This year’s Great Read involved First and Second Form pupils who were given copies of Tyger by SF Said to read over the Half Term holiday.
Pupils were asked to have photographs taken with their book over the holidays for a Great Read photo diary. Contributions were sent from across the world, from Oundle to Somerset and from New York to Nigeria, Spain and Japan. Some pupils took their books to great heights, some read them on the move. One pupil was able to photograph himself in the company of a real tiger. 
Back at School, the English department spent a week discussing the book’s themes, particularly its references to William Blake’s famous poem, while in the studios, the Art department planned and painted book covers. A scavenger hunt in the House gardens saw pupils racing to save paper tygers hiding in the undergrowth in exchange for a T cake reward in the Library.
The highlight of the Great Read was an author visit by SF Said, who came to Oundle to talk to all the pupils. He explained the writing process of his first book Varjak Paw, which began with excruciatingly discouraging feedback. But he persevered through one messy writing draft after another – 17 in total – until he had an award-winning book. His writing still involves many drafts, but he explained that it’s no longer discouraging, it’s just part of the necessary creative process.
He spent over thirty minutes taking questions from the pupils, who had no end of questions to ask. They were both curious about him, and informed about the book to be able to ask questions directly to its author, touching on themes of character, racism, mythology of tigers, setting and lots about William Blake, whose work and life inspired the setting and themes.
Tyger is set in a parallel 21st century London, in a historically revisionist world where the rules and laws about social class, slavery and empire still govern how people live. When Adam discovers an injured tyger that has escaped from captivity and is hiding in a derelict building site, he learns that if he and his friend Zadie can save the tyger, they will save the city from the malevolent forces that rule it. The tyger teaches them the power of perception to arm themselves with the skills and courage to undertake a treacherous odyssey across the city. The narrative is accompanied by atmospheric illustrations by Dave McKean that accent and propel the story.
The photograph submitted to the Great Read photo diary by Henry (Sco) was chosen as a prize-winner for an image that evoked the book’s brilliant conclusion.
