Reading Newsletter Issue 2

READING NEWSLETTER

Issue No. 2 May 2023

Welcome to our second St Cuthbert’s Reading Newsletter. In this issue, we continue to reflect on how we have promoted and celebrated reading this half term and hear from book-loving pupils, students and staff. However, we are also pleased to announce some exciting upcoming reading events taking place next half term. Happy reading!

THE CARNEGIE BOOK AWARD The Carnegie Medal is an annual medal awarded by librarians to a book of outstanding quality for children and young people.

Thousands of young people take part in Carnegie Shadowing Groups across the country.

This year there are seven nominated books. We are thrilled to offer our pupils and students the opportunity to join our own Shadowing Group to read these seven books over this next half term. Pupils and students will debate and select St Cuthbert’s choice of the winning book for the Carnegie Medal.

This year’s shortlist is an amazing selection of books ranging from post-apocalyptic tales to stories of time travel, friendship, war, spies and Greek mythology. There is something for everyone to enjoy. Taking part in the Shadowing Group is a unique opportunity to meet pupils and students across the school with a shared interest, gain confidence through fruitful discussion, and enjoy some of the best books that young adult fiction has to offer.

To get involved pupils should speak to Miss Black in the library (Canon Cassidy Centre) or Miss Mann (English).

our new

library

We are excited to announce that our new library will be open for business to Key Stage 3 pupils after half term. We will launch our exciting new library website, and pupils will be invited to learn how to use the library and how to access e-books and audio books too.

HAPPY BIRTHDAY SHAKESPEARE! To celebrate the birthday of one of the greatest playwrights in English Literature, the English Department performed extracts from some of William Shakespeare's most famous plays. Pupils enjoyed guessing the play from which the extract was taken, and had a chuckle at some interesting and questionable acting!

12 A Level An interview with Matthew Hewson, Year Literature student, on his reading experiences. ernoons. e. I usually read in the aft helps me to relax at hom it e aus bec d rea is partly to ich e wh lov I oy reading lish Literature because I enj Eng el lev A dy stu y the to wa se I cho lly enjoy the best GCSE grade. I also rea my s wa ure rat Lite lish why Eng s and debate different of opportunities to discus s lot ws allo ich wh , ght led A Streetcar subject is tau favourite text is a play cal My ts. plo and s ter rac cha interpretations of Tennessee Williams.

American play written by Named Desire which is an ails the epic adventure of r's The Odyssey which det me Ho g din rea tly ren cur I am ek and Roman mythology.

Odysseus. I really enjoy Gre

An interview with Mrs De vin, Teacher of Art.

What is your favourite boo k and why?

One of my favourite books is The Girl with the Pearl Earring

by Tracy Chevalier and I also The Kite Runner by Khaled Ho love ssieni .This was a tricky questio n though because there are so many amazing books. .

Where and when do you mo st like to read?

I love to read on the sofa or in bed at night. I usually hav e coffee or a glass of wine wit h me!

Why do you enjoy reading?

I adore reading because it tea ches me about other cultures or how people live. I learn abo ut history and fascinating events, but I am always transported to somew here else!

What are you currently rea ding?

I am currently reading The Ret urn by Victoria Hislop.

How can you support your son's reading at home?

Watch a film version then read the book.

Suggest graphic novels for your son to read.

Ask questions about what your son is reading.

Allocate at least 20 minutes each evening to reading (maybe just before bed).

Read aloud with/to your son.

Listen to audiobooks with your son.

BOOK RECOMMENDATIONS YEAR 7 Rick by Alex Gino

The Boy in the Dress by David Walliams

Rick's never questioned much. He's tagged along with his best friend Jeff, even when Jeff's acted like a bully. He's let his Dad joke with him about girls, even though it makes him feel uncomfortable.

Everyone around him seems to think that they've figured him out. But the truth is, Rick hasn't given his own identity much thought. Now Rick's in middle school, and it's a place of new possibilities.

With the help of his new friends that he meets at the Rainbow Spectrum club, Rick embarks on a journey to find out who he truly is. An inspiring story about finding your place in the world.

Following 12-year-old boy Dennis and his 14-year-old brother John. Dennis is talented in football and is one of the best on his team.

But Dennis is different.

Why was he different, you ask?

Well, a small clue might be in the title of this book…

A smart and very funny story about tolerance and acceptance. A lesson in owning oneself and the beauty and joy of embracing who you are.

YEAR 8 Heartstopper by Alice Oseman Charlie and Nick are at the same school, but they've never met ... until one day when they're made to sit together. They quickly become friends, and soon Charlie is falling hard for Nick, even though he doesn't think he has a chance.

But love works in surprising ways, and Nick is more interested in Charlie than either of them realised.

Heartstopper is about love, friendship, loyalty and mental illness. It encompasses all the small moments of Nick and Charlie's lives that together make up something larger, which speaks to all of us.

The Sun and the Stars by Rick Riordan and Mark Oshiro Set in the myth-packed world of Percy Jackson, this rollicking adventure sees demigods Nico di Angelo and Will Solace must endure the terrors of Tartarus in their attempt to rescue an old friend in this thrilling adventure – set in the funny, mythical and action-packed world of Percy Jackson.

Nico di Angelo is pretty familiar with the realms of death, being the son of Hades and all. So, when a desperate voice starts plaguing his dreams, Nico is convinced it's coming from the Underworld and belongs to an old friend - a reformed Titan called Bob. Then an ominous prophecy leaves Nico in no doubt - Bob needs his help and Nico must rescue him.

ONE PROPHECY. TWO DEMIGODS. A HEROIC QUEST.

YEAR9 Wranglestone by Darren Charlton In a post-apocalyptic America, a community survives in a national park, surrounded by water that keeps the Dead at bay. But when winter comes, there's nothing to stop them from crossing the ice.

Then homebody Peter puts the camp in danger by naively allowing a stranger to come ashore and he's forced to leave the community of Wranglestone. Now he must help rancher Cooper, the boy he's always watched from afar, herd the Dead from their shores before the lake freezes over. But as love blossoms, a dark discovery reveals the sanctuary's secret past. One that forces the pair to question everything they've ever known.

So This is Ever After by F.T Lukens Arek hadn’t thought much about what would happen after he completed the prophecy that said he was destined to save the Kingdom of Ere from its evil ruler. So now that he’s finally managed to (somewhat clumsily) behead the evil king (turns out magical swords yanked from bogs don’t come pre-sharpened), he and his rag-tag group of quest companions are at a bit of a loss for what to do next.

As a temporary safeguard, Arek’s best friend and mage, Matt, convinces him to assume the throne until the true heir can be rescued from her tower. Except that she’s dead. Now Arek is stuck as king, a role that comes with a magical catch: choose a spouse by your eighteenth birthday, or wither away into nothing.

KS4 Aristotle and Dante Discover Secrets of the Universe by Benjamin Alire Sáenz Aristotle is an angry teen with a brother in prison.

Dante is a know-it-all who has a unique perspective on life.

When the two meet at the swimming pool, they seem to have nothing in common. But as the loners start spending time together, they develop a special friendship – the kind that changes lives and lasts a lifetime. And it is through this friendship that Ari and Dante will learn the most important truths about the universe, themselves and the kind of people they want to be.

That's Left in the World by Erik J. Brown Jamie and Andrew are strangers, and two of the last people on Earth.

They don't know what they'll find on their perilous journey ... but they may just find each other. A queer romance about courage, hope and humanity.

When the Superflu wipes out most of the population, Jamie finds himself completely alone in a cabin in the woods - until an injured stranger crosses his path.

Life is dangerous now and, armed with a gun, Jamie goes to pull the trigger. But there's something about Andrew ... something that stops Jamie in his tracks. Jamie takes him in, and as Andrew heals and they eventually step out into the strange new world, their relationship starts to feel like more than just friendship ..

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Those pupils who read every day end up with better GCSE results in all subjects, including Mathematics, compared to those who don't (GL Assessment, 2020).