Y9 students in Mr Cummings’ and Mrs Morgan’s English classes have been lucky enough to be part of the judging panel for the prestigious Lancashire Book of the Year award. This is the longest running regional book award in the country, and remains one of the few book awards nationally in which young people themselves are solely responsible for choosing both the shortlist and the overall winning book.  Since November, we have worked together with eighteen schools across Lancashire to read and review over ninety new books written specifically for the 12-14 age group.

On 20th March 2017, two students, Rhys Williams and Sam Monks, travelled with Mr Cummings and our Study Centre Manager, Mrs Gornall, to County Hall in Preston to take part in a morning of activities, discussions and the eventual unveiling the shortlist of the top eleven books.  From this we will put forward our nomination for the Lancashire Book of the Year to be announced later on this year.

Over the course of the morning, both boys represented Garstang brilliantly, taking leading roles in discussions and always ready to volunteer when debating with their peers from across the county. They were a real credit to the school.

The top eleven books, as voted for by students across Lancashire are:

 What I Couldn't Tell You by Faye Bird

 What's A Girl to Do? by Holly Bourne

 Follow Me Back by Nicci Cloke

 Unbecoming by Jenny Downham

 Deepest Cut by Natalie Flynn

 Under Rose Tainted Skies by Louise Gornall

 Paper Butterflies by Lisa Heathfield

 Finding Audrey by Sophie Kinsella

 Consumed by Abbie Rushton

 Book of Lies by Terri Terry

 Broken Sky by L A Weatherly

 

If you would like any more information about the Lancashire Book of the year, please speak to Mrs Gornall, or alternatively visit:

http://www.lancashire.gov.uk/libraries-and-archives/libraries/lancashires-book-of-the-year.aspx