On Tuesday 5th May, we were delighted to welcome Ravena Guron to Sutton High, author of This Book Kills, Catch Your Death, Mondays Are Murder, and her newly released title Your Murder Next.
The visit was especially exciting for our students, as Ravena’s books are already very well known and much enjoyed in school. Catch Your Death was the winning title in last year’s GDST Book Award, while Mondays Are Murder was shortlisted again this year, so there was already a real sense of anticipation around her visit.
During the session, Ravena spoke engagingly about her journey as a writer, her love of Agatha Christie as an important literary influence, and the craft of building suspense, mystery and memorable characters. She also touched on the importance of representation and belonging, while encouraging students not to feel confined to a single path, reminding them that ambitions and interests can grow and change over time.
It was particularly special that Sutton High was the first school to host Ravena on this visit, with our students also among the first to receive copies of Your Murder Next. Many students were able to have their books signed, which made the occasion especially memorable.
We were also pleased to extend the event beyond Sutton High, with several GDST schools joining by livestream. This gave the event a wider reach and made it a lovely example of collaboration through the GDST Book Award and the National Year of Reading.
Overall, it was a fantastic event that celebrated reading for pleasure, contemporary fiction, and student engagement, while giving students the chance to hear directly from a successful and thoughtful contemporary author.
