The nights are dark and cold but never fear, the holidays are nearly here so start getting in the mood and curl up with a Wintery book or DVD from the Library. Here are this years top picks from the BGS Library Team:
The Wolf Wilder
by Katherine Rundell
This book is not so much about
Christmas specifically but a perfect read to be tucked up with this winter holiday.
It transports you to the wilderness of Russia were a dessert of snow, icy winds
and dense forest are your only surroundings. Feo is a ‘wolf wilder’, she ‘re-wilds’
the wolves rejected by the privileged in a world where they are status objects
for the rich and idle; pets to be over-fed with caviar and trained to shoot
guns with their muzzles. The people are afraid of wild wolves and fear makes
them violent. Soldiers are sent from St Petersburg and the battle begins in the
cold tundra between man and nature. I recommend this for fans of Russian
mythology, fairy tales turned on their head and…animals! I challenge you not to
feel the crunch of snow under your feet and the nip of the wind at your nose
while reading this funny and enchanting story of passion and friendship against
all odds. Suitable for Year 7+
Ms J
Mistletoe Bride and Other Haunting Tales
by Kate Mosse.
A great collection of ghostly
tales, each of which has their origin in folk legends or is inspired by the
author’s own experiences, set mainly in either the English countryside or in
France. The anthology comprises 14 stories and a short screenplay, each one
accompanied by a short explanation as to Mosse’s inspiration for the story. The
first one is narrated by the ghost herself and is set at her wedding at
Christmas. Brilliant and very creepy! Suitable for Year 7+
Mrs G
Letters from Father Christmas by
J.R.R Tolkien
This is a charming read to really get you
in the mood for Christmas. Tolkien wrote a letter each December to his children
(bearing a stamp from the North Pole).
Each letter contained a wonderful tale of life at the North Pole
accompanied by a beautiful colour drawing. The anecdotes describe his house,
friends and various events (often shocking or very funny). My favourite story
(though it is very difficult to choose) was when The North Polar Bear (Father
Christmas’ helper) set off the biggest firework ever by turning on the “Rory
Bory Aylis firework tap” which turned the North Pole black, shook the stars out
of place & broke the moon into four (the Man in the Moon tumbled into
Father Christmas’ back garden)! Each story is a little atmospheric slice of Christmas,
a perfect way to get in the festive spirit! Suitable for Year 7 +
Mrs S
Twas the Nightshift Before Christmas
by Adam Kay
Having
really enjoyed Adam Kay’s debut bestseller This Is Going to Hurt, I was
looking forward to his second publication. With several hours to kill on a train,
I settled down to Nightshift and it did not disappoint. Kay spent six of
his seven years as a junior doctor working over Christmas and this is a
hilariously rude and sometimes poignant tribute to the NHS and the staff who
keep it going over the festive period. It’s also very informative, with
footnotes galore. Kay does not hold back and some stories will make you marvel
at the strange things folk get up to. Others will make you quite sad and not
just because of the loneliness and loss that hospital staff regularly
witness. The effect of political interference and dwindling resources and
how staff do their best in spite of this is also clearly illustrated. If you’re
not squeamish or easily offended (I wouldn’t give this to younger pupils) then
I would thoroughly recommend this pithy book, particularly the alternative
Christmas message at the end. Suitable for Age 15+
Mrs O.
And here are our fabulous Pupil Librarian reviews, thanks guys! 😃
Ice
Age 4: Continental Drift DVD
I think this is an extraordinary film that
will make a classic Christmas Eve tradition. It brings all of your favourite
characters together, and even introduces some memorable new ones! It has a
dramatic yet hilarious story line that is bound to keep your family up late, so
make sure you have some hot chocolate near by to keep you awake! Rated U.
Sam Snary (8ST), Pupil Librarian
Mistletoe and Murder by
Robin Stevens
This
is a really good murder mystery to keep you up on Christmas Eve. It is filled
with plot twists which keep the two protagonists on their feet. Daisy Wells and
Hazel Wong are sent to Cambridge University for Christmas. There, they discover
all sorts of odd accidents, until one prank goes wrong. It is the fifth book in
Robin Steven’s Murder Most Unladylike series. If you enjoy Agatha Christie’s
books, such as Hercule Poirot’s Christmas then you will love this. Suitable for Year 7+
Rebecca
Lucas (8ST), Pupil Librarian
So there you have it, our students prescribe movies, murder mysteries and hot chocolate this Christmas. You know what to do. Merry Christmas everyone!