Magnus Church of England Academy welcomed children’s author Tom Palmer into school to talk to year 7 students about his writing process and the benefits of developing a lifelong love of reading.

As part of the event, the Year 7 student cohort were gifted a copy of Tom’s book, After The War, as a Christmas gift from the academy.

Heather Jackson, learning resource centre manager, said: “We gift a book to every year because we feel reading is such a vital part of a student’s progression during their time in school and this falls in line with our vision to develop people of good character.”

Tom addressed students about the inspiration behind his book, and the gripping and emotional true-life accounts it was based upon.

After The War is a book following three boys who survived the horrors of the Nazi concentration camps, and who were among 300 children who reached safety after being relocated to the Lake District in England for a few months following the war. Many of those children were then relocated to new homes around the UK or to other countries.

For his book, Tom liaised with survivors as well as Holocaust educators, to produce an authentic account, written in an age-appropriate way for students in years 6,7 and 8.

Tom said: “Magnus students have really responded to the fact that the book is based upon the testimonies of the survivors. I didn’t make anything up and have shown the students pictures of the survivors I consulted. The survivors advised and helped me to get the facts correct in the book. Of course, the subject matter is very difficult, but the stories are heart-warming and inspirational too. For example, one of the survivors went on to represent team GB as a weightlifter which is an amazing feat in itself.

“The fact that those children were welcomed into this country after the war and given a way forward in life is a very positive aspect of the story, and one we should be sharing. We need to know what a positive difference we can make when we do the right thing.”

Tom says he hopes his talk has resonated with students. “I think that Magnus gifting a book to their students each year is outstanding, and really unusual in my experience.

“Also, by bringing in an author, whoever that might be, to talk about a book, hopefully helps students to warm to the idea of reading more. I really hope that my talk will inspire students, particularly because as a student I struggled to read myself. I try to encourage everyone to read things that interest them, or that they are passionate about, and hope from there that their love of reading develops.”

Student Mirren MacNish, 12, added: “I am looking forward to reading the book. I had actually put this book on my Christmas list and didn’t know we would get it as a gift from school. I think because Tom has visited us and talked about the background and the stories behind the writing of the book, it has made the story so interesting. I have really enjoyed the day.”

Fellow student Luke Miller, 11, said: “I have found today very interesting, and I love to read. I have found the thought processes and method behind Tom’s writing very interesting. I do like to know how people think! The fact that the book is based on real life stories, and that it educates people about the horrors of the Holocaust, -the flashbacks and the emotional trauma it talks about, and not just the physical trauma, is a very important story to tell.”

Heather Jackson added that she hoped the book would give students a valuable insight into history. “Since Magnus C of E Academy has been awarded the status of a Beacon School in Holocaust Education, we want to ensure that when students learn about the Holocaust, it is without misconceptions,” she explained.

“Tom’s book is carefully researched and based on testimonials and experiences of Holocaust survivors. I do feel this detail will encourage students to read the book, and will certainly attract the attention of most, even those that do not normally take an interest in historical texts.

“We are proud of the attitudes and behaviour of Year 7 throughout the event and very impressed with the questions they had to ask Tom after his talk. Well done Year 7.”
Pictured, from left, are Jessica Slinger, Mirren MacNish, Tom Palmer and Luke Miller at Magnus C of E Academy.

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