Last week, Years 3, 4 and 5 pupils were delighted to welcome new author Truly Johnston to the Junior School.
Truly’s debut novel, The Shell Keepers, was published very recently, and we were thrilled to be only the second school she has ever visited! She introduced us to the beautiful but fragile world inhabited by Corrine and Kauri – a member of a tiny people known as the Democonch – and helped us explore their very special and deeply important friendship.
“We found it really interesting how she came up with the Shell Keepers’ language.”Klara, Year 3 pupil
Truly shared how her own childhood and heritage influenced her writing and encouraged the girls to do the same, showing them how their personal stories can be powerful sources of creative inspiration.
She also touched on some key environmental issues, urging the girls to consider the importance of protecting our natural world, before introducing them to some wonderfully unusual Democonch vocabulary.
“I like how the author had a big imagination and put it into a book.”Annabelle, Year 3 pupil
Everyone thoroughly enjoyed meeting Truly, and we hope to welcome her back when Book 2 in the series is released!
