Irish Novelists News

Eoin Colfer, author of the much loved Artemis Fowl books, has been named as the new Children’s Laureate for Ireland.  12 year old Artemis Fowl is a criminal mastermind, whose humorous and fast-paced adventures make for great reading.  All the books in the series can be found in the Discovery library, including a selection of excellent graphic novel versions of books in the series.  Come and browse and borrow!

Bailey's Women's Prize (formerly known as the Orange Prize) for Fiction 2014 has been won by Irish novelist Eimear McBride for her novel A Girl is a Half-Formed Thing.  The novel, which took McBride nine years to be published, tells the story of a young woman's relationship with a brother afflicted by a childhood brain tumour.  Eimear McBride was awarded the prize fund of £30,000 at a ceremony in London.

Maya Angelou, celebrated African American author, poet and civil activist dies aged 86

Described by Michelle Obama as “one of the greatest spirits our world has ever known”, Maya Angelou (Marguerite Annie Johnson) died last month on 28^th May 2014.  A truly inspirational person, at her memorial service held at Wake Forest University in North Carolina, many tributes were paid by speakers including first lady Michelle Obama, former present Bill Clinton and TV star Oprah Winfrey.  Her poem, Still I Rise, was read out at the service by her grandson:

"You may write me down in history
With your bitter, twisted lies,
You may tread me in the very dirt
But still, like dust, I'll rise.

Does my sassiness upset you?
Why are you beset with gloom?
'Cause I walk like I've got oil wells
Pumping in my living room.

Just like moons and like suns,
With the certainty of tides,
Just like hopes springing high,
Still I'll rise.

Did you want to see me broken?
Bowed head and lowered eyes?
Shoulders falling down like teardrops.
Weakened by my soulful cries.

Does my haughtiness offend you?
Don't you take it awful hard
'Cause I laugh like I've got gold mines
Diggin' in my own back yard.

You may shoot me with your words,
You may cut me with your eyes,
You may kill me with your hatefulness,
But still, like air, I'll rise.

Does my sexiness upset you?
Does it come as a surprise
That I dance like I've got diamonds
At the meeting of my thighs?

Out of the huts of history's shame
I rise
Up from a past that's rooted in pain
I rise
I'm a black ocean, leaping and wide,
Welling and swelling I bear in the tide.
Leaving behind nights of terror and fear
I rise
Into a daybreak that's wondrously clear
I rise
Bringing the gifts that my ancestors gave,
I am the dream and the hope of the slave.
I rise
I rise
I rise.

The first volume of Maya Angelou’s celebrated memoirs, I Know Why the Caged Bird Sings, is available to borrow from the War Memorial Library.

TRS 1914 - 1918

The War Memorial Library commemorates the staff and students of our school who died in the World Wars.  This year marks the 100th anniversary of the First World War and we have put together a display that includes the war grave details of the eight teachers from this school who left their classrooms to fight in the Great War.

GOT CAUGHT READING!

Over 5 days, each day, we gave 5 different teachers disposable cameras and asked them to take 5 pictures of their students reading!  We had a great selection of readers from Year 7 to Year 13 and have created an amazing collage of all the photographs, which is on display outside the Discovery Library.

All the students who were photographed received rewards postcards or pens.

Come and have a look to see if you can spot yourself or your friends and keep reading!

Revision Guides in the WML and Animal Display in the Discovery Library

We have a good selection of revision resources available in the WML – come and have a browse or ask one of the librarians. There are some useful GCSE revision websites listed on the blog, as well as Post 16 resources, which provide A-level revision websites and advice on referencing.

One of our P16 lunchtime library helpers has also recommended the Get Revising website, which allows you to organise your time with a study planner, create useful tools including mind-maps and flash cards and discuss your subjects with other students.  To check it out visit Get Revising.

Keep Calm and Love Animals!

If you are looking for inspiration in choosing what to read, check out our new 'animal' themed display in the Discover Library.  We have some great reads, including The Great Escape by Melanie Rix, a World War 2 adventure about three beloved pets who embark on an incredible journey from London to Devon.  We also have lots of excellent new books for you to choose from - look at the 'New Books' section of our blog to see the highlights.

Writing competitions

Beyond the Stars - Short Story writing competition

Would you like to be a published author? Then this competition is for you. To enter you must write a short story with a winter theme that is suitable for children between the ages of 8 and 10. The story should be between 1,500 and 5,000 words long and should be imaginative and original.


The winner will have their story published as the 12^th story in Beyond the Stars collection of winter-themed stories alongside well-known children’s authors such as Eoin Colfer, Derek Landy, Judi Curtin and Roddy Doyle. The closing date for entries is Midnight on 30^th June 2014.  Entrants must be between 8-16 years.

For more information visit and details of how to enter visit: http://www.harpercollins.co.uk/beyondthestars

Foyles Young Poets of the Year Competition 2014

To enter you simply have to send in your best poem, which you’ve written in class or at home, either by post or online.  The competition is open to 11-17 year olds and the poems can be of any length and on any theme.  The competition closes at midnight on the 31^st July 2014.

The top 15 winners are invited on a week-long writing residential course at the Hurst Arvon Centre, Shropshire, or receive one-to-one mentoring with a professional poet (age dependent), and have their poem printed in the Foyle Winners anthology.

For more details and inspiration visit :

http://www.poetrysociety.org.uk/content/competitions/fyp/

Winners of the Easter 'Take a Risk' free prize draw

More students than ever took a risk and borrowed a ‘take a risk’ book at the end of last term! 217 students borrowed a book, 195 questionnaires were successfully completed and prizes given, including 58 spot prizes. All entries were then put forward for the free prize draw.

The lucky prize draw winners below were presented with their prizes on the day of the 2 Steves author visit to TRS:

 

1. James C 7NG

2. Jessica H 7MD

3. Daniel C 8RN

We had a fantastic response and thank you to everyone who took part!