READING IN REGISTRATION

The Graveyard book won The Carnegie Medal in 2010. 

Our Year 7 follow Nobody Owens as he explores the surroundings of his new home, a graveyard. Nobody, or Bod for short, meets some unusual characters on his journey - including The Man Jack who has been sent to kill him! 

IF YOU ENJOYED THE GRAVEYARD BOOK, TRY:

CURRICULUM INTENT:

Illegal is a graphic novel which tracks a young boy’s journey from Ghana to the ‘safety’ of Europe. The themes of human rights and politics are important in building our students' understanding of democracy, mutual respect and creating Globally aware readers.  

The form of the novel is very different from The Graveyard Book and exposes students to an innovative style of writing, which many students will not have encountered before. 

IF YOU ENJOYED ILLEGAL, TRY:

CURRICULUM INTENT: 

Written as a verse novel, each section is a standalone piece of poetry. This novel touches on the sensitive issue of a child losing a parent. Charlie Bell has a lot to overcome in life. Can he show resilience to rebound from what life has thrown at him?

Rebound is the third different form of storytelling year 7 have been exposed to in registration following on from The Graveyard Book and Illegal. 

IF YOU ENJOYED REBOUND, TRY:

CURRICULUM INTENT:

Jewell Parker Rhodes addresses the longstanding issue of racism and police violence in a sympathetic and dignified way. 

In the wake of the Black Lives Matter movement, this novel discusses both historical and current race issues. As a diverse and inclusive Academy, many of our students may relate to the issues raised. 

IF YOU ENJOYED GHOST BOYS, TRY:

CURRICULUM INTENT: 

Our first non-fiction text and our first local author. David Olusoga is a renowned British historian and has written several books, as well as presenting a number of historical television programmes. Black and British was awarded both the Longman-History Today Trustees Award 2017 and the PEN Hessell-Tiltman Prize 2017.  

By reading Black and British in registration, students in year 7 have an opportunity to revisit key knowledge from their History lessons earlier in the term.

IF YOU ENJOYED BLACK AND BRITISH, TRY:

CURRICULUM INTENT: 

This novel is set on the opposite banks of the Tyne, in Dunston and Whickham. 

The novel follows the story of Danny, a 14 year old boy struggling to know how best to help his mam through a difficult time. Themes of domestic violence are tackled in a thoughtful way, with the hope of a better future in the most unlikely of places. 

IF YOU ENJOYED ME MAM. ME DAD. ME. TRY:

CURRICULUM INTENT:

Long Way Down is a young adult novel, written in prose, that tells the story of a teenage boy, Will who is seeking revenge for the murder of his older brother. In their neighborhood, there are "street rules" which Will is expected to follow. So, he is expected to go after the murderer of his brother. 

Reynolds sensitively deals with the powerful emotions which follow grief and a mixture of toxic and positive male role models who impact Will's choices.

IF YOU ENJOYED LONG WAY DOWN, TRY:

CURRICULUM INTENT:

Aya is eleven years old and has just arrived in Britain with her mum and baby brother, seeking asylum from war in Syria. 

With beautiful, captivating writing, wonderfully authentic ballet detail, and an important message championing the rights of refugees, this is classic storytelling – filled with warmth, hope and humanity.

IF YOU ENJOYED NO BALLET SHOES IN SYRIA, TRY:

CURRICULUM INTENT:

"Her name was Sally Lockhart; and within fifteen minutes, she was going to kill a man." 

From page 1, the reader is thrown into the dangerous and mysterious world of nineteenth century London to solve a terrible crime. Who killed Sally's father? 

IF YOU ENJOYED THE RUBY IN THE SMOKE, TRY:

CURRICULUM INTENT:

We build on our exploration of verse novels (Long Way Down in Year 8) with this New York Times bestseller.

Xiomara Batista feels unheard and unable to hide in her Harlem neighborhood. Ever since her body grew into curves, she has learned to let her fists and her fierceness do the talking.

But Xiomara has plenty she wants to say, and she pours all her frustration and passion onto the pages of a leather notebook, reciting the words to herself like prayers, especially after she catches feelings for a boy in her bio class named Aman, who her family can never know about.

IF YOU ENJOYED POET X, TRY:

CURRICULUM INTENT:

Based on Lee Hall's award winning play script, Melvin Burgess' adaptation builds on the split perspectives from Salt to the Sea in year 8 with Billy and his dad Jackie both coming to terms with the changing landscape of the North East in the 1980s with the miners strikes. Billy looks for an unlikely escape in a stereotypically masculine mining town. 

IF YOU ENJOYED BILLY ELLIOT, TRY:

CURRICULUM INTENT:

Things are getting tense at home for Nicky and Kenny as they wait for a visit from their estranged mum. To escape, they go for a walk on the moors, taking their little Jack Russell terrier with them.

But what should have been a laugh, a lark, turns deadly when the weather changes and they are caught in a blizzard. Nothing will ever be quite the same again...

CURRICULUM INTENT:

Be prepared to hide behind a cushion for this one! Susan Hill takes us to Eel Marsh House, set out on an isolated causeway. Arthur Kipps must settle the affairs of the lady who lived there, but there's more to the house than some old papers... 

IF YOU ENJOYED THE WOMAN IN BLACK, TRY:

CURRICULUM INTENT:

Joe and Imogen seem like the perfect couple — they've been in a relationship for years and are the envy of their friends at school. But after accidentally becoming involved in a tragic fatal accident, they become embroiled in a situation out of their control, and Joe and Imogen's relationship slowly unravels until the truth is out there for all to see ... 

Structured around a dramatic and tense court case, the reader becomes both judge and jury in a stunning and page-turning novel of uncovering secrets and lies — who can be believed?

IF YOU ENJOYED WRECKED, TRY:

CURRICULUM INTENT:

Sixteen-year-old Starr Carter moves between two worlds: the poor neighborhood where she lives and the fancy suburban prep school she attends. The uneasy balance between these worlds is shattered when Starr witnesses the fatal shooting of her childhood best friend Khalil at the hands of a police officer. Khalil was unarmed.

IF YOU ENJOYED THE HATE U GIVE, TRY:

CURRICULUM INTENT: