The Literary Wold Junior Edition - Issue 1 - Our World

Welcome!

The Literary Wold Junior is a new initiative created by Tilda, where younger members of the Woldingham community can find a space to hone their creative writing skills and enjoy reading more age-appropriate articles and book reviews written by older students and teachers. The idea behind this initiative is that younger students will feel encouraged to continue pursuing their passion for literature Feel free to email GLA013 if you have any feedback!

Why the Theme of ‘Our World’?

Nature has always been a topic of interest in the world of literature, from Romantics like William Wordsworth with his host of golden daffodils, to poets like Alfred Tennyson, who believed that nature was “red in tooth and claw.”

In recent years, events such as COP27 have brought issues surrounding nature and the environment to light in the modern era, with countries making pledges to tackle our current lack of sustainability. The climate crisis is an incredibly important topic which needs to be discussed, as the issue of climate change is beginning to amplify existing inequalities. For example, did you know that women and children make up 80% of those who will need to relocate due to climate change? Or that the population of the Solomon Islands, though they represent less than 0.01% of global CO2 emissions, are the ones whose homes are being flooded due to rising sea levels? Saving the planet is going to involve a societal change.

However, there is hope. In his speech at the opening of COP26, David Attenborough said that positive change needs to stem from hope for a better future, rather than through fear that the planet is doomed. April 22nd is Earth Day, an annual celebration which aims to inspire people to take action and protect the environment. The theme for this year is ‘Invest in Our Planet’, and we are encouraged to reduce the amount of single-use plastic we consume, fight fast fashion and improve our climate literacy (which I help with on page 43) To find out more about how you can make a difference, visit EarthDay.Org or read Aashvi’s insightful article. In light of this, we chose the theme of ‘Our World’ to encourage you to go beyond the classroom and speak up on issues that matter. Your contributions to this issue prove how determined you all are to make a positive change, so keep up the good work!

Climate Quiz

Have you got what it takes to complete our Climate Quiz? Go ahead and try answering these questions in ascending difficulty. Answers can be found on the last page.

1) Can you name 2 greenhouse gases?

2) Can you name 2 fossil fuels?

3) What is the largest producer of methane in the world?

4) Which country is the largest contributor to CO2 emissions?

5) When does the UK want to have net zero carbon emissions by?

6) Earth’s population recently reached what milestone?

7) Roughly how many trees are there in the Amazon?

8) What is the Happy Planet Index?

9) When was the first Earth Day celebrated?

Meet the Editors

As editors, we would like to introduce ourselves, so you can get to know a little bit more about us! Before we begin, we’d like to thank everyone who contributed to the first issue of The Literary Wold Junior! It’s been great to see your enthusiasm for this new initiative.

Hello everyone! I’m Tilda and I am running Photography Society and Go Beyond club. My favourite book growing up was Matilda by Roald Dahl (you can probably guess why). I loved the character of Matilda, because she was funny, smart and stood up for what she believed in, as well as being a total bookworm. Also, I always used to dress up as her on World Book Day! I’m pretty sure I’ve still got that red ribbon somewhere…

Hi guys, I’m Kayleigh! I’m a woman in WOW and take English for A Level. I’ve always loved literature growing up, but my all-time favourite book was Alice’s Adventures In Wonderland by Lewis Carroll. I fell in love with the fantasy world that Alice explored and the absurd characters (particularly the White Rabbit and the Cheshire Cat) that she met along the way. This incredibly famous story taught me at a young age how special it is to think creatively, as well as the importance of expressing your unique ideas in writing.

Hi guys, I'm Aashvi and I am part of Biology Society, where we make videos for Year 11s who are studying Biology, and I regularly attend STEM Society. I love to read, especially non-fiction books. When I was young, my favourite books were novels about survival in the wilderness. I loved the book Hatchet by Gary Paulsen because I found it interesting to see the main character solve problems throughout his journey within nature. I also liked that the books about survival would mention certain plant names and the effect when one would touch them. These books inspired my love for biology and taught me that I can work through any challenge if I put my mind to it!

Finally, Meet Moo-cbeth!

3.

4. Wings – Alice S

5.

6. Soaring – Elodie R

7. The Plastic Whale – Alexa B

10. Problems – Angela Y

1. Quiet Night Thoughts from China – Mr Peachey

1. Tilda’s Tips on How to Write a Killer Opening

Let Me Be

By Gabrielle F, Year 7

Everything that I see is being cut down, This includes all my sorrowful trees, Not even one twig is left alone Just let me be.

All the plastic is polluting the water, You are hurting the animals and the sea, All my sea creatures are disappearing because of you. Please let me be.

Animals fall to the ground every day, Every gun you shoot hurts more of me, And every living thing is dying quicker than ever, Why can’t you let me be?

My weather is heating up, not even my tears can stop it, This change is happening extremely quickly, You look away whilst my ice melts away, Stop hurting me and let me be!

Memoirs of the Old Man in Mumbai

By Chris H, Year 9

A few hours. Only a few hours till gracious death takes me; The world I have known –

The swamp of bottles, bags and brine, The air metallic and thick. Pure oxygen a long faded memory.

I was asked if I will be sad to go; I had laughed saying, “Who will miss this?”

This urban desert, This far from barren wasteland. The only sadness is the children, How (like me)

They will breathe and die with the same pungent air, Feel the heat of the rusting pipes beneath their feet.

But that is a problem for the young, And I –

The old, Have little left to do now, but die. I take my last breaths of the thick air, Count the clinks and clangs of the groaning metal, And pray heaven is cleaner Than this world I leave behind.

The Ocean

By Jessica P, Year 8

I am vast, I am free I can do whatever I want And I have always been here.

You fill me with your unwanted, your waste And yet, I stay I am a home, I am their home And I have always been here

I am there when there is death

I am there when there is life And I have always been here

You drink from me

You feed off me

And then you choke me with your waste

You have forced me to black

You have drowned my creatures And I have always been here

But even then

You are still not sorry

And you will keep on poisoning me with your presents

You know that it is wrong

But did you realise, that the guilt is lifelong?

By Alice S, Year 9

Wings

Step on a butterfly and a new world is born. Everything changes in a single act. The fabric of everyday things is torn

The food you eat, the clothes you’ve worn, Your choice has changed it all, to be exact. Step on a butterfly and a new world is born.

From one decision a new picture is drawn, From the concrete to the abstract. The fabric of everyday things is torn.

It was such a small thing, you could’ve sworn. You only really saw it after the fact. Step on a butterfly and a new world is born.

Choices have consequences, they warn But you never thought it would have such impact. The fabric of everyday things is torn.

Now a green sun rises on a new morn And the glass in the window is cracked. Step on a butterfly and a new world is born The fabric of everyday things is torn.

The World Is Dying

By Phoebe P, Year 7

The world is dying

People's lives are changing

This planet is in danger

And billions of people aren't helping Things need to change

Or our lives won't be the same

We can't just rely on other people

After all it’s our planet that’s in pain

We don’t all have to do a tremendous amount

Just enough to help out

So let's win this war

For once and for all

Let us stop climate change!

By Elodie R, Year 7

Soaring

I wake up to the sound of something roaring

Stretch my wings, take my feet off the ground

Today is a day I feel like soaring

Soaring

High in the sky but it doesn’t look the same

The clouds are grey, as if filled with hate

I try to escape but all in vain

Roaring

Acid rain has stained the walls

Metal birds still fly in the rain

The logic of that in my head has started to brawl

Pouring

My friends and family, choking on plastic

Choking on metal, it’s just barbaric

All the change, my eyes start bawling

If we don’t act now, the world will start falling.

Falling Roaring Pouring

Soaring, Soaring.

By Alexa B, Year 8

The Plastic Whale

This wonderful creature, Magnificent and vast, Finally safe from, The dangers of its past, Humans were a danger, Humans were a threat, Scooping them up, With that battered fishing net.

What extraordinary animals, Shiny and slippery, Wanting to continue, Their ancestry history, Circling the oceans, Swimming with ease, With their family pods, Diving down through the seas.

They thought it was over, They'd reached what they wanted to achieve, The activists had won, That’s what they believe, What a fake, What a lie, One campaign's not enough, The humans all need to try.

Imagine a world with no whales, These creatures only seen in a book, These mighty animals gone forever, We must cherish our final look, It happened to the others, Dinosaurs, dodos and more, We can't let it happen again, It's something we can't ignore.

Too drained to swim, Too drained to fight, Tangled in plastic, She won't last another night, They must all work together, To cut plastic pollution, To save the planet, And find a resolution.

The Swiss Alps

By Carys S, Year 8

The magical mountains

Swoop from side to side

The winter is glitter

The summer is the singer

Goats and cows, Milk and chocolate

The magic of the fairies gliding around as the people on skis glide slowly down.

The white and the green all mixed into one

The national dog

Friendly as always

Sweets float gently around it,

People laughing everywhere

Taking pictures with it

The magical mountains

Families teaching the young

Technical things like building a snowman

Food made to eat while the cows watch, proud.

The magical mountains

Snow glides down

Hot chocolate to fill the marmots

Everything slowly falls around you

And you step on to mount fort.

The magical mountains

The avalanche comes next

Who will win,

Rock two comes first and with him snow snow snow and moguls…

The magical mountains

Everywhere

No matter the time of year.

There for comfort and love too

But most importantly

For me and you.

Koalas in the Fire

By Freya S, Year 8

My life

It flickers before my eyes

I take a last look

A last breath

The smoke inhaled by my lungs

The orange and red flickers before my eyes

Before I die

My life flashes before my eyes

Circling round my mind

The green trees that were once my home

The juicy leaves to slowly munch

My family

Fighting

Clawing

Living

Gone

It’s just gone

The grey fur burning

The smell of smoke

The sound of crashing trees

I feel stabbing pains

And then the world turns darker

And darker

And darker

As my life falls apart

On Thin Ice

By Freya S, Year 8

The waves crash against the ice

The smell of sea salt

It’s getting closer

Closer and closer

CRASH!

The glacier crashes down

I look at my paws

I must keep my balance

My eyes see cracks

Forming slowly

But surely

The ice crashes beneath my feet

An ice-cold splash takes over my body

I shiver

I’m only a young cub

Too young to swim

Killer whales prowl

I look at my fur one last time

Before my snow-white fur is ripped to pieces

I thought it only happened in fairy tales

Read to me at bedtime

But it’s true

The ice is melting

And I am doomed…

By Angela Y, Year 7

Litter in the ocean, Mouldy cheese for rats, Global warming is happening, Those are the facts.

About the litter, Some adults throw them around, But most children don’t, So let’s help them learn.

Icebergs are melting, Global warming’s happening, It’s on the news, So stop burning fuels.

Finish your food, Some people starve, Let’s not be wasteful, Be grateful for your food.

Problems

By Cayetana G G, Year 9

Solemnity is coming, Winter has arrived, Animals hibernate, I will go another way.

Everything will change, Friends, language, state.

I will go with other birds. I will just go away.

The Winter of a Bird

A Walk Through Winter

By Juliette M, Year 9

Crunch, crunch, crunch, my feet

Walked across the leaf-covered Floor as wild wind rapidly ran Past the great, gnarled Trees that stood like soldiers In the glacial weather.

Long rods of silver icicles hung off Of the branches like Sleeping bats. Radiant flowers Lay silently under a fresh Pile of snow. Tiny snowflakes

Twinkled in the light as they elegantly Descended down from the Mighty heavens.

Not a noise to be heard

Except for the howling wind And the cries of wolves in The distance. Shreds

Of ice sat around an open Hole where the river had Once rested.

By Clarice N, Year 9

Typhoon

Nature, nature, why is it so unpredictable?

Thunderstorm, rain, wind and mayhem

Harming people and the land

Bringing forth the disastrous scene

Thrump, thrump, first the thunderstorm

Scaring children to half death

Sha, sha, second’s the craze rain

Flooding the land and killing the crops

Woo, woo third’s the loud man wind

Banging on windows, bullying the trees

Fourth and the last, the mayhem follows

Thrump, thrump, sha, sha, woo, woo

Wreaking havoc, destroying cities

Brining down a whole city in a night’s time!

Quiet Night Thoughts from China

By Mr Peachey

A few years ago when I was teaching in another school, an annoyed Chemistry teacher approached me with a note that two of his students had been passing in the back of his class. It was written in Chinese and he wanted to know what it said. After a little research, I discovered that it was a poem written in the Tang era, well over a thousand years ago! Now, of course you shouldn’t pass notes in lessons but I can’t help thinking that if more people swapped ancient poems the world would be a better place.

The Tang era (AD 618-907) produced many great poets, among whom were Du Fu, Li Bai, and Wang Wei. Their poetry was some of the greatest literature ever written. Unfortunately, it’s also very difficult to translate into English, so I’ll just give you a short taste of its brilliance by looking at one short poem called ‘Quiet Night Thoughts’ by Li Bai. In Chinese, it’s only 20 characters (or words) long and three of those characters are repeated. In others words, there’s a lot packed into a tiny space! Here it is in Chinese:

We might translate it like this:

Before my bed, the bright moonlight. I mistake it for frost on the ground.

Raising my head, I stare at the bright moon; Lowering my head, I think of home.

What is this poem about?

The poet is woken up by a bright light shining through the window. He thinks it’s a reflection of the frost on the ground, but it’s not. It’s the moonlight. So he looks up and sees the moon itself. Then he looks down and thinks about home.

Now, why is this such a great poem?

Firstly, it sounds beautiful. Try listening to it on YouTube. Even better, ask a Chinese speaker to read it to you. Secondly, it says a huge amount in just a few words. Li Bai doesn’t whack you over the head with his message. Instead he hints at his homesickness. Because that is what the poem is really about: homesickness and the beauty of nature.

Think about it as a poem of two halves. In the first two lines, the poet looks up and then down. In lines 3 and 4, he does the same again. Why? Because the moon matters. The full moon in Chinese culture is a reminder of family. Wherever you are in the world, you can look up and see the full moon, knowing that your family will be doing the same wherever they are. However, in this poem the speaker then lowers his head. Like the frost, his thoughts are now cold and hard because he has been separated from his family. It is a sad poem but, at the same time, an inspiring one. Li Bai takes a difficult situation and transforms it by turning his feelings into poetry. Another way of putting it would be to say that bitterness becomes beauty.

This isn’t a poem you can rush. You need to read it slowly and then mull it over. Let it sink into your mind, heart, and memory. Read it. Re-read it. Learn it if you can. That way it will work its magic on you.

So, next time you’re feeling sad, look out of your window at the moon or some other aspect of nature. Let its beauty remind you that “Life remains a blessing /Although you cannot bless”, as W.H. Auden, another wonderful poet, once put it. And then read or listen to some Chinese, Tang-era poetry. You might just find that a light shines in your heart and that your sadness melts away like frost.

Updates from Eco Club

By Mr Ceska

We are living on a planet where we are constantly adapting the environment to meet our needs. Unfortunately, most of our activities are causing destruction. We build posh hotels in paradise and destroy coral reefs and the habitat for native and exotic birds. We create roads and airports and cut trees. We are hindering animals to migrate by erecting borders and fences. We pollute rivers, air, and soil often by factories that produce things we don't even need.

Woldingham school is not an exception: we face increasing traffic, we consume over 1,600,000 sheets of paper in one academic year, we waste food, we are extending our parking spaces and developing the area to our needs. In addition to this our beautiful valley is subject to the highly destructive disease of ash dieback and most of them will have to be replaced in the coming years. Our task is to preserve the nature that surrounds our school as the wonderful school grounds make our school special. There are not many schools with such beautiful and vast grounds so close to London. So we don't want to lose them.

Our Eco Club takes place every Wednesday after school and since its creation we have been trying to encourage our members and school community to appreciate our environment, to think about our impact on the environment to live in a more environmentally friendly way and to do little activities to reduce our negative impact. Over this academic year we have planted many new trees and wildflowers, we have teamed up with our school canteen and promoted more plant-based food on our plates. We have also walked many miles and learnt about the various species of flowers and trees in our valley. We have new plans for next year. We would like to place some bird boxes around our grounds, and we hope to get some raised beds to plant our first vegetables. We would like to continue planting more trees and wildflowers to encourage pollinators in the area. Please come and join our Eco Club.

Below are some updates from the club members:

"Eco Club is a place of full of joy and always keeps you laughing. Activities range from planting trees and wild flowers to walking through the woods to see alpacas." Sofia C

"Eco Club excites me after having a long day and has definitely improved my school experience. Whilst having fun and improving my mental health, I am helping our planet get back to life."

Gracie H-M

"Everyone in Eco Club always has a positive attitude towards all our activities and no matter the weather we always find a way to go outside. We should have facilities to welcome more wildlife in school grounds." Scarlett

M-F

"We also plan to collaborate with different clubs. So, we will make bird houses with DT, stickers with art and much more. Anyway, please join!" Zinnia

B

And with that, please consider joining Eco Club if you want to help the school improve its sustainability. With plans to plant more trees in the future, now is the time to make a positive change in the world, however small. For more information, feel free to email Mr Ceska, who is the leader of Eco Club, or talk to any of the club members. I’m sure they’ll be more than happy to discuss any recommendations you have!

By Aashvi N, U6

Hooray for Earth Day!

Earth Day is coming up, and so it’s important to educate ourselves about its origins and how it is celebrated around the world. Some people believe that Earth Day is about celebrating the existence of our precious planet; however, that is not the case at all. So, what is Earth day about and how did it come to be?

The first Earth Day was held on April 22, 1970 and was created by a US senator from Wisconsin, Mr. Gaylord Nelson. The idea behind Earth Day originated from Nelson’s concern about the 1969 oil spill in Santa Barbara, California and the student anti-war movement. He was inspired to mirror the same sentiment that was present in the student’s movement, but instead to raise awareness of pollution in the United States.The Earth Movement grew in popularity and soon became a global event in 1990. Earth Day helped pave the way for the 1992 United Nations Earth Summit in Rio de Janeiro. Earth Day continues to grow in prevalence due the enhanced greenhouse effect on Earth constantly getting worse. Now that we know the history of Earth Day, let's talk about what exactly this special day is.

Earth Day is about confronting the climate crisis and focusing on green living, and surprisingly, Gen-Z and even millennials take interest in this matter. These young adults use platforms like TikTok and Instagram to spread awareness of the growing problem of climate change. Because of this, it is actually considered a ‘trend’ to be aware of the climate crisis and other horrific problems occurring around the world.

So, how is it celebrated globally? Famously, France holds rallies which support the celebration of Earth Day, as well as protests to raise awareness about climate change. These aim to spur politicians to take action to reduce pollution. Thousands of people take part in these rallies in France, but did you know that one billion people globally celebrate Earth Day? That’s 1/7 of the world’s population! Additionally, in Mexico, the celebration of this rather modern movement is infused with traditional songs and dances, as a way to highlight the beauty of nature and increase their appreciation of the Earth. As well as this, demonstrations are held in Mexico City, which call for justice for campaigners who have sadly lost their lives Children are also encouraged to plant trees at school.

Earth Day is about spreading awareness of climate change which continuously affects our planet every day, and so it is important to understand what you as an individual can do. We, as the editors of The Literary Wold Junior, think that it is a good idea for our readers to be aware of their carbon footprint, and so we would recommend completing the quiz from The Global Footprint Network. This quiz will show how many earths there would have to be if everyone lived like you!

Money Talks: The Environment and Economics

By Tilda G, U6

Climate change is an important topic to discuss, but the solutions to it are often oversimplified. In this article, I would like to go through some ways we are currently combatting climate change and the issues associated with these, so you all can have a broader understanding of the climate crisis.

First of all, what is climate change? According to the Oxford dictionary, the definition of climate change is: “a change in global or regional climate patterns, in particular a change apparent from the mid to late 20th century onwards and attributed largely to the increased levels of atmospheric carbon dioxide produced by the use of fossil fuels.” There have always been natural fluctuations in the earth’s temperature, depending on how close we are to the sun at any given time. This is known as the Milankovitch cycle. However, even though there are these fluctuations, the earth’s temperature has remained rather constant. It is only since the industrial revolution in 1760s that carbon emissions have increased due to the use of fossil fuels and an ever-growing population which require fuel to survive. Subsequently, this increase in CO2 has caused the enhanced greenhouse effect, which traps heat in the earth’s atmosphere and has led to what is known today as global warming.

Climate change has caused hotter global temperatures, rising sea levels, increased droughts and more frequent and intense storms. So what are we doing about it? One solution, which I’m sure you’ve all heard of, is renewable energy. These are not only environmentally friendly, but they also won’t run out like fossil fuels will. The perfect solution, right? Well, unfortunately, the answer isn’t that simple. Renewable energy like wind and solar panels are often unreliable (yet another downside of unreliable British weather) and are very expensive to implement. We can hardly expect lower income countries to be able to make the switch from fossil fuels to renewable energy when they have neither the funds nor the technology to implement it. However, renewables are ‘the future’. Qatar, the world’s largest exporter of liquified natural gas, has made significant investments into solar panels that will generate almost 15% of the country’s electricity. Companies everywhere are having to make pledges to switch to more renewable energy if they wish to remain relevant. It is in their

interest, as well as the interest of the whole world, to improve Research & Development into finding suitable alternatives to fossil fuels.

Another solution is the rise of electric cars. However, ‘rise’ would very much be an overstatement. The government has subsidised the production of electric cars, meaning it pays some of the businesses’ costs if they produce these types of vehicles. This incentivises firms to increase production and to reduce their prices. Cheaper prices means that more people should buy electric cars in Economics we would follow this statement with “ceterus paribus”, meaning all other things remaining equal. So why aren’t we all driving electric cars, then? Because there are information gaps between consumers and producers. Firstly, most people don’t know that it costs less to run an electric car. While the price of the car itself is very expensive, running an electric car is 80% cheaper than running a petrol car. This was compounded by sharp rise in the price of petrol in 2022 due to the war in Ukraine, although prices have now returned to levels seen before the conflict began. Furthermore, people often fear that there simply aren’t enough charge points to be able to drive these types of vehicles for a long distance, which dissuades consumers from buying an electric car.

The final solution I would like to discuss is preventing deforestation. I am sure many of you will have heard about the deforestation occurring in Brazil. Because beef exports account for 9% of the country’s total GDP, cattle-ranching is often a perfect way for lower income workers to support their families. Huge areas of the Amazon rainforest are being cleared to make way for cattle, and the trees are often burnt. This then releases the CO2 which they had once stored back into the atmosphere, contributing to a snowball effect where global temperatures rise even more. Because of this, many climate activists have been campaigning to stop deforestation in Brazil; however, many of them are unaware that they are approaching this issue from a very privileged perspective. Yes, deforestation is awful, but if you were one of the cattle-ranchers or illegal loggers, you would be more concerned with putting food on the table for your family than whether global temperatures are rising. There needs to be a viable alternative to deforestation, such as teaching those in the agricultural sector sustainable farming techniques, or retraining them so that they are able to get a job in a different sector.

In conclusion, when approaching problems like these, you need to look at it from multiple perspectives, and so my aim was to encourage you all to do just that. Please keep in mind that these solutions are of course much better than simply doing nothing about climate change, but I hope this article gave you a less ‘black and white’ view on the climate crisis and helped you to appreciate just how much of a complex issue it is.

The Literary Wold Junior’s Photography Stars

Photography, like literature, is a form of self-expression. It is poetry translated into a photo It can capture a precious moment and captivate the imagination.

We know that many of you are passionate about photography, and so we thought that your hard work deserved to be showcased to a wider audience. Below are photos from some of The Literary Wold Junior’s photography stars!

Fun and festivities in Photography Society!

Alice S’s photos of trees truly highlight the intrinsic value of nature.

All of Isobel N’s photographs are of extremely high quality. Her photos are a microcosm of nature.

The colours in Leana

Q-M’s photos are gorgeous, and the contrast really makes the photos pop!

Emma P is an amazing photographer! But that’s enough from me

– I think the photos speak for themselves.

The foreground of flowers (right) is the focus of attention, while the presence of the person in the background adds an air of mystery.

mystifying photo (left) leaves more questions than it does answers…

Come Join Us!

If you want to learn how to take incredible photographs like the ones above, then join Photography Society! Not only can you have fun with your friends, but you will learn tips and tricks from the club leaders. So why not come along next Monday lunchtime? We meet outside Marden. To find out more, don’t hesitate to email GLA013, PAT062 or MIL066.

Freya H’s

Tilda’s Tips on How to Write a Killer Opening

Arguably the most important aspect of a book, the first sentence shall be how readers judge your story, how they decide whether your book is worth reading. It is what sets the tone for the rest of the novel, what grabs the reader’s attention. Crafting the perfect opening to a book is difficult, but this article will help you to create your very own killer opening.

Shock the Readers

Before I begin this article, consider the first line of Iain Banks’ The Crow Road:

“It was the day my grandmother exploded.”

Now, you probably have one question on your mind: What is going on? Luckily, there is no need to question Banks’ sanity, as this (for want of a better word) weird opening was employed purposefully to grab the reader’s attention. As the reader, you want to discover more about this peculiar incident because it shocks us. At first, it seems unusual, but considering that it is within a book brimming with references to death and dark humour, this opening line sets the tone for the rest of the novel. Using a statement which shocks the readers is a great way to begin a fantasy or science fiction novel Whether the mechanics of your fantasy world are abnormal, or you have an intriguing protagonist, begin your story by stating a feature of your book that is unique, something which sets it apart from other novels. Your reader will want to learn more, and therefore they will continue reading.

Introduce the Narrative Voice

The narrative voice is the perspective from which you tell the book. This is usually done in either third person, with an omniscient narrator relaying the events within the book to the readers, or in first person, where a character within the story recounts their experiences in a journal-like form. However, when readers are presented with an unusual narrative voice, these become extremely memorable, and are used by authors to convey different messages. From the hybrid of Russian and English in The Clockwork Orange, to the strangely poetic and unsettling account from Humbert in Lolita, the authors cleverly use the narrative voice to convey different information about their protagonists, such as their values, their place in society, and the way they wish to present themselves to others. Consider the first line of The Girl with the Louding Voice by Abi Daré:

“This morning, Papa call me inside the parlor.”

The protagonist, Adunni, speaks in broken English, and the readers can assume that she comes from a poor family who cannot afford education. It is later revealed that she lives in Ikati, a rural village in Nigeria where few girls have access to schooling. In addition, the word ‘this’ is ominous; it shows this day is different from the rest, which we later realise is because Adunni is being married off to a man three times her age. This, coupled with the fact that Adunni calls her father ‘Papa’, not only highlights how young and innocent she is, but the use of endearment also shows how much Adunni adores her father. This evokes sympathy from the readers and highlights the injustice young girls in rural Nigeria face, as Adunni’s father, who she holds in high regard, eventually betrays her

Create Mystery

An intriguing opening is a great way to begin a crime or thriller novel, as it will immediately grab the readers attention. Take, for example, the first line of Derek Landy’s Skulduggery Pleasant:

“Gordon Edgley's sudden death came as a shock to everyone not least himself.”

This opening leaves plenty of unanswered questions, such as who is Gordon Edgley? Why did he die? How will ‘everyone’ react? It captivates the reader’s imagination, while also planting the seeds of suspicion in their mind, as Gordon’s ‘sudden death’ would make the reader assume that he was murdered rather than having died of natural causes. This then spurs the reader on to ask further questions, such as who murdered Gordon Edgley, and what he could have possibly done to deserve this fate? Creating mystery is such an impactful way to begin a book, because you are forcing your reader to ask questions which can only be answered if they continue reading.

Create Atmosphere

Creating atmosphere within the first sentence of your book is crucial. Because your potential reader will probably only read a couple of lines, you want to let them know the tone and atmosphere of the book, what kind of issues or themes your book will be discussing, and whether they will like it or not. A simple way to create atmosphere is to describing setting. Carefully consider your choice of words, and what connotations each noun and adjective have. George Orwell cleverly creates a dreary atmosphere in the first sentence of his novel, 1984:

“It was a bright cold day in April, and the clocks were striking thirteen.”

Firstly, the adjective ‘bright’ usually has positive connotations, but it is swiftly undermined by the subsequent adjective ‘cold’, showing that the setting of Orwell’s novel is unforgiving and inhospitable. Additionally, ‘April’ is the month most associated with Spring and so should create a sense of new life, but this too is undermined when the clocks strike ‘thirteen’. This number is often seen as an unlucky number, due to Judas being the thirteenth disciple who eventually betrayed Jesus. Furthermore, in a world where there are more than 24 hours in a day, the number ‘thirteen’ is highly important as it shows that nothing is out of Big Brother’s control, not even time itself. The constant conflict between words with positive and negative connotations could mirror Winston’s battle against Big Brother in an attempt to free himself and enlighten others. However, the overall atmosphere in the first sentence is bleak, foreshadowing that Winston is doomed to fail.

State as Fact

A brilliant example of this can be found at the beginning of Austen’s Pride and Prejudice:

“It is a truth universally acknowledged, that a single man in possession of a good fortune must be in want of a wife.”

Austen questions the indisputable nature of the Regency era’s expectations of marriage, as the readers later discover that Mr Darcy has no intention of getting married, which was quite subversive. Not only does Austen present the main themes of the book within the first sentence, but she also provokes the readers to question their own views on marriage

Kayleigh Explains How to Differentiate Between Colloquial and Formal Language

We’ve all accidentally deemed everyday colloquial language as appropriate when it comes to formal pieces of writing – so how can we recognise when and when not to use it? Colloquialism is the use of informal or conversational language within academic writing, which you may be able to use to your advantage, or else it will hinder your writing. So once again, how do we use this confusing literary device correctly?

Using colloquial language when analysing literature is always risky. A colloquial tone can take away the specific meaning of what you are trying to say in an essay and may potentially prevent you from gaining top marks. By writing in an informal style, the examiner may not take your ideas seriously: for example, if you said that Macbeth couldn’t ‘wrap his head’ around his fatal flaw, this vague idiom would lower the academic quality of your writing. Because most idioms are figurative, they are associated with colloquialism (also idioms vary in different countries and regions; the meaning behind what you’re trying to express can easily get lost or sound unprofessional). This is why as a sixth former, I would advise any younger years that word choice is essential. Words can be picked up from reading new books or model and academic essays online or in libraries, so use the words that you learn within your writing, even if you’re not too sure if you’ve used it correctly. Breaking off from a colloquial tone can be difficult as we all adopt it over text; however, to start this process, I would suggest avoiding idioms, slang and clichés, and also reading more mature books that you can learn from as this will teach you how to write concisely and evoke originality. Formal equivalents to common colloquial language are a Google search away, and by doing this, it proves that you hold respect and maturity in your writing, and even in emails or letters, as well as showing understanding for your subject matter.

However, colloquialism can also be used as an advantage when used well. Colloquialism within academic essays is rarely deemed appropriate, but if one was interested in writing any novels, short stories or creative pieces of writing, then purposely taking on a colloquial tone can be used to characterise people within your creative writing to establish an intentional conversational and informal style. For example, in Wuthering Heights, the character Joseph speaks with a strong Yorkshire dialect that is difficult for the reader to decipher as it appears like broken English. Emily Brontë does this to help characterise him as uneducated, which poses him as a lower-class member of Victorian society. Because the reader cannot clearly understand what he is trying to say, this creates a further ambiance of mysticism which is popular within Gothic literature. An author can therefore show their ability to manipulate language to create a desired effect and I think this is important to keep in mind. Colloquialism implies familiarity and this can be used to create texture within our creative writing. I believe there is a time and a place for colloquialism and do not suggest avoiding this tone entirely, only I would advise to use it carefully and manipulate it to create a similar effect as Brontë did when writing a quality piece of literature.

To summarise, my advice is to work on exploring how to become more confident with formal language. According to Collins dictionary, formal language is ‘a language designed for use in situations in which natural language is unsuitable’. This definition does not confine formal language to just an academic English essay, but can also be associated with logic, mathematic symbols, computer programming and any other specialised field as well, so by establishing a formal tone, you not only appear respectable to others (like future employers) but you also demonstrate your love for a subject, despite whether you want to study English at a higher level or not. Colloquialism can undermine your professionalism, so I suggest if you’re struggling with this, keep reading as this will continue to display the major differences in colloquial and formal tone, putting these thoughts displayed in this article into practice.

Fiction Reviews

Children of Blood and Bone series by Tomi Adeyemi

Adeyemi found inspiration for her debut novel while on holiday in Brazil. She said that, “I was in a gift shop there and the African gods and goddesses were depicted in such a beautiful and sacred way ... it really made me think about all the beautiful images we never see featuring black people.”

From the very first page, we root for the protagonist, Zélie, as she fights to save her people, the maji. With its beautiful blend of Western mythology and Yoruba culture, this book is an examination of racism and oppression.

Red Queen series by Victoria Aveyard

Mare Barrow lives in a world where those with silver blood rule the country with magical abilities, whereas those with red blood are forced to serve them. She is a young girl with red blood, but one day she upsets the order of everything when she realises she has magical powers that far surpass the likes of her oppressors…

To me, this felt different from many other YA fantasy books for a number of reasons. Firstly, the portrayal of the sacrifices Mare has to make in order to rebel against the Silvers are visceral and realistic, and as the reader, you truly feel the character’s pain. Additionally, the description of setting is extremely vivid, with Aveyard highlighting the contrast between the Reds’ humble dwellings and the lavish lifestyle of the Silvers. Finally, the unique magical disciplines, the likes of which I have never read about before, such as the ability to wield lightning and conduct metals, breathed new life into this clichéd trope.

Tiffany Aching series by Terry Pratchett

Starting with The Wee Free Men, this series follows the adventures of Tiffany Aching, a young witch-to-be, who has always been able to see creatures other cannot And now she has to save her world from those creatures… Pratchett’s world of dreams is both mystical and terrifying, and because he is often describing a warped reality brimming with the supernatural, his use of language is very evocative

Skulduggery Pleasant series by Derek Landy

I immediately fell in love with this book from the first page, and if you do too, then you’re in luck, because it is a fifteen-book-series. No, that wasn’t a typo. Fifteen. You’d better start saving up your Waterstones vouchers…

This book departs from the stereotypical fantasy book, and contains the perfect balance of comedy whilst also capturing the sense of catastrophe as the two main characters Stephanie and Skulduggery fight to prevent the apocalypse. Infused with Landy’s own witty and sarcastic humour, the book contains a fast-paced plot, a fully dimensional world, and loveable characters who you can’t get enough of If you enjoy this series, Landy also wrote a trilogy called Demon Road.

The Literary Wold Junior Fiction Review:

Non-fiction Reviews

Pandora’s Jar by Natalie Haynes

This is a very insightful book about how the representation of women in Greek mythology has changed over time. Haynes ensures to begin each chapter with the original, unthwarted myth, before exploring how attitudes towards the women of Greek mythology have been morphed by writers such as Euripides, Robert Graves and Beyoncé. Haynes’ work is dedicated to telling the stories of women who are often overlooked by other scholars. If you enjoyed Pandora’s Jar, I would recommend reading A Thousand Ships, a book about the Trojan War, and Stone Blind, a retelling of the Medusa myth.

We Should All Be Feminists by Chimanda Ngozi Adichie

This is a short essay about how essential it is that we teach everyone, not just girls, the importance of gender equality. She discusses all the misconceptions around feminism, and how the word ‘feminist’ now has connotations with ‘a miserable woman who will never find a husband and hates anything stereotypically feminine’ when the actual definition is simply anyone who believes that all genders should be equal. She is a brilliant speaker, so I would highly recommend listening to her TED talk on ‘The Danger of a Single Story’, highlighting that we are prone to have preconceived conceptions of a place or group of people, if we are only fed one kind of story about them. Adichie has also written a number of novels, such as Purple Hibiscus and Americanah

The Radium Girls by Kate Moore

During WWI, radium was used to illuminate dials on planes and submarines, so that they could be seen in the dark. Many women were employed in factories to paint radium on dials, a well-paying job which landed them in the top 5% of female wage-earners. Not only this, the women could paint their hair, nails and skin in this glowing substance, making them stand out at parties “like a ghost in the dark”. But years later they ended up with serious aches, rotting teeth, and bones that began to crumble and deteriorate, but still the factories denied the poisonous effects of radium... If you would like to learn more, there is a My Favourite Murder episode on Spotify dedicated to the radium girls.

The Diving Bell and the Butterfly by Jean-Dominique Bauby

This autobiography tells the incredible story of Jean-Dominique Bauby, who suffered from a stroke that rendered him completely immobile, apart from being able to blink his left eyelid. Doctors discovered that this was the only way to communicate with him, and eventually, he went on to write this book. A transcriber repeatedly recited a French language frequency-ordered alphabet (meaning the most common letters appeared first), until Bauby blinked to choose the letter. The book recounts his life before the stroke, as well as describing everyday events while suffering from locked-in syndrome. It took about ten months- and two hundred thousand blinks- to write, but sadly, Bauby died less than a week after the book’s publication.

The Literary Wold Junior Non-fiction Review:

Classic Fantastic

Emma by Jane Austen

Austen’s eponymous heroine is witty, beautiful and incredibly wealthy. But all is not well. She also happens to be spoiled and self-centred, which is evident even from the very first paragraph. Austen cleverly uses irony to emphasise Emma’s vanity, yet despite her character’s flaws, you can’t help loving the outspoken and arrogant Miss Woodhouse. It’s even hard not to feel sorry for Emma, as she prides herself on being a brilliant match-maker, but begins to believe that she will never find love… Will Emma ever get married? And will she ever rectify her immature and foolish tendencies? Find out for yourself!

Rebecca by Daphne Du Maurier

A young girl returns to her new home, having just wed the handsome widower, Maxim de Winter. However, she is shocked to find that it is almost as though Maxim’s previous wife, Rebecca, is still present. Rebecca’s legacy lives on, even though she is long dead, and threatens to completely overwhelm the newlywed…

The fact that the book is named after Rebecca, while the heroine of the book is never named, is very significant. Du Maurier does this to emphasise the imposing and haunting nature of Rebecca’s memory. If you want to read a truly chilling Gothic novel, then this is the book for you. You may also enjoy Du Maurier’s other books, such as Jamaica Inn, My Cousin Rachel and Frenchman’s Creek

Jane Eyre by Charlotte Brontë

The story begins when young Jane Eyre is employed by the rugged Mr Rochester to look after his ward, Adèle. Jane begins to fall in love with this secretive man, but suddenly stumbles upon the household’s disturbing past... It is a tale of Jane’s search for a sense of belonging, having been orphaned at a young age, with Brontë emphasising the importance of independence. I really enjoyed this book because the setting and characters are shrouded in mystery, a typical feature of the Gothic genre. I would recommend reading other books by the Brontë sisters, such as Wuthering Heights by Emily Brontë, another Gothic tale featuring a tumultuous past and characters fuelled by revenge.

Great Expectations by Charles Dickens

The story of Great Expectations follows the life of Pip, a young orphan, who is continuously mistreated by his sister and is sent to work for the mysterious Miss Havisham. The book begins with the infamous and frightening graveyard scene, where Pip is forced by an escaped convict to steal from food. The whole novel is written in first person, and Dickens uses a child-like perception of the world in the first part of the book. Pip continuously bumps into familiar faces throughout his life, emphasising the triumph of kindness over evil, as well as the ability to realise what truly matters in life.

Books About the Environment

It is becoming increasingly important to educate ourselves on the environment and the consequences of human actions. Because of this, we need to learn how to improve our behaviour so that it becomes more sustainable. Try recycling or investing in reusable products, switching off the light when you leave the room to conserve energy, and cycling or taking public transport instead of using a car. All of these little things will make a difference. It is up to us, as well as governments and organisations, to make a positive change.

This books explains how studying geology is not just learning about rocks. Geology affects all of us everyday, and impacts things such as population distribution, natural disasters, the availability of resources, climate change, and so much more.

It’s a book about how scientists, farmers and cattle ranchers have been able to work together to reverse the effects of desertification. This is an enlightening book, as you often assume scientists and ranchers would have a conflict of interest, but this book proves that people can work together to improve sustainability.

Lord Bison Recommends…

Mary Shelly Recommends…

The Soil Will Save Us by Kristin Ohlson

Understanding Earth by John Grotzinger and Thomas H. Jordan

All We Can Save

It is a collection of essays and poetry on climate change, written by some of the world’s smartest female journalists, activists and researchers, most of whom are from North Africa. This book will offer you a completely different insight into the climate crisis, while showcasing the talents of women globally.

Essays to Read…

If you are considering taking geography at GCSE, you might want to get a head-start and read both Malthus and Boserup’s essays, detailing their fascinating theories on population and resources

Boserup believed that as our food supplies decrease due overpopulation and overcultivation, we will use human ingenuity to produce technologies that will help us overcome these problems and feed the population. She believed necessity was the mother of invention. Examples of where we have used human ingenuity to increase crop yields include greenhouses which allow us to grow food all year, genetically modified crops, and fertilisers and pesticides which protect plants from predators and diseases.

Malthus’ theory is completely different from Boserup’s. He agreed that overpopulation and over-cultivation would lead to food shortages However, he believed that a huge proportion of people would die of famine, or from wars over this scarce food. The population would then decrease, meaning that eventually the food supply would be adequate to feed the remaining population, until the cycle repeated itself. While Boserup was optimistic, Malthus was pessimistic.

How Else Can I Learn About the Enviroment?

Sometimes, when learning about big concepts, it can be easier to watch documentaries or listen to podcasts, rather than reading a book. Whether you’re on the sofa watching David Attenborough on a Sunday evening, or listening to a podcast while on the journey to school, here are Tilda’s recommendations of ways to educate yourself about the environment.

TED Talks Are Great!

TED talks are a great way to expand your knowledge about ANY subject, not just the climate. They are educational, reliable and manageable. The engaging speakers are experts in their field, and so often explain difficult concepts in a relatable way. Additionally, watching talks doesn’t require as much energy as reading a book, so even after a long day at school, watching a fifteen-minute TED talk is quite achievable I would recommend watching Nic Marks’ talk on the Happy Planet Index, Parag Khanna’s talk on megacities and Hans Rosling’s talk explaining the truth about population growth.

Listen to Podcasts!

Whether you’re a budding scientist, a tech enthusiast, or a bit of a foodie, we a sure to have a podcast here of interest to you. Why not try them out?

➢ Climate Curious by TEDxLondon have short episodes which will help increase your knowledge of climate change, how it’s caused, and what we can do about it.

➢ Climate Scientists records informal conversations with climate researchers.

➢ Climate Change for Beginners is a podcast by climate researcher and activist Dr. Ciaran O’Carroll on how we can all stop climate change.

➢ Climate Cuisine is a podcast dedicated to sharing sustainable recipes from different cultures around the world.

➢ Climate Tech Podcast by Techstars explores the technologies and innovations we are currently developing in order to combat climate change.

➢ TED Climate understands that learning about the climate crisis can be overwhelming and frustrating. But their panel of brilliant speakers are here to solve that issue.

Listen to a Range of Perspectives!

It is important to be open-minded when considering the effects of the climate crisis and to listen to indigenous people, women, and those living in lower income countries (LICs). These people have often been silenced, but empowering speakers such as Mia Mottley and Elizabeth Wathuti have given them a voice.

I would recommend reading Gender and Climate Change by Joane Nagal, COOL: Women Leaders Reversing Global Warming by Avery Sangster and Paola Gianturco, and Greta Thunberg’s No One is Too Small to Make a Difference.

Climate Quiz Answers

There were some really tough questions in our Climate Quiz, so don’t be afraid if you couldn’t answer all of them. These are just some fun, and potentially useful, facts to know. Below are the answers, so see how well you did!

1) You could have named any two of the 4 types of naturally occurring greenhouse gases: methane, carbon dioxide, nitrous oxide and water vapour

2) You could have named any two of the 3 fossil fuels: coal, oil and natural gas. They are commonly used to generate electricity.

3) Agriculture (especially cattle-ranching) is responsible for a quarter of global methane emissions. In Brazil, cattle-ranching accounts for a fifth of the country’s production. However, Brazil has vowed to end illegal deforestation by 2028.

4) China is the world’s largest contributor to CO2 emissions, producing around 10.67 billion metric tons of CO2 per year. It is followed closely by the US and India.

5) The UK wants to have net zero carbon emissions by 2050. This is the most ambitious pledge in the world. Other UK pledges include reducing carbon emissions by 78% by 2035 compared to 1990 levels, and halving the UK’s per capita food waste by 2030.

6) There are now over 8 billion humans on the planet.

7) There are roughly 300 billion trees in the Amazon. These trees are home to over 3 million species (that’s over 10% of all species on Earth!)

8) The Happy Planet Index measures happy life years against ecological footprint. It takes into account both human and environmental welfare, highlighting the need for balance between the two. It was invented by policy advisor and statistician, Nic Marks.

9) As Aashvi stated in her article, the first Earth Day was held on April 22, 1970.