Reading Club: Children’s Book (9–12 years old) | My People - Εικόνα

In March, the SNFCC Reading Club is dedicated to the memory of Filippos Tsimpoglou, Director General of the National Library of Greece (NLG).

In March, the Children’s Reading Club for young booklovers aged 10 to 12 continues its meetings, facilitated by author Angeliki Darlasi. Angeliki Darlasi is a writer of prose and theatrical plays, while she has also engaged with television and cinema. Among her awarded works are: The Boy in the Royal Box, Badboy, When We Hid an Angel, and Dream Guardians.

The book that will be discussed in this month's meeting is The Rooftoppers by Katherine Rundell. 

On Saturday 18/03, our young readers will meet to share impressions, feelings and thoughts, as well as to embark on an imaginary journey, sparked by the book of the month, into the fascinating worlds emerging from its pages. 

The book

Sophie was only one year old when Charles, her guardian, found her floating on the water in a cello case, after a shipwreck in the English Channel. Everyone thinks that Sophie is an orphan, but the girl is convinced that her mother is alive. With this conviction, Sophie grows up in the house of a quirky but very sweet guardian who teaches her a host of things — even entire plays by Shakespeare. But the Welfare Agency representative who pays regular visits to their home is not sure that Sophie is been raised in accordance to the rules and standards — especially those concerning the upbringing of a girl. As a result, the Welfare Agency sends a letter to Sophie’s guardian threatening to send Sophie to an orphanage. Sophie decides to take matters into her own hands. So, she flees to Paris to look for her mother, starting with the only clue she has: the address of the cello maker that is written inside the cello case.

After managing to evade the French authorities, Sophie meets Matteo and his network of rooftoppers — orphan urchins of the city of Paris living on the rooftops of buildings. All of them together will scour the city to find Sophie’s mother. But will they be able to find her before the French authorities arrest Sophie and send her back to London? And before she loses any last hope? 

If you enjoy traveling back in time, groups of friends and street bands, as well as adventures that may seem improbable and made up but have one foot on the ground of everyday life, we suggest that you read the book and join us to discuss all its real and imaginary aspects together. 

The author

Katherine Rundell was born in 1987 and grew up in London, Zimbabwe, and Belgium. She studied English Literature and specialized in the Literature of the Renaissance. For some years now, she has turned exclusively to writing and cooperating with the University of Oxford. Her children’s books have been released in many languages and have been honored with major international awards, including: Costa Children’s Book Award, Waterstones Children’s Book Prize, Blue Peter Book Award, Boston Globe Horn Book Award in USA, Andersen Prize in Italy, Le Prix Sorcieres in France. Her writing has been highly praised, receiving accolades such as the Independent comment, “She is a master storyteller in the Philip Pullman category,” or the Spectator one, “She is at the forefront of contemporary children’s book writers.” 

The facilitator

A writer of literature for children and young adults, playwright and teacher of creative writing and theater. 

Works and books of hers have been translated into English, Turkish, Korean, Spanish, and French. Her books have been adapted for theater (most recently, The Boy in the Royal Box, by the National Theater of Greece, 2021-2022) and puppetry performances, while some are in the pre-production stage to be adapted into films (on screenplays by the author herself), in Greece and abroad.

She has participated as co-author in productions of the State Theaters of Karlsruhe and Uppsala and the National Theater of Luxembourg (2021 & 2022), and the Union des Théâtres del'Europe (2018). Several plays of hers have been staged in Athens: Lighthouse–SNFCC, Athens Concert Hall, Art Theatre Readers’ Theatre Festival, Olympia International Film Festival for Children and Young People, Alkmini Theater, Amore Theater–stage B, et al. She has been repeatedly awarded and distinguished for her work (both prose and theatre). 

Since 2006, she has been teaching Creative Writing and/or Theater to adults and children-teenagers, working with both public and private organizations (e.g. The Department of Theatre Studies of the University of Peloponnese, public and private post-secondary vocational schools, Metaichmio Publications, etc.). She is a motivational speaker and facilitator of activities for children and adolescents (creative writing, theater, arts and education, love of reading, etc.).

She holds degrees from the Athens University Department of Theatre Studies and the Royal Central School of Speech and Drama (MA in Performance Studies).

Activities for children before the Reading Club meeting

A few things that you may want to think and take notes about before our meeting, so we can share and discuss them when we meet:

In this story, the author is referring to a time of the past, without pinpointing it exactly. It could be the late 19th century. Could you find out clues that give away which era it might be? And could you find out more information about who these children on rooftops might be? 
- Can you remember, or imagine, a similar great adventure that you have lived (or would like to live)? If you want, you may write down a few words to share with us. 

Saturday 18/03
17.30 - 19.00

NLG KIDS LAB

Up to 22 participants | For children aged 10 to 12
Free admission with online pre-registration

Pre-registration starts on 01/03, at 12.00

To participate in the Reading Club, it is necessary for those who hold a position to have read the book of the month. (It is also useful to have it with them).

Katherine Rundell's Rooftoppers is currently available in Greek from Patakis Publications. 

Children should always be accompanied by parents or adult attendants who should not be away from the outdoor activity.

As part of the Stavros Niarchos Foundation Cultural Center's collaboration with the National Library of Gree

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