Teach-Reading-and-Writing-Issue-21

www.teachwire.net | 17 10 Owning It EDITED BY JAMES CATCHPOLE, LUCY CATCHPOLE & JEN CAMPBELL, ILLUS. SOPHIE KAMLISH, FABER 2025 About this book Growing up disabled can be an isolating experience, and the lack of role models and first-hand information really made an impact on the contributors to this book. Owning It – an anthology of own-voice writing by disabled people – aims to fill that gap. From playing sports at school and juggling hospital visits, to dealing with the confusion of getting too much free stuff, these writers share their memories – good and not-so-good – with honesty, directness and compassion. Owning It is about finding the strength and pride (and maybe even the words) disabled children and young people need. Packed with insight and kindness, it will also build empathy and understanding for non- disabled readers in UKS2. Thinking and talking • We can’t change our disabilities. But we can own them. Discuss. • What have you learned about disabilities from reading this book? • Find positive things that came from some of the challenges faced by these writers. Try this… n This book is packed with insights. Find words you want to keep close, then record them in beautiful ways for sharing and display. n How did their childhood experiences contribute to the choices these writers made as adults? Imagine a realistic KEY S TAGE 2 BOOKS FOR SCHOOLS future for yourself, built on what you know about your strengths, skills and interests. n What have you already learned that might help your younger self? Write them a letter. Carey Fluker-Hunt is a freelance writer, creative learning consultant, and founder of Cast of Thousands (castofthousands.co.uk ) 9 Ella Jones vs. the Sun Stealer BY LUCY EDWARDS, WRITTEN IN COLLABORATION WITH KATY BIRCHALL, ILLUS. CAROLINE GARCIA, SCHOLASTIC 2025 KEY S TAGE 2 About this book When every scrap of light is extinguished from the world, Ella’s amazed to find herself leading a battle against Lugh, an ancient and very angry Celtic god. As a blind person, though, she’s used to navigating darkness with Maisie her guide dog – so maybe Ella’s unlikely team can defeat Lugh, after all? Enter a second villain, to complicate the plot… Written by a blind broadcaster and disability activist, this novel takes a realistic approach to fantasy, and readers will be fascinated by the can-do insights into Ella’s sightless, otherwise- empowered world. Thinking and talking • How does being blind help Ella battle Lugh and Everett Croft? • Talk about fantasy and reality in this novel. • How do the colours of the rainbow make you feel? What memories do they evoke? Focus on senses other than sight. Try this… n Where would you hide the rainbow gems in your school? Create a treasure hunt, writing clues that require the use of senses other than sight. n Summarise Everett Croft’s villainous plan. In role as Everett, talk or write about what happened. How and why did things go wrong from your perspective? n Could you make a raised map of your school? Test different ways of creating the lines and read them with your fingers. What are the challenges? What works best? Illustrations by Sophie Kamlish Ella Jones vs the Sun Stealer is the first in a series – with the second releasing autumn 2025 Cover illustration: Two Dots | Interior illustrations: Caroline Garcia