Author Visits

Simon Scarrow visited Beaumont on October 5th to talk to Year 7 about his new book Gladiator. 

Gladiator  is set in the dangerous world of Ancient Rome and features a young gladiator Marcus Cornelius Primus as the central character.  The book brings to life the gruelling, violent and perilous life of a gladiator.

Simon is the brother of Alex Scarrow, author of the TimeRider series, who has also visited the school.  Click here to find out more about the brothers. 

Darren Shan

Fans of horror writer Darren Shan will have the opportunity to meet him at the Ayot Literary Festival on Sunday 26th June. Tickets cost £7.50, and his talk is at 10.30.a.m. You can find details of the Festival here. Darren is on a worldwide tour to promote his new vampire book, Oceans of Blood, the second in the Saga of Larten Crepsley. Borrow it from the library!

Red House Book Award 2011

Three Year 7 pupils were out of school on Wednesday morning to visit the Library at Nicholas Breakspear School. They were there with students from Parmiters, St Columba's, Sandringham and Simon Balle, to discuss the short listed books, and vote for their favourite. The local winner was Timeriders by Alex Scarrow.
After the voting there was a talk about ghost stories from author Cliff McNish. If you like to be scared, read his book Breathe! His new book the Hunting Ground has just arrived in the library and is available to anyone brave enough to borrow it and write a review.

If you are wondering what to read next, you will find lots of ideas on this new website created by the  Guardian newspaper. You will find reviews,quizzes, interviews with authors and links to podcasts and videos. Let me know if there are books you would like to recommend for the library. I am buying new books now so don't delay! You can look at the website here.

Red House Book Award 2011

Every year hundreds of children read books for the Red House Children's Book Award. Votes must be sent in by 21st May, so come to the library to make your choice.

The shortlisted books are
                                              
                             

 

Karin Littlewood

The illustrator Karin Littlewood visited Beaumont School on the 6th of May to talk to year 8 about creating a picture book. Karin studied graphic design at University.  She has produced work for numerous newspapers and magazines, design and packaging companies and has illustrated over forty children's books published in the UK and worldwide. A copy of her latest book Immi is available for you to look at in the school library.

Good Reads For Year 7

There are so many good books in the school library that it can be hard to choose. We have selected 20 of our favourites for you to try. Let us know which books you would add to our list. 

TITLE	AUTHOR
Amulet of Samarkand	Jonathan Stroud
Coram Boy	Jamila Gavin
Dolphin Song	Lauren St John
Eagle of the Ninth	Rosemary Sutcliffe
Girl Missing	Sophie McKenzie
Inkheart	Cornelia Funke
London Eye Mystery	Siobhan Dowd
Lucky Star	Cathy Cassidy
Millions	Frank Cottrell Boyce
Rescuing Dad	Pete  Johnson
SilverFin	Charlie Higson
Skulduggery Pleasant	Derek Landy
Stone Heart	Charlie Fletcher
Stormbreaker	Anthony Horowitz
The Red Pyramid	Rick Riordan
The Turbulent Term of Tyke Tiler	Gene Kemp
Thirteen Treasures	Michelle Harrison
Trash	Andy Mulligan
Way of the Warrior	Chris Bradford
Withering Tights	Louise Rennison

Alex Scarrow

Alex Scarrow visited school on Tuesday 28th March 2011. He spoke to Year Groups 8 and 9 for over an hour.  He entertained the audience with stories of his life before he started writing when he used to be a rock guitarist.  He also worked as a graphic artist and computer games designer.  He has written a number of successful thrillers for adults but is now concentrating on writing young adult fiction with the Time Riders series.  Click Here for his website


      

The first three books in the Time Riders series are available to borrow from your Library. The fourth book will be published in August.