On 5 March, Norwich School welcomed three award-winning authors: Sally Gardner, Sarah Hagger-Holt, and Dave Rudden, for a day of celebrating books. The Book Festival aimed to celebrate literature, creativity, and the power of storytelling, while providing pupils with the opportunity to engage directly with the visiting authors.

Renowned for her captivating storytelling, Sally Gardner's journey to becoming an author was as compelling as her books. Despite facing challenges due to her dyslexia, she overcame many obstacles with resilience and creativity, eventually succeeding in her wish to become a successful author. Several of her works, including Maggot Moon and The Door That Led to Where, have been shortlisted for or won prestigious book awards.

Sarah Hagger-Holt’s books are thought-provoking and inclusive. Her stories, including Just Like Everyone Else, Proud of Me, and Nothing Ever Happens Here resonate with a wide range of readers and her latest book, The Fights that Make Us, again champions diversity, acceptance, and the power of self-discovery.

Visiting from Ireland, author Dave Rudden captivated the audience with his entertaining anecdotes, as well as offering his writing tips to pupils. He read an excerpt from the first Knights of the Borrowed Dark book explaining where his ideas came from for each aspect of the scene.   He also spoke about the Dr Who universe books he has been writing.

Students from five other local schools joined Norwich School’s Upper 4 pupils, enhancing the sense of a reading community across schools in Norfolk. Local independent bookstore Bookbugs and Dragon Tales had a selection of books by the authors for sale. Pupils had the opportunity to meet the authors and have their books signed at the end of each talk.