MAY Half term 'I am reading' - staff picks

1. Ernest Shackleton: A Life From Beginning to End

Recommended by Mr Williams:

"This history book features the story of Ernest Shackleton. He was among the last of a group of intrepid men from the Golden Age of Discovery in the Victorian era. He sought honour for England and himself in embarking on a dangerous journey to lead a team of men to cross the Antarctic continent.

His story approaches the outer limits of plausibility. Few had his perseverance. When Ernest Shackleton's ship, Endurance, was destroyed by South Pole sea ice, the crew had to continue on three row boats, camp on ice sheets, and subsist on sled dogs and seal blubber. They were at sea for 497 days until landing on Elephant Island, which was completely deserted and isolated."

2. The Maze Runner by James Dashner

Recommended by Mrs Kang:

"The Maze Runner is a science fiction novel and the first book in a series of five books.

The book is full of excitement, mystery and suspense about the fate that lies beyond the Glade in the maze.

Thomas becomes one of the runners but can he work out the pattern of the maze to lead his friends out to freedom?"

3. Children of Time by Adrian Tchaikovsky

Recommended by Ms Clarke:

"Children of Time is a fantastic science fiction novel about space travel in the distant future. 

Earth as we know it has been destroyed and the remaining humans have scattered to previously terraformed planets in order to start life anew.

However when they get to the new planet, all is not quite right…

This book is a great read for budding scientists or astronauts!"

4. The Brief Wondrous Life of Oscar Wao by Junot Diaz

Recommended by Miss Randhawa:

"This book is centred around the experiences of a Domincan family under the dictator Trujillo during the 20th century, focusing on Oscar, his sister Lola and their headstrong mother, Beli.

A witty yet poignant tale dealing with themes of identity, sexuality and oppression, I would definitely recommend this book for fans of magical realism, sci-fi, fantasy, and Latin American culture."

5. Pegasus Bridge by Stephen E. Ambrose

Recommended by Mr Smith:

"This book tells the story of the first engagement of D-Day during World War II. Led by Major John Howard, a group of paratroopers made an assault deep into enemy territory to secure bridges over the Caen Canal and Orme River as a prelude to the amphibious landings on the beaches of Normandy later that day.

I have been lucky enough to visit Pegasus Bridge on a family holiday.  So to read in more detail about this important event in history is fascinating."

6. The Anarchy by William Dalrymple

Recommended by Mr Aston:

"This book gives a full detailed account of how the East India Company managed to ruthlessly conquer the Mughal Empire and seize control of the Indian Subcontinent. 

It is a dark eye opening read full of backstabbing and betrayal on both sides, but is a must read for anyone who wants to learn more about this crucial moment in Indian and British history."

7. Shadow and Bone by Leigh Bardugo

Recommended by Mrs Lowndes-Ford:

"This book is based around the main character ‘Alina Starkov’.

Enter the Grishaverse with book one of the Shadow and Bone Trilogy by an American bestselling author, Leigh Bardugo.

The book is part of a trilogy and I discovered this by recently finding out that a series had been released on ‘Netflix’. This prompted me to purchase the book. Orphaned and expendable, Alina Starkov is a soldier who knows she may not survive her first trek across the ‘Shadow Fold'.

If you enjoy books that are based on mystery and fantasy, then this is a great read!"

8. Apeirogon by Colum McCann

Recommended by Ms Bedesha:

"At the heart of this story is the real-life friendship between two men who have suffered loss. One is Palestinian, the other Israeli. It is a staggeringly intricate tale that blends fact with imaginative prose. ‘Apeirogon’ comes from the two Greek words that translate to ‘infinite’ and ‘boundless’ which convey perfectly the scope and breadth of this unforgettable story.

It is teaching me about the conflict that rages in the Middle East whilst causing me to question and debate this history. "

9. The Autobiography of Malcolm X

Recommended by Mrs Bone:

"This is the story of Malcolm X’s life in his own words.  From his childhood, through to his passionate campaign against civil rights in America.

I have always been fascinated by Malcolm X, as a history teacher, and where his views and passion came from; and how it contrasted so greatly to Martin Luther King.  This books sheds light on how his views and stance developed; from a very early age due to his relationship with his Mother, and his absent father.  It is fascinating, and very thought provoking."

10. The Best Things by Mel Giedroyc

Recommended by Mrs Greatrix:

"I received this book as a gift and I’m enjoying the contrast between this genre and the other book that I am reading. It’s a light-hearted story of a family, which places the mum as the central character as she tries to hold the family together. It’s the debut novel of a comedienne/TV presenter and I’m enjoying forming an opinion on whether it’s been a successful leap in to fiction writing…I’ll let you know!"

11. The Phantom Atlas by Edward Brooke-Hitching

Recommended by Mr Darrell:

"This book aims to show lost and mysterious map of the ancient world. These marvellous and mysterious phantoms - non-existent islands, invented mountain ranges, mythical civilisations and other fictitious geography - were all at various times presented as facts on maps and atlases. 

If you enjoy reading about the history of the world and some of the myths and legends from ancient times then this would be a great start to an adventure."

12. Private Princess by James Patterson

Recommended by Mr Archbold:

"Jack Morgan - the CEO of Private - a Private Investigation company is asked by a Princess in the British Royal family for help with her missing friend. What else would he do but fly straight to London to see what he can do! But not everything is as it seems…..

If you enjoy reading fast pace crime thrillers with big plot twists The Private series are for you!"

13. Boys Don't Try? by Matt Pinkett and Mark Roberts

Recommended by Mr Mcllveen:

"Physical Education is one of the few subjects that allows students to develop their physical, cognitive, social and emotional skills. 

Everyone should strive to be the best they can be. This book examines the research around key topics such as anxiety, schoolwork and self-esteem. It offers practical quick wins as well as long term strategies to help boys become happier and achieve greater success in school."

14. The Tattooist of Auschwitz by Heather Morris

Recommended by Mrs Tuddenham:

"If you want to get to grips with a piece of unique tragic history, with a hope that inspires all...

The Tattooist of Auschwitz is a 2018 Holocaust novel by New Zealand novelist Heather Morris. The book tells the story of how Slovakian Jew Lale Sokolov, who was imprisoned at Auschwitz in 1942, fell in love with a girl he was tattooing at the concentration camp."

15. Let the Circle Be Unbroken by Mildred D. Taylor

Recommended by Mr Jackson:

"Let The Circle Be Unbroken is the 1981 sequel to Roll of Thunder, Hear My Cry, written by Mildred D. Taylor. T.J.'s punishment is approaching, Stacey runs away to find work, and the Logan children's cousin, Suzella Rankin, tries to pass herself off as a white person, but fails which leads to embarrassing consequences.

If you want to explore the events that contributed to the Civil Rights movement in America and get a real insight into the racism and prejudice of parts of America in the 30’s, read this book.  Make sure you read ‘Roll of Thunder…’ first though!"

16. A Thousand Splendid Suns by Khaled Hosseini

Recommended by Miss Sandhu:

"A Thousand Splendid Suns is a breathtaking story set against the volatile events of Afghanistan's last thirty years - from the Soviet invasion to the reign of the Taliban to post-Taliban rebuilding - that puts the violence, fear, hope, and faith of this country in intimate, human terms. It is a tale of two generations of characters brought jarringly together by the tragic sweep of war, where personal lives - the struggle to survive, raise a family, find happiness - are inextricable from the history playing out around them."

17. Eve of Man by Giovanna and Tom Fletcher

Recommended by Mrs O'Shaughnessy:

"Life as we know it changes as everything turns blue; for over 50 years the only children born have been boys.  Then it happens, against all the odds a girl is born and she is called Eve.

Eve is brought up in her own protected bubble where everything is created for her, even her best friend.  She remains blissfully unaware of what is happening in the outside world.  A world full of men where there is no hope, a world that they have driven to the brink of destruction."

18. Behind the Mask by Tyson Fury

Recommended by Mr Gayle:

"This book is such an interesting read! Tyson as we know him can be a character at times and puts on a front 95% of the time, but this book breaks down his life and why the way he is. 

It's hard to believe that the man was brought to the edge of depression and has overcome this. This book is raw and quite amazing how he has become an inspiration to many."

19. Mortal Instruments Series by Cassandra Clare

Recommended by Miss Baker:

"Clary Fray is 15 when she learns a difficult lesson - “All stories are true.” Vampires, warlocks, demons, and werewolves all live in our world; the only thing keeping them at bay is the Clave, and the Shadowhunters that work for them.

This book series was a TV show, and I loved the fantasy elements as well as the action-packed adventure. The characters all grow over the course of the series, especially Simon the Daylighter."

20. Elinor Oliphant is Completely Fine by Gail Honeyman

Recommended by Miss Savani:

"Eleanor Oliphant struggles with socialising and tends to say exactly what she’s thinking. Nothing is missing in her carefully timetabled life of avoiding unnecessary human contact. This all changes when she meets the bumbling and deeply unhygienic IT guy from her office. 

This book deals with themes of isolation and loneliness and depicts Eleanor's transformative journey towards a fuller understanding of self and life."

21. Just Kids by Patti Smith

Recommended by Miss Veneziale:

"Just Kids is a memoir written by American musician Patti Smith which documents her life and relationships while living in New York in the 1960s and 70s. It traces back to where her music career began, from writing poetry and performing it in small cafes to getting a band together and becoming a world-renowned rockstar.

She writes in a way which really transports you to the specific times and places she talks about, it makes you feel as though you are embarking on the journey with her."

22. The Knife of Never Letting Go by Patrick Ness

Recommended by Mrs Thompson:

"The Knife of Never Letting Go is a young-adult science fiction novel written by author Patrick Ness. It is the first book in the Chaos Walking series, followed by The Ask and the Answer and Monsters of Men. 

The story follows Todd Hewitt, a 13-year-old boy who runs away from Prentisstown. He has been told that a war with the Spackles wiped out all of the women and most men and left men with the ability to hear each other’s thoughts- ‘Noise’."

23. My Sister, the Serial Killer by Oyinkan Braithwaite

Recommended by Miss Rennie:

"This book follows the journey of two sisters in Lagos, Nigeria, one of which has a particularly dark habit of hurting (!) her boyfriends. It is both very dark and very funny. 

I was drawn to this book because it received incredible acclaim - Braithwaite is a hugely talented woman and I can’t wait to enjoy more of her work!"

24. Stories of the Prophets

Recommended by Mr Samir:

"In this book you get to learn about some of the worlds greatest ever people to walk the earth and some of their powers they were given by the will of Allah (God).

This book is immensely detailed. The author is someone of notable importance and has done a great deal of research in identifying authenticity of these stories. The stories of the prophet are gathered largely from the Holy Quran."

25. Race Against Me by Dwain Chambers

Recommended by Mr Ford:

"Race Against Me: My Story is a biography written by Dwain Chambers. He was a British track sprinter. He has won international medals at World and European levels and is one of the fastest European sprinters in the history of athletics. 

His story is fascinating and easy reading - it exposes the less-than-squeaky-clean ambience of the world of our so-called role models, revealing an unpleasant sniff of deceit. 

He is gripped by the fear of discovery and later, by fear of the future when he faces the awful consequences of his choices. Then - and this is where his story is special - he confessed to doping."

26. Treasure Island by Robert Louis Stevenson

Recommended by Mr Nyarko:

"This book is about the adventures of a young boy called Jim who goes on a hunt for buried treasure belonging to an evil pirate, Captain Flint. It’s an amazing adventure story with many twists and turns in the plot.  I would definitely recommend this book as an escape to a whole new world!"

27. Desert Flower by Waris Dirie

Recommended by Miss Williams:

"Despite suffering female genital mutilation (FGM) at the age of five, and its life-long consequences, Waris Dirie escaped from her native Galkayo, Somalia, fleeing to Mogadishu to escape an arranged marriage. This is not only a tale of amazing bravery but also a detailed account of FGM from the perspective of a viictim. Waris overcame obstacles that most of us wouldn’t dream of to get where she is today."

28. Talking to Strangers by Malcolm Gladwell

Recommended by Mrs Sillis:

"UK-born Canadian Malcolm Gladwell challenges the reader on how everyone reads the behaviours and motives of people we don’t know. He asks us to think about how we interact with strangers, why misunderstandings occur, and how these interactions can go very, very wrong. 

The problem with humans is that they “default to truth” as Gladwell calls it. Human beings are by nature trusting; in fact too trusting which can have disastrous results. Hopefully by the end, I’ll be better equipped to avoid misunderstandings!"

29. The Sun Also Rises by Ernest Hemingway

Recommended by Mr Thorpe:

"This book has been described as an ‘understated masterpiece’, which portrays the lives of a generation between the First World War and the Great Depression, but it is also just a very good story. It’s restrained writing style and strong characterisation have earned it a reputation of being “Hemingway’s greatest work."