Well done to Cait Mitchell our first Y7 student to read over half a million words within Accelerated Reader – can she be the first member of Burnside’s most exclusive Millionaire’s Club? There are other Y7 students hot on her heels so … keep reading Cait …
And the winner is …
Y10 students have been reading and then judging the North East Teenage Book Awards and last night saw them attend the Awards Party where the winner was announced. When the golden envelope was opened the eventual winner, after a very very close call, was ‘A Little in Love’ by Susan Fletcher. This is actually Eponine’s Story from Les Miserables.
Students from 18 schools across the region listened to 5 of the 6 shortlisted authors talk about their books and their writing and were able to meet them informally afterwards and have their books signed with a personal note.
Come along to the LRC and choose one of your favourites from the shortlist to read.
After a good evening that included much eating of crisps and drinking of pop and juice we eventually left to do it all over again with our Y7 students in the Summer Term.
Mmmmm, I wonder who will be on this shortlist – I suppose I will just have to be patient and wait!!
Year 7 and 8 thoroughly enjoyed their collapsed timetable as the joy of English was spread throughout the school! Equipped with their booklets they braved the mighty feat of Robinson Crusoe’s survival tactics; Robert Falcon Scott’s tragic ending; the delights of comic books and the mystery of Sherlock Holmes! The engaging and challenging tasks set, the seeds were sown and the bounty was beautiful – with some excellent work being produced across both year groups and from all abilities.
Feedback from staff has been phenomenal ‘ gushing about how much the students have enjoyed their day! Staff embraced the spirit of World Book Day producing some show stopping costumes. The corridors adorned with an array of fictional characters – from nursery rhymes favourites to fantasy fiction, princesses to villains. A special mention to Maths for their collective effort of Alice in Wonderland alongside the decorated corridors, the students were all truly captivated by Wonderland.
We’re already planning our outfits for next year!
A visit by staff from Seven Stories, The National Centre for Children’s Books, proved a big hit with Y7 students as we kick off World Book Day Week.
Laura and Bob led inspiring and engaging lessons where our students took a ‘Journey’ through a wordless book by Aaron Becker. They decided what was going to happen at the turn of each page and created many different stories all using the same picture book. Improvisation was the theme of the day and the interaction by staff and students was inspiring, to say the least!!
The last Creative Writing session gave students an insight as to how authors begin the process of writing their books. Jotting down ideas on any old piece of paper and then writing that all important first sentence to hook readers and ensure they read on!! Their imagination knew no bounds as ideas leapt out onto paper and began to take shape.
A great day all round!!
Newly published author of ‘Secret Society’ Hannah Jennings came into school last week to work with a group of Y9 students in a creative writing workshop.
Secret Society is her first book and we were her first school workshop! Our students made Hannah feel welcome and any trace of nerves on her part disappeared very quickly as they enthusiastically threw ideas out as they discussed how to create a setting and develop a character within that setting. Off the wall and funny suggestions were welcomed by Hannah as she told how an author will never know where or when a nugget from one of these ideas could spark a part of their book.
They then sat and actually wrote a piece where they created their own setting and characters. Hannah was so impressed as students read a couple out aloud to the group she asked to keep a few as great examples for future workshops. Well done Year 9 !!!
A really productive session was had by all made all the more enjoyable by Hannah’s young and fresh approach.
Hannah is busy editing the second installment of this trilogy so we wish her well with that one.
What can you say about this trilogy of books except that although the films were great this is definitely a case where the books are better!
The Hunger Games, Catching Fire and Mockingjay deserve all the praise they have been given – an much much more!
‘In a future where every year twelve boys and twelve girls are forced to appear in a TV show where they fight to the death and where there can only be one winner – there is only one rule: kill or be killed!
Taking her sister’s place Katniss Everdeen battles in the Hunger Games, watched by the entire country. A tale of survival, rebellion, revenge, triumph – this trilogy has it all’
The really good thing with The Hunger Games is that the series appeals equally to boys and girls. The three books deliver suspense from start to finish and are definitely not just your average teen novel.
If you haven’t read them yet come along to the LRC and borrow them – before you watch the films!
A COMPLETE NEW SET OF JACQUELINE WILSON BOOKS at a Library very near you!!
Come and read your favourite book now that the whole set have been replaced with nice shiny new copies. The old one literally fell to bits, a testament to their popularity!
From Tracy Beaker to Hetty Feather, from Glubbslyme to The Lottie Project, right up to her latest Katy and Little Stars – we have them all.
So come along to the LRC to borrow your favourite and READ them all!
The Accident Season by Moira Fowley-Doyle
The third out of the six North East Teenage Book Award shortlisted books I have read so far started out a bit slow and then really had me hooked. It tells about a family who experience ‘The Accident Season’ every year at the same time. But one year the daughter named Cara starts asking questions about the ‘broken bones, skin tears and bruises that bloom’ which leads to more than just bones breaking!
Again a well written book, however the tarot card reading, the spirits & ghosts spoiled it a little for me, but then that is really not my cup of tea. If it’s yours then you are in for a really good read. Try it and see if you can see what it is all about?
There are 3 Copies of this book available to loan from the Library, but if you would like a preview of the book you can find it listed on Google Books:
Unspeakable by Abbie Rushton – another North East Teenage Book (NETBA) Awards shortlisted book, and another excellent read.
Could you stay mute for over a year? Megan does!
Read this to find out why she has not spoken in a very long time and what happens when she eventually finds her voice. This is a book about teenage friendships with a twist at the end you cannot see coming!
We have 3 Copies available for loan in the Library, but if you wish to find out a bit more about the book you can preview it on Google Books
Matt Haig – Echo Boy – one of the North East Teenage Book Awards (NETBA) shortlisted books so we have 3 copies available for loan.
If you like the TV series Humans, then you’ll love this book! Set in the future this looks at what really makes us human.
Daniel is an Echo, a sophisticated, emotionless machine, built to resemble humans and to work for human masters ‘ or is he? Audrey is most definitely human but finds herself in imminent danger from which only Daniel can save her.
Definitely a book I found hard to put down and one that makes me want to read more from Matt Haig. This has got to be a contender to win the NETBA this year.
If you would like to read a preview of the book, checkout the listing on Google Books:
