BBC Radio 2 500 Words Writing Competition

The BBC Radio 2 500 words story writing competition is back for 2019!  It is open to anyone aged 13 or under.  To enter you simply need to write an original short story of no more than 500 words about anything you like and submit your story online!

The competition closes for entries at 7pm on Friday 8th March.  The 500 Words Final will be broadcast live on BBC Radio 2 from Windsor Castle, on The Zoe Ball Breakfast Show, on Friday 14th June. 

Prizes include Chris Evan’s height in books and tickets to the 500 Words Final at Windsor Castle, where superstar celebs will read the winning stories live on the radio.

Why not give it a go?  To enter and for inspiration, hints and tips visit the 500 words website.

Take a Risk - Prize Draw Winners

Did you Take a Risk at Christmas? Lots of TRS and EPHS students did by entering our ever popular Take a Risk competition at the end of last term.

176 questionnaires were successfully completed and 49 spot prizes were given out.  All entries were then put forward to our free prize draw and the following winners were presented with their prizes at Assembly:

First Prize: Samuel Year 8 TRS
Second Prize: Rachel Year 7 TRS
Third Prize: Gabriel Year 7 EPHS

Congratulations to the winners and well done to everyone who took part!

The Catcher in the Rye - Coming of Age

This year marks the centenary of  The Catcher in the Rye author, J D Salinger.  First published in 1951, this classic novel is a coming of age story about the disillusioned teenager Holden Caulfield. 

Available to borrow from the War Memorial Library, this book is both a best seller and one of the most banned books in American schools.

We have a great selection of coming of age books in the Libraries for you to browse and borrow.  If you like The Catcher in the Rye why not try The Perks of Being a Wall Flower by Stephen Chbosky or Vernon God Little by DBC Pierre.

Book News - January 2019

Costa Book Awards

The Skylark's War by Hilary McKay has won the 2018 Costa Children's Book Awards.  It's on our
wish list!  Meanwhile other brilliant titles by Hilary McKay are available to borrow from the Discovery Library.

Sally Rooney's Normal People won the Costa Novel Book Award and is a coming-of-age novel set in Ireland.  I thoroughly enjoyed reading this over the Christmas holidays.

Authors/Illustrators

Chris Riddell OBE

Chris Riddell, award winning author and illustrator and former Children's Laureate, has been awarded an OBE in the 2019 New Years Honours for services to illustration and charity work.  

Acclaimed children's author and illustrator John Burningham has died this month aged 82.  Winner of the Kate Greenaway Award, his books feature exquisite illustration and delightful prose and include children's favourites such as  Mr Gumpy's Outing and Avocado Baby.

John Burningham

New Year Reading Resolutions!

Happy 2019! Below are some suggested resolutions from Scholastic to get you reading more in 2019!

Let us know how you get on!  Whether it's rereading a favourite book, reading a book published the year you were born or reading a book that has been made into a film.  Ask your Librarians or your friends for recommendations.