Introduction and Summer Reading Challenge Summary

Hello GCH! My name is Mr Hanson, and I’m the new graduate trainee librarian. Prior to this role I completed a degree in English Literature before spending a year in a public library, and I’m really looking forward to working with you all this year. My own literary interests lean more towards American classics like Hemingway and Steinbeck but I believe that everyone should keep an open minded approach to reading, so please do seek me out with your own recommendations!

One of my first tasks this term was to go through all of your fantastic submissions to the Summer Reading Challenge, the theme of which was “readaxation”. I’d like to thank you all for your excellent effort, and also apologise for the fact that we couldn’t fit them all on our display!

The editors of our very own school newspaper are currently hard at work sifting through the short stories you submitted - keep an eye out for the upcoming edition, which will feature the chosen winners. If you completed all of the challenges, please do remember to drop by the library to collect your book prize if you haven’t already. 

 

South Asian Heritage Month

In our final blog post of the academic year, the Library team would like to draw attention to South Asian Heritage Month. This year, SAHM begins on 18th July and concludes in the middle of the summer holidays on 17th August.

August 17th is a particularly significant date as it marks the anniversary of the Partition in 1947 - a major change in political borders which created the two independent dominions of Pakistan and India following the end of almost two centuries of British colonial rule in South Asia. 

 This year, SAHM have chosen the theme 'Stories to Tell' and in this spirit we have selected a range of books which we hope embody the month's central ideas of 'Celebrate, Commemorate and Educate'.

Artichoke Hearts and Jasmine Skies by Sita Brahmachari (STA)

The Henna Wars by Adiba Jaigirdar (STM)

Home Fire by Kamila Shamsie (STM)

Ellie Pillai is Brown by Christine Pillainaygam (STA)

Meet Me in Mumbai by Sabina Khan (STA)

A Suitable Boy by Vikram Seth (STM)

Kiki Kallira Breaks a Kingdom by Sangu Mandanna (STA)

The Million Pieces of Neena Gill by Emma Smith-Barton (STA)

Asha and the Spirit Bird by Jasbinder Bilan (STA)

The Wheel of Surya by Jamila Gavin (STA)

My Story: Noor-un-Nissa Inayat Khan by Sufiya Ahmed (STA)

The Balloon Thief by Aneesa Marufu (STM)

Zara Hossain is Here by Sabina Khan (STA)

Further Reading:

The following titles are not at GCH but are worth looking out for at your public library this summer!

When Dimple Met Rishi by Sandhya Menon (YA Contemporary)

All My Rage by Sabba Tahir (YA Historical and Contemporary)

Kaikeyi by Vaishnavi Patel (Adult Fiction, Hindu Mythology)

Hunted by the Sky by Tanaz Bhathena (YA Fantasy)

Partition Voices: Untold British Stories by Kavita Puri (Biography, History)

The Family Tree by Sairish Hussain (Adult Fiction, Family)

Tell Me How You Really Feel by Aminah Mae Safi (YA Romance, LGBTQ)

The Love Match by Priyanka Taslim (YA Romance)

Recommended for schools from the SAHM website:

The God of Small Things by Arundhati Roy 

The Reluctant Fundamentalist by Mohsin Hamid 

Brick Lane by Monica Ali 

A Thousand Splendid Suns by Khaled Hosseini 

'Readaxation'

 The Summer Reading Challenge has now begun!

This years theme is 'Readaxation' and the challenge includes six challenges including: 'Get Caught Reading', design a bookmark, creating a postcard, reading for pleasure, visiting a public library and writing a 'Mini Saga'. 

Students are invited to complete all or some of the challenges with every completed challenge earning them a small prize to collect in September.  

Please hand in all completed challenges to the new Graduate Trainee Librarian Mr. Hanson at St Andrew's Library in the new academic year.