Keren David and the Reading Group

In May 2010 a group of students from the Creative Writing group and the Carnegie Reading group visited Waterstones bookshop to listen to a new author, Keren David talking about her first novel, 'When i was Joe.' Keren gave a really enjoyable talk about writing, researching, choosing the cover and how her teenage children help advise her writing. At that time the sequel was about to be published.

The Carnegie Reading Group met Keren again when she compered our Islington Carnegie shadowing award ceremony, where each school does some sort of presentation about their favourite of the shortlisted books.

Performance from 'When I was Joe'

Keren talks to the group about 'Almost True.'

The girls loved 'When I was Joe,' couldn't wait to read the sequel 'Almost True' and invited Keren back into school to talk about 'Almost True.' They performed three excerpts from the books which Keren enjoyed and she was impressed with how well they knew the books. She then answered questions about the book and gave them an exclusive preview of her new book, 'Lia's guide to winning the lottery,' and showed them the cover. The book is to be published in August. The girls were also very keen for her to complete the trilogy of 'When I was Joe ' and 'Almost True.'

Some of the girls kept in touch with Keren through her Facebook page and when she ran a competition asking people to write a piece on what they would do if they won £8 million on the Lottery, Nasra, one of our students entered and won a signed copy! Nasra kindly agreed to share it with the group. Keren's publisher also sent us a few copies, so we have been reading it aloud and laughing a lot each week!

The girls were disappointed that 'When I was Joe' did not make the Carnegie shortlist, butcan't wait for the sequel to come out.

The Books
'When I was Joe' is about a boy called Ty, who is forced to go into  witness protection programme as he is a witness to a violent crime. He has to start a whole new life under the new name of Joe. The book deals with how he copes with a new school, new friends and a whole new personality. He lives in fear of being discovered and the reader gradually dicscovers that his account of the crime is not all that it seems.
'Almost True' picks up the story of Joe as he and his family are moved again and then he is forced to go on the run as his protection programme is compromised. There are many issues covered in this book, not least the growing problem of knife crime.
'Lia's guide to winning the lottery' is about a sixteen year old girl who wins eight million pounds on the lottery. The book is a hilarious look at how a life is suddenly changed and what problems inheriting a large sum of money can throw up.

Munna says of 'When I was Joe:' 'It is incredibly gripping and keeps you wondering. As well as being interesting and more reaistic than many books I have reade. This is a great book which wil appeal to teengagers.'
Mahmuda says: 'It is an exciting adventure about a boy who has to go through love, death and has to change his identity all the time because of a death that he saw happen.'

Follow Keren's blog at wheniwasjoe.blogspot.com and on twitter @kerensd

EGA students perform at the Islington Carnegie Shadowing 2010 watched by Keren David