Maria SMITH Nida BALDWIN

Librarian Library Assistant

VICTORIAN PREMIERS’ READING CHALLENGE UPDATE

Still 50 days left before the finish of the VPRC! So far ten HSC students completed the challenge, most of whom have published reviews on the Challenge website for other Victorian students to read. Please enjoy our BOOK REVIEWERS’ SEGMENT.

Christie, Agatha

The man in the brown suit

★★★★★Wow! What a well-thought out novel that had me hooked right to the end. The plot was enticing and at a good pace, characters were mysterious and interesting, and the events actually made sense. One of my favourite mystery books to date! (Also, highly recommend it added to the challenge book list, it is definitely not for the younger audience.) (Freya H, Year 9)

Doescher, Ian

William Shakespeare's Star Wars: verily, a new hope

★★★★★A hilariously witty take on the first Star Wars movie, chock-full of inside jokes for fans of both SW and Shakespeare. (Freya H, Year 9)

Flanagan, John

The battle at Hackham Heath

★★★★★Great read! Interesting view of being in a medical war. This book will take you on many highs and lows; sets up the rangers apprentice series. Great read, highly recommended. (Blake C., Year 8)

Kinney, Jeff

Diary of a wimpy kid: the third wheel

★★★★★This was a good mix of romance and comedy, due to the fact that it was Valentine’s Day in the story. The main character (Greg) went through some embarrassing dates. (Savier S., Year 7)

Sloan, Holly Goldberg

Counting by 7s

★★★★★Counting by 7s is about how Willow Chance recovers from the tragic accident that killed her parents. I found this book lyrical and moving because when you are reading from Willow's perspective, it is very different compared to a normal character. I would recommend this book to ages 11 and up because the story jumps from different perspectives and might be hard to understand. If you enjoyed this book, I would also recommend 'Fish in a Tree' by Lynda Mullaly Hunt. (Amelie P., Year 7)

Jackson, Holly.

A good girl's guide to murder

★★★★★An amazing mystery novel, a page-turner and too good to put down. (Thinuli T., Year 8)

EXCITING CBCA SHORTLIST FOR 2023

Each year across Australia the Children’s Book Council of Australia (CBCA) brings children and books together “in partnership with authors, illustrators, publishers, booksellers and other organisations in the children’s book world to bring words, images and stories into the hearts and minds of children”.

The CBCA has been presenting ‘the most influential and highly respected” Book of the Year Awards in Australia since 1946, a year after CBCA was founded, promoting “quality literature for young Australians by Australians; supporting and encouraging a wide range of Australian writers and illustrators of books for young people aged 0 through 18 and celebrating contributions to Australian children’s literature”.

Please follow the link for the complete CBCA Shortlist of Authors, Illustrators and Publishers for 2023 (most books are available in our HSC main collection) https://cbca.org.au/shortlist-2023

BOOK OF THE YEAR for OLDER READERs (first category)

Entries in this category may be fiction, drama or poetry and should be appropriate in style and content for readers in their secondary years of schooling. Ages 13-18 years.

Note: Books in this category are for mature readers and some may deal with particularly challenging themes including violence and suicide. Parental guidance is recommended

Ask No Questions

Eva Collins

Puncher & Wattmann

Completely Normal (and Other Lies)

Biffy James

Hardie Grant Children's Publishing

The Greatest Thing

Sarah Winifred Searle

Allen & Unwin

Neverlanders

Tom Taylorill. Jon Sommariva

Penguin Random House Australia

The Other Side of Tomorrow

Hayley Lawrence

Scholastic Australia

What We All Saw

Mike Lucas

Penguin Random House Australia

UPCOMING BOOK WEEK AND LITERACY/NUMERACY WEEK

Next month should be an exciting time particularly for book lovers. Book Week 2023 falls on the 19th-25th of August after which comes Literacy and Numeracy Week (LNW) from 29th of August to the 4th of September.

This year’s CBCA Book theme is “READ, GROW, INSPIRE”. As part of Book Week and Literacy/Numeracy celebration, the HSC Library (with its team of supportive Monitors) organises week-long activities that include Book Character dress-ups.

Please watch this space for more details on this fun-filled event, for now start thinking of what character costumes you are planning on wearing. Looking forward to having selfies with Alice in Wonderland again, and we hope to find the Invisible Man this time!

BOOKS DONATIONS WELCOME

Please donate pre-loved books towards our upcoming BOOK SALE during the L/N Week celebration. Thank you to those who have delivered books to the HSC Library so far. Funds raised will go towards the Indigenous Literacy Foundation (ILF) that helps improve the literacy of indigenous children particularly in the outback and remote communities. (Poster Credit: Abi N Y12)

ANH DOH AT BUNJIL PLACE ON AUGUST 8 Book online for much-needed fun and laughter watching Anh Doh – The Happiest Refugee Live! at Bunjil Place (across Fountain Gate Westfield) in Narre Warren on August 8. The Happiest Refugee is required reading for our Year 8 English. Here is a link for more details on this exciting event:

https://www.bunjilplace.com.au/events/anh-do-%E2%80%93-happiest-refugee-live

Highvale Secondary College Newsletter

Respect, Resilience, Responsibility, Integrity, Excellence

21st July 2023 · 21 Jul 2023

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