Seventeen Book Buzz titles arriving soon
Newhaven School Library Blog/News, Reviews and Giveaways
By Carole Oldfield librarian@newhavenschool.co.uk
To infinity and beyond with Book Buzz
Each autumn The Book Trust sends seventeen different books to registered schools. The scheme is called ‘Book Buzz’. After exploring and scoring all the books, KS3 and Year 10 students choose one to keep.
You’ll learn more about yourself as a reader as you sample different genres, authors and formats. Reading also helps with academic studies, so you’ll be light-years ahead.
The Book Buzz Student Zone has information on each book and author as well as quizzes and competitions.
Librarian Explores
I’ve picked one of the seventeen books to preview. As we’ve just had a summer of Olympics, I’ve chosen ‘The Infinite’ by Patience Agbabi. It’s an eco-thriller with time travelling characters. On the British Council website Patience Agbabi describes herself as a poetical activist. ‘The Infinite’ is her first novel for young people.
Patience Agbabi and the first two novels in the Leap Cycle series
Elle, the main character, is inspired by a record long jump made by Bob Beamon in the 1968 Olympics. Patience writes:
“I built the leap idea completely from Elle’s obsession. If she loved athletics, she’d love the summer Olympics. My number one Olympic moment—Bob Beamon’s 1968 leap—became Elle’s favourite, too. Summer Olympics only happen in leap years, so I thought it would be fun to make her a Leapling. And then I had the brilliant brainwave on the word LEAP: what if Elle could leap through time?”
Leap of the Century! by Patience Agbabi, Book Buzz Student Zone
GIFT BOOK
Win a copy of the second book in the Leap Cycle series, ‘The Time-Thief’, by answering the following two questions. You can find the answers in the article.
- In the story why did Elle and her best friend Ben go on a school trip to 2048?
- Why did the author Patience Agbabi choose the year 2048?
Up Your Game – Inspired by Sport Stories
Many authors are inspired by real-life events so I’ve found some real-life stories from the Olympics and Paralympics this year. Watch the videos, then consider whose story you would most like to turn into a book.
It could be a romance or a coming of age story. A ghost, thriller or science fiction, even a Western. Or a non-fiction biography.
Sports stories are often about overcoming adversity and fighting your way to the top. There may be teamwork and respect for colleagues and competitors and support from families. The stories below are positive ones but there may also be jealousy, cheating or betrayal.
Kick off your inspiration with Agnes and Skye.
Skateboarding
See how thirteen-year-old Skye Brown performed to win a bronze medal. And read more about her life in this Guardian article.
Cycling
Cyclists, including Hannah Roberts, Laura Kenney and Chris Hoy, discuss which Olympic discipline in cycling is most complete? This video is at the bottom of the women’s freestyle finalists’ page.
BMX
There’s romance and resilience in the story of BMX racer Alise Post and husband Sam Willoughby after he was paralysed in an accident in 2016.
Dressage
Meet Sophie Christiansen and read her post explaining why she withdrew from 2020 Paralympics.
Boxing
A ‘dream come true’ story for Galal Yafai, who won a gold medal this year. A flyweight, with two older brothers who box, he was working in a car factory in Solihull, Birmingham just six years ago.
Sports Fiction in verse in Newhaven Library
Here are two books we have in the library which involve sports but are about so much more. They are both verse novels so move at quite a speed.
Rebound and Gloves off, books featuring sports (basketball and boxing)
Rebound by Kwame Alexander with comic-book inserts by Dawud Anyabwile.
“Rebound is a stunning coming-of-age novel in verse about basketball, family and staying true to yourself.”
Penguin Books website
Gloves Off by Louisa Reid
“Gloves Off is an intense, original and profoundly moving verse novel, filled with the fierce, hard joy of finding your power.”
Imogen Russell-Williams, The Guardian
GIFT BOOK
To win a copy of ‘Rebound’ or ‘Gloves Off’ pick one of the real-life sporting stories in “Up Your Game’ above. Make up an original title and by-line for the book you would write. (like the examples above for Rebound and Gloves Off).
Library open hours from September 2021
Gardens Library
Mondays, Tuesdays and Fridays, break and lunch times.
Kings Park Library
Wednesdays and Thursdays, break, lunch and tutor times.
Come and see me soon to borrow your first book of the academic year. Now is the time to up your reading game. I look forward to seeing you.
Carole, Newhaven School Librarian
Summary – September 2021 Book Beats Giveaways
Email your answers to librarian@newhavenschool.co.uk. Remember to use your own school email account.
- The Time-thief by Patience Agbabi
- Rebound by Kwame Alexander
- Gloves Off by Louisa Reid
Maximum one gift per person
Deadline: 30th September 2021
Available for students from all Newhaven sites, learning at home or at school
