Student Review

The 39 Clues series - various authors
The 39 clues is a sensitively written series about two orphans (Amy and Dan Cahill) who embark on an adventure to find the 39 clues and become the most powerful in the world. There are many obstacles along the way and the four branches will stop at nothing to win.  Along the way the orphans discover some of the most famous people in history were Cahills. They come close to finding the truth about their parents and what branch they belong to.

 This series is written by different authors but continues along the same lines. I would recommend this book to anyone who loves action-packed mystery books. There are 11 books in the series, each with an exciting new plot. The cover might be a bit misleading and some wouldn't get a second glance, but it really does prove the point - don't judge a book by its cover.  By NL

Student review

Carbon Diaries 2015 by Saci Lloyd.

The carbon diaries by Saci Lloyd is an exciting work of fiction about people who have been given a carbon card which has a bar down the side and it starts at green but when you get down to red all your electricity goes off and you are left sobbing in the dark!
I think it is a good story because you do not know what is going to happen next and it is an intruiging idea about saving the planet.   by C.C.

Book review

I have recently finished reading The red necklace by Sally Gardner. As you know I am a bit of a fan of historical fiction, however I avoided reading this one because it is set at the time of the French Revolution (1789) a period of history I was put off by a truly dreadful lecturer at university. However the tag line -"Murder, magic, secrets- and the blade of the guillotine is still to fall" - intruiged me and I had to read it and I really enjoyed it. My only reservation is the use of magic in the book as it is so unlikely that such things could be achieved and this detracts a little from the story. Otherwise it is a really good adventure story and gives an insight into the period of the French Revolution.

The hero is Yann a boy with magical talents and an uncertain background. When he and his co-magicians are tricked into giving a performance by the evil Count Kalliovski everything changes. Yann  has to escape to England but is then persuaded to return to France in spite of the danger, to rescue Sido the unloved daughter of  a member of the nobility. Can Yann rescue Sido from the guillotine, find out about the powers of the red necklace and discover the truth about his upbringing?

Study Leave

It is not long now until S4 go off on Study Leave. May I wish you all the very best of luck with all your exams and for the future.
But, before you go:

PLEEAASE remember to return all Library books!

Return any School Library books that you may have in your locker, under your bed, in your wardrobe... anywhere. It does not matter how long you have had them out, I would just like them returned to the Library as you BORROWED them, they are not yours to keep.

Revsion time is here!

Watch out for links being added to the blog to guide you to useful revision sites and materials. First of all your attention is drawn to the new BBC Bitesize Message Boards for students studying for Standard Grades and Highers. As well as the games, videos and tests for the range of Bitesize subjects, you can now post queries or help others with revision online. There are also teachers on standby to offer tips and answer queries. The message boards are moderated and you have to sign in to access them but they are available for posting daily Monday to Sunday from 9am until 9pm.

Bitesize message boards

RMS Titanic

On the 15th April 1912 RMS Titanic sank with the loss of 1517 lives. In 1912 the Titanic was the world's largest and most modern passenger ship and was considered to be unsinkable. She was launched from Belfast's Harland and Wolff shipyard on May 31st 1911.  On April 10th 1912 she set sail from Southampton with some 2223 passengers and crew on board.  There were many wealthy passengers on board as well as hundreds of people leaving their homelands to start a new life in America. At 2.20am on April 15th 1912 the Titanic sank after hitting an iceberg in the North Atlantic.

One century on the loss of this magnificent ship continues to intruige and beguile people. If you are interested in the Titanic come along to the Library to look at the information on display or borrow one of the books about this terrible disaster.

For a new Titanic adventure thriller why not try Titanic 2020:Cannibal City by Colin Bateman. A new, huge unsinkable ship (remind you of anything??) is launched but things go wrong very quickly! The world as we know it is wiped out by a plague but among the survivors are Jimmy and Claire who were on the new Titanic when the plague struck. But althouth the Titanic is fabulous - everyone wants to steal it! Can Jimmy and Claire survive and can they save the new Titanic?

Livingston - 50th celebrations

Was lucky enough to attend the Livingston's 50th Community Awards event at the Civic Centre on Friday 13th April. I was there primarily to see my father receive an award for his contribution to Livingston since he moved here in 1969. However I was delighted to see some familiar faces amongst the Schools bands who entertained the audience so wonderfully after the award ceremony. Well done to you all for so many memorable performances.

If you would like to know more about the history of Livingston then come to the Library where you will find a selection of books about Livingston in the Scotland section of the non-fiction books.

For more information on all the forthcoming events to celebrate 50 years of Livingston go to West Lothian Council's website:
http://www.westlothian.gov.uk/Community-life-and-leisure/Livingston50/communityevents