The nights are long, the days are cold,
but there are so many stories to be told!
If wintry tales meets your needs,
then feast your eyes on these festive reads!
Festive and Winter Reads
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The Library Young Team
We’re delighted to announce a brand new writing project starting in January 2024.
Govan High Library are teaming up with multiple award winning Scottish authors Graeme Armstrong, Alan Bissett and Brian Conaghan. Each author will be visiting our S4s to chat about their experiences of Scottish gang culture and how this has influenced their writing.
With the help of Graeme, Alan and Brian, S4 will also have the opportunity to work on writing stories of their own.
We can’t wait to get started!
‘Tis the Season to Read: Festive Book Recommendations for Teenagers
As the holiday season approaches, it’s the perfect time to cosy up with a good book. And for teenagers, there are some excellent options out there that will capture their imagination and get them into the festive spirit. Here are ten of the best holiday books to get for your favourite reader:
“Dash & Lily’s Book of Dares” by Rachel Cohn and David Levithan
A heartwarming and charming story set in New York City during the holiday season. The book follows the adventures of Dash and Lily as they exchange dares in a red notebook, leading them on a journey of self-discovery and unexpected romance.
★★★★☆ 3.75/5 on Goodreads
“Let It Snow” by John Green, Maureen Johnson, and Lauren Myracle
A collection of three interconnected holiday romances, this novel captures the magic of Christmas and the unexpected twists that come with it. It’s a delightful collaboration by three popular YA authors, weaving together tales of love, friendship, and the joy of the season.
★★★★☆ 3.69/5 on Goodreads
“My True Love Gave to Me: Twelve Holiday Stories” edited by Stephanie Perkins
A compilation of short stories by various YA authors, each tale captures a different aspect of the holiday season, from the enchantment of first love to the magic of celebrating diverse traditions, making it a perfect festive read for every mood.
★★★★☆ 3.66/5 on Goodreads
“Holidays on Ice” by David Sedaris
If your teenagers enjoy humour, David Sedaris brings a satirical and hilarious twist to the holiday season in this collection of essays. His witty observations will have readers laughing out loud, providing a humorous and sometimes absurd take on the traditions and quirks associated with Christmas.
★★★★☆ 3.89/5 on Goodreads
“The Afterlife of Holly Chase” by Cynthia Hand
A modern retelling of Charles Dickens’ “A Christmas Carol,” this novel follows Holly Chase, a girl visited by three ghosts on Christmas Eve. As Holly navigates her second chance at redemption, readers are treated to a poignant exploration of self-discovery and the true meaning of Christmas spirit. A unique and thought-provoking take on the classic story.
★★★★☆ 3.96/5 on Goodreads
“Snow Like Ashes” by Sara Raasch
In this fantasy adventure, Meira, a young orphan, embarks on a journey to reclaim her kingdom from an evil ruler, with the backdrop of a perpetual winter. The story beautifully combines elements of magic, political intrigue, and a quest for identity, making it an enthralling read for teenagers who enjoy epic tales set in wintry realms.
★★★★☆ 3.88/5 on Goodreads
“What Light” by Jay Asher
In this poignant and hopeful tale, Sierra navigates teenage romance against the backdrop of her family’s Christmas tree farm. Set between Oregon and California, the story explores themes of love, forgiveness, and the enduring spirit of the holiday season, capturing the complexities of growing up and finding hope in unexpected places.
★★★★☆ 3.56/5 on Goodreads
“The Disreputable History of Frankie Landau-Banks” by E. Lockhart
While not strictly a Christmas book, this novel follows the adventures of Frankie Landau-Banks, a sharp and witty protagonist who challenges the status quo at her elite boarding school. It offers a compelling and empowering narrative for teens who appreciate intelligent and rebellious heroines.
★★★★☆ 3.81/5 on Goodreads
“How to Excavate a Heart” by Jake Maia Arlow
Shani’s paleoichthyology internship takes a backseat when she runs into May. Literally. With her mum’s car. Amidst the chaos, a dog-walking job reunites them on Christmas Eve, sparking a connection that challenges Shani to confront her past heartbreak. And when the two are snowed in together on Christmas Eve, she must decide if this unexpected romance is a fleeting moment or a chance at a more profound commitment.
★★★★☆ 3.86/5 on Goodreads
“Winterwood” by Shea Ernshaw
For fans of fantasy, “Winterwood” offers a magical and atmospheric winter setting. The story follows a girl named Nora who discovers a mysterious boy in the woods, and together they unravel dark secrets against a mesmerising backdrop. The snow-covered landscape sets the stage for a captivating reading experience, making it perfect for the holiday season.
★★★★☆ 3.85/5 on Goodreads
Alex Nye visits Knightswood
Last week we were thrilled to welcome award-winning author, Alex Nye, to Knightswood Secondary. This visit was, in part, to celebrate the tremendous achievement of the White Water Writers project participants in writing and editing their very own book.
Roughly 35 pupils were in attendance as Alex talked to them about what inspires her as a writer and what the writing/publishing process is like. The pupils were treated to loads of atmospheric music and images as a way to get their creativity flowing and to spark ideas for their own work.
A couple of readings from Alex and some good questions from the pupils rounded off what was truly the loveliest visit.
The visit was supported by the Scottish Government School Library Improvement Fund.
December in Whitehill School Library
Happy holidays from Whitehill School Library!
The school is feeling very festive this month and we’ve even set up a wee tree in the library. Pupils enthusiastically decorated it with origami, baubles- and reading recommendations! Here are some of the book titles that pupils added to our tree. All are available to borrow from the school library.
Frozen Charlotte by Alex BellDunvegan School for Girls has been closed for many years. Converted into a family home, the teachers and students are long gone. But they left something behind…
Northern lights by Philip Pullman
Lyra Belacqua and her animal daemon live half-wild and carefree among scholars of Jordan College, Oxford. The destiny that awaits her will take her to the frozen lands of the Arctic, where witch-clans reign and ice-bears fight. Her extraordinary journey will have immeasurable consequences far beyond her own world…
When Isabella Swan moves to the gloomy town of Forks and meets the mysterious, alluring Edward Cullen, her life takes a thrilling and terrifying turn. With his porcelain skin, golden eyes, mesmerising voice, and supernatural gifts, Edward is both irresistible and impenetrable. Up until now, he has managed to keep his true identity hidden, but Bella is determined to uncover his dark secret.
The Hunger Games by Suzanne Collins
Sixteen-year-old Katniss Everdeen regards it as a death sentence when she is forced to represent her district in the annual Hunger Games, a fight to the death on live TV. But Katniss has been close to death before-and survival, for her, is second nature. The Hunger Games is a searing novel set in a future with unsettling parallels to our present. Welcome to the deadliest reality TV show ever…
Theo Decker, aged thirteen, is left alone in the world after surviving a catastrophe that kills his only close relative – his mother – and tears him away from everything he knows. Tormented by grief, drifting from home to home, he grows increasingly obsessed with a small, enchanting work of art which dominates his imagination and ultimately draws him, as an adult, into a much darker life than he could ever have foreseen.
Lord of the rings by J. R. R. Tolkien
Sauron, the Dark Lord, has gathered to him all the Rings of Power – the means by which he intends to rule Middle-earth. All he lacks in his plans for dominion is the One Ring – the ring that rules them all – which has fallen into the hands of the hobbit, Bilbo Baggins.
In a sleepy village in the Shire, young Frodo Baggins finds himself faced with an immense task, as his elderly cousin Bilbo entrusts the Ring to his care. Frodo must leave his home and make a perilous journey across Middle-earth to the Cracks of Doom, there to destroy the Ring and foil the Dark Lord in his evil purpose.
Last writer visit of the year at St Mungo’s library
Absolutely thrilled to wrap up the 2023 writer visit by welcoming the talented Maisie Chan to our school library!
During her visit at St Mungo’s library, she passionately discussed how deeply intertwined her stories are with her own life experiences. Not only that, but she also generously shared insights about her fascinating profession.
In her awe-inspiring novels, she fearlessly takes on the important and timely topics of othering, microaggressions, and racism.
Her novels serve as a rallying cry for empathy, understanding, and unity in a world that desperately needs it.
December in Smithycroft
It’s December at Smithycroft Secondary. It began with a lovely gifted donation by author Nadine Aisha Jassat who was the school’s Writer in Residency for 2023, working with pupils and the English Department on creative writing. Her book, “The Stories Grandma Forgot” is a beautiful story in verse about identity and memory and how family ties it all together.
As the festive season is undeniably upon us, I made a display widening the scope of Christmastime to focus on how many religions have Festivals of Lights coming up in these cold dark months: Hinduism’s Diwali diyas, Judaism’s Chanukkah candelabras, Christianity’s Christmas Trees and St Lucia’s candles all show that, no matter what background we come from, what we all have in common unifies us. So may we all share more light and kindness to reduce the darkness and loneliness during this festive season.
November: Book week Scotland celebration at St Mungo’s library
We had an incredible time in our school library during Book Week Scotland last November! The week was jam-packed with thrilling activities that got the pupils buzzing with excitement.
Our talented library helpers put together a fantastic display showcasing this year’s theme: Advendure. The display takes readers on exciting journeys across different countries and fictional universes. It captivated the imaginations of visitors and inspired them to embark on their own literary adventures.
The S1 classes had a blast with the “Wally scavenger hunt” right in the library. With curiosity buzzing in the air, students eagerly searched high and low, putting their observation skills to the test. The thrill of finding Wally hiding among the shelves and uncovering hidden treasures sparked pure joy and excitement. It was a truly unforgettable experience that left everyone buzzing with enthusiasm.
But wait, there’s more! We hosted a sensational book giveaway all week long, and guess what? The books were absolutely free! That’s right, you read it correctly – FREE books for everyone to grab and devour! Pupils really went all out and cleared the table completely!
It was such a delight to witness so many books finding new homes.
This year’s Book Week Scotland was an absolute blast! Cheers to all those pupils who wholeheartedly embraced this celebration in so many wonderful ways. May their passion for reading continue to grow as they embark on countless literary adventures ahead!
October/November 2023 Roundup – Shawlands Academy School Library
It’s been a very busy few weeks here at Shawlands Academy School Library. With over 3800 book issues and renewals and 2270 visiting numbers throughout the two-month period, the library is the hub of the school community illustrating just how much School Libraries are essential to our pupils.
In addition to our regular book borrowing periods and lunch/break-times, other highlights over the past few weeks include:
Libby Inductions: We delivered Libby inductions at S1 English classes, ensuring pupils have access and choice to either physical or digital books.
Advanced Higher English Mitchell Visit: We arranged for Miss McDonald’s Advanced Higher English pupils to visit the Mitchell Library where they learned how to access the resources essential to their dissertations.
SfL Book Group: We’ve continued to work closely with the Support for Learning department on our weekly book group. The pupils are really enjoying reading and discussion Horowitz Horrors by Anthony Horowitz, a collection of short horror stories.
Book Week Scotland: Members of our Pupil Library Committee created and delivered a well-attended quiz during Book Week Scotland. We also launched our Library Mascot Design competition and received six amazing designs from our talented pupils. The designs have been posted on S1-3 Year Group Teams where pupils can cast their vote on their favourite design. The winning design will be announced in January 2024.
Pupil Library Committee: Our Pupil Library Committee have continued their brilliant work on creating monthly displays. October saw Black History Month, World Space Week, and Horror Stories for Halloween. November saw an array of nonfiction books for Nonfiction November, Transgender day of Remembrance, Dyslexia Awareness Week, and a selection of adventure stories to tie in with this year’s Book Week Scotland theme.
Autumn Writing Competition: Members of our Pupil Library Committee have also launched this season’s writing competition on the theme of ‘Autumn’. Winners will be announced this month.
SAARA: The School Library has been working with the Shawlands Academy Anti-Racism Association to choose additional anti-racism books that will be part of our Equality and Empowerment section.
Swatch: Our Winter 23 issue of Swatch, the Glasgow School Libraries eMagazine is now available. Here are some links to our previous issues: Autumn 23, Summer 23, Spring 23, Winter 22, Autumn 22, Summer 22, Spring 22, Winter 21, Autumn 21, Summer 21, Spring 21, Winter 20, Autumn 20.
Trending Booklists:
Book Lists – Scottish Book Trust
Books of the Month – Love Reading For Kids
Books of the Month – Scholastic
Books of the Month – Waterstones
Children’s Books Roundup – Guardian
Recent Awards:
Booker Prize – Winner
Books Are My Bag Reader’s Award – Winner
Information Book Award – Winner
Royal Society for Young People’s Book Award – Shortlist
Book Buzz:
St Roch’s Reads: November
November is the month for Book Week Scotland, an annual celebration of books and reading that takes place across the country.
So instead of our usual English class visits, we had activity session this month. S1 pupils competed in Blooket quizzes that tested (and refreshed) their library knowledge. Classes also played a big game of Bring Me.. Each team had to find books to match the cards and bring them to the teacher.
It got quite competitive by the end, the poor shelves took a while to recover. Well done to the victors!
It’s also non-fiction month! National Non-Fiction November is the Federation of Children’s Book Groups’ annual celebration of all things factual. This month we’re spotlighting a couple of our new non-fiction books to celebrate all those readers that have a passion for information and facts.
Tim Marshall’s global bestseller Prisoners of Geography showed how every nation’s choices are limited by mountains, rivers, seas and concrete. Since then, the geography hasn’t changed. But the world has and geography shapes not only our history, but where we’re headed. We have two exciting new books from Tim in the library this month, exploring how geography could shape the future of the world.
The power of geography : ten maps that reveal the future of our world / Tim Marshall
In this revelatory new book, Marshall explores ten regions that are set to shape global politics in a new age of great-power rivalry: Australia, Iran, Saudi Arabia, the UK, Greece, Turkey, the Sahel, Ethiopia, Spain and Space. Find out why Europe’s next refugee crisis is closer than it thinks as trouble brews in the Sahel; why the Middle East must look beyond oil and sand to secure its future; why the eastern Mediterranean is one of the most volatile flashpoints of the twenty-first century; and why the Earth’s atmosphere is set to become the world’s next battleground
The future of geography : how power and politics in space will change our world
Spy satellites orbiting the Moon. Space metals worth billions. Humans on Mars within our lifetimes.
This isn’t science fiction. It’s astropolitics.
We’re entering a new space race – and it could revolutionise life on Earth.
Both of these books are available now to borrow from the school library.
