Vanbrugh Library: January 2017

Friday, 20 January 2017

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

Thursday, 19 January 2017

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

Friday, 13 January 2017

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.