The Merton Big Read lands in schools
One story. Thousands of readers.
This year we’re proud to launch the Big Read for Schools, to give every Year 8 student in a Merton state school their own copy of Lord of the Flies: The Graphic Novel, illustrated by Aimée de Jongh. A book to read over the summer and bring back to school in September, ready to talk about.
The project builds on the success of the Merton Big Read, which Wimbledon BookFest has delivered with Merton Libraries for the past four years, with funding from Arts Council England. Now, during the UK’s National Year of Reading, we’re bringing that work into schools, placing reading for pleasure at the heart of the classroom and helping young people discover the joy and importance of books.
Director Fiona Razvi says: “Graphic novels are a brilliant gateway to reading. They can make classic stories more accessible and help children discover that reading isn’t a chore – it’s entertaining, thought-provoking and fun. We want every young person taking part to experience the thrill of sharing a great story together.”
Tucked inside each book is a personal introduction from Nathanael (Nate) Lessore – award-winning children’s author and Wimbledon BookFest’s very first Schools Laureate. Nate’s letter welcomes students into the story and the habit of reading.
We chose Lord of the Flies: The Graphic Novel because it’s a brilliant new interpretation of William Golding’s classic that speaks powerfully to today’s young readers. Earlier this year it won the Carnegie Shadowers’ Choice Medal for Illustration, voted for by thousands of children and young people across the UK. With a recent BBC television adaptation by Jack Thorne released back in February, the story feels more alive and relevant than ever.
The need for the Big Read for Schools has never felt more urgent. Fewer than one in five children now read daily – the lowest ever figure recorded by The National Literacy Trust, and in Merton, teachers report that 35% of students do not have books at home. That’s why this project matters so much – putting 1800 books into the hands of 1800 young readers.
We also know that shared reading matters, especially for reluctant readers. 79% of teachers surveyed in Merton agreed that encouraging boys to read fiction helps them show greater empathy, kindness or emotional awareness. And Lord of the Flies with its themes and questions around power, brotherhood and growing up, feels like the right book for these kinds of conversations. Graphic novels are an engaging and accessible way into reading. They can help encourage reluctant readers and introduce them to classic books in a format that feels immediate.
After Wimbledon BookFest in October, we’ll be evaluating the Big Read for Schools with a teacher survey to measure pupils’ engagement with the book, enjoyment of reading, participation in classroom discussion and teachers’ views on the impact of this shared reading experience.
Wimbledon BookFest’s Big Read for Schools has been made possible thanks to Arts Council England, the Spencer West Foundation and the generosity of our festival audiences through the Donate a Book Campaign. Thank you.
