When I asked a pupil recently why they had selected a particular book, they replied: “because my friend told me it was good.” I was struck by the power of a peer-to-peer book recommendation, which can have a far greater impact than the suggestions of teachers, parents and librarians. The annual Awesome Book Awards Book […]
February’s Author of the Month: Sophie Anderson
Where did you write The House with Chicken Legs? I carry a notebook everywhere, to scribble thoughts and ideas, so small parts of the book were written in all kinds of places — waiting rooms, bus stops, picnic spots. But mostly, the book was written at home, in my living room, with family chaos going […]
Book Club Blog: Second Instalment
A new year, a new term and some new faces in my Awesome Book Club. Admittedly I have also lost some pupils to other activities but I am now at 21 in the group which is a healthy number. Of the new additions, some have already read some of the shortlist and some have yet […]
January’s Author of the Month: Onjali Q. Raúf
Where did you write The Boy at the Back of the Class? Downstairs in the living room of my house, as at the time, I was recovering from major surgery and wasn’t allowed to venture outside or climb any stairs (my bedroom is in the attic so I had to sleep downstairs). I was very bored […]
December’s Author of the Month: Adam Baron
Where did you write Boy Underwater? Mostly at home thought sometimes in cafes. I was working in Athens and finished it there. What inspired you to write your book? My children told me to as they knew I already wrote books for adults. I also helped out at a school swimming lesson… Which came first […]
November’s Author of the Month: S.A. Patrick
Where did you write A Darkness of Dragons? I wrote it at a desk in the corner of our garage, surrounded by more spiders than I like to think about. What inspired you to write your book? I’d just got my dream job as a programmer in a computer game company, and was trying to […]
Book Club Blog
A new school year and a new term for Cranleigh Prep School heralds two exciting events; a new Patron of Reading, Emma Carroll, and the anticipation of the launch of the shortlist for Awesome Book Awards 2020. Following the last three successful years, the awards are now an integral part of our School calendar, and […]
Book Club Blog: Third Instalment
A new year and a new book, namely Running on the Roof of the World by Jess Butterworth. I downloaded the mandala colouring page available on Jess’s website, which mirrors the beginning of each chapter in the book and each book club member started their own as they arrived and have continued to colour over […]
February’s Author of the Month: Sharon Cohen
Where did you write The Starman and Me? I wrote The Starman and Me in different places. Most of the book was written at my desk at home where it’s quiet and I could be completely immersed in my story world. When I was visiting relatives, I sat at a little foldable table in the […]
Book Review Tips
Book reviews are an indispensable part of the literary world. For writers, they justify the hours they spend writing books. For publishers, they drive sales, and for young readers, reading reviews shape most of their book choices, whilst writing them gives them a voice. There is no perfect formula for a book review, but some […]