Mrs Gidden's cool reader's club - Haniya

Here's what our Cool Readers Club is all about...

They stopped when Covid hit but now they’re back.  These are our reading stars put forward by their English teacher.  We interview them about their current book, what they like reading about and what they like to do when they’re not reading.

Introducing, Haniya..

Haniya admits she has picked a challenging book to read but it’s one she feels passionately about. 

The Year 7 is reading ‘The 100 Years’ War on Palestine’ by Rashid Khalidi. 

“It is challenging but I am interested in the Israeli-Palestinian conflict and the injustice of it all. My sister suggested I should read it. 

“It is something I feel passionately about – it’s about religion, land and humanity. It’s been going on so many years and I went to a protest in town about it but these raise the awareness of it only for a short space of time and then it’s forgotten while it’s going on all the time. 

“We have to make a speech in English and this is the topic I have chosen, it’s just something I feel strongly about.” 

Haniya admits, while she likes non-fiction, she does read ‘lighter’ novels. 

“One of my favourite authors is JK Rowling, I have read all the Harry Potter series, and Kenzuke’s Kingdom by Michael Morpurgo, I have read a lot of his books.” 

Haniya’s favourite subjects at school are English and science. 

“I want to be a space engineer or a law secretary. When I retire, I would then like to be an author. I have been to the graveyard walk where JK Rowling got her inspiration from and she talks about sitting in a café for years coming up with Harry Potter, so I need a lot of time."

Haniya is also learning ‘Tajweed’, Arabic pronunciations, at her mosque. 

“I have been doing this for years and it is tricky but I hope I can complete it then I can teach the younger children at the mosque. It does keep me busy and it is tough as it’s a completely different language but I enjoy learning new things.”