Happy Christmas!

Happy Christmas Kimbookworms!

Interview with Angie Thomas

Good Reads has an exclusive interview with the award winning author Angie Thomas. Her debut novel, The Hate you Give, tells the story of 16 year old Starr Carter, a black High School student who witnesses the fatal police shooting of her best friend. A powerful depiction of racial inequality that has been widely acclaimed.

https://www.goodreads.com/interviews/show/1321.Angie_Thomas

Kids' Lit Quiz

Kimbookworms

Kimquestors

Well done to our two teams who entered the Kids' Lit Quiz competition yesterday. The Central England heat took place at Comberton with 26 teams entered and stiff competition throughout. Although we didn't win, lots of good book knowledge was shared with Elliot and Hattie winning prizes for individual questions answered.

John Reads the First Chapter of Turtles All the Way Down

Trick or Treat

Spooky Trick or Treat bags are appearing in the library. Pupils can choose a Treat (Magical Fantasy) or a Trick (scary tales) for a freaky Halloween read!

Latest arrivals!

Which one to choose first!

Japan Society display

Mrs Morris created a brilliant display for Open Day and the competition proved very popular. Well done to Jaime and Enya for all their help!

Summer Reads

Kimbolton School pupils are about to receive their Summer Read book - everyone gets to read the same book over the summer - a special whole school activity that gets everyone talking when they return in the Autumn. This year it's the award-winning The Bone Sparrow by Zana Fraillon. The Summer Read has been running for 11 years now - see the different titles we've been reading every summer, from The Boy in the Striped Pyjamas to Wonder and The Book Thief:

Last Kimbookworms of the year!

A Kimbookworm cake for the final of the Battle Royale...Bilbo Baggins won the contest!

Cosmic Library Challenge

Year 5 pupils from Greenfields Primary School enjoyed a Cosmic Library Challenge today, earning their Kimquestor passports in the process!

Carnegie Medal winner

Ruth Sepetys has won the Carnegie Medal for her superb fictionalised account of the sinking of German ocean liner the Wilhelm Gustloff in 1945. This moving historical novel centres on the stories of refugees and had particular resonance for Ruth who is the daughter of a Lithuanian refugee. Read more about this award and the Greenaway Medal winner here:
https://www.theguardian.com/books/2017/jun/19/carnegie-and-kate-greenaway-medals-childrens-books-awards-rutas-sepetys-lane-smith

How books can change the world

Most people will have heard of Malala Yousafzai's quote: 'One child, one teacher, one book, one pen can change the world.' Here Sita Brahmachari chats about her new book Tender Earth and puts together a list of books that can make you see things differently.
http://www.booktrust.org.uk/books/teenagers/blog/1145?mc_cid=c920019248&mc_eid=fe4fe6779f

Library Challenge

It's that time of year again when the 2nd Form take part in the Library Challenge. Today was the grand final when winning teams from the 5 tutor groups battled for the title of King of the Information Jungle! Well done to 2P who scored top marks.

Michael Morpurgo wins Children's Book Award for 4th time

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/entertainment-arts-40222762

Summer's coming

Books for the beach, for the road, for the city...thank you Mrs Morris for the great display!

Welcome to the new Children's Laureate

Mixed feelings as we have to say goodbye to Chris Riddell who has done a fantastic job as Children's Laureate, promoting children's reading and libraries at every opportunity, especially through his superb drawings:

www.childrenslaureate.org.uk/chris-riddell/laureate-log/.

But now we can welcome Lauren Child to the position of 10th Children's Laureate! Lauren is known for her Charlie and Lola series for young children as well as her Ruby Redfort series for young adults. Find out more about her and her new role here:

www.childrenslaureate.org.uk/

Reading Spa

LVI students and staff are being treated to some bookish pampering this week in the library's pop-up Reading Spa! Delicious refreshments and a personal Reading Guide make for a relaxing browsing session with books selected to suit individual tastes.

THUG

Read an extract from the book that's being described as the young adult novel of the year. The Hate U Give is written by Angie Thomas, a former rapper and debut novelist from Jackson, Mississippi. The book is inspired by Thomas' real-life experiences and, as well as being an enjoyable thriller, gives us a real idea of what it's like to be black in America.
http://www.worldbookday.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/03/THUG-sample-chapter.pdf

Release by Patrick Ness

 A gripping, soulful novel about a life-changing day, which will surely change the lives of those who read it.

"Where on earth had this day come from? And where was it headed?" remarks 17 year-old Adam as a single day unfurls wave after wave of shattering disruption: first a revelation from his brother, next an ultimatum from his foul boss, then a destabilising announcement from his beloved best friend. And alongside Adam's unraveling, there’s the mesmerising narrative of the ghost of a murdered girl who’s risen from a lake in search of release.

Partly modeled on two of the author’s most admired books (Virginia Woolf’s Mrs Dalloway and Judy Blume’s Forever), with this remarkable novel Ness once again demonstrates his profound understanding of the complexities of being a young adult, and of the human condition more generally. Adam’s story is pinpricked with truly nerve-touching moments, perhaps most poignantly between him and the overbearing father he fears coming-out to. At one point his dad reveals that he wishes Adam could be honest with him, and then Adam begins to let go. While revealing truths can be excruciatingly painful, doing so might also bring refreshing, life-affirming release. Heartbreaking, intense and acutely honest, this novel casts a subtle spell of hope. ~ Joanne Owen

Lovereading

(Recommended for 16+)

Read an extract here: http://www.worldbookday.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/05/Release-Sample-chapter.pdf

World Book Night is coming

See the books being given away on World Book Night this year:

http://worldbooknight.org/books

Waterstones Prize

'The Girl of Ink and Stars' by Kiran Millwood Hargrave has won the Waterstones Children's Book Prize. This debut novel has been compared to Philip Pullman's 'His Dark Materials' series. It's a richly inventive fantasy tale that is destined to become a classic and has already become a favourite of the Middles Reading group here at Kimbolton School.

https://www.waterstones.com/book/the-girl-of-ink-and-stars/kiran-millwood-hargrave/9781910002742

Carnegie Shortlist 2017

A superb selection of titles has been selected for the Carnegie shortlist this year. Some are already favourites; we can't wait to join the shadowing scheme and get reading all these wonderful books. See the full list of Carnegie and Kate Greenaway contenders here.

www.carnegiegreenaway.org.uk/carnegie-current-shortlist.php 

Smart Revision Advice

Lots of tips for stress-free revision at the BBC.

Readathon success

Ingrams' pupils have been reading even more books than usual in the lead-up to World Book Day...and have been sponsored for doing so. Over £850 has been raised so far for the charity Readathon which puts storytellers and books into children's hospitals. Details of the charity and how to donate can be found at www.readathon.org/

Happy World Book Day!

As part of World Book Day celebrations, pupils were invited to take part in two 'Shelfie' competitions today, trying to match teachers' bookshelves with their owners. An online competition and a treasure hunt meant that there was plenty of opportunity to win chocolate prizes and book tokens!

World Book Day is coming...

World Book day is just around the corner!

Get ready to celebrate by watching a Booky video or playing a Booky game.

Japan-style Valentine's Day celebrations

The Japan Club celebrated Valentine's Day today by decorating chocolate cake hearts with friends' names (in Japanese of course!).

Safer Internet Day quiz

Try the quiz to see how much you know!

https://www.saferinternet.org.uk/safer-internet-day/2017/safer-internet-day-2017-quiz

2017 Betjeman Poetry Prize

Enjoy writing poetry?

This competition for young poets aged 10-13 years is now open for entries. The winner receives £1000 (£500 for themselves and £500 for their school). Details and entry form available at http://www.betjemanpoetryprize.co.uk/

Salt to the Sea

Have you heard of the ship Wilhelm Gustloff? I have to admit that I hadn't and yet its sinking during WW2 was the deadliest disaster in maritime history.

With WW2 drawing to a close and thousands of East Prussian refugees making a desperate attempt to reach freedom, many are drawn to the ship that offers them salvation, the Wilhelm Gustloff. Ruta Sepetys' story centres on Joana, Emilia and Florian who come together and find themselves in a terrible fight for survival. A riveting historical story, told in alternating points of view.

If you enjoyed Between Shades of Gray and All the Light We Cannot See, Salt to the Sea is definitely for you.

http://www.penguinrandomhouse.com/books/311729/salt-to-the-sea-by-ruta-sepetys/9780399160301

Costa Children's Book Award 2016

Brian Conaghan has just won the Costa Children's Book Award for his timely but hilariously funny book about Charlie and Pavel.

Charlie has always lived in Little Town.  It’s home: the curfew, the Regime, the thugs, the poverty.  He knows the rules.  Then he meets Pavel.  Scrawny, sweary, with fierce blue eyes, he is a refugee from Old Country – Little Town’s sworn enemy.  The wrongest person in the whole place to choose as a friend.  But when the bombs come, the rules of Little Town change.  Country or friend? Trust or betrayal? Future or past? Right or wrong: Charlie must choose.

More details of all the awards at:

http://www.costa.co.uk/media/450405/2016-category-award-winners.pdf

Carnegie 80th Anniversary

This year, the Carnegie and Greenaway awards are celebrating some big anniversaries; 80 years of Carnegie and 60 years of Kate Greenaway.

http://www.carnegiegreenaway.org.uk/anniversary-blog.php?

In recognition of this, blogger Jake Hope will be reading and reviewing all of the past CILIP Carnegie Medal winning books on a special CKG anniversary blog. Monsters of Men was chosen for today's blog review.

New mood boosting books

Reading Well has just launched a new list of mood-boosting books for young people, chosen by young people.

http://reading-well.org.uk/blog/launch-of-new-mood-boosting-book-list-for-young-people

Recommend your own mood-boosting book by emailing the Reading Agency at mailto:moodboosting@readingagency.org.uk