The Guardian’s Young Critics Competition 2013

To enter all you have to do is write a review of one of the books long-listed for the Guardian children’s fiction prize 2013 using no more than 200 words. 

The books on the long-list are:

• The Boy Who Swam with Piranhas by David Almond
• After Tomorrow by Gillian Cross
• Maggot Moon by Sally Gardner
• The Fault in Our Stars by John Green
• Rooftoppers by Katherine Rundell
• Liar & Spy by Rebecca Stead
• The Wall by William Sutcliffe
• A World Between Us by Lydia Syson

You can enter on your own or as part of a school group.  The ten winning entries will each receive a complete set of the eight books and a £20 National Book Token gift card.  The closing date for entries is Monday 16th September 2013.  For more information about the books, including videos by the authors explaining why you should review their book visit the Children's fiction prize book club page.  Please remember that you don't have to buy these books but can borrow them from your local public library. We also hold some of these titles in the TRS libraries.

 

 

Branford Boase Award 2013

The 2013 Branford Boase Award has been won by Author Dave Shelton and his editor David Fickling for A Boy and a Bear in a Boat.  The £1,000 award is given each year to the author and editor of the most outstanding debut novel for children.  The book tells of a boy and a bear that go to sea in a boat called Harriet, accompanied by a suitcase and a ukelele, only to find themselves caught up in a turbulent storm with a sea monster.

 

A Boy and a Bear in a Boat was also shortlisted for the CILIP Kate Greenaway Medal 2013.  Look out for this book in the Discovery Library soon!

Summer Book Exhibition

The Bodleian Library in Oxford is holding a summer exhibition of modern children’s fantasy fiction called Magical Books – From the Middle Ages to Middle-earth.  The exhibition runs from 23 May 2013 to 27 October 2013 and is free to enter.  Alternatively, you can view the Magical Books Exhibition online.

Post-a-read

Why not send us a postcard of what you are reading over the summer? It doesn’t matter where the post card is from, Bromley or Borneo, Luton or Las Vegas, as long as you tell us what you are reading.  All entrants will have their postcard displayed and will be entered into a free prize draw! 

Library Displays

Come and browse our display of recommended reads in the Discovery Library, which have been suggested by the TRS students.  A colourful bookmark tells you who has recommended each book and provides a link to the blog for the full review.  If you have a book that you would like to recommend or a review for our blog, just speak to one of your librarians.

Our Children’s Laureate display contains books by much loved authors and Laureates past and present.  These include Malorie Blackman, Jacqueline Wilson, Anne Fine, Michael Morpurgo and Michael Rosen.  We also have suggested books for you to read over the summer holidays.

 

In the War Memorial Library we have a display of ‘Quick Reads’ for you to browse and borrow, as well as our ‘new books’.

 

Summer Reading

Looking for ideas of what to read over the long summer holidays?  Below are some excellent websites which are full of great book recommendations as well as interviews and information on your favourite authors.  You can personalise your search and create your very own reading lists.  Just click on the links below and browse.   

http://www.lovereading4kids.co.uk/genre/s13/Summer-Reading-2013.html

 

www.lovereading4schools.co.uk

 

www.everyonesreading.org.uk/booklist.php

 

www.readkiddoread.com/great-advanced-reads

 

www.guardian.co.uk/childrens-books-site?amp;?CMP=NECNETTXT766

 

http://www.booktrust.org.uk/books-and-reading/children/

Also, look out for the books that have been recommended by TRS students.  They have colourful bookmarks giving a link to our blog for the full book review.  The Librarians' recommendations are:

Wonder by R. J. Palacio

'Wonder' is the funny, sweet and incredibly moving story of Auggie Pullman.  Born with a terrible facial abnormality, this shy, bright ten-year-old has been home-schooled by his parents for his whole life, in an attempt to protect him from the stares and cruelty of the outside world.

Code Name Verity by Elizabeth Wein

Set during WWII, two young women become unlikely best friends during WWII, until one is captured by the Gestapo.  When a vital mission goes wrong, one of the friends has to bail out of a faulty plane over France. She is captured by the Gestapo and becomes a prisoner of war. The story begins in Verity's own words, as she writes her account for her captors. Truth or lies? Honour or betrayal? Everything they've ever believed in is put to the test... (extracted from the Lovereading4kids website)

Summer's Dream by Cathy Cassidy  

The third story is the Chocolate Box Girls series.  Summer has always dreamed of dancing, and when a place at ballet school comes up, she wants it so badly it hurts. Middle school ends and the holidays begin, but unlike her sisters, Summer has no time for lazy days and sunny beach parties. The audition becomes her obsession, and things start spiralling out of control. The more Summer tries to find perfection, the more lost she becomes.

Don’t forget to visit your local library – it is free to join!