Tuesday 14 December 2021

Most Popular Books of 2021

Building on an old Books &c tradition, the library team thought they'd share the most popular books of the year as we near the end of 2021!


And the winners are:


Noughts and Crosses by Malorie Blackman  

Salt to the Sea by Ruta Sepetys 

Smile by Raina Telgemeir

Black Butler by Yana Toboso

Small Island by Andrea Levy

Run Rebel by Manjeet Mann

Kristy's Great Idea by Raina Telgemeir and Ann M Martin

We are All Made of Molecules by Susin Nielson  

Catching Fire by Suzanne Collins

Guts by Raina Telgemeir 


Malorie Blackman has remained in the leaderboard for over ten years now! 

Interestingly, the 2021 stats show that while historical fiction and dystopian books have remained popular choices, Graphic Novels have become very successful with GC students - with four of our top ten coming from the Graphic Novel shelf.

All ten titles are available from the library and we still have copies of Salt to the Sea, Small Island, Guts and Run Rebel for those still seeking holiday reading!


Friday 10 December 2021

Christmas Bookmarks: Competition Results!

Congratulations to this years winning Christmas Bookmark designers!


Mili 7H   

Zoe 7R                                                      

Anna 7H

Anja 7R

Amy 8C


All five designs are now available to collect from the library desk. Help yourself to a bookmark as you stock up on holiday reads this Christmas!

Thank you to everyone who entered the competition this year - it was very hard to choose with such brilliant entries from so many students.


Merry Christmas!

Wednesday 8 December 2021

Christmas at the Library!

 As we enter December and Christmas draws closer, the library team have been busy organising a range of fun activities and displays to celebrate the festive season!

As you may have seen on your way into the library today, we have updated our display board to showcase our 'Twelve Books of Christmas'.

Keep an eye out for our picks - ranging from The Pear Affair to The Swan Kingdom and The Pied Piper of Hamlin. All books featured in the display are now available to borrow from the library.


In addition to our 'Twelve Books of Christmas' display, we have also selected some festive reading recommendations! Check out the front display by our nativity scene for some wintry reads such as A Study in Scarlet, Midwinterblood and The Frozen Sea

Other popular titles from this display include  A Christmas Carol and Dash and Lily's Book of Dares. 



In other news....

Don't forget to enter our Christmas bookmark competition this year! 

Bookmark templates are available at the desk and our library team will oversee the selection of four winning designs. Please hand in your entries to the library team before Wednesday 8th December in order to give us time to distribute the winning designs before the holidays.


Following GC Library tradition, seasonal visitors Elvis and Norbert have once again made an appearance and will be hiding around the library this December causing a new form of chaos each day!

We also now have Christmas mystery books available to borrow. Each book is wrapped up in paper and comes with a fun 'cryptic clue' so that students can choose their books based on a hint and unwrap their choices after borrowing!

Keep an eye out for more Christmas fun at the library and don't forget to stock up on books before the end of term! All students are now able to borrow up to six books until then.

Happy reading!


Friday 3 December 2021

Gems from 'The Nowhere Emporium': A Creative Writing Workshop with Ross MacKenzie

On Monday 22nd November, Evernight author Ross MacKenzie visited the Library where he held a writing workshop for year 7 and 8 students. 

As part of the workshop, Ross talked about his book The Nowhere Emporium and encouraged students to invent their own magical rooms in a short piece of creative writing.

All of our students produced brilliant work and we have chosen a few 'rooms' to share with you all to demonstrate the broad range of creative writing produced by years 7 and 8!


My door: Its Purr-fect by Isabella 7R

You move towards the shiny purple door, faint 'mews' can be heard. Click. The door swings open revealing an extensive world. The jagged horizon made of mountains, frames the souring casts, their wings casting shadows over the vast land. Roaring mews fill your ears. The air feels soft, like it gently lays on your skin and a subtle fishy, almost salty, smell lingers over a creamy lake glistening in the sun. Cats fill every corner, leaping over the luscious green grass. This world thrives, no sign of melancholy or guilt. Almost as though they have been banished. Every sad thought you've ever had is replaced with the memory of a joyous cat. The world feels right here. 


The Colour of Music by Michal 8C

As I staggered into the shop, everything was a shad of grey, black and white. People observed the items and instruments in awe and admiration. I thought 'what was there that was so impressive?'.

 I went up to the cashier and said 'nothing is colourful'. 

Then she came up close and said 'there is but you are looking carelessly'. 

I strolled through the shop, thinking about what she meant. I could smell a fresh breeze of metal and rotten pieces of skin from the drums. I approached the guitars, hung high up on the wall and slowly brushed my soft hands against the surface. It was as smooth as a baby. It's string suddenly plucked itself and made a gentle and smooth note. It echoed across the whole room, making the ground tremble and the instruments sang with colour dispersing across the unlively surfaces of the instruments.

As I circled the room, I could see yellows, reds, pinks, purples, blues, turquoises and many more. The room lit up, sending big smiles across the customers faces.

I picked up a drum, sat down, and played a beat that echoed through my ears, full of colour and joyfulness. The room was like an enchanted forest and now I can see the colours because I looked closely and found my imagination.


The Room of Possibilities by Kimora 8C

A never ending space of wonder, marble walls with splats of colour stretch out across the room. Pens, pencils, paints and paper of all colours, shapes and sizes fill the empty spaces in this magical place.

The smell of fresh paint and ink linger in the warm, cooling air. At the far end of the room there on the wall is a golden plaque, engraved in it are the words 'The Room of Possibilities'. 

The place looks as if it belongs in a palace with magical pens, pencils, and paint that can bring whatever you draw/paint come to life. At the very end of the room right next to the plaque there is a door, a simple white door with a golden doorknob... 


Well done to all students who participated - everyone at the library (and Ross himself) were very impressed with the work shared!

Evernight and Feast of the Evernight are now available to reserve from the library!