Patana Page-Turners

Welcome to your monthly round up of reading recommendations. This month’s theme…Celebration!

INTERVIEW WITH HUGO EVANS, 10T:

1. What is one of your fondest or most favourite reading memories?

Using books to keep me calm and soothe me when I am anxious. I find that reading is relaxing and makes it easier to forget about any troublesome thoughts or anything stressful!

2. Which fictional character would most like/least like to meet in real life and why?

I would love to meet Anthony J. Crowley from the book Good Omens because he is a relatable character and has a great sense of humour. I would like to ask him how he became a demon and what it is like being best friends with an angel. I would also like to meet him to tell him that his sunglasses are cool!

3. What does ‘Celebrations’ mean to you? Do you have any Key Stage 3 book suggestions for this theme?

The theme of celebration is very important to me because I want to celebrate how I now enjoy reading so much when before I felt my dyslexia would prevent me from ever reading purely for pleasure. I now know that this is not true! I absolutely love reading and it has even inspired me to try writing fiction of my own.

I recommend The Sad Ghost Club by Lize Meddings to Key Stage 3 students. It is a graphic novel which is particularly inspirational for more introverted or shy people. It celebrates the value of very close friendships and the importance of a small number of important, trustworthy friends rather than having to be ‘popular’ with lots of superficial friends. Otherwise, I celebrate all books that inspire and encourage people to read, especially people like me who found it very challenging at first.

FS AND KEY STAGE 1 BOOK RECOMMENDATIONS:

Juliette (Etty) Corker, 1J: Julian is a Mermaid by Jessica Love. A celebration of mermaids and ultimately, being free to be who you truly are. Julian wants to be a mermaid and makes himself a costume. However, he is not quite sure what his Grandma will think…

Join Julian and his Grandma in their celebration of acceptance and uniqueness, in this beautifully illustrated tale.

Pandarina by Matilda Rose. Part of the fantastic Magic Pet Shop series. Princess Skye is nervous about getting all the steps right, ahead of her dance performance at the Queen’s birthday party. Her new pet, Pandarina, helps her to see that it is trying your best and having fun that counts the most. This book is a magical celebration of the importance of enjoyment, effort and friendship.

Father Christmas Comes Up Trumps! by Nicholas Allan. Father Christmas has filled up on turkey and sprouts to ensure that he can get through the long night ahead. Join him as he delivers presents and find out if he manages to keep in the gurgling and groaning coming from his stomach… After all, he can’t wake any children up! A silly celebration of Christmas, perfect for snuggling up and reading before bed on Christmas Eve.

KEY STAGE 2 BOOK RECOMMENDATIONS:

Mr O’Neill, Year 3 Teacher:

Jaz Santos vs The World by Priscilla Mante. Jaz Santos loves football, but is not able to play for her school’s football team, because girls aren’t allowed to play! In protest, Jaz gathers a group of unlikely friends and sets out to start her own team. Subsequently, she has to face many familiar barriers that are experienced by girls participating in grassroots sports, all around the world. This book embraces true Girl Power. It celebrates females in sport and the pursuit of dreams, as well as highlighting the importance of perseverance and supportive friendships.

The Girl Who Stole an Elephant by Nizrana Farook. This book is an out-and-out adventure story that celebrates the stunning landscapes of Sri Lanka! A modern-day Robin Hood,

Chaya borrows from the rich, to help support the people of her village. But one theft goes a step too far and puts her and her friends in mortal danger… This story also celebrates friendship, risk and reward.

The Lost Whale by Hannah Gold. This book celebrates family bonds, friendship and looks more closely at the complicated, wonderful relationship between parents and their children. The Lost Whale is an incredible adventure story that teaches us of the many marvels of the oceans and helps us to learn so much more about these majestic creatures, that live within our seas. Dealing with family dynamics, marine conservation and mental health, this is a story anyone would learn from and enjoy.

Key Stage 3 Book Recommendations

on the premise that the boys would return home less of a boy and more of a man. This tale celebrates the maturing of people and the cooperation between people with different views in a desperate situation.

KEY STAGE 4 AND 5 BOOK RECOMMENDATIONS:

Anoushka Mohanty, 12R

We Are All Made of Molecules by Susin Nielsen Stewart. A thirteen-year-old boy is academically gifted, but socially “ungifted”, and fourteen-year-old Ashley is the exact opposite: socially comfortable but with a low performance academically. Their worlds collide when Stewart and his dad move in with Ashley and her mom. The story’s main message to its readers is that everyone is connected in some way or another, and one of the main themes that recur throughout the novel is acceptance. This novel celebrates the inherent differences of people and learning to live with and learn from people who’s characters differ to yours. The story celebrates that essentially, we are all made of the same thing: molecules.

My Turn: The Autobiography by Johan Cruyff. This autobiography explores the career of Dutch football legend Johan Cruyff. Largely regarded as one of the greatest players - and managers - the sport has ever seen, he is seen as one of football’s most influential figures, as he was a predominant influence on the modernisation and evolution of football. He is famous for his philosophy known as Total Football. This novel celebrates the legacy that Cruyff left behind after his death in 2016.

Where the World Ends by Geraldine McCaughrean. This novel, set in 1727, is based on a true story set in St Kilda. It is about a group of boys and men who were sent to go fowling on an island, and are left there, stranded. They visit the island

The Little Coffee Shop of Kabul by Deborah Rodriguez. Set in Afghanistan in the early 1980s, this book revolves around five women navigating life through the unsafe streets of Kabul. Sunny, the protagonist, celebrates womanhood, hope, and courage. Unafraid to take the less popular path, she stays in Afghanistan after escaping a bad marriage and aims to empower the community and instil hope in others, even during difficult situations.

Simon vs The Homosapiens Agenda by Becky Albertalli. This is a warm and fuzzy coming-of-age rom-com, celebrating LGBTQ+, family and friendships. It follows the story of closeted high-schooler Simon as his private emails are leaked to the entire school, risking the privacy of a Blue, the pen name of the guy he is talking to.

The Light We Carry by Michelle Obama. I love this book because it is an ode to life, where she celebrates her achievements, her shortcomings and even difficulties. In this memoir-like book, she presents her life in short stories, her memories, embarrassing moments and what she learnt from them. Michelle Obama presents us with a ‘toolkit’ to navigate through life, challenges and celebrations.

Stay tuned in future Patana News issues for more Patana Page-Turners, as recommended by our staff and students.

Curious if we have any of these books available in our libraries?

Search online here, or contact our library staff here.

Happy reading!