WELCOME

Do you still read books from your childhood, or even your grandparents childhood? Do you enjoy Girl’s Own and Boy’s Own stories? Want to discuss books, series, authors and more? The MIDDLES' COMMON ROOM has been set up for exactly that purpose!

Here at the Middles Common room, we have tried to provide space for discussions on all your favourite authors and genres; from "Just William" to "Sue Barton"; "Anne of Green Gables" to "Harry Potter", we hope you will find other people who share your particular passion.

Of course, the traditional Girls Own School Story is one of the biggest parts of children's literature, and also reflects a large part of our own personal libraries, but even within school stories, there are vast differences; Elsie Oxenham, Elinor Brent-Dyer, Dorita Fairlie Bruce and Angela Brazil are obviously the recognised "big four", but which other writers have you found that appeal to your taste?

And we don't want people being limited to only the school story genre. "Swallows and Amazons", "Biggles", "Artemis Fowl", CS Lewis, Monica Edwards, Talbot Baines Reid, Anthony Buckridge - all these and more have their place on the Middles Common Room. It's up to you as as individual to tell the rest of the world what you like and why.

One of the most interesting parts of belonging to an online literature community is the chance to find new authors and works, some of which you may have heard of vaguely, others you have never heard of at all. Whatever your interest, there is space to discuss it here.

There are discussion forums for Girl’s Own, School stories, Boy’s Own, and modern children’s books, as well as Cross Genre discussion forums so come in and join the fun.

We have also provided space for you to try out writing your own fanfiction if you fancy it. You can start small in the Junior Writing Room until you get your confidence levels up, and then launch into short, medium or long fictions. Or you can jump right in with a story of any length, set in any fandom. You could write something specifically within the boundaries of the authors' own style, or discover if it is really possible to write a story combining your love of Elsie Dinsmore with the characters of a Hilary McKay novel, possibly located in one of the universes created by Terry Pratchett! Try it and find out!

You will also find space in the Middles' Common Room to write completely original stories, with your own characters, plots and locations.

Take up the challenge of the writing competitions. Each month you will find a different challenge set. Can you write a story in exactly 100 words? Describe a character so well that people will recognise who it is? Keep within a strict style imposition? Come and have a go, or read the latest and vote for the monthly winner.

And of course, there is always time and space to let your hair down, discuss your cat or share a laugh or two.