Welcome back to The Bookmark from Kings Academy! We are on Episode 8, and this week we shake things up with our very first non-fiction recommendation. Joining us is a special guest, and a face popular with many of our students: Mr. Channell, teacher and e-sports leader.

This episode delves into:

• Non-Fiction vs. Fiction: We chat about why some readers, like Mr. Charnel, naturally drift towards information texts, even from a young age.

• Geeking Out: We touch upon Mr. Channell's passions for Star Wars, space, and gothic fiction, and how these genres shape his reading habits and influence his students.

• Sharing Stories: Mr. Channell and Dr Matthias reminisce about reading to their children, including classics like The Gruffalo and, well... Barry the Fish with Fingers.

• The Kennedy Conspiracy: Mr. Channell makes his compelling recommendation for the non-fiction text, 'Last Second in Dallas' by Josiah Thompson. We discuss the enduring fascination with the JFK assassination and the credibility of this particular conspiracy theory.

• Is it Worth Reading? We consider the complexity of the book and whether it’s suitable for students across all key stages, especially given the historical evidence and analysis involved.

Tune in to discover Mr. Channell's unique perspective on reading and the power of a convincing, well-researched argument, even when it challenges official history (for the record, Dr Matthias remains very cynical about the author's claims!).

In this episode of the Bookmark from Kings Academy Lord Wilson, we are joined by year nine student, Josh, who shares his passion for reading and talks about his favorite book, Diary of a Wimpy Kid by Jeff Kinney.

Josh first discusses his reading habits and his favorite types of stories, specifically fiction and horror. He then gives a summary of Diary of a Wimpy Kid and discusses how school life in the book compares to his own experience. He also explains why he likes this book so much and how the illustrations help him to visualize the story.

The highlight of the episode is when Josh reads the opening passage of Diary of a Wimpy Kid. Finally, Josh shares who he would recommend the book to and why.

Tune in to hear Josh's unique perspective on reading and the world of Diary of a Wimpy Kid.

This week on The Bookmark, the official podcast of King's Academy Lord Wilson, host Dr. Matthias sits down with a truly remarkable guest. Davey, a Year 7 student and a "maths wizard" who is set to become the youngest pupil in the school's history to sit a math exam, reveals a different side of his academic passions: a deep love for "dark and scary" Gothic literature.

In this episode, we dive into the unsettling world of Neil Gaiman’s Coraline. Davey shares his insights on:

• The definition of atavism and why Gothic stories often look to the past.

• Classic Gothic icons like Dracula, Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde, and Mary Shelley's Frankenstein.

• The terrifying reality of the Other Mother and why the book is even darker than its film adaptation.

The episode concludes with an atmospheric live reading by Davey from Chapter 11 of Coraline, where Coraline confronts her Other Mother in a crumbling, empty version of her own home. Grab your headphones and get comfortable—it’s time to turn the page.