Edgar Allan POE, “The Black Cat”, in Edgar Allan Poe, The Black Cat & Other  Stories Penguin Readers Level 3, 1200 Headwords, A2

By Carlota Lagoa, 2º E.S.O. EFL

 

The black cat talks about a man who has many animals but when he is drunk he hits them, except his favorite cat: Pluto. Until one day, when the man hit Pluto too and ended by killing it. A few days later, he found another cat like Pluto and he took him. He tried to kill the cat but his wife tried to stop him and he took the axe and …

My favourite part was when he talks about the black shape in the new white plaster, You want to know what that means so you want to read more and more. Also when he took the axe to kill the cat, and instead of killing the cat, he killed his wife and you want to know ´´why´´ he killed his wife and not the cat. Also when the police found the body of the wife and the cat was on her head, you don´t know how the cat arrived there.

It´s a book of level 3 so it´s easy to understand the vocabulary.

Edgar Allan POE, “The Cask of Amontillado”, in Selected Tales, Oxford World's Classics

By Sylvia Maneiro, 2º E.S.O. A

This story is about Montresor, who has been insulted and offended, as he says, by Fortunato. That’s why Montresor seeks revenge, gets Fortunato drunk and, by lying to him and then making him know that he will be killed, he fulfils his revenge.

Montresor, the main character, is a man who is mad and cruel, because he just has no reasons to kill this man, he feels no remorse about it and doesn´t care.He is a murderer. He seems to be quite clever because he leads Fortunato to believe his lies and to follow him to be killed. 

The language of the story is maybe a little difficult. The writer uses sophisticated words. But apart from some of those words the language is good and easy to understand.

What kept me reading was the fact that I was interested in how Montresor was going to kill Fortunato, and if he really was. Also, I wanted to know what Fortunato actually did to Montresor but the author leaves us intrigued by not telling us. “The Cask of Amontillado” is interesting and intriguing. It scares a bit the way Montresor acts.

I would recommend this story and the whole book to everyone who likes scary stories and murders.

Malorie BLACKMAN (2010), Boys don’t cry, FSC.

By Isaac Chicaiza, 2ºESO A

Dante’s life is perfect, he’s seventeen, has the whole 

summer ahead of him, university, then a career as a journalist… But all that changes when his old girlfriend 

comes to his house with a baby telling him it’s his and suddenly his life changes forever. 

Will he take care of it? Will he keep the baby? Can he still 

go university? To find out read Boys don’t cry.

My favorite character is Dante because even though at the beginning of the story he seems reluctant to take care of 

the baby and continuously tries to get rid of the child 

(Emma), by the end of the book he accepts his 

responsibilities as a father and starts taking care of her properly.

My other favorite character is Dante’s dad, because even though he is extremely disappointed with his son, he tells 

him how to take care of Emma, he is very wise and teaches Dante a lot about childcare.

At the beginning of the book the relationship between Dante and his dad is very 

awkward because Dante doesn’t really feel appreciated by his dad but as the story progresses they start to improve their frosty relationship, especially at the end as

they all celebrate Emma’s fist birthday.

I would recommend this book to people in their high teens because it talks a lot 

about relationships and how it would ruin your future if you have a child at that age.

If you want to see the trailer for Boys Don’t Cry, go to:

http://www.malorieblackman.co.uk/index.php/2011/04/boys-dont-cry/

Cecelia AHERN (2008), Thanks for the Memories, Harper Collins

By Gloria Martínez Campos, 1º Bachillerato B, EFL

Joyce Conway remembers things that she shouldn't. She knows perfectly well the cobbled streets in Paris, a city that she has never been to. Every night she dreams of a blond girl whose identity she ignores. Justin Hitchcock has divorced recently and he is alone and restless. He arrives in Dublin to give a seminar about art. He meets an attractive lady-doctor who convinces him to donate blood. The blood is the first thing which got away from Justin's heart a long time ago. When Joyce leaves the hospital, after a terrible accident, with her life and marriage in pieces, she moves to her father's house. An intense déjà vu sensation will be their link in this strange and amazing love story.

The part I've liked the best is when Justin says to Joyce:"I don't understand most things that happen every day. I do not understand what my daughter admires in her boyfriend. I do not understand why my brother is not in a vegetative state yet. I do not understand the weather, my divorce, my job... I do not understand a lot of simple things, so I don't know why this should be different". I like it because he is telling her that they must go on with that strange relationship even if it is different because it doesn't mean that it is going to be bad.

A book like this should be read at least once in your life because it shows you that magic can exist and that destiny guides us in our lives.

Maybe you know the writer because she also wrote the Best-seller PS: I love you, so if you liked it, she is not going to disappoint you with this one either.

Play

11ª edición del Certamen literario “Instituto Español de Londres”, 2011-2012

Categoría B, Prosa

Primer Premio
Claudia Cardona, 4º E.S.O

Revolution

11ª edición del  Certamen literario “Instituto Español de Londres”, 2011-2012

Categoría A, Prosa: Primer Premio ex aequo

Ainara Vasquez Goitia

2 E.S.O. A

Mute

11ª edición del  Certamen literario “Instituto Español de Londres”, 2011-2012

Categoría A, Prosa: Primer Premio ex aequo

Melissa Camargo Vázquez

2 E.S.O. A

My Disorder Makes me Superman

11ª edición del Certamen literario “Instituto Español de Londres”, 2011-2012

Categoría C, Prosa

Primer Premio

Selma Azzubair del Riego, 1º Bachillerato A

The Lost Soul

11ª edición del Certamen literario “Instituto Español de Londres”, 2011-2012

Categoría C, Prosa

Accésit al Primer Premio

Nuria Cuesta de Andrés, 1º Bachillerato B

The Sphere
Newspaper pages for the Science Week
by Marina Abril, Carla Ramirez and Nuria Cuesta
1 Bachillerato A

The Crimson Journal
Newspaper pages for the Science Week
by Selma Azzubair, Sara Moreno, Raquel Cantallops,
1º Bachillerato A

Intercambio I.E. V.Cañada Blanch, Londres con St John’s School,Leatherhead

St John's School, Leatherhead, nos visita por segunda vez
Students of A-Level Spanish visited us in spring, antes de su examen oral para el A-Level de español.

We were impressed by their school, pero a ellos también les gustó el Cañada.

We'll keep in touch!

Intercambio del I.E. V.Cañada Blanch con A Level Students of Spanish de Ursuline High, Wimbledon

Devolvemos la visita a Ursuline High Wimbledon
The girls had come to visit 2 Bachillerato EFL students in December. We all had such a nice time and practised  both English and Spanish so much that we retuned the visit in the spring. Esperamos que las alumnas de español saquen muy buenas notas en su A-Level exam. . ¡Buena suerte!

Edison Newspaper

Newspaper pages for the Science Week,
by Irene Fernandez, Miguel Ivorra, Diego Lopez, Rodrigo Santos,
1º Bachillerato A

Suzanne COLLINS (2009), Catching Fire, http://www.onread.com/book/Catching-fire-191709/

By Pablo Manning Sánchez,  2º A,  E.S.O.

This is the second book in the trilogy called The Hunger Games. In this book Katniss and Peta find themselves in the arena for a second time with winners from the previous years. Katniss and Peta form an alliance with several contestants. Also, something very interesting happens.... but you will have to read the book to find out.

The genre of this book is sci-fi, adventure. Also, this book has many themes that the first book has, such as love between the main characters and teamwork in the arena to stay alive. And, of course, the suspense between the Districts and Capitol.

Hamitch is more of a main character in this book because he helps both Katniss and Peeta stay alive and plays a big role into the rebellion. He is a lonely bachelor who finds comfort in being drunk most of the trilogy, but when he is not drunk or asleep he proves to be a great help to everyone. Basically he is lazy and irresponsible but sometimes can be a good friend and helpful and also develops throughout the trilogy to better.

The second character I’m going to analyse is Finnik. Finnik is introduced to us in the second book and he has a less important role. He is described to be a very handsome and charming man. He turns out to be a powerful ally in the arena saving Peeta and everyone’s life many times. He develops into a lovely and powerful person in the trilogy.

The part I liked the most was when Katniss and her alliance get ambushed by the carers at the cornucopia. I found this part very nerve racking and thrilling because you don’t know what will happen.

I would recommend this book to 10 and over because I think the story is appropriate for nearly all age groups and is very well written. I think this is a very good book with good moments and heart stopping ones.  That’s why I would rate this book and the whole trilogy a 9/10.

Suzanne Collins (2009), The Hunger Games Catching Fire, Scholastic

By Noah Ottersen, 2º A, E.S.O.

Katniss and Peeta were victorious in winning The Hunger Games. They lived a long and luxurious life along with their family. They did not have to worry about food or money. Not until they were both selected yet again to play in the next hunger event, the quarter-quell, a unique game that happens every 25 years full of terrible twists.

I would recommend it to people at an age group of 13 and over. I would suggest that people read the first book before reading the second one, just to understand more, even if personally I liked the second book better, as it is more entertaining, with descriptive adjectives that keep you going for hours. If you like adventure and sci-fi, then this is the book for you.

It has some violent contents because it is about people killing others.

William Shakespeare (1600-1608) Macbeth, Orchard Classics.

Ignacio Rivoira González, 2º Bachillerato EFL

Macbeth is coming home from battle when he meets three witches around a cauldron. They tell him their prophecy: he will become king and no man born of woman can kill him, unless the forest moves towards the castle where he lives. Soon after that, the king and his sons happen to stay at Macbeth's place for a few days. Macbeth tells Lady Macbeth about the prophecy, and she tells him to kill the king in order to become king. He eventually gives in and does it, the sons run away and Macbeth becomes king. The sons return with an army that cuts up the forest and walks to the castle holding the trees in front of them...

This book is an adaptation for children. I've chosen it because it's easier for me to understand than the real play Shakespeare wrote. It is also short and simple. I don't really recommend this book to adults, although it is interesting and intriguing. I my opinion, this version of Macbeth is an excellent introduction to Shakespeare's stories and plays for young readers. And it is also a nice way to learn English, because it doesn’t have many difficult words. It could be a nice choice if you want to read something helpful, easy and quick. The sad point is that you cannot see the great and unique Shakespeare's style in this book.