BOOK OF THE WEEK
28 April 2025
Hello Bookworms!
We have more books for your to read this week!
Do take a look at our Lion Print magazine, under our Further Resources tab. Here are some of the stories our younger pupils have written at the beginning of the magazine and give you inspiration for your own writing. There is also some incredible art work from our pupils.
If you’d like some more ideas of great books to read, do check out our Reading List.
Lark by Anthony McGowen
Things are tense at home for Nicky and Kenny. Their mum’s coming to visit and it will be the first time they’ve seen her in years. A lot has changed since they were little and Nicky’s not so sure he’s ready to see her again. When they head for a trek across the moors to take their minds off everything, a series of unforeseen circumstances leaves the brothers in a vulnerable and very dangerous position. There might even be a chance that this time not everyone will make it home alive
“Funny, scatological, terrifying, heartwarming and heartbreaking” Nicolette Jones, Sunday Times Children’s Book of the Week
“A painful though uplifting conclusion … The moment at which Nicky … hears the “mad, ecstatic music” of a lark’s song is especially transporting” Imogen Russell Williams, Guardian
“Heart-stomping, gut-wrestling … a decidedly Good/Sad thing. Buy it in January. Twice, at least” A.F Harrold, Author
“The 4th book in what are, frankly, the finest YA books out there. Like the bastard son of Hines and Steinbeck, with a dollop of Shane Meadows” Phil Earle, Author
“Not for a moment in these books do you feel you are reading something abridged or simplified. McGowan’s prose is beautiful in its brevity and devastating in its emotional impact” Editor’s Choice, The Bookseller
“McGowan’s understanding of masculine youth its brashness and unexpected tendernesses is evident, and there is a quiet worldliness underpinning the whole. It’s intense and dark, full of sadness yet also hopeful” Philip Womack, Literary Review
“As gorgeous and life-affirming and as bittersweet and heartbreaking as you imagine … I’ll miss Nicky and Kenny more than I can say” The Bookbag, blog
“The quartet is a magnificent achievement and Lark is a totally fitting and superb finale. Simple, accessible yet immensely powerful writing of the highest order” Joy Court, SLA
“Conveyed in immaculate prose of unrelenting tension, humour and affection. It reminds me of two of the very greatest novels about fellowship and suffering, A Kestrel for a Knave and Of Mice and Men” Amanda Craig, Author
“Lyrical, warm, honest and unflinching, it’s everything YA should be”
–Andy Stanton, Author
The Dancing Bear by Michael Morpungo
A poignant coming-of-age tale about a mountain-village girl and a bear – a tale of love, sacrifice and the challenge of making the right choices
‘Incredibly poignant . . . An utter delight’ LoveReading4Kids
High in the mountains, in a tiny village, an abandoned bear cub is adopted by lonely orphan Roxanne.
The two soon become best friends: inseparable and beloved by the whole village – until the arrival of a glamorous film crew who are looking for a dancing bear . . .
‘It’s rare to find a story that combines so successfully a contemporary plot and modern morality with a feel for legend and fairy tale’
She Magazine
