Welcome to our November library blog. If you enjoyed some great books during the half-term break, make sure to leave a review on the Reading Cloud. It’s a great way to share your thoughts with our school community, plus earn achievement points.
This month is super exciting for us in the library because we’re celebrating ‘Non-Fiction November.’ Our teachers have shared their top non-fiction book picks, and you can check them out on our big library screen. Don’t miss it!
This autumn choose one of our new books: 100 Tales from the Tokyo Ghost Café (KS3);
The Reappearance of Rachel by Holly Jackson (KS4); Angel of Grasmere by
TomPalmer (KS3).
Seraphina by Rachel Hartman; Book 5 of Mortal Engines: Thunder City by Philip Reeve (KS3); Play by Luke Palmer (KS3).
Non-Fiction November Month
Non-Fiction November is an annual event dedicated to celebrating factual literature. It’s a time to dive into reading for information, broaden our understanding, and discover personal interests.
This year, the theme for Non-Fiction November is “Why Don’t You?” (Hobbies and Leisure). Our library is full of inspiration on both subjects. Check out our themed reading picks (below) or go on a voyage of discovery through our extensive collection of Non-Fiction books.
Be inspired by your school teachers who have kindly given us their wonderful suggestions for books around their subjects. To view the PowerPoint visit the Library folder on the P Drive.
Check out these hobbies and leisure books: Touching the Void by Joe Simpson (796.5); Usbourne Write and Draw Your Own Comics (741.5); Silman’s Complete Endgame Course by Jeremy Silman (794).
Parental Guidance for Reading At Home
If you are a parent or carer wanting to know more information about which books your young person should read at home, visit the SGS website page using the link below to access some great hints and tips on encouraging Reading for Pleasure.
www.suttongrammar.sutton.sch.uk/reading-at-home
A Very Short Introduction to
Little Books with Big Ideas
Have you ever wanted to find out about a subject without trawling through a big book or the internet for more information? Well, look no further! Let us introduce you to our vast range of ‘A Very Short Introduction’ Books. These great little books reside underneath the ‘New Books’ shelf and are a fantastic place to start accessing a range of subjects and topics, such as: The U.S. Congress; Veterinary Science and Game Theory.
One of our Year 7 student’s picked out these titles: Science and Religion, A Very Short Introduction by Thomas Dixon (215); Intelligence, A Very Short Introduction by Ian J Deary (153); Game Theory, A Very Short Introduction by Ken Binmore (330).
Empathy Action Month
Social action plays a vital role in expressing empathy. When we invest time in understanding the emotions and experiences of those around us, it encourages us to act on our empathy. It can be as straightforward as being present and listening to each other.
Empathy Month reminds us that “Small steps make a big change.” This year there are a series of four focuses over the month: Friend’s and Family; Community; The Environment; Our World. Click here to view the great themed book list from Empathy Lab, which encourages children to read for empathy. We have these books available to borrow now in our school library: Safiyyah’s War by Hiba Noor Khan; Fight Back by A.M. Dassu; The Secret Sunshine Project by Benjamin Dean; Global by Eoin Colfer & Andrew Donkin.
Logo Credit: www.empathylab.uk
UKLA Book Awards 2025 Longlists
The UKLA Book Awards are unique because they are the only national children’s book awards for children’s books judged by teachers. The UKLA’s goal is to recognize children’s literature, emphasise the role of books in education and to promote diversity being published annually. When judging, the committees and teachers focus on identifying well-written and engaging books, as well as outstanding illustrations and design where relevant.
The longlists were announced in September and we can’t wait to see what the shortlist holds when they are announced next March.
Check out SORA to read the book blurb and borrow an ebook or audio book today from the UKLA longlist for fiction and Non-fiction. We have the following titles available in our School Library to borrow: Northern Soul by Phil Earle; LADS: A guide to respect and consent for Teenage Boys (646.7); Stolen History by Sathnam Sanghera.
Credit: www.ukla.org
Mr Marshall Reviews
Evenfall by Alexander Armstrong
Another celebrity writer
I am not a fan of celebrity writers barging their way in front of more deserving but less well known crafters of the written word, just because they happen to have television fame. However, occasionally the celebrity world can produce a half decent author. Richard Osman is gaining plaudits for his detective series, but his erstwhile “Weakest Link” colleague, Alexander Armstrong, has also entered the publishing world with the first of a new series of children’s fantasy books. He gets the usual great cover quotes from celebrity mates, notably Osman who calls his new book, “Evenfall”, The Da Vinci Code for Kids (it isn’t), but in fact Evenfall is a thoughtful, narratively driven foray into a fantasy world that is firmly based on North East England folk memories. Armstrong’s hero is a boy whose mother died suddenly in a definitely-far-from-accidental minibus crash, while his father has descended into an ever more remote, inactive and dis-connected physical state. Armstrong handles the father-son dynamics well, then throws his hero into a series of dramatic escapades with his friends while he discovers the hidden history of his family. It is well done, the world building is secure and Armstrong convincingly defies the quality of most celebrity authors.
Year 8 Comic Club Hits the Mark
with a New Logo
We want to start by giving a huge shout out to this year’s Comic Club for their fantastic participation in The World of Graphic Novels Challenge by National Literacy Trust (NTL)! They have read lots of graphic novels from the NLT list and have been busily discussing them each week.
Our Year 8 Comic Club students have been designing some fantastic club logos and we have picked Romir’s colourful artwork to be the official Comic Club logo for this year. Congratulations Romir in 8L.
Year 8 Comic Club runs termly throughout the academic year in our school library on Mondays, period 7 (Year 8 early release day). Simply turn up and join in the fun.
Coming Soon to our School Library
Get involved with the exciting things happening before the Christmas break:
Library Advent Calendar
Our Library advent calendar is back again this Christmas. Simply visit our Library webpage via the School website on 1st December to open the first calendar door.
Year 7 Book Christmas Tree
Calling all Year 7’s….Help us fill our library Christmas tree with lots of book suggestions. Year 7 students will each be receiving a paper Christmas decoration, simply write your favourite book title and author
on the back of it. Bring it into the library, receive a sweet and hang it on our Christmas tree for everyone to enjoy.
KS3 Christmas Quiz
Mrs Taylor will be running her popular…. and competitive, “Guess the book Cover,” Christmas Challenge for KS3 students. Come into the library to grab a form to complete during December. Let’s see which class has the most entries…. The heat is on!
Winner of the 2024 Booker Prize is Announced
British author Samantha Harvey has been awarded the 2024 Booker Prize for her novel Orbital, making it the first book set in space to achieve this honor. Orbital offers a unique perspective as it follows a group of astronauts aboard the International Space Station.
This 136-page novel, which is Harvey’s fifth book, unfolds over just one day in the lives of six astronauts and cosmonauts. During those 24 hours, they witness 16 sunrises and 16 sunsets as they gaze down at their quiet blue planet, watching continents and seasons change.
Orbital is the second-shortest book ever to win the prize and covers the shortest time span of any book on the shortlist. This novel has become the best-selling book on the shortlist in the UK, even surpassing the combined sales of the last three Booker winners before their victories.
Logo credit: www.thebookerprizes.com