Northern Lights, How I Live Now, Holes

More TY pupils write about books they are reading for their Extended Essays:

Olivia Plunket recommends Meg Rosoff's How I Live Now : "This is about children having to become adults, when war hits England. The reason I chose this and why I like it, is because it's such an extraordinary thing, an 8 year-old boy having to become a man. It is about how war pulls you apart, and takes things away from you, including childhood. This family has to find a way through war without parents, or adults, and that is what is unique about it."

Steffan Davies is reading Philip Pullman's Northern Lights. Pullman's 62nd birthday was two days ago: see the excellent His Dark Materials website here. Steffan writes : "This novel is the first book in the trilogy. It is about a young girl's adventure with a crazy brother, a dangerous father and an armoured polar bear named Iorek Byrnison. This young girl's quest leads her to the bleak splendour of the North Pole. I find the main character too mature for her age, and this makes the book unrealistic. Originally I read this book hoping to find links to religion, but was unable to find any such substantial connection."

Aljoscha von Bismarck is reading Louis Sachar's Holes : "I chose this book because I like the way it's written. I haven't read many books, but I really enjoyed this, because it is a good story, both funny and sad. If a book is too serious I get bored by it. I also like the way he changes the whole time between two stories. But these stories are also connected, so while you read you have to pay attention."

Meanwhile, in the weekly Library update on the College website, Tom McConville writes about the Booker Prize, and the winner The White Tiger, by Aravind Adiga, here.