< Back to Blog

Award-winning author Natasha Farrant visits the Junior School

NF Landscape Perhaps the very best way of reading a story is to have the author read it to you! What a treat we had, as Natasha Farrant opened her presentation by reading from her latest adventure book, The Secret of Golden Island. We were spellbound as the tantalising world of the book came to life in our imaginations.  

Natasha’s 2020 book, The Voyage of the Sparrowhawk, won the Costa Children’s Book award, and her group of adventure stories extends to two further books: The Children of Castle Rock and The Rescue of Ravenwood. Of course, we have all of these titles in our Junior School Library – come and borrow them! 

We were all eager to soak up Natasha’s tips about writing. We loved meeting Dobby in Natasha’s photos - the cutest chihuahua with big brown eyes and crazily floppy ears, the starting point for Sparrowhawk. Inspiration, Natasha explained, comes from anything and everything. Driving a story forward relies on the writer’s curiosity: keep asking questions, and the story will follow through the answers you find.  Natasha offered us a technical tip, too: she prefers to keep her writing in third person past tense, enabling her to track different points of view across her characters, positioning herself as the omniscient author.  

In fact, using inventive questions, the girls began a story with Natasha, there and then, during an impromptu few minutes of creativity! What was Natasha’s cat looking at through the window? What was the cat’s interest in the soft white dove? And what happened when the cat got hungrier and hungrier...? 

Natasha’s own favourite childhood reading includes The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe by C.S. Lewis. She remembers feeling the magic of stories for the first time as Lucy pushes her way past the fur coats to the back of the wardrobe. Natasha also loves Journey to the River Sea by Eva Ibbotson, an adventure story set on the Amazon. Currently, Natasha admires contemporary children’s writers Katya Balen, author of October, October; and Ross Montgomery, author of I am Rebel. Happily, we have all of Natasha’s favourites in the library, ready for you to come and read!  

Look out for further events and activities in the Redmaids’ High Junior School library. This term, we have enjoyed two book clubs, creative writing workshops and two writing competitions, with lots more to come. Our Year 5 team of librarians have shouldered their responsibilities admirably; whilst Year 3 have been making friends with new book characters, introduced to them in a dialogic reading session each week.  Parents have been welcomed regularly in their very own book club celebrating novels in the 8-12 years category. Parent / daughter browsing time after school on Wednesdays and Fridays is also available – come and snuggle up together with a cup of tea and a book in the Midnight Garden, there’s no better place to be on a winter’s afternoon.  

Date Posted: 2 December, 2024

Articles for: Junior

Celebrating children's literary classics on World Book Day

Celebrating children's literary classics on World Book Day

Date Posted: 13 March, 2025
READ MORE
National Children’s Orchestra of Great Britain Success

National Children’s Orchestra of Great Britain Success

Date Posted: 13 November, 2024
Elodie, in Year 8, has recently secured a position in the prestigious National Children’s Orchestra of Great Britain....
READ MORE
Running for heads and hearts  | Redmaids' High School

Running for heads and hearts | Redmaids' High School

Date Posted: 25 October, 2019
READ MORE
National Success for the Chamber Choir  | Redmaids' High School

National Success for the Chamber Choir | Redmaids' High School

Date Posted: 10 May, 2018
READ MORE
Hitting the high notes | Redmaids' High School

Hitting the high notes | Redmaids' High School

Date Posted: 29 November, 2019
READ MORE
National Children's Orchestra success for Elodie and Emilia

National Children's Orchestra success for Elodie and Emilia

Date Posted: 21 October, 2022
Congratulations to Emilia in Year 9 and Elodie in Year 6, who have just been awarded places on the National Children’s...
READ MORE
Year 8 musician selected for National Children's Orchestra for second year in a row

Year 8 musician selected for National Children's Orchestra for second year in a row

Date Posted: 21 November, 2021
We wish Emilia in Year 8 a huge congratulations after she was successful in her application to join the National...
READ MORE
National Youth Orchestra success for Hannah

National Youth Orchestra success for Hannah

Date Posted: 11 October, 2022
We are thrilled to announce that following a rigorous selection process Hannah in Year 12 has been chosen to play viola...
READ MORE
Bristol Rovers Call-Up for Redmaids' Student Betty

Bristol Rovers Call-Up for Redmaids' Student Betty

Date Posted: 2 September, 2020
READ MORE
Redmaids' High Chamber Choir crowned runners up in the GSA Choir of the Year competition.

Redmaids' High Chamber Choir crowned runners up in the GSA Choir of the Year competition.

Date Posted: 30 April, 2024
On Sunday, 28 April, our Chamber Choir travelled to Wimbledon High School to compete in the GSA Choir of the Year...
READ MORE
International photography competition winners | Redmaids' High School

International photography competition winners | Redmaids' High School

Date Posted: 22 June, 2020
READ MORE
The lower school take to the stage!

The lower school take to the stage!

Date Posted: 12 July, 2022
In June, audiences of staff, students and their families were treated to two nights of captivating performances in our...
READ MORE
Year 5 Robotics Day | Redmaids' High School

Year 5 Robotics Day | Redmaids' High School

Date Posted: 27 November, 2019
READ MORE
Reading for charity  | Redmaids' High School

Reading for charity | Redmaids' High School

Date Posted: 22 April, 2021
READ MORE
Erin pursues her interest in cyber technology  | Redmaids' High School

Erin pursues her interest in cyber technology | Redmaids' High School

Date Posted: 19 October, 2020
READ MORE
Our annual Culture Week

Our annual Culture Week

Date Posted: 28 November, 2024
This week, our school came alive with the vibrant colours, sounds and stories of Culture Week - our annual tradition...
READ MORE
Rotary Young Musician Competition | Redmaids' High School

Rotary Young Musician Competition | Redmaids' High School

Date Posted: 10 February, 2020
READ MORE
Talented actress returns to school

Talented actress returns to school

Date Posted: 7 July, 2021
This week we welcomed alumna and actress Stephanie Houtman back to school.
READ MORE
Singing Children of Africa Choir

Singing Children of Africa Choir

Date Posted: 13 October, 2023
We have had the most joyful and uplifting time with our new friends from the Singing Children of Africa choir today!...
READ MORE
A Weekend of Choral Success

A Weekend of Choral Success

Date Posted: 15 March, 2023
We had an absolutely phenomenal weekend of choral success and celebration.
READ MORE
Click here to view all news articles