The poem from October - Garston Has Changed.

Our literary evening in October ended with a poem read by speaker Mike Axworthy.

The poem also appears on the Friends of Garston Park art project round the sports pitches.

We thought people might like to read the poem again so here it is. Thanks to Mike for creating and sharing it.

GARSTON HAS CHANGED

From Salt works to satellite dishes

Garston has changed

From rural idyll to industrial giant

Garston has changed

Like the river it stands on it flows and grows

Garston is changing

From Ireland Scotland Wales the world they came

Garston is changing

A special place to live work and play

Garston has changed

Plenty of jobs in its docks factories and railways

Garston has changed

Look at its schools church and hospital

Garston is changing

Is it regeneration or degeneration?

Garston is changing

A proud and independent people

Nothing has changed

With a strong community spirit

Nothing has changed.

Michael Axworthy.

Our winning reviews - Jennifer Rigby on Jacqueline Wilson

Earlier this month we presented book tokens to the winners of our summer writing competition.

Now we are publishing their reviews.

This one is from Jennifer who writes about Jacqueline Wilson

My Sister Jodie by Jacqueline Wilson.

 

Reviewed by Jennifer Rigby, age 12, from Mossley Hill

 

 

"This book was written by my favourite author Jacqueline Wilson.  I love the way Wilson can project images of people, places, animals etc just by using imaginative settings and characters.  For me, this book is overflowing with imagination. 

 

I admire the way Wilson can include just the right balance of comedy and seriousness into this story.  The drama side to it brings suspense to the atmosphere the author wants the readers to feel.

 

I can tell you from experience, without ruining it for others, that when the major Final Event happens the atmosphere I get is one of great sadness and somewhat guilt. 

 

This is because Wilson uses plenty of writing techniques to not only keep the reader’s interest but to leave them wanting more.

 

This is the effect the book left with me which is why I give “My Sister Jodie” four out of five stars as it is a great read for the younger generation and includes the correct amount of everything."

ISBN:  0385610122

 

Published 2008, Doubleday.

 

 

Our winning reviews - Emily Davey on Jean Ure

Earlier this month we presented book tokens to the two young people who won our summer review writing awards.  You can see their pictures in an earlier post.  We're now publishing the reviews they wrote.

First, this one is fro Emily.

Hunky Dory by Jean Ure

 

Reviewed by Emily Davey (nine at time of writing, now ten.) from Speke.

 

 

"This is a book about Dorian, a boy in Year Seven with a mid-life crisis.

 

Girls won’t leave him alone.

 

With the help of his friends he tries to ignore the girls but it’s not easy to ignore them as they keep bothering him.

 

Dorian’s only interest is Dinosaurs.  He has a giant hole in his garden where he digs but will he cope as his little sister won’t leave him alone?

 

 

This is an excellent book to read but may not be suitable for young children as it is only meant for older children.  I think Jean Ure’s age group is nine and above.  Although this book is not meant for a young age group it is a great book to read.  Jean’s book series are amazing and have informative advice for growing up."

 

 

ISBN: 0007224605

 

Published 2007, Harper Collins.

 

Our Winners get their awards!

Friends of Garston Library were delighted to meet our competition winners at our recent meeting.

The two  young people won our competition to write a review of a book they had read and enjoyed.

And the Deputy Lord Mayor, Councillor Erica Kemp, joined us to present their prizes.

The pictures show our two winners.  On the left is 12 year old Jennifer Rigby with Paula Keaveney (Chair of the Friends), dad and the Deputy Lord Mayor

On the right is ten year old Emily Davey with family member (one a bit shy by the looks of things) and the Deputy Lord Mayor.

We'll be publishing the work by Emily and Jennifer on this website.  Thanks to everyone who took part or helped with the competition.  It's great to meet young people who love reading as much as we do.

Our winners!

Tonight (17th October) Deputy Lord Mayor of Liverpool, Councillor Erica Kemp, will be joining us at Garston Library to present prizes to the two winners of the Friends of Garston Library writing competition.

The winners are 12 year old Jennifer Rigby from Mossley Hill and ten year old Emily Davey from Speke.

Each wrote a review of a book they had read and enjoyed.

We'll be publishing the reviews on this blog and in our programme for tonight's event.

Tonight also sees our second literary evening, which has a focus on local history.

The event(s) start at 6pm at the Library. It's absolutely free to come along and all book lovers are welcome.

Call for budding poets!

The Friends of Garston Library are looking for keen poets to send their work in ahead of a special poetry event next month (November).

And they'll be inviting people to read out their own work, if selected.

The event is on November 21st and is part of a series of literary evenings organised by the Friends.

Taking place at Garston Library, there'll be speakers from the Dead Good Poets Society and a chance to discuss poetry and ask questions.

The event, which starts at 6 with  a drink , is completely free.

If you have poems to send in, please let the Friends have them by the end of this month (October).  Please e mail them to  friends-of-garston-library@hotmail.co.uk.

Do also use this e mail address for questions about the Friends or to make suggestions of topics you'd like to see covered in future events.