Tag Archives: fiction

Psst? Wanna find a book?

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Sprinkles!

Recently I have been asked by a HUGE number parents, teachers and pupils about how to go about finding the right book.

 Obviously  asking me is always the best option but for those days when I am working elsewhere or those things called weekends and holidays who can you turn to?

There is no magic wand but there are web sites that can help!

 

 

 

Try:

Achuka: www.achuka.co.uk/blog/

Book Buzz: www.booktrust.org.uk/books/bookfinder/

Goodreads: www.goodreads.com/

SBT: www.scottishbooktrust.com/

Guardian Books: www.theguardian.com/books

Books For Keeps: http://booksforkeeps.co.uk/

Love4Reading: www.lovereading4kids.co.uk/

Common sense media: www.commonsensemedia.org/website-lists

 

 

Then see if we have it:

https://capitadiscovery.co.uk/eastrenfrewshire/

Remember to edit by location

 

Top tips:

Pick more than one book or even create a reading list online

Don’t like it – don’t keep reading – plenty more books out there

Five finger rule – find five words on the first page you don’t understand – perhaps the book is too hard.. for now

We don’t have it and you want to read it? Tell me and then tell me again and keep telling me till I buy it!

Librarian recommendation are ALWAYS the best,

Mrs Baird

#readyourAtoZ this time for Adventure

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A for Adventure in our review this time –

Great front cover


Do you know what it’s like to survive alone in a city plagued by crime? Caw does.
Have you ever wanted to talk to crows? Caw can.
Plunge into a dark dystopian future where Ferals – humans who can talk to animals – are drawn to the city of Blackstone. Some are good, many are bad, all are descended from an ancient line of Ferals. Can Caw and his friends stop the evil Ferals from bringing back the worst Feral ever to walk these lands, the evil spider Feral, the Spinning Man? And can Caw avenge the death of his parents?
Join Caw for an adventure you’ll never forget, where all he has ever known is shaken from its roots – dark roots…

Great review by Andrew- do it make YOU want to pick it up?

#readyouratoz

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Some of my brilliant pupils have taken up the challenge to read their A-Z.

So we chose to break with convention and start with …. A

First up is
Apple and Rain by Sarah Crossan
Reviewed by Caitlyn
To be honest, this book was not for me. Normally, I am into the usual soppy story about reunion and love, however, this book takes it too far. I’m sorry to say this, but for me, this was not a credible book.
First of all, the book has too many ideas going on in a short period of time. It seems like the main character of her book, Apple, has almost every problem known to man. She loses her mum and is in the midst of losing her friend and her mum finally comes back and she has a new sister and then her mum isn’t being a proper parent. Not only is this all happening, but at the same time Apple is an amazing writer but is too scared to follow her talent. Furthermore she falls in love with a boy who helps her find her sister who ran away. What I’m trying to say is that there is too much going on at once and, after a while, the plot just gets confusing. I believe that this could have been one of my favourite books if it had a plot that didn’t stray off to completely different ideas.
Another point I believe should be noted is that why is a girl, of 13, finding love at the end of the book? No one that I have heard of has ever found love this young, yet Apple does? Not only does this have nothing to do with the main idea, but also I think that it is unbelievable which just does not flatter the book. I love books that make me believe in any possibility, which helps me to visualise myself in the main character’s shoes, yet, due to this ending, ‘Apple and Rain’, it does not have that effect on me.
Finally, I would like to point out the names of the main characters. Apollinia Apostolopoulou is the full name of the main character in this novel. I understand it’s Greek and it is to link to the title, but it is far-fetched when most parents in the UK would go for the more generic names such as Lucy, Sophie, and Eve etc. I know that the long name which is hard to say is probably a metaphor for how no one understands Apple and her life, but in all seriousness, this book is for your free time. You’re more than likely not to see this book being analysed in an English lesson, so why the symbolic name?
Overall, even though this book is probably not her usual writing style, it has sadly put me off reading any of her books.

Unfestive read-a-long

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Thanks to the lovely people at the Scottish Book Trust we have been set an unfestive challenge. To read a book over the holidays and have a right good chinwag about it when we get back from the break.

Out of a selection of books on offer I chose the most unfestive book I could find – the non Christmassy, no tinsel or baubles in sight – Zom-B by the brilliant Darren Shan.

SBT have given, yes given, us 20 copies of this title with only one request – that we read and chat (I know that is two requests but reading without talking about a great book is impossible, right? – so it really is only one request) all things Zom-B in the New Year.

Pupils are signing up fast to take part ! So, if you are in S3+ and you want to get your paws on a lovely new book and take part in some interesting book chat – pop in to the library as soon as possible. But warning as the title suggests this is not for the squeamish, so if you are a sensitive flower best not to go for this read and look out for other suggestions and perhaps another read-a-long.

Even if I run out of books why not get your own or borrow one from the school or local library and come along to the talk? Or have your own talk? Or just talk to me or just talk to yourself?

Here are some things to think about before you start the book

Did you know there have been more than 50 blockbuster movies made about zombies?

The first ever zombie movie was made back in 1932 and called White Zombie and starred the early horror actor Bela Lugosi in the lead role (he also played
Dracula, Frankenstein’s monster, Ygor and many more creepy characters)

In times of economic recession the number of zombie books increases.

There is a term called the “Zombie economy” where businesses do not thrive or collapse they simply stagnate.

The BBC2 series “In the Flesh” referred to zombies as having ” partially deceased syndrome”.

Often zombies are used in fiction and movies as metaphors for other evils in society.

One author went so far as to say that Vampires are the rich upper class and zombies the working class!

The very first novel to include the term zombi was the 1929 novel The Magic Island by William Seabrook.

Follow me on twitter @stninianslib for some twitchat about the book starting on the 19th December over the hols.

Bookamania

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So, why would 250 teenagers pay £12 to go to the Royal Concert Hall on a Friday night?

Waiting on the main man err men um man?

To see a great band? To ogle some teen heart throb in a bad hat with an odd haircut who autotunes their way through some else’s songs?… erm no actually to meet a nerdfighting author.

Yep, it was an evening of fun and frolick and face slapping ( Hank won this time so John got it in the kisser from his baby bro) with an author who is somethig of a teen phenomenon both on and off line.

This was an “awesome” ( if you know his boooks you know why I say that) evening with the one and only John Green and his brother Hank.
If you have not heard of John Green where have you been?

Check out his web site about his books.

http://johngreenbooks.com/

Check out his youtube channel (though you might want to turn down the volume – it’s a noisy affair)

http://www.youtube.com/user/vlogbrothers

Try the Crash course yourtube channels for information on History, the world, politics and literature

http://www.youtube.com/user/crashcourse

Or even roll with his tumbl for his fishing boat proceeds

http://fishingboatproceeds.tumblr.com/

This man is the epitome of geek chic and his books are not bad either.

He was here to promote and chat about his book The Fault is in their Stars. It is a beautiful and emotional ( dare you not to blub) story of young teenage cancer sufferers. He said he tried to make it funny but from the comments from the audience I guess he failed.

This is the guy who makes it OK to be brainy, this is the guy who thinks there is something awesome in everyone and this is the guy who thinks it’s cool to read fiction and non-fiction and this is the guy who chats to the president of the USA and this is the guy you missed seeing on Friday night!

Out and about …

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As librarians are wont to do, I wandered off to the Mitchell Library to meet with 4 yes 4 count em, teen fiction authors.

Heading the bill on equal status were * insert drum roll here* –

Tom Bowler
Sally Prue
Gillian Cross and
Geraldine McCaughrean.

All brought together by their publisher OUP on a roadshow to talk about teen novels and their new books.

The Jeffrey Library tucked in the attic of the beautiful Mitchell library was the perfect setting for us to get up close and personal with the authors, all of whom took time to read from their books, discuss their characters and inspirations and answers lots of rather good questions.

There was a real mix of genres on show – from prehistoric mammoth fighting to mystical visions to crumbling seaside town ghosts to the collapse of life in the Uk as we know it. A juicy melange of writing.

There was an opportunity for chatting and mingling after the formal procedures and I was lucky enough to ask Geraldine to sign a couple of books.

Look out for a library competition to win one!

Great evening, great books and great company.

Off to see John Green on Friday… will report back on that next week.

Welcome

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Welcome to the school library @ St.Ninian’s High School.

We have over 7000 different resources from fiction to non-fiction from Manga to magazines and from PCs to printers.

The library is open from 8.30-4.00 Mon – Thurs and 8.30-3.45 on a Friday.(Note: this includes morning break and lunchtime everyday)

Please note that due to council changes the librarian will only be available every second week.


    Pupils may borrow 2 books for up to 4 weeks. Pupils may also request items from any other library in East Renfrewshire giving our students access to over 100,000 items.

    The library is managed and run by our fully qualified professional librarian; Mrs Baird, who is happy to answer questions regarding the library.

    We also now have installed a self- service machine and it is hoped that all pupils will bring in their Young Scot/Library card to maximise usage.

If you are really stuck for a good read ask Mrs. Baird about a personalised reading list- this service is available to all students from all years.
So, there really is NO excuse not to pick up a good read.

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