At The Long Eaton School, we know how important reading is for our students and we want to encourage all of our students to challenge themselves with books that broaden their horizons and imaginations. Our tutor time reading programme builds a community of reading through a shared experience of powerful stories that explore elements of young peoples’ lives and some of the social, emotional and mental challenges they endure. Our teachers are fully trained in exploring the meaning within texts and how to make the most out of tutor time reading.
Year 7 to Year 10 read routinely once a week during registration time. This programme helps students build a lifelong reading habit and refines and develops both their knowledge of vocabulary and oracy skills through the use of reciprocal reading techniques used by staff. Teachers read with their form groups during this time, modelling the fluency and pronunciation of vocabulary with students.
Year 7 - 'SMART' by Kim Slater
SMART: Kieran is a unique young man; he is a devout student of criminal investigation from the many fictional detectives about whom he has read and considers himself a master of observation. It is not, however, until Kieran happens upon the body of a homeless man that Kieran’s skills are put to practice.
The police have ruled the death an accident, another nameless vagrant who likely won’t be missed. Kieran, though, is convinced that the man – who is, in fact, named Colin – was murdered, and takes the case. Keeping interviews of others in the homeless community and sketches of details from the crime scene in his notebook, Kieran gradually reveals a plot far more complex than the police are willing to consider that extends as far as his front door.
Kim Slater’s Smart, is a sensitive portrayal of a boy about whom few seem to care honouring the death of one of the countless many that others would quickly brush aside. Addressing such subjects as domestic abuse, homelessness, and treatment of the Autistic, Smart would be well suited for a mature young audience, particularly those touched on any level by similar issues.
Year 8 - 'When the Sky Falls' by Phil Earle
When the Sky Falls: It’s 1941 during the Second World War. While everyone else seems to be evacuated to the countryside, 12-year-old Joseph is sent from rural Yorkshire to stay with his gran’s friend, Mrs F, in the city. She’s a gruff, unfriendly woman and he’s an angry boy who kicks out at everything and feels totally abandoned. Now Joseph also finds himself in the centre of the Blitz, where bombs rain down every night. The only thing Mrs F cares about is the rundown zoo that she owns, and particularly a huge silverback gorilla called Adonis. Adonis and Joseph at first seem to take an immediate dislike to each other but over the course of the story, their bonds deepen to a remarkable relationship. Joseph has other battles with school, in particular bullying and his serious troubles with reading. Like so many children of his generation, his dyslexia is not recognised or understood.
Personal Development & Safeguarding Themes in When the Sky Falls
Year 9 - 'My Sister Lives on the Mantelpiece' by Annabel Pitcher
My Sister that Lives on the Mantelpiece: Five years ago, Jamie’s sister, Rose, was blown up by a terrorist bomb. His family is torn apart by their grief. His mum runs away. His dad turns to drink and hate. Rose’s surviving twin sister Jasmine stops eating, gets piercings and dyes her hair pink – anything to look different to her twin. But Jamie hasn’t cried in all that time. To him, Rose is just a distant memory.
Jamie is far more interested in his cat, Roger, his Spiderman T-shirt, and his deep longing and unshakeable belief that his Mum will come back to the family she walked out on months ago.
But moving away for a Fresh New Start introduces Jamie to something else very interesting – a girl named Sunya. Sunya is bright, exciting and fun, and the one person at school he can call a friend. But how far can this new friendship grow when Jamie is desperate that his dad doesn’t find out?
Personal Development & Safeguarding Themes in My Sister Lives on the Mantelpiece
Year 10 - 'Orangeboy' by Patrice Lawrence
Orangeboy: Quiet, unassuming Marlon can’t believe it when the hottest girl in school picks him as her date to the fair. It’s too good to be true.
But when a mysterious tragedy strikes, Marlon is determined to reveal the chain that links him to the criminal underworld. He starts getting the wrong sort of attention, as investigations tangle him into a web of gangs.
Mystery, intrigue and a big cast of dangerous characters give this gritty thriller a sophisticated edge within the YA genre. It’s a tightly woven plot with revenge at its core. Urban settings, street language and sensitively drawn situations make this a thoughtful and diverse read.
The dangerous reality of drug pushing and youths being forced into dealing is an important topic, but Lawrence hasn’t set out to preach to a society that needs warning. She’s simply written a pacey crime thriller that feels unique, realistic and truthful.