2025 BBA Shortlists
BBA News
BBAAwardsCeremony
WenowhaveaconfirmeddateandvenuefortheBBA2025AwardsCeremonyOnceagain itwillbeheldatAylesburyGrammarSchoolonWednesday12thMarch2025Allschools with students who participate in the awards by voting or entering either of the competitionswillbeinvited.
ThisyearIamthrilledtoannouncethatourguestspeakeristhefantasticSueWallman, authorofEveryWordaLie,IKnowYouDidItandSuchaGoodLiar.
HernewbookWatchYourBackispublishedonMarch13thsoIhopefullywecanget someadvancecopiesforsaleattheawards!
BBA Online activities
TAs well as the usual Jigsaw puzzles and word search, this year we have included book trailers and clips of authors reading their books. There is also a BBA Memory Game - all you have to do is match the author to their book! You can find all this and more on the BBA website.
If any student wants to design a jigsaw, create a word search or a crossword, just email your jigsaw picture (PNG or JPEG) word list or crossword clues (and answers!) to librarynews@ags,bucks.sch.uk and I will add them to the website!
Reviews Wanted...Book...
Have you read any good books lately? Maybe, you have read a book that could make it onto one of next years shortlists! If you have read a book which you want to share why not write a short book review and email it to the BBA and I will add it to the Book Review section on the website. All reviews that are published will receive a Bucks Book Award Badge. Email your reviews to: librarynews@agsbucksschuk
BBA Competitions!
500 Word Short Story Competition
This year, sees the return of the BBA 500 words competition.
There are two age categories: Year 8 and under 1 Year 9+ 2.
The winning stories from each age category will win one of the books on the BBA shortlist and a BBA badge
Your short story can be any genre, but must be related to the story prompt below All entries should be submitted online using the official BBA entry form which you can find on the website.
THREE PEOPLE. THREE WISHES. WHAT HAPPENS?
Bad writing competition!
Good writing? No, let’s leave that to the 500 words competition! For this you are challenged to write the most atrocious opening sentence to the worst novel ever written!
Here are a few examples:
“The wind howled and the autumn leaves skittered around my driveway like a legion of angry crabs fighting over a sandwich”
“The sun rose like a soggy pancake, casting a syrupy gloom over the already tasteless morning.”
“The sheep attacked my face like I was wearing a wool sweater and it wanted justice”
There will be a prize for the most atrocious opening line as well as for the two most dishonourable runners-up!.
To enter either competition visit the BBA website bucksbookawardorguk and click the menu option for BBA Activities. This will link you to the page with the online entry forms as well as the list of entry rules.
Something Old, New, Borrowed, Blue
old -
ThePictureofDorianGraybyOscarWilde
Anexplorationofwhathappenswhenyoubelieveyoursinglebestqualityisyouryouthand good looks. Charming, but naive Dorian is manipulated to believe his good looks are everything Whenheviewsaportraitofhimself,Dorianclaimshewouldsellhissoulifhe could always remain young When he realises his life choices have no consequence he descends into a hedonistic lifestyle. This perfectly represents the Victorian ideal of being seenasfineandrespectableinsociety,butbehindcloseddoorsyouareanythingbut Despite thedarkgothicundertonesinthebook thedialogueiswittyandisprobablyoneofthemost quotablebooksyouwilleverread
New -
TheDisappearanceofVanessaShawbySarraCannon
Vanessa Shaw disappeared during a party before senior year. Now a year later Vanessa’s brotherKirinhasboughtbackeveryonewhowasatthepartyundertheguidethattheyare alltheretocelebrateandhonourVanessa.However,hisrealmotiveistofindoutwhatreally happenedtohissisterashedoesnotbelievethatshejustdisappearedwithoutatrace SixpeoplewhoweremeanttobeVanessa’sfriendsareallharbouringsecretsoftheirown. Secretsthatcouldhavehelpedintheinvestigation Thequestioniswhichoneispreparedto killinordertoprotecttheirs?AfamiliarYAstorylinewhichisboughttolifebyit’sghostly, supernaturalelements.FansofHollyJacksonandKarenM.McManuswilllovethis!
Borrowed - Clueless(Rated12)
Okay,thisisnotabook,butithasbeenoneofmyfavouritemoviessinceitwasreleasedin 1995!Itisare-tellingofJaneAusten’sEmma
Set in an American high-school, where everyone fits into a group, such as the elites, the slackers,thebrainiacsetc.Themaincharacter,Cher,triestoplaymatch-makertoher‘clueless’ newfriendTai,bygivingheramake-overandlessonson‘self-improvement’
A timeless classic, with clever one-liners and a witty dialogue - oh, and the soundtrack isn’t badeither!
Thebookisnarratedby12yearoldJackwhoseparentshavejustfostered14-year-oldJoseph Thestoryistoldwiththenaivetéandinnocenceofa12-year-oldwhodoesn'tcompletely graspthecomplexityofhisnewfosterbrother,however,JackiscertainthatJosephisnot whatalotofhisschoolmatesandteacherssayheis.
Joseph,hadanabusivehomelifewhenhemetthirteen-year-oldMaddieandforthefirst timefeltwhatitwastoloveandbelovedbackunconditionally Theresultwasababy, Jupiter,whoJosephnevergottoseebeforeshewasfosteredoutandputupforadoptionby Maddie’sparents Joseph'sstoryistragicandpainful,buthethroughitallhestaysstrong and focused on finding and connecting with his daughter. This short novella is a great read, which deserves a wider audience, despite the mature storyline this is definitely a book for Year 7+