Monthly Archives: June 2017

Book of the Week takes a break

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25 June 2017

This week sees the start of our journey towards an exciting new library. The present temporary library will close at 1:00pm on Tuesday to allow for the process of packing up and moving some of the stock to Room 6 (the present PE Room) and the rest into storage. The library building will be removed on 4 July to allow for excavations on the site. As soon as Room 6 is in a functioning state, it will open for borrowing.

The present library, which was always planned as a temporary building, was opened in January 2013 and marked a great improvement in facilities. Many of us will be sad to leave it, but the number of our students has grown so much that a larger library, designed specifically for purpose, will be a much-needed addition.

Remember to bring back the books you have finished reading by Tuesday break-time and borrow anything you need to read over the summer holidays.

928 Miles From Home

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928 Miles From Home by Kim Slater

Book of the Week: 18 June 2017

Callum loves films and spending time with his dad. He’s wondering about writing a screenplay for a competition at the local Expressions Community Centre, but worries that his life on an ordinary estate isn’t the stuff that movies are made of. Since his mum left home eleven years ago it has been tough for his dad to spend time with him because he is always travelling for his job. As a result, Callum is often lonely. He feels that his friendships in school are cooling off, and he isn’t comfortable about the fact his friends pick on new boy Sergei, who has recently arrived from Poland. Callum’s sympathy evaporates rapidly, however, when he is confronted with his dad’s new relationship with someone called Angie, who is going to move in with them along with her son, who happens to be Sergei.

Like Kim Slater’s first book, Smart, this is set in Nottingham and has a great sense of place. This is important, because where characters come from, and how that affects their lives, is a major theme in the story, although the plot also centres on the solving of a crime, again rather like Smart. Kim Slater conveys great understanding about young people who feel lonely and isolated from friends and family. She also delivers numerous shots of encouragement to anyone who thinks they are too ordinary to contribute much to society.

Nightfall

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Nightfall by Jake Halpern and Peter Kujawinski

Book of the Week: 11 June 2017

Thanks to Jyan, who is a Student Library Assistant, for choosing this week’s book. He recommends Nightfall for its unique take on a dystopian story and thinks it would be enjoyed by readers in Years 7, 8 or 9. Here is his review:

Marin and Kana find their island’s rituals confusing; locks must be taken off doors and tables must be set as if they are going to eat a final meal. They do not know the reason for all this and nobody will tell them the truth. When looking for their friend Line, Marin, Kana, and Line are left alone to survive the bleak, twenty-eight years of darkness. They have missed the boats which will carry them to safety, and now they must survive. But can they really do it? They have secrets, yet they might not be willing to sacrifice their friendship for the truth. They rely on Kana as he is able to see in the dark, but Line and Marin have to rely completely on their other senses and dim candles. The candles are running out. Their friendship is very tense. The island is turning to ice. How long will they last? Will their friendship and trust die before they do?

Jake Halpern’s website is here and here is a link to his co-author, Peter Kujawinski, on the Penguin website.

Optimists Die First

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Optimists Die First by Susin Nielsen

Book of the Week: 4 June 2017

Sixteen year old Petula tells Mr Watley, the school counsellor, that ‘… age aside, studies show that in general, optimists die ten years earlier than pessimists’ and that he is only sceptical about that because he is an optimist himself. Petula is determined to err on the side of pessimism because she thinks it’s more realistic and pessimists take more precautions. Petula wasn’t always this way but years ago, when she was babysitting her younger sister Maxine, the little girl choked on a button and died. Ever since then Petula has been trying to ward off catastrophe. When she is enrolled in a Youth Art Therapy group (or Crafting for Crazies as she thinks of it) her organised life comes under threat from a group of diverse individuals struggling with problems of their own. She is particularly confused over her feelings for Jacob who has a prosthetic arm after his involvement in a car accident.

To quote the review on the Book Trust website:

“As is usual with Susin Nielsen’s books, the prose flows effortlessly and the most serious of subjects are tackled with the lightest of touches. Optimists Die First sweeps you into Petula’s life and mind so tenderly and vibrantly, one feels almost bereft on finishing the last page. Susin Nielsen always leaves you wanting more – and at the end of Optimists Die First she delivers a little extra nugget for fans of Word Nerd (we meet an old friend in the epilogue)…

There are sexual references, but most 12 year olds will be comfortable with them or can easily skip past if they need to.”