Here is an update from Ms Wernham on the Sackville Book Club.
This half term we have had the first 2 meetings of the new KS3 book club ‘All Booked Up!’ Where our keenest readers meet once a month to discuss and choose the next book we will be reading.
Our first ever meeting on 29th September in the LRC saw our founding members discuss how they order their bookshelves at home, their favourite genres and a few tasty chocolate brownies were consumed.
Then we moved on to researching the three books on offer for our first read – ‘Mortal Engines’ by Philip Reeve, ‘Maggot Moon’ by Sally Gardner or ‘Whispers in the Graveyard’ by Teressa Breslin.
After some extensive searching of other reviews and blurbs of the books a vote was taken and ‘Mortal Engines’ by Philip Reeve was chosen.
We also discussed the merits and drawbacks of all reading the same book but we decided that we wanted to discuss the book together at our next meeting without risking any spoilers. Everyone agreed to bring some notes and questions of our own with us to discuss next time. Each member was given a notebook to fill in and decorate and signed up to the online book review app ‘GoodReads’ to share our progress and reviews.
At the second meeting on 20th October everyone discussed the main characters in ‘Mortal Engines’, their feelings on the ending of the book and the use of language and description. A real range of opinions was shared and everyone went on to write their own review of the book and a paragraph from a different character’s perspective. Please see some of these below!
Finally it was time to vote on our next book for the month – we were offered a range of brand new books with perfectly unbroken spines and shiny pristine covers. On reading the blurbs we found it difficult to reach a consensus but finally picked ‘Skywake Invasion’ by Jamie Russell and made sure we polished off all of the cupcakes.
It’s not too late to get involved if you want to join our book club, just pop in to see Ms. Wernham in D16 to get a copy of the latest book choice and join us in the LRC on Wednesday 24th November at 2.35pm to 3.35pm to discuss books and eat cake!
Book Reviews of ‘Mortal Engines’ by Philip Reeve
I give this book a four star review.
I found it very interesting and exciting and I absolutely love the ending.
The story follows the main two characters Hester Shaw and a Third Class Apprentice called Tom. There is London on tracks, it tries to kill other small cities. In the end London builds a super weapon and Tom and Hester nearly get killed.
I would recommend this book to anyone above the age of 8 who is a good reader.
James Coates 7ACE
It was very slow moving at the beginning, then almost too fast-paced at the end. I thought the characters were a bit shallow and lacked development over the book. The dystopian world was quite interesting. I thought Tom’s clashes with the anti-tractionists were very interesting. Some characters were introduced for no real reason. Overall, I would give this book 3.5 stars out of 5.
Phoebe Kelly 7DPT
Rewriting from a different character’s point-of-view based on ‘Mortal Engines’ by Philip Reeve
When the stalkers bring me into the room I see MEDUSA for the first time. I don’t focus on it though. All I see is Valentine staring at me. The whole time I was thinking about Shrike. I wanted to see him badly, I wanted him to be proud. I didn’t want him to see me in this weak state. As I was about to accept my fate, this girl Valentine had called his daughter had come out of nowhere and saved my life! I wish I could thank her but she hit her head on MEDUSA and gave it commands that made it do something crazy.
Abigail Mudd 8RSH
I looked down at Shrike as tears welled up in my eyes. “Oh, Shrike!” I whispered, falling to my knees and cradling in my arms. Shrike had been my hero, friend, mentor, I even thought of him as my family. “What did you do that for!” I screamed at Tom who was also on the ground staring at me in disbelief. How could he! Didn’t he know that I’d loved Shrike, almost as much as I’d hated Valentine!? He was going to make me everything I’d ever wanted to be! Someone who had no feelings, no memories, someone who didn’t remember all the pain that had happened in my life. This could have been the sharpest pain I’d ever experienced.
After explaining this to Tom I jumped to my feet. “I hate you, I hate you so much!” I sobbed while taking Shrikes hand.
Sophie Hewer 8THR
