Resident Writers

Congratulations to the Term 3 Resident Writers winners:

Student: Sienna Reese
Staff/Community: Linda Stocks

The winning entries can be viewed in the gallery tab at the top of the Library Teams page -> Resident Writers channel. Sienna has a prize waiting at school, once we are back on site

The Term 4 Resident Writers is now open. As we are moving towards the end of the year and summer holidays, send us a written piece with the theme of ESCAPE - escape from routine, school, a particular place, or whatever else escape means to you. As a rough guide works (stories, poems, etc) should be between 250 -350 words, shorter ok but not significantly longer. Send your entries to library@wantirnacollege.vic.edu.au with the subject line Resident Writers entry. If you are entering the Staff and Community category please mention which student or staff member you are connected to. By submitting you agree to be published to the school community (on Teams, in the College Yearbook, etc) - please let us know if you want to submit but prefer to keep your work anonymous. Entries close Monday 16th November

Artisan of the Month – September/October

The September/October Artisan of the Month closes Monday 25th October. The entries can be anything creative - photos, drawings, sewing, knitting, carpentry, pottery, origami, an original piece of music, decorated cake etc. - so long as it can be submitted digitally (eg photo or sound recording). Email submissions to library@wantirnacollege.vic.edu.au - up to 5 entries per person, preferably in .jpeg or .png format. If you are entering the Family and Friends category please mention which student or staff member you are connected to. By submitting you agree to have your entry published to the school community (on Teams, in the College Yearbook, etc) – let us know in your submission email if you prefer to keep your work anonymous. Past entries and winners can be view in the gallery tab at the top of the Library Teams page -> Artisan of the Month channel

Term 3 holidays Scarecrow competition

Over the holidays the school community was invited to build a scarecrow and send in a photo. We are delighted to announce the following winners:

Linda Stocks, scarecrow Maxi - My scarecrow ‘Maxi’ was placed on our front lawn a week before the AFL Grand Final to show our support for the Melbourne Demons. Go Dees!

Maxine Delahunty, scarecrow Betty

Deanna Gerock

All three winners should keep an eye on their inboxes for their prize 😊

Book Reviews

Even though the Library is currently closed for borrowing, there are many, many great reads easily available via Eastern Regional Libraries ebook/audiobook/magazine collection (if you have been meaning to join, the link for students is https://www.yourlibrary.com.au/students/ and adults can join at https://yourlibrary.spydus.com/cgi-bin/spydus.exe/MSGTRN/WPAC/JOIN ). Some of the ebooks Ms Montgomery has read recently include:

The Other Side of Perfect - Alina Keeler was destined to dance, but a terrifying fall shatters her leg and her dreams of a professional ballet career along with it. After a summer healing (translation: eating vast amounts of Cool Ranch Doritos and bingeing ballet videos on YouTube), she is forced to trade her pre-professional dance classes for normal high school where she reluctantly joins the school musical. However, rehearsals offer more than she expected – namely her annoyingly attractive castmate she just might be falling for. But to move forwards Alina must make peace with her past and face the racism she experienced in the dance industry. She wonders what it means to yearn for ballet, something so beautiful, yet so broken. And as broken as she feels, can she ever open her heart to someone else? Touching, romantic and peppered with humour, this debut novel explores the tenuousness of perfectionism, the possibilities of change and the importance of raising your voice. I loved this book, it didn’t take the easy way out but instead made Alina confront how her life had changed in a realistic way. For readers who like their romance mixed with realism and a touch of humour.

Genre: Realistic

Themes: Facing racism; Set the stage

Storyline: Character-driven

Tone: Bittersweet; Moving

Writing Style: Lyrical

The Lunar Chronicles quartet – Cinder, Scarlet, Cress, and Winter - Set on a plague-ravaged future Earth, this science fiction/fantasy mash-up retells the stories of four oppressed, but empowered, fairy tale heroines. New characters are woven into each book creating a separate but layered story connected to Cinder, a cyborg version of Cinderella. The stakes are high as each heroine fights for a happy, and romantic, ever after. This series has been on my to-read list for a while now, and I’m so happy I finally picked it up. The connection of each book to the original fairy tale is very well done. For readers who enjoy retellings (guess which fairy tales each of the series titles refers to)

Genre: Fairy tale and folklore-inspired fiction; Science fiction

Themes: Human 2.0

Storyline: Plot-driven; World-building

Pace: Fast-paced

Tone: Romantic

DC Icons series - Young Adult novels centred around the teenage versions of superheroes from DC Comics. Each book in this series is written by a different, well-loved, YA author. The first – Wonder Woman, Warbringer – is written by Leigh Bardugo (you might have heard of their other works set in the Grishaverse such as Shadow and Bone, and Six of Crows 😊 ). Told from alternative points of view we learn the stories of Diana - a young untried teen desperate to prove herself worthy, and Alia - nerdy, orphaned, awkward and mostly friendless despite her family's massive wealth. We learn that Alia’s very existence might cause the deaths of millions, and so the two must find a way to undo the Warbringer’s destiny. For DC fans, but also for anyone who loves a good adventure story. Personally I haven’t spent much time in the DC Universe, yet I found this story both accessible and compelling as it kept me engaged until the final page. Other books in the series available from ERL include Batman: Nightwalker (which I also read and enjoyed), and Catwoman: Soulstealer

Genre: Multiple perspectives; Superhero stories

Themes: Cosmic and mystical beginnings

Character: Courageous; Culturally diverse

Storyline: Plot-driven

Tone: Suspenseful

If you have read, heard or seen something recently you would like to share with the school community (book, audiobook, podcast, magazine, TV series, etc), email library@wantirnacollege.vic.edu.au with the details and your review and we will include it in the next newsletter and on our Teams page

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