‘Reading makes you smart’

On Monday morning, author Dan Smith came to talk to all Year 7, 8 and 9 boys about his adventurous life and love of stories.

Boys and staff alike enjoyed lively accounts of his boyhood in Asia and Brazil – with accompanying photos of both hitmen and caiman. Throughout he emphasised how the stories told in films, books and in his head have enriched his life (even making a miserable time at boarding school bearable). Year 8 boys also got to write their own stories during interactive workshops held by Dan about how to begin a story.

Author visits are an excellent way to encourage and promote reading and proof of this could be seen as boys queued to buy signed copies of Dan’s new adventure story, Below Zero, from the stall kindly provided by Forum Books of Corbridge.