18 Jan #SecondaryBookChat with Tom Palmer and Barrington Stoke
On 13 January 2021, we launched the first #SecondaryBookChat. There are lots of resources about primary school books but fewer resources are available for secondary school teachers. We wanted to showcase Barrington Stoke, a publisher who creates super-readable, accessible books that are ideal for students with dyslexia. We gave Twitter a choice of books and our followers chose the excellent Armistice Runner by Tom Palmer. Both Barrington Stoke and Tom Palmer joined us in the Twitter chat, a snapshot of which is below. You can see the full chat as a Moment on our Twitter page. Join us on Twitter on the second Wednesday of every month from 8-9pm to take part in the chat.
Welcome to the first #SecondaryBookChat – we are thrilled to be discussing @BarringtonStoke books and in particular Armistice Runner @tompalmerauthor – our first question this evening is – What makes Armistice Runner such a good book for discussion with young people?
— Book Clubs in Schools (@Schoolbookclubs) January 13, 2021
I was just happy that @BarringtonStoke wanted a book about a sport that wasn't football and was about a girl.#secondarybookchat
— Tom Palmer (@tompalmerauthor) January 13, 2021
So are many students! I’ve taught a World Cup female footballer in previous years, and these stories / foci would have bolstered her confidence!
— MrsMoEnglish📚 (@MrsMoEnglish1) January 13, 2021
We love to hear that! #SecondaryBookChat
— Barrington Stoke (@BarringtonStoke) January 13, 2021
There are more books with girls as sporting protagonists now, thankfully. But it is still a struggle. Not @BarringtonStoke mind you. #secondarybookchat
— Tom Palmer (@tompalmerauthor) January 13, 2021
So important. I’m a passionate advocate of the life that every one of my students should be able to see themselves, their colour/gender/religion in a story where they’re not subjugated due to the characteristic they share with a character. Thank you for contributing! 🙏
— MrsMoEnglish📚 (@MrsMoEnglish1) January 13, 2021
Yes! I’m sure this book will boost the confidence of young girls to try sport ⚽️
— Alexia Yuill (@BeddaSi) January 13, 2021
There are lots of fell running families you see at races. Kids running in junior races, then mums and dads. Grandparents too. I love that about it.
— Tom Palmer (@tompalmerauthor) January 13, 2021
The design of the pages incorporate the two characters and this works well and helps link the story #SecondaryBookChat
— Ali Ineson (Milner) (@aliineson) January 13, 2021
I love the way @BarringtonStoke do that at the foot of the pages. The one for D-Day Dog is parachuting men and dogs from the top of the page. Some children have suggested they'd like it to evolve, like a flickbook, but I suspect that'd cost the earth. #secondarybookchat
— Tom Palmer (@tompalmerauthor) January 13, 2021
we think it still works if you flip it quickly enough
— Book Clubs in Schools (@Schoolbookclubs) January 13, 2021
It clearly shows how the two storylines run through the book #SecondaryBookChat
— Ali Ineson (Milner) (@aliineson) January 13, 2021
@tompalmerauthor @Schoolbookclubs sports is a good theme in books. It draws teenagers in
— Alexia Yuill (@BeddaSi) January 13, 2021
The two timelines work well – gives the book depth. Allows the development of a second major character #secondarybookchat
— Alexia Yuill (@BeddaSi) January 13, 2021
#secondarybookchat I enjoyed After the War and will order this for my school library – I know a few students who will enjoy it
— Nita Patel (@NitaPatel55) January 13, 2021
For us, #ArmisticeRunner explores both past and present issues so brilliantly and ties them together perfectly. There's so many points of discussion to tease out in the classroom #SecondaryBookChat
— Barrington Stoke (@BarringtonStoke) January 13, 2021
So many starting points for discussion – stress of high stakes events; love of a sport/hobbie; Abbie’s over competitive father; anxiety about the health of family members; identity and family history; sibling relationships and more!
— Katy (@BookTalkCIC) January 13, 2021
#SecondaryBookChat
Very well put! #ArmisticeRunner packs so much in but never feels a struggle #SecondaryBookChat
— Barrington Stoke (@BarringtonStoke) January 13, 2021
Thanks. I regret to say Abbie's dad was based on a real dad we saw at races.
— Tom Palmer (@tompalmerauthor) January 13, 2021
Thanks. I regret to say Abbie's dad was based on a real dad we saw at races.
— Tom Palmer (@tompalmerauthor) January 13, 2021
Lily’s kindness to Abbie (and Abbie’s kindness in looking for gran as the missing person) is also a good reminder of what matters.
— Katy (@BookTalkCIC) January 13, 2021
#secondarybookchat
We're biased but books are a brilliant vehicle for encouraging discussions and walking in different shoes #ReadforEmpathy #SecondaryBookChat #ArmisticeRunner
— Barrington Stoke (@BarringtonStoke) January 13, 2021
So important. I’m a passionate advocate of the life that every one of my students should be able to see themselves, their colour/gender/religion in a story where they’re not subjugated due to the characteristic they share with a character. Thank you for contributing! 🙏
— MrsMoEnglish📚 (@MrsMoEnglish1) January 13, 2021
We love to hear that! #SecondaryBookChat
— Barrington Stoke (@BarringtonStoke) January 13, 2021
#SecondaryBookChat
— Book Clubs in Schools (@Schoolbookclubs) January 13, 2021
Onto our second question – What aspects of the book do you think work best and how?
#secondarybookchat Diary a great device to hear a voice from the past directly. Together with it unlocking Lily’s grandmother’s memories it’s very powerful.
— Katy (@BookTalkCIC) January 13, 2021
The gran character is based on a family member as well as Lily. Gran's memory of events from the past contrasting so much with her lack of memory of very recent events. #secondarybookchat
— Tom Palmer (@tompalmerauthor) January 13, 2021
#SecondaryBookChat I loved the book and devoured it in one sitting. I was impressed by how broad a canvas was created in under 200 pages. It was good to see a different angle on WW1 too. The relationship between Lily and her grandmother was very touching.
— JeanHit (@JeanHit1) January 13, 2021
#secondarybookchat Totally agree – lots of examples of using very small amounts of information to give a very clear sense of the characters
— Katy (@BookTalkCIC) January 13, 2021
Here's Ernest Dalzell, the real fell runner of 1910+. Loosely based Ernest on him and the general history of pre-war.fell running. #secondarybookchat pic.twitter.com/FbGwAPQ2NA
— Tom Palmer (@tompalmerauthor) January 13, 2021
That's great to hear, thanks for sharing #ArmisticeRunner #secondarybookchat
— Barrington Stoke (@BarringtonStoke) January 13, 2021
Being edited by @BarringtonStoke
— Tom Palmer (@tompalmerauthor) January 13, 2021
Is great for that. Even in. Relatively short books, we can pack so much story in. I love writing for them. #secondarybookchat
There are lots of fell running families you see at races. Kids running in junior races, then mums and dads. Grandparents too. I love that about it.
— Tom Palmer (@tompalmerauthor) January 13, 2021
I also liked Lily’s affinity and comfort with the landscape and countryside – made me want to be in the Lake District
— Katy (@BookTalkCIC) January 13, 2021
#SecondaryBookChat
Also like that it appeals to both girls and boys #secondarybookchat
— Katy (@BookTalkCIC) January 13, 2021
We're biased but books are a brilliant vehicle for encouraging discussions and walking in different shoes #ReadforEmpathy #SecondaryBookChat #ArmisticeRunner
— Barrington Stoke (@BarringtonStoke) January 13, 2021
Watching a family member with Alzheimer’s is such a hard thing for young children to experience. Books can help approach and start difficult conversations #secondarybookchat
— Alexia Yuill (@BeddaSi) January 13, 2021
Grandma Forgets by Paul Russell is a lovely picture book.
— VF (@MrsFe77) January 13, 2021
Accessible layout, number of words , typeface but looks no different on the outside from other books. Important for secondary age. #secondarybookchat
— Alexia Yuill (@BeddaSi) January 13, 2021
The layout and design of our books is really important to us, we take a lot of care to make sure our stories are as accessible as possible for every reader! #SecondaryBookChat #ArmisticeRunner https://t.co/7OjHQJ3wPH
— Barrington Stoke (@BarringtonStoke) January 13, 2021
The design of the pages incorporate the two characters and this works well and helps link the story #SecondaryBookChat
— Ali Ineson (Milner) (@aliineson) January 13, 2021
I love the way @BarringtonStoke do that at the foot of the pages. The one for D-Day Dog is parachuting men and dogs from the top of the page. Some children have suggested they'd like it to evolve, like a flickbook, but I suspect that'd cost the earth. #secondarybookchat
— Tom Palmer (@tompalmerauthor) January 13, 2021
It clearly shows how the two storylines run through the book #SecondaryBookChat
— Ali Ineson (Milner) (@aliineson) January 13, 2021
Age appropriate content with lower reading age – great for building confidence and identity as a ‘reader’
— Katy (@BookTalkCIC) January 13, 2021
#secondarybookchat
#secondarybookchat Diary a great device to hear a voice from the past directly. Together with it unlocking Lily’s grandmother’s memories it’s very powerful.
— Katy (@BookTalkCIC) January 13, 2021
The gran character is based on a family member as well as Lily. Gran's memory of events from the past contrasting so much with her lack of memory of very recent events. #secondarybookchat
— Tom Palmer (@tompalmerauthor) January 13, 2021
The diary and the family history also offer good starting points for creative writing
— Katy (@BookTalkCIC) January 13, 2021
#SecondaryBookChat
#SecondaryBookChat And finally What would you recommend reading next for a young person that enjoyed Armistice Runner?
— Book Clubs in Schools (@Schoolbookclubs) January 13, 2021
I would like to read After the War, another @tompalmerauthor book
— Alexia Yuill (@BeddaSi) January 13, 2021
Here's chapter one: https://t.co/7x59mZVVFc#secondarybookchat
— Tom Palmer (@tompalmerauthor) January 13, 2021
Here's chapter one: https://t.co/7x59mZVVFc#secondarybookchat
— Tom Palmer (@tompalmerauthor) January 13, 2021
Thank you so much Tom. My copies arrived today. It’s a bit exciting… pic.twitter.com/JPNvjj7005
— phil earle (@philearle) January 13, 2021
#secondarybookchat Other recomendations from us – some more @BarringtonStoke with WW1 themes – Owen and the Soldier by Lisa Thompson; White Feather by David and Catherine MacPhail
— Book Clubs in Schools (@Schoolbookclubs) January 13, 2021
There's a VAST selection of other @tompalmerauthor titles on our list! #AftertheWar is a great next choice for a reader who enjoyed #ArmisticeRunner, especially with #HolocaustMemorialDay later this month #secondarybookchathttps://t.co/rmHJLi26Dm https://t.co/g4aGdcVdde
— Barrington Stoke (@BarringtonStoke) January 13, 2021
These are always our recommendations for people who have enjoyed Armistice Runner #SecondaryBookChat
— Book Clubs in Schools (@Schoolbookclubs) January 13, 2021
#SecondaryBookChat Other books with running themes – Ghost by Jason Reynolds; Running on Empty by S.E. Durrant
— Book Clubs in Schools (@Schoolbookclubs) January 13, 2021
#SecondaryBookChat Thank you to everyone who joined in and followed the thread @BarringtonStoke for your expertise and @tompalmerauthor for sharing your time to talk about your books. We know that our Book Clubbers will continue to enjoy them.
— Book Clubs in Schools (@Schoolbookclubs) January 13, 2021
Thanks for having us! Honoured to have #ArmisticeRunner as the inaugural #SecondaryBookChat focus. Look forward to next time! Thanks to everyone who joined in 📚
— Barrington Stoke (@BarringtonStoke) January 13, 2021
Thank you, too. It was a lot of fun. Keep safe and well everyone. #secondarybookchat
— Tom Palmer (@tompalmerauthor) January 13, 2021
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