Hanham Woods welcomes author Lis Jardine

Hanham Woods Academy was delighted to welcome back former school librarian Lis Jardine, now a published children’s author, as part of this year’s World Book Day celebrations.

Lis is the author of the incredibly successful The Detention Detectives book series. The story places friendship, trust, courage and determination at the heart of an extremely funny murder-mystery tale. Featuring a hugely entertaining cast of characters, the intriguing plot is full of twists and turns that keep readers guessing to the very end.

During her visit, Lis delivered an engaging talk to Year 7 students, sharing her journey to becoming a published author and explaining why she chose to write murder mysteries for young readers. Students were fascinated to hear about her path from working in the school library to seeing her books published and enjoyed by readers.

Following the special assembly, students took part in inspiring creative writing workshops where they began developing their own detective stories, drawing on the themes and storytelling techniques discussed during Lis’s talk.

A spokesperson for the academy said: “Welcoming Lis back to Hanham Woods Academy for World Book Day was a real privilege.

“As a former librarian here, she has long inspired a love of reading in our students, and it is wonderful to see her return as a successful author.

“Her visit encouraged our Year 7 students to think creatively, believe in their ideas and see that their own love of stories can take them anywhere.”

Thank you to the Friends of Hanham Woods Academy for their generous financial contribution to our World Book Day celebrations, helping ensure our students can continue to enjoy these enriching experiences.