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THE LIBRARY TALES Book recommendations, ideas and news by the Cherwell South Site students
Save Your Favourite Stories!
LIBRARY HIGHLIGHTS FROM FEBRUARY
Against and Pro...Harry Potter, p. 8 Interview with Sophie Anderson p 9-10
After a long pause, our magazine is back, and with a brand new style. This issue focuses on stories that should not be forgotten. The Cherwell Book Club thinks that the image on the cover, by Polish artist Paweł Kuczyński, illustrates this concept well thanks to its dystopian feel: these buildings look like part of a bleak world saved by a flood of stories. How can we save the stories we love? By sharing them. And so let us save our favourite stories from indifference and oblivion, and let us shout about them the way the woman in the 1921 Soviet Poster below does ("Books in all fields of knowledge!"). At the beginning of this term I asked many of you to share with the rest of the school the books that, in your opinion, were not as popular as they deserved. In this issue of our library magazine you will find your answers. Happy reading! Dr Bonsaver
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FEATURED IN THIS ISSUE:
Above: i l l ustrati on by James Mayhew (Koshka' s Tal es); l eft: artwork by Paweł Kuczyński . We warml y thank both arti sts for gi vi ng us permi ssi on to use thei r works.
THE POETRY CORNER
p 3-7 Save these books!: Your choices p 8 Against and Pro... HARRY POTTER p 9-10 Interview with Sophie Anderson, author of The Girl Who Speaks Bear p 10-11 Book Review: The Girl Who Speaks Bear p 11 We have a Library Cafe! p 12 Anti- bullying stories about bullies p 13 Author Struan Murray's book-signing at South Site! p 14 The Cherwell Festival of Reading
' Save your heart from i ts si l ence. That corner of you wants a poem. ' Sophi a Thankur, Somebody Gi ve Thi s Heart a Pen, now avai l abl e i n the Li brary.
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What books, in your opinion, are not as popular as they should be in our library?
Am I Normal yet? by Holly Bourne This is a very good book because it deals with modern day struggles. I found it very interesting, a very good read. Other books by Holly Bourne, such as A Manifesto on How to Be Interesting, are great too. Six of Crows by Leigh Bardugo This is the amazing first book in the series. It hosts many unconventional ideas, for example the main characters are thieves and gamblers. After being given a job and a deadline, the gang embarks on a suicidal journey to recover the person who holds a secret that could destroy the whole world...and a big sum of money awaits them.
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This is a great read for fans of The Hunger Games, the Mortal Instruments series, or crime/murder mysteries. Internment by Samira Ahmed I liked this book because it represents a really important issue. It's about a girl whose family has been taken into a camp. The Night of the Party by Tracey Matthias It discussed Brexit among teenagers, and different views of the situation, whilst including a story. Very well written and gripping. Scarlet Ibis by Gill Lewis It is about a girl whose family is torn when her house is set on fire by her mum smoking in her bed.
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No One Is Too Small to Make A Difference by Greta Thunberg This is a really good book! There are all of Greta's speeches in it. It also gives you information about climate change and global warming. Breathe/Resist by Sarah Crossan Everyone talks about One or Moonrise by sarah Crossan, but I don't know anyone who has read these. They are completely different to her other books: these are dystopias. It's about life with no natural oxygen and how the poorer population are controlled and discriminated. I loved these books as there was lots of mystery and adventure.
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When The Whales Came by Michael Morpurgo It reminds me of Cornwall and the Isles of Scilly, and it is a very good story. Every Falling Star by Sungju Lee this is one of my favourite books ever. Basically it is a true story written by a man called Sungju Lee who escaped North Korea as a child. It is a thrilling book and I couldn't put it down. The story is about Sungju's life as a street boy and an orphan, and his search for family and a better life. It's so good!!! I find it crazy that it is a true story. Henderson's Boys by Robert Muchamore The Cherub is the most famous series by
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Muchamore, but I love the Handerson's Boys. It's about a group of children being trained as spies and sent to France in 1941. They were orphans, and trained by The British for espionage missions. I think these books should get more credit because they really tell a good story, and at they teach us about very important historical events, in an interesting way. The President is Missing by James Patterson and Bill Clinton This book sounds really boring, but it i not. In my opinion there is not a dull moment. This book is really exciting and a perfect read for anyone who is even remotely interested in mystery.
The Victory Dogs by Megan Rix It is a really good book!It's the story of two dogs born in the London underground. When WW2 starts, the two dogs need to find a way to survive and even help Londoners to safety. Captain Corelli's Mandolin by Louis de Bernières It's a good classic, very moving, and it teaches some things about WW2 that you may not know. Floored by Sarah Barnard and other authors It's a book written by seven authors, including Holly Bourne and Lisa Williamson.
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It is very interesting to read the seven different perspectives, and you'll realise how everyone experiences a day differently, and that there are multiple sides to a story, and what a small world it is. It's also funny. She, Myself and I by Emma Young This book is about an 18year-old girl called Rosa, whose body is slowly failing. Then Rosa is donated the body of an 18-year-old girl called Sylvia who died in a tragic accident. Rosa now has to learn how to adjust to her new body and feels compelled to find an answer to her question: Who was Sylvia?
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Hour of The Bees by Lindsay Eagar This book is about a girl who goes to visit her grandfather who has Alzheimer. I like this book because it talks about family and how important it is. Girl with a white Dog by Anne Booth I LOVE this book, because it really mysterious and relatable. Jessie will find out about her gran's past, and it is all very gripping and moving. I Capture The castle by Dodie Smith The narrator of this book is down to earth. She and her family live in an old castle, which is beautifully described.
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It's the journal of Cassandra Mortmain, and the way this girl and her family come to terms with their lives. Earth Angel by Ross Bartlett It is the autobiography of a psychic who has visions of people that have passed away, and it is a true story. It really makes you think. I'd Tell You I Love But Then I'd Have To Kill You by Ally Carter It is a 6 book series about a girl in a school for spies. The headteacher's daughter becomes a spy out in the real world. The ending of the last book is very poignant and really makes you think.
She tries to be strong, but she experiences really cruel harassment, and feels so hopeless. Although there are very sad passages, it is still a beautiful series about school life. My Name is Mina by David Almond It is the prequel to Skelling, however I feel it deserves as much attention as Skelling. An Abundance of Katherines by John Green An Abundance of Katherines sounds a bit too simple and boring as a title . Instead, it covers a lot of complex and very mature ideas.
Life by Keiko Suenobu It is a manga based on the hardships of a high school girl who is being bullied. THE LIBRARY
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Against and Pro
HARRY POTTER
Against: We find that the story is very repetitive. There aren't many plot twists and it follows the same structure of problem/solution/happy ending. You don't really feel an emotional connection with the character Harry in particular. Pro: The majority of children's books follow this pattern, and it doesn't mean that they are repetitive. This is just a generic structure that many children's stories abide by. Plus, book 5 and 6 in the Harry Potter series actually defy this pattern by showing a happy ending that is only apparent. Against: The Dursley family is stereotypical. Mr Dursley is the director of a big firm that makes drills. He is described as a big beefy man, having moustache.
Mrs Dursley, however, is the polar opposite, as she is min, blonde, and has nearly twice the usual amount of neck because she spends her time spying over the neighbours' fence. In other words, they fit into the stereotypical image of a normal family. Pro:Yes, they are stereotypical, they are meant to be so and they are very funny! What family is not stereotypical in a way or another? Harry, as a character, needed precisely this sort of carers to develop in an exciting way. Against: Harry Potter has a massive number of fans, but this simply demonstrates that the public often rejects amazing stories such as Paper Avalanche by Lisa Williamson, THE LIBRARY
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Harry Potter and The Philosopher's Stone by J. K. Rowling was first published in the UK in 1997, rapidly gaining success. The Harry Potter series is now published in 80 languages, and over 500 million copies have been sold across the world. Is it a good book series? Two groups of students debate about it.
in favour of books that are commercialised and promoted by big publishers. Harry Potter is neither touching or relatable, but you can buy all sorts of gadgets about it. Pro: It has become a commercial phenomenon because it is a wonderful story. The author even experienced gender discrimination at the beginning of her career. She had to use initials so that readers did not realise that she was a woman as this would have affected the success of the book. It is not Harry Potter's fault if it has such a massive audience all around the world today!
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Q&A with SOPHIE ANDERSON We have loved The House With Chicken Legs and The Girl Who Speaks Bear. Here is the Book Club's interview with the author.
Book Club: What was the most enjoyable part to write in The House With Chicken Legs? Sophie Anderson: I loved thinking up ways for the House to express itself without words. BC: And the most difficult character to develop? SA: Probably Marinka, as she has the largest role. BC: How do you visualise characters or settings? For example, do you ever use photographs, images or your own sketches? SA: Mostly I just imagine them in my mind. BC: Marinka and Yanka, the protagonist in The Girl Who Speaks Bear, are very similar to each other, and yet different. Did you conceive the two works together?
SA: No, I wrote The House with Chicken Legs first, and The Girl Who Speaks Bear nearly two years later. BC: Why did you decide to have Yanka meet Elena instead of Marinka, in The Girl Who Speaks Bear? SA: I wanted to explore the character of a different Yaga, and a different Yaga House. BC: Why do both of your main characters have unusual pets, and why are these pets so obsessed with their owners' ears? SA: I love animals, and the special relationships that sometimes develop between humans and animals. I've never really thought about the ear thing! I do remember my own pets whispering things into my ears though.
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BC: Was any of your characters inspired by someone you have met in real life? SA: Yes, lots of them! Marinka was inspired by my daughter, Baba by my grandmother, and Mousetrap by the weasel who lives in my house.
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BC: At the beginning of The Girl Who Speaks Bear, Anatoly reminds me of Snuffkin from Tove Jansson's books. In what ways Jansson's work has had an impact on your writing style? SA: The Moomins books were the first books I fell in love with as a child, and I still adore them today. I love their mix of whimsy and deep philosophy. I imagine Jansson's stories have inspired me in ways far too numerous to list! BC: Do you ever re-read your books once they are published? SA: I haven't yet. I read them so many times during the writing and editing process, by the time they are published I feel I know them insideout and I am busy working on the next thing. BC: How were you like as a teenager? SA: Quiet, hard-working, and nature-loving.
The illustrations for this article are by artist Elisa Paganelli
Review: The Girl Who Speaks Bear by Sophie Anderson
Yanka was found in a bear cave and adopted by a gentle woman, Mamochka, when she was two years old. Now she is twelve, bigger and stronger than anyone else in her village, and struggling to fit in.
Strange things are happening to Yanka: she has started to understand the language of the animals surrounding her, such as a little bird and her pet weasel, and she feels a powerful calling to the forest. And then one night she realises that she has grown bear legs. Yanka decides to head for the woods and find out the truth about her past. What happened to the bear that raised her? And who were her parents? This is no common forest: here the girl meets several creatures, and each of them tells Yanka a story. THE LIBRARY
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In this forest of adventures, encounters, and stories that are linked to one another, Yanka finally finds out the truth about who she is. Isn't that what stories are there for? The Girl Who Speaks Bear is a beautifully told story, full of references to Russian folklore and fairy tales. Emotions, in particular, are vividly described. I loved the fact that Yanka, who has no idea of who her biological parents are, feels even more different and lonely in a village with large, compact families, where people use blankets that were knitted by their great-grandmothers. Feelings of joy and excitement find large space in this novel too: the scene in which Elena's house stands up and starts running is wonderful. It conveys very well Yanka's excitement at the news that she is loved , and that the world is full of wonders. Thanks to Mousetrap, the pet weasel, this novel is also funny, and all the scenes in which he is involved are hilarious!
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We Have a Library Cafe!
Don't miss other wonderful books in the library that involve fairy tales and folk stories:
Koshka's Tales: Stories From Russia by James Mayhew
These days you might receive an invitation to attend our brand new library cafe. The library will open exclusively for you at lunch time,
Pages & Co: Tilly and The Lost Fairy Tales by Anna James
The Way Past Winter by Kiran Millwood Hargrave
Fairy Tales by Hilary McKay
In Darkling Wood by Emma Carroll
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and you will help Dr Bonsaver chose books for the library, set up displays and decide which books should be discussed. As a reward, you will receive a welcome pack with a book and some goodies. And, of course, there will be snacks and drinks for everybody!
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Anti-bullying Books About Bullies During Anti-bullying week, a year 8 student expressed some interest in books that help understand bullies. We have asked around amongst the library’s Twitter contacts, and we have managed to put together a fantastic anti-bullying reading list about bullies! Here you find some of the books that we have been recommended.
I would like to read a book about bullies-the reason why they bully and how they feel, and how life is at home..
The Knife That Killed Me by A. McGowan. About Paul, who finds himself drawn into a dangerous rivalry between gangs, and is given a knife that makes him feel strong.
Seven Days by Eve Ainsworth. Jess is being bullied about her weight and her clothes. Kez is the one instigating it all. A beautiful story told from the perspective of the bully and the bullied.
Rook by A. McGowan. Nicky is in Year 9 now, and is bullied by three year 10 boys. Trouble is, ‘Stanno’, the leader, is the brother of Sarah Stanhope, the girl Nicky is in love with.
Jessica's Ghost by Andrew Norris. Only Francis, Andi and Ronald are able to see Jessica, a ghost. Why? And why is Jessica's ghost still wandering around the school corridors?
Blubber by J. Blume. "We made Linda say, I am Blubber, the smelly whale of class 206. [...] It was easy to get her to do it. I think she would have done anything we said. There are some people who just make you want to see how far you can go."
Auggie & Me by R. J. Palacio. Wonder tells the story of Auggie Pullman, here three different characters - bully Julian, oldest friend Christopher and classmate Charlotte give you their own versions of the story.
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Struan Murray's booksigning at South Site!
On Monday 24th February from 3 to 3.30 PM author Struan Murray will be in the South Site Library to sign copies of his book Orphans of The Tide. The novel will be released on 20th February, and you will have the opportunity to buy a copy in the library (£6) during the book-signing.
Orphans of the Tide £6
The City was built on a sharp mountain that jutted improbably from the sea, and the sea kept trying to claim it back. That grey morning, once the tide had retreated, a whale was found on a rooftop. When a mysterious boy washes in with the tide, the citizens believe he's the Enemy - the god who drowned the world - come again to cause untold chaos. Only Ellie, a fearless young inventor living in a workshop crammed with curiosities, believes he's innocent. To save the boy, Ellie must prove who he really is - eve if that means revealing her own dangerous secret . . .
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The Cherwell Festival of Reading Find your voice! 24th February – 6th March 2019 Our 4th Cherwell festival of reading is about to start! Our theme this year is Find your voice: we'll discuss stories in which characters struggle to have their voices heard. At the same time, we will explore the ways in which stories and books help us find our own voices, by making us aware of who we are. There will be games, snacks, prices to be won, and wonderful books to discover.
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Book-signing Book Shop Book-Swapping Poetry CreativeWriting Games Prizes Dressing Up Music Film Screening High Tea
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