​The book is based on a true story, the story of Lale Sokolov. The author Heather Morris had met with Lale multiple times before his death to discuss his life and how much had happened to him, so that she could write about it. Lale passed away in 2006 and the book was published in 2018, during those years the author was gathering more facts about what had happened to Lale. The Second World War was a tragedy and all lives that were lossed was all a life too much. During the Second World War Nazis began rounding up Jews and putting them in concentration camps. One of the most famous concentration camps was Auschwitz. Lale Sokolov was put in Auschwitz and this book follows along his time there and what was happening to people there. 

Lale Sokolov was from a Jewish family in Krompachy and when the Nazis came around telling people that any male over 18 in good health should be rounded up to be sent away to help protect their families Lale went straight away. When he got to the camp Lale got to work as a tattooist tattooing numbers onto people’s arms. Lale tattooed all prisoners and gave them all a number. When Lale was tattooing one girl caught his attention her name was Gita. Heather Morris writes all about Gita and Lale and how they survived Auschwitz.

I don’t think I could pick a favorite part of this book. I think every part of this book brings it together I think it all ties together perfectly. I think one of the best parts of the book though would have to be seeing everyone’s relationships with each other within the camps. As this was not written directly from Lale Sokolov or other people’s perspectives either it could be hard to know whether it was really like that but I think if it was then that is quite incredibly. I think it’s quite incredible because during a time of such tragedy and of such unfairness and bias they still came together as people and helped each other out as much as they could.

I loved this book I think that it was amazingly written I think the story is phenomenal and it’s even more amazing because it is really based on a true story and a lot of the events your reading about actually took place. I think it gives you great insight to what was happening during that time and how the people were feeling. It lets you see what was happening first hand and with a book it’s great because you get to feel like you are almost there especially with how well written this book is. I think that it is incredibly sad what happened to people during the Second World War and I think that this book helps shine a little light on how much was lost during that time and how many were lost.

This book is not part of a series per say but there is a book that is also written by Heather Morris that was written after this one and it follows Lale and Gitas friend Cilka and what happened to her during this time. It is called Cilka’s journey. It is an incredibly sad book like this one and is also amazingly well written. After Auschwitz Cilka was sent to another prisoners camp which was completely undeserved and should not have happened. This book is just as good as the tattooist of Auschwitz and I definitely recommend it.

I would definitely recommend this book I have nothing bad to say about it. It has an incredible storyline and plot and was amazingly written. It is also factual for the most part and can give actual real information about this time so if you were wanting to learn more about the Second World War and what was happening in concentration camps I highly recommend this book.

​By Beth Killeen

To celebrate World Book Week, we organized lots of literary events and competitions for students, staff and even parents. 

D.E.A.R: Each afternoon we ran a 'Drop Everything And Read' class where students spent the time reading their books. This was a great hit with many students, and a fun way to break up the school day.

Literary Question Competition: We brought back the traditional Literary Question of the Day. Each afternoon, a question was sent out to the school. Sticking with our theme of Diversity, they focused on authors and books that tell diverse stories. From the straightforward ‘How many volumes of autobiography has Maya Angelou written?’ (A: Seven) and ‘Who wrote The Kite Runner?’ (A: Khaled Hosseini) to fun Loreto themed ones – ‘What Black American poet, first name Langston, shared a surname with a Loreto teacher?’ (A: Hughes) – to the more obscure ‘Who wrote Your Silence Will Not Protect You?’ (A: Audre Lorde) and ‘What is the title of the latest Ciara Smyth novel?’ (A: Falling in Love Montage). Similar to a crossword, the first letter of each answer spelled out our Author of the Week – (Elif) Shafak.  Our winners were Jessica Kelly, Emma Pirkl, Grainne Meghen, Emily Farrell, Anna Weir, Mia Holland, and Issey Power. 















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​Photography Competition: The theme of this year's competition was 'Where I Read'. Students were asked to submit photographs that they felt embodied this theme. There were some really strong entries, with lots of creativity. The overall winner was Anna Weir, with Rachel Marshall coming in second place. The winning entry will be hung in the Library for all to admire! 

Costume Competition: On World Book Day, students and staff were encouraged to dress up as their favourite characters for the day. Hyped up with plenty of fun videos (big shout out to Ms Coyne and the Student council for their amazing work!), the whole school got into the Cosplay spirit - with even Mr Dunne making an appearance as the Freshest of Princes! 

Fighting Words: Some of the TY's had the chance to take part in the Fighting Words Creative Writing Workshop. This was a great way to #ShareAStory, and we hope to see many budding young writers emerge from it in the future!

Our biggest thanks to Ms Kennedy, Ms Coyne, the Student Council, and all of those who helped to organize such a fantastic week. 

To celebrate World Book Week, one of our resident Librarian (& local Bookseller) Ms Rebekah Wade, gave a Zoom presentation for parents. Speaking on the subject of Young Adult Fiction, Ms Wade gave a brief introduction into what YA fiction is, the range of topics and themes that it covers, and spoke about ways to encourage Young Adults to read for pleasure.
She emphasized the quality and diversity of the genre, particularly in recent years. From the incredible complex novels of Sarah Crossan, and Dean Atta's The Black Flamingo which are written in verse, to the twisty detective novels of Karen McManus - young adult fiction does not speak down to it's audience but rather challenges its readers to think critically. Popular within the genre are social justice, mental health, and LGBTQ+ inclusive literature. This is in part due to the demand for socially conscious writing - sparked by Angie Thomas' bestselling The Hate U Give. Plenty of book and author recommendations were given to an enthusiastic audience. The presentation ended with a challenge to parents to read themselves - "to raise a reader, be a reader" - and to read Young Adult fiction too. It was highlighted that children learn by example, and that the best way to encourage interest in reading is to be interested in reading. A popular event, with a lot of positive feedback, we hope to repeat its success in the coming year.
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"In diversity there is beauty and there is strength"  Maya Angelou
This was the theme of our inagural World Book Week. We felt that now more than ever it was important to celebrate diverse voices and stories. During the week we focused on Black and LGBTQ+ authors and books that we felt deserved to be highlighted. Though we celebrated online, we had plenty of events and competitions throughout the week. Each day began with an author highlight, and ended with a book highlight.

Naturally we began our Author Highlights with Dr. Maya Angelou, a Black writer, editor, poet and literary icon. Her poetry speaks of captivity, of feeling trapped (see 'Caged Bird'), she shouts back at critics with confidence and sass (see 'Phenomenal Woman'), and reminds us that we can overcome adversity (see 'Still I Rise'). She is a personal favourite here at the library, especially for our Poetry Pharmacy.
For our Book Highlight, we paired Angelou with Angie Thomas' Concrete Rose. A pre-quel to her bestelling The Hate U Give, it follows Maverick Carter as he suddenly becomes a father. A novel that delves into masculinity, and especially black masculinity, it is a powerful and moving book that challenges our assumptions and preconceptions about Black men.

Tuesday we introduced our readers to Robin Talley. She began her career working for LGBTQ+ and Women's Rights organizations before turning her hand to writing. Her novels tell the stories of LGBTQ+ people, their joys and their sorrows. She shines a light on people who may not always see themselves in stories, a creates a powerful and positive representation of them. Our favourite novel of hers is Pulp which is a cross-generational story.
For our Book Highlight, we chose The Falling in Love Montage by Irish author Ciara Smyth. Two girls decide to re-enact the cheesy romantic scenes from Romantic Comedies - but agree not to go beyond the light and cheesy side of romance. Yet they soon realize that once the falling in love montage is over, the characters are now in love. A fabulous book set in Ireland that will have you laughing and crying. 

We then moved on to our Author of the Week - the Turkish born Elif Shafak. Famous for being persecuted by the Turkish government for her novel The B*stard of Istanbul , her intense and vividly written novels portray Turkish culture, explore spirituality and religion, and examines human nature itself. She throws us into new perspectives, and teaches us about the beauty of other cultures. Her non-fiction book Black Milk openly and courageously delves into her experience with depression and her struggle to understand her identity as a writer and a woman. 
For our Book Highlight, we chose Oyinkan Braithwaite's fantastically dark satire My Sister, the Serial Killer. Set in Nigeria, it follows the dumpy older sister as she yet again cleans up after her younger (and far more beautiful) sister accidentally kills another boyfriend. A darkly funny and incredibly intelligent novel, it asks us to look beyond a beautiful face and asks us how far we would go for someone we love.

Thursday we turned our attention to Anti-Racist scholar Ibram X Kendi. His writing tells us that it is not enough to be simply 'not racist' but that we must strive to be actively 'anti-racist'. In a post-Black Lives Matter world, his writing offers us an explanation of racism and it's history, and gives us realistic guidance on how to move forward.  
For our Book Highlight, we had to have Dean Atta's The Black Flamingo  - a novel written in verse. It follows a young black man as he questions who he is, and learns that it is okay to be different. He finds freedom in being honest about himself and taking pride in who he is. A wonderfully empowering book.

We finished our week with Nigerian writer Chinua Achebe. His novel Things Fall Apart exposes colonialism and all it's damage on the Igbo community in Nigeria. He shows us the beauty, violence, and value of the Igbo culture - and how it is slowly but surely destroyed by white settlers. He tells us a story rarely heard - that of the defeated people. His work has been hugely influential and is an essential addition to our world literature.
​And for our final Book Highlight, The Gilded Ones by Namina Forna was the obvious choice. A blend of Black Panther and Children of Blood and Bone, it is a fantasy novel that challenges patriarchal views and proclaims that young women are powerful and have voices of their own.

There were many, many other books and authors we could have chosen to highlight - which is a testament to the incredible number of them that are out there. 

1. The Flea Palace by Elif Shafak (Turkey)
“Istanbul was under a heavy fog that morning, and as all Istanbulites knew too well, during foggy days even the city herself could not tell what her colour was.”
A strange story about a building in Istanbul and it's even stranger residents - an immersive novel with a fabulous twist in the tale.

2. The Little Paris Bookshop by Nina George (France)
“Down south they listen to the sea in order to understand that laughing and crying sound the same, and that the soul sometimes needs to cry to be happy.”
A bookseller who proscribes books for emotional maladies decides to float his book barge down the Seine in search of lost love... Bask in the French sunshine with a cast of caring characters.

3. Death and the Penguin by Andrey Kurkov (Ukraine)
“Misha had appeared chez Viktor a year before, when the zoo was giving hungry animals away to anyone able to feed them. Viktor had gone along and returned with a king penguin."
A man and his penguin accidentally become involved in absurd adventures - a wonderfully weird novel with an ending you just won't believe.

4. Things Fall Apart by Chinua Achebe (Nigeria)
“The white man is very clever. He came quietly and peaceably with his religion. We were amused at his foolishness and allowed him to stay. Now he has won our brothers, and our clan can no longer act like one. He has put a knife on the things that held us together and we have fallen apart.”
A story of clashing cultures, of immense change, and of the despair of one man who loses everything.

5. Miracle on Cherry Hill by Sun-Mi Hwang (South Korea)
’It rained for two days straight. The trees howled in the back garden and angry rain lashed against the windows. Kang realised for the first time that he had locked himself on an island of his own making."
A modern fable about a rags-to-riches man who returns to his childhood home with the hopes of peace and quiet. His neighbours have other plans though... A beautiful tale of forgiveness and love. 

What do you get when you mix an embalmer, his grandmother, an elderly man and his young carer? An absolutely fantastic road trip! 
It's hard to get a date when you spend all day dressing dead people, at least that's what Ambroise has found. As an embalmer, he spends most of his time with the dead (except when he does make up for the local theatre group), and his beloved cake-loving grandmother. Even Ambroise's father is disgusted by his son's chosen profession - but for Ambroise it is an important job that helps the bereaved. 
Manelle, a home-help for the elderly, also finds that she  spends her evenings alone. At least she has her favourite client, eighty-two year old Samuel, to brighten her days. But when he makes an unusual request, Manelle finds herself on an unlikely road-trip to Switzerland...

​Set in a small French town, The Rest of Their Lives follows four unlikely friends as they discover what life is really all about. Didierlaurent beautifully captures the absurdity of human nature - best seen in the grumpy old man that Manelle minds, and Ambroise's cat-loving neighbour. In fact, it is the interactions between these characters that will make you laugh out loud. It is also a love story - with a twist. Despite dealing with dark subjects like illness and death, this is a light-hearted novel that celebrates life at all ages. 
Full of quirky, memorable characters and fun plot twists this is a wonderful feel-good read. This is perfect for those days when you need a pick-me-up. Enjoy curled up with tea and a  large slice of cake. 

​By Rebekah Wade

 Immersing yourself in a good book is one of life's delights. Another one is immersing yourself in an entirely different culture, a different life. World fiction does not just mean books from the U.K or America, rather novels from every country. We often fall into the trap of only reading books written in predominantly English speaking countries, and forget that outside of that is a Whole New World. 
Japanese fiction is beautiful. Usually written in a simple style, Japanese novels tend towards absurd and are wonderfully quirky. Before The Coffee Gets Cold by Toshikazu Kawaguchi, for example, is the story of a little coffee shop in Tokyo that allows you to travel back in time - but you must follow strict rules. Or If Cats Disappeared from the World by Genki Kawamura tells the story of a deal with the devil where for each extra day of life, a man must choose one thing to disappear from the world. Speaking of cats, The Guest Cat by Takashi Hiraide is the story of a couple falling in love with a stray cat. Likewise, Korean literature has some true gems. The Dog Who Dared To Dream by Hwan Sun-Mi is a gorgeous fable told from the perspective of a dog as she goes through the hardship of life. 
If unusual is your style, Ukranian author Andrey Kurkov's iconic Death and The Penguin is a bizarre tale of a man caught up in intrigue as he cares for his penguin (it has one of the best endings, too). Or perhaps you prefer modern fairytales like Finnish writer Selja Ahava's Things Fall From The Sky , which features a woman killed by a freak accident and her sister who wins the Lotto twice.  Samantha Schweblin, an Argentinian writer, goes even further in her psychological thriller Fever Dream. 
Closer to home, Frenchman Jean-Paul Didierlaurent's The Rest of Their Lives features an odd combination of an embalmer, his grandmother, an old man, and his carer as they embark on the road trip of a lifetime. Italian author and journalist Italo Calvino's If On A Winter's Night A Traveler is a self-aware novel where the reader searches for the missing chapter of the book they're reading. 
For complete cultural immersion, you can't miss Turkish writer Elif Shafak's infamous The B*stard of Istanbul -  the food, to the smells, to the colours of the city come to life and will leave you craving foods you have never tried. If that tickles your fancy, then Kevin Kwan's Crazy Rich Asians brings to life the cooking of Singapore (not to mention the wild lives of the rich elite) in a way that will have you googling flights. 
For those who like their fiction a little darker in nature, Chinua Achebe's Nigerian classic Things Fall Apart is a good start. A novel that follows the fall of the native culture after the arrival of European colonists. For a more modern account, Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie's short story collection The Thing Around Your Neck paints a vivid picture of life in Nigeria today. Readers might look to Angie Cruz's Dominicana for a story that tells of the dark side of immigration through the eyes of a young girl forced to leave her home for 1960s New York and a man she does not know. 
This is but a small slice of the diverse stories that make up our collection world fiction. There is always more to discover, and new voices to hear. It is through stories that we are truly connected.

​By Rebekah Wade