Students attend a book signing with author Hilary McKay

More than 25 students from Years 7, 8 and 9 attended a morning with author Hilary McKay, as she read extracts from her book 'Skylark's War'.

The event was held at The Birkenhead High School Academy and students were given an explanation from Hilary as to how she researched and wrote the book. Some of the students also got the chance to meet her and get copies of their book signed.

Skylark’s War is Historical Fiction, and is set during the First World War, and so Hilary explained how the children then were both different and similar to children now. On the table where the book signing took place, Hilary had brought in some old coins from the time the book was set, and an old newspaper that the students could have a look at. She explained that she kept these on her desk whilst she was writing the book.

Miss Carr, who organised the outing, said: “We decided to take the students on this trip to encourage them to celebrate their love of reading. It gave them a chance to meet an author in person and ask questions, and allowed them to think about writing outside of the classroom. We hope this will have inspired them to be creative.”