A group of book enthusiasts from St Margaret’s School for Girls
in Aberdeen has launched a new initiative to encourage more students to read over the festive season.
Members of the school’s Library Club have created 12 Days of Bookmas – an Advent Calendar of book recommendations inspired by the festive spirit of Christmas and the tradition of giving, but with a literary twist.
Whilst reading for pleasure amongst children and young people aged 8-18 is at its lowest in the UK since 2005, with just 35% reporting they enjoy reading in their free time, St Margaret’s has always focused on finding new and interesting ways to build on its strong reading culture.
The Library Club worked tirelessly to capture pupil voice, taking recommendations from throughout the senior school to establish the Christmas Advent Calendar of book recommendations across different genres ranging from fantasy to murder mystery.
Emma McDonald, head of English at St Margaret’s School for Girls, said: “As a school focused on building a reading culture and promoting reading for enjoyment, we constantly look for ways to introduce pupils to many different books across a range of genres so they have lots of recommendations which will help them to find something they will enjoy.
“It’s important that students are encouraged to read for pleasure, not just as a school requirement. Initiatives like 12 Days of Bookmas can not only help them unplug from their screens and rediscover the joys of reading over the festive season, but also help foster a love of reading long after they leave the school.”
The students’ Christmas Advent Calendar of book recommendations are:
Day 1
- A Good Girl’s Guide to Murder by Holly Jackson
- “An excellent murder mystery with shocking plot twists.”
Day 2
- The Priory of the Orange Tree by Samantha Shannon
- “A well-researched fantasy that gives new life to ancient legend.”
Day 3
- The Hunger Games by Suzanne Collins
- “A timeless novel with moving writing.”
Day 4
- Ace of Spades by Faridah Àbíké-Íyímídé
- “A hair-raising mystery with good black representation.”
Day 5
- The Poet X by Elizabeth Ace Vedo
- “A verse novel that showcases a deeply moving, complex mother-daughter relationship.”
Day 6
- Six of Crows by Leigh Bardugo
- “The fantasy universe has intricate worldbuilding that immerses you in the story.”
Day 7
- Wings of Fire by Tui. T Sutherland
- “The first book of the series - it leaves the reader on a real cliffhanger.”
Day 8
- The Handmaid’s Tale by Margaret Atwood
- “A compelling and cautionary story that shows why feminism is still needed in today’s society.”
Day 9
- “An engaging plot set in the Regency era with characters that leap off the page.”
Day 10
- I’m Not Your Perfect Mexican Daughter by Erika Sánchez
- “A gripping novel full of twists and turns.”
Day 11
- “A unique dystopian tale based on the original fairytale.”
Day 12
- Where the Crawdads Sing by Delia Owens
- “A beautifully written novel with an engaging character and a shocking twist at the end.”
- Alex Bryce, Head of Maths
Abigail (VS), who is part of the school’s Library Club and a Library Prefect, said: “I really enjoyed working with my peers and staff on 12 Days of Bookmas and hope that the initiative will encourage others to step away from their screens and pick up a book during the holidays.
"Diving into a book can be a great way to escape, relax and disconnect – my personal favourite is ‘The Watchmaker of Filigree Street’ by Natasha Pulley.”
St Margaret’s focuses on giving pupils as many opportunities as possible to learn about different authors, genres, books and book series.
The school recently celebrated Book Week Scotland by introducing Book Breaks, Breakfast with a Book and Book Tasting – three interactive initiatives that encourage reading for pleasure.