A pupil recommends

"Oranges in no man's land" By Elizabeth Laird.

 "I ran as fast as my flip flops would let me..." 

Iseabail thinks this book would make a great movie because it shows great courage, love and respect.

The book is based on a little girl called Ayesha who lives in Beirut in a war struck zone. When both her mother and father die she has to look after her two brother and her granny. As the story moves on granny becomes sick and so Ayesha takes on the dangerous and daring journey across No Man's land to the town at the other side.

Orbiting Jupiter- Dr Carter's choice from the "new bookshelf."

This is one book which I just have to tell you about. It is by American author Gary D Schmidt and it is a beautiful, quiet read which deals with huge issues. 

The story is narrated by Jack, and starts when fourteen year old Joseph his new foster brother, comes to live on their farm. Jack knows three things about Joseph before they meet:

1. He almost killed a teacher
2. He was incarcerated at a place called Stone Mountain
3. He has a daughter and her name is Jupiter.

Anyone touch Joseph and he is up against the wall with his hands in the air, breathing fast and hard. His smiles are few and far between. Yet Jack soon learns he can trust Joseph and at school "he has his back."  It is a book about relationships, about love and about trust. And I defy any of you not to be a little misty eyed before you finish it.

Your library needs you!

Yes it is that time of year again.

We are open for applications to the Pupil Librarian Team.
If interested collect a form from the library. Take your time completing it. All applications should be in by end of school day Monday 14th May.

A short list will be selected for interview.
Interviews will be held during break on the week of 22nd May.

Successful applicants trained and in place for June!

PUPIL BOOK REVIEW

The sight by David Clement-Davies

When I finished the book I was in tears, the ending was sad and touching.

Larka is the main character, a strong bold wolf,with fur as white as snow. There is a battle between good and evil. The book is full of courage, love and hatred. But in the end a sacrifice has to be made out of love. I would definitely recommend this book to fantasy lovers and animal lovers.

I have to say,  this is my new favourite book
Isla

Why pupils need to keep on reading.

The Guardian reports on a survey which found that teachers are encountering increasing numbers of children with limited vocabularies. There is a fear that this "vocabulary deficiency" will hold students back both educationally and socially. It is claimed that increased incidents of underdeveloped vocabulary are leading to "lower self-esteem, negative behaviour and in some cases greater difficulty in making friends" 

https://www.theguardian.com/education/2018/apr/19/teachers-in-uk-report-growing-vocabulary-deficiency

Winner of the 2018 Waterstones Children's Book Prize 
The Hate U Give by Angie Thomas.

THUG is the story of Starr Carter whose world is split between the violence, drugs and poverty of the mainly black suburbs where she lives, and the affluent, mainly white world of the school she attends. The story gives a real insight into race relations in the USA. A fantastic read which is also short-listed for the Carnegie Children's Book Awards - come to our Wednesday Book Club to hear some more about it.

Reading for the Easter Holidays

                                Lauren Oliver: Replica

Yes we have chosen another dystopian novel to read. This time a tale told from two different perspectives. All our library copies are out but if you can get your own copy please come and join us at lunch on the first Wed back in the summer term.