DARN
Issue 13
by Gracie, S3
INSIDE THIS MONTH’S EDITION:
Banned books that you might not expect!
An exclusive interview with Miss Dawson
All the latest from World Book Day 2024
March 2024
Welcome to the latest edition of our reading newsletter. This month’s edition features some comedy –just in time for your April Fools pranks! We’ve also had a look at some popular books that have been banned – check out page 5 to find out more! Finally, have a look inside to find out the winners of our World Book Day competitions for S1/S2.
This newsletter has been brought together by the Reading Ambassadors, a group of pupils from S1 to S6 who are passionate about reading and want to promote it across the school. Anyone is welcome to be involved. Please speak to Mrs McConnachie in the Library or Mrs Baxter in English if you want to find out more.
Douglas Academy Reading Newsletter
And much more…
Between by L.L. Starling
by Orla, S6
Between, written by L.L. Starling, is a book with plenty for everyone to enjoy. It’s a romantic comedy featuring magical worlds, drunken unicorns and handsome sorcerer kings. The book follows Sasha Pierce, a nursery teacher who can never seem to hold down a job and just can’t seem to dream no matter how hard she tries that is until she finds herself in the quaint little town of old Middleton. Its only when Sasha has her first dream in 25 years and meets a handsome man on a hill does her life change forever. Soon she’s the queen to be of some interdimensional land called Between and is having to wrangle its various crazy critters. But after dealing with crazy 5 year olds all day… what could go wrong? I would recommend this book to anyone who enjoys the (sometimes) ridiculousness of fantasy and positive vibes.
By Aoife, S4
BOOK OF THE MONTH:
COMEDY BOOKS
Want a good laugh?
Check out these comedy books available in the library:
THE BOY WHO MADE EVERYONE LAUGH BY HELEN RUTTER
This laugh out loud book tells the story of 11 year old Billy who’s ambition is to become a stand-up comedian, an almost impossible dream for Billy who has a stammer. As well as being a hilarious read, this is also a touching story that tugs at the heartstrings.
THE EXTREMELY EMBARRASSING LIFE OF LOTTIE BROOKS
BY KATIE KIRBY
The first in a hilarious series features Lottie navigating the perils of growing up, friendships and embarrassing moments. Great for fans of Dork Diaries.
TIME TRAVELLING WITH A HAMSTER BY ROSS WELFORD
Time Travelling with a Hamster is a funny, heart-warming race-against-time – and across generations, an adventure that you won’t be able to put down. Ideal for fans of Wonder and The Curious Incident of the Dog in the Night-Time.
THE SECRET DIARY OF ADRIAN MOLE, AGED 13 ¾
BY SUE TOWNSEND
This painfully honest fictional diary of hapless teenager Adrian Mole is still as funny as when it first appeared thirty years ago!
EDDIE ALBERT AND THE AMAZING ANIMAL GANG: THE AMSTERDAM ADVENTURE – PAUL O’GRADY
By Joseph, S1
This book is about a boy called Eddie who was sent to Amsterdam to go and live with his Aunt. Eddie can speak to animals and has a dog called Butch, a hamster and two goldfish. When Eddie was in Amsterdam he met a girl called Flo and they quickly became friends. There is a villain in this book with a dastardly plot. The genre of this book is humour and adventure fiction. I like this book because the animals are very funny when Eddie talks to them and the plot is very good.
STAFF / PUPIL PICK OF THE MONTH
A new feature to DARN, Staff / Pupil Pick of the Month highlights a junior or young adult book recommended by a member of staff.
Chinglish by
Sue Cheung
Chinglish is a semiautobiographical novel by British-Chinese author Sue Cheung. It hilariously retells Cheung’s experience of growing up in Coventry in the 80s, while dealing with difficult topics such as domestic abuse and casual racism. The book is at times achingly real, delving into a difficult world of family relationships; but also profoundly hopeful, as Cheung details her love of art and how she used this to escape. An absolute must-read!
Recommended by Mrs Baxter, English
Have you been inspired to get reading?
Then look no further: the school library is available for you to borrow books at break and lunchtimes every day except Thursday Lunch.
All pupils and staff are able to borrow up to three books at time.
Reading Ambassadors
Our fantastic group of Reading Ambassadors meet on Thursday lunchtimes in the library. All pupils are welcome to join in, and contribute to DARN, enjoy some book chat, and play some games!
DA'RISTA - STAFF BOOK OF THE MONTH
Well done to Miss McAlinden from the Design & Technology department for recommending this issue’s DA’rista Book of the Month! Demon Copperhead by Barbara Kingsolver is a reimagining of Dickens' David Copperfield, telling the story of Damon Fields, aka, Demon Copperhead, a young boy facing many challenges, growing up in the mountains of Southern Appalachia,
Each issue of DARN features DA'rista ' Book of the Month' chosen by a member of staff! Staff are asked to recommend a book that could be suitable for adults or younger readers. The staff member who recommends the book of the month chosen for the next issue of DARN will receive a free coffee from DA'rista (thanks Mrs McDaid!)
BANNED BOOKS
By Jia Yi and Niamh, S1
Books you may read in your everyday life may be banned in other countries for reasons you may not expect.
In 1931 the book ‘Alice in Wonderland’ was banned in China by the governor of Hunan Province on the grounds that “Animals should not use human language, and it [is] disastrous to put animals and humans on the same level.”
‘Charlotte’s Web’, was banned in Kansas school district in 2006 as the notion of talking animals was deemed blasphemous and unnatural.
The first Narnia book ‘The Lion, The Witch and The Wardrobe’ was banned from 1990 because adults were concerned by its “graphic violence, mysticism and gore.”
The ‘Twilight’ series was banned in Australia in 2010 for primary school students because it was too racy (lively, entertaining and sexually titillating).
In 1965, the comedy children’s book ‘Green Eggs and Ham’ was banned in Maoist China because of its “portrayal of early Marxism,” and the ban was not lifted until author Theodor Seuss Geisel’s death in 1991.
Roald Dahl’s ‘Charlie and the Chocolate Factory’ was banned for two reasons. Firstly for the description of the Oompa Loompas being racist. Then it was banned again because “the book espouses a poor philosophy of life”.
The Hunger Games books have been banned in numerous US areas. According to the American Library Association, the books have been banned or challenged “due to insensitivity, offensive language, violence, anti-family, anti-ethic, and occult/satanic”.
Everyone’s favourite fantasy novel series ‘Harry Potter’ was banned in the UK actually because there were concerns over the violence and increasingly dark tone of the later books but most of the censorship attempts were for religious reasons. It was also banned in some Christian schools in the UK.
Finally, ‘Captain Underpants’ was banned because of the violent, inappropriate images and that one of the main characters was gay.
Valentine’s Day in the Library
BLIND DATE WITH A BOOK
To celebrate Valentine’s Day in the library, the reading corner was transformed. Pupils were offered a ‘Blind Date with a Book’! A variety of books were wrapped in paper giving only a small clue of what the book was about. This proved popular with pupils choosing books as a ‘lucky dip’ and discovering stories they wouldn’t normally read. Thanks to our Reading Ambassadors Orla, Aoife and Tilly for creating this wonderful display!
VALENTINES BOOK SCRAMBLE!
By Ranveer, S1
Unscramble the romance book titles below:
1. atspepHroetr -
2. ghliwTt -
3. nOe hgiNt nI ihndugEbr -
4. iliMfde iCsrsi -
5. erttBe nTha hTe vMosie -
6. rGil nI iesePc -
7. oYu iSda I asW urYo eFuiotrva -
8. emoRo nAd iJutle -
TESTAMENT OF YOUTH – VERA BRITTAIN
By Ranveer, S1
Testament of Youth is the engrossing though unsettling work of British WW1 nurse and activist, Vera Brittain. Vera was a WW1 nurse and a WW2 suffragette and pacifist. Testament of Youth covers the years 1900 – 1925 which was then proceeded by the Testament of Experience covering the years 1925 to 1950. It encompasses the life of Vera Brittain herself and essentially is her diary. Now you can find Testament of Youth and Testament of Experience usually merged under Testament of Youth. Brittain herself died in late March 1970. Testament was published in 1933 with little attention to it. Later on after the death of Brittain, the book gained much popularity for encompassing how brutal war could be, even from afar. The book was to many a meaningful beacon with many books having the inscription, “A haunting elegy for a lost generation”.
RED, WHITE & ROYAL BLUECASEY MCQUISTON
By Charlotte, S3
A disastrous confrontation forces first son of the US Alex Claremont-Diaz and Prince Henry to form a fake friendship to avoid an international incident.
As time goes on however, what started as a reluctant alliance for the benefit of their countries develops into a forbidden romance putting both nations at risk of a diplomatic disaster. This amazing LGBT romance presents you with both a fun and sweet relationship and a gripping political drama. I highly recommend this book for anyone looking for a cute yet high stakes love story to immerse yourself in.
BE BEAUTIFUL – ALICE HART-DAVIS
By Niamh, S1
Face masks, makeup and perfume galore! This book is to give girls a guide on hair, skin, makeup & more. Want your hair to look great without spending too much time on it? Maybe you want to know how to help with spots? Or you may want to know how to pull off a full face of makeup?
Whatever your needs are, this book will probably have the answer.
This book also tells you about sunburn, skin cancer, waxing, types of spots and what you can do about them, home-made skin care & exfoliating.
Award- winning beauty journalist, Alice HartDavis, and her daughter, Molly Hindhaugh, have produced a practical guide to teen beauty. Get to grips with the basics of hair and skin care, deal with spots and discover how to look your best in a way that isn’t going to cost the earth.
PERSEPOLIS - MARJANE SATRAPI
By Ranveer, S1
Persepolis by Marjane Satrapi (2003) is a non-fiction book that covers the life of the author herself. It is an autobiographical book that also covers the Iranian Revolution in the form of a graphic novel as Satrapi was born in 1969, living through the revolution. It encompasses the life of Satrapi from when she was a little girl until she left for Austria. She uncovers the brutality of the protests, executions and the war itself. Satrapi uncovers the truth behind the brutality of the Communistic Iranian regime in a way that’s easy to understand, funny and enjoyable. There is also another book in the series that was not as much of a commercial success as the first one. This book is a major recommendation to anyone into history, graphics novels or both.
ANDREW ROBERTSON: NEVER GIVE UP
By Finlay, S1
Andrew Robertson, a kid from Scotland, had dreams as big as the football field itself. He faced some real tough stuff growing up. But here’s the thing about Andrew – he never, ever gave up.
From kicking a ball around the streets of Glasgow to signing with top clubs like Liverpool.
The book dives deep into Andrew’s journey, showing us how he trains like a beast, faces challenges head-on, and always stays humble, no matter how famous he gets. He’s got some serious skills on the pitch.
But it’s not just about the goals and the glory. Andrew’s story teaches us some real important stuff, like the power of hard work, determination, and never giving up on your dreams. It’s the kind of stuff that’ll get you pumped up and ready to take on the world.
So whether you’re a die-hard football fan or just someone looking for a good read, “Andrew Robertson” is a great read. Trust me, once you open this book, you won’t be able to put it down. It’s like a goal-scoring, heart-pumping adventure from start to finish.
POWERLESS – LAUREN ROBERTS
By Andrea, S4
Powerless by Lauren Roberts is an incredible book you would never want to put down. It follows Paedyn Gray an ordinary girl who must pose as a psychic to stay alive in a world run by Elites, the people who have all the power. After unknowingly saving the prince Paedyn must compete in deadly trials which were created to show the elites powers. Can Paedyn make it out alive or will she lose herself along the way? This book is perfect for fantasy lovers who enjoy an enemy to lover's romance along the way.
THE LAST BEAR – HANNAH GOLD
By Jia Yi, S1
The Last Bear is a fantasy themed book about a young protagonist who goes on an island called “Bear Island” with her father for research. She only went there to explore the island while her father did his own research but surprisingly she found she actually bonded with a polar bear that wasn’t supposed to exist on the island. This is when she decided to spend her six months on this island just to save this bear from suffering from loneliness, and that’s when her and her friend’s journey begins… I really like this book as it is a very heart-warming book about friendship and bonding with people, even animals! The author even shows the bravery of the girl just to encourage children to be brave no matter if there are any obstacles in their way. The book was well written even with some welldesigned pictures that were added to the book. Overall, the book is a great read as it can really encourage people to be braver.
SPIRITED AWAY – HAYAO MIYAZAKI
By Ranveer, S1
AT THE EDGE: RIDING FOR MY LIFE –
DANNY MACASKILL
By James, S1
This is an autobiography of Danny MacAskill’s life.
Danny MacAskill is a professional trials rider for Red Bull. He was raised on the Isle of Skye in Dunvegan. Danny was a bike mechanic when he started videoing his stunts for YouTube, which went viral. The book talks about how he got into bike stunts and speaks in great detail about the risks he took and the people he met. One of the videos he put on YouTube accidentally went viral. It was after this video that he started taking greater risks. One of the best stunts he did was when he made a film about cycling the Cuillin ridge in Skye. This is a very narrow ridge, which takes in about 12 Munros. The best bit was when he stood on the top of the inaccessible pinnacle.
This is a very exciting book about an exciting man who takes risks doing something he loves.
Spirited Away is a book made by Hayao Miyazaki (2002). It covers the life of an ordinary ten year old, Chihiro Ogino. Chihiro was moving houses when her dad gets lost with her and her mother. They found a tunnel which led to a deserted town which had much food. Chihiro explored as her parents ate, soon a boy told her to run and she found that her parents had been turned into pigs. It was then that Chihiro was bound to a bath house, Aburaya Bath House. This book is a large recommendation for anyone into graphic novels or manga.
We’re always looking for new book recommendations at DARN – please get in touch if you’d like to contribute!
Interview with… Miss Dawson
What book are you currently reading?
I’m currently reading House of Flame and Shadow by Sarah J. Maas.
What’s your favourite book?
It’s so hard to pick one! I would probably have to pick Throne of Glass by Sarah J. Maas because I love fantasy books, I love the settings, magic and strong female lead.
If you could be any character from a book who would you be?
Aelin Ashryer Galathyrus is who I would be! She’s the Main character in Throne of Glass, I would be her because she’s strong, funny and bold.
What’s your favourite genre?
Fantasy! I love fantasy because you can get lost in your imagination, Also I love the grand battles, fighting invaders and bold and funny comparisons to real life.
What was your favourite book as a kid?
Probably Dust Bin Baby by Jacqueline
Wilson, I specifically remember its purple cover!
Who’s your favourite author?
Right now, it’s Sarah J. Maas, Noticing a theme here? As a child it would’ve been Jacqueline Wilson and it turns out I actually met her as a kid!
What’s your favourite series of books?
Throne of Glass, it’s great how the characters grow and develop, the surroundings and the combat.
What book would you recommend?
If you like loooong series and books like Lord of the Ring and Game of Thrones, I would suggest the Throne of Glass series.
Why do you enjoy reading?
I personally read before bed, it helps me unwind and stay off devices, Plus, it’s great for your imagination because you get to imagine all the characters and places.
WORLD BOOK DAY
7th March 2024
WORLD BOOK DAY CELEBRATIONS
To celebrate World Book Day, S1 pupils took part in a book review competition while S2 pupils created their own designs for the National Book Tokens competition. A fantastic variety of book reviews and book token designs were submitted.
The winning book reviews and book tokens are on display in the Library with the best entries in the S2 National Book Tokens submitted to the National competition. Winners received Amazon vouchers and Easter eggs.
S1 Winner: Maisie 1D
2nd: Lily 1E
3rd: Sylvie 1F
Commended: Misha 1B; Sophie 1C; Ella-Rose 1D; James 1C
S2 Joint Winners: Zafena 2D / Persephone 2A
2nd: Brodie 2B
3rd: Erin 2B
Commended: Connor 2C & Freya 2B
WORLD BOOK DAY
Winning Competition Entries
Brodie, S2
Zafena, S2
Persephone, S2
Erin, S2
Maisie, S1
Lily, S1
Sylvie, S1
GUESS WHO’S COMING TO
DINNER COMPETITION
Pupils were challenged to guess the fictional characters “dining” in Douglas Academy Library.
The winner was Maisie 2A who wins a large Easter egg. Runners up: Finlay 1D & Freddie 1F
Well done to all who took part!
NATIONAL READING CHAMPIONS QUIZ
Congratulations to the two first year teams who took part in the North West / South West Scotland heat of the National Reading Champions Quiz on Monday 11thMarch. Both teams finished in joint third place and each win book tokens. All pupils showed great literary knowledge and enthusiasm for reading. They are a credit to the school! Well done to Niamh, Sam, Joseph, May, Jacob, Mairi, Oliver and Fraser!
“I liked the competition because I like reading and being in a quiz. I also had a lot of fun being with my friends. Our mascot was a rugby ball with a hat and a face made out of paper. I liked that we came third in the quiz” Joseph, S1
‘Fall into a Book’ display
As part of our Book Week Scotland celebrations, our Reading Ambassadors created the display ‘Fall into a Book’. Staff were asked to write their reading recommendations on a leaf. This colourful display can be viewed on the Reading Schools noticeboard near the drama studio.
See some of our staff recommendations below:
Firefly Lane by Kristin Hannah
Starting in the summer of 1974, this coming of age story follows the friendship of two very different characters, Tully and Kate over a thirty year period.
A moving and realistic portrait of a complex and enduring friendship.
Recommended by Mrs Lyons, Biology
Yellow Face by R.F. Kuang
June and Athena are friends and writers. Whilst June failed to have her book published, Athena's book proved itself to be the darling of the literary fiction world, catapulting Athena to stardom as a published author. When Athena dies in a freak accident, June steals her unpublished manuscript and publishes it as her own under the ambiguous name Juniper Song.
A dark humorous insight into the world of publishing, plagiarism and social media.
Miss Letford, Biology
Drive Your Plow Over the Bones of the Dead by Olga Tokarczuk
In a remote Polish village, Janina Duszejko, an eccentric woman in her 60s, recounts the events surrounding the disappearance of her two dogs. When members of a local hunting club are found murdered, Duszejko becomes involved in the investigation. A subversive, entertaining noir novel from Man Booker prize winner Tokarczuk
Miss Reid, English
Frankenstein by Mary Shelley
Victor Frankenstein driven by the dream of building his own creature, experiments with alchemy and science to produce a monster stitched together from dead remains. Once the creature becomes a living breathing articulate entity, it turns on its maker and the novel darkens into tragedy.
The classic gothic horror novel.
Mrs Wilson, English
Mythos by Stephen Fry
A vivid retelling of Greek myths and legends told in Stephen Fry’s own inimitable style, Mythos captures these extraordinary stories for our modern age with a deeply human relevance. Mr Arthur, Chemistry
The Trial of Lotta Rae by Siobhan MacGowan
Halloween night, 1906. Lotta Rae is assaulted by a wealthy gentleman and bravely takes him to trial alongside her barrister, William. But the verdict is devastating, the consequences unimaginable. When Lotta discovers she has been betrayed, she vows to deliver her own justice. A gripping story of injustice, intrigue and revenge.
Mrs Shovlin, Modern Languages
Strong Female Character by Fern Brady
Fern Brady is diagnosed with autism at the age of twenty. This hilarious and touching memoire uses humour to tackle difficult topics and to share the experiences she has had as a woman with autism.
Mrs Baxter, English
