New Year 7
Welcome Year 7 to your very own updated 'Welcome Year 6' page :). For the remainder of the year this page (along with the library newsletter), will continue to promote the joy of reading and update you with all things 'library' - specifically related to your year group :)
YEAR 7 STUDENTS RECOMMEND THEIR FAVOURITE READS (SO FAR) OF 2021
Future Friends
By David Baddiel
I recommend 'Future Friends' by David Baddiel to anyone who likes mystery and adventure books.
Pip is from 3020 and can't go outside so she sneaks into her parents laboratory and accidently falls in a time travel portal! Here she ends up in 2019 where she meets Rahul.
Alfie 7zClaig
A Girl Called Justice
By Elly Griffiths
I recommend 'A Girl Called Justice' by Elly Griffiths, if you like mystery and murder. This book involves a girl going to a boarding school which has a massive secret behind it. She gets her friend to help as well to find the secret behind the school. She talks to a young maid who tells her a back story of some of the teachers there. So, if you like mystery and some plot twists this is the book for you!
Teigan 7zClaig
Encyclopedia of Dinosaurs and Other Prehistoric Creatures
This book is on the three periods, the Triassic, Cretaceous and Jurassic. This book also sheds some light on archosaurs types of archosaurs, like today we have birds or crocodiles. The famous ones, dinosaurs, I will be talking about. The book explains diets, physical characteristics and habitat.
One of the dinosaurs is the T-Rex it evolved near the end of the Jurassic, the period before the end of the dinosaurs. Its sense of smell was so good ,like the Great White sharks of today, it could pin point prey, and it could see up to six kilometres away. Something you don't know is, its ankle bones were incredibly fragile (but not too weak).
Hayden 7zClaig
Dear Year 7, we are delighted to launch our special 'After the War' initiative this week...
Please go to our 'AFTER THE WAR' READ BY PLYMSTOCK SCHOOL STAFF and BEHIND THE BOOK 'AFTER THE WAR' for more information :)
After the War
by Tom Palmer
This book is really good especially if you are interested in the Holocaust.
It begins in summer of 1945 at the end of WW2 and is based on real life events that actually happened.
Three Polish Jewish boys are on a plane and are coming to the UK. They are taken to Calgarth estate by Lake Winderemere in the Lake District. They are amongst 300 other refugee children from other nationalities that are all Jewish and are going to spend a few months of safety and rehabilitation after the trauma of surviving a concentration camp.
The story tells of the horrors of life in Auschwitz and the camaraderie between the 3 boys. They find it difficult to trust people in Calgarth and struggle with believing there will be food to eat, clothes to wear and even a bed to sleep on.
This book is a powerful and moving story, the author has done a lot of research to get the facts right.
I read this in 2 hours, its easy to read and suitable for younger readers. I also learnt something from it. Wow so good.
Mrs Sherwood
Your Librarians:
Mrs Sherwood , Miss Hogben and Mrs Elliott
Remember books can be ordered via your tutor, English teacher or by sending us an email:
library@plymstockschool.org.uk or rhogben@plymstockschool.org.uk
(please allow 72 hours wait from requesting to receiving (safety first!)
The Train to Impossible Places
by P.G Bell
This book is a delight.
Prepare to expect the unexpected, the impossible becomes possible.
The story is action packed you never know what is going to happen next, it races along and I was on the edge of my chair all the way through it.
As you can guess from the title and front cover of the book, it's about a train, built by trolls and made up of random bits of metal and odds and ends.
The train is a mail train and with the occupants, a human girl Suzy, trolls and a bear they go on amazing journeys all by magic to deliver packages.
They have many difficulties on the way and have to contend with a nasty enchantress.
If you want a break from the world we're in now, then read this book, it's great.
Mrs A Sherwood
The One and Only Ivan
by Katherine Applegate
Ivan is a silverback gorilla. He was captured as a baby and put in a cage in a shopping mall for the amusement of the shoppers.
He has two friends Stella an elephant who is in a cage next to his and Bob a little dog who sneaks in at night through a hole in his cage, and eventually a baby elephant, Ruby who lives with Stella.
The story is told with Ivan being the narrator. The reader learns about Ivan's everyday life in his cage how he loves to paint and his relationship with his friends.
The book is based partly on a true story with Ivan a gorilla living alone for 27 years in a cage.
This a really easy book to read, the paragraphs are short and I whizzed through it at speed.
I did feel sadness at the way the animals were held in captivity and sometimes at the way they were treated, but it does have a happy ending.
This would be suitable for year 7's.
Mrs A Sherwood
'The One and Only Ivan' has now been released as a movie.
Click on video to view the 2020 trailer.
This film is available on 'Disney +'
Mrs Elliott's Year 7 read of the term...
Ghost Boys
by Jewell Parker Rhodes
This short novel is very topical and an important book for us all to read right now.
The subject matter is distressing, a white police officer's shooting of a young black boy in modern day America, but it is written with great sensitivity and wisdom and the tragedy not sensationalised in any way.
It is pitched perfectly for the intended age of the reader (from Year 7 onwards) although obviously some scenes are upsetting (so please be aware of this if you are of a sensitive nature).
This book is so well written, with balanced view points and plenty of topics to discuss. It will be a great choice to read with a Year 7 book group, which I can't wait to do when the library is open again.
I would also recommend this to those who enjoyed 'Wonder'.
Mrs C Elliott
What Shall I read Next? - this review and others like it, can be found on our 'review' page, click link if interested.
Go to our Black Lives Matter page for more information about the author Jewell Parker Rhodes.
Recommended Reads for Year 7
Malamander
by Andrew Taylor
The Middler
by Kirsty Applebaum
A Pocketful of Stars
by Aisha Bushby
Wildspark
by Vashti Hardy
The Vanishing Trick
by Jenni Spangler
D - Day Dog
by Tom Palmer
A Gorgeous Tale based on a much loved Christmas Classic...
The Miracle on Ebenezer Street
by Catherine Doyle
I LOVED this book.
A modern retelling of A Christmas Carol and it is just magical.
It can be enjoyed by anyone and everyone (unless you have a heart of stone I guess!). It will have you smiling and then bring a lump to your throat the next second.
George's dad hasn't celebrated Christmas, or in fact life in general, for the last three years since George's mum tragically passed away. George is so sad and is desperate to get some joy back into their lives. But, stumbling upon a strange shop, 'Marley's Christmas Curiosities' with his marvellous Nan one day, might just give him the opportunity to do just that.
I often donate my books to the library after I have finished with them, but not this one, it's staying firmly on my bookcase at home and I will read it again and again ( I will ask Miss Hogben to order one for the library today!).
Wonderfully written, a great book for your Christmas list, it's a bittersweet Christmas miracle.
Mrs C Elliott
Miss Hogben welcomes new Year 7 students to Plymstock School Library*
Welcome Year 6
We have set up this page to welcome you and your family to Plymstock School library. We are really looking forward to meeting you in September, and supporting your reading and literacy throughout your time at Plymstock.
To help you with this adjustment, we will be sharing with you some useful links, book recommendations and general information to prepare your for your Plymstock reading journey...
For more information on the book 'Darkmouth' mentioned in today's video, please go to What Shall I read Next?
To listen to the author talk about this book, go towww.youtube.com/watch?v=DZrGhXV_SOE
Hello Again, welcome to another reading journey video. This week's video features the book 'Darkmouth' by Shane Hegarty.
New words or sayings from this week's video:
'Be all and end all' means 'the most important thing' and was first introduced to the English language by William Shakespeare!
Reading is not the 'be all and end all' of your school life, but it is a very important part of it.
'Invariably' means 'happens all the time' or 'always'
It invariably rains on the days we have decided to go to the park!
'Blurb' means a short description of what the book is about - usually found on the back cover but sometimes inside the front page
Miss Hogben chose to read 'Darkmouth' because it had a really good blurb.
'entice' means to attract or tempt
The book's cover was colourful and bright to entice the student to take it out of the library.
Hello Again, welcome to another reading journey video. This week's book is 'The Boy at the Back of the Class' by Onjali Q Rauf.
New words or sayings from this week's video:
'Overwhelming' means 'very strong' or 'a great amount of'.
Refugee
(Refugee comes from the word 'refuge' which means 'shelter from danger or trouble)
A refugee is a person who has come from another country because they have had to escape a terrible situation (e.g. war, persecution (treated badly by someone over a long period of time), natural disaster (like an earthquake or tsunami))
If you would like to find out more about refugees, go to the link below:
https://www.bbc.co.uk/bitesize/clips/zbrd2hv
In September ,you will meet lots of new students so it is really important to remember to treat others as you would want to be treated yourself... always, always be kind to each other :)
We will start with some recommended reads for Year 6 transition...
Some really helpful online reading sites offering FREE online reading books!
Audible is allowing you to stream a huge range of children's books for FREE as long as schools are closed! This is a fantastic opportunity -especially for those of you who are unable to access books.
myOn by Renaissance are offering free online books to support reading at KS 2 and reluctant readers in KS 3
Go to...
'Oxford Owl' have free audio and ebooks for students needing extra support with their reading - most helpful for students who would normally have a reading mentor or literacy leader.
https://www.oxfordowl.co.uk/for-home/find-a-book/library-page/
Please be aware that some of the books opened without any words!
