Book Festival Trip 2025

 We enjoyed a trip to the Edinburgh International Book Festival on 21 August 2025, where pupils attended the keynote speech by Laura Bates, who was talking about her campaign against Everday Sexism, and her new novel, the stirring fantasy novel, Sisters of Fire and Fury. This is the second book in her Arthurian legend series and pupils were delighted to receive a free copy of the book, signed by the author. Laura's books are of course available in the school library.

We also got a chance to wander around the Book Festival site, including the bookshop. It was very exciting to meet some other YA authors in the Book Signing Tent including Sarah Crossan, Bea Fitzgerald, Danielle Jawando, and Margaret McDonald.

January's E-book of the Month

 

Again Again by E. Lockhart

Again Again follows various possible alternative storylines about a teenager trying to come to terms with her younger brother's drug addiction while pursuing romantic interests of her own.

When Adelaide Buchman's younger brother succumbs to a drug overdose, she saves his life. In the aftermath, looking for distraction, she becomes a stylish, bright charmer who blows off school and falls madly in love - even though her heart is shattered.

Adelaide is catapulted into a summer of wild possibility, during which she will fall in and out of love a thousand times while finally confronting her brother, their history, and her own strength.

and this book is available to download from Borrowbox now. See Mrs Lumsden for more information on how to borrow eBooks from West Lothian Libraries.

Advent Count Down - Book 19

I have read many of Elizabeth George's adult crime novels and loved the story telling and detail. This series is aimed at Young Adults. But it is crime novel with the addition of fantasy. Imagine you could hear what others are  thinking. Becca is on the run from an abusive family situation and has been sent to an island where one of her mum's old school friends lives. But that friend dies just as Becca arrives and Becca is out of phone contact with her mum and has little money to survive on.  One of those stories which raises lots of questions but you just can't put it down!

Advent Count Down - Book 11

 Eleanor is clearly different and will stick out in a crowd whilst Park is someone who just wants to keep his head down. Then Eleanor  sits next to him on the school bus. Slowly over the months their friendship builds as they get to know each other's tastes in music and books.

I have come late to Rainbow Rowell's books. Published in 2013 I missed this novel, perhaps because it is a love story. But this is so much more than just a love story, it is about what it is like to be a teenager, about a myriad of anxieties, about  dysfunctional family, about not being in the popular crowd: a definite recommendation to S3/ S4 readers.

Advent Count Down - Book 9

Identity- Family- Resilience

A fabulous book which really surprised me.   

Kiko

• suffers from social anxiety
• knows nothing about her Japanese heritage
• has a challenging relationship with a mother who is incredibly cruel
• does not get into her first choice art school

When everything appears to be stacked against Kiko just that one opportunity (and not the one she dreamed of) changed her life forever. A challenging read but well worth it.

Advent Count Down - Book 5 and 6

I am going to cheat and recommend two books this time. Sarah Crossan is an amazing writer and writes incredible stories in free verse. "One" is the story of conjoined twins and "Moonrise" is about the effect that going to jail for a criminal act can have on the rest of the family. Both books are just simply beautifully written. Loved them but both are emotional reads so you might need a box of tissues to hand!

Advent count down- Day 4

Today's choice is "Things a bright girl can do" by Sally Nicholls. If you enjoy Young Adult books with a bit of history and politics woven through the story then this is a great choice. The cover does not do it service as an introduction to the suffragette movement over the period of the Great War. Three female characters from very different social backgrounds fighting for their right to vote.
.

Christopher Brookmyre- awesome!

On Thursday 14th November we went to hear Christopher Brookmyre give a talk on his literary work. He talked about things such as the public's reaction to his novels, his use of colourful language, how he decides what to base his stories on. A great hint he gave us was to write about something you hate! Overall we found it to be an amazing, enjoyable and humorous experience and it gave us great insight into the writings of a Scottish author.by L, L and E.

New Teen Fiction

A fab selection, ready to be borrowed.