Stargazing for Beginners

Posted on February 25, 2018 by Mrs Watts

Stargazing for Beginners by Jenny McLachlan

Book of the Week: 25 February 2018

Cover illustration by Levente Szabo

If you’ve ever had to look after a much younger brother or sister, you might identify with Meg.

When Meg’s mum jets off to Myanmar to do charity work, she and her baby sister, Elsa, are meant to stay with grandad. The problem is, Meg is organised and focussed on schoolwork whilst Grandad smokes, likes home-brew, keeps chickens that wander into the house, and uses his floor as a bin. Meg thinks trying to live with Grandad will derail her studies completely and interfere with her ultimate aim of becoming an astronaut, so she decides to look after Elsa in their own flat so she can keep up with her work. Will she be able to keep her mum’s absence a secret? She has few friends since her best friend left school, but now she has to be part of a mentoring group for gifted students at school (known dismissively as Mr Curtis’s Biscuit Club) and they like asking questions. Then there’s the annoyingly clever Ed King, who used to only speak to her if he had something competitive or sarcastic to say, but who now seems to be taking more of an interest in her. Why won’t everyone leave her alone to work on her speech for a competition to visit NASA? Why won’t her mum come back? Why does Elsa like licking the television?

This is a warm and funny story with plenty of interesting science thrown in.

I Am Thunder

Posted on February 10, 2018 by Mrs Watts

I Am Thunder by Muhammad Khan

Book of the Week: 11 February 2018

When Muzna’s dad loses his job, and her uncle offers him the chance to work in his restaurant on the other side of London, Muzna has to change schools and start Year 11 at a shiny new academy. Here she encounters her geeky but supportive teacher, Mr Dunthorpe, and a selection of classmates; some welcoming and others hostile. More significantly, Arif, the most gorgeous boy in the school, seems to want to get to know her, despite her shyness and insecurity. Has she found someone who appreciates her love of literature and understands her ambition to become a writer? Her parents only see qualifications as a stepping stone to a career in medicine and they definitely don’t approve of boyfriends, but Arif is funny and engaging and seems to like her company. The only drawback is his intensely religious brother, Jameel, who comes across as creepy and controlling. Should Muzna hide this side of her life from her parents or should she listen when teachers, and then friends, warn her about the kind of beliefs that lead to violence?

This is a story told from the refreshingly different viewpoint of a young Muslim woman and deals with friendships, families and radicalisation. Despite Muzna’s awkwardness, she is a sparky character with a great turn of phrase and the book offers insight into the lives of many British Muslims whilst still recounting things common to young people everywhere.

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I Have No Secrets

Posted on February 3, 2018 by Mrs Watts

I Have No Secrets by Penny Joelson

Book of the Week: 4 February 2018

Cover design by L. Horton

A crime story told from the unique perspective of fourteen-year-old Jemma who uses a wheelchair and has cerebral palsy. Jemma lives with her foster parents who also care for Finn, who has autism, and sparky Olivia who has emotional difficulties. Jemma is unable to speak, communicate or control her muscles but she is intelligent and observant and sees things that other people miss. She knows, for example, that the charming Dan, who is dating her carer Sarah, is not all he seems. He displays quite a different attitude when he is alone with Jemma, believing she is powerless. Jemma is desperate to let everyone know what Dan has done, but how can she protect her family when her options are limited?

This is not only a tense story but one that gives readers a rare insight into living with a disability. Jemma is a great character and there are some real lump-in-the-throat moments as well as some anxious ones.

World Book Day 1 March 2018

I Have No Secrets also happens to be one of the books on special offer for World Book Day on 1 March. This year is a little different from previous years insomuch as you will be able to swap your coupon (plus £1.50 payment) for one of five full-length books. These five books are aimed at secondary school readers and are by John Green, Frances Hardinge, Benjamin Zephaniah, Taran Matharu and Penny Joelson. Have a look here. Vouchers will be distributed to every student in School after half-term.