On Thursday evening, sixteen very excited students from Chantry, Newminster and The King Edward VI, who’ve been studying six specially selected books since October, were rewarded by meeting the authors at last and getting their books signed.
These students have been shadowing the North East Teen Book Awards and were attending the awards ceremony at The Centre for Life in Newcastle.
Although our Y7 and Y8 Book Club members generally read a few of the NETBA shortlisted titles, we’ve never shadowed the Award because the books are aimed at Y10 students and present a considerable challenge to Key Stage 3, both in the number of books to be read and their complexity. It’s also fair to say that, sometimes, the subject matter can be controversial.
This year, however, fired by enthusiasm for last years’ selection, our students were determined to give it a go. They’ve had to read the shortlisted books, discuss them in our weekly meetings and summarise their opinions in writing for addition to the NETBA website.
Authors follow these comments avidly in the run up to judging and may even respond to them! Extracts from these comments are selected and made into banners, one for each shortlisted book. They’re usually given to the authors as souvenirs but we’ve managed to acquire two and you can see them on display outside Chantry library, a memento of our first NETBA experience!
Before the awards are made, each author is introduced by a group of students, talks about their books and answers questions. Afterwards, the authors sign books and chat to the students informally. This is definitely the highlight of the evening!
You can visit the NETBA website to see clips, book trailers and activities posted specially by the authors themselves and discover what our students thought of this year’s shortlist!
In March, we’ll be finalising the shortlist for the junior version of this award, NEBA. If your child is in Y6 – 8 and would like to take part, please get in touch with Mrs Inverarity for details.
As always, we’re indebted to our Parents’ Association for their continuing and very generous support, without which this enterprise wouldn’t have been possible.
The group as a whole has benefitted immensely from the thoughtful and focussed input of our KEVI members. It’s very motivating to see representatives spanning two Key Stages and from all three schools united in an enterprise by a common love of reading.
Our accompanying parents enjoyed themselves too:
“I thoroughly enjoyed the ceremony, especially hearing about the inspirations behind the books.”
“I enjoyed myself very much and have heard about some books I would like to read!”
“I especially enjoyed the authors’ talks and insights into plot development”
And think it’s very worthwhile:
“My child has made different friends and has grown in self-confidence.”
“It has developed her social awareness.”
“My child is much better at expressing opinions.”
“It has encouraged her to widen the spectrum of books she chooses”
“My child has developed her analytical and critical skills and is no longer shy of arguing her case with adults.”
