Create a Comic Competition

This month, GCH Library is proud to promote ReadingZone's Create a Comic Competition.

Comics may be created by individual students or by pairs and groups. You can use any media form but all entries should be printed on a single A4 page and handed in to Ms. Weston before December 1st. 

Prizes include subscriptions to The Phoenix comic and graphic novels for the school of the winning student. 

You can collect a template from the front desk at St Andrew's Library or download one here! There are also some great video resources on the ReadingZone website about planning stories, comic layouts and cover and blurb design. 

Please ask at the Library desk if you have any questions about the competition and good luck!

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!

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!