BUDDING authors and avid readers at a Solihull secondary school were given a peek into life behind the pages.
A year eight class at Alderbrook School contacted Worcester author Cally Taylor after reading her book during lessons.
The Blossomfield Road school has brought in Uniquely Portable Magic, an initiative that sees form tutors reading to classes three times a week, to boost reading for pleasure.
The pupils are asked to listen as teachers read a range of fiction and non-fiction books in a bid to boost vocabulary, literacy and listening skills.
One class, who were reading The Island, went one step further and contacted the author.
Ms Taylor read to her new fans and discussed not only this particular novel, but also her career as a writer.
Tim Stent, assistant headteacher at Alderbrook School, said: “The school has worked with both internal and external experts to invest significantly in a wide range of engaging and diverse texts which, whilst age appropriate, may also include challenging themes and language.
“It is hugely important that we do not shy away from aspects of the world our students are growing up in and openly discussing difficult topics also helps us to contextualise what the students are exposed to via the media.
“This, we hope, will be the first of many guest visits and goes some way to proving the value and importance of reading, not only academically, but also for pleasure.”
