Creative Writing

We are very excited to announce some creative writing workshops taking place in the library during Book Week Scotland in November. If you would like to take part, please see Mrs Lumsden in the Library. 

Victoria Williamson will be holding two creative writing workshops based on her fabulous novels The War of the Wind and Feast of Ashes. Both these titles feature climate change and we will talking about this and Victoria's writing process. 

Ellie Stewart is a playwright working in Scotland, and her recent productions include A Different Country for BBC Radio Scotland, The Return for Eden Court Theatre, and Mischief for the Traverse Theatre. She will be talking about her plays and the art of being a playwright.

For all our writers, poets, illustrators, and storytellers, check out the great opportunities to showcase your work here:

//www.scottishbooktrust.com/writing-and-authors/opportunities-for-young-writers

You Could Be So Pretty

 

Set in a dystopian near future, where girls are expected to conform to exacting beauty standards and are constantly scrutinised and graded. Beauty comes at a price. And girls must pay. In Belle and Joni's world there are two options for girls: like Belle - follow the rules of the Doctrine - apply your Mask, work hard to be crowned at the Ceremony, be a Pretty. Or be like Joni - leave your face bare, work hard to escape to the Education, be an Objectionable. Bella, the highest rated ‘pretty’ in school, clashes with Joni, an ‘objectionable’ who refuses to follow the norms and wishes to be herself. The two girls initially clash and eventually work together to subvert the Doctrine.

This novel was really enjoyable and will hit a nerve with many young people today – is this so unbelievable when we look at our own attitudes and exposure to social media? It has been described as Uglies meets The Handmaid's Tale for the new YA generation, and that’s a pretty fair description. Read it and throw away your eyelash curlers forever!

GIRL, GODDESS, QUEEN by Bea Fitzgerald

To hell with love, this goddess has other plans...

Thousands of years ago, the gods told a lie: how Persephone was a pawn in the politics of other gods. How Hades kidnapped Persephone to be his bride. How her mother, Demeter, was so distraught she caused the Earth to start dying. The real story is much more interesting.

Persephone wasn't taken to hell: she jumped. There was no way she was going to be married off to some smug god more in love with himself than her. Now all she has to do is convince the Underworld's annoyingly sexy, arrogant and frankly rude ruler, Hades, to fall in line with her plan. A plan that will shake Mount Olympus to its very core. But consequences can be deadly, especially when you're already in hell .

This is a funny and romantic retelling of the Hades and Persephone myth, interwoven with mythical family dynamics. Persephone is no shrinking violet and it's great to see such a strong female character who's not afraid to be ambitious (and vulnerable, when it comes to the vagaries of love!) The 'will they, won't they' romance with Hades is appealing - one can't help but swoon - and the fraught relationship with her parents is well written. This will appeal to many of our older readers.

⭐⭐⭐⭐

Catfish Rolling by Clara Kumagai

 This tells the story of Sora, who lost her mother and other family in an earthquake - when the catfish rolled. According to legend, earthquakes are caused when the giant catfish sleeping under the islands of Japan wakes and rolls. This time the quake caused some very disturbing fractures in time; in some areas it moves slower and in others faster. Everyone caught in the different time zones disappeared. Sora and her father are desperate to find out more about the zones and what happened to Sora’s mother. However, frequent exposure to the different time zones has affected her father and she fears losing him too. I loved the magic realism of this story and the weaving together of myth and legend with hard headed science. The grief felt by Sora and her father was very vividly displayed and I thought that the other relationships were well portrayed.

This book would certainly appeal to fans of Studio Ghibli and I’m hoping to entice a few manga fans into reading this!

⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

Edinburgh International Book Festival

We really enjoyed our visit to the Edinburgh International Book Festival today. 

As well as trying out all the activities at the Teen Takeover Day, we loved browsing through all the wonderful books in the Book tent (and Mrs Lumsden's 'wish list' is longer than ever). Too many books, too little time!

We attended a talk with with Lauren (Wren) James, a prolific author who read from their new novel, 'Last Seen Online'. They also spoke about the writing process and love of crime novels, and true crime. Lauren also talked about her work with the 'Heartstopper' series and the adaptation of 'The Loneliest Girl in the Universe.' Students were also gifted a copy of Lauren's latest novel and were delighted to be able to meet them and get the books signed after the event. 

 

AdelAIDE Just Wants to Help

 AdelAIDE is the second techno-thriller by Melinda Salisbury for Barrington Stoke. We read the first, Echostar”, with book group. Freya and her friends are environmentalists and are keen to highlight local climate issues. However, Freya is intensely jealous of her ex best friend, who is also climate aware and has a much bigger social media following. Freya wants to be an influencer too. When her dad brings home a prototype AI, Freya realises that it can help her realise her ambitions. There is a price, however…

Being rather nervous about AI and the effect it and social media can have on your life, I did expect to enjoy this story, and I was not disappointed. Whilst it was slightly stretching the bounds of credibility that Freya would have followed all the suggestions, despite the activities of some  more radical climate warriors, it was an enjoyable read. Freya’s friends and parents felt real but I think more could have been done with Enzo and Eden. This is a good story which highlights the need for climate change both at local and global levels, and makes us think about the dangers of becoming too invested in social media (or relying on AI).

⭐⭐⭐⭐

 

 

LOVER BIRDS by Leanne Egan

When Isabel Williams moves to Liverpool, she criticises seemingly everything in Eloise Byrne’s life – her city, her accent, her trademark boldness – so if, when she catches Isabel staring, Eloise feels her pulse race, it must be because they hate each other. It surely couldn’t be for any other reason, could it? Eloise needs to get her ADHD under control in time for A-Levels, but when she meets Isabel, school becomes the least of her concerns. What begins as outright contempt turns into an oddly satisfactory rivalry, but for their rivalry to shift further into romance, their relationship must withstand Isabel's classism, Eloise’s distrust, and whatever secrets their friends are hiding from them.

I just loved Eloise’s character – her boldness, her vulnerability, and her loyalty. Her ADHD was wonderfully represented, as was her burgeoning relationship with Isabel, and her friends. The representation of toxic masculinity and the challenges of school (and exams) are excellent. This is also a love song to Liverpool. This is a tender, funny read and I would strongly recommend this book.

⭐⭐⭐⭐

“Treacle Town” by Brian Conaghan

 

“Treacle Town” by Brian Conaghan is a tough but ultimately inspiring read. It’s set in Brian’s hometown of Coatbridge and the setting and context will be familiar to many of our students, and anyone involved with 'Young Teams'.

The story unfolds in a world of brutal gang violence, sectarianism, and personal tragedy. The main protagonist, Connor, is stuck in a world of deprivation and unemployment, and desperate to escape from the pointless gang warfare and lack of opportunities.

He happens across the world of slam poetry online and sees that this could offer a glimmer of hope for him, and that he was allowed to become part of that world. He joins a group in Glasgow and realises that he is not stuck and he can succeed. Meanwhile, his friends are still mired in the despondency of ‘Treacle Town’, and he has no option but to pull himself free.

This is a thought-provoking, emotional, and compassionate novel. The relationship with his friends and the pointlessness of their lives read true, and I loved the interplay between Conner and his dad.

⭐⭐⭐⭐

Wild East

This powerful and inspiring verse novel by Ashley Hickson-Lovence tells the story would-be rapper, Ronnie. Following the the tragic death of his best friend, Ronny’s mum decides to relocate to Norwich. Ronny has to adapt to a new city as well as coping with his loss. He finds solace in his writing – his dream of becoming a rapper is encouraged by his English teacher and a visiting poet. This coming-of-age story has multiple strands covering racism, identity, football, gangs and county lines, poverty and more. Despite this, the story never feels forced and the story lines are handled deftly and come together well. 

Ronny is a likeable and sympathetic character, and all the characters are similarly well written – I particularly liked Leigh and Malachi. At first, I thought the emphasis on poetry might dissuade some readers who would otherwise love the book, but Ronny’s verses read true and will appeal to most young people. I also think the verse novel format will make the book more appealing.

Highly recommended. 

⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

Last Seen Online

LAST SEEN ONLINE by Lauren James

Last Seen Online is unlike the last few books written by Wren James (which I loved) but is equally enjoyable. Delilah is a wannabe actress who is pulled into Hollywood royalty following a mortifying audition. Her new friend, Sawyer, involves her in an old murder case and they investigate this further, helped by some cool internet investigation and a defunct blog. This puts them in danger, but they do solve the case. I was dimly aware of the world of fandom, so it was fascinating to delve deeper. Whilst Delilah’s sleuthing skills were perhaps a little too impressive, this is an exciting and entertaining book, with plenty of twists. It will certainly appeal to all the true crime aficionados out there.

⭐⭐⭐⭐

Safiyyah’s War by Hiba Noor Khan

 

Safiyyah’s War by Hiba Noor Khan is set during World War Two. It tells the story of Safiyyah, a young Muslim girl, who lives with her family in the Grand Mosque in Paris. Safiyah is troubled by the Nazi occupation of Paris, and when she discovers her father helping Jewish families, she is determined to help, despite her terror of being caught. This is a deeply moving and thought-provoking novel that highlights the power of courage, compassion, and unity in the face of adversity. With its rich detail about Paris and Islam, it provides a rarely told story from this period. Highly recommended.

⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

The Mercury In Me - Book Review

 

Our recommended read last week, “The Mercury in Me” by Rachel Fernandes is a funny, tender and relatable novel that explores the life of a seventeen-year-old British Indian girl named Maya Pritik.

Maya aspires to be a doctor and is an exemplary student, who works hard and behaves. She dreads disappointing her traditional British Indian parents. 

As a talented musician, she is intrigued to find out that Freddie Mercury, the singer from Queen, was British Indian too. This inspires her to audition for the school show, “We Will Rock You”, and she becomes involved with Harry Wu, the gorgeous lead of the show. 

The story beautifully captures the complexities of navigating adolescence, cultural identity, and personal passions. The depiction of the growing relationship between Harry and Maya, her family dynamics, and friendships are all well written and the characters are relatable. It is a funny and tender story, and comes highly recommended.

⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

Social Studies Non-Fiction Book Reviews

Mrs Witonski's S2 Social Studies class have been working on a project in the Library. 

The students were asked to choose a non-fiction book from the shelves in the library to read. They then produced these marvellous review posters on the computers based on their reviews of the books. You can see copies of the posters in the library, and all the books are available to borrow.

Savage Seas 

The Amazon River 

Climate Change

The Abolition of Slavery

Oceans

The Third Reich

Geek Girl

 

Read the Geek Girl series by Holly Smale before it airs on Netflix (see trailer below).

You know #book is better!

Dr Who

  Did you enjoy the start of the new Dr Who series on Saturday?

Why not read some of the fantastic, wibbly wobbly, Dr Who books available in the library?

#book is better

Mental Health Awareness Week 2024

 This week is Mental Health Awareness Week and the theme is movement and how moving more can help your mental health.

So why not check out our Sports section in the Library for more ideas?

Or you can check out some of the books in our 'Shelf Help' section; click on the Sway below

Mental Health Awareness Week - Movement: Moving more for our mental health

This year's Mental Health Awareness Week is from 13th to 19th May, and the theme this year is "Movement: Moving more for our mental health"

Go to this Sway

 We had a wonderful time celebrating World Book Day on 8th March this year. We started the excitement by handing out book tokens and free books in the library. Our World Book Day Competition was launched and most of the S1 and S2 pupils participated. (The winner is yet to be announced).

On the day, registration classes all took part in a 'drop everything and listen' session where pupils listened to a story chosen by their teacher. Staff and pupils were also welcomed to join the reading lunch in the library at lunchtime.

Mrs Lumsden was over the moon to receive one of the fabulous T-shirts designed by Mrs Wilks, Head of English.

You can find more information about the day by clicking here: https://x.com/ArmadaleAcademy/status/1766002502997024803?s=20

Armadale Academy of Magic Event

 

We held an Armadale Academy of Magic event just before the mid-term break for all our Harry Potter and fantasy fans. As they entered the library, our young wizards and witches were sorted into their respective houses before creating their own wands at Ollivander's.

 The students also enjoyed some magical candy from Honeyduke's Sweet Shop. 

Students then participated in a spirited wizard duel on behalf of their Houses, with 'Professor McKay' proving himself to be a distinguished and impartial judge!

Manga Takeover Day

 There are many, many Manga fans here at Armadale Academy, who were delighted to see the new titles added to the Library. 

However, Book Group weren't too happy when their Thursday session was hijacked!

The Changing Man

Our latest recommended read is The Changing Man by Tomi Oyemakinde. We read this novel in Book Group and everyone agreed that it was a spooky and atmospheric story.

When Ife joins Nithercott School through its prestigious Urban Achievers Program, she knows immediately that she doesn't fit. Wandering its echoing halls, she must fend off cruel taunts from the students and condescending attitudes from the teachers. When she finds herself thrown into detention for the foreseeable future, she strikes up an unlikely alliance with Ben, a troublemaker with an annoyingly cute smile. They've both got reasons to want to get out of Nithercott - Ben's brother is missing, and no one seems to be bothering to find him. For Ife, it's just another strange element of this school that doesn't care about its students. But as more and more people start going missing, including one of Ife's only friends, she starts to feel haunted. Who is the figure she's started seeing in the shadowy halls, who looks mysteriously like herself? And is there any truth in to the strange urban legend that travels the school like mist . . . the legend of the Changing Man? Available in the Library now...

Football Fans

Recommended Read

This is a recommended read for our many footie fans.

From the invention of the modern sport all the way to the present day, bestselling author and football expert Tom Palmer picks ONE HUNDRED of the most thrilling and significant goals, games, and players from more than 150 years of the Beautiful Game. Featuring Pele's World Cup, Maradona's Hand of God, John Barnes' Maracana magic, and the Lionesses' European Championship triumph, this is an endlessly fascinating treasury of stories for fans of all ages.

The 'Ultimate Football Heroes' books are extremely popular and we're delighted to see that the sublime Tom Palmer has added his favourite 100 football moments to the series. You can read an excerpt here: https://tompalmer.co.uk/footballs-greatest-moments/

New Year, New reads

Here are just some suggestions for great reads to start 2024 - these and many more fantastic books are available in the library now. 

Click on the image for more information.