The Hunger Games by Suzanne Collins was the winner of the 9+ Awards, and War Horse by Michael Morpurgo was the winner of the 7-9 Awards.  Were these your own personal favourites, or did you choose another book to win?

The final ceremony was action-packed.  First of all there was a great workshop from author Dan Freedman, writer of the popular Jamie Johnson books about a football obsessed boy.  Dan’s workshop was excellent, encouraging the students from all seven schools to become writers, and pointing out the many different routes into the career you want.  There were lots and lots of questions for him afterwards.  Then at the main ceremony, attended by the Mayor of Maidstone, the students from all the schools presented short pieces based on the books.  The Mayor presented prizes and certificates to a student from each school voted by their teacher to have made the biggest contribution to the Awards; then Dan Freedman announced the winning books to much excitement and clapping.  It was a great time, and we hope to feature some of the performances by the schools on these pages soon.

Have you voted on your book?  Wonder which one will be the winner today! We have a fantastic workshop with author Dan Freedman planned, after which he will be signing his Jamie Johnson books.  Following a short break, we will be having the ceremony, with the winners announced.  Wonder if your favourite book was the winner!  Enjoy yourselves this afternoon – we will have read some great books along the way, whichever wins, with the theme of ‘Winning Through.’

Did you go and see the Hunger Games film in the holidays?  I did!  It was really good, and stayed true to the book. Can’t wait for the films of the next two books. Embedding the film trailer is disabled, but this is the trailer for the book – enjoy!

So far most of the books on the Teenage shortlist have received very positive comments from MGGS readers.

A Monster Calls: “Amazing” ” A good idea and a wonderful story”

I am David:  “Inspirational and a great read” “I loved it” “It didn’t capture me. Nothing was happening”

Pig-Heart Boy: “Made me cry but it was great”  ” A sad story that shows persistance”

Tall Story: “Lovely story” ” An inspirational Story”

War Horse: “Sad but a good story” ” A very moving story”

The Wind Singer: “Took me only one day! I couldn’t put it down” “Excellent – a good read”

It’s difficult to predict which one will be the winner!

On Wednesday February 1st, Mrs Roche the librarian at Holmesdale and Mrs Watts, AHT and Head of English at Maplesden, took the train after school to London for a talk by Patrick Ness, the author of ‘A Monster Calls’, and Jim Kay, the illustrator.  The talk took place in the gallery of the famous Foyles bookshop in Charing Cross Road.  The gallery was full of people waiting expectantly, and on the walls were lovely framed pictures from the book.  Patrick and Jim were fascinating speakers, talking about how the book was put together from an idea by the author Siobhan Dowd, who sadly died of breast cancer before the book had gone beyond the ideas stage.  Jim also told us how difficult it was to create the amazing illustrations, which took a whole year, and were mostly done in freezing conditions in a flat in Edinburgh.  The bleak cold quality of the conditions they were created in really shows through in the pictures, don’t you think?  After the inspiring talk, Patrick Ness (closest to camera) and Jim Kay signed books.  Mrs Watts and I were very excited, and bought a book each for him to sign for us, and we each bought extra copies to give our own book groups as a wonderful prize for best work done by the two groups.  And Patrick Ness now knows that his book is featured in the MABA Awards!

Mrs Roche, Resource Centre Manager at Holmesdale Technology College

Try our slideshow creator at Animoto.

This is Mrs Kierznowski from Maplesden Noakes Animoto video on a Monster Calls.  Enjoy.

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We can finally reveal the new books in this year’s MABA Awards.  All of the books are on the theme Winning Through, which we chose to match in with the spirit of the Olympics this year.  All of the books in both categories have the theme of triumphing over difficulties.  There are some fantastic books in the awards this year, which we know you will love.  As soon as you have read the book of your choice, then ask your teacher for the login to write your review as a comment under the book.  Click on the book categories to see the books in your award: Year 7-9 Award  or Year 9+ (Young Adult).  Both of the links can also be found on the right.