Following on from my last post about how graphic novels are great for encouraging a love of reading, here’s a new manga that is all about the magic of books and reading: Magus of the Library by Mitsu Izumi. The story follows 7 year old Theo, an outsider in almost every respect: a mixed race…Continue reading Book review: Magus of the Library, vol. 1 by Mitsu Izumi
Graphic Novels - Keeping Up With The J’onzzes
A list of 10 (+ 4) resources for graphic novels that I use to keep up with current trends, find classics and fill gaps in my collection.
Book Review: The Island by M.A. Bennett
Three years ago, life changed for homeschooled American Link Selkirk. His parents got jobs at Oxford University, and so the family moved to the UK and Link started school for the first time. Not just any school, but Osney - a prestigious and posh private school who, aside from the uber-rich, took kids of Oxford University…Continue reading Book Review: The Island by M.A. Bennett
Book Review: The Weight of a Thousand Feathers - Brian Conaghan
17 year old Bobby Seed has too much on his plate. Any time not spent at school studying for his 'A' Levels is spent at home looking after his mother, who suffers from MS, and his younger brother Danny, who has his own needs. When Bobby’s school counsellor suggests he joins a young carers’ support…Continue reading Book Review: The Weight of a Thousand Feathers - Brian Conaghan
Making Posters - Productive Procrastination
Some of the most commented-upon posters on my library walls are these classics from the wonderful PaperZip website (click the images for links to high quality downloads): I've also got a few nice comments about this Spock poster I made myself: A student said to me the other week, "You just need a Star Wars…Continue reading Making Posters - Productive Procrastination
Book Review: Skulduggery Pleasant - Resurrection by Derek Landy
Thanks to the Reading Zone and HarperCollins for the review copy. A secret order of dissident sorcerers is attempting to resurrect an ancient being to launch a war against the mortals. Skulduggery Pleasant, skeleton detective and sorcerer, is going to need all the help he can get to stop them. Luckily for him, his protégé Valkyrie Cain…Continue reading Book Review: Skulduggery Pleasant - Resurrection by Derek Landy
Book Review: The Small Change Trilogy - Jo Walton
There has been a resurgence of interest in alternative history fiction recently - particularly of "the Nazi's won the war" variety (for example, YA books The Big Lie and Wolf by Wolf, and the recent TV versions of the books The Man In The High Castle and SS-GB). Jo Walton’s Small Change trilogy - made up of Farthing…Continue reading Book Review: The Small Change Trilogy - Jo Walton
Post-Post-Truth?
Do we live in a "post-truth" society? One where facts and knowledge aren't valued, where "experts" are dismissed for being killjoys? I hope not, but there has been a marked increase in this anti-intellectual, anti-fact rhetoric from certain (highly successful) political circles recently. Alongside this post-truth menace come deceit and lies, which have recently been rebranded…Continue reading Post-Post-Truth?
World Book Day 2017
A few days late, but Happy World Book Day! I hope you had fun! This year's events at school were similar to last year's: student picnic and staff readings in the library (Wodehouse, Dahl, Walliams and me); prizes (Bookbuzz design-a-cover competition); and what is fast becoming the highlight of our celebrations, the Book Jacket Potato competition!…Continue reading World Book Day 2017
Book Review: Faith Vol 1 - Hollywood and Vine
Faith Herbert, also known as Zephyr (sometimes also known as Summer Smith) is a superhero in the Valiant universe. She's not a new character - she's been around since the early 1990s - but has just (well, about a year ago) gone solo in her own series, written by Jody Hauser and drawn by Francis Portela. Here's the…Continue reading Book Review: Faith Vol 1 - Hollywood and Vine