Autumnal Reads

With the half-term break quickly approaching, the GCH Library team have prepared a seasonal reading list for those looking for something different to read over the holidays!

Listed below are a wide range of mysteries, school stories, horror, fantasy, gothic classics and a few more lighthearted autumnal picks such as Pumpkinheads and Mooncakes. 

All titles listed are available to  borrow from the Library with their locations detailed below - do ask if you would like a book from a different site to be transported over for you to borrow!

All titles in bold are the first in their series. 

Nothing More to Tell by Karen M. McManus [STA] 

The Haunting of Aveline Jones by Phil Hicks [STA]

Wilder Girls by Rory Power [STM]

A Good Girl's Guide to Murder by Holly Jackson  [STA/STM]

Wuthering Heights by Emily Bronte [STA/STM]

Unraveller by Frances Hardinge [STA]

How We Fall Apart by Katie Zhao [STM] 

Sheets by Brenna Thummler [STA -GN]

The Historian by Elizabeth Kostova [STA] 

October, October by Katy Balen [STA]

Rebecca by Daphne du Maurier [STA/STM] 

Truly Devious by Maureen Johnson [STA]

If We Were Villains by M.L. Rio [STM]

A Deadly Education by Naomi Novik [STA]

The Graveyard Book by Neil Gaiman [STA/STM] 

City of Ghosts by Victoria Schwab [STA]

The Legend of Sleepy Hollow by Washington Irving [STA] 

Howl's Moving Castle by Diana Wynne Jones [STA]

Ace of Spades by Faridah Àbíké-Íyímídé [STM]

First Term at Malory Towers by Enid Blyton [STA]

Pumpkinheads by Rainbow Rowell and Faith Eric Hicks [STA/STM - GN]

The Inheritance Games by Jennifer Lynn Barnes [STA/STM]

All These Bodies by Kendare Blake [STM]

The Secret History by Donna Tartt [STA/M]

Mooncakes by Suzanne Walker and Wendy Xu [STA - GN]

The Haunting of Hill House by Shirley Jackson [STA]

 Happy reading!

Black History Month

In the UK, Black History Month takes place annually every October. To mark this, GCH Library team have put together a reading list featuring some of our Black History resources and highlighting some of the great fiction created by Black authors.

For more book recommendations check out the Black History Month displays! These can be found in both libraries and are regularly updated throughout October.

Non-Fiction 

Natives by Akala (St Michael's)

Black and British: A Forgotten History by David Olusoga (Both sites)

Why I'm No Longer Talking to White People About Race by Reni Eddo-Lodge (St Andrew's)

Black Tudors: The Untold Story by Miranda Kaufmann (St Andrew's)

Love and Justice: A Journey of Empowerment, Activism and Embracing Black Beauty by Laetitia Ky (St Michael's)

Black Londoners, 1880-1990 by Susan Okokon (St Andrew's)

I Know Why the Caged Bird Sings by Dr Maya Angelou (St Andrew's)

Young, Gifted and Black by Jamia Wilson and Andrea Pippins (St Andrew's)

Black Poppies: Britain's Black Community and the Great War by Stephen Bourne (St Michael's)

Fiction

Ace of Spades by Faridah Àbíké-Íyímídé (St Michael's)

The Hate U Give by Angie Thomas (Both sites)

Americanah by Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie (St Andrew's)

The Gilded Ones by Namina Forna (St Michael's)

Amari and the Night Brothers by B.B. Alston (St Andrew's)

Cinderella is Dead by Kalynn Bayron (St Andrew's)

Noughts and Crosses by Malorie Blackman (Both sites)

Queen of Freedom - Defending Jamaica by Catherine Johnson (St Andrew's)

The Vanishing Half by Brit Bennett (St Michael's)

The Black Flamingo by Dean Atta (St Michael's)

Onyeka and the Academy of the Sun by Tolá Okogwu (St Andrew's)

Girl, Woman, Other by Bernadine Evaristo (St Michael's)

Beloved by Toni Morrison (St Andrew's)

March by Lewis, Aydin and Powell  (St Andrew's - Graphic Novel)

When Our Worlds Collided by Danielle Jawando (St Michael's)

Homegoing by Yaa Gyasi (St Andrew's)

You Should See Me in a Crown by Leah Johnson (St. Andrew's)

Shuri: A Black Panther Novel by Nic Stone (St Andrew's)

For a great range of online and in person Black History Month events check out your local library too!

There is plenty going on throughout October and beyond. Lambeth Libraries in particular has a brilliant program of free events this year - click here for more info!

National Poetry Day

On Thursday 6th October, GCH Library celebrated National Poetry Day!

Students had the opportunity to browse our poetry display featuring collections from a range of poets including Simon Armitage, Emily Bronte, John Keats, Carol Ann Duffy and Benjamin Zephaniah.

We were also proud to display Nikita Gill's new debut YA collection of beautifully illustrated feminist poetry. 

In Library lessons, Mrs Swan also read poems to classes of Year 7, 8 and 9 students. 

Throughout the term, students have been encouraged to create their own black-out poetry made from the pages of old, damaged books.

Thank you to everyone who handed in their work!