This week’s library displays cover two nationally recognised events – Refugee week (16th – 22nd June) and Windrush day (22nd June), and we’ve worked hard to curate a set of books to give our students a flavour of the history and reasoning behind each of these celebratory events.

Windrush Day marks the anniversary of the HMS Empire Windrush docking in Britain, and it’s an opportunity to celebrate our British Caribbean communities. It’s also a chance to acknowledge and give thanks for the service and the sacrifices of the Windrush generation. Benjamin Zephaniah has given us a wonderful novel, Windrush Child, telling the story of a child arriving on the Windrush, and the struggles he has settling into his new home, which is so very different from his home in Jamaica. And for those looking for something more weighty then the very well regarded Small Island, by Andrea Levy, might be for you.

Refugee week is a chance to celebrate the contributions, creativity and resilience of refugees and those seeking asylum. This year the theme is “Community as a Superpower” and there are many festivals, talks, tours and events taking place. In terms of reading materials, we’re delighted to recommend Onjali Q, Rauf’s The Boy At The Back of The Class and the classic When Hitler Stole Pink Rabbit, by Judith Kerr. Another recommendation from the library staff is a book called You Don’t Know What War Is, by Yeva Skalietska, which is the diary of a 12 year old girl, telling the story of the war in Ukraine through her young eyes. It’s very moving, and gives a real insight into living with a war ever encroaching, whilst also attempting to maintain some semblance of a normal life.