Seen the movies? Read the books??

Last Friday saw the release of Breaking Dawn, the final Twilight movie. For many this will be a sad moment, whereas other will breathe a sigh of relief. If you are a real fan of Stephanie Meyer's books why not try:

"It's ok, I'm alive": survival stories

The latest Library display focuses on books about survival, something all S2 students should know more about after their week long 'State of emergency' activities. Here are the top 5 fiction books with a survival theme.

1. Robinson Crusoe by Daniel Defoe

The original story about surviving on a desert island. First published in 1719 this book is still an excellent read nearly 300 years later!

2. The dead and the gone by Susan Pfeffer

A tsunami hits New York City killing millions. Can the Morales children survive in the city asfood runs out and the city becomes ever more dangerous?

3. Ice claw by David GilmanDuring his attempt to win an extreme sports challenge Matt witnesses the death of a mysterious monk, who screams a cryptic clue as he falls. Now Matt is in a race - to survive.

4. Titanic 2020:Cannibal city by Colin Bateman

Jimmy and Claire are deserted by the new Titanic and find the world is in the hands of cannibals and gangs. Fighting for survival, all they have is - hope.

5.Gold of the gods by Bear GryllsAn exciting adventure story full of gruesome details and survival tips from the modern day master of survival.

Remembrance Day - 11.11.11

Visit the Library to find out everything you need to know about Remembrance Day. Why is there two minutes silence at eleven o'clock on the eleventh of November? Why do we wear poppies? Who wrote In Flanders Field? There is a mixture of fiction, poetry and non-fiction books on display.

You might find these books interesting:

If you liked 'The boy in the striped pyjamas' try...

Once

by Morris Gleitzman

The Mozart question
by Michael Morpuro

Emil and Karl

by Yankev Glatshteyn

Remember, remember the fifth of November

What do you know about Guy Fawkes and the Gunpowder plot of 1605? Why do we have fireworks and bonfires on the 5th November? If you want to find out all about this attempt to blow up the Houses of Parliament come along to the Library and find the answers to these and many more questions about this turbulent period in history.

Find out even more at: http://www.bbc.co.uk/history/.../gunpowder_robinson_01.shtml

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Gunpowder_Plot

National Non-Fiction Day

Thursday 3rd November is National Non-Fiction Day, so if you prefer facts to fantasy come along to the Library and browse the display of information books
available for loan. From Africa to Zoology and everything in between there is a book to suit everyone.

Halloween Horror

Like Horror? Find these books and many more in the Library on the Halloween display.

Second World War - in Scotland

Many of the fiction books written about the Second World War are often about the Nazi threat or are set in Europe. Author Sue Reid Sexton's book "Mavis's shoe" is set in Glasgow and focuses on the Clydebank Blitz of March 1941 when over 4000 bombs were dropped on the city killing over 500 people and leaving 35, 000 people homeless. The novel tells the story of Lennie a young girl who loses everything - family and home- in the bombing and is forced to flee to Carbeth, a hut community. The story is dramatic and moving, especially when Lennie decides to return to Clydebank to search for her missing sister, Mavis.

Other fiction books set during the Blitz include: Goodnight Mister Tom by Michelle Magorian, Ronnie's war by Bernard Ashley and Carrie's war by Nina Bawden

Homework Zone

Homework Zone starts again in the Library on Monday 3rd October. Open to students in all years from S1 to S6 it runs from 3.30pm until 4.30pm. If you need homework help, a teacher from each of the faculties will be available to offer assistance. For senior students there is an ever-expanding study support section, where you will find material to help with Standard Grade and Higher courses, as well as study skills books. The computers are available should you need to type an essay or do some research. So come along and get the help you need, when you need it and ease those homework anxieties!

Failte! European Day of Languages

Bonjour! Guten tag! Buon giorno! Buenos dias! Dzien dobry!Buna ziua! Madainn mhath!

Monday 26th of September is the 10th European Day of Languages to celebrate the Modern Langauges Department are running a Continental Cafe at breaktime for staff and students. To help improve your language skills come into the Library where there is a display of language books and dictionaries and to complement this display you can browse and borrow a selection of books about the countries of Europe.

Talk like a Pirate Day

Aaarrrr, me hearties !!

Monday 19th of September do be 'Talk like a Pirate Day'. Unfortunately landlubbers we will not be in school to indulge in a spot of pirate talk. But never ye mind, there be plenty of pirate loot in the Library! Pirate books both fiction and non-fiction be amassed on the shelves for ye to enjoy. So shake a leg and set sail for the Library and enjoy a pirate tale or two over the holiday weekend!

Read the Horrible Histories Handbook- Pirates, for all those gruesome facts about real-life pirates from an explanation of 'keel-hauling' to descriptions of delicious pirate food!

For an amazing fantasy story try: The last of the sky pirates. Or, read the sequel to the original Peter Pan story - Peter Pan in scarlet- and find out what new dangers face Wendy and the Lost Boys when they return to Neverland.

Scottish Childrens Book Awards 2011

Short-listed authors 2011

The Scottish Book Trust has announced their shortlist for the 2011 SC Book Awards (formerly the Royal Mail Book Awards). As usual Mrs Aitken is looking for students who would be interested in judging the books and voting for their favourite. If you are interested in taking part come and give your name to Mrs Aitlen in the Library and get information about the books on the shortlists. Also check out the Scottish Book Trust's website: http://www.scottishbooktrust.com/

Roald Dahl Day

Roald Dahl Day is celebrated every year on the 13th September. Roald Dahl - author of The Twits, The BFG and George's Marvellous Medicine (to name but a few) - was born on 13th September 1916. As well as all his wonderful children's books Roald Dahl also wrote stories for adults too. Roald Dahl died in 1990 at the age of 74. Even now, 21 years after he died, Roald Dahl's books are still read by children all over the world. Why not visit the Library and reread your favourite Roald Dahl book? For more information about Roald Dahl and many fun activities go to www.roalddahl.com/

Football Books

The football season is over, for some of us that might be a good thing, but for those of you missing your footie why not catch up on some football-related reading. Choose from both fiction and non-fiction reads.

Keeper by Mal Peet is a fictional story set in South America and tells the story of El Gato (the Cat) who rose from humble beginnings to become a World Cup-winning goalkeeper, and the mysterious Keeper, his mentor, who haunted a football pitch deep in the forest.

Golden girl Grace by Narinder Dhami (who also wrote Bend it like Beckham) is the story of teenager Grace who is the star striker of her football team. But Grace is having to grow up fast, her parents are divorcing and she has discovered - boys! What will she do when her father decides to move away? Will she move or is the football team more important to her than she realises?

If you want to improve your football skills whilst there is no football to watch try Football by Clive Gifford which gives you a step-by-step guide to essential football techniques - tackling, shooting, defending and heading are all covered.

See these books and more

on display in the Library.

Fantasy Fiction

If you like your fiction to be full of fantastic creatures, magical settings and populated by wizards with more magical spells than you can shake a magic wand at then you probably love the Harry Potter novels. But don't know what to read next? Come to the Library and browse the selection on the Fantasy Fiction display. There is bound to be something there that you would enjoy.

If you are a huge fan of Harry Potter you might like to vote for your favourite character(Dementors? Hagrid? Hedwig?) from the books. There are over 40 characters listed or if your favourite is not on the list you can add it. The vote is run by Bloomsbury - the publishers of all 7 Harry Potter books - and the poll closes on Friday 26th August and the favourite character is announced on Tuesday 30th August.
To vote click on this link: http://harrypotter.bloomsbury.com/funstuff/vote