We revealed the latest Trinity School Book Award (TSBA) shortlist for 2021/22 last summer, but for those of you joining the school in September here is some information on this exciting reading activity.

Main shortlist (aimed at Year 6, 7 and 8)

Ghost Boys – Jewell Parker Rhodes

The Boy Who Lied – Kim Slater

*Not if I See You First – Eric Lindstrom (includes swearing, for Year 7 and 8 only)

The Foreshadowing – Marcus Sedgwick

Welcome to Nowhere – Elizabeth Laird

The Arrival – Shaun Tan

*We have 3 alternatives for Hill Form pupils to choose their sixth book from.

The TSBA, which we rebrand The Six Book Challenge, is a reading activity which runs over the autumn term, with pupils in Years 6-8 having to complete the six selected books by the end of the Christmas holidays. This is a multi-school event which usually involves around thirty schools and is now in its eighth year.

This latest list features some outstanding books, with The Boy who Lied by Kim Slater, Not if I See you First by Eric Lindstrom and Welcome to Nowhere by Elizabeth Laird three of my personal favourites. Between them they are a beautiful combination of drama, thriller and heart-tugging emotion.

Once the pupils have read the books they are invited to enter review and creative response activities. In recent year our school has submitted some outstanding creative responses, including models, paintings and films. Last year, Oliver (now in Year 8) won first prize in the multi-school event for his film inspired by the book Inkling.

We have multiple copies of all the shortlisted novels, many are already on loan, and it is wonderful to see so many children getting started on this annual activity.

I can be contacted at tony.jones@emanuel.org.uk should you have any further questions.

Tony Jones (Senior Librarian)