Fancy your chances as a published author? Want to win a publishing contract with Random House? Why not enter the Sony Young Movellist of the Year competition. Click on the logo to find out more, and to see author and Movellas judge Malorie Blackman’s tips on how to write a winning entry.
Movellas is a story writing and story sharing community – even if you don’t want to enter the competition, you might like to have a look around the site – read some stories, maybe think about writing one!
Mrs Douglas is asking a very strange favour for charity: that students and teachers donate underwear. The charity Smalls for All gives underwear to children in developing countries, which helps protect them from diseases. Mrs Douglas chose this charity because it is worthwhile and also links to S2 CfE, which teaches students about developing countries. The aim of this project is to raise awareness of this charity and what it does, and to get as many pairs of underwear donated as possible.
For more information have a look at the site for Smalls for All, by clicking on the picture.
“Wonder” by R. J. Palacio tells the story of ten-year-old August as he goes from the sheltered, home-schooled life to life at a real school. His main problem is this: no amount of operations have been able to repair the badly disfigured face he was born with.
I found this book very emotional, as the point of view the story is being told from changes multiple times throughout the book. This meant that we could see how much of an effect August’s condition had on those around him and see how it even affected distant people, such as his sister’s ex best-friend.
Another aspect of this book I enjoyed was how believable the characters were. August wasn’t shown as some perfect, kind, easily forgiving saint; Via’s actions regarding the school play were realistic and understandable, and even Jack’s actions at Halloween could be justified.
The Lady in the Tower, by Marie-Louise Jensen is based around the true story of how Walter Hungerford imprisoned his wife Elizabeth Hussey in the ‘Lady Tower’ at Farleigh Hungerford Castle during the political machinations of Henry VIII’s reign. Eleanor, Elizabeth’s daughter has discovered that her father is plotting to murder her mother so makes a desperate attempt to rescue her whilst at the same time evading her father’s attempts to marry her off to Philip Stanton, a man she also believes is involved in her mother’s fate.
The blurb says:
The servants call it the Lady Tower: the isolated part of the castle where Eleanor’s mother is imprisoned after a terrible accusation. For four years Eleanor’s only comfort has been their secret notes to one another.
A chance discovery reveals a plot to murder her mother. Now Eleanor must free her before it is too late. But with danger and betrayal at every turn, she can trust no one. Not even her father.
Eleanor must use all her cunning to survive. For she soon realizes that it is not just her mother she needs to save… but also herself.
If you like historical stories with feisty heroines, this is the book for you!
The film Cloud Atlas, based on David Mitchell’s book of the same name, is on general release today. The book is very readable (and enjoyable) and is this week’s Book of the Week. Have a look at the trailer – the full extended version is below – and then read the book!
There are lots and lots of school library blogs out there on the big world wide web (although of course Miss Peregrine and myself still think ours is one of the best). There are in fact some other book-ish bloggers in West Lothian – very close to home! Have a look at The James Young High School’s blog, or Inveralmond Community High School’s, by clicking on the school names to go there.
Wonder is emotional hell. There were many parts that drove me to tears. August, a boy born with many facial deformities, struggles to make friends with the people at school. He pretends not to notice their yelps and flinches at the sight of his face, but it starts to add up. Wonder is a great book, and I recommend it to all readers interested in an eye-opening adventure of friends and prejudice.
Wonder is by R J Palacio.
Hands-only CPR demonstrated by Mini Vinnie – watch and learn.
This week’s Book of the Week won the British Book Awards Literary Fiction Award and the Richard & Judy Book of the Year award, and was short-listed for the 2004 Booker Prize. It is Cloud Atlas, by David Mitchell. Cloud Atlas is a story made up of six different stories, starting in the nineteenth century, moving forward to the future, and then moving backwards again – it may sound very confusing, but it all makes sense when you read it!
The blurb says:
‘Souls cross ages like clouds cross skies…’
Six interlocking lives – one amazing adventure. In a narrative that circles the globe and reaches from the nineteenth century to a post-apocalyptic future, David Mitchell erases the boundaries of time, genre and language to offer an enthralling vision of humanity’s will to power, and where it will lead us.
This week the first years have been learning all about David Livingstone and James Paraffin Young in the History, Science, ITC and English departments – there has even been a little bit of Geology thrown in. They have walked along the Polbeth trail, visited Limefield House, taken part in writing workshops and watched a musical presentation. It’s been a pretty busy week for them, but hopefully they have learnt a lot about why these men were famous, and why they are important in our local history.
Click on the picture of the lamp to go to Ewan McVicar’s site all about David Livingstone, and look at the West Calder writings, contributed by pupils at this school.