[{"text_idx": "#000002", "text": "Y WefanY Ti\u0302mGwybodaeth i Rieni"}, {"text_idx": "#000004", "text": "so\u0302namlyfraApr 21, 20209 min read"}, {"text_idx": "#000006", "text": "*Scroll down for English & comments*"}, {"text_idx": "#000007", "text": "Antur a chyfrinachau yn y chwarel..."}, {"text_idx": "#000008", "text": "Discover both adventure and secrets in the quarry..."}, {"text_idx": "#000010", "text": "Rhaid i mi ddeud fod y teitl a\u2019r clawr wedi apelio\u2019n syth. Dwi\u2019n meddwl fod o\u2019n glawr effeithiol, sy\u2019n awgrymu fod \u2018na rhyw ddirgelwch mawr yn ein disgwyl rhwng y cloriau. Yn gyffredinol, dwi\u2019n ffeindio unrhyw beth i wneud gyda chwareli yn ddiddorol dros ben, felly doedd dim angen fy mherswadio fwy!"}, {"text_idx": "#000011", "text": "Er mai yn nociau Lerpwl yng nghyfnod yr Ail Ryfel Byd y dechreua\u2019r nofel\u2013 ym Mlaenau Ffestiniog mae rhan helaeth o\u2019r stori. Cawn ein cyflwyno i Sardar Singh Basra, y prif gymeriad. Bachgen weddol ifanc o dras Sikhiaid sy\u2019n dod i Ogledd Cymru fel faciwi\u0302 i ddianc rhag bomiau erchyll y Blitz. Mae\u2019r bachgen wedi profi dipyn o newid yn ei fywyd, ar o\u0302l iddyn nhw ymfudo i Brydain o Punjab, India. Mae\u2019n anodd dychmygu cael eich gwahanu o\u2019ch teulu am gyhyd \u2013 er, mae Covid-19 yn rhoi blas i ni gyd o sut deimlad ydoedd!"}, {"text_idx": "#000012", "text": "Mae tomenni llechi Blaenau Ffestiniog yn fyd gwahanol i Sardar ac mae\u2019n cymryd amser iddo arfer. I fod yn onest, mae\u2019n cymryd fwy o amser i\u2019r trigolion lleol ddod i arfer gyda fo, gan nad ydynt wedi gweld bachgen croen tywyll o\u2019r blaen. Mae agwedd y bobl ar ddechrau\u2019r llyfr yn siw\u0302r o fod yn syndod i ni heddiw, ond rhaid cofio fod pethau\u2019n wahanol iawn adeg hynny. Mae\u2019r ffaith ei fod yn gwisgo tyrban yn destun trafod i\u2019r pentre\u2019 cyfan - mae rhai yn meddwl ei fod o wedi brifo ei ben! Camgymeriad diniwed sydd \u2018chydig yn ddoniol mewn un ffordd, ond yn arwydd o anwybodaeth y cyfnod hefyd. Wrth dreulio mwy o amser yng Nghymru, gwna Sardar ffrindiau newydd, ac mae\u2019n dysgu lot, ond i fod yn deg mae\u2019r bobl leol yn dysgu llawer ganddo fo hefyd. Cultural Exchange ar ei orau."}, {"text_idx": "#000013", "text": "Diddorol iawn oedd clywed mwy am hanes hen chwareli\u2019r ardal. Rho\u2019r nofel ddarlun clir o fywyd yng nghyfnod y rhyfel, ond hefyd tafla oleuni ar hen ffordd o fyw cyn hynny pan oedd y chwareli yn eu hanterth. Dwi\u2019n cofio cerdded gyda chlwb cerddwyr y Pentan pan oeddwn i'n blentyn, ac wedi fy nghyfareddu erioed gyda phentref Rhiw-Bach. Pwy fasa\u2019n dychmygu pentref cyfan mewn lleoliad mor anghysbell, jest ar gyfer y gweithwyr a\u2019u teuluoedd? Trist yw meddwl am y pentref gwag sy\u2019n adfail bellach, a\u2019r bobl wedi hen fynd a\u2019r gwaith wedi dod i ben. Mae\u2019n lle diddorol iawn i fynd am dro (o Gwm Penmachno fydda i\u2019n mynd fel rheol) - ewch \u2018da chi ar o\u0302l darllen y nofel."}, {"text_idx": "#000014", "text": "Mae\u2019n bechod mawr \u2018na chefais y cyfle i ddysgu digon am hanes Cymru pan oeddwn yn yr ysgol, a hanes diwydiant y llechi -a chwaraeodd ran mor bwysig yn hanes ein gwlad a\u2019n cymdeithasau. Mae\u2019r nofel yn mynd peth o\u2019r ffordd i lenwi bylchau (mawr) yn fy ngwybodaeth am hanes y chwareli ac y sicr mae gen i awydd mynd i ddarganfod mwy. Dwi\u2019n meddwl y bydd rhaid trefnu trip arall i\u2019r amgueddfa lechi ar o\u0302l i\u2019r lockdown ddod i ben! Mae \u2018na o\u0302l gwaith ymchwil manwl a thrylwyr ar y llyfr yma, a \u2018da chi\u2019n gwybod fod yr awdur, nid yn unig yn hen law ar y math yma o beth, ond yn amlwg yn mwynhau ymchwilio. Mae\u2019r awdur yn manteisio ar bob pob cyfle i\u2019n haddysgu ni fel darllenwyr am ffeithiau bach lleol, hen straeon a dywediadau. Roedd nodyn gan yr awdur a ffynonellau ei waith ymchwil yn reit ddiddorol hefyd."}, {"text_idx": "#000015", "text": "Er mai nofel hanesyddol yw hon, mae \u2018na negeseuon pwysig iawn i ni heddiw. Mae Sardar yn gorfod dygymod a\u0302 hiliaeth, rhagfarn a bwlis yn ystod ei gyfnod yng Nghymru. Braf yw gweld brwdfrydedd Sardar tuag at ddysgu\u2019r iaith, wrth iddo gofnodi pob gair newydd mewn llyfr bach! Mi oedd llawer o\u2019r faciwi\u0302s yn cael eu trochi yn yr iaith ac yn gadael yn siarad Cymraeg - gre\u0302t de!"}, {"text_idx": "#000016", "text": "Mae\u2019r nofel yn adrodd hanes un o gyfrinachau gorau\u2019r Ail Ryfel Byd. Stori\u2019r lluniau, gemau a thrysorau cenedlaethol byd enwog a gafodd eu cludo a\u2019i storio mewn cronfa yn nwfn yn chwarel Manod. Mae\u2019n debyg nad oes llawer yn gwybod am yr hanes diddorol yma. Byddwn wrth fy modd yn cael mynd yno i gael sbec, ond dwi\u2019n meddwl fod o off-limits! Os da chi\u2019n licio\u2019r math yno o beth \u2013 googleiwch Twnelau Cudd Rhydymwyn."}, {"text_idx": "#000017", "text": "Reit, yn o\u0302l at y stori -yn ail ran y nofel, cawn dipyn o antur wrth i Sardar ac un o\u2019i gyfeillion newydd fynd ar daith bwysig, Mission Impossible-style i grombil y graig er mwyn torri mewn i guddfan y Llywodraeth! Pam? Bydd rhaid i chi ddarllen y nofel i ffeindio allan!"}, {"text_idx": "#000018", "text": "Gwelwn y rhyfel trwy lygaid plentyn, a sut wnaeth Yr Ail Ryfel Byd daflu ei gysgod tywyll dros Ogledd Cymru hyd yn oed. Tybe ydi daliadau gwleidyddol/cenedlaethol yr awdur yn dod drosodd yn reit gryf yn y nofel? Yn enwedig wrth so\u0302n am yr ymerodraeth Brydeinig a\u2019i driniaeth o bobl yr India. Mae hyn yn agwedd pwysig o hanes, ond yn un sy\u2019n cael ei frwsio dan y carped braidd gan Brydain."}, {"text_idx": "#000019", "text": "Mae mapiau, diagramau a nodiadau i gyd yn adio at greu nofel hynod o ddiddorol a fydda yn werthfawr iawn i\u2019w ddefnyddio fel llyfr dosbarth - neu i unrhyw un sy\u2019n mwynhau hanes. Mae iaith yr awdur yn gyfoethog ac mae \u2018na ddisgrifiadau sydd bron yn farddonol ar brydiau, fel \u201cdagrau\u2019r niwl.\u201d Fel Sardar, dwi fy hun yn hoffi cofnodi ambell air neu ymadrodd newydd \u2013 roeddwn i\u2019n hoff iawn o ddisgrifiad Myrddin o gi bwlteriar y cigydd: \u201cdoedd y ci ddim yn llun i\u2019w osod ar y piano.\u201d Dwi\u2019n licio honna!"}, {"text_idx": "#000020", "text": "Mae\u2019r ffordd y mae\u2019r awdur yn trafod hanes lleol chwareli Cymru, effaith Yr Ail Ryfel Byd a bywyd dydd-i-ddydd y plant yn gwneud nofel hynod o ddiddorol. Wedi dweud hyn, mae\u2019n rhaid i mi anghytuno gydag oedran darged y nofel. Dwi\u2019n meddwl ei bod hi\u2019n llawer rhy heriol i ddisgyblion Bl.5 a 6 ysgolion cynradd - heblaw'r darllenwyr mwyaf abl ac aeddfed efallai. Roedd hi ar restr \u2018Cwis Darllen\u2019 y Cyngor Llyfrau \u2018lenni ac fe glywais fod nifer o\u2019r plant yn dweud ei bod hi\u2019n rhy heriol. Bechod - achos dwi\u2019n meddwl y bydda darllenwyr hy\u0302n (efallai Bl.7-9) yn debycach o fwynhau\u2019r stori a\u2019i werthfawrogi\u2019n llawn."}, {"text_idx": "#000021", "text": "Mi faswn i\u2019n argymell hon i ddarllenwyr hy\u0302n hefyd. Oedolion - peidiwch a\u0302 bod yn snobs am ddarllen llyfrau plant a phobl ifanc! Mae 'na rai gwerth chweil i\u2019w cael - fel hon!"}, {"text_idx": "#000022", "text": "The front cover and title immediately appealed to me. The artwork is both effective and intriguing, which hints at a mystery waiting to be revealed. In general, I find anything to do with quarries extremely interesting, so I needed no more persuasion!"}, {"text_idx": "#000023", "text": "Although the novel kicks off at Liverpool docks during the Second World War, the majority of the story is set in Blaenau Ffestiniog. We are quickly introduced to Sardar Singh Basra, the main character. A young Sikh boy, he comes to North Wales as an evacuee to escape the Blitz bombs. The boy has already experienced a lot of change in his life, after the family emigrated to Britain from Punjab, India. It\u2019s hard to imagine being separated from your family for so long as an evacuee \u2013 although, Covid-19 is giving us all a taste of what it was like!"}, {"text_idx": "#000024", "text": "The slate tips of Blaenau Ffestiniog is a different world for Sardar and it takes time for him to adjust. To be honest, it takes the local residents more time to get used to him, as they haven't really seen a black boy before. The attitudes of some people at the beginning of the book will no doubt surprise us today, but we must remember that at the time things were very different. The fact that he wears a turban is a subject of discussion in the village- some even mistakenly think that it\u2019s a bandage because he's hurt his head! This rather innocent mistake is somewhat amusing, but also a sign of people\u2019s ignorance/unfamiliarity of other cultures at the time. Whilst spending more time in Wales, Sardar makes new friends, and learns a lot, but he also teaches the local people a thing or two. Cultural Exchange at its finest."}, {"text_idx": "#000025", "text": "It was very interesting to hear more about the history of the old quarries of the area. The novel gives a clear picture of life during wartime, but also sheds light on an old way of life when the quarries were in their prime. I remember walking with the Pentan Walking Club when I was a child, and I\u2019ve always been fascinated with the abandoned village of Rhiw-Bach. Who\u2019d have thought; a whole village set up just for the workers and families? It\u2019s sad to think of the empty village now lying derelict -the people have long gone and the work has come to an end. It's an interesting place to go for a walk (from Cwm Penmachno I\u2019d go normally). I\u2019d recommend going to explore after you\u2019ve read this book."}, {"text_idx": "#000026", "text": "It is a great shame that 'I didn't have the opportunity to learn more about the history of Wales when I was in school, and the history of the slate industry in particular \u2013 which played such an important role in the history of our country and our society. The novel goes some way to filling (big) gaps in my knowledge of the history of the quarries and I\u2019d now like to find out more. I think another trip to the Slate Museum is on the cards after the lockdown has ended! It is obvious that detailed and thorough research has been done in preparation of this book. You can just tell that the author, not only being highly skilled in this area, but clearly enjoys this type of historical fiction. He takes every opportunity to educate us as readers of small local artifacts, local characters, old tales and sayings that he\u2019s no doubt discovered in his research. A note from the author and the sources of his research was a nice touch to add."}, {"text_idx": "#000027", "text": "Although this is a novel set in the past, there are very important messages for us today. Sardar has to cope with racism, prejudice and bullies during his time in Wales. It's great to see Sardar 's passion towards learning the language, as he records every new word in a little book! Many of the evacuees were immersed in the language during their time here and left speaking Welsh- brilliant!"}, {"text_idx": "#000028", "text": "The novel tells the story of one of the finest secrets of the Second World War. The story of how world-renowned pictures, gems and national treasures were shipped to and stored in a deep vault in Manod quarry. It seems that not many are aware of this fascinating history. I'd love to get there for a gander, but I think it\u2019s probably off-limits! If you like this type of thing \u2013 google the hidden tunnels of Rhydymwyn."}, {"text_idx": "#000030", "text": "The second half of the novel turns into a bit of an adventure as Sardar and one of his new acquaintances take on something quite daring- mission Impossible-style to infiltrate the government\u2019s secret hideout! Why? You'll have to read the novel to find out!"}, {"text_idx": "#000031", "text": "We see the war through a child's eyes, and how the Second World War cast its dark shadow even over North Wales. I feel that the author's political/national dispositions come over quite strongly in the novel, especially when talking about the British Empire and its treatment of other cultures. This is an important aspect of history, but one that is brushed under the carpet by Britain. (bit of an elephant in the room)"}, {"text_idx": "#000032", "text": "Maps, diagrams and notes all add to this fascinating novel and it will be a valuable resource for use as a class novel- or for anyone who enjoys history. The author's language is rich and the descriptions are almost poetic at times, such as \"Dagrau\u2019r Niwl.\" Like Sardar, I often jot down new words or phrases \u2013 I loved Myrddin\u2019s description of the butcher's bulldog. (translated) \u201che ain\u2019t no portrait for putting up on the piano!\u201d I like that one! (works better in Welsh!)"}, {"text_idx": "#000033", "text": "The way the author discusses the local history of the quarries in Wales, the impact of the Second World War and the children's day-to-day life makes for a fascinating novel. Having said this, I have to disagree with the novel's target age. I think it\u2019s far too challenging for Yrs.5&6 primary, other than perhaps the most able and mature readers. Last year, it featured on the Book Council of Wales\u2019s \u2018reading quiz\u2019 list and I heard many of the children mention that it was too challenging. Better suited for older readers (maybe Yrs.7-9) as they\u2019ll will be more likely to understand, enjoy and appreciate it fully."}, {"text_idx": "#000034", "text": "I can also recommend this for older readers. Adults- don't be snobbish about reading children and young people's books! There are some crackers out there!"}, {"text_idx": "#000035", "text": "This book is available in English too. (Crown in the Quarry)"}, {"text_idx": "#000036", "text": "Gwasg/ publisher: Gwasg Carreg Gwalch"}]