Resources
The Mare by Mary Gaitskill - First chapter extract
The Mare is Mary Gaitskill’s first novel in over a decade. Exploring themes of parenthood, race and class, there are big ideas and extremely compelling characters for reading groups to get their teeth into. Ginger is in her forties and a recovering alcoholic when she meets and marries Paul. When it becomes clear it’s too late for her to have a baby of her own, she tries to persuade him to consider adoption – but he refuses. As a compromise, they sign up to an organisation that sends poor...
David Mark DS McAvoy Series Reading Guide
David Mark spent more than fifteen years as a journalist, including seven years as a crime reporter with the Yorkshire Post – walking the Hull streets that would later become the setting for the Detective Sergeant Aector McAvoy novels. He has written five novels in the McAvoy series, Dark Winter, Original Sin, Sorrow Bound, Taking Pity and Dead Pretty Dark Winter was selected for the Harrogate New Blood panel, a Richard & Judy pick and a Sunday Times bestseller. He has recently completed...
Q&A with Adrian McKinty, author of the Sean Duffy series
Download Serpent’s Tail’s interview with Adrian McKinty, author of the Sean Duffy thriller series, set in Northern Ireland during the Troubles. The latest in the series, Rain Dogs, was shortlisted for the 2016 Theakston’s Crime Novel of the Year Prize. Find out more at www.adrianmckinty.com
Women in Translation Month - Reading List
Did you know that less than a third of all literary translations published in the UK and the US were originally written by women? Did you know that women writers win far fewer prizes for their translated books than male writers? Women in Translation Month is all about appreciating the great women writers who do get translated – and of course the people who bring them to us, their translators and publishers. It’s an opportunity to join in a worldwide conversation about outstanding writing from...
Everyone Brave is Forgiven discussion questions
Mary North – young, resourceful, fiercely intelligent, and a newly recruited teacher – resolves to stay in London at the outbreak of the Second World War. For although the city’s children are evacuated in a carefully orchestrated and very public act, a number of the have been returned, quickly and quietly, because the countryside ‘doesn’t want them’. What good is it to teach a child to count, Mary wonders, if you do not show him that he counts for something? Moving from Blitz-torn London to...
Everyone Brave is Forgiven extract
Mary North – young, resourceful, fiercely intelligent, and a newly recruited teacher – resolves to stay in London at the outbreak of the Second World War. For although the city’s children are evacuated in a carefully orchestrated and very public act, a number of the have been returned, quickly and quietly, because the countryside ‘doesn’t want them’. What good is it to teach a child to count, Mary wonders, if you do not show him that he counts for something? Moving from Blitz-torn London to...
Taduno's Song extract
The day a stained brown envelope arrives from Taduno’s homeland, he knows that the time has come to return from exile. Arriving full of trepidation, the musician discovers that his community no longer recognises him, believing that Taduno is dead. His girlfriend Lela has disappeared, taken away by government agents. As he wanders through his house in search of clues, he realises that any traces of his old life have been erased. All that was left of his life and himself are memories. But...
The Memory Stones extract
Heartbreaking and beautiful, The Memory Stones tells the story of the Disappeared, thousands of Argentinians who fell victim to the violence of the period. Depicting the despair and hope of one family seeking to rebuild itself after unimaginable loss, it is a lyrical, devastating portrait of a country that has come face to face with terror and the long, dark shadow it leaves behind.
Chatterbooks evaluation
A copy of the Chatterbooks annual survey 2015-16 for information only. To complete the survey, click on the link below.
I Love Dick by Chris Kraus - Shelf Talker 5
When Chris Kraus, an unsuccessful artist pushing 40, spends an evening with a rogue academic named Dick, she falls madly and inexplicably in love, enlisting her husband in her haunted pursuit. Dick proposes a kind of game between them, but when he fails to answer their letters Chris continues alone, transforming an adolescent infatuation into a new form of philosophy. Blurring the lines of fiction, essay and memoir, Chris Kraus’s novel was a literary sensation when it was first published in...
I Love Dick by Chris Kraus - Shelf Talker 4
When Chris Kraus, an unsuccessful artist pushing 40, spends an evening with a rogue academic named Dick, she falls madly and inexplicably in love, enlisting her husband in her haunted pursuit. Dick proposes a kind of game between them, but when he fails to answer their letters Chris continues alone, transforming an adolescent infatuation into a new form of philosophy. Blurring the lines of fiction, essay and memoir, Chris Kraus’s novel was a literary sensation when it was first published in...
I Love Dick by Chris Kraus - Shelf Talker 3
When Chris Kraus, an unsuccessful artist pushing 40, spends an evening with a rogue academic named Dick, she falls madly and inexplicably in love, enlisting her husband in her haunted pursuit. Dick proposes a kind of game between them, but when he fails to answer their letters Chris continues alone, transforming an adolescent infatuation into a new form of philosophy. Blurring the lines of fiction, essay and memoir, Chris Kraus’s novel was a literary sensation when it was first published in...
I Love Dick by Chris Kraus - Shelf Talker 2
When Chris Kraus, an unsuccessful artist pushing 40, spends an evening with a rogue academic named Dick, she falls madly and inexplicably in love, enlisting her husband in her haunted pursuit. Dick proposes a kind of game between them, but when he fails to answer their letters Chris continues alone, transforming an adolescent infatuation into a new form of philosophy. Blurring the lines of fiction, essay and memoir, Chris Kraus’s novel was a literary sensation when it was first published in...
I Love Dick by Chris Kraus - Shelf Talker 1
When Chris Kraus, an unsuccessful artist pushing 40, spends an evening with a rogue academic named Dick, she falls madly and inexplicably in love, enlisting her husband in her haunted pursuit. Dick proposes a kind of game between them, but when he fails to answer their letters Chris continues alone, transforming an adolescent infatuation into a new form of philosophy. Blurring the lines of fiction, essay and memoir, Chris Kraus’s novel was a literary sensation when it was first published in...
I Love Dick by Chris Kraus - Postcards
When Chris Kraus, an unsuccessful artist pushing 40, spends an evening with a rogue academic named Dick, she falls madly and inexplicably in love, enlisting her husband in her haunted pursuit. Dick proposes a kind of game between them, but when he fails to answer their letters Chris continues alone, transforming an adolescent infatuation into a new form of philosophy. Blurring the lines of fiction, essay and memoir, Chris Kraus’s novel was a literary sensation when it was first published in...
I Love Dick by Chris Kraus - Recommendation cards
When Chris Kraus, an unsuccessful artist pushing 40, spends an evening with a rogue academic named Dick, she falls madly and inexplicably in love, enlisting her husband in her haunted pursuit. Dick proposes a kind of game between them, but when he fails to answer their letters Chris continues alone, transforming an adolescent infatuation into a new form of philosophy. Blurring the lines of fiction, essay and memoir, Chris Kraus’s novel was a literary sensation when it was first published in...
The Silent Cry by Cathy Glass - Reading group questions
This is the sixteenth fostering memoir by the inspirational foster carer Cathy Glass, giving a real insight into the world of foster care and the heart-breaking and moving stories she encounters along the way. The Silent Cry is the true story of a deeply troubled mother, Laura, who is struggling to cope with her new born Liam and her little girl Kim. With an overbearing family and her own inner demons starting to take over, can Cathy step in before it’s too late?
The Past by Tessa Hadley - Reading guide
Four siblings meet up in their grandparents’ old house for three long, hot summer weeks. But under the idyllic surface lie shattering tensions. Roland has come with his new wife, and his sisters don’t like her. Fran has brought her children, who soon uncover an ugly secret in a ruined cottage in the woods. Alice has invited Kasim, an outsider, who makes plans to seduce Roland’s teenage daughter. And Harriet, the eldest, finds her quiet self-possession ripped apart when passion erupts...
The Summer of Broken Stories by James Wilson extract
England, 1950s. While out playing in the woods, ten-year-old Mark meets a man living in an old railway carriage. Despite his wild appearance, the stranger, who introduces himself as Aubrey Hillyard, is captivating – an irreverent outsider who is shunned by Mark’s fellow villagers, and a writer to boot. Aubrey encourages Mark to tell stories about his own make-believe world, and in return he informs the boy about a novel he is writing – a work of ominous science fiction. As the meddling...
Father's Day by Simon van Booy extract
A beautifully crafted story of an orphaned girl named Harvey and the troubled uncle who raises her Moving between past and present, Father’s Day weaves together the story of Harvey’s childhood on Long Island and her life as a young woman in Paris. Written in raw, spare prose that personifies the characters, this novel is the journey of two people searching for a future in the ruins of their past.
The House at the Edge of the Night extract
On a tiny island off the coast of Italy, Amedeo Esposito, a foundling from Florence, thinks he has found a place where, finally, he can belong. Intrigued by a building the locals believe to be cursed, Amedeo restores the crumbling walls, replaces sagging doors and sweeps floors before proudly opening the bar he names the ‘House at the Edge of Night’. Surrounded by the sound of the sea and the scent of bougainvillea, he and the beautiful, fiercely intelligent Pina begin their lives...
My Name is Leon - extract
A brother chosen. A brother left behind. And a family where you’d least expect to find one. Leon is nine, and has a perfect baby brother called Jake. They have gone to live with Maureen, who has fuzzy red hair like a halo, and a belly like Father Christmas. But the adults are speaking in low voices, and wearing Pretend faces. They are threatening to give Jake to strangers. Since Jake is white and Leon is not. As Leon struggles to cope with his anger, certain things can still make him smile –...
The End of the World Running Club extract
When the world ends, what do you try to save? Your family. The End of the World Running Club sees Britain nearly annihilated by asteroids. In Edinburgh, Edgar Hill and his family have survived – just. But despite his best efforts, Edgar hasn’t managed to keep his family together. There’s a hope that they can all be rescued, but with the roads in ruins and society destroyed, Edgar has only one choice: cross Britain on foot. In three weeks. It’s 550 miles of blood, sweat, tears and a constant...
Chatterbooks Newsletter
You can find out the latest about Chatterbooks by taking a look at our August newsletter.
Cruel Heart Broken Discussion Points
Inspired by a tragic true story, Cruel Heart Broken is a taut tale of guilt, impossible choices, and the consequences that follow. Laurie is a good girl – so everyone thinks. But eight months ago she did something that she can’t undo and it’s tearing her apart. Charlie used to be her best friend. He’s done something he regrets too… and now someone has died. Two impulsive decisions. Two toxic secrets. Too many hearts broken. Partly inspired by the true story of a teacher in France who...
The Wilderness War activity pack
Celebrating the publication of The Wilderness War by Julia Green, OUP with the Woodland Trust have put together this fabulous outdoors activity pack. Includes how to build a fire, create your own frog pond and how to distinguish animal tracks. Perfect for the long summer days!
The Bolds design a hat competition sheet
Celebrating the brilliantly funny series The Bolds by Julian Clary and illustrated by David Roberts, we have this great drawing competition for children. We want children to design an unusual hat – the stranger the better! Mrs Bold makes hats out all sorts of unusual objects, such as egg boxes, clothes pegs and old bird’s nests. The best, most inventive hat will win a stack of funny books worth £100. Find out more by downloading this competition sheet.
The BFG Phizz-Whizzing Lesson Plans
Read Roald Dahl’s The BFG with your class before Steven Spielberg’s film comes out in July – with the help of the new Officially Phizz-Whizzing Lesson Plans. Whether you’ve read it before or are discovering the Big Friendly Giant’s story for the first time, the resources, created by the experts at Penguin Schools and TeachIt Primary, follow the plot so it’s easy to read-along. With Literacy and PSHE objectives, they explore the themes of friendship, dreams and believing – and there’s a...
A Brave Bear Father’s Day event kit
With Father’s Day fast approaching on 19th June, Walker Books invite libraries to join them in celebrating dads and the wonderful role they have in our lives with their A Brave Bear Father’s Day event kit. The kit has instructions on how to run an event, with interactive story time and lots of colouring in and drawing activities for little ones to do with their dads.
Chatterbooks Activity Packs - List
Here are some of the most popular Chatterbooks activity packs, published over the past few years, with direct links for downloading.
