‘IMG_0100Getting and keeping, young people reading’.

On Monday evening, 18 students from Chantry, Newminster and King Edwards attended the North East Teen Book Award ceremony at The Centre for Life in Newcastle. Since October, they’ve been sharing the reading of 20 contenders for the shortlist and helping to whittle this down to just six finalists.

The Teen Book Award is aimed at Year 10 students and challenges Key Stage 3 in terms of the numbers of books to be read and their themes and complexity. It’s greatly to the credit of our younger students that they’re so keen to have a go!

Not only do they have to read the books, they have to meet regularly to discuss them and then summarise their opinions for everyone – including the authors – to
read on the NETBA website: http://northeastteenagebookaward.wordpress.com

Before the winner is announced, each author is introduced by a group of students to talk about their books and answers questions. This year, students from Chantry and Newminster introduced debut author, Alwyn Hamilton and her novel, Rebel of the Sands.

Click ‘continue reading’ underneath the gallery for our parent’s thoughts.

As usual, everyone had a brilliant time!

And our parents enjoyed themselves too:

“It’s always extremely interesting and stimulating to listen to the authors and there’s a good atmosphere.”

Lovely evening; fabulous stories!”

“It’s the first ceremony I’ve been to and I enjoyed it very much.”

“Interactive and encouraging.”   “I loved it – authors are so entertaining!”

And think it’s very worthwhile:

“It’s great that they interact with children of different ages and get each other’s individual views on different genres.”

“Such varied and interesting books with useful and stimulating discussions.”

“She’s now actively discussing with the family the books she has read and the impact they have had upon her.”

“The opportunity to discuss each book gives different perspectives.”

“He will now read books that he otherwise wouldn’t have looked at!”

If you’d like to get involved with next year’s NETBA or with the junior event, NE
BA  (which starts after half term)  please get in touch with Mrs Inverarity for details.