Questers Academy: The Box Of Locks is a thrilling new book by Sam Hay that is already going down a storm in school as proven by these quotes from my students:
"I love this book because it's full of mystery and excitement, meeting friends along the way. It's like the book gives you every key except the key which stops you from reading at 12.00am!"
"Questers Academy is a brilliantly imaginative adventure that masterfully blends mystery with high stakes wonder. It's a captivating journey that invites readers to unlock the power of curiosity and courage."
"It's a masterfully crafter parade of a story that leaves you eager to unlock the next chapter."
You can read my full review here (although I feel my students have said it much more eloquently than me!).
Today, I'm delighted that Sam has written an article for my blog about whether you could be a super-recogniser like Tom. I'm definitely not but could you be?
Could YOU be a Super-Recogniser?
Tom Friday,
the main character in Questers Academy, has an incredible superpower. He
can remember faces, even if he’s only seen them for a few seconds.
This isn’t
something I’ve made up. There really are people with this skill. Maybe you
could be one of them!
I’ve always
thought I was quite good at remembering faces. (Not names, unfortunately, which
would be more useful as a writer visiting schools!) But faces? Yep. I like to
think I’m good at them.
I notice it
most when I’m watching TV. I can usually pick out actors I’ve seen before.
I’m even
better at face-matching - recognising similar face shapes and characteristics
in different people. My kids laugh when I suddenly spot one of their mates in a
movie. Well, not actually one of their friends, but someone who looks
very similar. And when I point it out, they usually see it, too.
But my
interest in faces doesn’t mean I’m a super-recogniser.
Real
super-recognisers can recognise faces they’ve briefly seen, even when that
person has changed. Perhaps they’ve got a new hairstyle. Or a new beard and
moustache. Or they’re wearing a hat and sunglasses. Or even a mask.
Super-recognisers
can spot faces in a crowd of thousands. Imagine going to Wembley and being able
to pick out someone you’ve only briefly seen once before.
Not many
people can do this. Less than 2% of the population are thought to possess this
skill. And they’re in high demand. Many work with the police to identify
criminals.
Being a
super-recogniser may partly be an inherited skill. If one of your parents has
an eye for faces, you might have it too.
So, am I a
super-recogniser?
Well, I
took the free tests on the University of Greenwich’s super-recogniser website.
https://www.superrecognisers.com
And the
answer?
Probably
not. I was above average. But not quite super-recogniser level. Disappointing. So for now, I’m going to stick
to spotting my friends and family in movies. But who knows. Maybe YOU are an
actual super-recogniser! If so, there’s a secret summer at the Natural History
Museum who’d love to hear from you. #QuestersAcademy
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