CLAIRE BRIDGMAN
Consilium Education library specialist, Sal Flint continues her column – School Readers – in which she talks to educators about their favourite books. This month’s Reader is Claire Bridgman.
Why ‘School Readers’?
We all urge kids to read, but how has reading shaped our own personal and professional lives? I want to know which four books have most influenced the people I talk to – an unforgettable children’s book, a novel, a work of non-fiction and a ‘go-to’ book about education.
Originally from Hertfordshire, Claire has a BA in English Language and Literature from the University of Liverpool and a PGCE from the University of Bristol. She has taught English for over 30 years in the UK, Thailand, Bahrain, and Malaysia in every kind of school, from state comprehensive to overseas boarding. Claire has held a range of positions, including Head of English and IB Coordinator.
She has a lifetime of receiving and making reading recommendations because you are never too old to switch on to a new author, even with a world of digital and other distractions!
It was back in 2002 when I first met Claire, who, at the time was my Head of English. I was immediately struck by her seemingly infinite energy, enthusiasm, and unwavering commitment to the students. I had joined the school a year or two after Claire had gone the extra mile to organise an author visit from the late Benjamin Zephaniah. Even now, she likely has no idea how much she inspired me to create opportunities—especially through poetry and other creative outlets—for students to express themselves and embrace their individuality. With Claire’s recent move to Chile, it’s clear that her passion and drive for education, adventure, and lifelong learning remain as vibrant as ever!
Claire Bridgman’s four books
(Click the book cover to follow the link to Amazon)
1. Katherine Rundell: Why You Should Read Children’s Books, Even Though You are So Old and Wise (2019)
Katherine Rundell is, quite justifiably, one of the current darlings of the literary world and has successfully published academic, adult and children’s titles. Her novel Impossible Creatures has been a critical and financial success, so it is fair to trust her claim that adults should read books designed for children! In fact, as my education book I chose a title she dedicated to that exact suggestion.
Of course, as an English teacher of more than 30 years, I have spent a lot of time teaching the heavy stuff, but there have been plenty of class readers crafted for teenagers, which are well worth the attention of adults too. So, head to the back of the book shop or browse a section on Amazon that you wouldn’t usually and consider perhaps giving one of these ‘kids’ titles’ a chance.
What it’s about:
In Why You Should Read Children’s Books, Even Though You Are So Old and Wise, Katherine Rundell highlights the universal importance of children’s literature. She argues these stories carry deep truths about life, offering adults a chance to rediscover wonder, hope, and imagination often forgotten with age. Rundell encourages adults to revisit children’s books as a way to reconnect with the magic and wisdom they hold, reminding us of their timeless importance and impact.
2. Julian Sedgewick: Tsunami Girl (2021)
SHORTLISTED for the CARNEGIE GREENAWAY AWARD 2022
The children I teach are obsessed with anime cartoons and manga comics, so Tsunami Girl was an ideal choice because it makes use of both conventional prose and cartoon strip illustrations, in part because both the heroine, Yuki, and her grandfather are both artists.
Yuki is an engaging principle character because she struggles with social anxiety; her visit to Japan to stay with her maternal grandfather is supposed to help build her confidence, but she finds herself caught up in the horrors of the 2011 tsunami.
What it’s about:
Tsunami Girl by Julian Sedgwick is a blend of prose, manga, and magical realism, following 15-year-old Yuki Hara-Jones as she survives the 2011 Japanese tsunami. Struggling with grief and trauma, Yuki finds strength in her grandfather’s stories and her own creativity. It’s a powerful exploration of resilience, mental health, and the healing power of storytelling.
3. Jamila Gavin: Coram Boy (2015)
The Whitbread 2000 Book of the Year & Teachers’ pick for school years 1–9
Gavin’s novel. Coram Boy is as gripping and cleverly plotted as any adult book, making it a rewarding read for all ages. Although the central characters are children, the story is rich with love, loyalty, adventure, and betrayal. Because I first read it as an adult and inspired by Katherine Rundell’s argument for revisiting children’s books, I’m opting to make it my ‘adult fiction’ choice.
The insidious villain, Otis Gardener, is unforgettable, and despite the bleak context, set against the nightmarish backdrop of 18th-century England, rife with corruption, exploitation, and the horrors of the slave trade, Gavin offers frequent glimmers of hope. I am ashamed to admit that class sets of this book sat on the shelves of a number of department store cupboards over the years, overlooked and gathering dust. I was prompted to teach it a few years ago when we were trying to diversify the curriculum, and I am so glad I did.
What it’s about:
Coram Boy by Jamila Gavin is a historical novel, set in 18th-century England, centred on the fate of abandoned babies. Otis Gardiner exploits vulnerable women, taking their babies under the pretense of delivering them to the Coram Foundling Hospital but leaving them to die instead. The story weaves together the lives of those affected, delving into themes of treachery, compassion, and salvation.
4. Raynor Winn: The Salt Path
Costa Book Awards Shortlist
Finally, a proper book for grown-ups amongst my recommendations! Despite its gentle pace it was unputdownable; it has stayed with me and I have recommended it to everyone since. As I have got older, I have come to subscribe to the notion of solvitur ambulando (everything solved by walking) and this book is a testament to that life lesson!
What it’s about:
When Raynor Winn and her husband, Moth, are dealt two terrible life blows concurrently they lose their home (which was also their business) and Moth receives a terminal diagnosis. Whilst most people would give up in despair, they land on the crazy solution of walking the 630 miles Southwest Coastal Path. The journey presents so many challenges (not least of which the painful lack of a home and income) but somehow, they seem diminished by the beautiful scenery and the eclectic ‘cast of characters’ they encounter along the way. Whilst the initial situation seems desperate and unjust, the book offers hope.
What Claire is reading at the moment:
Fiction: Butter by Asako Yuzuki. (2024)
Nonfiction: Two Way Mirror [Fiona Sampson’s biography of Elizabeth Barret Browning] (2022)
The Life and Rhymes of Benjamin Zephaniah: The Autobiography. (2019)
Sal Flint is a Senior Consultant specialising in school library development at Consilium Education.
If you would like to share your four School Readers, write to ITM on
https://consiliumeducation.com/itm/contact-us/.
FEATURE IMAGE: by Lubos Houska from Pixabay