Book of the Week 22nd May 2026

Junior Book Groups for summer reading – just launched!

This week I’m highlighting the launch of our Third and Fourth Form book groups.  Each term we encourage teachers and librarians to offer a book of their choice to these year groups. Students sign up and are given a book to read during the long holiday with a follow-up one off book discussion held the following term. The latest list has just been launched and the 29 books range across fiction and non-fiction, from fantasy to sci-fi, maths and chess to espionage and physics. The titles include classic literature as well as shorter more accessible books so that we offer something for a wide range of interests and reading abilities. This is a hugely enjoyable aspect of my role as a School Librarian as I enjoy the conversations with students and staff alike about reading choices. Six Y11 students were offered the chance to lead one of the groups and they were delighted with the opportunity and their personal book choices further strengthened and diversified our list.

Parents are also emailed about the Book Groups which we hope furthers the reading conversations and encouragement at home.

Here is the latest list of books offered over the summer holiday for a follow-up discussion in September. For more reading inspiration see Summer 2026 I Lent 2026  I Michaelmas 2025

Book of the Week 15th May 2026

If you’re looking for either quality fiction or non-fiction reading recommendations then the Women’s Prize Shortlists are the perfect choice. The fiction shortlist was announced on 22nd April and the non-fiction shortlist on 13th May. The winners of both prizes will be announced on 11th June.

What will you read first? Drop into the library to browse the shortlist displays. We have copies of book club favourite, The Correspondent by Virginia Evans.

Revealing the 2026 Women’s Prize for Fiction Shortlist – Women’s Prize : Women’s Prize

The full fiction shortlist in alphabetical order by author surname is:

• Flashlight by Susan Choi
• Dominion by Addie E. Citchens
• The Correspondent by Virginia Evans
• The Mercy Step by Marcia Hutchinson
• Kingfisher by Rozie Kelly
• Heart the Lover by Lily King

Revealing the 2026 Women’s Prize for Non-Fiction Shortlist – Women’s Prize : Women’s Prize

 

The Non-fiction full shortlist in alphabetical order by author surname is:

• The Finest Hotel in Kabul: A People’s History of Afghanistan by Lyse Doucet
• Art Cure: The Science of How the Arts Transform Our Health by Daisy Fancourt
• Artists, Siblings, Visionaries: The lives and loves of Gwen and Augustus John by Judith Mackrell
• Hotel Exile: Paris in the Shadow of War by Jane Rogoyska
• Mother Mary Comes to Me by Arundhati Roy
• Nation of Strangers: Rebuilding Home in the 21st Century by Ece Temelkuran

Book of the Week 8th May 2026

Demon Slayer by Koyoharu Gotouge (14+)

In the library we have a small but growing collection of Manga.

Many of the series have been recommended by our students and groups of students are often seen propping up the Manga cube, browsing the books together. We have a Work Experience Y10 student with us this week and Amelie has written a short review of the first book in the ‘Demon Slayer’ series.

I’d absolutely recommend Demon Slayer if you are into magic! From the first page it hooks you in. A brother returning home to find his family dead; his sister now a demon. All he wants is to protect her. Despite the fighting, there is always an undertone of love, which is pretty wholesome.10/10.  I also really enjoyed the ‘My Hero Academia’ manga which I read previously. 

Manga are really popular with fans of anime and are quick to read with lengthy series to fuel enjoyment!

Book of the Week 1st May 2026

Sarah Crossan is one of our most popular YA authors over many years. Her verse novel format is quick to read and has an immediacy which many of our students really enjoy.

Her latest YA verse novel is a twisty, page-turning thriller.

Connie Ryder is snatched from her home in the middle of the night and taken to Silver Lake Academy – a remote, high-security facility for ‘troubled’ teens.

The surrounding wilderness makes escape impossible, and when Connie learns she’s sleeping in the bed of a missing girl, she is drawn into a chilling web of secrets and lies…

Sarah Crossan has written many and varied verse novels – from ‘One’ the story of teen conjoined twins going to school for the first time and navigating friendships and growing up to –  ‘Where the heart should be’ set in Ireland in 1846 at the height of the Irish potato famine. Her YA verse novels range from historical fiction to moving coming-of-age stories and there is something for everyone in her back catalogue!

• Gloria Don’t Speak by Lucy Apps (Weatherglass Books)
• Paradiso 17 by Hannah Lillith Assadi (4th Estate, HarperCollins Publishers UK)
• Moderation by Elaine Castillo (Atlantic Books)
• Flashlight by Susan Choi (Jonathan Cape, Vintage, Penguin Random House UK)
• Dominion by Addie E. Citchens (Europa Editions UK)
• The Benefactors by Wendy Erskine (Sceptre, Hodder & Stoughton, Hachette UK)
• The Correspondent by Virginia Evans (Michael Joseph, Penguin Random House UK)
• The Mercy Step by Marcia Hutchinson (Cassava Republic Press)
• The Others by Sheena Kalayil (Fly on the Wall Press)
• Kingfisher by Rozie Kelly (Saraband)
• Heart the Lover by Lily King (Canongate)
• Audition by Katie Kitamura (Fern Press, Vintage, Penguin Random House UK)
• A Guardian and a Thief by Megha Majumdar (Scribner, Simon & Schuster UK)
• Wild Dark Shore by Charlotte McConaghy (Canongate)
• The Best of Everything by Kit de Waal (Tinder Press, Headline Publishing Group, Hachette UK)
• A Beast Slinks Towards Beijing by Alice Evelyn Yang (Dead Ink)

We’re very happy to see that our latest Wellington College Community Book Club read has been longlisted. I loved ‘The Correspondent’ by Virginia Evans and felt a real wrench when I finished it and had to leave Sybil Van Antwerp’s company.

In other book news the Nero Book Award selected their book of the year. The Gold Award for 2025 went to debut author from Windsor, Claire Lynch. A Family Matter – Claire Lynch – Nero Book Awards

A Family Matter by Claire Lynch

A mother following her heart, a father with the law on his side, a child caught in the middle – an unputdownable debut about a family torn apart by secrets, prejudice and their own best intentions – for fans of Claire Keegan and Louise Kennedy.

Here’s a reminder of the category winners

You can read a review here

Book of the Week 27th February 2026

 

 

 

We had a very enjoyable visit from Ms Oliver’s Third Form English class. They chose holiday reading and chatted to me about books. Elyssa loved reading an old favourite, written in 1970 which still resonates today. The coming-of-age novel had a big revival with the 2023 film version. The book was in the top 100 censored and challenged books in the USA in the 1990s and 2000s due to its frank discussion of periods and its depiction of a child choosing which religion she wanted to belong to.

 

 

Book of the Week 6th February 2026

Holly Jackson’s YA thrillers have many fans here and her first novel for adults has been eagerly anticipated. ‘Not Quite Dead Yet’ is a twisty page-turner which our students are gripped by and tell us is unputdownable!

Jet has 7 days to solve her own murder!

 

 

 

 

 

 

This slight but affecting novel was a particular favourite of the Wellington Community Book Club. It evoked the time and place of the setting brilliantly and we experience the exhaustion, tedium and drudgery of Thomas’s life as a shrimp harvester in a visceral way. The real sense of danger and mystery is palpable and the reader finds themselves desperate for things to work out for Thomas, a stoical protagonist with creativity and passion for a more fulfilling life.

Thomas lives in Longferry, working his grandpa’s trade as a shanker. Rising early, he heads to the gloomy beach and scrapes for shrimp, though, at heart, he is a folk musician. When a striking visitor turns up, promising Hollywood glamour, Thomas is shaken from his drudgery. But how truthful is the American, and how far can his inspiration carry Thomas?

Book of the Week 9th January 2026

Strange Pictures by Uketsu

I came across this unique and unsettling crime novel on the Waterstones website as it was shortlisted for the Waterstones Book of the Year. A book to race through at one sitting and get those powers of detection activated!

This is a Japanese murder mystery horror bestseller from the Youtube sensation Uketsu. An eerie and macabre reading experience which invites the reader to find clues in nine strange pictures to solve the murder.

 

Looking forward to reading Strange Houses next!

LHA

Powerless by Lauren Roberts

This has been a hugely popular trilogy and the books are available in the library!

Book of the Week 21st November 2025

Here’s a gentle Japanese novel recommended by Anna Gray, our Assistant Librarian.

‘Days at the Morisaki Bookshop’ by Satoshi Yagisawa

If you’re feeling a bit stressed at this point in term, you should enter the placid world of the Morisaki bookshop, a cosy second-hand book emporium in Tokyo.

When Takako discovers that her boyfriend is marrying someone else, she quits her job and moves to her uncle’s bookshop, where she occupies a cramped room on the second floor. Encouraged by regular customers and tempted by titles she recognises from high school, Takako embarks on a journey of healing, slowly mending her broken heart. Things take a turn however, when her uncle’s estranged wife reappears – can the odd bookshop family be knitted back together again?

Days at the Morisaki Bookshop is a charming and cosy novella, perfect for reading when life has got you feeling down. It’s sweet, not particularly complicated, and with characters in which you can see yourself. Takako struggles with expressing her feelings and is thrown off balance by events she cannot control; her urge to hide away is something we can all understand.

A gentle book for when you need to be gentle with yourself.

Book of the Week 14th November 2025

This week’s recommendation comes from Daniel, one of our DofE library volunteers. It’s a twisty, suspense-filled thriller and a perfect winter read! Available from the library now, along with Holly Jackson’s whole repertoire.

‘Five Survive’ by Holly Jackson

Simon, Arthur, Red, Reyna, Maddy and Oliver are all travelling to Gulf Shores from Philadelphia for spring break when they get lost in the middle of the night. Everything starts to spiral out of control. Their phones lose all service and their SUV breaks down in the middle of nowhere, however that rapidly becomes the least of their concerns when they notice that they are being watched. When they notice … they are being hunted.

The story is told from the perspective of Red, who’s quiet and keeps to herself. As the night unfolds, secrets begin to surface, and the group starts to fall apart. The pressure builds with every chapter, and it becomes clear that someone knows more than they’re letting on. Each character is realistic and flawed, the finger is pointed at almost everyone, as the danger turns from outside to in.

The suspense filled chapters contribute to the building climax and heightening anticipation for the readers. Late twists and sudden revelations leave readers on the edge of their seats. Holly Jackson skilfully leads you to think you have it all figured out when, in reality, the truth lies far from your assumptions.

Book of the Week 7th November 2025

This endearing graphic novel is recommended by Assistant Librarian, Anna Gray.

‘Pumpkinheads’ by Rainbow Rowell and illustrated by Faith Erin Hicks

Deja and Josiah are seasonal best friends. Every autumn throughout high school they’ve worked together at a local pumpkin patch, selling s’mores and managing corn mazes. This time is different – they’re in their final year, and it’s their final shift. Deja simply won’t allow Josiah to mope the night away. She’s got a plan to see it all, try every snack, and finally get Josiah to ask out the girl he’s had a crush on these past 3 years!

What could possibly go wrong?

This funny and tender story teaches us about leaving places and people behind. Charming, very cute, and perfect for autumn, ‘Pumpkinheads’ is a richly-coloured adventure that will warm your heart.

Book of the Week 10th October 2025

This week is Banned Books Week and we’re celebrating the Freedom to Read. Banned Books Week was initiated in 1982 to raises awareness of censorship of books. Censorship of reading is becoming increasingly prevalent in the USA and books are being withdrawn from school and public libraries. It is starting to be seen in the UK with parents objecting to books on school reading lists. Here is an article describing one recent challenge: Budmouth Academy drops The Hate U Give from Year 10 reading list – BBC News.

Here are the Top Ten Most Challenged Books of 2024 in America.

Legendary Star Trek actor, author and activist, George Takei has been named as Honorary Chair of Banned Books Week 2025. You can borrow his moving graphic novel ‘They called us enemy’.

From the Banned Books Week website:

His award-winning New York Times bestseller They Called Us Enemy (Top Shelf Productions, 2019) uses both words and images to depict Mr. Takei’s childhood as one of 125,000 Japanese Americans imprisoned in concentration camps by the U.S. government during World War II. This graphic memoir has been targeted by censors multiple times since publication, most recently in Monroe County School District in Tennessee, where it was among nearly 600 titles removed in an attempt to comply with the state’s vaguely-worded Age-Appropriate Materials Act.  

 

 

 

Book of the Week 3rd October 2025

On 1st October the Royal Society Book Prize winner was announced as:

‘Our Brains, Our Selves: What a neurologist’s Patients Taught him about the Brain’ by Masud Husain

This book will appeal to anyone interested in neuroscience and psychology. The book recounts the stories of seven of Masud’s patients and is described as ‘masterful storytelling infused with scholarship and cutting-edge science’. The writing is reminiscent of Oliver Sacks.

READ MORE HERE

Available to borrow from the library now, along with the other 5 shortlisted books.

If you are studying IB Psychology don’t miss the extensive collection of books available from the Psychology Department Library too!

Book of the Week 26th September 2025

This week we’re highlighting the 6 books shortlisted for the Royal Society Trivedi Book Prize 2025. As always this collection is eclectic and engaging.

There is something for everyone here from – music to natural history, neuroscience to manufacturing and sustainability. The Forbidden Garden of Leningrad by Simon Parkin is described as meticulously researched, ‘a powerful and deeply moving work of historical nonfiction that tells the extraordinary true story of a group of Soviet botanists who risked—and in many cases, gave—their lives to protect the world’s first seed bank during the Nazi siege of Leningrad in World War II.’

 

What will you read first? Be quick as the winner is announced on 1st October.

Visit the library where you can also winners and shortlisted titles from previous years!

• Ends of the Earth: Journeys to the Polar Regions in Search of Life, the Cosmos, and our Future by Neil Shubin
• Music as Medicine: How We Can Harness its Therapeutic Power
  by Daniel Levitin
• Our Brains, Our Selves: What a Neurologist’s Patients Taught Him About the Brain by Masud Husain
• The Forbidden Garden of Leningrad: A True Story of Science and Sacrifice in a City under Siege by Simon Parkin
• Vanished: An Unnatural History of Extinction by Sadiah Qureshi
• Your Life is Manufactured: How We Make Things, Why it Matters and How We Can Do It Better by Tim Minshall

Book of the Week 19th September 2025

This week’s recommendation comes from our Assistant Librarian, Anna Gray. This beautifully written novella is one of our books for discussion at the next community Book Club. A big thank you to our Library Assistant Dee Varcoe for introducing us to the writing of Carys Davies. Many of us have loved ‘West’ and ‘The Mission House’ by Davies too.

‘Clear’ by Carys Davies

Impoverished minister John Ferguson is desperate to raise funds for his congregation, and so takes on the temporary – and morally dubious – job of factoring for a wealthy landowner. Sent to an island north of Scotland, John becomes a tool of the Clearances, the mass evictions of the rural Scottish poor to make way for sheep farming. His task is to evict the sole inhabitant, Ivar, with whom he cannot communicate. When an accident sees him dependent on Ivar’s care, the two begin to build a connection that cannot possibly last. As the days go by and Ivar becomes ever more attached to John, the latter begins to dread the moment his true motives become clear…

 

Clear is a wonderful novella, and this is first and foremost through its use of language. The writing is positively lyrical and extremely atmospheric, creating a rich image of wildness and isolation at the edge of the world. The weaving in of the now-extinct Norn, Ivar’s language, assists our understanding of the island. As John learns the words for the myriad weather patterns and plants and birds, so does the reader. The author’s inclusion of a glossary at the end is a wonderful touch. The plot is unhurried but has an underlying sense of unease. As John and Ivar grow closer and their understanding of each other grows greater, the continued omission of John’s purpose in coming to the island casts a lengthening shadow.

Book of the Week 12th September 2025

For the past 17 years, the library has sent a book to each new Third Former to read over the summer break. This is intended as an enjoyable read over the long summer holiday. We agonise long and hard over our choice, trying to find a book to appeal to boys and girls, to keen and less keen readers and a novel with an intriguing plot and engaging characters. We also hope it will prompt some lively book chats in Tutor Groups and library induction.

This year we sent ‘No Fixed Address’ by Susin Nielsen. It’s a funny, touching story which is quick to read.

I heard some enthusiastic responses to it during induction sessions by  house. From many comments it was clear that this novel really did open eyes to the problems of homelessness and encourage empathy in the reader. Some of the new students have asked for other books by Nielsen as a result of reading this one.

Here are some of the comments on ‘No Fixed Address’

It was an interesting book which shows people what it can be like to hide things from your friends. And how in the end they will understand, since they are your friends. It is also a book which shows you that everything might not be how it seems. His friends did not know that he was living in a van. They might have suspected but they did not know.

I found the book very engaging and hard to put down. It was interesting to learn more about people who are homeless and how they become homeless. It was a good story line that took unexpected paths, for example when it turned out Felix could not get the money. I thought Felix’s character and environment were interesting.

It had many turns of events throughout the story but who doesn’t love a happy ending?

‘No Fixed Address’ made me feel a mix of emotions, from happy to even sometimes quite understanding and emotional which made it such a engaging read. It taught me to value the things that I have and look out for my fellow peers and friends if they are struggling like Winnie and Jack did for their friend in need. Overall I loved this book and I hope that I can enjoy more of Susin Neilsen’s books in the future.

It was quite interesting but I don’t normally read those types of books.

I thought the plot was well-developed and I really enjoyed the style of writing.

I thought it was quite relevant and important because it highlighted the importance of being aware of homelessness and how to not judge a book by its cover.

I like the twist at the end.

I really enjoyed the book, it was paced very nicely and the ending was unique compared to many books I have read.

It was a very good book and I enjoyed it  more than most books because i liked the main character Felix.

It was a really nice book. I think it gave us a perspective on other people in the world who might not be able to access everything others can.

I thought it was very interesting and it bought to light the fact that not everyone in the world is as fortunate as ourselves. Although I was already aware of poverty, ‘No Fixed Address’ really developed my understanding of the topic. On a positive note, it was witty, page turning and enthralling.

I really enjoyed it, however it was a little boring at the start. As the book went on I understood it better and I was starting to get into it. I liked how engaging it was and how it was relatable to some people our age which made it more interesting.

I thought it was a good book, but it wasn’t my preferred type of book, as I prefer fantasy or mystery.

I enjoyed the book, however I found it quite an easy read and finished it in two days. The book was funny, and heartfelt, and was written in a relatable and realistic style. Overall a nice read.

Book of the Week 5th September 2025

It was lovely to meet all our new students from Third Form to Lower 6th at Library induction on Monday. We took the opportunity to chat about favourite books and gather up some recommendations to share with others.

The Third Form shared an eclectic list ranging from classics to graphic novels and film-tie ins.

Looking for a good weekend read? Why not try one from this wide-ranging list?

 

Third Form Favourite Reads

• Scythe trilogy by Neal Shusterman
• Cherub by Robert Muchamore
• Born a crime by Trevor Noah
• Powerless and Fearless by Lauren Roberts
• Noughts and Crosses by Malorie Blackman
• The Housemaid by Freida McFadden
• Skulduggery Pleasant books by Derek Landy
• One of us is lying by Karen MacManus
• The Art of Winning by Dan Carter
• Heartstopper graphic novel series by Alice Oseman
• And then there were none by Agatha Christie
• Murder on the Orient Express by Agatha Christie
• Elsewhere by Gabrielle Zevin
• Klara and the Sun by Kazuo Ishiguro
• Lord of the Flies by William Golding
• Sarah Crossan’s books including ‘One’
• Windrush Child by Benjamin Zephaniah
• Nineteen Eighty Four by George Orwell
• Animal Farm by George Orwell
• Everything everything by Nicola Yoon
• Fever Pitch by Nick Hornby
• Chinese Cinderella by Adeline Yen Mah
• Inheritance Games by Jennifer Lynn Barnes
• The Silent Patient by Alex Michaelides
• Good Girl’s Guide to Murder by Holly Jackson
• The curious incident of the dog in the nighttime by Mark Haddon
• The boy at the top of the mountain by John Boyne
• The boy in the striped pyjamas by John Boyne
• The Boxer by Nikesh Shukla
• The Outsiders by S.E. Hinton
• The catcher in the rye by J.D. Salinger
• Night by Eli Wiesel

Perennial favourite series were mentioned and interestingly watching the films didn’t put the students off reading these books:

• The Hunger Games by Suzanne Collins
• Maze Runner by James Dashner
• Divergent by Veronica Roth
• Gone by Michael Grant

Book of the Week 20th June 2025

This week’s recommendation comes from Assistant Librarian Miss Gray. It’s a slim sci-fi graphic novel with beautiful artwork.

The Hard Switch by Owen Pomery

Book of the Week 13th June 2025

Do/

This week I have a series to recommend to you. On Saturday 21st June we are holding our Wellbeing Festival and the library will be transformed into a bustling ‘Maker Space’ with the opportunity for students to  get together informally over badge making, origami, converting old books into hedgehogs, mindful colouring, painting stones and learning to tie knots. Millie, the cocker spaniel will be visiting with Mrs Jones from Academic Support. The Do series of books link in well with this session of  craft, creativity and trying new things in a relaxed, sociable setting.

 

A series of short attractive books called ‘Do’ seem very fitting for this occasion. This series is intended to inspire action and positive change. Thought-provoking and perfect for dipping into they are wide-ranging in their coverage from Do Grow: Start with 10 simple vegetables to Do Present: How to give a talk and be heard. I’ve been enjoying reading Do Interesting: notice collect, share. There is also a more substantial book, ‘The book of do: A manual for living’.

Why not have a browse of our collection and you might learn something new and be motivated to do it!

To read more about this series visit The DO Lectures.

 

Book of the Week 6th June 2025

At the latest meeting of Wellington Community Book Club we had a lively discussion of our two chosen books (Horse by Geraldine Brooks and Three Days in June by Anne Tyler) then we tried to agree on two books to read over the summer. One is still to be decided but many of us were keen to read Florence Knapp’s ‘The Names’.

This debut novel has been receiving high praise from many quarters and ‘The Observer’ describes it as ‘The most devastating book you will read this year’.

The Observer goes on to summarise the scenario:

… It starts with a simple premise: Cora is reminded by her husband, Gordon, to register the birth of their new son while he is at work.

So Cora goes to the registrar’s office with their nine-year-old daughter Maia and the baby boy. There she has a decision to make: should she name the baby Gordon, following her husband’s family tradition; should she choose Julian, the name she loves; or should she follow the whims of Maia and go for Bear, which the little girl thinks “sounds all soft and cuddly and kind… but also, brave and strong”?

From there the story divides. The novel follows this family along three paths, each section jumping ahead a few years and showing what happens when the boy is named Bear, Julian and Gordon.

Read the full review here

Book of the Week 23rd May 2025

This week’s book recommendation comes from Lucas, one of our Third Form DoE volunteers. He’s a huge fan of this series, described as a fast-paced techno-military-thriller and it’s highly topical as it has an AI theme too!

‘The Monroe Doctrine’ by James Rosone and Miranda Watson

This is book one in a series of 9. It describes a near-future scenario where China is pitted against the USA in WW3. The 9 books are great for binge-reading, with engaging plots following major characters. It is a must read for History students or anyone interested in current-affairs.

 

 

 

 

Book of the Week 16th May 2025

Here’s a fiction recommendation from Rehaan (DofE volunteer)

Keeper of the Lost Cities by Shannon Messenger

‘Keeper of the Lost Cities’ by Shannon Messenger is a fast-paced action book with twists and turns on every page. The story is focused around a telepathic girl called Sophie Foster who uncovers a hidden world and secrets hidden, never intended to be found.  Over the course of the book, Sophie learns to fit into a new world, and while uncovering interesting conspiracies, navigates her way around friendships and mysteries. The book will make for an interesting and engaging read that all students will love!

Billed as ‘perfect for fans of Harry Potter there are more adventures to discover in the series! There is also a graphic novel of the book available in the library too.

Book of the Week 9th May 2025

This week’s book recommendation comes from one of our 3rd Form DofE volunteers. ‘The Inheritance Games’ series has been a popular choice of many of our students – here’s a bit more about it:

All the books are available from the library!

Book of the Week 2nd May 2025

This week’s recommendation is a newly published book by one of the most positive and innovative thinkers of our time. Bregman is a historian and writer. Both his previous books ‘Utopia for Realists’ and ‘Humankind’ are available from the library and are highly recommended by many teachers.

‘Moral Ambition’ by Rutger Bregman

The subtitle reads ‘stop wasting your talent and start making a difference’. Bergman argues that it is possible to be both idealistic and successful, and to change the world along the way. He looks at the great change-makers in history and discovers the qualities which made them so influential and effective.

An inspiring and provocative call to make a meaningful difference in our lives!

If you are interested in this subject why not also try Peter Singer’s book ‘The life you can save: how you can play your part in ending world poverty’. (also available from the library).

Book of the Week 25th April 2025

‘Conclave’ by Robert Harris

What could be a more apt book for our current times? Robert Harris wrote ‘Conclave’ in 2016 after extensive research into the Pope selection process. The master of historical fiction, this is a fascinating insight into Conclave, with plenty of drama and a great twist. It’s a highly readable thriller. Why not read the book before watching the film?

Harris effectively evokes the claustrophobic atmosphere of the sequestered group of aging Cardinals and highlights the tensions between groups of Cardinals based on their locations and theology – cliques are formed and re-formed to reach a consensus on who will become the next the Pope.

The eagerly awaiting Women’s Prize for Non-Fiction Shortlist 2025 has just been announced.

This list of 6 diverse and inspirational books is available from the library now.

According to The Independent: Science, nature, and power feature in works shedding light on ‘human condition’

The 2025 shortlisted titles for the Women’s Prize for Non-Fiction are as follows (alphabetical by author surname):

• A Thousand Threads by Neneh Cherry (published by Fern Press, Vintage, Penguin Random House)
• The Story of a Heart by Rachel Clarke (published by Abacus, Little, Brown Book Group, Hachette)
• Raising Hare by Chloe Dalton (published by Canongate Books)
• Agent Zo: The Untold Story of Courageous WW2 Resistance Fighter Elżbieta Zawacka by Clare Mulley (published by Weidenfeld & Nicolson, Orion Publishing Group, Hachette)
• What the Wild Sea Can Be: The Future of the World’s Ocean by Helen Scales (published by Grove Press, Atlantic Books)
• Private Revolutions: Coming of Age in a New China by Yuan Yang (published by Bloomsbury Circus, Bloomsbury Publishing)

I loved listening to ‘Raising Hare’ and  ‘The Story of a Heart’ and look forward to reading the others.

More about the books here

 

 

 

 

 

Book of the Week 21st March 2025

This year’s Carnegies Shortlists have recently been announced. All the shortlisted titles are available from the library and represent the very best writing and illustration for children and young people. Each year we are treated to a diverse range of exciting reading for teens – perfect for holiday reading!

The illustration prize enables us to expand our collection of picture books which are hugely popular with our staff families. However, the illustration shortlist is not limited to illustrated books for the very young and this year includes a graphic novel ‘Homebody’. Homebody by  Theo Parish (14+ readers) is the heartwarming story of Theo discovering how to live life on their own terms.

The Carnegies are the UK’s longest running and best-loved children’s book awards, recognising outstanding reading experiences created through writing and illustration in books for children and young people. The Carnegie Medal for Writing is awarded by children’s librarians for an outstanding book written in English for children and young people. The Carnegie Medal for Illustration is awarded by children’s librarians for an outstanding book in terms of illustration for children and young people.

Browse the 8 Shortlisted Books for the Carnegie Medal for Writing here

and the 8 Shortlisted Books for the Carnegie Medal for Illustration here

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Book of the Week 14th March 2025

This week’s recommendation comes from our DofE library volunteer Marina. Although not new, in fact it was published in 2018; her choice has been hugely popular with staff and students alike as well as meeting high praise from the book world over recent years. If you haven’t read it why not borrow it from the library today!

‘Normal People’ by Sally Rooney

‘Normal People’ by Sally Rooney is a great book. It tells the story of the complex relationship between two Irish students named Marianne and Connell; it follows them from the end of high school onto Trinity University. It starts in the West of Ireland when they start a relationship when Connell picks up his mum from her job working as a cleaner at Marianne’s house, they keep their relationship a secret due to their contrasting social statuses within school. Marianne is a loner and is regarded as a weirdo while Connell is the captain of the football team and popular with a large group of friends. A year later though, everything is very different at university and Marianne is regarded as the popular one while Connell is the reclusive weirdo. Throughout their college education they are drawn to each other like magnets but just as easily repel, constantly circling each other before straying off to other relationships.  Overall I believe ‘Normal People’ is a truly good book and a must read with so many good quotes and moments.

Book of the Week 7th March 2025

On Thursday 6th March we celebrated World Book Day with a Drop Everything and Listen session during P1. I thoroughly enjoyed reading an excerpt of Beryl Markham’s biography ‘West with the Night’ and my group of 6 Third Formers listened attentively. Hard to comprehend any person setting off solo in a tiny plane in 1936 heavily weighted down with extra fuel tanks strapped to the wings, in uncertain weather, freezing cold for 21 hours with no radio contact or electronic instruments just a torch and protractor to maintain her course across the Atlantic from Oxford aiming for New York.

I loved World Book Day as it prompted so many book chats with students and colleagues. Many staff and students joined in with our Book Title Emoji Trail too.

Here are some of our current student favourite fiction titles:

 

Book of the Week 28th February 2025

Our new DofE library volunteer, Max B, (Third Form) is a keen reader. Here’s his review of a book he recently read and enjoyed:

The Shadow of the Wind by Carlos Ruiz Zafón

Book of the Week 14th February 2025

Women’s Prize for Non-Fiction Longlist 2025

On 12th February, the Women’s Prize for Non-Fiction 2025 longlist was announced. These 16 books showcase the very best of women’s non-fiction writing from the past year in a diverse range or styles and disciplines. Research has shown that women’s non-fiction writing is underrepresented in book prizes and research has also indicated that men read less non-fiction written by women. The prize was set up to redress the balance.

For my Third and Fourth Form reading group offering next term I have chosen an optimistic, engaging and well-researched non-fiction title on sustainability and the climate: Not the end of the world: How We Can Be the First Generation to Build a Sustainable Planet by Hannah Ritchie.

 

 

The website elaborates:

with authors drawn from a wide range of professional spheres and expertise, including a music icon, human rights lawyer, political adviser, marine biologist, NHS palliative care doctor and Pulitzer Prize winner.

Here is the longlist:

• Autocracy, Inc.: The Dictators Who Want to Run the World by Anne Applebaum
• Embers of the Hands: Hidden Histories of the Viking Age by Eleanor Barraclough
• The Eagle and the Hart: The Tragedy of Richard II and Henry IV by Helen Castor
• A Thousand Threads by Neneh Cherry
• The Story of a Heart by Rachel Clarke
• Raising Hare by Chloe Dalton
• Ootlin by Jenni Fagan
• Why Fish Don’t Exist: A Story of Loss, Love and the Hidden Order of Life by Lulu Miller
• Agent Zo: The Untold Story of Fearless WW2 Resistance Fighter Elżbieta Zawacka by Clare Mulley
• By the Fire We Carry: The Generations-Long Fight for Justice on Native Land by Rebecca Nagle
• Wild Thing: A Life of Paul Gauguin by Sue Prideaux
• What the Wild Sea Can Be: The Future of the World’s Ocean by Helen Scales
• The Peepshow: The Murders at 10 Rillington Place by Kate Summerscale
• Sister in Law: Fighting for Justice in a System Designed by Men by Harriet Wistrich
• Tracker by Alexis Wright
• Private Revolutions: Coming of Age in a New China by Yuan Yang

The books will be available from the library after half-term. We already have two compelling and poignant reads available and I can highly recommend ‘Raising Hare’ and ‘The Story of a Heart’.

Last year’s inaugural non-fiction prize was won by Naomi Klein with ‘Doppelganger’. (available from the library now!).

 

Book of the Week 7th February 2025

This week’s book suggestion comes from our new DofE volunteer, Daniel. The perfect read for fans of Harry Potter and fantasy novels. Winner of Waterstones Book of the Year 2023.

‘Impossible Creatures’ by Katherine Rundell

Impossible Creatures is an enchanting tale that whisks readers away to a magical world brimming with adventure. Rundell is a brilliant storyteller and this book is no exception. A book for young minds to wonder the what ifs. With frequent plot twists, how the tale will end is completely unpredictable. This fast paced, gripping adventure novel is a must read. Prepare to be taken in to the magical kingdom where this book is set and discover what it will take to save it.

However, fans will have to wait until September for the sequel of this planned trilogy. ‘The Poisoned King’ is due to be published on 11th September 2025.

 

 

 

Book of the Week 31st January 2025

This week’s recommendation comes from our Assistant Librarian, Anna Gray. She writes:

Anyone looking for something quick to read that will absolutely grab your heartstrings whilst simultaneously soothing the eyes should check out Sheets. And do it quickly, before I borrow it again!

Sheets by Brenna Thummler

13-year-old Marjorie Glatt goes through the world like a ghost. When she’s not handling rude customers at the family laundry business, she’s surviving awful P.E. lessons and school bullies. On top of all this, local businessman Mr Saubertuck is becoming increasingly aggressive in his attempts to take over the family property.

Enter Wendell, a ghost. Having died far too early, his existence is an unhappy mixture of death therapy and a forbidden urge to return to the human world. When he begins to haunt Glatt’s Laundry, Marjorie must overcome inexplicable disasters to save what she’s been working so hard to maintain…

The very first thing to say is that Sheets features consistently gorgeous art. Every page is something to be savoured and the image in every panel is carefully chosen and portrayed. The style is whimsical and expressive; the colour palette is a delicious array of pastel pinks and blue, interspersed with vibrant greens and yellows. The hazy colours are combined with intricate illustrations make for a dreamlike atmosphere and highlight the contrast within this story of life and death.

The story handles grief delicately, which is a real strength. At times quite sad, Sheets moves between being charming and heartbreaking, as Marjorie increasingly struggles to stay afloat in the wake of Wendell’s interference. The story itself is ultimately heartwarming, and perfect for cosying up in our current chilly weather. Two little snags did stand out to me though. I thought the pacing was uneven, veering from very slow at the beginning to quite rapid near the end. Anyone who has read previous reviews of mine knows that I don’t mind slow pacing, and I thought it felt appropriate here as a way of highlighting the sluggish nature of Marjorie’s daily life, but I think we could have done with more of a build up to the finale. I also felt that the antagonist was overly cartoonish and villainous, but that’s a matter of personal taste.

Book of the Week 24th January 2025

YA author, John Green, remains a perennial favourite with our students. Most famous for his poignant and romantic, ‘The fault in our Stars’, Maya, in the Third Form, also recommends, ‘An abundance of Katherines’.  She presented her book review in the form of an intriguing poem.

The novel tells the story of Colin Singleton, a teenage prodigy who has been dumped by nineteen girls named Katherine. He embarks on a road trip of self-discovery with his best friend Hassan and tries to use a mathematical theory to divine his romantic future.

Why not pick up a John Green novel from the library before weekend leave? We have print copies, e-books and An Abundance of Katherines, Paper Towns and Looking for Alaska to listen to on our Wheeler’s eplatform.

 

 

Book of the Week 17th January 2025

Nero Book Awards

On 14th January 20025 the Nero Category Award Winners were announced. With the sad demise of the Costa Book Awards, Cafe Nero stepped in to fill this book prize void in a similar format. One notable omission is a category prize for Poetry.

The award aims to celebrate the craft of great writing and the joy of reading.

The Award’s mission is to point readers of all ages and interests in the direction of outstanding books and writers.

There are categories for:

• Fiction
• Debut Fiction
• Non-Fiction
• Children’s Fiction

Each category has a shortlist of 4 books written by authors based in the UK and Ireland.

The Award culminates in an overall winner of the Gold Prize Book of the Year. This will be announced on 5th March 2025.

 

 

 

 

We are huge fans of Sophie Elmhirst’s narrative non-fiction account of ‘Maurice and Maralyn’ and look forward to reading the other category winners.

Here’s a reminder of my thoughts on ‘Maurice and Maralyn’

Book of the Week 10th January 2025

‘Raising Hare’ by Chloe Dalton

‘Imagine holding a baby hare and bottle feeding it. Imagine it living under your roof, drumming on your duvet to attract your attention. Imagine the adult hare, over two years later, sleeping in the house by day, running freely in the fields by night and raising leverets of its own in your garden. This happened to me.’

Raising Hare tells the story of the unusual experience of raising a leveret to adulthood and beyond. Drawing from the extraordinary opportunity of observing a hare at close quarters in a relationship of trust – as it comes and goes freely from the wild – it is an appeal for better understanding, appreciation and protection for hares wherever they are found.

This book is the perfect antidote to doomscrolling and the often demoralising news which bombards us online on a daily basis. I found the abridged BBC Sounds Book of the Week audiobook particularly soothing.

Fascinating and unsentimental this unusual memoir urges the reader or listener to explore more about these intriguing creatures.

BBC Radio 4 – Raising Hare by Chloe Dalton 

(5 episodes of 15 minutes) or borrow the book from the library.

 

Book of the Week November 29th 2024

This week’s book recommendation is a series of graphic novels loved by our Assistant Librarian Anna Gray.

Lore Olympus by Rachel Smythe

Experience a powerhouse in the world of visual storytelling – Lore Olympus is a stylish rendition of one of mythology’s greatest stories as it’s never been told before. The recipient of three Eisner awards, the series has been viewed more than a billion times (yes, really!) in its original form on Webtoons. Now that the online version has been locked behind daily passes, enjoy the story again for free with the print copies we have in the library.

Modern and visually stunning, we follow the tumultuous relationship between Hades, the god of the Underworld, and Persephone, a young goddess of spring. Set in a world that blends ancient myth with contemporary aesthetics, the story explores themes of love, power, trauma, and self-discovery, all rendered in Rachel Smythe’s expressive art style.

This comic series is a delightfully gossipy soap opera, filled with drama and a large cast for you to indulge in, and the art makes the modern setting into a vibrant candy-land.

Do you like drama? A will-they-won’t-they romance with lots of mutual pining? What about high fashion and fast cars?  Lore Olympus is for you.

Book of the Week 22nd November 2024

This week’s review comes from our regular retired reviewer Mr Ray Smith (Drum Corps Legend). He’s a real fan of Robert Harris and has reviewed Harris’ latest book ‘Precipice’.

Precipice by Robert Harris

 

I thoroughly enjoyed the abridged Book of the Week audiobook version of Precipice on BBC Sounds. A good option if you’re short of time – fascinating and compelling and as Ray says, immerses you in the attitudes and behaviour of the time. (Lucy Atherton).

BBC Radio 4 – Precipice by Robert Harris, Episode One

Book of the Week 15th November 2024

This year’s Booker Prize winner was announced on Tuesday 12th November. Samantha Harvey has become the first woman to win the prestigious literary prize since 2019. The Wellington Community Book Club met last night and we’ve chosen to read ‘Orbital’ over the Christmas break and discuss it at our January meeting.

Everything you need to know about Orbital by Samantha Harvey, winner of the Booker Prize 2024 | The Booker Prizes

Six astronauts and cosmonauts – from America, Russia, Italy, the UK and Japan – rotate in the International Space Station. They are there to do vital work, but slowly they begin to wonder: what is life without Earth? What is Earth without humanity? 

Together, as they travel at speeds of over 17,000 miles per hour, they watch their silent blue planet, circling it 16 times in a single day, spinning past continents, and cycling through seasons, taking in glaciers and deserts, the peaks of mountains and the swells of oceans. 

Books of the Week 8th November 2024

As we approach Remembrance Sunday and Armistice Day, I have two recommendations of poignant novels set during and after World War I.

‘In Memoriam’ by Alice Winn and ‘A month in the country’ by J.L. Carr

‘In Memoriam” won  the Waterstones Debut Fiction Prize 2023 and was awarded Waterstones Novel of the Year in the same year.

Winn recounts the devastating love story between two soldiers in the First World War. Gaunt and Ellwood are remarkably well drawn – we experience their pain and emotions in an immersive way. The young men are torn from their privileged public school surroundings to the horrors of the trenches. This unforgettable story is both intimate and sweeping.

This is a novel to resonate with the younger generation of today – vividly drawing the horrors of war and the agony of forbidden love.

Author Alice Winn went to school at Marlborough College and much of the school life and experiences are based on Marlborough. As we remember all who gave their lives in World War I, walking around the quads at Wellington College and reading the VC citations and the honour boards it has new meaning and impact after reading ‘In Memoriam’.

‘A Month in the Country’ by J.L. Carr is set in 1920. Tom Birkin, a survivor of the First World War is left damaged by his horrifying memories of the trenches and a facial twitch from exposure to gas at the Battle of Passchendaele. He finds peace and recovery in a rural church in Oxgodby in Yorkshire where he is given the job of uncovering a medieval wall-painting. Written from the perspective of Birkin looking back to a time of contentment and calm,  effectively an interlude and escape from his real life, this short novel (around 100 pages) evokes a sense of place and peace. Birkin lives in the church in a spartan, frugal way and shares moments of connection and mugs of tea with Moon, an archaeologist working nearby and a fellow veteran of the war. Birkin’s interactions with the local residents contain humour and levity – the North-South divide is in evidence as is the Church-Chapel division. Carr masterfully draws the reader into Birkin’s experiences of these few months – our senses are awakened to the countryside as he experiences it and the days stretch out for us as the painting is slowly revealed and Tom’s time in Oxgodby must inevitably come to an end.

In addition, if you, like me, enjoy learning from a novel my knowledge of church architecture and art history were certainly enhanced and revived by this slim book. Perfect for an e-book where you can instantly check definitions in the dictionary feature!

Book of the week, 11th October 2024

If you enjoyed ‘The Curious Incident of the Dog in the night-time’ by Mark Haddon you may well like the following recommendation from 3rd Former Shriyaa. Here’s her review:

 

‘Smart’ by Kim Slater

Smart is a Young adult novel about a neuro-diverse boy, Kieran, with a strong interest in art. He gets pulled into a web of mystery when he finds a homeless old man murdered, leading to him finding truths about his own family. It deals with topics such as domestic abuse and violence, but in a simple and humorous way. A very easy, moving read.

 

 

If you want to read on in this style why not try the following two books?

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

This year’s Black History Month theme is ‘Reclaiming Narratives’ and who better to exemplify this than award-winning, and much-loved author, Malorie Blackman. As a child growing up in London, Blackman was an avid and precocious reader, spending all the hours she could reading and borrowing books from her local public libraries. In her funny, candid and moving biography ‘Just Sayin’: My life in words’ she recounts that she didn’t see people like her in any of the novels and stories she read; Black people were not represented at all as protagonists. If she did encounter any Black characters they were not central to the plot or portrayed as stereotypes.

 

Book Recommendations 20th September 2024

We thoroughly enjoy hosting a range of student led societies in the library. Our longstanding regulars are Med Soc, Fem Soc and Law Soc. Being in the library means we can show them the relevant collections of books as well as providing a current awareness bulletin on their subjects.

Law Soc: To support aspiring lawyers of all ages I’ve just bought a selection of books by the Secret Barrister – a perennial favourite. We can’t keep up with demand for these! The Secret Barrister, an anonymous practitioner, writes honest accounts of the challenges facing our criminal law system. Browse more reading suggestions for law here.

For Med Soc we have a variety of memoirs of doctors as well as Adam Kay’s books, graphic history of Medicine and many more. Browse the library padlets for a visual reading list here.

Fem Soc have a rapidly expanding collection too. Browse here for more suggestions on gender, identity and feminism and a celebration of women’s lives through inspirational biographies and autobiographies. Here for Masculinity (padlet.com)

A couple of recommendations are Caroline Criado-Perez award winning book ‘Invisible Women’ and ‘The Authority Gap’ by Mary Ann Sieghart.

Including non-fiction books on the subject of masculinity and fiction featuring positive male role models or exploring themes of toxic masculinity. Notably Grayson Perry’s ‘The Descent of Man’ and Robert Webb’s memoir ‘How not to be a boy’.

Book of the Week 13th September 2024

Assistant Librarian Miss Gray is always on the look out for new series to add to our expanding manga collection. If you are new to manga why not give one a try? Many of our students enjoy watching anime and come to the manga book series after this.

She enjoyed a recent addition ‘Insomniacs After School’ Vol. 1 by Makoto Ojiro.

Here’s her review:

Ganta cannot fall asleep at night. Grumpy and tired, he goes looking for a place to nap at school, and stumbles across fellow insomniac Isaki who is hiding out in the old school observatory. The school allows them to use the space – as long as they revive the school’s astronomy club. Follow along with Isaki and Ganta as they become closer, learn about the cosmos, and while away their sleepless nights.

I very much enjoyed the first instalment of Insomniacs After School. It’s heartwarming in a simple kind of way, with a noticeable chemistry of sorts between the two main characters. The characters are cute and relatable, and I thought they were rather charming. They also didn’t feel overexaggerated, as can sometimes be the case with manga. A small detail that I also enjoyed was that Isaki also has a good rapport with her friends, who feel like people rather than filler or background decoration.

I also think that the exploration of insomnia is done well, not just as a physical ailment but as a metaphor for feeling out of place in the world. The manga portrays insomnia in a way that’s tender and relatable. Both characters are thoughtfully developed, and their shared experiences make their connection feel genuine and heartwarming. Ojiro also ties insomnia to the kind of concerns often seen in coming-of-age stories. Ganta’s insomnia makes him irritable and keeps him socially isolated, while Isaki is terrified that her friends and family will discover that she is different from a ‘normal’ teenager.

An element that I thought was excellent – but might not sit well with other readers – is the extremely slow pacing. To me this felt very natural as our two leads hardly know each other at this point, and this contributed to the gentle, relaxing feeling of the manga. There are many silent landscapes or setting panels, and the dialogue is relatively minimal and realistic. Ojiro also excels at portraying moments of quiet reflection and contemplation, giving the story a serene and introspective quality.

The art style is a real strength of this manga. It’s cute yet semi-realistic, and it feels quite natural with great facial expressions. The background illustrations capture the quiet, nighttime atmosphere, balancing serene landscapes with moments of emotional intensity. The detailed drawings of the night sky, the observatory, and the characters’ subtle expressions contribute to the slightly melancholic yet soothing tone that permeates the story.

Ultimately, Insomniacs After School is a touching coming-of-age story that deftly blends themes of loneliness, connection, and finding solace in shared experiences. It’s a must-read for fans of slice-of-life manga who appreciate emotionally resonant stories with a gentle, reflective tone.

 

YA Book Prize Shortlist

This week the eagerly anticipated YA Book Prize 2024 shortlist was announced.

Perfect timing for some exciting reading options for the summer holidays.

All the books are available to borrow from the library.

You can read the first chapter of each of the shortlisted books and learn more about the authors here

The winner is announced on 22nd August at the Edinburgh International Book Festival

 

Book of the Week: 14th June 2024

On 13th June the Women’s Prize announced the winner of the 2024 Women’s Prize for Fiction and the results of the inaugural Women’s Prize for Non-Fiction. Both shortlists are available from the library. Why not borrow some for the summer holidays?

Brotherless Night by V. V. Ganeshananthan is the 29th winner of the Women’s Prize for Fiction. This beautifully written story follows Sashi, a sixteen-year-old aspiring doctor, growing up in Jaffna in the 1980s. Her close family is torn apart by the onset of civil war. Brotherless Night vividly and compassionately centres itself around erased and marginalised stories – Tamil women, students, teachers, ordinary civilians – exploring the moral nuances of violence and terrorism against a backdrop of oppression and exile.

I’m currently listening to the audiobook of ‘Brotherless Night’, a moving and compelling novel. I heard is described as ‘didactic fiction’ which is an apt description as the reader learns so much about the history and politics of Sri Lanka through the story.

Doppelganger: A Trip into the Mirror World by Naomi Klein is the inaugural winner of the Women’s Prize for Non-Fiction. The book shines a light on the shadow world of social media – where facts are malleable, disinformation is prevalent and conspiracy theories abound – Klein captures the absurdities and dangers of the modern age, on a personal, social and political level. Doppelganger prompts us to rethink the moment we’re in, to reject fixed ideas about each other, and to forge a path to a more cohesive, inclusive and stable future.

We have a good selection of Naomi Klein’s books available in the library.

 

 

Book of the Week: 7th June 2024

Here is a book review and recommendation from Joseph in the 3rd Form. He wrote this book report for Geography.

I recommend Tim Marshall’s book “The Future of Geography”. It explores the intriguing link between geopolitics and space exploration.

Synopsis:

Marshall examines how space exploration will impact our globe in this perceptive study. He presents the idea of “astropolitics”, highlighting the fact that space has its own unique topography and key points. The historical relevance of space exploration and its influence on human history are emphasised in the book.

Principal Ideas:

• Space Territoriality (003 – 081): From Earth’s low orbit to the mineral-rich Moon, Marshall addresses the territorial claims and ramifications of celestial bodies.
• Superpowers and Technologies (081 – 189): He looks at the space technologies of the USA, China, and Russia, among other important players.
• Space Issues (189 – 281): Concerns regarding solar flares, insufficient space treaties, and the necessity of international cooperation are brought up by Marshall.

Cautionary Tale:

The book is full of anticipation for the journey ahead, but it also contains a warning. Marshall highlights how space geopolitics has an immediate impact on Earth. There are ramifications for us on Earth from what occurs in space.

Final Words:

Our future is still being shaped by the allure of space exploration. In order to effectively traverse this new frontier, responsible governance, transparency, and cooperation must come first. In conclusion, “The Future of Geography” offers an insightful viewpoint on how power relationships in space will affect the future of humanity.

Overall score: Definitely 10/10, compelling, crystal clear.

Book of the Week: 17th May 2024

Thieves’ Gambit by Kayvion Lewis

This YA thriller has been widely recommended to me across the range from 6th Formers down to 3rd Form. Next Wednesday a group of keen 3rd and 4th Form readers are going to come together at break in the library for an informal Book Chat. I have some weekend reading to do to finish it and I’m looking forward to hearing their thoughts.

It’s a heist novel with a crack mother and daughter team of jewel thieves as the protagonists. The ideal book for Hunger Games fans and more recently ‘The Inheritance Games’ series.

 

Book of the Week: 9th May 2024

Maurice and Maralyn: A Whale, a Shipwreck, a Love Story by Sophie Elmhirst

 

Book of the Week: 3rd May 2024

This week’s recommendation comes from Ray Smith, a recently published title in the hugely popular World War II John Russell spy thriller series.

‘Union Station’ by David Downing

Book of the Week: 25th April 2024

Assistant Librarian, Anna Gray is a big fan of Manga and we’ve valued her recommendations to grow our fledgling collection. They are popular with our students across the 13-18 age range. Here’s a recommendation of one she recently enjoyed:

Orange by Ichigo Takano

Book of the Week: 19th April 2024

This week’s book recommendation comes from Mr Wells in the Maths Department. An avid reader and champion of the library. Mr Wells recently enjoyed:

Happiness Falls by Angie Kim

 

 

Book of the Week: 15th March 2024

I was recently asked to recommend a book for teenagers with a Science Fiction theme. I immediately thought of Emily St. John Mandel’s 2014 novel, Station Eleven, written in pre-pandemic times but which is an immersive and prescient story which has stayed with me. If not specifically Sci Fi in the traditional sense it was certainly futuristic when it was published and remains thought-provoking and philosophical for our times. If you like more science in your Sci Fi then I highly recommend Andy Weir’s The Martian and ‘Project Hail Mary’. What better time to read the ‘Dune’ books too?

Station Eleven by Emily St. John Mandel

‘Survival is Insufficient’ (Star Trek)

A compelling dystopian story of humanity struggling to survive after a global disaster. Published in 2014, it is pre-Covid, and yet foresees a virulent strain of flu devastating the world. Set in Canada, a band of actor-musicians, known as the Travelling Symphony, roam the wastelands, performing to small pockets of survivors they encounter.

This novel rewards the reader with an atmospheric, tense plot, maintaining interest in a wide array of characters, many interconnected, over a period of years, skipping from pre-Pandemic times to Year Twenty. An exploration of the comfort and civilising aspects of art and the human desire to do more than simply survive.

There are additional reading recommendations for young people on the themes of Science Fiction and AI in The Week Independent Schools Guide below:

The Week Independent Schools Guide, Spring/Summer 2024 | The Week UK

Isabel Greenberg’s Glass Town: The Imaginary World of the Brontes

There used to be four Bronte siblings; then Branwell, Anne and Emily die within 9 months of each other and Charlotte is left alone. Drowning in her grief, she revisits the fantasy world that they had created together: Glass Town.

Greenberg’s novel flows easily between fictional and biographical elements of the Bronte’s story, unpicking the intricate relationships of the siblings, and within their world. As we travel deeper into Glass Town, parallels between the characters and their creators begin to emerge, and the battle between the characters of Zamorna and Charles mirror Charlotte Bronte’s struggle within herself.

The art style is marvellous – the hand-drawn, almost scribbled nature, reflects the subject of childhood imagination – and the moody colour palette suits a book that is sad and a little haunting. At times the drawing was contrarily reminiscent of Kate Beaton’s Hark! A Vagrant!, a series of satirical comics about people from history, which heightened the expressive nature of the plot.

Glass Town sweeps you away with its unique combination of fantasy and tragedy presented in a beautifully illustrated style.

Book of the Week: 23rd February 2024

We now have the newly updated (October 2023) edition of Andy Cope’s, ‘The Art of Being a brilliant teenager’ in the library.

An accessible, quirky book for teenagers to dip into or read in its entirety. Unashamedly positive and upbeat and as the blurb states:

‘ Expect the unexpected! Bring an open mind and a sense of humour.’

This book shows you how to:

• Tap into your resilience, positivity and confidence
• Learn how to get out of your own way
• Create great habits that will last a lifetime
• Un-learn bad habits
• Calm your mind, reduce your anxiety, STEP UP
• Create a positive ripple effect

Book of the Week: 2nd February 2024

This week’s recommendation is a  BBC2 ‘Between the Covers’ book club pick and a recent read by Rebecca Park, Head of Global Citizenship and CAS Coordinator.

‘Devil’s Breath’ by Jill Johnson

A quirky novel, that if I am honest took me a couple of chapters to hook me in, but after that there was no turning back. The central character, Eustacia Rose, grows on you as she blooms during the story (all puns intended!), developing from a rigid, eccentric and reclusive Professor of Botanical Toxicology into a more open individual who not only wants to protect her secret garden of poisonous plants but also a neighbour. As second to her love of toxic plants, is watching her local neighbourhood closely through her telescope. An incident locally that features a plant toxin has Professor Rose not only a suspect, but also a keen amateur investigator….

I would not want to spoil the story any further as I think this is one best to go in without much detail, just to say that I found this book a great read and want to know more about Professor Rose and the next adventure. There was a helpful glossary at the back for those without green fingers which I found both useful and interesting, who knew there were so many toxic plants and house plants in suburban Berkshire?

Book of the Week: 26th January 2024

This week’s recommendation comes from Library Assistant, Dee Varcoe:

‘The Bee Sting’ by Paul Murray

This Booker prize short-listed novel is an account of a family in meltdown after the economic crash in Ireland. It concentrates on each member of the Barnes family in turn, giving readers a series of intimate portraits, which could almost be standalone books in their own right. Each character has a distinctive narrative voice and I found Imelda’s stream-of-consciousness, with little to no punctuation, particularly interesting.

Each member of the family is embroiled in their own bad situation and yet they cling to others, who only escalate the dismal state of affairs. Throw in lots of life problems, such as a lack of money, confusion and denial over sexual feelings, and faltering friendships and the novel freefalls into even greater complexity. Yet despite all this tragedy, there are moments which are very funny too.

The book comes together with an astonishing end, leaving the reader with questions. The well-drawn characters lingered with me, with thoughts about what happens to people who forgo being their true selves in order to meet society’s expectations.

Possibly my top read of 2023?

Book of the Week: 19th January 2024

This week’s recommendation is a newly published non-fiction title, now available in the library. A book to bring a positive message on sustainability. Ritchie provides an optimist’s guide to the climate crisis with chapters on air pollution, climate change, deforestation, food, biodiversity loss, ocean plastics, overfishing. You can read a Guardian newspaper review here.

Not the end of the World: How we can be the first generation to build a sustainable planet by Hannah Ritchie

Dr Ritchie is Senior Researcher in the Programme for Global Development at the University of Oxford. She is also deputy editor and lead researcher on the online publication Our World in Data  which brings together the latest research on the world’s biggest problems including health, energy, plastic pollution, global education, pandemics and child mortality.

If you are looking for more hopeful non-fiction about the future of the world and humanity, Hans Rosling‘s book ‘Factfulness’ and Dutch historian, Rutger Bregman’s books are good options. Bregman’s ‘Utopia for Realists’ and ‘Humankind: A hopeful history’ are available from the library now.

Book of the Week: 12th January 2024

Our first recommendation of the new year is ‘The Wager’ by David Grann.

This gripping historical non-fiction book was longlisted for the Baillie-Gifford Prize for Non-Fiction 2023. With a subtitle to hook the most recalcitrant non-fiction reader: ‘a tale of shipwreck, mutiny and murder’, it is a fine example of narrative non-fiction. This is a thriller based on true events where everything that can go wrong at sea did go wrong. The book is filled with fascinating detail of life at sea and is meticulously researched using ships logs and conflicting narratives from the time.

On 28th January 1742, a ramshackle vessel of patched-together wood and cloth washed up on the coast of Brazil. Inside were thirty emaciated men, barely alive, and they had an extraordinary tale to tell. They were survivors of His Majesty’s ship the Wager, a British vessel that had left England in 1740 on a secret mission during an imperial war with Spain. While chasing a Spanish treasure-filled galleon, the Wager was wrecked on a desolate island off the coast of Patagonia. The crew, marooned for months and facing starvation, built the flimsy craft and sailed for more than a hundred days, traversing 2,500 miles of storm-wracked seas. They were greeted as heroes.

Then, six months later, another, even more decrepit, craft landed on the coast of Chile. This boat contained just three castaways and they had a very different story to tell. The thirty sailors who landed in Brazil were not heroes – they were mutineers. The first group responded with counter-charges of their own, of a tyrannical and murderous captain and his henchmen. While stranded on the island the crew had fallen into anarchy, with warring factions fighting for dominion over the barren wilderness. As accusations of treachery and murder flew, the Admiralty convened a court martial to determine who was telling the truth. The stakes were life-and-death—for whomever the court found guilty could hang. (Summary from the Baillie-Gifford Prize website)

You can read a glowing Guardian review here

Short of time? You can listen to an abridged version of the book on BBC Sounds. (10 episodes of 15 minutes, available for the next 30 days).

Book of the Week: 24th November 2023

This week saw Ed Yong announced as the winner of the 2023 Royal Society Science Book Prize for ‘An Immense World: How Animal Senses Reveal the Hidden Realms Around Us.

The judges described the book as a ‘fascinating journey of discovery, illustrating the senses and appealing to the imagination through an exploration of evolution, behavioural science, physics and neuroscience.

The Royal Society website describes the book as follows: ‘An Immense World’ takes readers through the fascinating and complex dimensions of the animal kingdom and “majesty of nature”, revealing the multisensory ways in which animals experience the world around them. The book immerses the reader in the “sensory bubbles” they inhabit and unveils remarkable “superpowers”, such as the echolocation of dolphins, who experience sound as three-dimensional; bird species’ use of the Earth’s magnetic field for navigation; and the ultraviolet vision of bees, who see patterns on flowers imperceptible to the human eye. Yong’s vivid storytelling shows us the humbling limitations of human perception; yet highlights that our ability to understand the senses of other species – to “step into their worlds” – is in itself our “greatest sensory skill”.

Yong’s earlier well-researched and accessible book, ‘I contain multitudes’ was shortlisted for the Science Book Prize in 2017. Both books are available from the library along with the shortlisted titles.

Book of the Week 20th October 2023

We’ve recently seen a revived interest in Agatha Christie novels. For many this is the epitome of comfort reading. Christie’s winning crime formula is loved by many and the numerous Marple and Poirot films and dramatisations fuel interest.

For Christie fans who have exhausted her extensive repertoire, we suggest the Sophie Hannah Hercule Poirot mysteries: The Mystery of Three Quarters’ (2019), ‘The Monogram Murders’ (2014) and ‘Closed Casket’ (2017).

We also have Lucy Worsley’s recent biography – ‘Agatha Christie: A very elusive woman’ available in the library and her 3 part series was fascinating:

BBC iPlayer – Agatha Christie: Lucy Worsley on the Mystery Queen

A life as dramatic as her work. Lucy Worsley discovers the origins of Agatha Christie’s macabre magic – and with some compelling characters, uncovers carefully concealed secrets.

This week’s Book of the Week is recommended by one of our DoE 3^rd form volunteers and is one of the top-selling books of all time.

‘And then there were none’ by Agatha Christie

Recently I finished Agatha Christie’s ‘And Then There Were None’. I really enjoyed this book; it was full of mystery and suspense, with a beautifully crafted plot. I always enjoy how Agatha Christie bends the formula of murder mysteries, but I particularly enjoyed how she does this in this novel, making the ending unexpected and ingenious. Overall, I recommend this book for anyone who loves a fast-paced, mystery packed and slightly disturbing novel.

 

Book of the Week 13th October 2023

This week I want to share a thoughtful and interesting talk, given by Ella (L6th), to our 4th Form students, to encourage them to think about Black History. She described the ‘Noughts and Crosses’ series by Malorie Blackman, the impact it had on her, and how it spurred her to learn more about Black people in history who have not had the acknowledgement they deserve.

We also have Malorie Blackman’s biography ‘Just Sayin’: My Life in Words’ available from the library and ‘Race to the Frozen North: The Matthew Henson Story’ by Catherine Johnson if you would like to read on.

Ella: I’m going to talk a little bit about Malorie Blackman, who is an author of Young Adult fiction, as I am sure that many of you will know. Some of her books that I have read are Pig Heart Boy, Boys Don’t Cry, and the Noughts and Crosses collection – all of which handle interesting and quite heavy topics like the ethics of animal organ transplants, teenage fatherhood and racial discrimination.

‘Noughts and Crosses’, for those who haven’t read it, is set in a world where the position of white and black people is reversed and put back about 100 years. Black people are Crosses and white people are noughts. It follows the story of two young people, Callum and Sephy, divided by race, but who struggle against injustice to be together.

Although the whole book was fascinating and really highlights the injustice that still remains in society, there was one particular scene that stuck out for me. In this scene, Callum, a nought boy who is one of the few allowed access to the Cross schools, is in a history lesson where he answers a series of questions from his teacher.

For example, he answers that Matthew Henson first discovered the North Pole, that Garret Morgan developed the modern day traffic light as well as an early version of the gas mask, and that Dr Daniel Hale Williams was the first to perform successful open heart surgery. Although this might appear to be a relatively normal history lesson, in the author’s note at the end, Malorie Blackman states that she never learned about any of these figures while she was in school, and instead only learned about achievements of white individuals.

 

She gives the specific example of the North Pole: it was co-discovered in 1909 by Robert E Peary and Matthew Henson, but as a student she was only ever taught about Robert E Peary, who was white, and not Matthew Henson, who was African American.

After reading Malorie Blackman’s note, I set myself the task of memorising all of the figures mentioned in the scene and digging deeper into their history. For me, learning about these forgotten figures and committing them to memory meant that at least in my study of history, they had not been erased.

Of course, inclusion in education has improved dramatically since Malorie Blackman was a student, and also since 2001, when Noughts and Crosses was written, which demonstrates both the progress already made and is also inspiring for the progress that our generation can achieve in the future.

This is something to which each of us can contribute. This month I urge you to seek out and learn, celebrate and share stories.

Because by doing this, you yourself are rewriting the narrative and allowing their legacy to live on.

 

Book of the Week 5th October 2023

As every October, we are celebrating Black History Month. One of the themes this year is ‘Saluting our Sisters’ so I’ve chosen to highlight a YA historical novel on a little known female poet:

‘Hang a thousand trees with ribbons’ by Ann Rinaldi

This beautifully written and well researched novel tells the story of Phillis Wheatley. Born in 1753, Phillis was seized from Senegal when she was around 7 years old. She was sold as a slave to the wealthy Wheatley family in Boston. Phillis was clever and keen to learn and the family taught her to read and write. Soon she was immersed in British literature, the Bible, Greek and Latin texts along with geography and history. It was discovered that Phillis had a talent for poetry and she was expected to perform for eminent guests. She was sent to England and her work was the first published book of poetry by an African American woman. Despite her fame and the pride the Wheatley’s took in Phillis’s success she was only freed from slavery 3 months before her mistress died in 1774. This imagining of her short life is an engaging and moving account.

You can read some of her poetry on this link Phillis Wheatley | Poetry Foundation

Book of the Week 29th September 2023

Ms Purcell from the EDI and Social Responsibility Office recommends:

‘The Miseducation of Cameron Post’ by Emily M. Danforth

The Miseducation of Cameron Post is a queer coming of age novel, set in rural Montana, USA. It follows recent orphan, Cameron Post, as she struggles to navigate intense feelings for female friends and understand what it means to be queer in a small, religious town. Cameron spends most of her teen years trying to figure out who she really is, whilst denying most of her true feelings. Just when she’s starting to figure it all out her Aunt throws a mega curve-ball and sends her off to a rehabilitation centre.

As someone who also grew up trying to figure themselves out in a very small village with no exposure to queer role models, real life LGBT+ relationships, or education about equality, I related strongly to Cameron and went on quite an emotional journey with her throughout this book. It really inspires courage and bravery to explore your feelings and live your authentic life, and not just in regards to your sexual identity, but to discovering and embracing all your values and passions.

Book of the Week 22nd September 2023

‘People Like Us’ by Louise Fein

Recommended by Ray Smith. Still avidly reading in retirement.

‘People Like Us’ is a debut novel by British author Louise Fein. Set in Nazi Germany in the 1930s, it looks through the eyes of a young girl, Hetty, whose father is a Nazi Party activist in Leipzig.

Hetty lives the life of a “true supporter” and fully accepts  her father’s political views.  She is in the female Hitler youth and has a portrait of the Fuhrer on  her bedroom wall.

Her belief and morals however are challenged when she is confronted by her affections towards a young Jewish boy.

The book is an excellent portrayal of the period and is unique in the way it sees the world through Hetty’s eyes. All the characters are strongly portrayed including her school friends who  are an integral part of the story.

In my opinion this is an important book for any current young person to read. It covers difficult and challenging topics which are handled with both sensitivity and honesty, often leaving the reader thinking how they would have dealt with similar situations.

As a first book by Louise Fein this  is an excellent  novel, I look forward to what the future will present from this author.

Book of the Week 15th September 2023

Assistant Librarian, Anna Gray recommended ‘Folk’ by Zoe Gilbert.

Folk by Zoe Gilbert 

Folk is a captivating collection of short stories set on the strange little island of Neverness. They form a portrait of a superstitious community knotted together by ritual, petty rivalries, and a deep connection to the foggy island they inhabit. Myth and magic are simple facts of life on Neverness, and the lives of the characters revolve around pervasive feelings of loneliness, grief and envy.

I found Folk fascinating, with beautiful prose and many different themes to explore thanks to the many stories on offer. I would say that it could feel disjointed at times – the book jumps between many characters, whom we have only just got started to understand before the story ends and suddenly we’re in the mind of their neighbour. Some of the stories were also stronger than others, with my particular favourite being ‘Kite’, where the local tanner attempts to overcome his brother’s death.

 

Book of the Week 26th May 2023

This week’s recommendation comes from History teacher Ms Whitelaw. She proposes:

‘Humankind’ by Rutger Bregman

If you need something hopeful and optimistic about humanity, look no further. Bregman argues against the common consensus that humans are by nature cruel and deceitful, and instead uses examples from history, science and business to argue persuasively that “most people, deep down, are pretty decent”, that humankind is fundamentally good, and that the world is a hopeful place to live.

Available to borrow from the library now! Includes the fascinating story of the real ‘Lord of the Flies’. His second book ‘Utopia for Realists’ is also available in the library.

Book of the Week 19th May 2023

Assistant Librarian Anna Gray and several teachers enjoyed reading:

‘The Chosen’ by Elizabeth Lowry 

Here’s a review by Miss Gray:

On the 27^th November 1912, Emma Hardy dies in the attic bedroom that has been her refuge during a long and difficult marriage to the writer Thomas Hardy. Everyone assumes that Hardy will feel liberated by the death of his wife, but he is utterly shattered, a feeling further compounded when he discovers his wife’s diaries. Titled ‘What I Think of My Husband’, the notebooks overflow with heartbreak and fury, forcing Hardy to confront his behaviour and re-evaluate his life so far.

I enjoyed this book very much. Real life gave Lowry plenty to work with – many have wondered how a woman that Hardy despised so much in life could inspire incredible romantic poetry in death – and Lowry’s writing does the complicated emotions justice. The text was very sad, at times almost bleak, and yet I flew through it. I have to confess that I was experiencing a level of schadenfreude at Hardy’s distress, which I don’t think was what Lowry intended, but it certainly contributed to my enjoyment of the book.

The Chosen is perfect if you want to luxuriate in passages of agonised self-realisation, old memories, and focus on everyday details. Similarly, if you want to feel smug while the main character feels guilty for 300 pages, I’d strongly recommend it.

Book of the Week: 12th May 2023

My current read is Women’s Prize for Fiction Shortlisted novel ‘Black Butterflies’ by Priscilla Morris.

Set in Sarajevo on the cusp of the siege in spring 1992, this beautifully written and haunting story transports us to the increasingly desperate situation of the citizens of Sarajevo. Through the eyes of Zora, an artist and teacher, we watch her life unravel as the violence intensifies and it becomes clear that the siege they hoped would last just a few weeks is going to extend from months to years. The siege lasted from April 1992 to February 1996, a total of 1425 days and the population was at the mercy of the ‘men in the hills’ at risk from snipers and bombs each time they ventured out for food or water. Zora finds solace in her art and forms a close bond with the young daughter of her neighbours, through art sessions with her.

This is a must read for all of us – a story of resilience and hope, exploring the power of art and reminding us of the horror inflicted on a diverse and vibrant society in such recent history. An incredible debut from an author of Yugoslav and Cornish parentage who grew up in London but spent her summers in Sarajevo.

Book of the Week: 5th May 2023

Tim Marshall’s latest book, ‘The Future of Geography’ has just arrived in the library, and is the latest in his series exploring the politics of place. This time, Marshall expands his geopolitical insight to space – how will our current power struggles here be repeated elsewhere, and what will the politics of space mean for those of us on Earth? A fascinating look at space exploration and the legal and political questions it provokes.

You can read an in-depth review HERE

Tim Marshall’s ‘The Power of Geography’ is on the Geography Top Ten reading list, and his books are available from the library.

Marshall is a leading authority on foreign affairs, has spoken at Wellington on his book ‘Prisoners of Geography’, and his books are engaging and informative. A must read for students of politics, economics and geography, science and technology and the interested layperson.

• Prisoners of Geography (ebook also available)
• The Power of Geography (and ebook)
• Divided: Why we’re living in an age of walls (and ebook)
• Worth dying for: The Power and Politics of Flags (and ebook)
• Shadowplay: A memoir from behind the lines and under fire

Book of the Week: 28th April 2023

3rd Form student Nefeli recommends Jessie Burton’s modern feminist re-telling of the myth of Medusa. This beautifully illustrated book has been Shortlisted for the Yoto Carnegie Medal for Writing 2023

Medusa by Jessie Burton

What can I say – Medusa mixed all sorts of biblical beauty in one; the captivating and beautifully arranged change of perspective in viewing what is “the creature who can kill a man with a stare” captures the true astonishment behind the moral of this story. Illustrated with the most magical and eye-catching imagination, as well as the use of Greek terms for relatability, Jessie Burton creates the most beautiful atmosphere through her use of vivid description and imagery of the classic civilization of what living in Ancient Greece was like, making you feel as if you are walking through the pages of this book. While having only the company of the snakes that adorn her head instead of hair, Medusa meets the one who we know of as her murderer, but don’t know what they’ll be as she is distracted by love, desire, and betrayal.

Book of the Week: 21st April 2023

Why not try the short, touching novel we are reading for our Community Book Club in June?

Here’s a short review by our Assistant Librarian, Anna Gray:

The Buddha in the Attic by Julie Otsuka

This is such an unusual and emotionally resonant little book! The Buddha in the Attic tells the story of a group of young Japanese women sent to America to marry men whom they only know through photographs. The book is written from a plural first person perspective, joining these otherwise isolated women into one dream-like narrative. In a continual stream of different voices, Otsuka’s prose seems to wash over you. There is no particular plot, there are no central characters, only waves of ‘picture brides’ connected by the experience of their terrifying journey to America and eventual internment in the 1940s.

Short, touching, and with lyrical prose, this beautiful book is well worth a read!

Here is an additional review from The Guardian

Book of the Week: 10th March 2023

Novelist and podcaster Elizabeth Day has recently published her book on the subject of dealing with failure for teens. This complements her two earlier books ‘How to Fail: Everything I’ve ever learned from things going wrong’ which is a longer memoir giving personal stories of lessons learnt from failing and her shorter – ‘Handbook for when things go wrong’ ‘Failosophy’ both intended for an adult readership.

Day’s book for teens is illustrated and anecdotal – an approachable and engaging guide which can be dipped into or read cover to cover.  ‘Failosophy’ draws on Day’s own and her interviewees’ experiences of when things go wrong and the lessons learnt from these difficult situations. Described as a ‘warm, practical and empowering guide to those moments when things don’t go to plan’. The book encourages teens to talk openly about failure, recognise that failure can lead to success and build resilience for when things don’t go to plan.

You can listen to her podcasts here How To Fail With Elizabeth Day | Podcast on Spotify

Elizabeth Day’s tense, atmospheric psychological thriller ‘Magpie’ is available from the library.

Book of the Week: 24th February 2023

Miss Gray thought this was an absolutely fantastic story! Not to be missed by fans of historical crime novels. Here’s her full review:

‘Daughters of Night’ by Laura  Shepherd-Robinson

It is London in 1782, and for most wealthy patrons the glittering attractions of the Vauxhall Pleasure Gardens distract from the desperation and filth of the rest of the city. Caroline ‘Caro’ Corsham, however, cannot look away when she stumbles across a fatally wounded woman in the bowers of the Garden, even after the authorities decide that the victim was a prostitute and therefore of no further interest. Finding the killer will lead Caro in a maze of betrayal, uncovering a conspiracy that reaches to the top of Georgian society.

The absolute star of the novel is the setting – 18^th Century London has been researched and presented with such atmospheric detail that does not shy away from the unsavoury reality experienced by the majority of Londoners. This is matched by the actions of the antagonists, which have a near-tangible nastiness that leaves a bad taste in the back of your throat.

The two main characters complement each other well. Caro Corsham is angrily determined, idealistic but not entirely naïve, while Peregrine Child (the ‘thieftaker’ she hires to investigate) is morosely resigned and a long-standing resident of London’s underbelly. The secondary characters, too, are compelling, with vibrant personalities and secrets that means the story twists and twines its way around the truth until the very end.

Book of the Week: 3rd February 2023

‘Origins: How the Earth Made Us’ by Lewis Dartnell

We are looking forward to welcoming Professor Lewis Dartnell to Wellington to give a Fireside Talk on Monday 6th February. He is also running problem based workshops for groups of our 4th and 6th Form students.

His latest book ‘Origins’ is available from the Library along with ‘The Knowledge: How to Rebuild our World from Scratch’ which has been enjoyed by our students over the years. ‘Origins’ combines science and history in a compelling and engaging way.

 

Dartnell’s ‘Origins: How the Earth Made Us‘ is a fascinating geographic history that shows how the physical elements of the world have been instrumental in moulding our history and our present. Each chapter follows the influence of a different factor, from the geology of London enabling the first underground passenger railway system to an ancient seabed shaping modern American elections, accompanied by detailed maps. Adeptly covering a great deal of ground, Dartnell’s book provides a sweeping overview of human history as shaped by its surroundings. (A Gray).

If you want to read more in this field why not try ‘Guns, Germs and Steel’ by Jared Diamond or ‘Sapiens: A Brief History of Humankind’ by Yuval Noah Harari (the graphic novel versions are very good too).

‘Unstoppable’ by Dan Freedman

Monday 6th February is an exciting day as we are also welcoming Dan Freedman to give an author talk to our 3rd Form. They have each been given a copy of ‘Unstoppable’ to read in advance.

Here is the first review in:

“Unstoppable by Dan Freedman is an emotionally charged story that explores the often delicate and challenging relationships that everyone experiences. The story follows the protagonists, Kaine and Roxy, on their individual journeys to reach their goals of becoming professional athletes in football and tennis respectively. Despite their greatest efforts, both characters face obstacles and difficulties along the way. With each challenge, we can relate to their struggles in our own lives, whether it is in sports, school, friendships, or family. This book serves as a reminder that even through the toughest of times, it is possible to find the strength within to overcome any adversity.”

Book of the Week: 20th January 2023

Mr Smith recommends Ben Macintyre’s latest book ‘Colditz: Prisoners of the Castle’ as this week’s read. He writes:

Any book by Ben Macintyre has to be taken seriously and this is certainly the case with “Colditz: Prisoners of the castle”

The infamous Colditz castle was used by the Germans in WW2 for allied POWs who had escaped from other camps or who were regarded as high risk. The prison population included French, Polish, Dutch, American and the British, Macintyre has researched each of the nationalities in detail.

Since 1945  Colditz has taken on an air of mystery and intrigue, much of this is due to the accounts of the officers who were incarcerated within its walls. Whilst much of what has been recorded is factual, Macintyre  sheds new light on the reality of life behind the castle walls. Many readers will be surprised at the revelations the author brings out in a comprehensive account.

Many of the prisoners in Colditz have taken on “legendary status” and some became household names.  Macintyre however is critical  of  some of these men and it is difficult to argue against his views if his research is accurate (which I am sure it is!).  Colditz, it seems was a place where class mattered more than camaraderie and for many of the prisoners life was very difficult, not only because of the treatment by their captors but sadly by their senior “Officer ranks” who had authority and command.

The author also reveals many fascinating facts about the German command structure and the way the prison was run on a day-to-day basis.

I found this book very interesting and it has opened my eyes to the reality rather than the myth of how Colditz operated. I recommend it for anyone who is interested in history, I would however be prepared to have your current views and perceptions challenged.

We have all of Macintyre’s books in the library – why not try one?

Book of the Week: 13th January 2023

This term one of our U6th Students has organised a talk by Mark de Rond. We are looking forward to hearing him speak at Wellington College on 18th January and all students are very welcome to attend. To promote professor de Rond’s book to fellow students she has asked her House Master to write a review. You can read Mr Christodoulou’s thoughts below:

There Is an “I” in Team by Mark de Rond

There are mainly two types of people who offer leadership training in business: sports people and military personnel. The key personality traits are performance under pressure and the ability to handle risk.

Sports analogies are all too common in business, however, it is sometimes difficult to understand how world-class teams in the military or sports heighten their performance when under pressure.

Cambridge University professor Mark de Rond‘s book There Is an I in Team explains how prominent sports teams attain high levels of performance and how teams in business can apply these lessons. He argues, wonderfully and sometimes counterintuitively, three fascinating points: first, how if we focus on harmony among team members, it is likely the team’s performance will suffer; personalities must thrive and if joined by a common goal, the team benefits. Second, likability and, by extension, the trust you have in a team member will trump their competence when choosing a team, implying connection, trust, and likeability are deep-seated in one’s personality, whereas competence is trainable. Third, and perhaps my favourite of his findings, most high-performing teams have members whose inner critic is alive and well and this makes them relentless and discontented, which strengthens the ‘I’ in the team and elevates the team’s performance.

A great read!

 

Book of the Week: 16th December 2022

Mr Smith has another crime novel recommendation for us:

Desert star by Michael Connelly

Michael Connelly’s latest novel has all the twists and turns you would expect from a writer at the top of his game.

The novel is set once again in LA and features two of Connelly’s most familiar figures, LAPD Detective Renee Ballard and ex cop Harry Bosch. These two fictional characters have a global following and regular readers of the author will not be disappointed by this book. The plot is centred around three separate murder investigations, the twist however is that they all took place many years ago. Ballard now works for the LAPD “Unsolved Cases Dept” and she bring her old partner Bosch on board as he was working in the LA police force when the cases took place. Connelly brings out the personality of both of the central characters and it is easy to see why so many people read his books.

I thoroughly recommend the book but be careful if you read one Connelly book you may end up reading all 30!

Book of the Week: 2nd December 2022

This week’s Book of the Week is the recently published:

‘The Story of Art Without Men’ by Katy Hessel

Waterstones have just announced this as their Book of the Year 2022.

This long overdue book is a 500 year exploration of art by women, from 1500 to the present day. Beautifully illustrated and engagingly written, it is not exhaustive in its coverage but is described as  ‘A paean to many artists as well as various art forms often overlooked or dismissed, this exciting revisionist history of art turns the spotlight on women artists’ creativity and the way it has shaped and enriched our world’.

How many women artists do you know? Who makes art history? Have your sense of art history overturned, and your eyes opened to many art forms often overlooked or dismissed. From the Cornish coast to Manhattan, Nigeria to Japan, this is the story of art for our times – one with women at its heart, brought together for the first time by the creator of @thegreatwomenartists on instagram.

Book of the Week:  25th November 2022 

This week’s recommendation comes from Nicholas in Y11:

‘Project Hail Mary’ by Andy Weir

It’s not often that you find a book which is thoroughly imaginative while also being scientifically sound. ‘Project Hail Mary’ is one of these books, and it has, over a couple of reads become one of my favourite books on par with ‘The Hitchhiker’s Guide to the Galaxy’ by Douglas Adams. It is truly imaginative, and a gripping read – I’d definitely recommend it to anyone with any interest in space or science!

A lone astronaut must save the earth from disaster in this incredible science-based thriller from bestselling author of The Martian.

All three of Andy Weir’s books are available to borrow from the library. (Artemis and The Martian).

Book of the Week:  18th November 2022 

We are looking forward to welcoming Mary Ann Sieghart to give next Monday’s Fireside Talk and wholeheartedly recommend her book:

The Authority Gap: Why women are still taken less seriously than men, and what we can do about it.

 This fascinating well researched and empowering book ‘Examines the unseen bias in our everyday lives, to reveal the scale of the gap that persists between men and women. Would you believe that female US Supreme Court Justices are interrupted four times more often than their male colleagues…96 per cent of the time by men? Or that British parents, when asked to estimate their children’s IQ, will place their son at 115 and their daughter at 107?

Mary Ann Sieghart provides a wealth of data to expose unconscious bias and provides positive suggestions of how all of us can tackle this problem as partners, parents and colleagues. The book includes interviews with pioneering women such as Mary Beard, Baroness Hale, Bernardine Evaristo, Mary McAleese, Julia Gillard, Dolly Aderton and Pandora Sykes.

If you are looking for another title to complement this, why not try the Royal Society Science Book Prize Winner 2019 – ‘Invisible Women: Exposing data bias in a world designed for men’ by Caroline Criado Perez.

Book of the Week:  11th November 2022 

As we commemorate all those who died in the two world wars and other conflicts we have an apt book recommendation relating to WWI.

‘Line of Fire: Diary of an Unknown Soldier, (August – September 1914) is illustrated by Barroux and introduced by Michael Morpurgo.

You can watch a video of Barroux giving a talk to a school on his graphic novel based on the soldier’s diary here.

In this striking graphic novel adaptation of a 100-year-old diary, the events of the first two months of WWI are told through the eyes of the unknown soldier. This is living history in the form of one man’s story silhouetted against the historical events of 1914 that formed and transformed the world we live in today.

Incredibly, the author/artist Barroux was walking down a street in Paris when he saw the diary on a rubbish heap. The rescued manuscript was then transformed in to this fascinating and moving graphic novel.

Line of Fire – Barroux Illustrates the Diary of an Unknown WWI Soldier

Book of the Week:  14th October 2022

This week’s recommendation comes from Ray Smith, a longstanding member of our Percussion teaching team. He loved Robert Harris’ latest historical novel:

Act of Oblivion   Robert Harris

Robert Harris is an established author who has had a number of novels in the bestselling lists for many years. With his latest book, “Act of Oblivion”, I believe he has produced a classic. The narrative is set in the 17^th century at the time of the Pilgrim Fathers, Puritan fervour and political turmoil.  There are three central characters: Richard Naylor, who is a member of the Privy Council and two Colonels who served with Oliver Cromwell, Edward Whalley and William Goffe.

Naylor is determined to track down the two colonels for their part in the death of Charles I and throughout a fast-paced narrative the reader is taken back and forth from London and New England .

For anyone who is interested in history, especially English history I would suggest this is a “must read”.

Robert Harris, as ever, is incisive in his knowledge of the period and in his portrayal of the various characters in the book.

If you are looking for a page turner this is it!

Book of the Week: 30th September 2022

‘House of Fortune’ by Jessie Burton – Sequel to ‘The Miniaturist’

Recommended and reviewed by our Assistant Librarian, Anna Gray.

I have to begin this review by saying that I loved the previous book; this of course colours my whole perception of ‘House of Fortune’. I know the characters from before, I have a previous standard of plot and ambience that I would like to be met. All this is to say that I opened the book with several opinions already formed.

 

‘House of Fortune’ opens eighteen years after ‘The Miniaturist’, and we get to see what has happened to the remnants of the Brandt family. Over the years the business connections of family have dried up, and we find them clinging onto their house on the prestigious Herengracht, selling the furniture in order to eat. Our main character is Thea Brandt, newly eighteen, and madly (and secretly!) in love with Walter, a set designer at the theatre.  The atmosphere at home is unbearable: her father seems unable to understand that she is no longer a child, and her Aunt Nella thinks of nothing but marrying her off to a rich man. Thea cannot wait to elope but realises her secret is not as well kept as she thinks when a blackmail letter arrives.

The plot of the novel essentially has two strands – Thea’s desire to find the money and marry Walter, and the rest of her family’s need for money and attempts to make a better future for her and themselves. However, I’d say that ‘House of Fortune’ is more character driven than anything else.  We are given a good look at the psyche of each member of the Brandt family, and Burton is more successful here than she is at creating intrigue and suspense, as some of the plot felt a little predictable.

It is also due in part to the fact that the mysterious miniaturist of the first book barely features. On reflection I was deeply disappointed by the way this was done and had honestly rather she’d not been in it at all. It felt confused and I am convinced that Burton’s editors insisted that she be added as a tie-in to the previous novel. In the first book the arrival of a miniature can be threatening or comforting; it can reveal a secret, it can foreshadow, it can provide guidance. They know things that no one could know, and impossibly transform as the plot unfolds. In ‘House of Fortune’ they simply appear, and Thea accepts them as pretty presents. Maybe this was supposed to make the reader tense rather than the characters – given our knowledge of how the miniatures worked previously – but as the miniatures didn’t do anything or seem to influence the plot, I too began to view them as charming trinkets. As they don’t feature at all heavily this by no means spoils the book whilst reading it, but when I started to compile my thoughts for this review I realised the extent to which it had frustrated me.

Having spent a good two hundred words on what I didn’t like, I should discuss what I did, given that overall, I enjoyed the book immensely. This is largely due to Burton’s fantastic character work. The heroine of the first novel, Nella, has had her naivety wrung out of her by eighteen years of buried hopes, social decline, and an ever-greater need for money. She’s pragmatic and spends the novel wrangling opportunity after opportunity for the family, to the point where I became angry on her behalf when Thea, Otto or Cornelia dismissed her. In a fascinating turn of events, she’s become like her sister-in-law, whom she spent much of ‘The Miniaturist’ railing against.

Thea is a fantastic foil for her aunt. She mirrors Nella in the first book with her teenage optimism – Nella arrives in Amsterdam with stars in her eyes after she’s been married off to a wealthy merchant – but where Nella’s realistic tendencies surface quickly, Thea remains headstrong and opinionated. At the beginning of the book she came across as annoyingly spoilt, but as Thea became tangled in blackmail, I empathised with her deeply. She was initially difficult to like, but her character-development was much stronger for it.

Thea’s father Otto is also excellently written. His quiet strength in the first book has become a forceful personality as he tries to navigate early 18^th century Amsterdam as a black man on the fringes of high society. His love for his daughter is wonderful to read, but also heart-breaking as he tries to find her a place in a world that continues to discriminate against them. Much conflict comes from his disagreements with Nella about how best to secure a future for Thea.

‘House of Fortune’ is a strong follow-up to ‘The Miniaturist’. The plot is cohesive and serves as an excellent backdrop for the characters that Burton has created, throwing problems at them that cause them to adapt and evolve. It could probably be read as a stand-alone book, but why would you, when knowledge of the first plot makes the progression of this one even richer?

Book of the Week: 23rd September 2022

‘This is the canon: Decolonize your bookshelf in 50 books’

by Joan Anim-Addo, Deirdre Osborne and Kadija Sesay

This is a fascinating and timely addition to library stock. At a time when many voices are questioning how diverse the UK publishing industry is,  Anim-Addo, Osborne and Sesay have brought us an alternative literary canon. Their list of 50 books is a wide-ranging collection of fiction from around the world; available in English and covering a time span from 1943 to 2019. They celebrate the wide and diverse experiences of people from around the world of all backgrounds and races.

 

From literary giants such as Toni Morrison and Chinua Achebe to less well known (but equally vital) writers such as Caribbean novelist Earl Lovelace or Indigenous Australian author Tony Birch, the novels recommended here are in turn haunting and lyrical; innovative and inspiring; edgy and poignant. 

A thought-provoking book, it challenges us to embark on ‘a reading journey like no other’. Information is provided on both the book and author and there is a useful: ‘If you like this, try…’ for each title.

This is an ideal book to dip into, share with your book club or discuss with your families. How many of the 50 have you read?

The authors also suggest ways of becoming a literary activist and helping break away from a reading monoculture.

Why not:

• Join a reading group
• Support independent publishers and bookshops
• Experience new writers
• Attend literary events and festivals

 

Book of the Week 9th September 2022

On 25th August at the Edinburgh International Book Festival the YA Book Prize Winner for 2022 was announced. Adiba Jaigirdar won it for her novel ‘Hani and Ishu’s guide to fake dating.

You can read an extract here or borrow it from the library along with the other 9 shortlisted titles. Our Assistant Librarian Miss Gray enjoyed it a great deal. Here’s her review:

‘Hani and Ishu’s guide to fake dating by Adiba Jaigirdar

When popular girl Hani Khan comes out as bisexual to her friends, they invalidate her by saying that she can’t be bi if she’s only gone out with guys. In a panic, Hani states that she’s dating the first girl she can think of, the heavily academic Ishu. They’re complete opposites, but Ishu agrees to pretend to date Hani, if Hani will help her become popular enough to be elected Head Girl. When real feelings start do develop, will Hani and Ishu get their happily ever after?

There was a lot to love about this story. Hani and Ishu are such well-written characters, and the chapters that alternate between their viewpoints really allow us to understand them and their places in the world. They both have excellent individual arcs as well as the main romantic plot: Hani stops being so much of a people-pleaser, and Ishu learns to handle parental expectations and what she wants for herself. The family relationships in the story are also a real strong point for the book – I was really rooting for Ishu’s relationship with her older sister, and Hani’s loving family was adorable and helped balance some of the heavier aspects of the book. Jaigirdar weaves islamophobia, toxic friendship and cultural rejection through the fluffy romance. Hani’s friends are truly awful and I was so glad when she finally got rid of them!

I had only one issue, which was the pacing. The fake-dating-to-real-feelings progressed a little too quickly for my taste – I’d have liked some more mutual pining to deepen the sense of angst later in the book. Still, it’s a very cute and readable story, that I read in a matter of hours. I’d strongly recommend it.

Book of the Week – 17th June 2022

To celebrate Pride Month we have a display of LGBTQ books in the library which celebrate diversity, tolerance and inclusion. There is fiction featuring LGBTQ protagonists, memoirs and books on the history of the Pride movement. New to library stock is ‘Queer up: An uplifting guide to LGBTQ+ love, life and mental health’ by Alexis Caught. More LGBT book recommendations on the library padlet.

Described as: A positive and uplifting book for young people who are queer or curious – and their allies looking to support them. In this empowering book, award-winning podcaster Alexis Caught sets out to help queer and curious teenagers explore their LGBTQ+ identity and understanding. Alongside the author’s personal experiences are first-hand stories from notable LGBTQ+ figures, providing an inclusive account of what it means to grow up queer. With chapters on questioning, coming out, friends and family, love, shame, pride and allyship and a useful section on resources and support services, this insightful, thoughtful and reassuring book is essential reading for any questioning teen and their allies looking to support them.

Book of the Week – 10th June 2022

‘Wild Swans’ by Jung Chang

The lively and informal Wellington Community Book Club met yesterday in the Library. We chose two books for the summer break, to discuss at our September meeting.

‘Wild Swans’ by Jung Chang was proposed as a holiday read. An excellent suggestion as we have time to absorb its 650 pages during the long summer break. Many of us have read this award-winning memoir and are looking forward to a re-read.

This is Jung Chang’s family memoir – through the lives of three generations of women, this book tells the story of 20th-century China. Beginning with the author’s grandmother in 1924, continuing with the experiences of the mother and finishing with the daughter who grew up during the Cultural Revolution.

Wild Swans has been translated into 37 languages and sold 13 million copies, receiving praise from authors such as J. G. Ballard and Martin Amis. I’m planning to listen to the audiobook so have over 27 hours of enthralling listening ahead of me. It is also on the Mandarin list of Top Ten Reads. You can read a review here.

Continuing the historical theme we are also reading ‘The Secret River’ by Kate Grenville. This historical novel follows the life of William Thornhill, an early 19th Century waterman in London, living in desperate poverty with his family, who is transported to Australia for theft. The story explores what might have happened when Europeans colonised land already inhabited by Aboriginal people. This novel features on the Big Jubilee Read.

Book of the Week May 27th 2022

Assistant Librarian, Anna Gray, recommends thrilling YA debut fantasy and Tik Tok hit ‘Legendborn’.

‘Legendborn’ by Tracy Deonn

Bree Matthews is sixteen when her mother dies in an accident. Looking for a way out of the constraints of her small town, she leaps at the chance to go on a residential program hosted by a nearby college, only to witness a magical attack on her first night! Confronted with the knowledge that magic is real and interacting with mages that try (and fail) to wipe her memory, she realises that her mother’s death was not as straightforward as it first appeared…

This wonderfully-layered fantasy story is must-read for anyone who enjoys wizards, demons, and elements of Arthurian legend, but it has real strength in other areas. Deonn’s portrayal of grief in her main character is incredibly well done, as is the character development. She also doesn’t shy away from the racism and generational trauma that Bree has to contend with as a Black girl attending a prestigious North Carolina university. Remnants of history are all around and Deonn ties these – including the legacy of slavery – into her magical world and her take on Arthurian legend. I personally found this to be considerably better than other fantasy books that skirt around the sources of power and wealth of their historical figures.

The only thing that I didn’t enjoy so much was the love-triangle our heroine ends up in.  Anyone who reads fantasy has come across many a good boy/bad boy dilemma and I, for one, am getting a little tired of it. Still it’s a popular trope for a reason, and Deonn makes both characters likeable and the end result is not immediately obvious.

Fans can look forward to the sequel, ‘Bloodmarked’ in November 2022.

Book of the Week 12th May 2022

Just arrived in the library is the newly published book by Jim Al-Khalili ‘The Joy of Science’. Quantum physicist, New York Times bestselling author and host of BBC’s ‘A Life Scientific’ reveals how 8 lessons from the heart of science can help us get the most out of life. Short lessons are presented to help ‘unlock the clarity, empowerment, and joy of thinking and living a little more scientifically’. This beautiful, rainbow covered book encourages us to think critically, recognize our own biases and not value opinion over evidence. Al-Khalili urges us all to remain curious – his advice to young people thinking of going into the life scientific (Article in the New Scientist from March 2022) is ‘All children are curious, they ask all the why questions. Most people, when they grow up to adulthood, stop asking the why questions. To be a scientist, you never lose that childlike curiosity about the world. If that’s the sort of person you think you are, if that’s what gets you going, being curious about the world, then you’re already a scientist.’

Here is more information on the Big Jubilee Read.

Book of the Week 11th March 2022

‘Factfulness’ by Hans Rosling

This week one of our 3rd Form students is championing a book I recommend to many people and we have reviewed before. It was our 2020 Big Summer Read too.

Factfulness is a book that is on many geography reading lists and has been talked about and changed the opinion of many people. I am here to once again reiterate that. This book changes your perception on many biases that are unconsciously fed to us through the media. It shows the world in a more accurate way and shows us that the world is much better than we thought without being optimistic or unreasonable. I would recommend it to anyone taking or thinking about studying geography and to those who want to understand the world better. How can we change our world if we don’t know what we need to focus on?

For a fiction choice another 3rd Former recommends:

‘A Series of Unfortunate Events: The End’ by Lemony Snicket

A captivating close to the popular series that encompasses three abandoned orphans and their struggle to escape the hands of the treacherous Count Olaf and his attempts to snatch their family fortune. This leads the three children to an island where they are left with the Count himself. In this somewhat idyllic place they discover an old dictator and his tribe, as well as haunting secrets about their parents that have been lost to the world for years. A beautifully written novel, that, despite encountering and covering hardship and heavy themes is uplifting in the way that the Baudelaires seem to forever have hope of a brighter future.

 

Book of the Week 25th February 2022

Assistant Librarian, Miss Gray recommends:

‘The Lie Tree’ by Frances Hardinge

Fourteen year-old Faith Sunderly’s life is uprooted when her father, a famous naturalist, packs up the family and brings them to the small island of Vane for an excavation. An aspiring scientist herself, Faith is boxed in by society’s expectations of her behaviour, and her family’s obvious preference for her younger brother Howard. When Faith discovers a mysterious plant in her father’s extensive collection she must use all her cunning and bravery to understand the tree and protect it from those who would abuse its power…

The Lie Tree is a murder mystery, a tale of revenge and a coming of age story all at once, and Hardinge weaves its thematic complexity with considerable skill. The plot maintains its tension throughout, and the many moving parts mean that the pace never truly slows. The main character is gifted liar and it’s a pleasure to watch her struggle with the morals of this while needing to use this skill as she tries to untangle the nature of the tree and of her family. The rest of the characters have secrets and hidden depths that unfurl throughout the book in a way that keeps the reader guessing and provides an exciting reread.

All in all, it’s a moody Victorian thriller with a tight plot and a delightfully duplicitous cast which saw me finish the book in one sitting.

Book of the Week 11th February 2022

This week’s recommendation is from Honor, another of our 3rd Form DofE library volunteers.

‘The Monsters of Rookhaven’ by Padraig Kenny

This is in no way your normal monster thriller. With deep gothic undertones, the head-strong main character throws herself into a magical family and their secrets, bonding with each of the unusual members. The novel encompasses deep relationships as well as villains that are so vividly created by Kenny and that hold a real fear for the characters in the book. Alongside the intricate yet expressive illustrations, The Monsters of Rookhaven is a wonderful read that transports the reader into the world the mysterious and magical creatures that lie beyond the border of imagination.

Book of the Week 4th February 2022

This week’s recommendation is a tense thriller enjoyed by Hannah, one of our 3rd Form DofE library volunteers. She writes:

A bus crashes in a snowstorm and leaves Jack Reacher stranded in a small town. One brave woman decides to face the sinister problems this town has. If she is going to testify she is going to need help. 61 Hours by Lee Child is a dramatic thriller novel about a man who travels with nothing but his toothbrush and hat. It is fourteenth in the series but easy to understand if you are new. I loved the fast pace and structure of the book. I recommend it to anyone who loves murder mysteries, thrillers and plot twists.

This is the 14th book in the hugely popular and vast Jack Reacher series. The series can be read in any order but the ending of ’61 Hours’ is directly followed by ‘Worth Dying For’.

Book of the Week 28th Jan 2022

Library Assistant, Dee Varcoe recommends:

Unsettled ground by Claire Fuller : Winner of the Costa Novel Award 2021

 This book is about a set of 51-year-old twins who share a home with their mother.  They have always lived together, they grow vegetables, play their instruments, and keep largely to themselves.  The ramshackle cottage is on land belonging to their wealthy neighbours.

The siblings are unexpectedly left to fend for themselves after their mother suddenly dies from a stroke.  They’re informed that the rent due for the cottage is long overdue. Jeanie cannot read or write; Julius’ sporadic work on neighbouring farms can only bring in so much.

This is the unsettled ground on which the story plays out, the shifting sands that spell homelessness.  These exposed older adults are tenderly depicted, and you can’t help being drawn in by their vulnerability.  The author is frank in her portrayal of poverty, and the shame thereof, where visits to a food bank could never go unnoticed.

Unsettled Ground challenges the notion that, with a little hard work, lives can be turned around and fortunes changed.  Julius’ attempts at improving their situation — building an oven in the garden for a cake-delivery business or renting out a yurt on their land via Airbnb — could never have succeeded: “he needed a computer, the internet, a website, so he could send emails to those beardy types in London.”

The simplicity of the story may suggest the story is more character-driven than plot-focused, but the novel’s unpretentiousness is its real appeal.  This is a very readable book and will appeal to a wide array of readers.

Book of the Week 21st Jan 2022

This week’s recommendation comes from our new Assistant Librarian Miss Gray:

A WINTER’S PROMISE by Christelle Dabos (First in The Mirror Visitor Series)

A Winter’s Promise by Christelle Dabos takes place in a world post-‘Rupture’, an apocalyptic event many centuries ago that shattered the Earth into many floating islands called arks. Our bookish heroine Ophelia is promised in marriage to the influential Tho