This book has 10 short horror stories. My fave story was “The Beach”, this story is about a dead girl who becomes friends with this boy, and thinks she is alive. It has interesting twists in it too. I thought that some of the stories i.e The Shepherds Room, were quite boring because it wasn’t scary and only got a tiny bit good 3/4 through the story. I recommend this book to people who want to read a Horror book but do not want to be too scared. The author is Robert Westall.

Overall Rating : 6/10

By Jessica 8c

On the 27th of March the best-selling author F.E. Higgens visited the whole of year seven and did two 50 minute session of reading,acting and having fun.

First of all we bundled into the drama studio where we met F.E. Higgens but we werent sure which women was her as there were three possible candidates. The first was a teacher at DGGS, the second was  the owner of the Sandwhich bookshop and the third turned out to be F.E. Higgens whose name is really Fiona. 

F.E Higgins began the session by reading out an extract from her new book, The bone magician, before calling up a few lucky pupils to act out scenes from the book. The acting was really fun and we all enjoyed watching and performing some of the beginning scenes from the book… but remember,Madam Du bonar does NOT answer questions about chickens! (Read the book to find out more!!) 

The bone magician brings dead bodies back to life for people who pay him so they can have one last moment with there beloved. After we finished acting we all asked questions about writing’acting or anything really!! Overall this visit was just as great as the Kelly McKain visit earlier this year and on behalf of the rest of year seven I would like to say thank you to those involved in organising the day, and to F.E Higgins herself. I think we all really enjoyed this visit.

Grace 7N

Jordan dressed up as Madam Du Bonar - the talking skeleton in the Bone Magician

Ingo by Helen Dunmore

Swimming, surfing, exploring – Sapphire and her brother Conor enjoy life by the sea in
Cornwall. But why does Conor start disappearing for hours on end? And who is the mysterious girl talking to him on the rocks. Following Conor down to the cove one day, Sapphire discovers Ingo – an exciting and dangerous world beneath the waves, where all you breathe is adventure…

The Supernaturalist by Eoin Colfer 

SATELLITE CITY, NORTHERN HEMISPHERE, SOON: Cosmos Hill is a human guinea pig in an orphanage used by corporations to test new products. Statistics say he has about a year left to live – unless he escapes. But escapes to what? To a world of high-tech gang warfare, swat teams of paralegals and a plague of four-fingered parasites who are invisible to everyone except three misfits who call themselves the Supernaturalists. Could Cosmo be one of them? Are they the family he’s always wanted? And if he does become a Supernaturalist. Could Cosmo be one of them? Are they the family he’s always wanted? And if he does become a Supernaturalist, will his life get any longer – or a whole lot shorter?

 Lucky Star by Cathy Cassidy

Mouse is doing his best o stay out of trouble. Cat is doing her best to land herself in it. They’ve both had it pretty tough so when they meet by chance they thank their lucky stars. Weird and wonderful things happen when they’re together – but how long can it last? Because everyone has their secrets – and there can only be one winner in a game of cat and mouse. Can’t there?

Diary of a Chav: Trainers v Tiaras by Grace Dent

…TUESDAY – 8PM. Soapstars on skates is on TV and our Staffy’s snout is jammed up my armpit. Dad’s got out the karaoke machine, Mum’s setting fire to the kitchen – least that’s what it smells like – and
Nan has dropped-off on the couch. Yeah, Bored! But hey,
Nan’s got me a buff leather diary for Christmas! So now, I – Shiraz Bailey Wood – can write down all my ‘goings on’: hanging round Burger King Car Park in Bezzie’s Vauxhall Nova. Falling out with my hippy sister. Trying not to murder my little bruv. Definitely NOT thinking about school… keeping it real…

Diary of a Chav: Slinging the Bling by Grace Dent 

OH MY DAYS! I’ve only gone and passed all my GCSEs! Dad and Cava Sue are chuffed to bits. Murphy reckons I cheated. Mum is pulling her best dog’s bum face. She’s not happy, I can tell… So Mayflower Sixth Form here I come! Time to ditch the gold hoops and the spray tan and get myself a long scarf, some A4 folders and a new pencil case. Shiraz Bailey Wood is entering a new phase. Clever, sophisticated and definately not skiving off… staying real…

Ruby in the Smoke by Philip Pullman 

Soon after Sally Lockhart’s father drowns at sea, she receives a strange anonymous letter. The dire warning it contains makes a man die of fear at her feet. Determined to discover the truth about her father’s death, Sally is plunged into a terrifying mystery in the dark heart of Victorian London, at the centre of which lies a deadly blood-soaked jewel.

The Book Thief by Markus Zusak 

1939. Nazi
Germany. The country is holding its breath. Death has never been busier. Liesel, a nine-year-old girl is living with a foster family on

Her parents have been taken away to a concentration camp. Liesel steals books. This is her story and the story of the inhabitants of her street when the bombs begin to fall. This novel is narrated by death… death will visit the book thief three times.

Sweet Valley High:Double Love by Francine Pascal 

Elizabeth and Jessica Wakefield are identical twins at Sweet Valley High. They’re both popular, smart, and gorgeous, but that’s where the similarity ends.
Elizabeth is friendly, outgoing and sincere – nothing like her twin. Snobbish and conniving, Jessica thinks the whole world revolves around her. Trouble is, most of the time it does. Jessica always gets what she wants – at school, with friends, and especially with boys. This time, Jessica has set her sights on Todd Wilkins, the handsome star of the basketball team – the one boy Elizabeth really likes. Now, it’s a game of double love, with Todd as first prize. Elizabeth doesn’t want to lose him, but what Jessica wants, Jessica usually gets… even if it ends up hurting her sister. Meet the Wakefield twins, their guys, and the rest of the gang at Sweet Valley High…

Eagle Strike by Anthony Horowitz 

Relaxing in the South of France reluctant MI6 agent Alex Rider is finally able to feel like any ordinary fouteen year old – until a sudden, ruthless attack on his hosts plunges him back into a world of violence and mystery. And this time MI6 don’t want to know. Alex is determined to track down his friends attackers, even if he must do it alone. But it’s a path that leads to a long buried secret – and a discovery more terrible than anything he could have imagined.

The Black Book of Secrets by F.E Higgins

When Ludlow Fitch suffers an unspeakable betrayal he runs from the rotten, stinking City. On the night he enters Pagus Parvus a second newcomer arrives at the remote village. Joe Zabbidou, a mysterious pawnbroker who buys people’s deepest, darkest secrets, is searching for new customers – and for an apprentice. Shadowy Ludlow seems perfect for the job. But as he begins his new life recording the villager’s fiendish confessions, Ludlow’s murky past threatens to come into the light…

On Thursday 17^th July, Author Kelly Mckain visited DGGS. Kelly spent all day talking to students about what it was like to be a writer, and also helping them to develop their own stories and characters. At the end of a long day, Sophie, Grace and Reporter Hannah sat down with Kelly. Sophie and Grace asked the questions whilst reporter Hannah captured this exclusive DGGS interview on her secret recording device aimed to catch out the celebs ….Here is the interview. 

Grace: What inspired you to start writing?

Kelly: I don’t know really, I just seem to have always been writing because I really enjoy it.

Grace: How did you come up with the name for the Totally Lucy books?

Kelly: We started doing literal names like Fantasy Fashion and Make Over Magic. And once we did that they all had to follow the same pattern. Generally you come up with one and you know it works. We had one recently where we thought we were going to call the book Dream Designs, but then changed it to Planet fashion as it sounded better.

Grace: Do you like the idea of Totally Lucy being a TV series. And if it was a TV series would you like to be involved in the casting?

Kelly: I would love it to be a TV series, and be involved in casting but the author is usually the last person who is consulted., and of course if I was in charge you 2 would be in it

Grace: Do you think the Totally Lucy series would be as successful if Lucy was not in to fashion if Jules was not a rock chic and if Tilda was not a braniac?

Kelly: That’s a really good question as obviously if they were not who they are, it would be a completely different book. I’m sure it would still be a fun, but I like the fact that they are all so different but they are still friends, and they don’t expect people to be the same as them in order for them to be friends.

Grace: Could you relate any of Lucy’s adventures to your own?

Kelly: No I wish we had, had a catwalk thing at school and that I had been in a movie, all of that stuff, but obviously it is made more exciting because it is in a book, real life is not like that. Although I was an extra in a TV series once which was fun, so I sort of know about that a little bit. And I did a little bit of modelling when I was younger, but it’s not like it is in the books.  

Sophie: what TV series was it?

Kelly: Oh love stories… I think its probably on UK TV gold now, I was only 16. I was in scene where your were not aloud to talk while the actors were talking, but I was in like a group where I was drinking, eating and chatting – but I was not aloud to make any noise.  So you have to really exaggerate movements.  ;-)

Sophie: Are Lucy or Jules based on anyone you know?    

Kelly: Not really, I have a friend called Lucy and a friend called Jessica who are both into fashion design so that is where Lucy’s name came from. Lucy is probably based on me in some ways because I have a little brother, and it was just me my mom and my brother. Also my dad is very much like Lucy’s dad, and sometimes I worry that my dad is going to be offended by the books saying things like ‘he is an immature man’ . But he doesn’t seem to mind, so that is ok.

Sophie: Do you think the totally Lucy series should be continued with Lucy growing up into an adult and becoming an inspiration to older readers?

Kelly: That is a really good question, but I don’t think it can continue as I cant make her 14, 15, or 16 in the books as the subject matter is going to be to grown up for the people who are reading it now. So for now we will have to stop, maybe in future we can carry on with her as an adult.

Sophie: Would you start to write another series of books about somebody from Lucy’s family?

Kelly: That would be a good idea. I had thought of writing about Jules winning a scholarship at a stage school in London and having a Just Jules type book and having a sort of Angel/ Buffy situation where Lucy makes a ‘guest appearance’ occasionally. But I don’t know really if I am just better to leave them as they are.

Sophie: How old were you when you first started writing?

Kelly: As soon as I could write I started writing stories, but I have always really loved doing it. I used to want to be a journalist, I don’t know why but I didn’t realise that writing stories was actually a proper job so I thought being a journalist was the next best thing.

Sophie: Out of Jules, Tilda and Lucy who would you say you are most like and why?

Kelly: Probably Lucy in some ways in that her family and my family are very similar, and because she is the main character a lot of my experiences are things I have drawn on. I would like to be more like Tilda, only really I don’t think I am but I would like to be. Sometimes I would like to be more like Jules as I am sometimes  shy, and she is like ‘hey, lets go and do this’ but I’m not really. Who are you most like?

Sophie: I don’t know really…

Kelly: You are like Jules Hannah as your all like a Goth princess..

Hannah: There you go Jules has got a sister…

Kelly: We need a more Spanish name though

Hannah: Brie like the cheese…  

Born to run was first class doggy spetacular by the award winning author michael morpurgo. It all begins with a boy called patrick who think that he is hard done by until a glorious event changes his life forever. But this all changes when the thing he loves so much in the whole wide world is taken from him by the man who he thought was bossy.

Review by Cate 7N

 

Michael Murpurgo often describes himself rather unflatteringly as ‘oldish, married with three children, and a grandfather six times over’. He went to schools in both Canterbury and Surrey, and decided after finishing school to enter into the teaching profession. However he soon discovered his real interest lay in writing children’s books.  

Like most authors Michael does not simply sit in confinement taping away at a typewriter but gathers his inspiration from people, places and stories he hears. His stories subtly blend together elements of truth, history and reality.  Each novel takes about six months to write. 

Here are a selection of Michael Morpurgo books we have in our Library and briefly what they are about:  

The Amazing Story of Adolphos Tips

The incredible tale of a deserted village, a lifelong friendship, and one very adventurous cat. It’s 1943, Lily Tregenza lives on a farm in a seaside village and her life is scarcely touched by the war. Until the day when the villagers are told to move out of their homes – lock, stock and barrel. Soon the whole area is out of bounds as the allied forces prepare to invade France. But Tips, Lily’s adored cat, has other ideas – and returns to the forbidden area. Frantic to find her, Lily decides to enter the danger zone to look for Tips herself… 

The Butterfly Lion

Bertie rescues an orphaned white lion cub from the African Veld. They are inseparable until Bertie is sent to boarding school far away in England and the lion is sold to a circus. Bertie swears that one day they will see one another again, but the butterfly lion ensures that their friendship will never be forgotten. 

Cool

Robbie lies in a coma, after a terrible car accident involving his dog, Lucky. He can hear, but he can’t move or speak. He can’t tell his family that he loves them that he’s going to be OK. Everyone comes to visit Robbie, desperate to reach him – even the famous Chelsea footballer Zola. But Robbie is on the brink of death and nothing is working. Will they ever be able to bring him back? 

King of the Cloud Forest

When Japan invades China, Ashley and Uncle Sung are forced to flee. It is a perilous journey across the Himalayas, and they struggle to survive. Then Ashley is captures. Who are these strange creatures that revere him as their King? 

Kensuke’s Kingdom

Washed up on an island in the Pacific, Michael struggles to survive on his own. With no food and no water, he curls up to die. When he wakes, there is a plate beside him of fish, of fruit, and a bowl of fresh water. He is not alone… 

Private Peaceful

As young Thomas Peaceful looks back over his childhood from the war-torn battlefields of France, his memories are full of family life deep in the countryside. But the clock is ticking, and every moment Tommo spends remembering how things used to be, means another moment closer to something which will change his life for ever. 

Long Way Home

George doesn’t want to spend his summer with another foster family, and Tom is angry that George is coming to stay. But then disaster strikes and Tom realises that George is like a brother. Has George finally found a place to call home? 

Why the Whales Came

Gracie and Daniel have been warned to stay away from the mad Birdman, but the message in the sand tells them the Birdman isn’t what he seems. Then they get lost in the fog and stranded on Salmon Island – should they believe the Birdman’s story that the island is cursed? 

Dear Olly

Matt wouldn’t look at her as he spoke. ‘I’m going to be a clown, Olly, I mean a real clown. And now I know where I’m going to do it. I’m going where my swallows go. I’m going to Africa’. As Olly waits for her brother’s letters, she watches the swallows preparing to leave for the winter. Hero the swallow starts his journey to Africa, not knowing the terrible dangers he will meet on the way. And when Matt sees the children in the African orphanage – sick, injured and lonely – he knows he’s made the right decision, but he never could have dreamt of what was going to happen to him there… A story in three movements, told by three voices – a lyrical tale of family, love and determination. 

Toro Toro

Antonito lives an idyllic life on his parent’s bull farm in Spain. But the idyll is shattered when he realises that his calf, Paco, is destined for the bullring. What can he do? He has a daring plan, but it will take enormous courage to see it through. Because it is 1936, and the drums of war are echoing across Spanish Plains… 

Escape from Shangri-La

Popsicle had come out of nowhere, out of the blue, to be my grandfather; and nothing and no one would or could ever be the same again. Cessie is determined to help Popsicle remember his past. But how can she help when he only remembers in glimpses? A tin of condensed milk, a lifeboat, a woman named Lucie Alice, and a devastating night on the beaches of Dunkirk during World War II.   

This term Year 7 have been extremely lucky as DGGS Library signed up to a nation wide scheme called ‘Booked-Up’. This scheme gave every year 7 in our school the opportunity to choose a free book. There were 12 different titles they could choose from. Many of the Year 7’s found it very hard to choose as the choice available was really excellent. 

Even if you are not in year 7 you can still read these books as the Library has copies of all of them. Here is a little bit of information about each of them. Which one would you choose? 

Ring of words edited by Roger McGough: This book encourages children to see poetry as something lively and entertaining whic everybody can enjoy.

Dream on by Bali Ray: Baljit’s mates knew what was what. If you were good at football, really good, you could go places. But all his old man ever talked about was duty to family and paying bills. Baljit couldn’t just go on working in his old man’s chippie. He wanted out!

I Coriander by Sally Gardner: My name is Coriander Hobie and I was born in 1643, the only child of Eleanor and Thomas Hobie. I live in London by the great bridge. Of my early years I remember only happiness. That was until my mother died and my step-mother came to live with us, and I was locked up in a chest and left to die. This is my story.

Freak the Mighty by Rodman Philbrick: Max is used to being called stupid. And he is used to everyone being scared of him. On account of his size and the fact he looks like his dad. Kevin is used to being called Dwarf. On account of his size and the fact that he he is just ’some cripple kid’. But greatness comes in all sizes and together Max and Kevin become Freak the Mighty and walk tall above the rest of the world.

A Dog Called GRK by Joshua Doder: What would you do if you found a dog in the street? Would you return him to his owners? Even if they were a thousand miles away – and in prison? Tim finds a stray dog on the way home from school, but his parents refuse to let it into their house. He knows what he has to do. He catches a plane to Eastern Europe… He will have to break into a high security prison, pilot a helicopter, and make a nail-biting run for the border in his high-octane adventure with a dog called Grk.

Framed by Frank Cotrrell Boyce: Dylan Hughes is more interested in the Ninja Turtles than in the Renaissance artists they are named after. But then Dad leaves home and, overnight, nine-year old Dylan must become the man of the household and boss of the failing family business. A masterpiece worth a mint might be just what they all need…

Journey to the River Sea by Eva Ibbotson: The girls in Maia’s class told her what to expect when she reached the Brazilian jungle. ‘There are huge mosquitoes which bite you. You turn as yellow as a lemon and then you die.’ But Maia, an orphan, can’t wait to start the long sea voyage. She is to begin a new life with relatives she has never met, a thousand miles up the Amazon river. And  Maia’s classmates could never, even in their wildest dreams, imagine the adventures that await her on the shores of the River Sea.

Evil Inventions by Nick Arnold: It’s time to gear up for some Evil Inventions! Dare you discover: the bottom-stabbing bike saddle? The head-chopping machine operated by a sheep? The terrible toilet snorkel? If you think you can stomach the sick side of science, then read on as we get to grips with the gruesome gadgets and murderous machines that killed their inventors! With fantastic fact files, quirky quizzes and crazy cartoons, Evil Inventions is buzzing with brilliant brainwaves!

Cloud Busting by Malorie Blackman: Davey is a new boy and Sam can’t stand him. He thinks Davey is a first-class, grade A, top-of-the-dung-heap moron. But when the two are thrown together, Sam discovers that Davey’s eccentric way of looking at the world makes life a lot more exciting. Until something terrible happens…

Unbelievable by Paul Jennings:  If you like stories weird, funny and unbelievable then read on… Oragons in drains with green teeth and red eyes? A Snookle in the milk bottle? Superman trying to get in through the window? Ghosts taking exams? Believe it or not… it’s all in here, so see for yourself and read on.

Saffy’s Angel by Hilary McKay: Caddy is the eldest. She’s on her ninety-sixth driving lesson and she’s mad about her gorgeous instructor. Indigo is an outrageous cook and survives as the only boy in a pack of girls. Rose, the youngest, is a whiz at art, and knows just how to manage her parents. And outsider Saffy – she’s simply in search of her angel …

Mortal Engines by Philip Reeve: For too long, London has been hiding in the hills, safe from bigger, faster, HUNGRIER cities. Now London must feed. But as the chase begins, events within the walls take a sinister turn…

“…Book seven lacks much of the charm and humour that distinguished Rowling’s earliest books.” Writer Mary Carole McCauley

Personally I, like many others find the last Harry Potter satisfying as an end to the series. It is well written and answers any questions that have been on our minds since the first chapter of the first book all those years ago, as well as containing some pleasant and unsettling surprises. Despite her fortune being estimated at £545 million Rowling delivers the same, if not better book from all of the others.  

However if you have not yet finished reading the last book you have all of these enjoyable yet sometimes chilling surprises in store.  

‘Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix’ has been released for sometime now, but I have not had a chance to see it. I was slightly disappointed by the bad reviews that I have read on the Internet about it, yet was pleased by the good reviews it received in the newspapers. Personally I found ‘Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire’ (the film) to be complete rubbish. It did not stay true to the book that was jam packed full of detail and excitement. The film also misses out my favourite scene from the book- the kitchens in Hogwarts. This, to me is a key part to the storyline as it explains Winky’s (Barty Crouch’s house elf) involvement with Barty Crouch Jr and how she helps protect him under the invisibility cloak.  

Although there are many faults in ‘the Order of the Phoenix’ it does not stop me from enjoying all of the other films. My favourite so far has been ‘Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban’. Although the book was admittedly not my favourite, I still enjoyed the film because of the dark way it was portrayed. I also loved the way the special effects were used in the scenes with the time-turner. I also liked the techniques that were used on the ‘whomping willow’.

In general I feel that out of the Potter films that I have seen ‘the Prisoner of Azkaban’ has been the best made one and it is the film that I loved the most.  

FACTS

☺   Rowling is the 13^th richest woman in Britain

☺   ‘Sunday Times Rich List 2007′ estimated Rowling’s fortune at £545 million

☺   The Potter series has sold more than 325 million books in 65 languages

☺   In October 1998 Warner bros. bought the film rights for a seven figure sum

☺   Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix earned £454 million around the world 

Article by Hannah 10H