Thursday 3rd March 2022
To celebrate World Book Day 2022, the LevTimes team have selected some of our favourite books to recommend to the school, covering a variety of genres. Additionally, students will have the opportunity to stop everything and read for a while on Thursday 3rd March (WBD). Both fictional and non-fictional are a fantastic way for children and adults alike to escape to other worlds and expand their knowledge.
It is also important that we read books critically, keeping in mind who wrote them and what’s included in them to gain a deeper understanding of their work.
The above video talks about separating the art from the artist. In recent years, with critical media consumption (or in simpler terms, the development of ‘cancel culture’) developing and expanding into all aspects of life a lot of people have developed the question of ‘Can I support this person and enjoy their work even though they have become a controversial figure?’.
It is necessary that we research and build our own opinions surrounding these matters and that we still allow ourselves to become immersed into the amazing world of books (and all other art forms for that matter!)
Happy Reading!!
Recommended Reading (by Leventhorpe Students):
Good Omens - Anneka Pelley 12F
Synopsis
Good Omens is a hilariously written account of the end of the world, as prophesised by a witch named Agnes Nutter in 1655 just before she was blown up. Hundreds of years and an extremely unlikely, chaotic friendship later, the forces of good and evil are rising, the apocalypse is next Saturday, and the fate of the world is placed on the shoulders of a young boy who may not be all that he seems- he just needs to be found before time runs out…
Review
This book was a wonderful read, packed with humour and emotion as well as drama and chaos. It has a very unique and original take on old stories, which is always refreshing to see and makes for an incredibly enjoyable book; linking in to familiar tales as well as plunging you into new and exciting plots. I would definitely recommend this book for ages thirteen and up.
Revenge of the Sith (the novel) by Matthew Stover - Barnaby Cox, Editor-In-Chief
Possibly controversial statement here, but Revenge of the Sith is my favourite Star Wars movie of all time. From it’s magnificient lightsaber duels, to it’s classical greek tragedy style, there is little about the film that I don’t love. It even helped get me through my English Language GCSE, thanks to the task being a movie review.
When it comes to the novelisation, my opinion is the same. It is written with a lovely informative style by Matthew Stover and manages to capture all the epic space opera moments and feels of the original, as well as adding much more in its own right. The film’s themes of friendship, desperation, brotherhood and betrayal are present, perhaps even stronger than on screen, with Stover being able to both build up the bond between Anakin and Obi Wan exceptionally and continually foreshadowing the inevitable, making the ultimate betrayal hit harder as the reader comes to realise what is lost. Although containing a fair amount of expostition, it is only used to either set up future events or cover things not shown in the film, with very few words wasted.
Ever wondered what Count Dooku thought the plan with Anakin was? What about why the jedi masters, who are canonically skilled fighters, so easily defeated by Palpatine? Well this book answers those questions and more, drawing from deleted scenes and conversations with George Lucas. I would wholeheartedly recommend any Star Wars fan pick this up for a read – I’d even recommend it to people with now Star Wars experience since the novel does such a good job at explaining the context – although tragically, with Disney’s take over of the brand, the novel is technically not canon, but this doesn’t affect it’s worth as a read. Overall, through clever POV switches and a detailed understanding of the setting, Stover creates, what I see as, the ultimate Revenge of the Sith experience.
Synopsis (from wookiepedia): After years of civil war, the Separatists have battered the already faltering Republic nearly to the point of collapse. On Coruscant, the Senate watches anxiously as Supreme Chancellor Palpatine aggressively strips away more and more constitutional liberties in the name of safeguarding the Republic. And Anakin Skywalker, the prophesied Chosen One, destined to bring balance to the Force, is increasingly consumed by his fear that his secret love, Senator Padmé Amidala, will die. As the combat escalates across the galaxy, the stage is set for an explosive endgame: Obi-Wan undertakes a perilous mission to destroy the dreaded Separatist military leader General Grievous whilst a conflicted Anakin—tormented by unspeakable visions—edges dangerously closer to the brink of a galaxy-shaping decision. It remains only for Darth Sidious, whose shadow looms ever larger, to strike the final staggering blow against the Republic…and to ordain a fearsome new Sith Lord: Darth Vader.
My Rating:
Birthday by Meredith Russo - Ezzy Lacey 12F
Synopsis
Two kids, Morgan, and Eric are bonded for life after being born on the same day at the same time. We meet them once a year on their shared birthday as they grow and change: as Eric figures out who he is and how he fits into the world, and as Morgan makes the difficulty choice to live as her true self. Over the years, they will drift apart, come together, fight, make up, and break up – and ultimately, realise how inextricably they are a part of each other.
Review
I loved this book. I like to think that I read a decent amount, but it usually takes me a month or so to finish a book because I honestly just forget, this book however, I could not put down! The story covers so many topics which I believe are very important for people to be aware with. Birthday could be a very helpful steppingstone to you understanding yourself or to help you to understand those around you who are less represented in the media.
I laughed, I cried, I felt anger. A whirlwind of emotions all packed into one book.
I could not recommend this book more!
After the War – From Auschwitz to Ambleside by Tom Palmer - Jennifer Simpson
A hopeful yet honest true story about the horrors of the Holocaust.
Yossi, Mordecai and Ben – whose true story we follow after their rescue from the Concentration Camps in Poland at the end of WWII. This remarkable tale shares the story of the three boys along with 300 others, who make their way in fighter planes all the way to England to stay in the idyllic English countryside next to Lake Windermere and to hopefully be reunited with their families after the devastation of war.
Tom Palmer uses the recollections of the three boys about their time in Windermere as well as local families who remember the children from Poland coming to their village. You soon get swept up in a story steeped in kindness, hope and resilience in the face of sheer terror.
Palmer’s beautiful style of writing allows children to start to uncover the truth about war and the impact on those who suffered at the hands of Hitler in the 1940s whilst always focussing the story around the children staying near Windermere.
Even though Palmer does touch on the nightmares that Yossi suffers from or the fear that their families might all be dead, he skilfully balances the devasting impacts of war with heart-warming moments such as the excitement of riding a bike after 6 years in the British countryside or what it is like to have sheets on a bed after so long without.
After the War is aimed at readers aged 10+, however is just as enticing to older readers as well as young.
Overall, I would recommend this book whatever your age. It reminds us that humanity can come through in the face of adversity.