Last week marked the culmination of the Carnegie Book Award Shadowing for Upper 4 pupils. Since March, the entire year group have been reading books from the Carnegie Medal shortlist, and on the 15th and 16th of June they got together for two action-packed sessions where they shared their thoughts and opinions on the seven shortlisted books. 

The pupils' enthusiasm was evident as they immersed themselves in the world of the Carnegie shortlist, exploring diverse genres and themes. The book discussions were marked by some thoughtful conversations, overseen by staff from departments as varied as Economics, Maths, Physics, and Modern Languages, who helped pupils to contribute their own perspectives from their reading. 

The Carnegie Book Award Shadowing Event is about more than just reading and discussing books. It is there to encourage young people to expand their literary horizons, discover new authors, and sharpen their critical thinking skills and it provides an opportunity for pupils to see staff from across the school reading for pleasure. 

After all the discussions, it was time to pick a winner; the students voted to decide which book deserved the top spot. And the winner was... drumroll... I Must Betray You by Ruta Sepetys. This gripping novel, set in Romania in 1989 at the time of the fall of the Ceausescu dictatorship, stole the hearts of our young readers with its fascinating historical storyline and unforgettable characters. 

Congratulations to Ruta Sepetys for winning the students' vote, and a round of applause to all the incredible authors who made it to the shortlist. The official judges’ announcement will be made next week.