The OPHS Library Online Newsletter April 2024 #33
The OPHS Library Online Newsletter
April 2024 #33
Welcome to our Online Monthly Library Newsletter
Every month, in our Library Newsletter, we will have reviews on wonderful books that we have in our Library, snippets of new books on the horizon and interesting information about lovely Authors and books-to-movies information. There will be links to access upcoming books that are in The Library and lots of book information that you will enjoy. We will have competitions, winner announcements, links to short stories and poems and other interesting literacy information all in one Newsletter!
If you would like to add a contribution to our next Newsletter (May issue), such as: What is your favourite book from our Library? What were your favourite and/or worst books that you have ever read? Would you like to send in a book review and/or a literacy picture? Can you think of anything else that would look great in our newsletter? Then please email:
ltaylor@oakspark.redbridge.sch.uk
If your contribution is displayed in the Library Newsletter you will get a
‘Thank You’ certificate from The Library and fabulous achievement points
will be added to your Sims account.
Library News
We have a fantastic new Manga book cover competition that is running until the end of June. For more information on the competition, please email: ltaylor@oakspark.redbridge.sch.uk
Or pop into the Library to pick up a template!
Winning entries will be announced in the June issue of The Online Library Newsletter!
Our World Book Week 2024
Poetry Competion Winner
History
Cradle your book like a mother does it’s child
and it will sing sweet songs of sorrow
and tell the world about the weight of being born from
an author's fingertips
which conveyed the sparks of an idea
into reality.
Hold your book’s hand like best friends hold each other
and it will tell you of a time when friends were all it needed.
To be heard and feel a connection
is a privilege granted through language.
Through reading and following along as the world widens,
you’ve gained life to live with the knowledge that a book once volunteered.
Walk with your book and it will teach you how to run
and how to answer the questions you couldn’t ask your mum.
The words will grow with you and become more complex with time
The words will grow with you and you’ll soon be fine.
Depart with your book, it’s time to make amends.
There are no more lessons to be learnt now that a beginning has met an end.
Reflect on what you’ve learnt, how you feel, and how you’ve grown
and think about where you would have been if you didn’t know
what a wonderful thing a book is.
In a world filled with difference,
one thing brings us together:
A story.
An element of history,
that has so beautifully found its way
back to you.
OPHS Student’s creative writing
Open a Book
Open a book
Ahh the fresh smell of freedom.
With a dash of suspense
and surprise.
An aura so strangely calming.
Open a book
Today I read a fairytale
It left me with happy thoughts
Books make me happy, sad, confused.
But with a side of comfort
Open a book
Relax your mind
And dive into the depth of detail
And all your worries
disappear
Open a book
Open a door
Open your heart; mind
All of which come with a new beginning
So why not start now and open a book.
Book Review on:
Percy Jackson and the Lightning Thief
Rating:10/10
Author:Rick Riordan
I really enjoyed reading this book, because it is filled with alot of adventures and is very suspenseful. This book is about a boy named Percy Jackson, who finds out he is the son of Poseidon. He finds out he is going to a camp called ‘Camp Half-Blood’ for demi-gods. He has to retrieve Zeus' Lightning Bolt. However, he does not know all the dangers and “people” he will encounter. This book is very interesting and I really like all the different adventures they faced on one singular journey.
My favourite characters are Percy Jackson and Annabeth Chase. This is because Percy Jackson acts like he isn’t a demi-god but he also saved Camp Half-Blood by retrieving Zeus’ Lightning Bolt but he also saved his friends from many monsters and protected them. I liked how he was very loyal and never left them behind. In addition, Annabeth is one of the daughters of Athena and she was chosen by Percy to go on the quest with him. I love her character, because she is very wise and knows everything. She also is the one protecting her friends and she has saved Percy many times from many monsters. Furthermore, she is the character that has a dark background but she never lets that get in her way. These two characters are very interesting and different.
My favourite scene is when Percy finds out that it was Luke who stole the Lightning Bolt and framed Clarisse. This is when Luke and Percy are talking about what he has done and then he gets a scorpion slowly crawling up Percy’s leg and trying to kill him. In the end, Percy got bitten by the scorpion but he went to the Hospital Wing and he was cured using special medicines. This scene was very suspenseful but very creative and this scene made me feel very frightened about what was going to happen to Percy.
A Hidden Land
An orphic vision floods my eyes,
Of graceful birds and cotton candy skies,
And I could have sworn I saw you there too,
A place where all lies and deceit become true.
In our little, paper world we’ll rule,
Casting spells and penny-tossing in pools,
And I simply can not bring myself to turn the page,
As when the story ends no candied clouds remain.
So solemnly I place the book face down,
And cast away my knightly armour and crown,
I hope to return there soon one day,
Return to that hidden land,
fashioned into a page.
My Mind’s Eye
Show me the mountains
that mingle with the clouds,
the dandelions that dance,
in scattered golden crowds…
Share with me adventures
of heroes long gone,
who valiantly saved populations,
their duties never done…
Convey to me magic
of wizards and witches,
lingering creatures,
hidden away in secret ditches…
I wish to see realities not my own,
yearn to feel them radiate,
from spine-bound paper in my hand.
They fuel the fire in my heart,
these worlds hand-laced into words,
Letters written in black ink,
revealing rainbows in my mind.
Book Review
A Good Girl’s Guide To Murder
Rating: 10/10
Author: Holly Jackson
Review:
In my opinion, A good girl’s guide to murder is an outstanding book which includes an amazing plot. The book is absolutely addicting and once you start reading you can't stop. This is honestly the BEST book I have ever read. The main story is about a young girl called Pippa who is investigating a chilling crime about a girl who was “ Murdered” by her boyfriend. A crime committed in her once peaceful town called Little Kilton. She started this whole investigation for her EPQ (Extended Project Qualification). The investigation uncovers multiple secrets.
World Book Day 2024 Poetry Competition
In hushed tones, I speak of books so dear,
Their pages filled with wonder, their spines so clear.
A world of magic, a world of dreams,
In the pages of these books, my heart beats.
Their covers, a rainbow of hues,
A promise of adventure, a tale anew.
Their pages, a journey through time and space,
A refuge from the mundane, a place to find grace.
With every turn, a new world unfolds,
A tale of love, a tale of gold.
The characters, so rich and deep,
Their stories, a symphony, a sweet serenade.
In the stillness of the night,
I lose myself in their delight.
Their words, a balm for my soul,
A refuge from the world's loud role.
Oh, the joy of losing oneself,
In the pages of a book, so elfin and whimsical.
The magic of words, so pure and true,
A world of wonder, just for me and you.
Every book is an adventure
Every book is an adventure in your mind
A good adventure you will find
A fun adventure in your mind
Open a book and you will find
Different words entering your mind
So open a book and you will see
It is very enjoyable and will fill
You with glee
The Wheel of Surya Book Review
My favourite book is the wheel of surya because it gives me emotions of happiness ,sadness, and anger. It has descriptions which are amazing. It almost feel like you're there
experiencing all of it.
The book is about culture, class, faith and family and the the petition of |Pakistan and India. It shows how families felt through the petition. It has the genre of historical-friction. The book gives a sense of the harsh reality many had and are going through.
It starts with the mothers experiences and feelings. But at the end the mother is nowhere at the end. I also like how the experiences a lot of people go through as an immigrant is shown so truthfully without leaving a bit . Including the bullying and denial.
In the Sea there are Crocodiles
Book Review
The book “ In the Sea there are Crocodiles “ is about a boy named Enaiat who unfortunately isn’t very supported in the country that he lives in so his mother and him go off to another country. He is wakes up to realise that his mother has left him all alone. I really enjoy the way his character progresses through the countries and how we see him slowly having a better life. The book really emphasises the struggles that immigrants go through and the way they have to fight to survive.
I really enjoyed the ending where he was finally able to call his mom after all those years and realised that now he is finally living a good and peaceful life. The ending really shows how if you don’t give up everything can be possible and that you just have to try your hardest. I also liked how he was able to find one of his old friends that he met when he was struggling and he was able to reunite with them.
The only thing I would want to know about the book now is what he did after he found a new family in Greece and I would like to know what he is doing now in life. I would also like to find out what happened to his friends that he had to leave and if they also where able to find a better life someplace else.
WHY IS WORLD BOOK DAY IMPORTANT ?
I think that world book day is important because it changes lives through a love of books and reading. Another reason why world book day is important is that it can help you with your education.
The reason why world book day is important to education is that it can help you understand the question during exam,test or gcse.the more you read the books you will be able to understand the question that you are given.
World Book Day not only introduces children to authors they normally wouldn't look into but it also brings together the children who wouldn't normally be able to buy those books. This gives them an opportunity to read them through the various charities that are involved with World Book Day.
Books: The Magic Within
In realms of parchment, bound with care,
Lies wisdom's trove beyond compare.
Within each dimension, a world takes flight,
Guiding minds through day and night.
Pages whisper secrets long held,
Stories of heroes, yet to be felled.
In ink, the echoes of ages past,
A tapestry of tales amassed.
From dusty shelves, they call to hearts,
Inviting souls to play their parts.
In novels thick or sonnets slim,
The power of words shall never dim.
Through volumes old and volumes new,
The magic of literature rings true.
For in the embrace of a well-worn tome,
Lies the key to find, the heart's true home.
So let us cherish each word's embrace,
For in books, we find our sacred space.
A refuge, a beacon, forever it seems,
Books are the stuff of our wildest dreams.
Author of the Month
Malorie Blackman is a renowned British children books writer and has been recently appointed the Children’s Laureate (2013-2015). She has prolifically produced children’s and young adult’s literature and television dramas. She uses science fiction to bring out the theme of ethnics and related social issues. Her key work includes Noughts and Crosses series.
Blackman was born on February 8, 1962, in Clapham, London. Though she hoped to become an English teacher since her childhood but she changed her career choice and opted for computer science. She received a Higher National Certificate from Thames Polytechnic and also earned her graduate degree from the National Film and Television School. In 1990s, she got married to Neil and had a daughter. She worked as a system programmer before embarking on her writing career. Her first literary work was published at the age of 28 and till now she has authored over sixty books. In addition to story writing, Blackman has a keen interest in composing music, playing piano and poetry writing.
Some writers are born with the uncanny ability to reach their audience and positively influence them and Blackman is one such example. She has tried to reach her younger audience through her short stories, picture books, novels and television shows. She has penned television scripts for several famous children’s TV dramas for CITV and BBC Education. Some of these television shows include Byker Grove, Whizziwig and Pig Heart Boy. She also wrote two stage plays, titled The Amazing Birthday and Noughts and Crosses.
Her first book, published in 1990, was a collection of sci-fi and horror stories for young adults, entitled Not So Stupid!: Incredible Short Stories. It was followed by a young adult novel Trust Me (1992) and number of children’s books. Her first children’s novel, Hacker (1992), follows the story of a young girl Vicky, who hacks into a bank’s computer to find evidence that substantiates her father’s innocence in a bank robbery that he has been accused of. Blackman’s computer science background played an instrumental role in her creation of interesting plots for her books. Another sci-fi story, Thief (1995), is about teleportation of a child into the future for apparently committing a crime. Pig-Heart Boy (1997) revolves around a teen in need of heart transplantation. Later the book was adapted into a TV drama which won the prestigious BAFTA award in children’s drama category.
In 2001, Blackman began writing her highly acclaimed young adult novel series, titled The Noughts & Crosses. This five-volume series addresses the issue of racism, ethnicity and violence. Most of the characters featured in her works are black, but it was not until this series that she openly acknowledged the issue of black’s identity. The author reverses the situation of black and white people. Instead of black being the oppressed minority, they are depicted as the ruling class called ‘Noughts’ and the whites, ‘Crosses’, are the have-nots in this dystopia. There is a romantic angle to the story that focuses on the impossible love affair between two youths belonging to different social stations. It is one of the most read young adult novels, according to a survey conducted by BBC in 2003.
For her distinguished work, Malorie Blackman was awarded Children’s Book Circle’s Eleanor Farjeon Award and W.H. Smith Mind Boggling Book of the Year Award among other prestigious accolades.
Books by Malorie Blackman
Outstanding Novels by Irish Writers, whose Brilliant Books You’ll Want to Discover, Delight in, Cherish and Relish
Toffee
Author: Sarah Crossan
Another insightful and compassionate free verse novel from the queen of this increasingly admired form, this time exploring the transformative relationship between an abused runaway teenager and an elderly lady with dementia. Allison has grown up “stepping on eggshells” to circumvent her father’s violence. While she often wonders whether his behaviour was “all my fault”, one of his outbursts compels her to run away. With nowhere to go, she finds sanctuary in the house of an elderly woman called Marla. Marla has dementia and thinks Allison is Toffee, her best friend from childhood. After spending some time in Marla’s company, Allison decides to “stop correcting her… I like the idea of being sweet and hard, a girl with a name for people to chew on.” Moreover, in meeting Marla, Allison has found an unlikely kindred spirit: “I am not who I say I am. Marla isn’t who she thinks she is… Here, in this house, I am so much happier than I have ever been”. Returning the favour, Allison enriches Marla’s life – she listens, she indulges Marla’s desire to dance - while Marla’s carer and son show no real regard for her happiness, as if she’s beyond life, which makes Allison’s attentiveness all the more heart warming.
Moonrise
Author: Sarah Crossan
A book to break your heart, quicken your blood and stir your soul by one of the most outstandingly distinctive writers to have emerged in a long, long time. New Yorker Joe Moon was only seven when he took the call in which his big brother Ed told him he'd been arrested because “they think I did something real bad”. That “something” led to Ed winding up on death row, convicted of murdering a cop, though he insists he’s innocent. Ten years later, now Ed’s execution date has been set, Joe travels to Texas to say goodbye. The sublimely-formed structure slips between present and past, recounting the brothers’ troubled upbringing - how their Mom took off; how Aunt Karen took control and decided that Bible study and never mentioning Ed again was the only route to their salvation. While she insists that there’s no point wasting life or money helping someone who wasn’t sorry, Joe sees things differently. “He's my brother,” and that’s really all that matters. He has to see him. Lawyer Al, who’s taken on Ed’s case for free, offers some hope, but time is running out. “It's better to be guilty and rich, I reckon,” Joe remarks, as he experiences the excruciating injustices of a legal system in which the harshness of a sentence depends on where a crime takes place, who the victim was, and who you can afford to pay to represent you.
Apple and Rain
Author: Sarah Crossan
Apple is sure that one day her mother will return. And when that happens she is sure that everything in her life will be good again. But when Mum does return, Apple finds that what you wish for may not always be what you really want. With the arrival of mum, Apple’s life is turned upside down. Home, school and most of all, what she really thinks about all those around her, are all thrown into confusion. Can Apple find happiness in a new way of life? Apple’s poems help her to tell this touching story of an unhappy and complicated family life.
One
Author: Sarah Crossan
Shortlisted for the Books Are My Bag Children's Book Award 2016. Winner of the CILIP Carnegie Medal 2016. Winner of The Bookseller's 2016 prize for young adult fiction. Ireland's Children's Book of the Year Award 2016. Award-winning Sarah Crossan tells an astonishing and difficult story with the surest of touches in this tender, funny and life affirming book. Grace and Tippi are twins. Not just twins but conjoined twins, sharing the lower half of their bodies. Somehow they have always managed to be individuals while also part of each other. Now teenagers, Tippi and Grace are facing increasing difficulties. They are off to school for the first time meeting new experiences and especially new friendships and relationships. While Tippi longs for things to remain the same, Grace yearns for something more. But will there be a future for Grace and Tippi? When a desperate decision needs to be taken the girls lives must change forever.
Author: John Boyne
Brilliantly weaving history and personal experience, this is a dazzling story of love, murder, missed chances, treachery and redemption. It's France in 1758, Matthieu Zela has lived his life well. In fact, he's lived several lives well. Because Matthew Zela's life is characterised by one amazing fact: his body stopped ageing before the end of the eighteenth century.
The Boy in the Striped Pyjamas
Author: John Boyne
A 2014 World Book Night selection. Initially it is difficult to believe that the young son of the commandant of Auschwitz is as innocent as he is, then you begin to accept his ignorance and follow a developing friendship through to its dreadful conclusion. That this is written for children is easy to forget. This is one of the few books that genuinely appeals to both adults and children and can, and indeed should, be read by all ages.
Accelerated Reader
All Year 7 and Year 8 Students MUST have at least ONE library book on them at all times. You must read your AR library book for AT LEAST twenty minutes every night. Please do not forget to write your completed book in your planner on page 20. You must then complete your online book quiz within 24 hours of completing the book, then write your quiz result on page 19 of your planner!!!
Word Count for All Classes
Word Count Class totals for Accelerated Reader Book Quizzes for all Year 7 & 8 Classes
A huge congratulations to all of the Classes!
Books to Movies
Clap When You Land by Elizabeth Acevedo
What it's about: Camino lives for the summers when her father visits her in the Dominican Republic, but his plane never arrives. Yahaira is in New York City, where she's called to the principal's office to face her mother and the news that her father has died in a plane crash. Until now, the girls haven't known about each other, but now they're forced to face a new reality.
Type of adaptation: TV Show
On the Come Up by Angie Thomas
What it's about: Bri wants to be one of the greatest rappers of all time, filling the big shoes of her father, an underground rap legend who died before he hit big. But after her mom unexpectedly loses her job, Bri no longer just wants to make it...she has to.
Type of adaptation: Movie
The Summer I Turned Pretty by Jenny Han
What it's about: Belly has spent every summer at Cousins Beach, home of her favourite people: Susannah, her mother's best friend, and her sons Conrad and Jeremiah. She's hopeful this summer will be different.
Type of adaptation: TV Series
One of Us Is Lying by Karen M McManus
What it's about: Five students walk into detention. Four walk out. This mystery follows Bronwyn (the brain), Addy (the beauty), Nate (the criminal), and Cooper (the athlete) after the death of Simon (the outcast) who was the creator of Bayview High's gossip app and who planned to post juicy reveals about the other four the next day...making them the prime suspects.
Type of adaptation: TV Series
What film adaptation did you love?
What is your favourite movie that has been adapted from a book
Let us know the name of the book and movie adaptation that you loved the best, saying if you prefer the book or the movie, and why. Your contribution will then be added to our next Newsletter in April!
How to Write an Epic Short Story
Write a short epic
Truth is stranger than fiction. Often it is funnier too. Short Epics are nuggets from the daily news that might raise a smile or prompt a remark that starts: “You wouldn’t believe it, but…” They must be no longer than 140 characters long including spaces. Do have a go at writing one and send it to ltaylor@oakspark.redbridge.sch.uk and your epic story will be in our next issue of our online Library Newsletter!
“You wouldn’t believe it but you can now buy Wellington boots for dogs!! I had to buy them for my dog!”
Great New Books coming to The Library!!
Well, that is the end of this month’s Library Newsletter!
Is there anything else that you would like to see in The Online Library Newsletter? If you have any contributions, queries or great ideas please email: ltaylor@oakspark.redbridge.sch.uk
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