East and South East Asian Heritage Month

Originally organised in 2021 by besea.n, East and South East Asian Heritage Month is celebrated in September within the UK and focuses on reclaiming joy!

In celebration of this besea.n are hosting many brilliant events this month - including a 'Chinatown Stories Community-Led Walking Tour' this weekend, the upcoming Henley Literary Festival and several virtual discussions with authors such as Angela Hui and Winnie M Li next week. Check out their program here for more events! 

To mark ESEA Heritage Month, the Library team have highlighted some of the great titles by ESEA authors available to borrow from GCH Library. The following books also come highly recommended by the besea.n team and British bookshop The Colourful Bookshelf!

A Little Life by Hanya Yanagihara (Located at St Michael's - this book is suited to older readers)

Before the Coffee Gets Cold by Toshikazu Kawaguchi

A Tale for the Time Being by Ruth Ozeki   

Bone Talk by Candy Gourlay 

The Boy in the Tower by Polly Ho-Yen 

Shine by Candy Gourlay 

For more information about new and upcoming ESEA YA fiction, check out the Bubble Tea Writers group which is run by author Maisie Chan and aims to support and encourage all authors of East and Southeast Asian descent in the UK. Most recently, the group hosted a virtual celebration of YA fiction and featured readings from titles such as Cynthia So's If You Still Recognise Me. 

British-born Chinese book blogger Daisybutter has also curated their own brilliant 'Starter ESEA Reading List'. Click here to check out their recommendations!

Happy East and South East Asian Heritage Month!

The Year of Giving: A Reading List

To celebrate Theme Day this week, the GCH Library Team have put together a reading list to celebrate the year of 'Giving'.

Reading lists will shortly be available at the Library desk but for now here are some of the great titles we've chosen to highlight this year:

Available now:

You should see me in a crown by Leah Johnson 

Becoming by Michelle Obama 

The Boy, the Mole, the Fox and the Horse by Charlie Mackesy 

Not my problem by Ciara Smyth 

Alex Neptune - dragon thief by David Owen 

Carve her name with pride by R J Minney

Fountains of silence by Ruta Sepetys 

Coming soon to GCH Library!

The secret life of Albert Entwistle by Matt Cain 

You can do it - how to find your voice and make a difference by Marcus Rashford 

Love in colour: mythical tales from around the world, retold by Bolu Babalola

Love in the Blitz by Eileen Alexander 

Courage to care by Christy Watson 

Hades, Argentina by Daniel Loedel 

Anatomy: a love story by Dana Schwartz 

Keep an eye out for our upcoming 'Giving' display for more book recommendations! 

Graphic Novel Club News: Trip to Forbidden Planet!

Towards the end of last term, the Graphic Novels Club were lucky enough to visit the Forbidden Planet Superstore!

Having already eagerly read (and reread!) the broad range of graphic novels available at the Library, our book club members were tasked with picking out some brand new titles.

Working together to manage their book-buying budget, the students carefully chose a great selection of graphic novels including the next instalments of My Hero Academia, Fullmetal Alchemist and many more exciting new books. 

All books purchased by the GN Club will soon be available to be borrowed by all students. Keep an eye out for our 'Chosen by the Graphic Novel Club' stickers on all new titles.

Thank you to Lee and Victoria at Forbidden Planet for all their brilliant help and expertise - the GN Club very much looks forward to returning again next year!