Off the Shelf - Spring Term 2024

Off the SHELF Spring Term 2024 Editor: Yumi Y13 Contents Reading Reps Book Reviews Wider Reading Reads 5 Reasons You Should Read Library News Newsletter Games

Welcome!

Welcome to the WGGS Spring Term Library Newsletter.

In this edition you will find yourself -lots of good reads recommended by the students at WGGS.

Reading Reps- Book Reviews: Book review - The Rooftoppers The story is about a girl named Sophie, who is 11 years old and has lost her mother in a shipwreck but her instinct tells that her mother is still alive. In order to avoid from going to the orphanage, she escapes by going on a journey to Paris, mother hunting with the help of Charles (her guardian) and Matteo (her rooftopper friend).

This is a definite read for 7-12 years.

I loved the author’s style of writing as it is very entertaining and filled with a variety of emotions. At first the story is boring and simple but from the escape to Paris the adventure starts with Sophie finding clues that lead her to the truth about her mother. I just couldn’t stop reading. I would recommend this book for anyone who likes adventure, fantasy and is looking got vivid imagination.

Anjana, 7B

The Girls I’ve Been by Tess Sharpe A gripping tale that kept me on my toes, and up late, because I just had to know what happened next! As the protagonist, Nora, navigates her way through surviving a bank heist, she brings us back to her old life of deception, with her con artist mother. The flashbacks littered throughout the story provide a detailed explanation of all the identities she once used to be, and the skills she learned from each of them. Nora is so much more than just a character - there are so many layers to her personality, her past, and her secrets. I personally admire her ability to transform herself into a completely different person and her bravery in being a hostage and using it to her advantage to save the people she loves - even if it means there's a price to pay. Overall I would give it a 9/10 for its three-dimensional characters and unique plot. I would definitely recommend it, especially to fans of thrilling adventures and mysteries!

Claire, 8F

Reading Reps- Book Reviews: ‘The Picture of Dorian Gray’ review Sara, 12D To say this was an easy read would be a lie. This isn’t to deny any of the beautifully crafted prose in Oscar Wilde’s first and only ever novel, but ultimately, I felt a reader could tell that Wilde did not quite have the same precision and punchiness other novelists may have. However, I did enjoy this novel and felt that it reflected very well themes and issues we have even in our own society today.

The main arc of the novel is centred around Dorian Gray’s unfathomable and unchanging beauty. After seeing a magnificent portrait of him painted by Basil Hallward, he wishes ‘If it were I who was to be always young, and the picture that was to grow old! I would give my soul for that!’ As you would expect from a gothic novel, Dorian gets his wish. The rest of the novel follows the evil and rather cruel actions Dorian commits whilst preserving his youthful looks, with the people around him assuming complete innocence on Dorian Gray’s behalf due to his good looks. Wilde explores how the influence of others (like Lord Henry and the book he gave Dorian) can completely transform outlooks on life.

Overall, the book is entertaining although some plot and events could be lost in Wilde’s flowery language.

As I was reading, I realised the novel was more Wilde’s personal, philosophical exploration of beauty, morality and corruption. Wilde seemed to be critiquing the value of beauty in his society (though still incredibly relevant today), and how our relationships with beauty can corrupt our morality and ruin lives. The characters within this book seemed to act more as symbols and fixed ideas, I didn’t feel that there was much character development for most of the characters. Basil Howard – the painter – seemed to represent the common infatuation of beautiful people felt by society and how admiration entirely consumes people; Dorian Gray represented this beauty and how it does not reflect the true soul of a person; Lord Henry is the key to the corruption of beauty and Dorian through his self-centred and stubborn attitudes towards society. I felt Wilde’s novel also lacked female presence, with there being only really 2 prominent female figures who still felt like embodied stereotypes.

So, if you are looking for an ‘easy read’ or precise, fast-moving book to read, I would not recommend this book. But The Picture of Dorian Gray most definitely has its own place in literature: it is filled with witty one-liners, especially in dialogue, and explores the complexities of beauty and morality in unique and surprising ways. The ideas established in the first chapter are wonderfully explored throughout the whole novel with Wilde’s humour helping to make it even more entertaining. The ending was quite satisfying, and I would recommend this novel to those who want to think and explore Wilde’s ideas in their own minds as well.

wider reading reads!

During the school holidays when you want to study/revise but you don’t feel like taking notes or doing past paper you can just read. Wider reading is reading outside your subject specification to widen your knowledge! It is great way to revise without lots of stress and is great to put onto your personal statement in the future.

Here in WGGS Library we have lots of wider reading books available for you guys to read over the winter break!

A fun way to learn Chemistry and look at how Chemistry is involved in your daily life!

Highly recommended by : Yumi, Year 13

A series of very informative books available for people with a love and passion for Human Geography!

Another Geography book, this time more for the Physical Geography lovers.

Information on water insecurity which currently is quite a big challenge.

5 reasons you should read!!!

Reading for 6 minutes a day can reduce stress by 68%

Reading and improve memory and helps you to focus

Reading can make you a better communicator

Reading can help expand

your imagination!

Reading can boost your sleep and improve sleep quality

Library News Mrs Small’s Hip List I have recently had some time off work to get a new hip.

The upside of having to sit still while you recover from an operation is that you have plenty of time to read. Here are the best books I read while I was recuperating.

Finding Phoebe by Gavin Extence Phoebe is autistic. She prefers to stay in her comfort zone: walking her dog, writing fantasy fiction, surviving school with as few incidents as possible. When her best (and only) friend rebels and gets a secret boyfriend, Phoebe reluctantly agrees to cover for her. Breaking the rules has never been Phoebe's thing, but as events take a seriously unexpected turn, she realises there's more to her than she ever imagined.

I loved getting to know Phoebe and seeing life through her eyes, a great protagonist 4/5

The House in the Woods by Yvette Fielding When Clovis, Eve and Tom decide to play with a Ouija board in an old, abandoned house on Halloween, none of them foresees the horrors they're about to unleash. What starts out as a bit of fun, soon transcends into something far more terrifying when a distressed and determined spirit follows them home.

Before long the friends are caught up in a series of events beyond their wildest imaginings and their journey as ghost hunters begins This is the first book in the series and having read this one I have gone on to read books 2 and 3 as well, gripping stories and good characters, I’m looking forward to the next one already 4/5

Tremendous Things by Susin Neilsen Wilbur is sure he's a loser: he spends his life being bullied, his best friend is 85 years old, and his only talent is playing the triangle in the school band.But things start to look up when he gets the chance to be part of the French exchange.

Wilbur's billet Charlie arrives to spend the week with him and his two moms . . . and it turns out that Charlie is a girl. An amazing, sophisticated, French girl who Wilbur instantly falls in love with.

Keen to win her heart, Wilbur agrees to a total life makeover before he sees Charlie again on the return trip to Paris. But the course of true amour never did run smooth.

Neilsen’s books are witty with great characters, this one is no exception 5/5

Yellowface by Rebecca Kuang Athena Liu is a literary darling and June Hayward is literally nobody. When Athena dies in a freak accident, June steals her unpublished manuscript and publishes it as her own under the ambiguous name Juniper Song. But as evidence threatens June’s stolen success, she will discover exactly how far she will go to keep what she thinks she deserves.

If you are interested in a career in publishing, you may want to read this book. It is an insight into the world of writing and publishing. At what point does imagination become cultural appropriation? An interesting and unnerving book for older readers 4/5

Something terrible happened last night by Sam Blake It's Katie's 17th birthday - the dancefloor is packed, the drink is flowing and Rave-fess, the Raven's Hill School confession site, is alight with gossip. Then a huge fight breaks out, sending guests fleeing. When Frankie, Jess and Sorcha go back to help Katie clear up her wrecked house before her parents get home, they find more than broken bottles. There's a body on the living room floor. The gripping teen thriller that will keep everyone guessing.

For fans of “One of us is lying” a clever murder mystery full of teen angst, it kept me guessing 4/5

Newsletter Games library word search f f l m w t e e n e r k l a o o q r s t s n o w o i n b l d e f g b o o k s g t o d o v s t s d f d e h a b c d v f g h i j k l t s o p q r e t m d f d d s y b c d e f i c t i o n o p q r s t s d r d d d p s a b c d e y r a r b i l m n o p q r s t a r f d y d a b c d e f g h i j k l m n w o r d s s o c k s d t a b c d e f g h i j k l m c r i m e m a s j a s f t

book library fantasy words

teen love crime fiction

bookmark colouring

colouring

have fun colouring keep warm and carry on reading!!