Happy Easter

Happy Easter to staff and students. Wishing you all a safe and enjoyable holiday break. Look forward to seeing you next term.

New Series - Three Kingdoms

As you enter the library, check out the latest display featuring a new set of graphic novels in the Three Kingdoms series.

To provide an idea of the storyline here is what is written on the back cover of the first book:

At the end of the second century, the lands of ancient China are thrown into turmoil when the Han Dynasty collapses, and when a tyrant overthrows the weak emperor, a group of regional lords forms an army to restore the nation. But bravery and valor are soon stifled by ambition and cunning, and the coalition dissolves before the battle is even won. Now, a new group of heroes must emerge if China is to survive.

For a review go to Three Kingdoms

New series - Turbocharged

On the right-hand side are the new books that have stories about street-legal racers. Each book includes real tech specs and tuning details for the car in each novel. Reading level is aimed at the Intermediate students, but I am sure these will appeal to older students also.

New books on Shelfari bookshelf

The Railway Man by Eric Lomax is the book based on at the cinema at present. It is a story of innocence betrayed, and of survival and courage in the face of horror. During the Second World War, Eric Lomax was one of the thousands of Prisoners of War forced to work on the notorious Burma- Siam line known as the Railway of Death. (Back cover)

This is a trailer from the movie:

And above is an interview with Colin Firth, the actor who plays the character of Eric Lomax.

Thirteen by Tom Hoyle

Born at midnight in London on the stroke of the new millennium, Adam is the target of a cult that believes boys born at this time must die before their thirteenth year. Twelve have been killed so far. (Inside cover)

For a review go to: Thirteen

New books available now

Canterbury Quake by Desna Wallace

Desna Wallace is a school librarian in Christchurch, this is her debut novel and no doubt born out of personal  experience.

Anyone would think Maddy's world had crumbled when she didn't get a cell phone for her eleventh birthday. But Maddy soon has far more important things to worry about. In the dark of night, with a terrifying rumble and a deafening roar, the world turns upside down! Suddenly, words like 'liquefaction', 'aftershocks' and 'state of emergency' bubble to the surface of her vocabulary. As Maddy navigates the bumps and crashes of life after the big quakes, she discovers how strong family ties can be, and finds friendship in the most unlikely of places. (Back cover)

For a review go to: Canterbury Quake

Knightley & Son by Rohan Gavin

Solving crime is a family business...

Darkus Knightley is a perfectly ordinary 13 year old, apart from the name, his brainpower, his fondness for tweed, and the top secret files hidden upstairs. But when a stranger from the Department of the Unexplained arrives with news of his father, ordinary is over for good...

Alan Knightley was London's top private detective until he went into a coma four years ago. Now he's woken up to discover his son has inherited the family talent - and their services are urgently needed.

Is a bestselling book making people do terrible things? Could it be linked to a shadowy organisation known as the Combination? It's clear to Darkus that two mega-brained investigators of the weird are definitely better than one. And it doesn't get weirder than this. (Back cover)

For a review go to: Knightley & Son

About the author: Rohan Gavin is an author and screenwriter based in London. He is a huge fan of Sherlock Holmes and his enduring love of detective fiction, cars and conspiracy theories inspired him to write this book, the first in a series.

Tigers on the Beach by Doug MacLeod

In case you can't read the back cover here it is:

Have you heard the one about the guy who lost a grandfather, but found a girlfriend? It’s funny. It’s also kind of sad. And some of the bits that are sad are also kind of funny (but only if you laugh at that sort of thing).

Adam thinks Samantha could be the one for him. But first he has to sort out his parents’ crumbling marriage, stop getting into embarrassing situations involving public nudity, find out what’s making his gran so angry, stop his little brother doing something really, really dangerous and work out what’s so funny about two tigers on a beach. It can’t be that hard, can it?

The Modigliani Scandal by Ken Follett

Overview:

Modigliani. Unarguably one of the greatest artists who ever lived. Modigliani's women. Those elongated, haunting figures, as eternally provocative as the Mona Lisa. And Modigliani's missing masterpiece. A priceless lost treasure - or a chillingly dangerous game?

Up and coming artist Peter Usher has still to exhibit anywhere, still to make even the most modest mark on the London art scene. But as rumour turns to reality, Usher finds himself caught up in a race to uncover the shadowy figures behind a breathtaking scam. Will art genius ever be rewarded? Will the brush prove more deadly than the gun . . . ? (Back cover)

For a review go to The Modigliani Scandal