Half Term

Have a fantastic Half Term holiday everyone!

Book review: Varjak Paw by S.F Said

A thrilling book, a great page-turner and an kung-fu theme all COMBINED! The author has an amazing way of writing in the Varjaks (a cat)view of the city and the life that most cats live. He alienates Varjak from the other cats, brilliantly. Varjak runs away from his home and must save his family. He learns a form of Kung-fu called The Way. He must fight against other cats who rule certain parts of the city. You really don’t have to be an animal lover to enjoy this. I loved it so much I read it in one day (Jack) and I’m not even that into cats. A book we highly recommend. 5 Star +


Kasper Batty and Jack Shannon, 7E

Film review: Harry Potter and the Half Blood Prince (12)

Harry Potter and the Half Blood Prince is all about Harry's 6th year at Hogwart's School of Witchcraft and Wizardry. In this year, Draco Malfoy is working his way to be a death-eater (follower of Lord Voldermort), he had already jinxed a girl, by cursing a necklace which the girl touched. This film is a very adventurous, but also romantic story, it is also sad at the end, but I'm not going to tell you why. I hope you enjoy this film. 5 stars

Jack Plowman, 7E

Book review: Percy Jackson Series by Rick Riordan

An interesting series on a typical boy who’s from New York who discovers that his father who he has never met is the Greek god Poseidon. This honestly isn’t a comedy! A series you’ll like if you’re into Greek Mythology and adventures. A bit cheesy and the main plot is a bit hard to believe but it’s a good read. 4 Star
Jack Shannon, 7E

Book review: Hatchet by Gary Paulson

A great page turner on an boy who’s parents divorced but lives with his Mother. One day, he goes to visit his father via a small plane, when suddenly the pilot has a heart attack. The plane crashes in the wilderness where the boy has to survive with nothing but a hatchet. A great survival book with lots of witty humour and is very interesting. I very highly recommend it. 5 Star



Kacper Batty, 7E

Film review: An Education (12)

An Education

A poor plot which didn't get started until the end of the film and emphasised the 'Swinging 60s' London. A story where it seems there is not really anything happening. Despite, some very good acting from the upcoming new star who played the main part. 3 stars

Jack Shannon, 7E

Film review: Bruce Almighty (12)

Bruce Almighty

A great excellent classic with Jim Carrey, american laughmaster! The Plot in which Bruce, whose life is going downhill, complains to God (played by Morgan Freeman). God has a seven day holiday in which he gives all his powers to Bruce. Bruce becomes the City Superstar but it isn't as great as you think. An excellent film I would definitely recommend. 5 stars

Jack Shannon 7E

Film review: Cloudy with a chance of meatballs (U)

Cloudy with a chance of meatballs
A funny children's comedy about a mad scientist who revolutionizes food technology with some disastrous consequences. A cleverly done film with some very good humour. I enjoyed it and I'm giving it a 4 star. 

Jack Shannon, 7E

Film review: The Hurt Locker (15)

The Hurt Locker
An excellent and moving film, where Kathryn Bigelow has really created an incredible movie giving us, the realism of the terrors of the Iraq war. It also shows that a human addiction to war can grow. A great film, I highly recommend it. 5 stars

Jack Shannon, 7E

Film review: Young Sherlock Holmes (PG)

Young Sherlock Holmes
A interesting film which gives an insight into the early life of Arthur Conan Doyle's Sherlock Holmes. A rather cheesy plot, with the idea that a mad man in a school can build an manned winged machine made out of wood in the 19th century and that evil Egyptian groups are killing people in London, I must admit is slightly unbelievable. Plus, you meet Sherlock's childhood sweetheart who acts very woodenly. 2 stars

Jack Shannon, 7E

Film review: Wall-E (U)

Wall-E
A great film following a small robot who goes on an adventure after chasing his sweetheart Eva, also an small robot. It follows an distant 30th Century when humans are lazy and all their muscles have evolutionised into nothing. A scary future in which Wall-e discovers there is a deep secret holding back humanity from going back to Earth. A heart warming and funny film. I highly recommend! 5 stars

Jack Shannon, 7E

Film review: I, Robot (12)

I, Robot
An interesting film, in which humanity has become completely dependent on robots. Will Smith plays a detective who has a grudge against robots. He jumps at the chance when a mysterious suicide reveals the possibility of robots evolving, possibly meaning they could attack humans. A great film, with loads of action, go out and see this film! 5 stars

Jack Shannon, 7E

Film review: I am Legend (15)

I am legend



A great film in which a cure to cancer is developed but it has side effects meaning humans become mutated and act like animals killing everyone. Will Smith plays a soul survivor (or so he believes) who tries to create a cure. Against all the odds, can he do it? 4 stars.


Jack Shannon, 7E

King's Cool Reads

Do you remember filling in a book recommendation slip on World Book Day this year?

The results have been put together in a folder which is available in the Library. So next time you're stuck for something to read have a flick through the folder and get some inspiration from your friends.

Film Club: Valkyrie (12)

We will be screening Valkyrie this week in Film Club.

Wednesday 19th, Thursday 20th and Friday 21st if needed. 

Venue: Library unless otherwise stated 

Time: 12:35-13:35

Our resident film buff, Jack, gives us the following review:

An excellent recreation of the assasination attempt of Hitler, the acting was very good and the German accents, perhaps being a bit faulty at times, were altogether very good. Tom Cruise did very well in his role but compared to the real-life person he tries to play, he is very different which let the film slip from a 5 star to a 4 star for me. 

Jack Shannon, 7E

Introducing the Library

Last Friday the Library Team had a great time making this video at lunchtime ...

The King's School Library from LD on Vimeo.

Film review: Chariots of Fire (U)

Chariots of Fire
An interesting film following several English and Scottish athletes in the early twentieth century who beat a world record. I liked it and enjoyed the soundtrack. I highly recommend it and I'm giving it a 4 star. 

Jack Shannon, 7E

Film review: Back to the Future (PG)

To launch our Film Club back in March we screened Back to the Future. Here are two reviews.

This 1985 classic film has all the ingredients to make it an success. Spielberg put his usual magic to make this a hit at the box office. Back to the future is a sci-fi adventure starring the 80s American star Michael J. Fox as Marty McFly, a failing band member who has befriended a mad scientist called Emmerett Brown, who has made a time machine using Plutonium as a fuel. At night Emmerett wakes Marty to have a test at his time Machine. But the Plutonium was illegally bought by Libyan terrorists who shoot Emmerett! After a thrilling car chase, Marty McFly travels back to 1955 accidentally. To his horror, Marty finds that he can't get home! Even worse Marty meets his teenage 1950s Mum and she takes a fancy to him with hilarious consequences by Fox. A great film, I highly recommend with a fantastic 5 stars!
Jack Shannon 7E 

This amazing film is about a boy who meets up with a mad scientist and they build a car which can go back in time. When the boy goes back in time he has to make his parents love each other, while he's doing that the time car breaks down. Watch the film to see what happens. I think this was a very good movie so I gave it 5 stars. 
Hasnat Mufti, Year 7

We also have reviews of Back to the Future parts II and III:
Back to the Future II
This is a very good film directed by Robert Zemeckis. It is about a teenager,Marty McFly and a scientist who travel to the future on a quest to save Marties future from family as they get arrested for different reasons. An old bully, Biff, steals the time machine to go back in time to make his old self rich, from an almanac of every sports result from 1950 to 2000. This film was set in 2015 but was produced in 1989. I am voting this film a superb 5 out of 5!!!! Marcus Thornton, 7B

Back to the Future III
Sadly, this an cheesy film and it is a film in the shadow of its earlier films successes, still it involves Emmerett Browns love affair with a women he saved from a horrific death and Fox still has his hilarious take on everything. 2 stars, still a recommended film.
Jack Shannon 7E

A big thank you to our resident film buffs for their reviews. More to follow over the next few days.

Wyrmeweald by Paul Stewart and Chris Riddell

Young pioneer, Micah, enters Wrymeweald full of hope to return home having made his fortune. But this is a land where wyrmes, fabulous dragon-like beasts, roam wild and reign supreme. In Wyrmeweald man is both hunter and hunted - and seventeen-year-old Micah may never return alive, let alone a hero...After a near-brush with death on the edge of a canyon, Micah soon finds a chance to prove his worth when he meets with Eli, a veteran tracker of Wrymeweald. They choose to defend a rare whitewyrme egg and its precious hatchling before it falls into the hands of a band of evil Kith. But the fledgling wyrme has its own guardian in the shape of the beautiful, brave and dangerous Thrace. Thrace, a Kin and a highly-skilled wyrme rider-assassin; and Micah, a would-be Kith, should never mix - but the magnetism between them is strong. Together they join forces on a mission to rescue the hatchling and seek vengeance for loved-ones lost at the hand of Kith bandits. Meanwhile the glorious whitewyrme colony of Wyrmeweald looks on as its land is encroached by gold-diggers and ravaged by bounty hunters. Is Exodus the only option? And if so, when - and where - will they flee too? 

This is a brand new series from popular authors Paul Stewart and Chris Riddell. We have a preview copy available in the Library and both Mrs Dawes and Mrs Snee can thoroughly recommend it. We are hoping that Paul and Chris will come to King's next year when the book is released as a paperback.

Avatar reviews

Well we finally finished the screening of Avatar in Film Club. It is an epic film and apologies to Mrs Walker and Mr Watts for causing disruption and noise in your classrooms. If you are a member of Film Club you will be able to log on to the website www.filmclub.org to create a film screening wish list and write reviews. Thanks to the two Jacks from 7E for the reviews below.

"Avatar is an amazing film and is very exciting, It is about a marine soldier who went to Pandora (one of the many moons of Jupiter), and became one of the Omaticaya people. It is very adventurous and a tad romantic, but it is one of the best films James Cameron has ever made." Rating: 5 stars.
Jack Plowman, 7E

"A great sci-fi film by James Cameron, which is arguably a film which had its success on its special effects, not the actual plot. It follows the story a marine sent to the Earth Colonised planet of Pandora called Jake Sully. The Humans plan to exploit the planet but must first of all defeat the indigenious species, Na'vi. A good film I highly recommend and you can make your own choice on why it was an international hit, the special effects or the plot?" Rating: 5 stars.
Jack Shannon, 7E

Further information about Avatar: http://www.filmclub.org/film/16146/Avatar

 

Book of the week: Diary of A Wimpy Vampire

Just in at the Library ...

Diary of A Wimpy Vampire: the Undead Have Feelings Too
by Tim Collins
Like Edward Cullen in "Twilight", Nigel Mullet was transformed into a vampire when he was still a teenager, and will remain this age forever. Unfortunately, Nigel became a vampire at the awkward age of fifteen, and must spend eternity coping with acne, a breaking voice, and an ineptitude with girls...In this, his excruciatingly funny diary, Nigel chronicles his increasingly desperate attempts to be noticed by the love of his life, Chloe Sparrow, the constant mortification caused by his vampire parents (not to mention the worry that they might accidentally eat one of his friends), and the frustration one feels when you've got the whole of boring eternity stretching out in front of you and you can't even have a lie in (vampires don't sleep). Forced to hang out with the Goths and emo kids due to his pale skin and social awkwardness, and constantly battling his embarrassingly overwhelming desire to sink his fangs into Chloe's neck, will Nigel ever get his girl? Fantastically witty and hugely enter tanning, this fun and accessible diary will appeal to any fan of "Twilight" or "Adrian Mole", teenage or otherwise.

New weblinks

Hundreds of weblinks have just been added to the Library online catalogue. So when you search the catalogue now you will not only see what books and resources we have in the Library but also some useful websites relating to your search term.

To access the Library catalogue open Internet Explorer on any school networked computer and select Library portal from the Favourites menu. A guide is available on the Library Catalogue page on this blog (see menu above).

Mr Howarth in the Grantham Journal

http://www.granthamjournal.co.uk/news/interference_is_putting_off_talented_teachers_says_head_1_627795

Subject weblinks

Have a look at the subject pages on this site. These website lists will constantly update so keep coming back or create an RSS feed by clicking on those little orange buttons. All the links are held in a Library Diigo account (http://www.diigo.com/user/kingsschlib). Diigo is similar to Delicious (delicious.com) and both are example of social bookmarking sites. Basically you create a free account to keep all your bookmarks in which you can access from any computer or your phone. You can tag each bookmark with keywords which will enable you to search through your database of bookmarks. Let me know if you have a useful website you'd like to share or you'd like to know more about Diigo or Delicious. 

Mrs D

PS The Subject related pages on the Dulwich College Library website are really useful too (see http://www.kings.lincs.sch.uk/page_viewer.asp?page=Subject+websites&pid=294).