An inspiring visit by author Tom Percival to year seven students at Magnus Church of England Academy in Newark has encouraged young readers to pursue their dreams and embrace the power of resilience through literature. Percival spoke candidly about his journey to becoming a published writer and the themes of his latest book, The Wrong Shoes, which focuses on overcoming challenges and making the right choices.
During his visit, Percival engaged with the students about the core message of his book, emphasizing the importance of not giving up even when faced with seemingly insurmountable obstacles. “My visit to Magnus C of E Academy has been great, and the students have been really engaged,” he remarked. “At its core, The Wrong Shoes is about resilience and overcoming challenges—of not giving up, even when things feel impossible.”
The author encouraged the students to follow their passions, whether in music, writing, or sports, and highlighted that success requires effort and perseverance. “It takes hard work to get good at anything,” Percival noted, stressing the value of resilience not just in academics but in all aspects of life, including friendships and hobbies.
He expressed his hope that his talk would not only inspire students to develop resilience but also to cultivate a love for reading. “I really hope my talk inspires students not only to develop resilience but also to develop a love of reading and engaging with books,” he said.
Sarah Harper, Assistant Principal at Magnus C of E Academy, expressed gratitude for Percival’s visit, stating, “We are honoured to have Tom visit our students. At Magnus, we value the impact reading can have on our students. It’s so important that they get the opportunity to hear from a published author and understand what inspired them.”
As part of the event, each student received a signed copy of Percival’s book, further promoting the importance of literacy. Percival praised this initiative, saying, “I think it’s a wonderful idea that Magnus gifts a book to every year seven student. Accessibility to books is a huge part of encouraging children to read.”
Students responded positively to the visit, with Lilly-Mai Portas sharing, “I have already started reading the book during lunch. I enjoyed listening to the author talk about the story this morning.” Fellow student Fatima Haymoun added, “I was interested to know what the book meant to Tom and can see that he really cares about his stories.”
Another student, Sumayyah Adesope, expressed excitement about owning a copy of Percival’s work. “Reading is a hobby of mine, and I have always wanted to own a book by this author—not one I have to return to the library! I think reading is really important, and I borrow books from the library all the time; it helps you in all of your subjects,” she said.
Heather Jackson, Manager of the learning resource centre at Magnus, reiterated the school’s commitment to fostering a love of reading. “We are delighted to once again present our Year 7 students with a book this Christmas, with the hope that it inspires them to continue reading throughout their journey at Magnus,” she said. “Our gift of a book celebrates the importance of reading in a student’s journey. It helps them grow, learn, and flourish, supporting our vision to develop individuals of good character.”
Through his visit, Tom Percival not only shared his personal journey but also reinforced vital life lessons that will resonate with the students long after the event. His message of resilience and the joy of reading serves as a reminder of the transformative power of literature in shaping young minds.
