Book reviews and more....

Sorry for my lack of updates, but my head is still brimming after the amazing YLG/SLA/SLG conference. I have also joined the CILIP South East branch of the YLG group and will become a co-secretary. It was so rewarding to meet with other professionals who are passionate about children's literature. I was made to feel very welcome and I'm looking forward to helping out on future projects with the group.

I must include a short review on the 3 books that have stood out for me so far this year.....

• The Demon's Watch by Conrad Mason
• Bzrk by Michael Grant
• Butterfly Summer by Anne-Marie Conway

'The Demon's Watch' was a thoroughly enjoyable read. When I first received the book I was slightly reluctant and thought I'd have to force myself to finish it. I was really pleasantly surprised. There are some great twists - which I definitely did not see coming. Well-formed characters that you both root for and sometimes pity. The setting was amazing, I could imagine being there and I wanted to join the Demon's Watch and have my own shark tattoo! I don't want to ruin the story (which is why I am not going in to too much detail), but I would say it was for both sexes and a great adventure story. There are twists on the conventions normally expected and this makes an exciting and unexpected read.

I was lucky enough to meet Conrad Mason, as he came to do some talks in Medway libraries. Seeing his initial thoughts and illustrations made me like the book even more! I can't wait to read the second instalment!

'Bzrk' - as a huge fan of the 'Gone' series, I was excited about reading another one of Michael Grant's books. His writing draws you in and you feel as if you must read to the end to escape the World. There is a huge shock at the beginning, this hooked me in and I knew this would be an unforgiving book as far as the characters were concerned. I must admit that some scenes made me cringe, I really felt as though I were watching it happen and I will never look at an eyeball the same way again! I don't want to include any spoilers, but the use of future technology is cleverly used and reflects a vision of a frightening future. This is definitely one for the older teenager.

'Butterfly Summer' - I received a proof copy of this book from the conference. It happened to be the first book I picked up out of my massive pile of proofs and I'm so glad that it was. The dark secrets hidden and the effect of these secrets on the characters is subtly conveyed. The language is achingly beautiful in places and the reader is drawn into a world full of unanswered questions and pain. The description of the butterflies makes the book magical. I enjoyed reading this and again there is a huge twist, but I won't reveal any spoilers!

Happy reading everyone!  

YLG/SLA/SLG joint conference. 8th-10th June 2012. Old Windsor.

YLG/SLA/SLG joint conference. 8^th-10^th June 2012. Old Windsor.

  I was extremely lucky and won the CILIP YLG funding to attend this conference. As soon as I saw the programme I started getting excited! The 3 days would be crammed with interesting workshops, author talks and presentations. I immediately highlighted the workshops I wanted to attend and then ordered all my books to be signed.

  As soon as I pulled up to the grandiose hotel, I knew we were going to be spoilt. I wasn’t wrong; the rooms were amazing, as was the food. The hotel staff couldn’t do enough for us and were always on hand for any queries. They were very patient when I asked for directions yet again – it was a huge building!

  We dived straight in on Friday and my first burst of excitement was when Korky Paul did his author talk. The giant Winnie the Witch he created was amazing and drawn so quickly. It was a good job that someone claimed the picture before a Librarian fight broke out! Korky was a pleasure to meet and happily signed all of my books, even adding extra sketches for me. I may have gushed slightly at him, but he was lovely and not at all scared!

  The talk on technology by Jonathan Douglas (NLT), Dave Coplin (Microsoft) and Bev Humphrey (Independent trainer), made me consider my own use of technology. It was really useful to hear a talk that made me question my own way of working. They rightly concluded that technology is key for engaging the younger generations and it was the nudge I needed to find out more about what is on offer.  Since then I have started using Twitter more productively and I am trying to post on this Blog on a frequent basis.

  Meeting other professionals from both public and school libraries was fascinating. Some preconceptions existed and I really hope this conference was an education for both sides. I know I definitely learnt some new ways of working with schools and made some excellent school contacts (who I can now pick the brains of!). Nikki Heath’s workshop helped to add to this knowledge and it was useful to view things from a school library perspective. The practical use of Book Idol also made this workshop stand out for me and I will be using that in the future.

  The Breakfast Sessions were an added bonus and waking up with Jeanne Willis and Ros Asquith made me smile for the whole day. Other author highlights were meeting Angie Sage, who I fawned over and declared my love for Septimus; hearing Morris Gleitzman’s after dinner speech and reading of ‘After’; and listening to the lovely Maggie Stiefvater, who had come all the way from America.

  The publishers and stallholders were extremely patient with us and I am grateful for all of the freebies. I can’t wait to start reading through the proof copies. It was an absolute pleasure being able to attend. To be with so many like-minded people and have such interesting discussions was incredible. I am just starting to cascade the information I gathered to library staff and I can’t wait to apply some of the tips to my job.

  I’m already excited about next year; I will definitely be there again. So bring on September 2013!

I thought I'd try something a bit different. I've always loved poems that form words, so I thought I would give this a go. I've had lots of hospital visits in the past year and so this is quite personal. If this doesn't appear very clearly on here, then my word for this weekend was Doctor and this spells out Doc...

Doctor

Healing Hands

Reassurance

Slicing

                                                             Needle

                                                         Unconscious

                                                            Unaware

   Pain

    

      Unsteady

Try             Cry

Push

Grab

Wobble       Stand

       Grateful

 

 

 

 

My new short story based on a pair of spectacles!

Cunning Plan!

So how do you trick someone into wearing glasses? Glue them on while they sleep? Tell them glasses will make them look much younger? Show them photographs of all the famous spectacle wearers?

Well I’ve tried all of these and so far there has been maximum resistance. William would rather be covered in bruises and hold his menu as far away as possible than risk being seen in glasses. It must stem from his childhood, I know ‘four eyes’ was a regular taunt at school, but even so - at 50 you think he would accept his age and diminishing eyesight.

I daren’t let him read a map; last time he had to navigate we ended up in Wales. I wouldn’t have minded but we were en route to France!

So this is how I came up with my ultimate plan, I knew I would have to use all my cunning to get those glasses on him. It’s amazing what people will do for money. Every person on my street suddenly needed glasses. Not a single person was spec free. Well William is not one to be left out, so off we went to Specsavers and that was that!

William loves his glasses and claims he is ‘the envy of the street’. I have to hide my smug smile every time he coos over those spectacles. I knew I would win in the end!