Harry Potter and the Philosopher's Stone by JK Rowling - Miss Koutas (English)

I'm sure it won't be news to anyone by now that I love all the Harry Potter books. But I think 'The Philosopher's Stone' is one of my favourites. Mostly because it started off the magic for me. 

You meet Harry and his horrid relatives and journey with him as he discovers he is part of a secret wizarding world. 

The thing I loved most about it was the idea that the wizarding world is all around us, but we Muggles (non-magical folk) are too unobservant to notice. When I see a cat sitting on a wall I always think it might be Professor McGonagall! Or when I see a streetlamp go out, I immediately think it's Professor Dumbledore using his Deluminator.

When I read it for the first time I couldn't put it down. You join Harry as he discovers he is a wizard. He then has to battle an evil dark wizard as well as getting his Potions homework finished!

For magic, mates and moody teachers – ‘Harry Potter and the Philosopher’s Stone’ is an essential read. 

Miss Koutas

 

The Lovely Bones by Alice Sebold - Mrs Cooper (English)

I cannot believe that it's taken me 10 years to get around to reading this book.

One of my year 9 students came up to me at the end of the lesson and said, "my mum said you could borrow it." I couldn't say no. And I'm glad I didn't.

Alice Sebold's heartbreaking tale of Susie Salmon ("like the fish") continues to resonate with me weeks after finishing the novel. The first few pages are so excruciatingly real that you find your mind being cast back through years of news stories - stories that tell of children who have tragically gone missing - and all you did was continue to listen to the report on your sofa or scroll through the story on the train and only assume the worse.

After re-telling the graphic details of her own murder, the reader seeks comfort in the peace that Susie has found in 'her heaven'. Despite this solace however, Susie still attempts to grasp hold of her old life on earth by watching her family (and those closest to her) cope with her tragic murder and undertake the gruelling task of continuing their lives without her in it.

Susie's father seems to be unable to accept his loss and becomes determined to seek justice for her murder. Unfortunately, his suspicions and theories about Mr Harvey (a neighbour) are thwarted and dismissed by the police and his wife which fragments the, already damaged, family.

Susie seems to be the only one who truly understands her father and attempts to comfort his grief from the other side. The connection that Sebold creates between Susie and her father is faithful, loving and real, which will allow this novel to withstand the test of time and continue to hold a prominent place on bookshelves of contemporary readers everywhere.