Colston’s Carnegie Shadowing Group, which started with just 6 members last summer, has now grown to over 20 pupils with members from years 7 to 10.

	Some of the members of the Carnegie Shadowing Group in the library one lunch time: (from left to right): Abigail Joyce, James Evans, Sally Mortimer, Carys Guest, Emily Baynes, Ann James, Charlotte New, Eleanor Chappell, Valerie Fabre, Natasha Hosseini, Miss Boyce, Kieran Long, Mrs Murray, Chris Casbon, Gabby Butler, Sarah Buffham, Sophie Tamlyn

The Carnegie medal is awarded annually to the writer of an outstanding book for children. Established in 1936 the first winner was Arthur Ransome for Pigeon Post.

The shadowing experience is now a national event with a website where groups have a space to post photographs, reviews, blogs, questionnaires and read other groups posts from around the country.
(Colston's Shadowing Group web page)

Colston’s group started the process last November when the nominations were announced. There were 60 titles and we attempted to read them all. In April the shortlist of 6 was announced and the group is committed to reading them all prior to an afternoon spent debating their relative merits.

The final debate is always lively and opinions are often changed when other views are heard. There will be a secret ballot which will not be opened until the following day when the national award is announced. Last year we were surprised with the final result. This year?

	Colston's Carnegie Group at one of their lunchtime reading sessions in the library:

And the pupils had the following comments to make about the group:

It isn’t just a book club, it’s a FUN book club!

Courtney

I read Carnegie book awards because books may die out one day and you can say I read a book! But the main reason is that books can give you thrills and spills, packet full of laughter and tragedy. Books are better than films because books can give you imagination, and not just let you judge a book by its cover.

Ann

I really like reading the Carnegie because it brings books that I wouldn’t usually pick up because I judge the book by its cover. Most of the books are amazing. This club brings everyones opinions about the book they’ve read.

Carys

I really like Carnegie as I read lots of books I wouldn’t have picked before. I do Carnegie because I am a big book worm and love the anticipation of not knowing who will win.

Abi

I do Carnegie because I enjoy reading and it has helped me to read a variety of books.

Ellis

I chose to join book club because I find reading intriguing – how it can take you to so many different places and worlds, without having to leave the comfort of the sofa.

I really enjoy listening to the other peoples’ opinions of the books they have read or are reading in that week. It is great that you get your own time to recommend and explain the book.

I have loved nearly all the books I’ve read so far they are really great. My favourite so far is The Glass Demon by Helen Grant. It was an amazing story about a girl who moves to Germany with her sister, father and their step mum and step brother, and they live in the scariest part. On their first day there they find a dead man and the dead keep coming, even the family are beginning to be in danger. I would definitely recommend this book, it’s a great read.
However I didn’t enjoy Ralph is (not) a Vampire by Corinne Davies, The Boy Who Climbed into the Moon by David Almond or Emily’s Surprising Voyage by Sue Purkiss. I didn’t like these books because they use little vocabulary and have pictures. I would never recommend these, unless for a younger reader.

Valerie

I have always been interested in reading books so that is why I have joined book club. You can choose what you want to read and read it in your own time. We have lots of fun with picnics and discover lots of great books that we did not know existed. “When I Was Joe” and “iBoy” are my favourites!