Boclair+BookEnds

The Carnegie Shortlist is out and once again there are 8 titles on it, so a big challenge for us all. The winner will be announced on Wednesday 19th June so we have some weeks to go yet and already there are a few who have now read 4 or more, so well done to them! I have been trying to recruit some more S2 pupils to join us in the challenge and so far we have two volunteers.

If there is a theme this year I would think it is 'survival' from the titles I have read and so far I'm not seeing a clear winner.

If anyone else wants to join us, then come along on a Wednesday lunchtime or speak to me if you have other committments but still want to do the reading.

The reading group are busy setting up their ideas for book trailers which we hope to make later this term. We have watched a number of trailers both commercial and 'home made' and enjoyed working out which aspects made them work best and it isn't always the commercial ones that come out as favourites. If you want to look at some, go on Youtube and put book trailers in the search box or the title of a book you like. Amazon are beginning to include trailers on their site as well. We think that the most powerful impact is sometimes from the music chosen to accompany the trailer!

We're nearly at the October week and the reading group has settled into the new term well. We have several new members including S1s and we are all reading away. The group is split by age and the younger pupils are reading some of the shortlisted titles from this year's Scottish Children's Book Award while the older pupils are recommending titles to each other in addition to all of them trying to read some of the Carnegie titles and The Book Thief by Marcus Zusack. Hopefully we will be ready for a big discussion when we come back after the holiday. I have been asked by Scottish Book Trust to get some of our pupils to review what they're reading for the Scottish Book Trust website and we have started on that as well. Not too late to join us - we meet on Wednesday lunchtimes at 12.50pm if you want to eat your packed lunch here and 1.10pm if you're eating elsewhere.

The judging is over, our choice has been made and the vote cast - and for the second year we have agreed with the judges who chose 'A Monster Calls' as the best book. Also, for the second year we have been out of step with the other shadowing groups who chose 'My Sister Lives on the Mantelpiece' as their winner. The book was written by Patrick Ness, who won last year and is a popular author with our group who loved his Chaos Walking trilogy.

We will have our final meeting on Wednesday 20th June, then resume after the summer, hopefully with some new faces from S1 and perhaps even from other years. Our members are currently from the new S2, S4, S5 and S6, so if you're a keen reader and looking for a reading challenge then come along and join us.

Only two weeks to go before our 'Judging Lunch', when we will have to decide which is the favourite book of the group this year. We have now three pupils reading their 8th book which is some achievement and lots of good reviews on the [|Carnegie Shadowing Site] At this point, I don't think there is a clear favourite emerging but who knows what will happen at the vote.....

Well, the group is doing brilliantly with many onto their fourth title - very positive feedback on this year's selection despite there being 8 titles, our readers are enjoying most of them. We have five weeks to go, so still possible for you to join us in our reading frenzy!

Boclair BookEnds is up and running again and we're shadowing the Carnegie books for the 12th consecutive year, will this be the second year we agree with the judges? It doesn't happen often! Only once before in the twelve years I've done this at Boclair. Anyone wishing to join us should come along to the library on Wednesday 25th April at 12.50pm and get reading. There is plenty of lively discussion already but it's not to late to catch up.

Boclair BookEnds is the reading group for all pupils which runs in the library on Wednesday lunchtimes. There are currently members from S1 to S6 who all particpate in reading challenges and quizzes.

We have a dedicated Glow Group which allows us to post discussions and information about the books we are enjoying.

Every year we shadow the Carnegie Medal judging process, reading around 6 books in as many weeks, we also particpate in the Scottish Book Trust's Scottish Children's Book Awards and have attended the Awards ceremony twice.

Our weekly activities include reading books (of course), quizzes, word searches, Internet use to look at author's websites and often very lively discussions about the books we are reading!

We would be delighted to welcome new members and the next meeting will be on Wednesday 7th December at 12.50pm in the library. Bring along a packed lunch if you wish or come up and join us after your lunch.

We are starting the year by reading from the Scottish Children's Book Awards shortlist and from each other's favourite reads. The titles on the shortlist are:

This is the Older reader's category for 12 - 16 year olds.