Goldenhill Primary Academy
A huge thank you to Goldenhill Primary Academy!
Secondly, as it’s where I was working when I began and wrote the majority of the first draft of AI Kid.
And thirdly, for the opportunity to continue visiting the school as a guest to work with two groups of year five children on a project for AI Kid. This allowed me to gain invaluable insight into how the book was progressing and how it would be received by year five children.
The project:
- Reading and exploring the early chapters of AI Kid
- Getting feedback on concepts, understanding, flow and pace
- Discussion and exploration of themes and ideas
- The reactions at the end of chapters; children shouting “Why have you stopped there?!” or “Stop leaving me on cliffhangers!” (Alacie)
- The response of “I love him!” when the character Serge was introduced
- My absolute number one has to be during the character workshops; children getting out of their seats to reenact scenes from the book and do impressions of the characters!
Children’s Quotes: (from the workshops)
“My favourite part was sharing everybody’s opinions – that has been the best part of the project.” (Aizah)
“I like that we get to talk about the book and that we are one of the first people to see it, which is pretty special.” (Jackson)
“I like how every chapter ends on a cliffhanger.” (Azahath)
“I have loved reading your book!” (Brooke)
“The first part of the chapter makes me feel like I am in a dream.” (Maddie)
“I love that the teacher has to tell Tommy to do stuff three times.” (Ellie)
“My favourite part was where Ava met Kid!” (Leo)
It was a wonderful experience! The children were excited and enthusiastic, giving thought-provoking and energetic responses. Thank you, Goldenhill Gang!
Gawsworth Primary School
My second big thank you goes to Gawsworth Primary School – my current school and where the first full book review is currently happening! The Headteacher, Mrs Wainwright, runs an after-school book club with a group of very enthusiastic readers. After finishing their last book, I cheekily suggested they could use AI Kid as their next book. I was extremely grateful when they said yes!
After agreeing to give the first chapter a go, and following an enthusiastic discussion over theories about the book, they immediately asked for the second. The excitement was instant with the group continually asking for more. I was flattered and delighted that they wanted to read the entire manuscript!
Highlights
- Theories: It was amazing to hear the excited dialogue as the group shared and compared hypotheses and hunches.
- Passion: The heated debates over events, characters and motivations, and the constant asking for more chapters.
- Analysis: The events and characters were explored and analysed in detail – adding to the theories and fuelling the debates.
- Excitement: at one point a Year 6 pupil eagerly accosted the headteacher in the corridor to say: “Have you read chapter 11!? You have to read chapter 11!” This genuine excitement was about as good a piece of feedback as I could have hoped for!
Describe AI Kid in Three Words
- Alice
- Secretive, surprising, brilliant
- Anon
- Technological, complex, layered
- Rose
- funny, cute, weird
- Jayden
- funny, exciting, tragic
- Aslan
- funny, silly, great
- Evelyn
- adventure, exciting, amazing
- Anon
- page-turning, incredible, gripping