Hampshire Book Awards - July 2024

We hosted the Hampshire Book Awards on Tuesday 2 July – what a wonderful celebration of books and students reading for pleasure. Ten schools from the local area joined us alongside the Schools Library Service, who established this excellent award scheme 22 years ago, and we had a morning full of book chat, quizzes and voting. Thirteen of our Year 8 students were part of the day, although the preparation for it started sixteen weeks before the voting day when they signed up for the commitment to read all the books that were in the final six (selected from a long list back in November 2023). After that concerted effort, this was their time to select their favourite – and only the students’ vote counted so it didn’t matter what the adults thought! Voting took place across Hampshire as we were one of several hosting venues, and ahead of the vote it was great to see all the students discussing literature with such enthusiasm. Once the voting had taken place we awaited the announcement in anticipation with some fun quizzes and competitions. The winning novel was one of our own school’s favourites and ‘Electric Life’ by Rachel Delahaye achieved the coveted title. This is about a dystopian future London where there is no pain, dirt, disease, with everyone connected digitally. There is nothing natural and no boredom is allowed. Alara drops down into the old London and discovers a place full of love, feelings, nature and pain – will she survive? This has since been our Book of the Week and has proved very popular. Thank you to our students that cast their votes and well done for your commitment to all that reading: Elliot D, Lieze R, Kimmie M, Bethany D, Nicoleta D, Ailith S, Eleanor S, Orthavia P, Jacob L, Jessica M, Jasmine K, Laiba M, Sophia P.

Other schools commented on our students’ excellent behaviour and how helpful they were as hosts. They were a credit to CPS. We hope that Rachel Delahaye will visit Hampshire for the Award Presentation in October – and, if so, the participating students will be invited to join in that celebration event.