In late August fifty Xavier students from Years 9, 10 and 11 attended the Melbourne Writers Festival, an annual event in Melbourne which showcases not only a large number of Australian authors but also international authors.
One author who featured at the festival was Stephen Herrick. Stephen is very well known for his verse novels for both primary and middle school readers. His prose novels are humorous and are a great introduction for students to poetry. The poems in the novels are written for adolescents and children and feature humorous aspects of life to which children and adolescents can relate.
He has just completed his first prose novel, Slice. This is a very funny novel which follows the adventures of Darcy, a sixteen year-old teenager who can cope with all the highs and lows of teenage life. However, he has one problem – he cannot keep his mouth closed! A very funny, easy-read novel, especially for students who are reluctant readers.
Rating: 4/5
Reading level: yrs 7-10
Another author included Jostein Gaarder, who is the author of the popular novel Sophie’s World. Gaarder, who is a lecturer in philosophy, uses the novel format to introduce readers to the main schools and thinkers in Ancient Greek and Western Philosophy. The novel is great introduction for secondary students and adults in philosophical thought. The reader gains an exceptional insight into philosophy.
Rating: 4/5
Reading level: yrs 9 – Adult
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