Tower Hamlets Schools Library Services

Tag: Special Schools

  • Teen Book list 2016

    Teen Book list 2016

    TheList2016banner 40 of the best new books for your collection.

    The Teenage Book list is selected annually by librarians from the Schools Library Service and secondary schools, and is a list of recommended fiction to buy for your school library.

    The teen list represents a selection of the best new fiction first published in paperback within the last year, and aims to cover as diverse a range of subjects, genres, authors and interests as possible.

    Titles from the Teen and Primary lists will be chosen for the Tower Hamlets Book Award short list in July. Remember to let us know if you want to participate in this event!

    Posters and bookmarks have been sent to subscribing secondary schools.

    Please contact the library for more information on the Teen List or to request additional posters or bookmarks (subscribing schools only).

    View the full list
    Title Author Synopsis Themes
    Simon vs the Homo Sapiens Agenda Albertalli, Becky Leaving an email open on a school library computer was probably the worst thing Simon could have done…. It meant the whole school knows about Blue, his email friend and the only person he can have real conversations with.   But who is Blue? Simon doesn’t know for sure, and he really does not want everyone at school to find out before he does. LGBT, bullying
    A Song for Ella Grey Almond, David They were just teenagers, enjoying the freedom of camping on the beach in the summer. Ella wasn’t even there when Orpheus arrived and sang for them – but even just hearing him over a phone was enough to change Ella’s life forever. A retelling the myth of Orpheus and Eurydice, but set amongst modern day teenagers in Northumberland. Mythology
    The Keeper Baldacci, David Vega Jane was always told no one could leave the town of Wormwood. She was told there was nothing outside but the Quag, a wilderness filled with danger and death. And she believed it – until the night she stumbled across a secret that proved everything she knew to be a lie. Now just one thing stands between Vega Jane and freedom – the Quag. In order to leave Wormwood and discover the truth about her world, Vega and her best friend Delph must find a way to make it across a terrifying land of bloodthirsty creatures and sinister magic. But the Quag is worse than Vega Jane’s darkest imagining. It’s a living, breathing prison designed to keep enemies out and the villagers of Wormwood in. The second book about Vega Jane that began with The Finisher. Fantasy, journeys
    Am I Normal Yet? Bourne, Holly Evie just wants to be normal, and not obsess about cleanliness or routines or any of the things that caused her to be diagnosed as OCD. Maybe a new year and a new college where people don’t know her as ‘the girl who went nuts’ is the answer… Mental illness
    The Earth is Singing Curtis, Vanessa The Nazis arrive in Riga, Lithuania, in 1941 and Hanna’s family, along with all the other Jews in the town, are rounded up. They don’t care who she is, or what she wants to be when she grows up. All they care about is that she is a Jew. This is Hanna’s testament to what happened. Second World War, The Holocaust
    The Crossover Alexander, Kwame “With a bolt of lightning on my kicks . . . The court is SIZZLING.   My sweat is DRIZZLING. Stop all that quivering. Cuz tonight I’m delivering,” announces dread-locked, 12-year old Josh Bell. He and his twin brother Jordan are awesome on the court. Sport
    Game Changer Bowler, Tim No-one really understands Mikey’s terrible, terrible fear of the outdoors, except his little sister Meggie, who he loves more than anyone.   So when she is in danger, can he overcome his fears to protect her? Mental illness, agoraphobia
    Lottery Boy Byrne, Michael Finding a lottery ticket and finding out it is worth something should have been the best thing that ever happened to Bully – homeless on the streets of London and struggling to find enough food for himself and his dog, Jack.   But there are plenty of other people around who would want a share if they knew… Homelessness
    What Was Never Said Craigie, Emma 15-year-old Zahra has lived in England most of her life, but she is haunted by memories of her early childhood in Somalia: the warm sun, the loud gunfire, and happy days playing with her older sister before “the visitors” came. It is hard for Zahra to make sense of everything that happened, and the terrible events are impossible to talk about. When three familiar women arrive unexpectedly for tea, Zahra is filled with fear and just knows that she and her little sister Samsam have to get away, to escape the same fate as her older sister, Rahma. A moving story that deals with the issue of female genital mutilation for an immigrant Somalian family living in the UK. Female genital mutilation
    Apple and Rain Crossan, Sarah When her mother returns after eleven years away chasing her dreams, Apple feels whole again, sure that she’ll have the answers that she craves. But it isn’t a fairy tale reunion she dreamed of, it’s as stormy as the night that she left. Families, identity
    Blood and Ink Davies, Steven Set in 2012, militant Islamic group Ansar Dine is preparing to capture Timbuktu. Ali is 16 and a mujahid, a holy warrior, who finds himself scaling the walls of the city. Inside is fifteen year old Kadija, daughter of a guardian of the sacred manuscripts of the ancient city. Ali must declare forbidden everything Kadija holds precious – music, dancing, her books. Kadija refuses to give in, and Ali finds himself drawn to her. Both have conflicting feelings for each other, how will they choose the course to follow? War, terrorism, religion
    The Apple Tart of Hope Fitzgerald, Sarah Moore Although there’s been a memorial service and everything, Meg is convinced her best friend Oscar is not dead – only his bike was found in the sea, after all – and with Oscar’s little brother Stevie, she is determined to find out what has happened to him. Friendship
    When I Was Me Freeman, Hilary Ella wakes up one morning and find things are not the same – her bed is against the wall, and last night it was in the middle of the room as normal.   Her hair is long, not cut in the trendy bob that she paid a fortune for last week, and her mother has white hair.   Going to college, she finds her friends are no longer her friends and her existence has been erased from the internet. Even worse, years of her history appear to have been rewritten overnight. And yet, nobody else thinks that anything weird has happened. What is going on? Identity, paralell worlds
    Soon Gleitzman, Morris Life is hard in the aftermath of the second world war in Poland. Felix and Gabriek have found themselves somewhere safe to stay away from looters and armed ruffians, and last thing they need is a crying abandoned baby that is bound to attract unwanted attention. Second World War
    Shine Gourlay, Candy Rosa can’t speak, and the strange island community of Mirasol are afraid of her, so her only communication is via the internet. But who is this Ansel95 who takes such perfect pictures of her island and posts them? Will she ever get to meet him? Prejudice, identity
    Wolf by Wolf Graudin, Ryan When Yael was five she was subjected to Nazi experiments that still haunt her. Now seventeen, she has one mission in life – to kill Hitler.   With the Nazis running Europe after winning the war over ten years ago, Germany is a dangerous place for people like Yael… Alternate history
    The Last Soldier Gray, Keith Nothing much happens in Joe and Wade’s dusty town in Texas in 1922. There’s not much excitement in Joe and his brother’s lives – just grinding poverty and the occasional run-in with the neighbours. The only highlight is the arrival of the carnival, with its mermaid, wolfman and baby dragon. This year, there’s a new attraction – the Last Soldier of World War One. What message does he have for the boys…? Historical fiction, mystery, America
    The Lie Tree Hardinge, Frances Faith has no desire to tread the path that has been prepared for her, but as a mere girl amongst Victorian scientists, she seems to be forever consigned to her mother’s shadow.Following the suspicious death of her father, she discovers his secret – a strange plant that can thrive only in darkness, is destroyed by the light, and which, impossibly, seems to feed only on lies. Somehow this tree is central to her father’s work and the scandal that plagued his last days. Alone in a hostile world, can Faith make use of the lie tree to uncover the truth? Women’s rights, Victorians, magical realism, mysteries
    If You Were Me Hepburn, Sam Aliya has fled Afghanistan with her family and are now in a grotty council flat in England and attempting to start a new life. But when Aliya’s older brother is injured and accused of terrorism when a bomb goes off, their situation become dangerous. Dan meets Aliya and her brother Behrouz while helping his father with a plumbing job and is shocked to discover his father may be caught up in a criminal underworld. They must team up to uncover the truth….but can they trust each other? Terrorism, refugees, crime
    Jekyll’s Mirror Hussey, William Sam isn’t fitting in particularly well at his new school when he’s invited to take part in ‘Project Hyde’, a new social networking site where users can enjoy total anonymity. It’s exhilarating at first, until Sam notices that the other users are becoming obsessed with the program, and becoming addicted to the cruelty they are inflicting online. Sam watches with a growing sense of horror as his classmates turn into something unrecognisable. Trolling, cyber bullying and horrific violence collide with evil magic.   For the truth behind Project Hyde is this: it doesn’t simply change WHO you are, it changes WHAT you are. Social media, cyber bullying
    The Curious Tale of the Lady Caraboo Johnson, Catherine Out of the blue, an exotic young woman arrives from a foreign land. Fearless and strong, ‘Princess’ Caraboo rises above the suspicions of the wealthy family who take her in.   But who is the real Caraboo? In a world where it seems everyone is playing a role, could she be an ordinary girl with a tragic past? Is she a confidence trickster? Or is she the princess everyone wants her to be? Adoption, mystery, race
    There Will Be Lies Lake, Nick When Shelby gets knocked down by a car, it’s not just her leg that’s broken: Shelby’s safe world is shattered. Her over-protective mother turns up to collect her and they drive off into the night – her mother who stays inside because it’s usually too dangerous to go out – her mother who home-schools her, because school is not to be trusted. It’s like the beginning of a road trip, like two criminals on the run, like Thelma and Louise or Bonnie and Clyde. And somehow, everywhere she looks, there’s a coyote watching her, talking to her, telling her not to believe. Who is Shelby Jane Cooper? And if the person who keeps you safe also tells you lies, who can you trust? Identity, psychology, Native Americans
    Wild Song Mackay, Janis Niilo is angry – he’s not sure why, but it leads him to so much crime and violence that his parents send him to “wild school” on an island off the coast of Finland. It’s not a prison, so they say, but it sure does feel like that. Angry at first, eventually he comes to enjoy being there and builds a close relationship with his mentor, Hannu, who helps him face his demons and overcome his lifelong fear of water. Finland, environment, relationships
    Impossible! Magorian, Michelle It’s 1960 and twelve-year old Josie is in love with the theatre. An East Ender, she has recently won a place at a snobby stage school.   She dreams of being on stage, but is firmly told she has no acting ability. In desperation, Josie cuts off her hair hoping to get a boy’s part. Her wish comes true, but when she lands a role in an American comedy, she also blunders into a kidnap attempt on Larry, a fellow member of the cast. Attempting to foil the criminals’ plan, Josie herself is kidnapped in a case of mistaken identity. Humour, 1950s
    The Green Bicycle Mansour, Haifaa Al Wadjida lives in Saudi Arabia where it isimproper for girls to ride bicycles. But she is a rebel, and when she sees the bicycle of her dreams, she devises different ways to make money to buy the bike for herself. She has to confront the issues of conforming to the rules of her society and the importance of her family to make her dream come true. Identity, religion, women’s rights
    Girl on a Plane Moss, Miriam It is 1970 and after a summer spent with her family, fifteen-year-old Anna is travelling back to her English boarding school alone. But her plane never makes it home. Anna’s flight is hijacked by Palestinian guerrillas who land the plane in the Jordanian desert, switch off the engines and issue their demands. If these are not met within three days, they will blow up the plane, killing all the hostages.   The heat on board becomes unbearable; food and water supplies dwindle. Anna begins to face the possibility she may never see her family again. A story based on real events Terrorism, hijacking, Palestine
    I’ll Give You the Sun Nelson, Jandy Jude and her twin brother, Noah, are incredibly close. At thirteen, isolated Noah draws constantly and is falling in love with the charismatic boy next door, while daredevil Jude cliff-dives and wears red-red lipstick and does the talking for both of them. But three years later, Jude and Noah are barely speaking. Something has happened to wreck the twins in different and dramatic ways… LGBT, love, growing up
    All the Bright Places Niven, Jennifer Theodore is struggling with undiagnosed bipolar disorder and Violet is devastated by her sister’s death in a car accident. The two meet on the ledge of the school bell tower. Their relationship grows as they help each other cope, but as Violet grows stronger, Theodore becomes more deeply lost in his own struggle. A heart-breaking and beautiful story about teenage love in the face of mental illness. Mental illness, bereavement, suicide]
    Only We Know Packham, Simon As a result of her secret past, Lauren and her sister Tilda have to start at a new school. Lauren is determined to reinvent herself and things are going well until she makes friends with Harry, a boy from her previous life. Harry appears not to recognise her, but things start falling apart. Strange messages and packages are left for her, by someone claiming to know her past, but who? Transgender, identity
    Thirteen Chairs Shelton, Dave Jack stands in the dark on the landing of the old house, and looks at his feet – He has been here for minutes, his hand on the door handle, debating whether or not to go in. A high-ceilinged room lit only by candles. Thirteen chairs, one empty. Twelve ghostly storytellers, waiting to begin. Come in! Take your place. We have been expecting you. Do you dare to listen to our stories? A superb collection of chilling ghost stories. Ghost stories
    Island Singer, Nicky An uninhabited Arctic island with no internet connections is not Cameron’s ideal place for a holiday, especially as his research scientist mother is so annoying and caught up with her work. But an Inuit girl and a large white bear seem to encourage him to change his mind. Innuit beliefs and traditions, environment
    Car-jacked Sparkes, Ali Jack Mattingly is a twelve-year-old genius, has an IQ of 170, and is a member of Mensa. But while his parents are arguing at a petrol station, their car is hijacked, with Jack still in the back. This is the beginning of a fast paced adventure as Jack and the car-jacker embark on a life or death mission together. The action is fast and furious all the way while also being funny, clever and entertaining. Adventure, crime
    Would the Real Stanley Carrot Please Stand Up Stevens, Rob Stanley’s real mum has finally sent him a birthday card – after years of ignoring him. He’s desperate to meet her, but what is she going to think when she sees a loser like him. He hits on a great plan – get someone else to go in his place – someone charming and witty and successful! She will be bowled over… or will she? Humour, adoption
    The Hollow Boy Stroud, Jonathan As a supernatural outbreak baffles Scotland Yard and causes protests against the psychic agencies throughout London, Lockwood and Co. continue to demonstrate their effectiveness in exterminating spirits.   But ghosts seem to be the least of Lockwood and Co.’s concerns when a living assassin makes an attempt on Fittes’s and Rotwell’s lives. Can the team get past their interpersonal issues to save the day on all fronts? A third delightfully terrifying adventure for Lockwood and Co. Fantasy, adventure
    Fire Colour One Valentine, Jenny Iris has never met her father Ernest and now he is nearing the end of his life and wants to see her. She’s not sure about this – after all, who is this stranger with his priceless art collection? Does he think because of this she will come running? Think again! Families, identity
    Birdy Vallance, Jess Frances Bird has been a loner for so long that she’s given up on ever finding real friendship. But then she’s asked to show a new girl, Alberta, around school, and she begins to think her luck could finally be changing.   The two girls click immediately, and it’s not long before they are inseparable. Frances could not be happier. But as Frances finds out more about her new best friend – her past, her secrets, and her plans for the future – she starts to examine their friendship more closely. Is it, perhaps, just too good to be true? Friendship, suspense
    Liccle Bit Wheatle, Alex Venetia King is the hottest girl at school. Too bad Lemar is the second shortest guy in his year. Everyone calls him Liccle Bit, and his two best friends, McKay and Jonah, never tire of telling him he has no chance with girls. Liccle Bit wishes he could do something – anything! – to make life better.   But now South Crongton’s notorious gang leader has taken an interest in Liccle Bit. Before he knows what’s happening, he finds himself running errands. But when he hears about a killing on the estate, Liccle Bit is forced to question his choices. How can he possibly put things right? Identity, gangs
    The Art of Being Normal Williamson, Lisa David Piper has always been an outsider. His parents think he’s gay. The school bully thinks he’s a freak. Only his two best friends know the real truth – David wants to be a girl. And then there’s Leo – new in school and who just wants to be invisible.   An unlikely friendship forms. Transgender, identity
    The Mystery of the Clockwork Sparrow Woodfine, Katherine With all the magnificent jewellery on display at Sinclair’s department store, what is the special significance of the clockwork sparrow and why was it stolen? Bold heroines Sophie Taylor and Lilian Rose race through Edwardian London to find out. Historical fiction, mystery, detectives
    Velocity Wooding, Chris Cassica and Shiara have grown up in an outback settlement far from anywhere. Life is hard where they live, but these two girls have a dream. They want to take on the Widowmaker: an off-road rally through some of the most dangerous places on Earth. It’s their ticket to fame and fortune. But it just might be the death of them… Dystopia
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  • Junior Poetry Slam 2017

    Junior Poetry Slam 2017

    Junior SLAMbassadors, run by the Schools Library Service and The Poetry Society, has engaged primary school children in Tower Hamlets for the last two years. It is a project that will focus not only the participants’ literacy and oracy, but also crucially on their emotional literacy.

    The programme uses the theme of Identity to encourage participants to think about the diversity of the world around them; from the local to the global. It allows them to make links between their motherlands and the east end of London, and explore their place in the world.

    KS22015b
    Performing at the 2015 Slam

    What schools have said:

    “The SLAM raised the profile of poetry especially the whole school assembly our poet did and then the Year 6’s performing to the school. The children were very excited. We hope to continue this excitement with our own poetry slam during book week.”

    “The experience…has been brilliant and totally beyond expectation. Joelle developed a wonderful rapport with the more difficult children and held their attention and enthusiasm brilliantly. They will definitely be talking about this experience for a long time.”

    The project will take place in December/January 2016/2017

    Each school will receive:

    • INSET training for up to 3 staff members
    • 2 days of workshops with a poet
    • Chance to perform at the SLAMbassadors Finale

     Poet mentors: Joelle Taylor, Francesca Beard, Shane Solanki, BREIS, Adisa, and others

    INSET training will take place in December 2016 and provide activities and tips for engaging your class with poetry, preparing for your poet visit and honing your class performance skills.

    Workshops will take place in January 2017 (on dates by arrangement with each participating school). Across the two days each child will have the opportunity to write and perform. At the end of the sessions your class will have chosen a group (or whole-class) piece and a solo piece to perform at the SLAMbassadors showcase.

    The SLAMbassadors showcase in February 2017 will involve all of the schools and poets on the project. The showcase will be a fun and energetic celebration of the successes of all the young people on the project, with prizes for various categories awarded. Schools can invite guests and VIPs, as well as other classes to make it a large and exciting event.

    Participation is limited to the first TEN schools to apply. After this, a waiting list will be compiled and a second showcase event organised when the waiting list reaches four schools.

    To take part, order via SLAonline, or email gillian.harris@towerhamlets.gov.uk for more information.

  • Chatterbooks Reading Groups

    Chatterbooks Reading Groups

    Reading Clubs in Schools

    The Chatterbooks DfE-funded project we piloted last year to establish reading clubs in schools proved so successful that we are now offering the same service to all schools in Tower Hamlets.

    The Chatterbooks model of reading a variety of books around a particular subject – such as “action and adventure”, “spine-tinglers” or “funny fiction” – has enthused children about books and encouraged them to read more.

    “The skills we learn in Chatterbooks, such as making a personal response, have made pupils more confident in their literacy lessons within the classroom. It’s a great way to make reading as special as is ought to be and to enhance the profile of reading and storytelling in our school.”

    Jill Parish, Thornhill Primary School, Cardiff

     

    For more information, contact the library on 020 7364 6428

    Tower Hamlets Schools Library Service now offers the following two options:

     Chatterbooks Starter Package:

    For schools wanting to start Chatterbooks reading clubs, this package includes:

    • a two-hour inset in school
    • leader’s handbook
    • 10 children’s welcome packs
    • scrapbook for recording events at the club
    • evaluation survey
    • email updates
    • an additional ticket to borrow and have delivered themed collections of books to support the club from the Schools Library Service twice a term.

    Chatterbooks Continuation Package:

    For schools that have already run clubs and undergone training and wish to run further clubs, this basic package consists of

    • 10 children’s welcome packs (or as many as you need)
    • scrapbook for recording events at the club
    • evaluation survey
    • email updates
    • an additional ticket to borrow and have delivered themed collections of books to support the club from the Schools Library Service twice a term.

    Find these packages on “SLAonline” or for more information, contact Gillian Harris, Tel 020 7364 6428.

    email: gillian.harris@towerhamlets.gov.uk,

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  • Tower Hamlets Book Award 2015

    Tower Hamlets Book Award 2015

     

    The 2015 Tower Hamlets Book Award is now over…

    Follow the above link for all the latest news and the winner!

    About the award:

    The Book Award is for pupils aged 10 to 13. The aim is to encourage children to read, to bring children together to enable debate and discussion about books and to encourage children to share the pleasure of reading.

    Because the award bridges primary and secondary schools, it encourages pupils from different phases to share in reading events and work together. Schools who have taken part in the award have found it to be highly beneficial in encouraging children to broaden their reading range and develop their literacy – not just in reading but also in speaking and listening, as a core part of any book award is discussion and debate. It’s also far more fun than phonics and SATS.

    Vote for the best book

    Voting forms

    News from the finale

    The winner of the Tower Hamlets Book Award is decided entirely by pupil votes, and each pupil is allowed their own choice.

    Voting has now closed!

    Bookmark competition

    The bookmark competition is now closed! We have chosen 6 winners which will be announced at the finale on the 27th!

    We had hundreds of entries, and the winners and commended entries will be featured online after the finale.

    Register for the finale

    News from the finale

    I’m sorry, but the finale is now fully booked. If any schools drop out of the event then space will become free, so if you wish to be on this waiting list, please email me at : jacob.turner@towerhamlets.gov.uk

    About the finale

    The finale is a chance for book groups from the schools shadowing the award to get together and cast their votes for the best book (but there’s much more that this!)

    This year there will be:

    • 4 of the shortlisted authors present to meet pupils, sign books, and have a chat!
    • The famous presentation competition – 8 schools will each champion one of the shortlisted books through a performance or presentation of their choice!
    • The winners for this year’s bookmark competition will be announced and collect their prizes
    • The book award quiz
    • Books for sale
    • Voting for the best book!

    The venue will be the main hall at Swanlea Secondary School.

    Friday 27th November 12:30 to 3pm

    For more information about the finale, please contact us on 020 7364 6428 or email jacob.turner@towerhamlets.gov.uk

    shortlist2015BannerThe Books!

    The shortlist has been selected from the 2015 Must Read list for upper KS2 and the 2015 Teen list.

    Black, Holly – Doll Bones
    A chilling ghost story  – Poppy’s old china doll is telling her that she is made from the ground-up bones of a murdered girl, that her spirit is trapped inside and must be released…
    Gayton, Sam – Lilliput
    200 moons after leaving Lilliput, Gulliver has returned to take back proof of his amazing travels – proof in the form of Lilly. Three inches tall and now imprisoned in a bird cage in London, she dreams of escaping back home.
    Gemin, G R – Cowgirl
    If Gemma ever stops to think about it, she knows hiding a herd of cows on a housing estate is a bit mad, but how else can she help Cowgirl keep them from the abattoir?
    Gilman, David – Monkey and Me
    Beanie wears a beanie because his hair fell out during his treatment for leukaemia. Much as he wants to get better, he doesn’t think this should be at the expense of experiments on animals such as the monkey he finds at the deserted house.
    Ho-Yen, Polly- Boy in the Tower
    Ade loves living at the top of a tower block. But one day, other tower blocks start falling down around them and strange, menacing plants begin to appear. Now their tower isn’t safe anymore. Ade and his mum are trapped and there’s no way out…
    Slater, Kim – Smart
    Kieran has skills – not socialising or getting on with people skills, but drawing and detective skills – which ought to come in handy when a homeless man is murdered down by the canal…

    Thank you to everyone who helped us to select the shortlist, especially the pupils from St Pauls Whitechapel Primary School.

    Your FREE set of books

    Every Tower Hamlets school subscribing to our lending service will receive a set of the shortlisted books in September for your book groups. Further sets can also be bought for £33 each, including book jackets.

    Email jacob.turner@towerhamlets.gov.uk or contact the library to order additional sets.

    Author Visits:

    Kim Slater, Polly Ho-Yen, Giancarlo Gemin, and Sam Gayton are all available for author visits this term and will also be present at the finale! If you’re interested in booking one of these authors, please email jacob.turner@towerhamlets.gov.uk

    To get you in the mood for the award, here's a picture of pupils from Blue Gate Fields Juniors putting on a very hairy performance of Wild Boy by Rob Lloyd Jones, which won the 2014 award for best book.
    To get you in the mood for the award, here’s a picture from the last finale of pupils from Blue Gate Fields Juniors putting on a very hairy performance of Wild Boy by Rob Lloyd Jones, which won the 2014 award for best book.

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  • Once upon a time… : Creative Writing Competition 2015

    Once upon a time… : Creative Writing Competition 2015

    IMG_1800Congratulations to all of the winners of the 2015 Creative Writing competition, pictured here with Catherine Johnson who presented their prizes and certificates. Pupils from 22 primary and secondary schools were rewarded for their work in writing some fantastic poems and stories, and we’d like to thank again Catherine for judging the competition, and for all of the staff at Clifford Chance who hosted the prize-giving.

    Choosing the winners was an extremely difficult task, and placing them in the awards even harder. The full list of winners is below.

    Key Stage Two Poetry Winners

    1st    Imani Adesanya    St Paul with St Luke Primary School
    2nd    Irfan Rahman    Cayley Primary School
    3rd    Shama Arufa    St Paul with St Luke Primary School
    Commended   Nadia Saleh    Marion Richardson Primary School

    Key Stage Two Short Story Winners

    Joint 1st    Lili Fairclough    Chisenhale Primary School
    Joint 1st    Jahed Ali Chowdhuri    Harry Gosling Primary School
    2nd    Aflah Odayapurath    Harry Gosling Primary School
    Joint 3rd    Isobel McGrath    Chisenhale Primary School
    Joint 3rd    Natalia Augustynowicz    St Anne’s Primary School
    Joint 3rd    Cadee Mbonu    Our Lady and St Josephs’ Primary School
    Commended    Umae Assefa    St Anne’s Primary School
    Commended    Arnold Duru    Our Lady and St Joseph’s Primary School
    Commended     Abrar Fariduddin    Globe Primary School
    Runner up    Tracy Mandal    Blue Gate Fields Junior School
    Runner up    Phoebe Lee    Guardian Angels Primary School
    Runner up    Gabriel Gokool    Guardian Angels Primary School
    Runner up    Madeeha Meezan    Hague Primary School
    Runner up    Maiesha  Islam    Hague Primary School
    Runner up    Sarah Salwa   John Scurr Primary School
    Runner up    Shokathia Islam   John Scurr Primary School
    Runner up    Mohammed Akbar Ali   Malemsbury Primary School
    Runner up    Hannah Labor   St Elizabeths Primary School
    Runner up    Omar Ahmed Ali   St Pauls Whitechapel Primary School

    Key Stage Three Poetry Winners

    1st    Intila Abedhin    Central Foundation Girls’ School
    2nd    Maliha Ahmed    Central Foundation Girls’ School
    3rd    Piah Uddin    Central Foundation Girls’ School
    Commended    Samida Yasmin    Central Foundation Girls’ School
    Commended     Lucy Vo    Bishop Challoner Catholic Collegiate School
    Commended    Stephanie Quarty    Bishop Challoner Catholic Collegiate School
    Commended    Samirah Ahmed    Sir John Cass Foundation and Redcoat School

    Key Stage Three Short Story Winners

    1st    Rio Puffett    Bow Secondary School
    Joint 2nd    Motarin Zomari   Morpeth School
    Joint 2nd    Piah Uddin   Central Foundation Girls’ School
    3rd    Ahmed Farah    Sir John Cass Foundation and Redcoat School
    Commended    Katharine Tang    Bishop Challoner Catholic Collegiate School
    Commended    Juariyah Raqib    Central Foundation Girls’ School
    Commended    Nusaybah Al-Mamun    Central Foundation Girls’ School
    Runner up    Hamza Ahmed Chowdhury   Stepney Green School of Maths and Computing

    Key Stage Four Poetry Winners

    1st    Anika Iqbal    Langdon Park Secondary School

    Prize-winners’ workshop

    The workshop with author Catherine Johnson will be held on Tuesday 23rd June at the PDC, 229 Bethnal Green Road.

    • Secondary workshop : 9.30am to 11.30am
    • Primary workshop : 12.30pm to 2.30pm

    About the competition

    Our Creative Writing Competition is open to pupils in upper KS2, KS3 and KS4

    The competition aims to encourage children to explore writing as an exciting activity and to have their achievements recognised. The 2015 competition runs from January to April. Children are invited to write a short story or poem on the theme which this year is alternative fairy tales and myths and legends.

    Prizes

    The first prize in each key stage and category (short story and poetry) is £50 with additional prizes for runners up and commended entries. All prize-winners are invited to attend a writing workshop with the guest judge.

    An anthology of the winning entries will be published as an electronic book via Amazon to take the children’s work to a worldwide audience, and can also be uploaded to school VLEs and websites.

    A prize-giving ceremony will take place on Monday 22nd June at the Clifford Chance Building for the winners and members of their family.

    Exploring the theme

    Traditional tales and myths and legends offer a wide range of inspiration to writers. Guidance notes on the theme will be sent to registering schools. Participants are encouraged to read a variety of myths, fairytales and folk tales in order to help them choose characters or a story to adapt.

    Book selections are available to borrow from the Schools Library Service – either visit us, or mark on your Request for Resources form that your school is taking part in the competition.

    Poster art to download

    You can download these images to use as part of a PowerPoint or on a school display screen (right click and select and select save link as…)

    CWC2015forweb4

     

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  • Teen Booklist 2015

    Teen Booklist 2015

    TheList2015banner

    40 of the best new books for your collection.

    The Teenage Booklist is selected annually by librarians from the Schools Library Service and secondary schools.

    Titles from the Teen and Primary lists will be chosen for the Book Award Shortlist in July. Remember to let us know if you want to participate in this event!

    The list represents a selection of the best new fiction first published in paperback within the last year, and aims to cover as diverse a range of subjects, genres, authors and interests as possible.

    Posters and bookmarks will be sent to subscribing secondary schools from May.

    Please contact the library for more information on the Teen List or to request additional posters or bookmarks (subscribing schools only).

    View the full list
    Axelsson, Carina Model under Cover Despite being the hottest new model on the circuit, Axelle is also really good at solving mysteries, so when a fabulous diamond goes missing, Axelle is on the case!
    Berry, Julie All the Truth that’s in Me After being missing for two years, Judith returns home to her small pioneer community with her tongue cut out. No-one knows what happened to her and she cannot tell anyone, so people assume the worst. There is only one person whose opinion she values – but he is courting someone else…
    Booth, Anne Girl with a White Dog Jessie is learning about Nazi Germany and World War Two at school, but what has this got to do with the white Alsatian puppy that her Gran gets, and why is her Gran so troubled?
    Colfer, Eoin Warp: the Reluctant Assassin History’s deadliest magician has escaped Victorian London and landed here in the present with deadly plans up his sleeve – can Chevie, the FBI’s youngest special agent, do anything to stop him?
    Brahmachari, Sita Red Leaves Aisha is devastated to be leaving her foster mother, Zac is struggling to cope with his parents’ divorce and Iona’s family fell apart and now she finds herself living on the streets. These three lives are about to become entwined.
    Brugman, Alyssa Alex as Well Alex was born intersex and brought up as a boy, but always felt somewhat different and wrong in her chosen body. Spurred on by these feelings Alex decides to stop taking her pills and become the girl that had been there all along – not always an easy journey.
    Buxton, J. P. (Jamie P.) Temple Boys It’s 33AD and Flea, a beggar and wannabe gang member, is living rough on the streets of Jerusalem. Attempting a heist on a visiting magician, he is plunged into a world of betrayal and power struggles.
    Campbell-Johnston, Rachel The Child’s Elephant Can you imagine what it must be like to be snatched from your home and forced to serve in the Lord’s Resistance Army in Uganda? That is what happened to Bat and his best friend.  But Bat has an ally – a baby elephant, Meya, who he rescued but now in the wild – Can Meya come to his aid?
    Carthew, Natasha Winter Damage A gripping and atmospheric thriller set on a remote Cornish moor in winter. Ennor is struggling to look after her family in a caravan, but when circumstances take a turn for the worse she sets out to get help, a decision that will dramatically change her life
    Casale, Alexia The Bone Dragon Evie’s shattered ribs have been a secret for the last four years. Now she has found the strength to tell her adoptive parents, and the physical traces of her past are fixed – the only remaining signs a scar on her side and a fragment of bone taken home from the hospital, which she carves into a dragon which seems to take on a life of its own…
    Davis, Ben The Private Blog of Joe Cowley Joe Cowley’s made sure that his blog is set to private – no way does he want this to go viral. Fed up with his friends trying to kill him to get £250 from “You’ve Been Framed”, it’s time for him to sort his life out…
    Dowswell, Paul Red Shadow Set in Moscow in 1941 with the Germans advancing, two brave Russian boys are forced to battle against Stalin’s dreaded secret police.
    Earle, Phil The Bubble Wrap Boy Charlie’s GOT to be good at something, and he wants that something to be skateboarding – his ticket to popularity. He’s just got to keep it secret from his Mum, who is hiding secrets of her own…
    Easton, T. S. Boys Don’t Knit Following an unfortunate incident with a lollipop lady and a stolen bottle of Martini Rosso, Ben is ordered to give something back to the community. The hot teacher he likes runs a knitting group so Ben, reluctantly at first, gets ‘stuck in’. He just needs to keep it all a secret from his mates and to notice that girl-next-door Megan Hooper has a bit of a thing for him.
    Gaiman, Neil The Museum of Unnatural History Presents Unnatural Creatures Welcome to the menagerie – creatures extraordinary,exotic, extinct, living, dead and undead prowl the pages of this book!
    Gibbons, Alan Hate A girl is murdered one night for no other reason than how she looked. Six months later, Anthony, who witnessed the murder, meets Eve; sister to the murdered girl. The same girl he could have saved. Eve is bitter and full of hatred. She hates the people that killed Rosie. She hates Anthony for not doing anything. Most of all, she hates people who hate.
    Gourlay, Candy Shine A girl living on the dark Asian island of Mirasol, which is rife with superstitions and taboos, is shunned by the other islanders, but, not wanting to leave, she manages to strike up a friendship on the internet.
    Haddix, Margaret Full Ride Becca thought her life was over when her father was sent to prison for embezzlement. It didn’t help when he used her as his excuse: “How else is a guy like me supposed to send his daughter to college?” She and her mother fled their town and their notoriety to start over, but the past has a habit of coming back to haunt you.
    Hearn, Julie Dance of the Dark Heart Jack has good looks, lots of charm and oozes talent – and a voice in his head prompting him to commit acts of extraordinary evil, but he is determined not to be separated from his one true love.
    Herrndorf, Wolfgang; Mohr, Tim Why WeTtook the Car Misfits Tschick and Mike suddenly decide to take a road-trip, with no particular destination in mind. the thrills, encounters and scrapes they get involved in along the way ensure that they can no longer be looked upon as ‘boring’. Winner of the German Teen Literature Prize.
    Holland, L.Tam The Counterfeit Family Tree of Vee Crawford-Wong With his parents stubborn about telling him about his heritage, Vee makes up a whole new family tree for a school assignment, including a forged letter from is supposed grandfather inviting him to visit him in China – and suddenly he is off to meet his new extended family!
    Kazerooni, Abbas On Two Feet and Wings Close to his tenth birthday, Abbas has to leave his parents and friends to escape Tehran. The Iran-Iraq War is at its bloodiest. If Abbas doesn’t leave soon, he will have to join the army and go to war. In the strange and often frightening city of Istanbul, Abbas has to grow up fast. An amazing true story.
    Lingard, Joan Trouble on Cable Street London 1936: riots are brewing in the East End of London. With one brother running away to fight in Spain and the other lured by the increasing powerful fascist movement, Isabella is faced with a conflict of her own.
    McCaughrean, Geraldine The Middle of Nowhere When a deadly snake kills her mother, Comity’s life in the Australian outback changes for ever. She turns to the yard boy for friendship. Skinny little Fred is a storyteller by nature and delights Comity with his Aboriginal tales. But a new employee arrives with a crystal-topped cane and a cruel eye for sport, and Comity’s home becomes as dangerous as the landscape
    McKenzie, Sophie The One and Only Eve has been sent away to school in Spain to keep her out of Luke’s arms. Lonely without her, Luke turns to someone else…But then Eve turns up, wanting to take their relationship to the next stage. She wants Luke to be her ‘first’. She thought she was Luke’s one and only – he just wishes she was…
    Murdoch, Emily If You Find Me A  camper van hidden deep in a forest is the only home fifteen-year-old Carey and her sister can remember. All they have is each other, as their mentally ill mother comes and goes with greater frequency. Until one fateful day when their mother disappears for good, and the girls are found by their father. Now, Carey must come to terms with the truth of why their mother spirited them away ten years ago…
    Mussi, Sarah Riot Too many people – not enough money, so the government decides to force the sterilisation of all school leavers without university places or guaranteed employment. The country is aghast, but the politicians are unshakeable. It’s time for the young to take to the streets. It’s time for them to RIOT
    Ness, Patrick More than This Seth drowns, desperate and alone. But then he wakes. Naked, thirsty, starving. But alive. And where is he? The street seems familiar, but everything is abandoned, overgrown, covered in dust. He remembers dying, his skull bashed against the rocks. Has he woken up in his own personal hell? Is there more to this life, or perhaps this afterlife?
    Robert, Naima B. She Wore Red Trainers Ali and Amirah can’t stop thinking about each other – but they both want to be good Muslims and Amirah wants to abide by her family’s choice of husband for her – can Ali and Amirah ever be together?
    Rosoff, Meg Picture Me Gone Mila has an exceptional talent for discerning the truth and making sense of clues. So when her father’s best friend, Matthew, goes missing, Mila’s skills are needed. But just when she’s closest to solving the mystery, a shocking betrayal calls into question her trust in the one person she thought she could read best.
    Sáenz, Benjamin Alire Aristotle and Dante Discover the Secrets of the Universe Two Oddball teenagers, with seemingly little in common, forge a special friendship, which changes their views on life. Great characters, engaging and often hilarious
    Sedgwick, Marcus She is not Invisible Laureth sets out to find her father, a famous writer, who has gone missing in America, taking her little brother Benjamin with her. Ahead lie challenges and threats, all of which are that much tougher for Laureth than they would be for any other 16-year old, because Laureth is blind.
    Slater, Kim Smart Kieran has skills – not socialising or getting on with people skills, but drawing and detective skills – which ought to come in handy when a homeless man is murdered down by the canal…..
    Sutcliffe, William The Wall The Wall divides Israeli and Palestinian communities – when Joshua finds a secret tunnel that goes under it, he is too curious not to go through it. What he finds changes him forever
    Takoudes, Greg When We Wuz Famous Francisco Ortiz is excited to be leaving Spanish Harlem in New York on a scholarship to an elite boarding school. His future seems promising. But his new classmates assume the worst and pepper him with questions about drugs and gangs. It’s made even more complicated when Francisco realizes that back home in the hood, he no longer fits in. In a desperate attempt to keep friendships, Francisco makes a terrible decision.
    Vacco, Corina My Chemical Mountain Although they ride their bikes in the wasteland and swim in the now-orange river, the teenagers hate the chemical company that has made polluted their town, and vow revenge, but is it that easy?
    Walsh, Aoife Look After Me When your parents are foster carers, life can become a little hectic, so when Phoebe and her brother Adam find an abandoned baby in the garden shed, it seems sensible to look after the baby themselves…
    Williamson, Lisa The Art of Being Normal Two boys. Two secrets. David has always been an outsider. His parents think he’s gay. The school bully thinks he’s a freak. Only his two best friends know the real truth – David wants to be a girl. On the first day at his new school Leo Denton only wants be invisible. Attracting the attention of the most beautiful girl in year 11 is definitely not part of that plan. When Leo stands up for David in a fight, an unlikely friendship forms.
    Yousafzai, Malala; McCormick, Patricia Malala: the girl who stood up for education and changed the world Malala Yousafzai was only ten years old when the Taliban took control of her country and refused to allow girls to go to school. Malala was shot for fighting for her right to be educated. This is her story.
    Zephaniah, Benjamin Terror Kid Rico loves computers and he is brilliant at fixing them. And at hacking… Rico also believes in protest – but he hates trouble and does everything he can to avoid it. But he makes one terrible mistake and now must prove his innocence when the police are accusing him of terrorism and murder.

    Poster and bookmark design by Angela Wraight

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  • Must Read Booklist 2015

    Must Read Booklist 2015

    MustRead2015Banner40 of the best new fiction titles for your primary school Library, aimed at years 5 and 6.

    The Must Read Booklist is our annual selection of the best fiction for primary schools chosen by librarians from the Schools Library Service and primary and secondary schools.
    Titles from the 2015 Teen and Primary lists will be chosen for the Book Award Shortlist in July. Don’t forget to register for this event!
    The booklist represents a selection of the best new fiction first published in paperback within the last year, and aims to cover as diverse a range of subjects, genres, authors and interests as possible.
    A set of posters and bookmarks for the booklist will be sent to all subscribing primary schools in May 2015.
    Please contact the library for any further information about the booklist or to request more posters/ bookmarks (subscribing schools only)

     

    View the full list
    Baisch, Milena Anton and Piranha Anton is planning to spend his holiday with his grandparents in the pool. But then disaster strikes . . . their holiday camp DOES NOT HAVE A POOL! Instead it has a lake – a lake filled with murky, slimy, dark, disgusting sludge – and Anton just can’t understand why everybody else is so happy to dive-bomb and swim in it all day long.
    Black, Holly Doll Bones A chilling ghost story – Poppy’s old china doll is telling her that she is made from the ground-up bones of a murdered girl, that her spirit is trapped inside and must be released…
    Boyne, John Stay Where You Are and Then Leave The day the First World War began, Alfie Summerfield’s father promised he wouldn’t go away to fight – but he broke that promise the very next morning. Four years on, his letters have stopped, and all Alfie knows is that he’s far away on a special, secret mission, but the truth is harsher…
    Carroll, Emma The Girl Who Walked on Air Louie, abandoned at Chipchase’s Travelling Circus as a baby, dreams of becoming a ‘Showstopper’, but Mr Chipchase keeps her tucked away in the ticket booth. No death-defying stunts for her. But Louie has been secretly practising the tightrope. She just needs to be given the chance to shine.
    Cousins, Dave Charlie Merrick’s Misfits Charlie wants his team to play in the exhibition matches at the World Cup tournament, but there’s one problem. He’s got to prove that North Star deserve a place at the tournament and that’s not easy when your team are rubbish at football!
    Cowell, Catherine Ernest Simba Liwida the lizard is Ernest’s best and only real friend as he grows up, disabled, in the African orphanage where he was abandoned as a baby, and Liwida can do amazing things…
    Creech, Sharon The Boy on the Porch John and Marta find a strange boy asleep on their porch with a short note in his pocket “plees taik kair of Jacob.” He doesn’t speak, has a knack with the animals and loves to paint, but where has he come from and to whom does he belong?
    DiCamillo, Kate Flora & Ulysses : the Illuminated Adventures The squirrel never saw it coming – the vacuum cleaner, that is. As for Flora Belle Buckman, she has read every issue of the comic book ‘Terrible Things Can Happen to You!’ so she is just the right person to save him. What neither can predict is that Ulysses the squirrel has been born anew, with powers of strength, flight and misspelled poetry…
    Elson, Jane A Room Full of Chocolate Grace’s life changes when she is sent to live with her grumpy granddad in the country while her mother is in hospital. At her new school she becomes the bullies’ latest target. Then she meets rainbow-girl Megan and her pig Claude and they hatch a plan to run away that involves Claude, chocolate Easter eggs and a mad dash home to London.
    Federle, Tim Five, Six, Seven, Nate Armed with a one-way ticket to New York City, small-town theatre geek Nate is off to start rehearsals for E.T.: The Broadway Musical. It’s everything he ever practised his autograph for! But as thrilling as Broadway is, rehearsals are nothing like Nate expects: full of intimidating child stars, cut-throat understudies, and a director who can’t even remember Nate’s name.
    Fischel, Emma Witchworld The witches of Witchworld have no need for wands or broomsticks, not when they have Spellsticks and Skyriders instead. And no one has a cauldron anymore, just a cupboard full of Potions2Go. So when Flo’s old-fashioned grandmother flies into town to warn them of a Ghoul attack, no-one believes her – after all, Ghouls died out years ago and she still rides around on a broomstick, for goodness’ sake!
    Gaiman, Neil; Riddell, Chris Fortunately, the Milk You know what it’s like when your mum goes away on a business trip and Dad’s in charge. She leaves a really, really long list of what he’s got to do, and the most important thing is DON’T FORGET TO GET THE MILK. Unfortunately, Dad forgets, so the next morning he has to go to the corner shop, and this is the story of why it takes him a very, very long time to get back.
    Gayton, Sam Lilliput 200 moons after leaving Lilliput, Gulliver has returned to take back proof of his amazing travels – proof in the form of Lilly. Three inches tall and now imprisoned in a bird cage in London, she dreams of escaping back home.
    Gemin, G. R. Cowgirl If Gemma ever stops to think about it, she knows hiding a herd of cows on a housing estate is a bit mad, but how else can she help Cowgirl keep them from the abattoir?
    Gilman, David Monkey and Me Beanie wears a beanie because his hair fell out during his treatment for leukaemia. Much as he wants to get better, he doesn’t think this should be at the expense of experiments on animals such as the monkey he finds at the deserted house.
    Gleitzman, Morris Extra Time Introducing a marauding fluffy mascot, a wise-as-an-owl landlady and a WAG called Terrine, this is an irresistible story of how one boy helps stressed-out top footballers find the fun in a kickabout again, with help from his fearsome agent (and little sister), Bridie.
    Griffiths, Mark The Impossible Boy Shielding her eyes against the intense afternoon sunlight the young girl stared in astonishment at the mayor and wondered why no-one had noticed the ghost standing behind him….so begins an impossible investigation for Geek Inc!
    Hart, Caryl; Smith, Alex T. The Road to Fame and Fortune Foxy DuBois is on the road to fame and fortune. Only one thing stands in her way – Alphonso the Alligator! Will gullible Alphonso go along with Foxy’s cunning plan?
    Hartnett, Sonya The Children of the King The wealthy Lockwood family flee London as bombs start to fall during the Blitz and take an evacuee, twelve-year-old May, with them to remote Heron Hall. The children discover two strange boys hiding in the ruins of an old castle and every night Uncle Peregrine tells the tale of the two princes in the tower. Their stories become entwined in an extraordinary adventure.
    Hill, Kirkpatrick Bo at Ballard Creek Two gold miners ‘rescue’ little Bo from an orphanage, and take her up north with them, bringing her up in an Inuit village in Alaska.
    Ho-Yen, Polly Boy in the Tower Ade loves living at the top of a tower block. But one day, other tower blocks start falling down around them and strange, menacing plants begin to appear. Now their tower isn’t safe anymore. Ade and his mum are trapped and there’s no way out…
    Irving, Ellie The Mute Button Anthony loves his family, but they can be very very noisy. He’s already got two brothers, a sister and a cat, and then another older brother turns up and things are going to get even noisier – so Ant starts a silent protest to try to get some attention, but what will it take for him to start speaking again?
    Johnson, Pete The Vampire Bewitched Something has happened to half-vampire Marcus following a mysterious accident. He’s lost his memory and cannot remember anything of his life as a vampire hunter…
    Laird, Elizabeth The Fastest Boy in the World Solomon loves to run and dreams of winning a gold medal, but when his grandfather collapses, Solomon is the only one who can run for help. Can he last the distance?
    Lee, Julia The Dangerous Discoveries of Gully Potchard Gully Potchard never means to cause any trouble, but when bully Nathan Boldree involves him in a scheme for kidnapping people’s dogs and holding them to ransom, Gully is quickly caught up in mischief and skulduggery. Can Gully sort things out and become a hero after all?
    Lester, Cas Harvey Drew and the Bin Men from Outer Space Harvey’s spaceship is on a collision course with the Toxic Spew – an intergalactic waste disposal ship – are they heading for mutliple spaceship pile-up on hyperspaceway B16…?
    McCombie, Karen The Girl Who Wasn’t There Maisie doesn’t believe in ghosts, but when she starts a new school there are rumours and she spots a pale shape in the art-room window. Together with new friend Kat they try to learn more about the ghost. Then Maisie finds some very old photos of someone who looks exactly like Kat…..
    McKay, Hilary Binny for Short Max came into Binny’s life and went again within a few short months and despite all the other dreadful things happening in her life, she can’t forget the adorable little black and white dog – will she ever see him again?
    Mitchelhill, Barbara Billy’s Blitz Life is London in wartime is not much fun – friends have been evacuated, and rationing means no treats -but in September 1940, things are going to get a whole lot worse…
    Montgomery, Ross The Tornado Chasers Safety is very important to Owen’s parents – which is why they moved to Barrow where children have to wear bright yellow at all times and are never allowed outside except to go to school. To relieve the boredom, Owen and his friends form the Tornado Chasers. Their mission: to get as close to a Grade 5 tornado as possible…
    O’Shea-Meddour, Wendy Wendy Quill is Full Up of Wrong It is very tricky to get things right all of the time – as Wendy Quill knows all too well…. this is her diary of her slightly awful accidents.
    Ross, Tony A Word in Your Ear A collection of surprising tales, each one with a twist. From bullfighters to ghosts, sea captains to uninvited friends, there are plenty of mysterious characters and curious places to keep you on the edge of your seat.
    Slater, Kim Smart Kieran has skills – not socialising or getting on with people skills, but drawing and detective skills – which ought to come in handy when a homeless man is murdered down by the canal…
    Sparkes, Ali Destination Earth Lucy is the only survivor from another planet. Her spaceship is programmed to take her to Earth, but can she convince the earthlings that she’s a real teenager and start her new life? Except a killer alien has hitched a lift, and the whole human race is in danger.
    Stead, Rebecca First Light Peter accompanies his parents on an expedition to Greenland. In another world, there is Thea, who lives with her family in hiding under the ice, unable to go above it. When Thea and Peter meet, two worlds will collide, and a host of secrets will be released.
    Stewart, Paul; Riddell, Chris Scavenger: Zoid Fourteen year-old York is a Scavenger on board an intergalactic spaceship looking for a new Earth. The ship also contains the most advanced Zoids ever created, who have rebelled, wiping out most of the crew. York has to risk life and limb to destroy the Zoids and scavenge the parts necessary to keep their human technology running.
    Sutcliffe, William Circus of Thieves and the Raffle of Doom It all starts to look very exciting when Armitage Shank’s Impossible Circus rolls into Hannah’s boring town, but no one realises just how nasty and slippery Armitage can be…
    Walter, Jon Close to the Wind Nine-year-old Malik and his grandfather have lost nearly everything to the war. Struggling to survive, they attempt to flee their country on the last ship out…
    Westcott, Rebecca Dandelion Clocks Liv is just a normal 11-year-old with a love for photography and hate for moronic Louise at school. But her life is turned upside down as the learns the truth about her mum’s illness.
    Williamson, Lara A Boy Called Hope Dan wants money, a new sister who doesn’t say horrible things, a swimming pool of chocolate cereal and to go to a school for wizards instead of his own boring school. But most of all, he wants a Dad…

    Poster and bookmark design by Angela Wraight

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  • KS2 Poetry Slam 2015

    KS2 Poetry Slam 2015

    The KS2 SLAMbassadors took place at Swanlea School last Thursday 5th February 2015.

    Using the theme “Identity” year 6 classes in eight primary schools wrote and performed their own poetry at a thrilling event at Swanlea.

    Schools have had poets in schools working with the classes during January.

    KS22015
    There was a group performance and a solo performance from each school, for which a trophy was awarded to the winner and runner-up in each category. In addition, the judges selected other contributions for the best line, the best imagery, and the best performance as well as the Joelle Taylor Award for Joelle’s favourite!

    Junior SLAMbassadors has engaged primary school children in East London for the last 2 years. It is a project that focusses not only the participants’ literacy and oracy, but also crucially on their emotional literacy.

    “it has been really inspiring to see the range of different children who have taken part and taken so much out of this fantastic initiative” -Tower Hamlets Teacher

    Schools can sign up for next year’s SLAMbassadors through SLAonline.  The secondary schools’ event is in July 2015, and the junior event will be in February 2016

    Email gillian.harris@towerhamlets.gov.uk for more information or use the contact form below.

    Contact us
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  • Tower Hamlets Book Award 2014

    Tower Hamlets Book Award 2014

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    The 2014 Tower Hamlets Book Award Shortlist is:

    • David Almond – The Boy who Swam with Piranhas
    • David Almond – Mouse Bird Snake Wolf
    • Sita Brahmachari – Kite Spirit
    • Berlie Doherty – The Company of Ghosts
    • Gill Lewis – Moon Bear
    • Rob Lloyd Jones – Wild Boy
    • Chris Riddell – Goth Girl and the Ghost of a Mouse
    • Dan Smith – My Friend the Enemy

    Download the Shortlist PowerPoint (revised 8/9/14)

    Cast your vote!

    • There can only be one winner for the award, and YOU get to decide! Votes will be counted at the finale on the 28th November and every pupil has their own individual vote for their favourite book.
    • You can download the Ballot Paper here, to bring to the finale or drop off at the library OR you can email me a tally of votes from your reading groups to jacob.turner@towerhamlets.gov.uk
    • If your group isn’t coming to the finale then votes must reach the library by Thursday 27th or they wont be counted (because we’ll all be at the finale having too much fun to be checking emails).

     

    Book Award timeline and suggested activities (After the award!)
    • Invite the winning author and/or the other shortlisted authors to your school
    • Encourage pupils to read and discuss the winning book if they haven’t already done so
    • Plan your next reading event!
    • Get thinking about the books that you think should be nominated for the 2015 Tower Hamlets Book Award – all books must have been published in paperback in 2014

     

    Bookmark Competition

    Thank you for all of the great artwork for the competition. We’ve chosen the winners and will make the final announcement at the award finale.

    The Prizes:

    • Pupils will be awarded a prize at the grand finale (if they can’t attend, the prize will be sent to their school).
    • Winning bookmarks will be printed next summer term and sent to schools as part of the 2015 Book Award.

    About the award:

    The Book Award is for pupils aged 10 to 13. The aim is to encourage children to read, to bring children together to enable debate and discussion about books and to encourage children to share the pleasure of reading.

    Because the award bridges primary and secondary schools, it encourages pupils from different phases to share in reading events and work together. Schools who have taken part in the award have found it to be highly beneficial in encouraging children to broaden their reading range and develop their literacy – not just in reading but also in speaking and listening, as a core part of any book award is discussion and debate.

    2014 shortlist poster
    Posters and postcards will be delivered in September
    Author websites
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