the end.

Carnegie/Greenaway Shortlist Announced

The Carnegie and Greenaway Medals are awarded by children's librarians for outstanding books for children and young people. The shortlist of titles for 2010 has just been released. For more information go to http://www.carnegiegreenaway.org.uk/.

Information on the Carnegie titles will be posted here each week, so look out for some great new reads.

ANDERSON, LAURIE HALSE CHAINS
Bloomsbury (Age range 11+)
ISBN: 9780747598077
As the Revolutionary War rages in 18th century America, Isabel and her sister Ruth are slaves, sold to a malicious New York City couple, the Locktons. Having lost their mother, Isabel vows to protect her younger sister and keep hold of the one important thing in their lives – hope.
A thrilling and page-turning novel that is extremely believable and well-constructed, giving fresh insights into the subject of slavery. Isabel is an outstanding character and the power of her spirit and self-belief is beautifully conveyed.

Let me tell you a story...

Year 7 students enjoyed a day of stories with professional storyteller David Ambrose on Thursday 22nd April. David was supposed to join us earlier this year, but his visit was postponed because of snowy weather.
However, I think everyone agreed that his visit was well worth the wait. David is an experienced storyteller who performs around the world and he told a wide variety of stories from Wales, Europe and beyond! He also brought along an interesting selection of musical instruments to add atmosphere to his tales.

We look forward to more visits from authors and storytellers in the future and hope this session has encouraged Year 7 to write some stories of their own.
Mrs B