Soovle

Try out this new search tool - a cross between a meta search engine and a visual search engine.

http://soovle.com/

 

Life of Pi

The Life of Pi by Yann Martel will be hitting the big screens just before Christmas. This brilliantly original novel about a young castaway is also a meditation on religion, faith, art and life. Pi is 16 years old when his family decide to move to Canada from India. They close their zoo, pack their belongings and board a cargo ship. Travelling with them are many of their animals, bound for zoos in North America. However, their journey has only just begun when the ship sinks leaving Pi Patel cast adrift in a lifeboat with a zebra, an orang-utan, a hyena and a tiger. Thus begins Pi's epic journey across the Pacific, a powerful story of faith and survival.

Kids' Lit Quiz

Mark and the Kimbookworms' team

22 teams took part in the Central England heat of the Kids' Lit Quiz on Thursday 22nd November here at Kimbolton. Mark Robson supported the event, acting as a judge, presenting prizes and entertaining the audience. Aylesbury Grammar School won the close-fought heat, beating Northampton School for Girls by just one point and retaining the cup for the third year running. Wayne Mills, the Quizmaster, praised all the teams for their excellent book knowledge. He also spoke about the amazing first prize for the national winning team - last year was a trip to Auckland, New Zealand and this year, to Durban, South Africa!

Diary of a Wimpy Kid: The Third Wheel

The seventh book of Jeff Kinney's hilarious series has just arrived on the shelves. Love is in the air in 'The Third Wheel' but what does that mean for Greg Heffley?

 

Jeff Kinney is touring the UK at the moment and will be appearing at the Cambridge Corn Exchange on Tuesday 27th November. Tickets for the 6.30pm show are just £5; booking and more details are available at: http://www.cornex.co.uk/ccm/cornex/2012/an-evening-with-jeff-kinney.en

Sally Gardner

Sally Gardner talks about her latest intriguing read, Double Shadow.

CILIP Carnegie Medal 2013 Longlist

CILIP have just announced the longlist for this year's Carnegie Medal.

The shortlist will be announced on 19th March and the medal awarded in June but before then Kimbookworms have lots of reading to do as they shadow the judging process.

Favourites so far are Wonder by R.J. Palacio and Itch by Simon Mayo.

Pigeon English

Read the first chapter of Pigeon English by Stephen Kelman and sample this prize-shortlisted book about a young boy from Ghana who has to start a new life on a London estate. When Harri's friend is murdered outside the local takeaway, he decides to look for the killer with the help of his mate. After all, detectives always work in pairs; it's safer like that - or at least it should be.

Roald Dahl Funny Prize 2012

Dark Lord: Teenage Years by Brighton-based games developer Jamie Thomson, has won this year's Roald Dahl Funny Prize. The book is about a dark lord who unwillingly inhabits the body of a chubby teenager and centres on the trials of Dirk Lloyd in his bid to be taken seriously as an evil force on earth.

James Thomson was presented with his award of £2,500 at a ceremony in London earlier today.

Johnny O'Brien visits Kimbolton

The year: 1914. The place: Sarajevo. The mission: assassination of Archduke Franz Ferdinand.
Jack Christie and his friend Angus are caught up in a major event that will dramatically change the future. Should they intervene? And, more importantly, will they survive?
This was the scenario painted by Johnny O'Brien on Tuesday when he talked to First Form pupils about his 'Jack Christie' time-travelling adventure series. Pupils got to handle artefacts from the First World War and to act out the assassination before chatting to Johnnie about his books.
Johnnie was kept very busy at lunchtime signing books: evidence of a very succesful visit.

Hilary Mantel wins the Booker for a second time

Hilary Mantel has revealed that both her Booker prize winning novels are being turned into stage plays following the award ceremony last night for 'Bring up the Bodies', her sequel to Wolf Hall. Further details of the ceremony and Mantel's comments in this Daily Telegraph article.

Stranger than Fiction...

A writing competition for secondary school students is offering the chance to win £250 of books. The challenge is to write a story based on a reallife event that took place 100 years ago - in 1912 - or about a famous individual who did something significant that year. More details at:

www.readforpleasure.co.uk/competitions/strangerthanfiction.php

The Raven Boys

A book trailer for The Raven Boys with animation and music by the author Maggie Stiefvater.

National Poetry Day: Thursday 4th October

Looking for inspiration to write poetry? Try this excellent ideas generator from Winning Words (inspired by London 2012).

http://generator.winningwordspoetry.com/secondary.html

The Sacrifice trailer

The 4th book in Charlie Higson's terrifying Enemy series - only for those with a strong stomach!

Dodger trailer

The official trailer for Dodger - Terry Pratchett's Dicken-esque adventure through the streets of Victorian London.

Roald Dahl Funny Prize

The shortlist for the 2012 Roald Dahl Funny Prize was announced last week with David Walliams, comedian and charity swimmer, being shorlisted for the THIRD time with Gangsta Granny. Click on the link for more details:

Sixth Form Wider Reading

Man Booker Prize 2012 announced

The Booker Prize shortlist has just been announced: 4 debut novels plus Will Self and Hilary Mantell. Read The Guardian's in-depth guide to the shortlist here.

Dear Dylan

Siobhan Curham's self-published debut novel for young adults tells the tale of a 14 year old girl who starts emailing her favourite actor. The novel charts the resulting online friendship and follows the heroine as she refuses to give up on her dream, despite the difficulties she faces at home. It went on to win the Young Minds Book Award.

Since the book was published Siobhan has been inundated by emails from readers who, inspired by the confidential nature and themes of the book, have opened up to her about their own dreams and fears. Siobhan has now set up a weekly blog called Dear Writer offering writing tips, workshops, competition opportunities and advice. To subscribe go to: www.dearwriterblog.blogspot.co.uk

Carnegie Medal 2012

Patrick Ness' novel 'A Monster Calls' has won both the Carnegie and Kate Greenaway Medal this year - a unique achievement in the 75 year history of the awards. There was much support at Kimbolton School for this beautiful yet harrowing tale of Connor and the Yew Tree monster in the lead up to the announcement. 'My sister lives on the mantelpiece' and 'Between shades of gray' also had their champions.

Watch a video of 12 of the shortlisted authors and illustrators talking about their most memorable reading experiences at http://www.carnegiegreenaway.org.uk/shadowingsite/index.php
You can also vote in the shadowing survey or write about your own memorable reading experience.

Library Challenge Final

Well done to all the finalists in the Library Challenge Final. Enthusiasm and energy made for a noisy competition with very close scores. Well done to 2D who were presented with their book token prizes at Ingrams' assembly.

The Finalists

Guardian Children's Fiction Prize 2012

The shortlist for the Guardian Children's Fiction Prize 2012 has just been announced. If you're interested in becoming a Young Critic and submitting your review of one of the shortlisted titles, you can download the details here.

Balloon Launch

The Kimbookworms launched their book recommendations into the atmosphere today with the aim of spreading the word about the Carnegie Medal and about the shadowing site at www.carnegiegreenaway.org.uk . Each balloon had a personal recommendation for one of the shortlisted books and a request to email details of how far the message had travelled.
The winner of the Carnegie Medal will be announced tomorrow

Library Igloo

Imagine reading a book curled up in a comfy dome that's actually made out of books! That was the aim of the Library Igloo project this week. Usually exam week means a very quiet library and a chance to do some housekeeping so we thought we'd take this opportunity for a bit of light relief between exams. Inspired by David Mach, the installation artist, here's the last picture of the igloo taken before the collapse!

Today 'Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy' fans celebrate author Douglas Adams' life by carrying 'the most massively useful thing an interstellar hitchhiker can have' - a towel! Share your favourite lines on The Guardian's blog.

Simon Mayo introduces Itch

Kieran Larwood reading from 'Freaks'

Listen to Kieran Larwood read from his Times/Chicken House winning novel 'Freaks'.

Library Challenge

The 2nd Form Library Challenge heats are taking place at the moment. A noisy library for a change as teams compete to answer questions and race into the Information Jungle! The Final takes place on Friday 15th June.

Mockingbird

In Caitlin's world, everything is black and white. Things are good or bad. Anything in between is confusing. That's the stuff Caitlin's older brother, Devon, has always explained. But now Devon's dead and Dad is no help at all. Caitlin wants to get over it, but as an 11 year old with Asperger's, she doesn't know how. When she reads the definition of  'closure' she realises that's what she needs. In her search for it, Caitlin discovers that not everything is black and white - the world is full of colours - messy and beautiful. Kathryn Erskine has written a must-read gem, one of the most moving novels of the year.
From: www.goodreads.com

How bad can it get?

For anyone looking for the next Dystopian read after Hunger Games, try this excellent Pinterest put together by Nottingham librarian Fiona Crawford.

App resurrects 'Frankenstein' for the digital age

Mary Shelley's gothic tale of Frankenstein and his monster has been re-written as an interactive app for iPads. Check out the trailer here.

Chaos Walking movie

Latest news from Patrick Ness' blog is that the Chaos Walking trilogy is being adapted for film. After the success of Hunger Games, this will definitely be one to look out for, especially as Charlie Kaufman (Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind) is writing the script.

2012 Orange Prize for Fiction

The Orange Prize for Fiction, the UK’s only annual book award for fiction written by a woman, has announced the 2012 shortlist. Now in its seventeenth year, the Prize celebrates excellence, originality and accessibility in women’s writing throughout the world. Further details here.

Eddie Savage is back

Body Blow is the sequel to Peter Cocks' YA crime novel, Long Reach. Eddie is drawn back into the criminal underworld when he goes to recuperate in Spain and discovers that the Kelly Gang is still in operation.

Children's Book Festival

Reading, storytelling and secret history are at the heart of the 2012 Walled Garden Children's Book Festival, the first literary event of its kind for families and young people in Bedfordshire and Hertfordshire.
The Festival takes place on Sunday 20th May at Luton Hoo Walled Garden and marks the centenary of Frances Hodgson Burnett's 'The Secret Garden'. Cressida Cowell and Jonathan Stroud are among a range of authors giving talks and telling stories. More details at http://www.lhwg.org.uk/ChildrensFestival.html.

The Lorien Legacies - Science Fiction from Pittacus Lore

Will you have the power of Lumen like Number Four, or maybe the ability to control the elements like Number Six? Take the Legacy Test and discover your powers....

The Lorien Legacies - Science Fiction from Pittacus Lore

Carnegie 2012 Shortlist

The shortlist for the 2012 Carnegie Medal was announced today.

Click on the image for more details and video clips of the authors nominated.

Long Lankin

A chilling, haunting tale inspired by a folk song about murder, witchcraft and revenge.

Jasmine Skies

Another superb story from Sita Brahmachari, author of Artichoke Hearts.

Rejoin Mira two years later (although this book does stand alone).

Marcus Sedgwick

Marcus Sedgwick spoke to pupils in the 2nd and 3rd Form today about his work as a writer. His interactive talk enabled pupils to choose the direction the presentation would take as they discovered more about the dark stories Marcus writes. He then went on meet members of the Kimbookworms who asked some searching questions, such as "What means the most to you, your books or your family?" A superb morning which has sparked lots of interest in Marcus' books and in writing in general.

The Fantastic Flying Books of Mr Morris Lessmore

At the weekend's Oscar's ceremony in Hollywood, the Oscar for the Best Animated Short Film went to the Fantastic Flying Books of Mr Morris Lessmore. It tells the story of a man who loves books, how they bring adventure and colour into his life, and how he then leaves his own great story behind. A superb little film for World Book Day!

Marcus Sedgwick visits Kimbolton on Monday 12th March

www.marcussedgwick.co.uk

Blood Red Road

Happy Birthday Mr Dickens!

Today was the 200th anniversary of Charles Dickens' birth. As part of the celebrations, staff recreated the Penny Readings in the library by reading Dickens' most autobiographical work, David Copperfield, throughout break and lunch.

Captain Scott's last expedition

Scott reached the South Pole 100 years ago today. Read about this classic last journey

(all books available from Vanbrugh Library):

Scott's Last Expedition

Scott's Last Journey

No Return: Captain Scott's Race to the Pole

The Woman in Black

This film adaptation of Susan Hill's classic ghost story has just been released.

Daniel Radcliffe stars as Arthur Kipps.

The Joy of Books

New Year's Resolutions

Join Good Reads' 2012 Reading Challenge and state how many books you'd like to read over the coming year. The website will help you meet your goal. Dare your friends to join you in a read-off, track your progress and earn a profile badge at the end of the year.

www.goodreads.com