Kansha

I leant my forehead against the sweltering taxi's window. Outside, the square of Nam Cheong, a small district in southern Hong Kong heaved and spluttered. Four columns of traffic pushed their way through the teeming square. A swarm of cyclists weaved through the dense traffic, risking a sudden death to save a few precious minutes of life. Lining the pavements, irate salesmen behind stall after stall of brightly coloured t-shirts, crimson lanterns, and pungent Japanese delicacies fought for the attention of fickle tourists.

The Book Thief by Markus Zusak

Title: The Book Thief
Author: Markus Zusak
Availabily in school library: No
Genre: Young Adult, Historical Fiction,

Blurb: 1939. Nazi Germany. The country is holding its breath. Death has never been busier. Liesel, a nine-year-old girl, is living with a foster family on Himmel Street. Her parents have been taken away to a concentration camp. Liesel steals books. This is her story and the story of the inhabitants of her street when the bombs begin to fall.

Catching Fire Movie

Part 2 of 3 in the jaw-dropping and extremely gripping Hunger Games trilogy is set in the ruins of North America in a nation called Panem. It’s directed by Francis Lawrence, and features actors such as Jennifer Lawrence, as the powerful lead character Katniss, Josh Hutcherson as Katniss’ boyfriend Peeta Mellark, Woody Harrelson as the drunk mentor, Haymitch Abernathy, and Lenny Kravitz as the kind stylist, Cinna.

Jake Bugg's 'Shangri La'

'Shangri La' is Jake Bugg's second album and was named after the recording studio in Malibu California. He recorded Rick Rubin, one of the most famous producers who has recorded with many artists from Johnny Cash to the Red Hot Chili Peppers.

The Lego Movie

The American film directors and former animators, Phil Lord and Chris Miller took on the challenge of personifying Lego and made a hilarious box office smash. Combining brilliant animation and slapstick humour, it was a laugh for the whole family.

The plot is relatively complex for a film aimed at a PG audience. Evil Lord Business steals the “Kragle”, a super weapon, but the wizard Vitruvius warns him of the prophecy that one day the Special will rise with the Piece of Resistance and defeat him. The ‘Mr Average’ character, Emmet, who is a builder following instructions from President (Lord) Business like everyone else, falls down a hole on a construction site and discovers the Piece of Resistance. Emmet becomes The Special and with his team of master builders, goes off on a quest to defeat Lord Business. It becomes clear at the end of a film, that the entire story is in fact, the creation of a young boy’s imagination when he’s playing with a Lego set.

My Mad Fat Diary

My Mad Fat Diary, a comedy drama, follows the story of Rae Earl, a troubled sixteen year old girl, recently out of a psychiatric unit after a mental breakdown and trying to return to normal life. The series is narrated in diary form by Rae, after her therapist suggests keeping a diary to help put her head round things. It strikes the perfect balance between serious and funny, and features relatable themes like music, fitting in, body confidence issues, making new friends, family struggles, boys and food.

All The Truth That's In Me by Julie Berry

Title: All The Truth That's In Me
Author: Julie Berry
Availablity In School Library: Yes
Genre: Young Adult, Historical Fiction, Mystery

Blurb: Judith can't speak. Ever since the horrifying trauma that left her best friend dead and Judith without her tongue, she's been a pariah in her close-knit community of Roswell Station; even her own mother won't look her in the eye. All Judith can do is silently pour out her thoughts and feelings to the love of her life, the boy who's owned her heart as long as she can remember - even if he doesn't know it - her childhood friend, Lucas. But when Roswell Station is attacked by enemies, long-buried secrets come to light - the cruel become kind - and Judith's world starts to shift on its axis. Before she knows it, Judith is forced to choose: continue to live in silence, or recover her voice, even if what she has to say might change her world and the lives around her, forever.

Library Closures Are Stealing From Our Future

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I believe words have great power over us. They can hurt, manipulate and even perfect us. They allow development and education; influence us and help broaden our horizons. Library closures cut off our access to the main source of words. Books. With literacy rates in United Kingdom decreasing, why do libraries make up less than 1% of councils’ spending? Why are we being robbed of the freedom of reading? Deprived of something we have the basic right to? Something which could unlock a better future for everyone.

Porty Does Strictly

We would like to thank all our “Porty Does Strictly” couples that took part in helping raise money for our partner school in Kenya. And also a massive congratulations to Ms Nisbet and Mr McNiven, the overall winners of the fantastic night. We’ve decided to put some questions to Ms Nisbet to find out a bit more about the event.

Why the Body Conscious Craze is Bad!

The growth of the UK Fitness Industry has been confirmed by recent reports which demonstrate that in the last year its total market value has grown to £3.92 billion. This can be seen in a broad spectrum of advertising campaigns, from Weight Watchers to Elite Sport via the music industry and fashion, all designed to promote body consciousness. The truth about the body conscious craze in the UK is that it is not all good. Advertising, encouraging people to become sheep in the massive over-expanding flock that is the "health" industries, is everywhere. Companies actively make millions of pounds advertising the newest type of supplement or diet plan to help consumers "slim down for summer" or "keep that winter weight off" and companies promising incredible results regularly leave thousands of people incredibly disappointed.