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.