A HARRIS Academy pupil’s book review an award for her book review.
Kate Trendell, from Harris Academy, in Chafford Hundred saw her review of Six, by M M Vaughan win a prize at the Essex Book Awards.
The scheme, which has been going for eleven years, held it’s annual presentation at King Edward VI Grammar School, Chelmsford.
Over the last five months, hundreds of pupils from nineteen secondary schools in Essex have been reading and reviewing novels from a range of talented writers.
More than 600 individual book reviews were sent to the EBA blog with participants engaging in lively debate about the novels and the broad range of themes explored.
Individual authors also got involved, often interacting with pupils and contributing to the discussions.
The Essex Book Awards 2017 shortlist included:
• Boy X by Dan Smith
• River of Ink – Genesis by Helen Dennis
• Hell and High Water by Tanya Landman
• Sophie Someone by Hayley Long
• Six by M. M. Vaughan
• The Power of Dark by Robin Jarvis
The winners from the event were: Best Pupil Reviews (per book):
• Hell and High Water – Anna White – The Boswells School
• Boy X – Olivia Houghton – Moulsham High School
• Power of Dark – Maisie Baylis – The Sweyne Park School
• River of Ink – Genesis – Matthew Wadey – King Edward VI Grammar School
• Sophie Someone – Phoebe Alderson – Davenant Foundation School
• Six – Kate Trendell – Harris Academy Chafford Hundred
Ray Gooding, Essex County Council’s councillor for Education and Lifelong Learning, said: “For eleven years, the Essex Book Awards have been a creative and interesting way of encouraging young people to engage with reading and talking about books.
“We know this scheme helps improve literacy, but it is also great to see pupils actively reviewing and recommending books to their friends so positively.”
Stephen Nunn, Head of School Services at EES for Schools, said: “We are delighted that all schools taking part in the Essex Book Awards have participated with such enthusiasm. Once again we have been impressed by the range of imaginative and creative ways that librarians and their students have engaged with these books and promoted wider reading across their school communities.”
