Young Readers’ Book Club
British Council, Bengaluru, invites you to the Young Readers’ Book Club
In the world of children's books, summer is always a special time, because it is awards time. The best books of the year rise above all others and for those who have thus far missed them; it is a reason to take another look. Here, at the British Council Bangalore, we are celebrating the shortlists for the Kate Greenway and the CILIP Carnegie Medal, given in the UK for best book and best illustration, respectively. Join us as we go on a journey to explore all shortlisted books for these awards in 2016.
The session will introduce young readers/learners to the works of Frances Hardinge and to The Lie Tree, which is the author’s seventh fantasy novel. Our session aims at targeting participants who would benefit from academic enrichment by exposing them to exceptional literature. Through interactive activities, we will try to inculcate the mental habits of analysing writing as they read it, and to promote the skills necessary for productive discussion about intellectually stimulating topics. At the end of the session, we will share some book review tips and ideas with the readers.
This programme is suitable for children aged 10 years and above and will be led by an English Language teacher, Ms. Purbani Das.
Fee per child: Rs. 200
To register, please write to purnima.krishna@britishcouncil.org or call us at 0120-4569000 / 0120-6684353
About the book
Faith's father has been found dead under mysterious circumstances. As she searches through his belongings for clues, she discovers a strange tree which only bears fruit if you whisper a lie to it. The fruit of the tree, when eaten, will deliver a hidden truth to the person who consumes it. The bigger the lie, the bigger the truth that is uncovered. The girl realizes that she is good at lying and that the tree might hold the key to her father's murder. She begins to spread untruths far and wide across her small island community. But as her tales spiral out of control, she discovers that where lies seduce, truths shatter...
This richly imaginative, darkly gothic Victorian mystery, combining elements of the supernatural, natural science and the role of women in society, hooks the reader from the opening line. The story is complex but well-paced and tightly plotted and the historically descriptive language really brings the setting to life and gives a very authentic period feel .The good range of characters are vividly realised and in particular the central character of Faith is fantastically well drawn. She grows in courage and confidence throughout the novel, with the reader cheering her every step of the way.
About the author Frances Hardinge
Frances Hardinge spent a large part of her childhood in a huge old house that inspired her to write strange stories from an early age. She read English at Oxford University, then got a job at a software company. However, a few years later, a persistent friend finally managed to bully Frances into sending a few chapters of Fly by Night, her first children's novel, to a publisher. Macmillan made her an immediate offer. The book was published to huge critical acclaim and won the Branford Boase First Novel Award. The Lie Tree is Frances's seventh novel and recently won the Costa Book of the Year 2015.
About the facilitator Purbani Das
She is an English Language teacher at the British Council and an Art enthusiast from Kolkata, West Bengal. She studied English Literature and Art at Benaras Hindu University and started her teaching career in 2014 at the Centre for English Studies, Leeds, United Kingdom. On returning to India, she joined the English Language Teaching Centre at British Council, Kolkata and worked there for a year before moving to Bangalore. Before being a teacher, she has worked as a Programme Officer at an Art Gallery in Kolkata and a Freelance Art Writer.”