Carnegie 2014 participants booklet

ECCLESBOURNE SCHOOL

CARNEGIE SHADOWING

BOOKLET

2014 AWARDS

MY WINNING TITLE IS

IN FIRST PLACE I HAVE CHOSEN __________________________________ Because ___________________________ __________________________________ __________________________________ __________________________________ My runner up title is __________________________________

Booklet design produced by Caroline Roche, Eltham College Library. With grateful thanks to Librarian Melanie McGilloway for her original booklet produced for the 2004 awards. 2014 version created by Ecclesbourne Library staff.

Your notes Page 3

WELCOME TO CARNEGIE SHADOWING 2014

There are 8 books on the shortlist this year. This could make it hard to read the whole list before the winner is announced but you should attempt to read at least four from the list if you are a Reading Group member. If you are reading in class your teacher might give you a target number to aim for. Trying to read all of the books means that you can make an informed judgement about which book you think has the winning formula. The winner is an-nounced on 23rd June, so we will cast our votes before that date. Keep your reviews up-to-date by posting them to the Carnegie Shadowing website as you go. The criteria for assessment for the ‘real’ judges is printed at the back of this booklet. We will be judging the books using the same criteria. However we will also be using the following grids to judge our books and to help us score them. Each book should be judged and given a mark from 1 to 5 for each category: Excellent Poor 5 4 3 2 1 In addition we will be using the internet to send some reviews to the official site for the Carnegie Medal. We have our own area set up and you can find details of how to post your reviews on pages 14 and 15 of this booklet. We will be meeting every week to discuss the books we have read and/or to update our progress. Please use this booklet as well to record what you read.

Happy reading!

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CARNEGIE SHORTLIST 2014

A bleak tale which requires a great deal of emotional maturity on the part of the reader. Linus and five others are abducted by an unknown and unseen villain. As the characters begin to make what they can of their captivity Linus explores his past but dares not contemplate what may become of his future. In essence the reader is asked to decide what makes a family and what we learn from others that may shape our own development. Students may find this book disturbing, especially the conclusion

Bat finds an orphaned elephant and wants to take care of it in his home village. However, violent forces are at work which will change the peaceful life of the village and those who live there. “Everything he knows is shattered when he and his best friend Muka are kidnapped and forced into the child army. They witness horrors and experience cruelties they never thought possible”. http://www.goodreads.com/book/show/17307611-the-child-s-elephant

Little Hawk (a native warrior) must endure a three-month test of solitude and survival. Meanwhile John Wakely from England begins a seven-year apprenticeship. Not all the settlers see the Native American Indians as their enemy but many do. Lives and fortunes become en-twined which is skilfully portrayed by the author. Marcus Sedgwick writes “ Moving and long lasting, this is rich storytelling, and is probably Susan Cooper's finest work so far, ..” Guardian http://www.theguardian.com/books/2013/aug/24/ghost-hawk-susan-cooper-review

Literally devoid of speech and returned to her community Judith tries to make the best of her life in a small settler community. But threats come from all sides and she must learn to defend both herself , her family and the settle-ment. The short chapters let the reader explore her hopes ,fears and responses to the trauma without knowing the full explanation until the very end.

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How effectively are the characters revealed through narration, dialogue, action, inner dialogue and through the thoughts, reactions and responses of others?

Style:

Is the style or styles appropriate to the subject and theme?

How successfully has the author created mood, and how appropriate is it to the theme?

Do dialogue and narrative work effectively together?

How effective is the author's use of literary tech-niques and conventions?

How effective is the author's use of language in con-veying setting, atmosphere, characters, action etc.?

Where rhyme or rhythm are used, is their use ac-complished and imaginative?

Finally… Where factual information is presented, is this accurate and clear?

JUDGES’ CRITERIA FOR AWARDING THE CARNEGIE MEDAL Criteria The book that wins the Carnegie Medal should be a book of out-standing literary quality. The whole work should provide pleasure, not merely from the surface enjoyment of a good read, but also the deeper subconscious satisfaction of having gone through a vicari-ous, but at the time of reading, a real experience that is retained afterwards. All criteria will not necessarily be relevant to every title nominated. Where appropriate, consider and assess the following:

The plot: Is it well-constructed?

Does the author appear in control of the plot, making definite and positive decisions about the direction events take and the conclusions they reach?

Do events happen, not necessarily logically, but acceptably within the limits set by the theme?

Is the final resolution of the plot credible in relation to the rest of the book?

Characterisation:

Are the characters believable and convincing?

Are they well-rounded, and do they develop during the course of the book?

Do they interact with each other convincingly?

Are the characters' behaviour and patterns of speech consistent with their known background and environ-ment?

Do they act consistently in character throughout the book?

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What the judges say

Multiple narratives …tell Eddies unforgettable story…. Each gives a different perspective and builds a power-fully honest and credible account of the system. Here is a very real understanding of dysfunctional family dynamics and the heart breaking impact upon a child's development. Mrs Smith says “an absorbingly quick read which some readers could find upsetting”

Already in receipt of the Blue Peter ‘Best Story’ Award for 2014 this captivating story could appeal to a wide range of students. Discovered floating in a cello case as a baby, Sophie is convinced that her mother is still alive. So, despite the eccentric but loving care from Charles her adoptive Father, Sophie sets out through Paris to discover what she can.

Real-life and well developed characters make this a great read. Georges responds to the notice about a Spy club meeting - today! He meets Safer, a twelve year old loner and self-appointed spy. As the new recruit, George's first assignment is to spy on the mysterious Mr X in the apartment upstairs. However as the story develops the lines between game and reality become blurred. Can Georges continue with Safer’s demands?

Joshua finds himself outside of the wall that divides his city and in imminent danger. He is saved by an act of kindness—one he is determined to repay. The judges say that tis adventure can be read on many levels. The political tensions are brilliantly mirrored by the family conflicts revealed. The naive innocence of the central character and his convincing development and growing awareness of his mother's vulnerability and the political situation is grippingly portrayed.

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ASSESSMENT SHEET FOR

ALL THE TRUTH THAT’S IN ME

STORY Excellent Poor Original idea 5 4 3 2 1 Action 5 4 3 2 1 Gripping 5 4 3 2 1 Involves the reader 5 4 3 2 1 Credible ending 5 4 3 2 1 CHARACTERS Believability 5 4 3 2 1 Consistency 5 4 3 2 1 Emotions 5 4 3 2 1 Interactions with each other 5 4 3 2 1 STYLE Readability 5 4 3 2 1 Atmosphere 5 4 3 2 1 Pace 5 4 3 2 1 Descriptions 5 4 3 2 1 Dialogues 5 4 3 2 1 TOTAL SCORE ___/70

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VISITING OUR PART OF THE SHADOWING WEBSITE

As well as reading the books you can participate in the National Awards by posting reviews on the official website. The address of the Shadowing website is:

http://www.carnegiegreenaway.org.uk

Once on this page, find this logo and click on it:

This will take you to the shadowing site. Now you need to click on this logo to get to our pages—click on the E, then scroll down and click on Ecclesbourne! Now you have reached our own page.

We have room on our page to put a group photo, and we can also write a reading blog. I would like you to contribute to the

blog, telling everyone on the site about our reading experiences.

Posting a Review on the Shadowing Site

Load up the webpage for the Shadowing site. Here is the address again http://www.carnegiegreenaway.org.uk/shadowingsite/index.php You then need to click on the phrase ‘Post a Review’ Click E on the alphabetical list. Then scroll down the A-Z list until you find the word Ecclesbourne. Click

on this and you will open our Reading Group page. Choose the title of the book you want to review from the drop-down menu.

Paste your review. Using only your first name. Group leaders will attempt to approve them within 24 hours. If yours has not moved for a while please e-mail Mrs Smith (Library) to remind her (politely of course)! Please write a review for every book you read. Use the score sheet in this booklet to help you to write a thoughtful review.

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THE BUNKER DIARY


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THE CHILD’S ELEPHANT




THE WALL

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LIAR AND SPY


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GHOSTHAWK


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BLOOD FAMILY


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ROOFTOPPERS


Documents

Carnegie 2014 participants booklet