Radical Reading at Raines

Charlotte Rhodes (Year 8) is one of a number of students at Raines involved in an exciting new project to look at, and develop, children's fiction for Connect 5. Members of the Raines creative writing group have been looking at a range of teenage fiction in order to get ideas for their own writing.  Charlotte has recently read the award winning novel 'Junk' by Melvin Burgess and had this to say about it:

'Some parents might think that 'Junk' is controversial due to the strong language.  The difficult issues which the book covers such as running away from home might also worry some readers. Hard hitting passages covering relationships and drugs might leave parents wondering if the book is actually leading teenagers the wrong way.  In my opinion however the book is acceptable.  Issues such as drug abuse do not disappear by ignoring them.  'Junk' addresses problems faced by many teenagers in an honest and thoughtful way and, I believe, gets a positive message through to the reader in the end.'

Paul Blum, co-ordinator of the writing group, hopes to publish work by these up and coming writers to be available to all Connect 5 schools.

External Links

Melvin Burgess  Biographies.

Junk Reviewed

English and Media Centre