Some year 9 classes enjoyed an online author event with LGBTQAI+ writer, Joseph Eliott on Friday, 21st June. Joseph’s debut novel was Carnegie nominated and a Times Book of the Year as well as having won The Highland Book Prize and his writing promotes acceptance, tolerance, and equality. They listened attentively as Joseph spoke about his career including performing and script writing for children’s television (star and cowriter of CBBC’s series, Swashbuckle). He promoted the values of acceptance, equality, and awareness in his novel, ‘The Good Hawk’, a teen novel written explicitly to include LBGTQIA+ characters. Joseph recommended some other novels that pupils may like to read including, Heartstopper, Jamie, The Other Boy, Death in the Spotlight, Eight Pieces of Silva, Wranglestone, and The Black Flamingo before describing key elements of his epic adventure novel. Agatha, (a 15 year old ‘hawk’ with down syndrome) and Jaime (a 14 year old ‘angler’ who is kind and smart) are the only survivors of a tribal attack and must travel across Scotia to rescue their families. Joseph read an extract of his novel and then gave key tips to aspiring writers: 1) read books that excite you; 2) write without worrying about the quality – just start; and 3) read your own work out loud.
Pupils can order signed copies of ‘The Good Hawk’ to be delivered to school by 28th June.
