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Posted on February 12th 2019
Take Part in the HAB Reading Challenge 2019
Over the course of the next ten weeks we're encouraging girls to read five books by different Black, Asian and Minority Ethnic authors, as part of the HAB Reading Challenge 2019.
Penguin Random House have generously donated a selection of books by black authors for the students to read during this challenge. All are available in the school library. Download a list of selected books.
“The majority of books that we study at school are written by white men," said sixth formers Niambi and Amy, introducing the HAB Reading Challenge during special assemblies.
"In fact, the British publishing industry as a whole is dominated by white stories. Shockingly, only 8% of children’s books published between 2006 and 2016 were by Black, Asian or Minority Ethnic authors. Only 1% of the children's book published in 2018 featured main characters that were not white.”
"See the world through everyone's eyes"
When Niambi asked the students of HAB, ‘Do you think we should just read books white authors?’, the resounding answer was ‘No!’ The girls of HAB agree that we need to see the world through everyone's eyes and we can do that by reading books that depict our diverse perspectives.
So... why not accept the HAB Reading Challenge and read five books by different BAME authors over the next ten weeks. That's just one book every two weeks!
How to take part
To take part in the HAB Reading Challenge, simply collect a BAME authors bookmark from Ms Morris in the academy library.
You will need to record the titles of the books you have read on your bookmark and be ready to tell Ms Morris all about the books when you hand in your bookmark in order to collect your certificate.
Sixth formers Amy and Niambi (pictured below) give a special assembly to encourage our girls to take part in the HAB Reading Challenge.
“It’s vital for everyone to read more books by Black, Asian and Minority ethnic authors so that the 7.5 million BAME citizens in the UK are fully represented in the books that we all read," they said. "By reading books by Black, Asian and Minority Ethnic authors, we will see the diverse cultures and practices that are not presented if we only read books by white authors.”
