We are delighted to welcome all our new Year 9 students to the school library. It is a wonderful place to discover exciting stories, explore new ideas, and develop a lifelong love of reading.

To celebrate your arrival and start you on your RUS reading journey, we would like to invite you to take part in our competition based on your welcome book: Scythe by Neal Shusterman.

What happens when humanity conquers death? In a future where disease, war, and ageing have been eliminated, the only way people die is at the hands of Scythes — individuals chosen to keep the population under control. When teenagers Citra and Rowan are selected as Scythe apprentices, they are thrust into a world of power, morality, and impossible choices. The book is full of suspense, shocking twists, and thought-provoking questions about life, death, and what it means to be human.

To enter, choose one of the following tasks:

Option 1: Diary Entry
Imagine you are a Scythe apprentice and write a diary entry describing your day as a trainee. Remember, the purpose of a Scythe’s diary is to document the lives, methods, and emotional burdens of the Scythedom. Be imaginative, creative, and descriptive. The diary entries from Scythe Faraday and Scythe Curie at the start of each chapter will help you.

Option 2: Robe Design
Design and annotate your Scythe robes. Read the descriptions of the robes at Conclave for inspiration, but remember that each colour and decoration has significance. What would your Scythe robes tell us about you?

Please bring your entry to the library or form tutor in September, or email it to library@redborne.com.

Closing date: Friday 11 September 2026