Carnegie Shadowing Group

Last Friday, GMS students had the opportunity to have a real life exchange of opinions, as opposed to an online one, when the Great Marlow group hosted a book based tea for a group of students from Sir William Borlase’s Grammar School. The afternoon was filled with various activities including translating the shortlisted books into the medium of film, voting for personal favourites and eating cake! The last in this list was made even more enjoyable by the efforts of Lauren and Ellie who had made a beautiful book based cake the night before.

It is often reported that reading is in decline, especially amongst boys but to see the groups in action on Friday it would appear that Marlow schools are bucking the trend. Our group contained as many boys as girls, and everyone spoke with intelligence and passion about what they had read. There was enormous enthusiasm for the books with all of the students vocal in their opinions of the novels, whether they had read one of the books or six. We were very divided on our personal winners with no one book standing out as overall favourite. On the day the combined schools’ votes made ‘The Hate You Give’ by Angie Thomas our local favourite, although the winner has been announced today (Monday 18th) and ‘Where the World Ends’ by Geraldine McCaughrean took the actual prize.

If you are ever stuck for recommendations for young people’s reading, the Carnegie website is a great source of inspiration. The choices are always varied and high quality with something to engage all readers. http://www.carnegiegreenaway.org.uk/

Mrs Sadd