Further approaches to Reading for Pleasure Further approaches to Reading for Pleasure 1 Further approaches to Reading for Pleasure Contents Introduction to the May Quick Reads Learning Resources: a themed approach 3 Themes and titles grid (including links to other Quick Reads) 4 Quick Reads titles May 2006: synopsis, readability and author information: Cleanskin Val McDermid 5 Danny Wallace and the Danny Wallace 6 Centre of the Universe Desert Claw Damien Lewis 7 Grey Man Andy McNab 8 I Am a Dalek Gareth Roberts/Dr Who 9 I Love Football Hunter Davies 10 The Poison in the Blood Tom Holland 11 The Dying Wish Courttia Newland 12 The Name You Once Gave Me Mike Phillips 13 Winner Takes All John Francome 14 Acknowledgement The learning materials to accompany the Quick Reads publications have been produced as part of The Vital Link’s Reading for Pleasure campaign, funded by the Department for Education and Skills and in co-operation with World Book Day. Our thanks go to the writing and editorial team of Nancy Gidley, Kay Jackaman and Moreen Mowforth. www.vitallink.org.uk 2 Further approaches to Reading for Pleasure Introduction to the May Quick Reads Learning Resources OurPrevious approach learning resources ItThis is not set possibleof learning to teachresources people has ‘reading been written for pleasure’. to accompany We know thatpublication extensive of readingthe second practice series is of what Quick is neededReads, publishedto reinforce in and embedMay 2006. learning, The first and setthat of this learning is difficult resources, to ensure which with accompanied learners whothose have Quick never Reads had published a reading in habit. March We 2006, must were bear designedin mind that to adultsintroduce will emergent only read readers what they to the enjoy, individual so helping titles. learners They are develop anstructured interest roundin books three and activities reading tofor be pleasure undertaken is not before, a soft option but anduring intrinsic or after and reading essential of partthe texts,of good and literacy are accompanied teaching practice. by an introductory file promoting some generic activities around reading for pleasure with Skills for Life learners. Another approach In the five files for the May Quick Reads we have more fully for readers. Each of the themed files taken a different approach. In order to has a section headed ‘Further Development’ encourage teachers and other staff working with which contains a list of other Quick Reads which emergent readers to view the Quick Reads and link to the same theme, together with other titles their learning resources as an opportunity to from the First Choice database. broaden and deepen readers’ experiences of texts, and exploit the flexibility of the materials Pick and mix provided, we have approached the texts in terms Similarly, for teachers and other staff using the of ‘themes’. Each of the files identifies a theme Quick Reads learning resources, we would like and uses two of the texts to demonstrate how to emphasise the transferability of some of the reading activity for those texts might be activities and development ideas we have constructed around that theme. We hope, in this provided across both sets of Quick Reads. The way, to explore the complexity of the nature of activities we have suggested, themes we have enjoyment of reading, and encourage reader chosen and books we have linked are only the development. Although readers may enjoy a beginning, in terms of the potential that Quick thriller, is it that particular plot that has ‘hooked’ Reads offer as a way of engaging and exciting them, or is it the exploration of the psychology emerging or reluctant readers. You (and your of one of the main characters – their thirst for readers) will undoubtedly see others when you revenge (as in Cleanskin) or their development are familiar with the books, and may disagree from childhood (as in The Name You Once with those we have selected. That is all to the Gave Me) that leads them to a set of actions? If good. We aim to spark ideas and enthusiasm for the latter, then similar exploration may be found creating your own activities and resources that in another book that an emergent reader might support your particular learners’ development in not normally attempt, but might enjoy. We reading for pleasure. The learning resources are appreciate that this approach will require more not an end in themselves, but ‘starter’ packs that initial familiarity with the books on the part of we hope will encourage further exploration of all staff in order to be able to draw out the themes the titles. 3 Further approaches to Reading for Pleasure Themes and titles Theme May Quick Reads Links to other Quick Reads Revenge is Sweet Cleanskin Blackwater The Grey Man Chickenfeed Don’t Make Me Laugh The Thief Winner Takes All Who Am I? The Dying Wish Blackwater The Name You Once Gave Me Don’t Make Me Laugh Star Sullivan The Book Boy Woman Walks Into a Bar Private Passions Danny Wallace and The How To Change Your Life Centre of the Universe in 7 Steps I Love Football Screw It, Let’s Do It Winner Takes All The Team Other Worlds I Am a Dalek Someone Like Me Poison in the Blood Against the Odds Desert Claw Hell Island Winner Takes All 4 Further approaches to Reading for Pleasure Synopsis About the author When career criminal Jack Farrell’s body is Val McDermid grew up in a Scottish mining found washed-up on a Suffolk shore, it community, then read English at Oxford. She looks to the police like a clear-cut case. was a journalist for sixteen years, spending Broken-hearted at his daughter’s death, he the last three years as Northern Bureau Chief has drowned himself – good riddance and of a national Sunday tabloid. She is now a one less crime to solve, according to CID. full-time writer and divides her time between Cheshire and Northumberland. Then again, maybe not. For, one by one, Farrell’s enemies are being killed. And the Her novels have won international acclaim horrific manner of their deaths makes and a number of major awards. The Wire in drowning look like a day at the beach. the Blood, the second in her series of books featuring a criminal profiler, lent its name to Readability the highly acclaimed television series starring 11/13 Levels E3/L1 Robson Green as Tony Hill. McDermid has also written crime novels featuring Manchester PI Kate Brannigan, while a further series of novels featured journalist-sleuth Lindsay Gordon. ‘McDermid’s capacity to enter the warped mind of a deviant criminal is shiveringly convincing.’ The Times View more information on Val McDermid at her publisher’s website: www.harpercollins.co.uk 5 Further approaches to Reading for Pleasure Synopsis About the author Danny Wallace wanted to write about a Danny Frederick Wallace was born in Dundee, place so special and so crucial to our Scotland, on the 16th November 1976. He existence that it had never before been grew up in Loughborough and now lives in tackled: the Centre of the Universe. London. He has written several books This is the story of Danny's trip to Idaho, in including Join Me (all about what happened the United States of America, to visit a when he started his own cult), and Yes Man manhole cover in a small town, whose (all about what happened when he decided to residents have proclaimed it the centre of say ‘yes’ to everything). He also presents TV the universe. And the name of the town? shows. His own six-part BBC2 series, How To Wallace! Start Your Own Country; recently saw him become a King. He is currently hosting Readability Schools Out on BBC1 12/13 Levels E3/L1 More information about Danny Wallace can be found at www.dannywallace.com 6 Further approaches to Reading for Pleasure Synopsis About the author In war-torn Iraq, a painting by Van Gogh Damien Lewis is an award-winning journalist, worth £25 million is being held to ransom. film director-reporter and a best-selling It has been looted from Saddam’s palaces author who lives in Dublin, Ireland. In 1989, and is for sale to the highest bidder. The directly after graduation, he started working painting's original owner, a Kuwaiti prince, as a freelance print journalist, writing for the from whom it was seized during Iraq's likes of the Sunday Times, the Guardian, occupation of Kuwait in the First Gulf War, the Daily Telegraph, Geographical and has asked the British Government for help Marie Claire. in retrieving it. The British Government owes him a favour for backing them during He moved on to become a documentary the Iraq War, so they agree to help. But the director, reporter and cameraman, working British Government aren’t paying and they for quality British, European and North want those holding it dead. Ex-SAS soldier American broadcasters. He produced material Mick Kilbride is asked to lead a very secret for flagship shows including C4 Dispatches, mission. But all is not as it seems and Mick BBC Correspondent, ARD, ZDF and PBS. He and his team are drawn into a dark, violent developed a reputation as a specialist in world. Someone, somewhere has deceived popular human rights, humanitarian, conflict them. They will only survive if they stay one and war stories – covering war and disaster step ahead of the mission and their zones across five continents. betrayers. He wrote his first book in 2001, which Readability became an international number one best- 12 Levels E3/L1 seller, and has since concentrated more on book writing.