The last time the Olympics came around, we focused our reading suggestions on sport, with some great suggestions from our sport teachers. Here's the link to that list again, if you are interested. Since we wrote that list, The Boys in the Boat has been turned into a Hollywood film.
So, this summer's list is loosely inspired by the BBC Proms - another fixture in the nation's summer calendar - with thanks to Mr Murray, Mr Stamp and the music department for a number of these suggestions.
Musicophilia - Oliver Sacks
Recommended by Mr Stamp
Oliver Sacks’ compassionate tales of people struggling to adapt to different neurological conditions have fundamentally changed the way we think of our own minds. In Musicophilia, he examines the powers of music through the individual experiences of patients, musicians and everyday people – those struck by affliction, unusual talent and even, in one case, by lightning – to show not only that music occupies more areas of our brain than language does, but also that it can torment, calm, organize and heal.
Coram Boy - Jamilla Gavin
A tale of two cities - Gloucester and London. A tale of two boys - Toby, saved from an African slave ship, and Aaron, the illegitimate son of the heir to a great estate. A tale of fathers and sons - Otis, dealing in the vilest trade of all, and his son Meshak, not quite of this world; Sir William Ashbrook, landowner, and Alexander, the son he disinherits...
An epic journey fraught with every danger and excitement, until love triumphs over hate and corruption, from bestselling author Jamila Gavin.
On the Come Up - Angie Thomas
Bri wants to be one of the greatest rappers of all time. As the daughter of an underground hip hop legend who died right before he hit big, Bri's got massive shoes to fill. But when her first song goes viral for all the wrong reasons, Bri finds herself at the centre of controversy and portrayed by the media as more menace than MC. And with an eviction notice staring her family down, Bri no longer just wants to make it - she has to. Even if it means becoming the very thing the public has made her out to be.
Soul Music - Terry Pratchett
Recommended by Mr Stamp
Being sixteen is always difficult, even more so when there’s a Death in the family. After all, it's hard to grow up normally when Grandfather rides a white horse and wields a scythe. Especially if he decides to take a well-earned moment to uncover the meaning of life and discover himself in the process, so that you have to take over the family business, and everyone mistakes you for the Tooth Fairy. And especially when you have to face the new and addictive music that has entered Discworld. It's lawless. It changes people. It's got a beat and you can dance to it.
Music Is My Life: Soundtrack your mood with 80 artists for every occasion - Myles Tanzer
Recommended by Mr Stamp
Learn about music and emotion in this beautifully produced anthology for the whole family
With 80 artists, bands, and composers from all genres (including classical) there's something for every family member to love and recommend to the next generation. While away the hours, listening to artists and discovering new songs together.
Do you remember the first time you discovered an artist you really loved? Did they get you through a difficult time in your life? This book harnesses that feeling, by collecting together 80 of music's finest artists to guide young people through the good, bad and sad times. Whatever the feeling, these artists have been there and sung about it. Organised by mood, dip into the library to discover new artists from decades past to present day. Shout about it with Nirvana, love yourself with Lizzo, or cry it out with Adele.
Each entry contains biographical information on each artist, lists must-hear songs, and has accessible musical analysis from author and journalist Myles Tanzer. Every artist is captured in full-colour, rocking art by Ali Mac. With information at the front on how to soundtrack your mood, and information at the back on how to listen to and make your own music.
A pitch-perfect introduction to music appreciation for children.
Year of Wonder: Classical Music for Every Day - Clemency Burton-Hill
Year of Wonder is a unique celebration of classical music by an author who wants to share its diverse wonders with others and to encourage a love for this genre in all readers, whether complete novices or lifetime enthusiasts.
Clemency chooses one piece of music for each day of the year, with a short explanation about the composer to put it into context, and brings the music alive in a modern and playful way, while also extolling the positive mindfulness element of giving yourself some time every day to listen to something uplifting or beautiful. Thoughtfully curated and expertly researched, this is a book of classical music to keep you company: whoever you are, wherever you're from.
Take Nothing With You - Patrick Gale
An evocative exploration of the joy and pain playing an instrument can bring that echoes the author’s musical youth.
Becoming Billie Holiday - Carole Boston Weatherford
Before the legend of Billie Holiday, there was a girl named Eleanora. The world, however, would know her as Billie Holiday, possibly one of the greatest jazz singers of all time. Eleanora's journey into legend took her through pain, poverty and run-ins with the law. By the time she was fifteen, she knew she possessed something that could change her life - a voice.
Kofi and the Rap Battle Summer - Jeffrey Boakye
Kofi is used to stuff going wrong, he’s usually in detention or about to be. But when he finds out his best friend Kelvin has a photographic memory, he comes up with a genius money-making scheme. The whole school is obsessed with music, no one can ever make out the words, so the boys hit the jackpot selling a new fanzine full of song lyrics: PAPER JAM. It’s not long before one of the teacher’s tells Kofi: ‘You could be a real leader at this school, you know that?’ and . . . suddenly it’s turning out to be the best summer ever!
Read mazagines for free!
The Pressreader app / website is a good, free way to encounter magazines and newspapers. A pupil will require a Norfolk library card, enabled for online services (the library will be happy to enable this, and to provide a PIN).
Pupils then visit www.pressreader.com on a device, select ‘Library or Group’, start typing ‘Norfolk’, and then select Norfolk County Council from the list. Data fields for library card and PIN then appear. Once logged in, the page can be bookmarked, and library card number and PIN stored. The apps for tablets and mobile devices are nice to use.
)Pupils can also access foreign language titles.)