2020 - 2021

Introduction

This list is intended to be a guide to some of the best, and the most
popular, books available for boys in Years 5 to 8. The aim is to help
students and parents choose reading material that is – whether new
or old – challenging, rewarding or just plain fun. Those in the higher
years may already have read many of the titles, but we hope everyone
will find something to interest them.

All the books in this list should be suitable for most Middle and Upper
School boys. We have not tried to steer the different year groups
towards particular books, but we have marked with an asterisk (*)
those books that we think are less suitable for those below Year 8.

As there are limits on the number of books that can be included in

this list, we have often chosen just one title by a particular author. The
librarian or your English teacher can always give you advice on other
books by an author you have enjoyed.

As any book recommendations are subjective, there will be some

books in this list you try but don’t enjoy. We hope there will be many
you love. If you think we have missed out any great books that should
be in the list, please write them down during the year on the form at
the back and hand it to Mrs Fletcher in the library. Perhaps you’ll see
them on the list next year!

All the books on this list are available in the school library, so there’s
no excuse not to get reading!

Mrs Fletcher
Librarian
Contents
Action, Mystery and Adventure ………………….…...........….. 1
Animals ………………………………….…..…………...…… 3
Books in Translation ………….………………………..……... 5
Comic Books and Manga (a Few of the Best)………………… 7
Diaries & Journals (in Fact & Fiction)…………………………. 8
Crime and Detection…………..……………………………… 9
Dragons and Other Mythical Creatures……………………… 11
Dystopian Worlds ………………………...…….......................... 13
Eco Warriors - and Wastelands……………………………….. 15
Fairy Tales and Magic …………………………………….......... 17
Fantasy and Other Worlds ...………………………................... 19
Historical Fiction …………………………………….…........... 21
Humour ….…………………………………………....……..... 23
Modern Life ……..……………………………..…………........ 25
Myths and Legends……. …………………………...……......... 27
Other Lives……… ………………………………..…...…........ 29
Recent Award Winners …………………………....….….......... 31
Scary Stories…………………………………………………... 33
Science Fiction .………………………………………............... 35
Spies and Special Agents ………………………….…………... 37
Sports Stories …………………………………………...…...... 39
Steampunk ………………..………………………………....... 40
Time Travel…….…………………………...…….…….............. 41
Verse Novels…………………………...……………………… 42
Wartime Stories ……………………………………....…......... 43
Zombies, Demons, Vampires and other Monsters……………. 45
Index of Authors………………………………………………. 47
Action, Mystery and Adventure
Peter Jay Black Urban Outlaws
Followed by Blackout, Lockdown, Counterstrike and Shockwave
Five super-skilled children living in a bunker deep beneath the city of London
plan their missions to steal money from the rich to give to those in need.
The combination of children living a life free from rules, with adventures full
of the latest gadgets is a marriage made in heaven!
Chris Bradford Bodyguard: Hostage
Followed by Bodyguard: Ransom, Ambush, Target, Assassin and Fugitive
With the intense media focus on celebrity families, children have now
become targets for hostage-taking. That's why they need a young bodyguard
like 14-year-old Connor Reeves to protect them. Fast-paced and gripping!
Eoin Colfer Artemis Fowl
12-year-old villain, Artemis Fowl, is the most ingenious criminal mastermind
in history. His adventures may be in the fairy world – but there’s enough
high-speed action to satisfy any reader looking for adventure and seven
further books, ending with Artemis Fowl and the Last Guardian.
Matt Dickinson The Everest Files
Followed by North Face and Killer Storm
Ryan is on a gap year adventure in Nepal when a local girl begs him to
investigate why her friend Kami never returned from Everest. What emerges
is a shocking story of fatal human errors as seen through the eyes of a young
Sherpa. Also try this author’s pithy thriller, Lie, Kill, Walk Away.
Siobhan Dowd The London Eye Mystery
Followed by The Guggenheim Mystery (written by Robin Stevens)
When their cousin vanishes whilst riding on the London Eye, Ted and his
sister Kat become sleuthing partners to follow the clues across London in a
desperate bid to find their cousin. Ultimately it comes down to Ted, whose
brain works a unique way, to find the key to the mystery.
Helena Duggan A Place Called Perfect
Followed by The Trouble with Perfect and The Battle for Perfect
Violet never wanted to move to Perfect - a town where everyone has to
wear glasses to stop them going blind, and be perfectly behaved all the time.
Now she keeps hearing voices, her mum is acting strangely and her dad has
disappeared. There’s something very wrong in Perfect…!
Judith Eagle The Secret Starling
Clara has lived a life of solitude under her mean uncle's strict regime, until
the day he abandons Clara with nothing but a bundle of cash to survive by
herself. But nothing is as it seems and, with the help of a boy called Peter
(and his cat!) she sets out to solve the mystery of her family. Also try this
author’s second intriguing adventure, The Pear Affair.
Nizrana Farook The Girl Who Stole an Elephant
Revolution is stirring, and Chaya leads her friends and a gorgeous elephant
on an adventure through the jungle. Will stealing the queen's jewels be the
beginning or the end of everything for the intrepid gang? Chaya is a fierce
and lovable Robin-Hood-style heroine, determined to right injustices and
take care of the ones she loves

1
Natasha Farrant The Children of Castle Rock
When Alice Mistlethwaite is shipped off to boarding school in Scotland it's
nothing like she imagines. Run by the mysterious Major, there are no
punishments and the students are more likely to be taught about body painting
or extreme survival than maths or English! Then Alice's dad goes missing and
she wants to run away to find him. Can she persuade her new friends to help?
Lindsay Galvin The Secret Deep
When Aster wakes alone on a tropical island, she has no idea what has
happened, why she is there, or where to find her younger sister, Poppy.
Meanwhile Sam, who once met the sisters on a plane, is making links between
the mystery of their disappearance and suspicious happenings in his own life.
This atmospheric thriller skilfully mixes fantasy and science.
Fleur Hitchcock The Arrowhead Moor Adventure
Followed by The Fire Bay Adventure, The Thorn Island Adventure and The Frost Castle Adventure
A terrific modern version of Enid Blyton’s ‘Famous Five’ series, where cousins
Aiden, Chloe, Ava and Josh, and Bella the dog, find themselves at the centre of
dramatic adventures! Here, the cousins discover a jewel heist unfolding
around them. To catch the thieves they need to be braver and smarter than the
villains they're chasing. . .
M.G.Leonard Beetle Boy
Followed by Beetle Queen and Battle of the Beetles
When his father mysteriously disappears while studying a rare beetle
collection, it’s up to 12-year-old Darkus, to find him. After developing an
unexpected friendship with a rhinoceros beetle, Darkus learns that beetles are
anything but ordinary and could be the key to rescuing his Dad.
Rob Lloyd Jones Jake Atlas and the Tomb of the Emerald Snake
Followed by Jake Atlas and: The Hunt for the Feathered God, The Quest for the Crystal Mountain
and The Keys of the Apocalypse
Jake and his twin sister, Pan, can't stop fighting – with each other and with their
parents, stuffy professors of Ancient History. When the family go to Cairo on
holiday however, the twins finally learn the truth about their ‘boring’ mum and
dad. Indiana Jones meets Alex Rider in a fast-paced adventure.
Robert Muchamore Robin Hood: Hacking, Heists & Flaming Arrows
Robin is a small, computer-geek, archery-loving 12-year-old boy who attends
Locksley High School with his (very tall) brother Little John. When Robin gets
on the wrong side of local gangster Guy Gisborne, he hides out in Sherwood
Forest with a group of eco-warriors, and hatches a plan to strike back. ..
Dan Smith Below Zero
When Zak's plane crash-lands on Outpost Zero, a small Antarctic research
base in one of the most isolated places on Earth, he discovers a cold, dark
nightmare. The power's out and there’s no one there. As he searches for
answers, bizarre visions suggest a link to something else - deep beneath the ice
- which only he can understand. A creepy, hugely atmospheric adventure!
Wilbur Smith Cloudburst
Jack’s parents are travelling to the Congo for a gorilla conference and have
taken Jack and his two best friends along for a safari. When his parents go
missing in the rainforest, abducted by mercenaries, nobody seems to have any
answers, so it is up to Jack and his friends to brave not just the jungle and its
wild animals, but also bandits, mercenaries and poachers. First in a new series.
2
Animals
Anna Fargher Umbrella Mouse
Drawing on the true stories of animals caught up in the conflict of WWII, this
is the story of a young mouse whose safe world is turned upside down when
her home, an umbrella shop in London, is destroyed by a bomb. Pip’s perilous
quest to find a new home becomes a journey across war-torn Europe and,
when she meets the members of Noah’s Ark, a secret gang of animals fighting
with the resistance in France, Pip becomes an intrepid figure fighting for good.
Claire Fayers Storm Hound
Storm of Odin is the youngest storm hound of the Wild Hunt that haunts
lightning-filled skies. When he fall to earth on his very first hunt, he lands on
the A40 just outside Abergavenny... 12-year-old Jessica Price adopts a cute
puppy from an animal rescue centre and suddenly a number of strange people
seem very interested in her and her new pet, Storm. People who seem to
know a lot about magic . . .
Erin Hunter Into the Wild
The first of six titles set in an exciting fantasy world, where clans of cats fight
epic battles for territory and honour. If you like this series, there are four
more ‘Warriors’ series, plus series about bears (‘Seekers’) and dogs
(‘Survivors’). Just watch out—they’re addictive!
Eva Ibbotson One Dog and His Boy
Hal has everything a boy could wish for, but no one to really love him. When
his parents rent him a dog for his birthday, they think that he'll tire of having
to look after it, so won't mind having to give it back. They couldn't have been
more wrong, and Hal embarks on a classic adventure to reclaim his pet.
Inbali Iserles Foxcraft: The Taken
Followed by The Mage and The Elders
This exciting trilogy follows Isla, a young fox whose world is shattered when
her family suddenly vanishes. Her search for them leads her to the Elders, a
society of shape-shifting foxes, but along the way she must constantly outwit
the dangers from humans (the furless) with her flair for foxcraft - skills of
cunning known only to foxes.
Jane Kerr The Elephant Thief
This glorious adventure, based on a true historical event, describes the walk of
an elephant named Maharajah from Edinburgh to Manchester where his new
owner has a zoo. Danny, a young pickpocket, is enlisted to ride the elephant
along its journey, posing as a prince from India, but his past entanglements,
including a notorious gang leader, are following, desperate to ruin him. ..
Kieran Larwood The Legend of Podkin One-Ear
Followed by The Gift of Dark Hollow, The Beast of Grimheart and Uki and the Outcasts
Podkin, son of the chieftain of the Munbury warren, is forced to flee with his
baby brother and capable big sister Paz when their home is invaded by the
terrifying ‘Gorm’, iron-clad monster rabbits turned evil by enchantment. The
story of how they fight back is imbued with the magic of a timeless legend.
Jack London White Fang
White Fang is half dog, half wolf, and the only animal in the litter to survive.
This is a classic story about a fiercely independent creature of the wild, where
each day is a fight to stay alive. The author also wrote The Call of the Wild.
3
Michael Morpurgo An Elephant in the Garden
Dresden,1945. Elizabeth and Karli's mother works at the zoo and is shocked
when she is told that many animals must be shot before the town is bombed.
Trying to save her favourite elephant, she moves her into the back garden, but
then the bombs start to fall and the family must flee the city - with an
elephant in tow! Just one of many wonderful stories about animals by this
author, such as War Horse, Born to Run or The Butterfly Lion.
Andy Mulligan Dog
Things are not easy for Tom, as he has to deal with his parents' separation, the
pressure of a new school and a bully's unwanted attention. The arrival of a
naughty puppy called Spider makes his life infinitely better - though rather
more complicated - and when the two of them become separated, they learn
that they are braver and more determined than anyone could have imagined.
Sara Pennypacker Pax
12-year-old Peter and the fox he's raised from a kit have been inseparable
since Peter's mum died. But ,when Peter's dad goes to war, he forces Peter to
abandon Pax in the forest and go many miles away to live with his grandfather.
Boy and fox are desperate to be reunited and this is the moving tale of their
perilous journeys back to each other through a country swept up in war.
Megan Rix The Paw House
First, his parents left him to go on a business trip to Japan, and now he's found
himself stuck in the Scottish highlands with an aunt he's never met, a grumpy
girl called Izzy, and a lot of animals. He's never even stroked a dog - what on
earth is he supposed to do here? If you love dogs as much as this author
does, then also try her other titles such as Bomber Dog, The Hero Pup, The
Victory Dogs or The Runaways.
Katherine Rundell The Wolf Wilder
Feo lives in the wilds of Russia, helping her mother to teach pet wolves to
fend for themselves once more. When her mother is taken by the Russian
Army, Feo gathers her pack of wolves and heads for St. Petersburg, on a
journey that will change all of Russia. A lyrical, atmospheric animal story.
S.F. Said Varjak Paw
Followed by The Outlaw Varjak Paw
This is a delightful story about finding your true strengths by learning to trust
your instincts and think for yourself. The unlikely hero is a dreamy, pampered
cat who demonstrates that his difference is his power.
Carlie Sorosiak I, Cosmo
Narrated by Cosmo, an old golden retriever, this is a completely charming
story of a dog who is aware that his family is falling apart and his beloved Max
is unhappy. It is up to him to try to save them, even if that means learning to
dance on his slightly arthritic legs! Funny and moving in equal measure, this is
a lovely book for all and a must-read for anyone who loves dogs!
Lauren St John The White Giraffe
Followed by Dolphin Song, The Last Leopard, The Elephant’s Tale and Operation Rhino
When Martine’s parents are killed, she has to move to South Africa to live
with her grandmother. An extraordinary adventure begins as she befriends a
legendary white giraffe and subsequently discovers she has some mysterious
powers over animals.

4
Books In Translation
Timothée de Fonbelle Vango
Followed by A Prince Without a Kingdom
Vango is a young man fleeing from the police as well as more deadly pursuers,
but why is he such a wanted fugitive? The action takes place between the
World Wars, and all across Europe – from Scotland to the Soviet Union and
from Paris to Nazi Germany. Lyrical and thrilling!
Antoine de Saint-Exupéry The Little Prince
The story of a little prince who falls to earth from a star, and of an airman,
crash-landed in a desert, who seeks to understand the prince’s secret. It’s a
wise fable about what is important in life that some believe is the most
beautiful book of the twentieth century.
Tonke Dragt The Letter for the King
Followed by The Secrets of the Wild Wood
When 16-year-old Tiuri answers a desperate call for help, he finds himself on a
perilous mission that could cost him his life. He must deliver a secret letter to
the King - a letter on which the future of the entire realm depends. This is a
fast-moving, pure fantasy quest - a European classic now available in English.
Michael Ende The Neverending Story
Small and insignificant Bastian Balthazar Bux is nobody's idea of a hero, least of
all his own. Through the pages of an old book he discovers a mysterious world
of enchantment - but a world that is falling into decay. The task of making
things well again falls on Bastian and so begins a dazzling, magical adventure.
Cornelia Funke Inkheart
Followed by Inkspell and Inkdeath
Meggie is the daughter of a revered bookbinder called Mo who, when his past
catches up with him, is forced to reveal to his daughter his terrible secret: he
has the ability, or curse, to breathe life into any story he reads and make the
characters come alive.
*Jostein Gaarder The Solitaire Mystery
As with this author’s famous Sophie’s World, this blends philosophy, fantasy
and reality into a book that can be read on many levels. 12-year-old Hans
Thomas is on a journey with his father, who has a penchant for philosophy.
One day Hans Thomas is given a magnifying glass by a dwarf at a petrol station,
and then he finds a tiny book in his bread roll which can only be read with a
magnifying glass. It is all very perplexing!
*Fabio Geda In The Sea There Are Crocodiles
One night before putting him to bed, 10-year-old Enaiatollah's mother told
him three things: don't use drugs or weapons, don't cheat, don't steal. The next
day he woke up to find she isn't there, and he had to fend for himself. Fabio
Geda met Enaiatollah in Italy five years later and, from his true story, has
fashioned a work of fiction about his remarkable journey in search of asylum.
Jaco Jacobs A Good Day for Climbing Trees
Marnus is tired of feeling invisible - his older brother is good at breaking
swimming records and his younger brother is already a crafty entrepreneur. So
when a girl turns up on their doorstep with a petition, he jumps at the chance
of an adventure. This small gem of a book, originally published in Afrikaans,
handles family issues, as well as activism, with a light and humorous touch.
5
Erich Kästner Emil and the Detectives
Also Emil and the Three Twins
If his mother had known the amazing adventures Emil was going to have in
Berlin, she would never have let him go! When his money goes missing, Emil
teams up with some detectives to get it back - and that is just the start!
*Henning Mankell Secrets in the Fire
Sofia and her family flee their Mozambique village after her father is killed by
bandits. They start afresh, but the dangers of war are ever-present, and Sofia is
forced to rebuild her life again when she and her sister are involved in a
landmine explosion. This story of tragedy and hope succeeds in being an
eminently positive read, delivered with sensitivity but without sentimentality.
Jo Nesbø Dr Proctor’s Fart Powder
Dr Proctor has finally created something to help him fulfil his dream of
becoming a famous inventor - a super-strength fart powder that can propel
people into outer space! This is just the first in a series of Dr Proctor books
that have been translated from Norwegian into more than 35 languages and
are perfect for boys who enjoy a bit of toilet humour!
Bobbie Peers William Wenton and the Luridium Thief
Followed by William Wenton and the Secret Portal and William Wenton and the Lost City
Packed full of code-breaking skills and a young hero who might just be too
clever for his own good, this is an exciting tech-savvy adventure. 12-year-old
William Wenton doesn’t understand his family’s sudden departure from their
home, but when his extraordinary talent for cracking codes is revealed, he
must face the danger that has threatened him for years.
Daniel Pennac The Eye of the Wolf
The wolf has lost nearly everything on his journey to the zoo, including an eye
and his beloved pack. The boy too has lost much and seen many terrible things.
They stand eye to eye on either side of the wolf's enclosure and, slowly, each
makes his own extraordinary story known to the other... This beautifully
written, engaging story is full of thought-provoking themes.
Annie M. G. Schmidt The Cat Who Came in off the Roof
Minou is a young woman who has moved into Tibble's flat. She hates dogs, likes
rooftops, loves the fishmonger, and happens to have been, until very recently, a
cat. This funny tale of friendship and courage was written by a classic Dutch
author and, as a reviewer in The Times wrote: “To discover Annie M.G. Schmidt
is to feel like the cat who got the cream - and the salmon fillet…”

*Nahoko Uehashi The Beast Player

Erin’s family care for the fearsome serpents- the magical Toda -at the core of
the kingdom’s army. When the beasts suddenly die, Erin’s mother is executed
but manages to send her daughter to safety. The story of how Erin learns to
speak with serpents and saves her country is an epic and sophisticated fantasy
by one of Japan’s best-selling authors.
Jakob Wegelius The Murderer’s Ape
Sally Jones is an intelligent, thoughtful, loyal and highly literate gorilla. She can’t
talk (of course not; she’s a gorilla!), but she can write, and her clear-sighted
recounting of the chain of events that leads to her friend, ‘the Chief’, being
falsely convicted of murder, and her tireless mission to clear his name make
for a compelling story of mystery, betrayal and friendship.
6
Comic Books and Manga (a Few of the Best)
Jeffrey Brown Jedi Academy
Followed by The Phantom Bully and Return of the Padawan
Roan is invited to attend Jedi Academy and, under the tutelage of Master Yoda,
learns that he possesses more strength and potential than he could have ever
dreamed. Perfect for all Star Wars fans!
Svetlana Chmakova Awkward
Followed by Brave and Crush
A wonderful trio of books set in Berrybrook Middle School, which address
some common issues facing children at school with honesty, charm and
humour.
Goscinny & Uderzo Asterix the Gaul
The first volume of the Asterix series - one of the evergreen joys of childhood
reading! The English translations echo and amplify the wonderful wordplay of
the originals in these stories about an indomitable hero and his friends, who
try to defend one small Gallic village from the surrounding Romans.
Hergé The Crab with the Golden Claws
It’s hard to know exactly where to start with the magnificent Tintin series, but
many believe this is the definitive book and the best place to start as it
introduces Tintin’s best friend Captain "Blistering Barnacles" Haddock.
Kazu Kibuishi Amulet: The Stonekeeper
This first book in a seven book series book starts on a tragic note, but don’t
let that put you off. It is a terrific fantasy hero quest with a few shakes of
steampunk, portrayed in beautiful artwork.
Adam Murphy Corpse Talk
Out of the mouldering pages of history comes the chat show that digs the
dirt on some of history's most famous, infamous and downright incredible
men and women. There is a whole series of Corpse Talk volumes now, and
the funny (often brutally truthful!) accounts of major figures in history are a
perfect way to bring the dead famous to life!
Jeff Smith Out from Boneville
The first book in the New York Times bestselling graphic novel series featuring
an unlikely hero. After being run out of Boneville, the three Bone cousins -
Fone Bone (our hero), Phoney Bone, and Smiley Bone - are separated and lost
in a vast, uncharted desert. Little do they know that there are dark forces
conspiring against them and their adventures are only just beginning!
Shaun Tan The Arrival
The story of a man who is forced to leave his bleak homeland to seek
opportunities in a new world. This wonderful exercise in empathy is
completely wordless, but the story flows and no words are needed.
Raina Teigemeier Smile
Also: Drama, Sisters, Ghosts and Guts
Sixth-grader Raina severely damages her two front teeth. At school, she
struggles with peer relationships, discovering her own strengths while
enduring painful orthodontia. The concluding pages reveal a self-assured
student who can indeed smile.
7
Diaries & Journals (in Fact & Fiction)
Sherman Alexie The Absolutely True Story of a Part-Time Indian
Arnold "Junior" Spirit, lives on the Spokane Indian Reservation. He is used to
being picked on, but it’s only when he realizes that he has to leave the reserva-
tion in order to et a good education that things start getting complicated. Part
humour, part tragedy, this is a thought-provoking book.
*Ann Frank Diary of a Young Girl
Anne Frank kept a diary from June 1942 to August 1944 whilst hiding from the
Nazis. It has now become one of the most famous memoirs every published,
and a living testimony to the senseless slaughter that took place in the Nazi
concentration camps.
Veera Hiranandani The Night Diary
It's 1947, and India has been separated into two countries: Pakistan and India.
The divide has created much tension between Hindus and Muslims, and half-
Muslim, half-Hindu Nisha doesn't know where she belongs. As her family be-
come refugees, Nisha's letters to her dead mother, and the diary format, gives
striking immediacy to a fraught moment in history.
Pete Johnson How to Train Your Parents
Followed by My Parents are Out of Control, My Parents are Driving Me Crazy, How to Update Your
Parents and How to Fool Your Parents
These comic romps through the life of almost-teenager Louis as he battles
with his endlessly embarrassing parents are always very funny but also ring
very true. Also try this author’s Vampire Blog trilogy (see page 46).
Jeff Kinney Diary of a Wimpy Kid
The first book in a series that needs no introduction, save that to say that in
2013 it was voted - by children - the Blue Peter Best Children’s Book of the
Last 10 Years. The 15th in the series, The Deep End is published in October.
*Sue Townsend The Secret Diary of Adrian Mole, aged 13 ¾
Adrian Mole has more than his fair share of problems - spots, ill health, parents
threatening to divorce, rejection of his poetry and much more. His valiant
struggle against his parents’ attempts to scar him for life makes for hilarious
reading in this and following titles.
*John van de Ruit Spud
Followed by The Madness Continues, Learning to Fly and Exit Pursued by a Bear
It’s the 1990s. Apartheid is crumbling, and 13-year-old Spud Milton is about to
start his first year at an elite boarding school in South Africa. This is the very
funny diary of a young boy who is cursed with embarrassing parents, a nutty
granny and a dormitory full of strange characters!
Various Authors ‘My Story’ series
Each book in this readable series of historical novels is written in the
form of the diary of a fictional young woman or man living during an im-
portant event in history. Titles include Pompeii, Suffragette, D-Day,
Blitz, Roman Invasion, The Trenches and many more, each written by a
respected children’s author. So there’s something for everyone!

8
Crime and Detection
Sylvia Bishop The Secret of the Night Train
Resourceful heroine Max is sent to Istanbul to stay with her boring Great Aunt
Elodie and gets caught up in a world of would-be diamond smugglers, thieves
and undercover detectives. If you enjoy this beautifully written and quirky book,
then also read Trouble in New York.
Malorie Blackman Hacker
When Vicky's father is accused of stealing over a million pounds from the bank
where he works, she is determined to prove his innocence - by breaking into
the bank's computer files. Can she find the real thief before they find her?
Kevin Brooks The Ultimate Truth
Followed by The Danger Game and The Snake Trap
After his parents die in a car crash, Travis starts to investigate...but what starts
as a minor distraction soon becomes a sinister mystery. This Carnegie Medal-
winning author usually writes for older teens, so this terrific series for younger
readers is very welcome.
Agatha Christie And Then There Were None
A classic murder mystery from a master of the genre. This was her 26th title,
but one of her best and most ingenious. Or you could try a mystery featuring
one of her famous detectives - Hercule Poirot or Miss Marple.
Sophie Green Potkin and Stubbs
Followed by The Haunting of Peligan City and Ghostcatcher
Lil’s mum works long hours for the mayor of Peligan City, so aspiring journalist
Lil has plenty of time to roam the city investigating unsolved stories. And Lil is
about to discover that a scoop can be found anywhere - even sitting opposite
her in the all-night bus station! Part detective, part ghost story!
Sharna Jackson High Rise Mystery
Followed by Mic Drop
Summer in London is the hottest on record, and there's been a murder in the
Tri - the high-rise home to resident know-it-alls, Nik and Norva. So, armed
with curiosity, home-turf knowledge and unlimited time (until the end of the
summer holidays anyway) who better to solve the case?
Penny Joelson I Have No Secrets
Children’s Book Award 2018 (10-18)
Jemma knows who did the murder because he told her...but she can't tell
anyone. Fourteen-year-old Jemma has severe cerebral palsy. She is unable to
communicate or move, but has a sharp brain and inquisitive nature. When she
is confronted with this terrible secret, she is utterly powerless to do anything.
Tanya Landman Mondays are Murder
The first in a rather addictive series of ten well-plotted murder mysteries
featuring super-sleuth Poppy Fields and her friend Graham. Be warned: there is
a lot of murder in these books, so they are not for the very sensitive!
M.G. Leonard &Sam Sedgman The Highland Falcon Thief
Followed by Kidnap on the California Comet
Harrison Beck has reluctantly joined his travel-writer Uncle Nat for the last
journey of the royal train, The Highland Falcon. But when a priceless brooch
goes missing, things are suddenly a lot more interesting!
9
*Simon Mason Running Girl
Also Kid Got Shot and Hey! Sherlock
Meet Garvie Smith. Highest IQ ever recorded at Marsh Academy. Lowest ever
grades. What's the point? Nothing surprising ever happens….until Chloe Dow's
body is pulled from a pond. DI Singh is already on the case and doesn't need
any 'assistance' from a notorious slacker who is prone to poking his nose in
where he’s not wanted. Or does he?
Alexander McCall Smith The No.1 Ladies’ Detective Agency
This is the first book in a series of episodic detective stories, that has now
reached its twentieth title with How to Raise an Elephant (Sept. 2020). The
charming and whimsical stories feature Precious Ramotswe, Botswana's only -
and finest - female private detective.
Tom Mitchell How to Rob a Bank
When 15-year-old Dylan accidentally burns down the house of the girl he’s
trying to impress, he feels that only a bold gesture can make it up to her. A
gesture like robbing a bank to pay for her new home…. how difficult can it be?
Even though the protagonist is a chaotic teenager, this comedy-crime caper is
perfect for anyone who loves a laugh.
Catherine O’Flynn Lori and Max
Followed by Lori and Max and the Book Thieves (Oct.2020)
When money goes missing from the classroom new girl Max becomes the
suspect. When Max disappears, can her friend and wannabe detective, Lori, find
her and prove her innocence at the same time? This is a brilliant detective story,
told from both girls’ point of view, where the underlying social issues of bullying,
addiction and poverty are very real but not the dominant theme.
Katherine Rundell The Good Thieves
Vita arrives in New York with a job to do. Her beloved grandfather Jack has
been cheated out of his home and possessions by a conman, and Vita is
determined to help. A young pickpocket and two boys with highly unusual skills
of their own are about to be pulled into her lawless, death-defying plan. A
showstopper of a read from a brilliant author - perhaps her best yet!
Lauren St John Kat Wolfe Investigates
CrimeFest Best Crime Novel for Children 2019
Followed by Kat Wolfe Takes the Case and Kat Wolfe on Thin Ice (Jan. 2021)
Kat Wolfe loves her new home in idyllic Bluebell Bay, especially as it comes with
a resident wildcat. But when she starts pet-sitting for pocket money, she finds
that beneath the town's perfect surface lie some dark and dangerous secrets . . .
Robin Stevens Murder Most Unladylike
The first in a massively popular and successful series of ‘whodunits’ set in the
1930s which manage to feel both old-fashioned and current at the same time.
The plots are terrific, and schoolgirls Daisy and Hazel make a brilliant detective
duo. Perhaps best to read this one first, but then read in any order…
Katherine Woodfine The Clockwork Sparrow
Followed by The Jewelled Moth, The Painted Dragon and The Midnight Peacock
In the early 20th century, orphan Sophie Taylor works in the new, first-of-its-
kind, Sinclair’s department store. Finding herself under suspicion when the
priceless clockwork sparrow is stolen from the store, she sets out to clear her
name, with help from her new friends Lil, Billy and Joe.
10
Dragons and Other Mythical Creatures
Kelly Barnhill The Girl Who Drank the Moon
Every year the witch saves a baby who’s left out to die by feeding them
starlight as she delivers them to a new home. When she accidentally feeds a
baby moonlight she fills the child with extraordinary magic, so calls her Luna
and decides to raise her as her own. For dragon lovers, this superb fairy tale
introduces a wonderfully wise ‘Swamp Monster’ and a Perfectly Tiny Dragon’!
Cressida Cowell How to Train Your Dragon
This first book in a wonderfully witty series of stories about Hiccup the
Useless, and his dragon, Toothless, is guaranteed to appeal to even the most
reluctant reader! How to Fight a Dragon’s Fury is the twelfth in the series.
Tony DiTerlizzi & Holly Black The ‘Spiderwick Chronicles’
The Field Guide, The Seeing Stone, Lucinda’s Secret, The Ironwood Tree, The Wrath of Mulgarth
When Jared, Simon and Mallory Grace move to Great Aunt Lucinda’s house
they find themselves entangled in a magical world. If you like mythical
creatures you will find them here to your heart’s content - from boggarts to
griffins and from elves to ogres. Beautiful little books and wonderful to read.
Chris d’Lacey The Erth Dragons: The Wearle
Followed by Dark Wyng and The New Age
The Wearle came to Erth to find out what happened to their previous group,
who never returned. They have an uneasy relationship with the ‘homs’ who
usually stay outside the dragons’ scorch line boundary, but Ren, a young hom
boy, is fascinated by the ‘skalers’ and creeps into their territory…. This is a
brilliant new series from the author of the famous Last Dragon Chronicles.
Jasper Fforde The Last Dragonslayer
Followed by The Song of the Quarkbeast and The Eye of Zoltar
15-year-old Jennifer Strange runs an employment agency for soothsayers and
sorcerers, but magic is fading and times are hard - even magic carpets are
reduced to pizza delivery. This witty and satirical book can be read at many
levels, so it’s a ‘must-read’ for fantasy fans of any age!
Liz Flanagan Dragon Daughter
On the island of Arcosi, dragons and their riders are now only the stuff of
legends and bedtime stories. So when Milla happens upon the last four
dragon eggs, she finds her life turned upside down. A vivid cast of characters
and a richly imagined world make this book a real treat for anyone who loves
dragon books (and would secretly love a pet dragon!)
Cornelia Funke Dragon Rider
Followed by The Griffin’s Feather
Firedrake, a brave young dragon, his loyal brownie friend Sorrel and a lonely
boy called Ben embark on a magical journey to find the legendary place where
silver dragons can live in peace for ever. Along the way, they discover new
friends in unlikely places and a courage they never knew they had.
Lucinda Hare The Dragon Whisperer
Followed by Flight to Dragon Isle, Dragon Lords Rising and The Stealth Dragon Services
Quenelda has a magical bond with dragons, and she longs to fly one in the war
against the hobgoblins. Root's desire is to avoid fearsome dragons at all costs.
Yet an unlikely friendship is forged when Root becomes Quenelda’s esquire,
and together they must find a way to defeat the dark forces.

11
Mark Huckerby & Nick Ostler Defender of the Realm
Followed by Dark Age and King’s Army
When King Henry IX dies,14-year-old Prince Alfie is thrust into the role of
King. Only the heir because he was born 10 seconds before his twin brother
Richard, Alfie is widely regarded to be the weaker, less worthy twin...and he
quickly learns that there is even more to the job than meets the eye! A
wonderful mix of mythical creatures, ancient history and stroppy teenagers!
Ursula Le Guin A Wizard of Earthsea
Followed by The Tombs of Atuan, The Farthest Shore and Tehanu
Ged lives in the island archipelago of Earthsea, a land populated by strange
magic and dragons, where young wizards like him are sent to hone their
powers. In this benchmark of fantasy writing, the dragon Kalessin is ancient
and knowing, armoured and fierce, and Ged accidentally unleashes some of the
most powerful magic ever to scar the face of the earth.
Brandon Mull Dragonwatch
Followed by Wrath of the Dragon King and Master of the Phantom Isle
This US author’s bestselling Fablehaven series has been in the library for many
years, so it’s good news that there is now a new sequel series. In the secret
dragon sanctuary of Wyrmroost, Celebrant the Just, King of the Dragons, plots
his revenge. He sees the sanctuaries as prisons, and wants to break free and
return to the Age of Dragons, when he and his kind ruled without borders.
Kate O’Hearn Pegasus and the Flame
Followed by Pegasus and the: Fight for Olympus, New Olympians, Origins of Olympus, Rise of the
Titans and End of Olympus
When Pegasus crashes onto her roof in the middle of a storm,13-year-old
Emily's life becomes that of legend: epic battles with gruesome monsters,
desperate chases from a corrupt governmental agency, and an heroic quest to
save Olympus before the flame burns out. A great mix of modern adventure
and epic fantasy!
Christopher Paolini Eragon
Followed by Eldest, Brisingr and Inheritance
Begun when the author was only 15, this compelling story of a boy and his
dragon has enough new ideas and twists and turns to make it stand out among
its competitors in the genre of quest fantasy. A recent school visit from this
author has led to renewed passion for this series!
S. A. Patrick A Darkness of Dragons
Patch Brightwater is a boy in disgrace. Thrown in jail for piping a forbidden
spell, he is no one's idea of a hero. But then he discovers a deadly truth - the
evil Piper of Hamelyn is on the loose. With the help of Wren, a girl cursed to
live as a rat, and Barver, a fire-breathing dracogriff (half dragon, half griffin),
Patch must stop the Piper sparking the biggest battle of them all. This terrific
tale is full of action, suspense and magic from start to finish!
Tui T. Sutherland Wings of Fire:The Dragonet Prophecy
The dragon tribes have been at war for generations, but a prophecy tells of
five dragonets that will bring an end to the fighting. Special eggs are stolen
from different tribes, and the dragonets are hatched and raised in captivity in a
hidden cave – until they escape to look for their original homes and tribes.
This terrific saga ,that is exciting and moving in equal measure, has now
reached book 13, The Poison Jungle.

12
Dystopian Worlds
Kirsty Applebaum The Middler
Maggie’s home is protected from the outside world by a boundary, beyond
which the Quiet War rages and the dangerous wanderers roam. Her brother
Jed is an eldest, revered and special. Her younger brother is Trig, whom every-
one loves. But Maggie's just a ‘middler’ until the day she meets a hungry wander-
er girl needing help, and the world Maggie knows is changed forever.
*Malorie Blackman Noughts and Crosses
Followed by Knife Edge, Checkmate, Double Cross and Crossfire
In this renowned series, Callum is a Nought, a second-class citizen, and Sephy is
a Cross, the daughter of a powerful man. Their friendship crosses the bounda-
ries of race and society in a dystopian, parallel 21st century Britain and proves,
ironically, that life is never black and white. Also try Noble Conflict.
Alice Broadway Ink
Followed by Spark and Scar
Imagine a world where your life story is tattooed on your skin, and when you
die your skin book stands as a record of your good life. People without tattoos
(Blanks) are to be feared. After Leora's father dies, she begins to suspect that
his skin book is incomplete, and wonders whether she ever knew him at all…
Suzanne Collins The Hunger Games
Followed by Catching Fire and Mockingjay, and Prequel The Ballad of Songbirds and Snakes
In a dark vision of the future a terrifying reality show is taking place. To punish
citizens for an earlier rebellion 12 boys and 12 girls are forced to fight like gladi-
ators in a futuristic arena. The event is broadcast live, but for the contestants
there is only one rule: kill or be killed. Unputdownable!
James Dashner The Maze Runner
Followed by The Scorch Trials, Death Cure and The Kill Order (Prequel). Also The Fever Code
Thomas arrives in the ‘Glade’, in the centre of a vast stone maze populated by
deadly ‘Grievers’, with no memory of anything except his first name. Each
morning the doors to the maze open and a few ‘runners’ desperately search for
a way out before nightfall, when the doors close again.
Jeanne DuPrau City of Ember
Followed by The People of Sparks, The Prophet of Yonwood and The Diamond of Darkhold
The city of Ember was created by the Builders to contain everything needed for
human survival.Yet now the storerooms are almost out of food, corruption is
spreading, and, worst of all, the lights are failing. This intriguing thriller is set in
an all-too-possible future - a world where the lights have gone out for ever.
Patricia Forde The Wordsmith
Followed by Mother Tongue
In a future world, the only place of safety is a place called Ark. John Noa, its
leader, is convinced that language is to blame for the destruction of the planet,
so he only allows a ‘List’ of permitted words to be used. As a ‘keeper' of words,
Letta finds it increasingly difficult to justify denying them to the people. A
thought-provoking commentary on censorship and the power of language.
Michael Grant Gone
Followed by Hunger, Lies, Plague, Fear and Light
In a moment, the world changes. The adults vanish without a trace, and those
left must do all they can to survive. In a world without rules, some look after
themselves, some look after others, and some will do anything for power...even
kill. 13
*Lisa Heathfield I Am Not a Number
In this timely novel about the dangers of nationalism, the Traditionals have
been voted into power, winning people over with talks of stronger families
and safer streets. When Ruby is swept up with protesters from the opposi-
tion, she is locked in a prison camp with her family and given number 276. As
the horrors escalate, Ruby knows that she has to find a way to let the world
know what's happening. Scary - but compelling.
Lois Lowry The Giver
Followed by Gathering Blue, Messenger and Son
A forerunner of the dystopian genre, this American classic imagines a world
where there is no war, no hunger, no pain. Like his peers, Jonas is allocated his
profession at the age of 12, but when he is selected as ‘Receiver of Memory’
he discovers that his community is not as perfect as it seems.
Gemma Malley The Declaration
Followed by The Resistance and The Legacy
In a society which has conquered death by the use of drugs, children are a
waste of resources. Anna Covey accepts her fate as a 'Surplus' until, one day,
she meets someone who challenges everything she has been taught. This is a
compelling futuristic story about two children daring to defy the adult rules.
Laura Martin Edge of Extinction: It’s Them or Us
Followed by Edge of Extinction: Code Name Flood
Civilization collapsed when the dinosaurs were successfully brought back to
life. They spread a virus that almost wiped out humanity, and then colonised
the wild - leaving survivors banded together in underground communities .
When Sky and Shawn venture outside they discover they are woefully unpre-
pared to survive in an ordinary world, let alone one full of predators!
*Tracey Mathias Night of the Party
Captivating and horrifying in equal measure, this clever near future dystopian
novel imagines a Britain after withdrawing from the EU, when it is governed
by a far-right nationalist party. Its flagship policy is the British Born edict,
which allows only those born in Britain to live here. Full of political and emo-
tional tension, it’s timely reading - and hopefully only fiction!
Veronica Roth Divergent
Followed by Insurgent and Allegiant
In a world divided into five factions, all children must undertake an aptitude
test at the age of 16 to determine their unique personality traits and their fu-
ture faction - Candor, Erudite, Abnegation, Dauntless or Amity. Unless, of
course, they are a divergent like Tris - for whom life is never black or white.
Fiona Shaw Outwalkers
Borders with continental Europe are closed, and the New Wall along the
Scottish border is heavily guarded. Everyone in England has a chip implanted
so the authoritarian government can track their movements. Orphan Jake
escapes from a grim care ‘Academy’ and sets off with his dog on a desperate
trek to his grandparents, who live in Scotland. Totally gripping.
S. M. Wilson The Extinction Trials
Followed by The Extinction Trials: Exile and The Extinction Trials: Rebel
Set in the poorest corner of a ruined world, this is the story of contestants
pitted against each other and against reptilian monsters in order to win basic
food and medicine for their families. Described on the cover as Jurassic Park
meets The Hunger Games, it is a terrific adventure that also deals with issues
such as culture, class divide and how we look after the natural world.
14
Eco-Warriors - and Wastelands
David Alric The Promised One
Followed by Valley of the Ancients and African Pursuit
An 11-year-old girl finds that she is ‘the Promised One’- the only person on
earth with powers of communication with all living creatures - and her destiny
is to save the planet. A book that totally captures the imagination but written
with such ecological and scientific authority that it almost feels believable!

Julie Bertagna Exodus

Followed by Zenith and Aurora
It is 2099 - and the world is drowning as Arctic ice floes melt and the seas rise.
Packed into tiny boats, Mara and her community are attempting to flee their
fast-disappearing island, but when they reach a bizarre city built on the drowned
remains of the ancient city of Glasgow, they realise that they are asylum-seekers
in a world torn between high-tech wizardry and the most primitive injustice.
Sita Brahmachari Where the River Runs Gold
In a time when the bees have long gone and artificial pollination prevails, Shifa
and her brother are sent away to the “Freedom” school, only to find they are
part of a conveyor belt of child workers keeping the food chain going. Shifa de-
cides to risk everything to escape and expose the truth. The freedom of a na-
tion and the future of the natural world depend on her.
Peter Brown The Wild Robot
Followed by The Wild Robot Escapes
ROZZUM unit 7134 (Roz) is a shipwrecked robot, cast ashore on a rugged is-
land formed by the rising seas and violent storms of climate change. She doesn't
have emotions, but she's observant and programmed to be helpful and kind. So,
as the author wrote, “What would an intelligent robot do in the wilderness? She’d
make the wilderness her home.” Perhaps that’s a message for us all.
Jess Butterworth When the Mountains Roared
When Ruby's dad uproots her from Australia to live in the mountains of India,
Ruby is scared of living in the middle of the wilderness surrounded by scorpi-
ons, bears and leopards, and sure that India will never feel like home. But then
the last remaining leopards of the mountain are threatened and Ruby realizes
she must do all she can to protect them.
Sarah Govett The Territory
Followed by The Territory: Escape and The Territory: Truth
In a flooded world of dwindling resources, the richest children have a node in-
serted on the back of their necks so they can download information without
studying. Those without nodes – the Norms – have to struggle to compete, as
anyone who fails the exams will be shipped off to the Wetlands and a life of mis-
ery, if not certain death.
Matt Haig Evie and the Animals
11-year-old Evie can communicate with animals. Her dad says this talent is dan-
gerous, but after a face-to-face encounter with a lion in a zoo, her secret is out.
To save the animals she loves Evie must now enlist their help against a mysteri-
ous man who wants to control them. This terrific adventure makes important
points about the interconnectedness of the natural world.

15
Carl Hiaasen Flush
Noah's fisherman dad is passionate about saving the local Florida aquatic life.
On discovering that a local businessman is releasing the effluent from his casi-
no boat directly into the sea, he takes the law into his own hands, sinks the
boat and is jailed. Now Noah and his sister have to take up the fight for the
environment, and for justice on their Dad's behalf.
Tom Huddleston FloodWorld
This dystopian novel offers a devastating picture of a future London reduced
to chaos and violence by the effects of climate change and the greed of those
in power who have created an underclass to bear the brunt of the devastation.
It’s a riveting adventure, filled with insights into the abuse of power and how
we choose to fight for justice. Read on in DustRoad.
Elizabeth Laird Song of the Dolphin Boy
This lovely story combines the magic of a boy who finds he can swim and
communicate with dolphins, the reality of an outsider struggling to be accept-
ed by his peers, and real ecological concerns. A supermarket is planning to re-
lease thousands of helium balloons that could harm Finn’s dolphin friends, so
the children must set aside their differences to save the dolphins.
Gill Lewis Sky Dancer
Joe has always loved the wildness of the moors above his home, but now the
whole community is divided over the fate of the hen harriers that nest in the
heather there - and Joe is stuck in the middle, with a choice to make, and a se-
cret to keep. Other brilliant books such as White Dolphin, Sky Hawk and
Gorilla Dawn continue this author’s powerful environmental message.
Nicola Penfold Where the World Turns Wild
Juniper Greene lives in a walled city from which nature has been banished, fol-
lowing the outbreak of a deadly man-made disease many years earlier. Most
people seem content to live in such a cage, but she and her little brother Bear
have always known they are resistant to the disease, and dream of escaping in-
to the wild. Especially thought-provoking in the light of Covid-19...
Marcus Sedgwick Floodland
This powerful debut novel about surviving in a sinking world marked the be-
ginning of this author's multi-award-winning career. England is drowning, Nor-
wich is an island and Zoe, left behind in the confusion when her parents es-
caped, survives there as best she can. The belief that she will one day find her
parents spurs Zoe on to a dramatic escape.
Nicola Skinner Bloom
Sorrel Fallowfield is a very well-behaved girl, but when she finds a packet of
surprising seeds in her garden and feels a strange urge to plant them in some
very unusual places, she discovers that wonderful things can happen when you
break the rules. This very funny magical story is ultimately about the im-
portance of protecting our green spaces and of speaking out when necessary.
Piers Torday The Last Wild
Followed by The Dark Wild and The Wild Beyond
In a world devastated by global warming, food is no longer grown and animals
are dying from a mysterious plague. Kester realises he is able to communicate
with animals when a cockroach enlists his help to save animals surviving in the
Last Wild. This wonderful book reminds us of the damage we will do if we
aren’t vigilant about our connection to the natural world.
16
Fairy Tales and Magic
Sophie Anderson The House with Chicken Legs
Marinka dreams of a normal life, where her house stays in one place long
enough for her to make friends. But her house has chicken legs and moves
on without warning. For Marinka's grandmother is Baba Yaga, who guides
spirits between this world and the next. Based on Slavic folklore, this magical
story was shortlisted for almost every major award on publication in 2019!
P. G. Bell The Train to Impossible Places
Followed by The Great Brain Robbery (Oct. 2019)
This madcap magical adventure begins with a little girl who finds a train
roaring through her house! When Suzy is whisked on board by a young troll
she quickly becomes caught up in the mission to deliver top secret packages
to Impossible Places. It’s a funny, action-packed story full of mystery, magic
and ‘fuzzics’, which is physics, only fuzzier…. Lovely stuff!
Holly Black & Cassandra Clare Magisterium: The Iron Trial
Followed by The: Copper Gauntlet, Bronze Key, Silver Mask and Golden Tower
There’s more than a hint of Harry Potter about this story of a boy with a
tragic past, who gets called up to attend a school of magic. Except, unlike
Harry, Call doesn't want anything to do with magic and is determined to fail
the entrance test. Fortunately (for us readers!) he fails at failing…
Cressida Cowell The Wizards of Once
Followed by Twice Magic and Knock Three Times
Set in a fantasy world of mysterious forest and powerful magic, this retains all
the author’s trademarks of silly humour, fantastic adventure and real human
empathy in the story of a young boy Wizard and a young girl Warrior who
have been taught since birth to hate each other like poison. Great fun!
Abi Elphinstone Sky Song
Eska has been trapped inside an enchanted music box by the Ice Queen of
Erkenwald, and it is only when she is saved by Flint that she realises the
extent of the Ice Queen’s hold over her homeland. Eska and Flint must find a
way to unite the tribes and bring back the Sky Gods’ magic, before the Ice
Queen can steal the Sky Song for herself and take control of Erkenwald
forever. This book feel like a future classic.
Justin Fisher Ned’s Circus of Marvels
Followed by The Gold Thief and The Darkening King
Ned Waddlesworth has always considered his world to be exceptionally
ordinary.Yet on his 13th birthday he discovers that everything magical he’s
ever heard about is actually real and, without him, the world will soon be
engulfed in monstrous beings. So with the help of a robot mouse, a winged
elephant and a girl who can cure anything, it’s up to Ned to save the day!
Anna James Pages & Co:Tilly & the Bookwanderers
Followed by Tilly and the Lost Fairy Tales
Tilly Pages loves books. That's not surprising since she’s lived with her
grandparents above their bookshop Pages & Co. ever since her Mum
disappeared when she was little. What is surprising is when she starts to see
book characters in real life and then discovers that she can travel into
fictional worlds herself. Perhaps her journeys will lead her to her mother?

17
Joshua Khan Shadow Magic
Followed by Dream Magic and Burning Magic
Described by Rick Riordan as “Six Great Families of magic, the nicest princess
of darkness you've ever met, a peasant boy with skills to rival Robin Hood, and
a supporting cast of zombies, paladins, ghost puppies, executioners, minstrels,
murderers, and a giant hero bat.” Who needs more?
Ross Mackenzie Evernight
Thousands of years ago, the Evernight came to the Silver Kingdom and turned
everything to darkness and chaos. It was defeated by the skill and bravery of
the Witches, but now it is about to return, and the only spell that might stop it
is lost. So when orphan Larabelle finds a mysterious box while treasure-
hunting in the city’s sewers, she has no idea she is about to be catapulted into
an adventure, facing wild magic, mortal danger and a man with no shadow!
Katharine Orton Nevertell
Born in a Soviet prison camp, Lina has never seen the world outside until the
night she escapes with her best friend, Bogdan. As the pair journey across a
snowy wilderness, they are pursued by a vengeful sorceress and her pack of
shadow wolves. The children will need every ounce of courage, and a touch of
magic, if they are to survive. A book to delight and chill in equal measure!
Angie Sage Magyk
Followed by Flyte, Physik, Queste, Syren, Darke and Fyre
A baby girl is rescued. A baby boy is stillborn. An ExtraOrdinary Wizard
resigns. These seemingly unconnected events converge ten years later, when
the Heap family receive a knock at the door. The engrossing story of
Septimus Heap is full of ‘magyk’ and mayhem and is highly recommended!
Jenni Spangler The Vanishing Trick
Madame Pinchbeck travels the country conjuring the spirits of departed loved
ones - for a price. Whilst her ability to contact ghosts is a game of smoke and
mirrors, there is real magic behind her tricks too: orphan Leander and two
other ‘stolen’ children who work for her have been trapped in objects that
hold part of their souls, and into which they vanish when commanded.
Jonathan Stroud The Amulet of Samarkand
Followed by The Golem’s Eye and Ptolemy’s Gate
Stroud's fantasy world seems familiar, like Victorian London, yet magicians hold
overall power and inhabit parliament. If you enjoy this superb trilogy of
revenge and adventure, you’ll love the ‘prequel’, The Ring of Solomon, too!
J.R.R.Tolkien The Hobbit
Wizards, dwarves and dragons may be the stuff of fairy tales, but this book is
in a class of its own - light-hearted enough for younger readers, yet with a
dark edge that may intrigue you enough to want to tackle Tolkien’s
masterpiece, The Lord of the Rings.
Jessica Townsend Nevermoor:The Trials of Morrigan Crow
Followed by Wundersmith: The Calling of Morrigan Crow
Born on Eventide, Morrigan Crow is cursed, and her destiny is to die on her
11th birthday. Suddenly spirited away to a magical place called Nevermoor, she
can stay there if she wins a place in the Wundrous Society for children with
extraordinary talents. But Morrigan doesn’t have one…. does she?

18
Fantasy and Other Worlds
Abi Elphinstone Rumblestar
Followed by Jungledrop (Oct. 2020)
Casper shudders at the thought of unpredictable events. So it comes as a nasty
shock to him when he accidentally stumbles into Rumblestar and the first
person he meets is the wonderfully named Utterly Thankless - a reckless rule-
breaker.Yet together they embark on an incredible adventure into The Beyond
and build a friendship forged in adventure, loyalty and courage. Fabulous stuff!
Alex Bell The Polar Bear Explorers’ Club
Followed by Explorers on Witch Mountain and Explorers on Black Ice Bridge
Inventive and different, yet entirely believable, this is the story of Stella
Starflake Pearl and her three fellow child explorers as they trek across the
snowy Icelands and encounter frost fairies, snow queens, outlaw hideouts,
unicorns, pygmy dinosaurs and carnivorous cabbages . . . you get the idea!
Suzanne Collins Gregor the Overlander
Followed by The: Prophecy of Bane, Curse of the Warmbloods, Marks of Secret and Code of Claw
11-year-old Gregor and his little sister, Boots, fall through a grate in their New
York apartment building and land in the Underland, where giant talking spiders,
rats and cockroaches coexist with humans. Gregor embarks on life-changing
adventures in this absorbing series.
*Sebastien de Castell Spellslinger
Followed by Shadowblack, Charmcaster, Soulbinder, Queenslayer and Crownbreaker (May 2020)
Kellen is facing the trials that will make him a spellcaster, but his magic is gone.
Ferius Parfax is a traveller who lives by her wits and the decks of cards she
carries. She's unpredictable, but she may be Kellen's only hope . . .This mixture
of magic and wild west adventure, set in a glorious fantasy realm, is great fun!
*Joseph Elliott The Good Hawk
Agatha patrols the sea wall with pride, despite those in her clan who question
her right to be there, because of the condition she was born with. Jaime is a
reluctant Angler, full of self-doubt and afraid of the sea. When disaster strikes,
the pair must embark on a terrifying journey to a land where forgotten magic
and dark secrets lurk in every shadow… Gripping fantasy for the older reader.
John Flanagan The Ruins of Gorlan
Will has always dreamed of becoming a great knight, so he is unhappy to be
apprenticed to Halt, the mysterious Ranger. Reluctantly, Will learns to use a
Ranger's secret weapons, and when he sets out on a desperate mission he
finds that Rangers are not so useless after all. The twelfth and final book in the
series is The Royal Ranger, but there are several sequel series too!
*Frances Hardinge A Face Like Glass
In the underground world of Caverna magic is a part of everyday life, and
everything is potentially deadly. But the people of Caverna are even more
dangerous - for they are born with faces devoid of any expression, and have to
be taught what Faces to wear by the clever (and expensive) Facesmiths.
Stuart Hill The Cry of the Icemark
Followed by Blade of Fire and Last Battle of the Icemark, and prequel Prince of the Icemark
When 14 year-old Thirrin inherits the throne of the Icemark, she must find a
way to protect her tiny kingdom from a terrible invasion. This is the stirring
tale of how she rallies her country and finds some extraordinary allies:
Vampires, Wolf-folk and most noble of all, giant Snow Leopards.
19
Pádraig Kenny Pog
David and Penny have moved to the childhood home of their mother, who's
recently died. But it’s also home to magical creatures - like tiny, hairy, heroic
Pog, who’s one of the First Folk, and, in the depths of the nearby forests,
sinister creatures who are growing in strength as they feed on the painful
memories of the family. Beautifully written and quite captivating!
Taran Matharu Summoner: The Novice
Followed by The Inquisition, The Battlemage and The Outcast
Fletcher was just a humble blacksmith's apprentice when he discovers that
he has the ability to summon demons from another world. Chased from his
village for a crime he did not commit, he must travel with his demon to the
Vocans Academy, where the gifted are trained in the art of summoning. You
must also try this author’s second epic ‘Contender’ series, beginning with
Contender: The Chosen!
Struan Murray Orphans of the Tide
When a mysterious boy washes in with the tide, the citizens believe he's the
Enemy, which can take possession of any human body and cause untold
chaos. Only Ellie, a fearless young inventor, believes he's innocent, but in
order to save him from the ruthless Inquisition she must prove who he really
is - even if that means revealing her own dangerous secret.
William Nicholson The Wind Singer
Followed by Slaves of the Mastery and Firesong
In the walled city of Aramanth, exams are everything. When Kestrel Hath
dares to rebel, the Chief Examiner sentences the family to the harshest
punishment. Desperate to save them, Kestrel and her twin brother, Bowman,
set out on a terrifying journey - to the source of the evil that grips Aramanth.
Sinéad O’Hart The Eye of the North
After Emmeline's scientist parents mysteriously disappear, she is kidnapped
on her journey to a safe house in Paris by the villainous Dr Bauer. He is
heading to Greenland to summon a legendary monster from the depths of
the ancient glaciers. Emmeline, along with a scrappy ship’s stowaway named
Thing ,may be the only one with the power to save the world as we know it.
An enthralling mix of fantasy, adventure, steampunk and mythology!
Michelle Paver Wolf Brother
Followed by Spirit Walker, Soul Eater, Outcast, Oath Breaker, Ghost Hunter and Viper’s Daughter
The author takes you back in time 6000 years to an atmospheric world of
snowy wilderness, hunter-gatherer clans and unearthly superstitions. It’s
fantasy, and yet the her deep research into primitive peoples makes the
books utterly believable. Also read her ‘Gods and Warriors’ series.
Philip Pullman Northern Lights
Followed by The Subtle Knife and The Amber Spyglass, and ’Equals’: The Book of Dust: La Belle
Sauvage and The Book of Dust: The Secret Commonwealth
Lyra, heroine of this award-winning trilogy, has to battle against the dark
powers that hold her world in thrall. Her adventures with witches, armoured
bears, angels and daemons create a classic fantasy world.
Paul Stewart & Chris Riddell The ‘Edge Chronicles’
The series covers a 600-year period, divided into three "Ages of Flight" and is
set in the Edge - a vast outcropping into the sky, with a river pouring over
the tip. There are currently 12 titles, but each is a stand-alone adventure, full
of humour and fantastically illustrated. Try one, and see what you think!
20
Historical Fiction
Chris Bradford Young Samurai:The Way of the Warrior
Followed by The Way of the Sword, The Way of the Dragon, The Ring of Earth, The Ring of Water,
The Ring of Fire, The Ring of Wind, The Ring of Sky and The Return of the Warrior
When Jack Fletcher is shipwrecked off the coast of Japan in 1611, his father
killed by ninja pirates, he is rescued by the legendary sword master Masamoto
Takeshi and set to train as a samurai warrior. Yet life at the samurai school is
hard, as Jack is picked on by bullies and treated as an outcast.
Bernard Cornwell The ‘Sharpe’ series
th
Set in the early 19 century, each of the more than 20 books in this series
contains vivid scene setting and pithy historical detail, exhilarating action, and
the larger-than-life figure of Richard Sharpe of the Light Company.
Berlie Doherty Treason
Will is a page to Prince Edward, son of Henry VIII, but when his father is
accused of treason, he is forced to flee Hampton Court and go into hiding.
The story of Will’s brave attempts to free his father, by a two-times Carnegie
medallist, brings the Tudor period vividly to life.
Jamila Gavin Coram Boy
In the late 1700’s the circumstances of birth meant everything. Toby and
Aaron may both be living at Coram's Hospital for orphans, but Toby has been
rescued from a life of slave labour in a faraway country, while Aaron is the
illegitimate son of the heir to a large estate.
Candy Gourlay Bone Talk
The Philippines, 100 years ago. A boy called Samkad wants to become a man.
He is desperate to be given his own shield, spear and axe. His best friend, Luki,
wants to be a warrior too - but she is a girl and that is forbidden. Then a new
boy arrives in the village and everything changes. He brings news that a people
called 'Americans' are bringing war right to his home . . .
Conn Iggulden Wolf of the Plains
Followed by Lords of the Bow, Bones of the Hills, Empire of Silver and Conqueror
A man without a tribe on the harsh Mongolian plains is at great risk, so the
young boy abandoned with his siblings struggles to survive by uniting a group
of outsiders like himself. Hunted and alone, he dreams of creating a single
nation, under his leadership. He will become Genghis Khan.
Caroline Lawrence Roman Quests: Escape from Rome
Followed by The Archers of Isca, Death in the Arena and Return to Rome
When the evil Emperor Domitian sends soldiers to seize his family's home in
the middle of the night, Juba must escape with his brother and sisters and
journey to distant Britannia to find a safe haven for the family. As
authoritative and readable as you would expect from this brilliant author of
the Roman Mysteries and the P. K. Pinkerton Mysteries.
*Geraldine McCaughrean Where the World Ends
Based on true historical events, this is the story of a group of boys and men
who are put ashore on a remote sea stack to hunt birds. When no one arrives
to take them home, they are left gripped by the horror that - surely - nothing
but the end of the world can explain why they've been abandoned by their
families? This book won the 2018 Carnegie Medal.

21
Sally Nicholls All Fall Down
Isabel lives a predictable life in a medieval Yorkshire village, until the
pestilence, which has been devastating Europe, crosses the Channel and
begins to spread northwards. This compelling and meticulously researched
novel about the Black Death of 1349, the deadliest plague in human history,
is a powerful and inspiring story of survival in the face of real-life horror.
Gary Northfield Julius Zebra: Rumble with the Romans
Followed by Bundle with the Britons, Entangled with the Egyptians and Grapple with the Greeks
The books are funny, fast-paced and lots of fun, while clearly also based on
solid historical foundations. The author is a celebrated cartoonist, so the
illustrations throughout the books are terrific as well as an integral part of
the story. Perfect for Horrible History fans!
Kevin Sands The Blackthorn Key
Followed by Mark of the Plague, The Assassin’s Curse and The Call of the Wraith
It's the 17th century and a dangerous time to be the Master Apothecary’s
apprentice, as a wave of mysterious murders has sent shockwaves through
London. Christopher has a coded message from his master, and he must
uncover its secret, or become the next victim. This enjoyable mix of history
and adventure is steeped with the sights and smells of the period.
Simon Scarrow Gladiator: Fight for Freedom
Followed by Street Fighter, Son of Spartacus and Vengeance
Recruited as a Roman gladiator, young Marcus Cornelius Primus faces a life of
brutal training.Yet Marcus cannot forget that his father was murdered by
soldiers, and his mother kidnapped and forced into slavery. He is determined
to seek justice for his family and set his mother free.
Ally Sherrick Black Powder
Set in England, 1605, this exciting novel won the 2017 Historical Association’s
‘Young Quills Award.’ 12-year-old Tom meets a mysterious stranger - the
Falcon - who promises to help him save his father from hanging, When Tom
discovers the Falcon's true mission - to blow up Parliament - he faces a
terrible decision: help his father, or stop the Falcon.
Rosemary Sutcliff The Eagle of the Ninth
Followed by The Silver Branch and The Lantern Bearers
A young Roman officer sets out to discover the truth behind the
disappearance of the Ninth Legion, who marched into the mists of Northern
Britain and never returned. This wonderfully vivid story may tempt you to
read other books by the same author.
Ross Welford The 1,000 Year Old Boy
It’s hard to categorise this outstanding book, but the sense of historical time
and place was perhaps the most memorable aspect. Alfie Monk is like any
other boy - except he’s 1,000 years old and can remember the last Viking
invasion of England. When everything he loves is destroyed in a fire, he sets
out to find friendship, acceptance, and a different way to live…and die.
Sheena Wilkinson Star by Star
Orphaned in the 1918 flu epidemic, 15-year-old Stella returns to Northern
Ireland to live with an aunt she has never met. Change is coming, women are
about to vote for the first time, and Stella wants to help. This fascinating
novel is a companion volume to this award-winning author’s other historical
novels set in Northern Ireland: Hope Against Hope and Name Upon Name.
22
Humour
*Douglas Adams The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy
When Earth is destroyed to make way for a Hyperspatial express route, his
friend Ford Prefect takes Arthur Dent on a hair-raising tour of the Galaxy and
its very strange inhabitants. A brilliantly wacky trilogy in five parts!
David Baddiel The Parent Agency
Barry has made a list of things he doesn’t like about his parents when he
suddenly finds himself transported to the Parents Agency to find new parents
who meet his criteria. ..Who will he pick? This is the first of several funny
books by this author and will make you feel grateful for your own parents!
Matt Brown Aliens Invaded My Talent Show
Together with Mutant Zombies Cursed My School Trip and Killer Vending
Machines Wrecked My Lunch, this brilliantly bonkers book presents some of
the weird and wonderful happenings at Dreary Inkling Primary School. Great
fun who anyone who wants an easy and very funny read!
Pamela Butchart My Head Teacher is a Vampire Rat
Izzy and her friends have decided that their new head teacher is a vampire rat
(!), so now they just have to come up with a plan to vanquish him…. Just one
of many great books by this author; the latest is Icarus Was Ridiculous.
Sam Copeland Charlie Changes Into a Chicken
Followed by Charlie Turns into a T-Rex and Charlie Morphs into a Mammoth
Charlie has a secret. He can change into animals. All sorts of animals. The
trouble is it only happens when he gets worried. Right now, Charlie has quite a
lot to worry about and, even though every kid wants a superhero power,
Charlie isn't keen on changing into a chicken in the middle of the school play…
Lissa Evans Wed Wabbit
Seriously funny and also, like four-year-old Minnie, the owner of Wed Wabbit,
deceptively wise, this book is the story of Fidge, Minnie’s older sister, who has
been hurled into a strange world with her awful cousin Graham. She has to
solve a series of nearly impossible clues, whilst dealing with a cruel dictator
and thousands of Wimbley Woos (think coloured dustbins speaking in rhyme!).
Andy Griffiths & Terry Denton The 13-Storey Treehouse
Andy and Terry live in the world’s best treehouse! It's got a giant catapult, a
secret underground laboratory and a marshmallow machine that shoots
marshmallows into your mouth! And as the treehouse expands ever upwards,
13 storeys at a time (we’re now at 117 storeys!), the inventions get wackier!
Greg James & Chris Smith Kid Normal
Followed by Kid Normal and the: Rogue Heroes, Shadow Machine and Final Five
When Murph arrives at his new school he finds that his mum has enrolled him
at a school for superheroes by mistake. And, unlike his fellow students, who
can all control the weather or conjure tiny horses from thin air, Murph has no
special abilities whatsoever!
Jennifer Killick Alex Sparrow and the Really Big Stink
Followed by The Furry Fury and The Zumbie Apocalypse
Alex is a wannabe super-agent in training whose ear farts every time someone
lies. Add to this a girl who can communicate with animals, an intelligent
goldfish called Bob and a touch of pigeon poo, and you’ve got comedy gold!
23
Tom McLaughlin The Accidental Prime Minister
Also The Accidental: Secret Agent, Billionaire, Father Christmas, President and Rock Star
After Joe tells a news reporter exactly what he would do if he were leader of
the country, people start calling for Joe to take over. Pet pigs for all? Banana
shaped buses? Swimming pools on trains? Slapstick humour, but with a
serious undercurrent about making the right decisions in life – and in politics!
Stephan Pastis Timmy Failure: Mistakes Were Made
Timmy Failure, with the help of his polar bear, Total, runs the "best" detective
agency in town – Total Failure, Inc. .Timmy already has plans for world
domination, despite his decidedly unorthodox methods! The series has 6
books and (may have!) ended with It’s the End When I Say It’s the End.
Jenny Pearson The Super Miraculous Journey of Freddie Yates
Freddie and his two best friends set out on a secret journey to find his
biological dad. Their hilariously ill-thought out plan sees them lurching from
mishap to mishap with some genuinely comic chaos, but amidst the humour
there is the touching story of how Freddie discovers that what he’s been
looking for has been with him all the time.
Lincoln Peirce The Boy with the Biggest Head in the World
Big-head Nate Wright truly believes he is destined for greatness: he's a table
tennis champ, a genius comic book artist and the self-proclaimed king of his
class. There are plenty more Big Nate titles, and If you enjoy this cartoon
style then you’ll also love this author’s new Max and the Midknights series.
Louis Sachar Holes
This classic novel of Stanley Yelnats who is sent to Camp Green Lake
Detention Centre and told to dig holes five foot wide by five foot deep is
hard to categorize. It’s a tale of crime, punishment and mystery, but the
whole thing is suffused with delicious dark humour! Read on in Small Steps.
Jim Smith I Am Not a Loser
There are now ten of Jim Smith’s hilarious illustrated books with their
distinctive style that make him (and Barry Loser of course) the coolest – or
‘keelest’ – author in town. The latest is called Barry Loser and the Trouble
with Pets.
Lemony Snicket A Series of Unfortunate Events
It’s hard to classify this 13-book classic series, but there are resourceful
children, evil adults and unlikely situations - all suffused with a deliciously
absurd and rather dark humour. Start with The Bad Beginning and don’t stop!
David Solomons My Brother is a Superhero
Also My Gym Teacher is an Alien Overlord, My Evil Twin is a Supervillain, My Arch-Enemy Is a Brain
In a Jar and My Cousin is a Time Traveller
When Luke, a comic-mad 11-year old, has gone for a wee, an alien arrives
and gives his geeky, never-read-a-comic-in-his-life brother superpowers and
tells him to save the universe. Luke is (naturally) very annoyed about this, but
when Zack is kidnapped, Luke has his own chance to save the world...
Jamie Thomson Dark Lord:The Teenage Years
Followed by A Fiend in Need, Eternal Detention and The Headmaster of Doom
Imagine an evil Dark Lord, defeated and hurled into the Pit of Uttermost
Despair…and landing in a supermarket car park in the body of a 13-year old
schoolboy! This hilarious book follows Dirk Lloyd (as he is known on earth),
as he struggles to reconcile his evil soul with his puny human body.
24
Modern Life
Adam Barron Boy Underwater
Followed by You Won’t Believe This
Cymbeline Igloo, 9 years old, has never been swimming. But he’s Googled
front crawl and he’s found his dad’s old pair of trunks - he’s totally ready.
What he’s not ready for is the accident at the pool, or how it leads his mum
to a sudden breakdown… This lovely book uses a child’s viewpoint to take
the reader safely through some serious topics with humour and a light touch.
Sharon M. Draper Out of My Mind
Melody is not like most people. She cannot walk or talk, but she is smarter
than her classmates who dismiss her as mentally challenged, because she
cannot tell them otherwise. Melody refuses to be defined by cerebral palsy
however, and she’s determined to let everyone know it. This thought-
provoking book has won numerous awards in America.
*Malcolm Duffy Me Mam. Me Dad. Me
Danny is a 14-year-old Geordie finding first love even as he recounts the
problems of family life. Danny's mam has a new boyfriend, Callum, who
seems nice enough at first, but when cracks begin to show, and Danny
witnesses Mam suffer, he decides to go in search of his Dad – the Dad he's
never met… Humorous and heart-breaking in equal measure.
S. E. Durrant Talking to the Moon
Iris's grandmother, Mimi, has started to put jam on her scrambled eggs and
tie blue ribbons around her fingers to remind her of stuff. When Iris goes to
stay, she is desperate to protect Mimi but feels out of her depth and, as her
grandmother's memory fades, a mystery is uncovered. Who is Coral, and
what happened to her? A moving exploration of memory and family bonds.
*Mark Haddon The Curious Incident of the Dog in the Night-Time
This famous book has won many awards including the Whitbread Book of
the Year Award 2003. The narrator is Christopher Boone who has Asperger’s
Syndrome: he knows a lot about maths and very little about human beings.
Janae Marks The Faraway Truth
Zoe has never met her father, who is in prison, so she is very surprised to
receive a letter from him on her 12th birthday. Zoe's mum always told her
that Marcus was a monster, but he sounds ... nice. Zoe starts to investigate
the crime, and the deeper she digs, the more she doubts the conviction.
This book touches on many important issues but is a lovely, uplifting story.
Joanna Nadin Joe All Alone
When thirteen-year-old Joe is left behind in Peckham while his mum flies to
Spain on holiday, he decides to treat it as an adventure. It’s only when the
food and money run out, his mum doesn't come home, and the local thugs
catch up with him, that Joe realises time is running out too, and he must
make a decision that will change his life forever.
Patrick Ness A Monster Calls
The monster arrives after midnight, but it isn't the monster from Conor's
recurring nightmare since his mother started her cancer treatment. This
monster wants something different and dangerous: the truth. This moving
short novel won many awards on publication, including the Carnegie Medal.
25
R. J. Palacio Wonder
Followed by Auggie & Me
August Pullman was born with a rare facial abnormality. Home schooled until
he was 10, he is now starting proper school for the first time. This is the life-
affirming story of an ordinary boy with an extraordinary face, and how he
changes the lives of everyone around him. Also read Auggie & Me.
Onjali Q. Raúf The Star Outside My Window
Following the disappearance of her mum, 10-year-old Aniyah suddenly finds
herself living in foster care. With her life in disarray, she knows one thing for
sure: her mum isn't gone for ever; she has become a star. So when a new star
is spotted acting strangely in the sky, Aniyah is sure it's her mum, and she is
determined that everyone else should know too...
Libby Scott & Rebecca Westcott Can You See Me?
Followed by Do You Know Me?
Tally's autism means there are things that bother her even though she wishes
they didn't. It means that some people feel frustrated by her, and she knows
that. It means that she has to try really hard to be just like her friends—and
doesn’t always succeed. Diary entries written by 11-year-old Libby Scott,
based on her own experiences of autism, make this book sing.
Kim Slater The Boy Who Lied
Ed Clayton is a liar. So when his younger brother goes missing nobody believes
Ed’s account and, as the police and press ask questions, it’s up to the liar to
uncover the truth. Like this author’s other novels, Smart, A Seven Letter
Word and 928 Miles From Home, this takes a fresh view of characters
struggling against the odds.
Lisa Thompson The Goldfish Boy
Trapped in his bedroom by crippling OCD, Matthew watches the world from
his window. But when he is the last person to see Teddy before he goes
missing, Matthew has to brave his fears in order to unravel the mystery of the
toddler’s disappearance. If you enjoy this award-winning book you’ll also love
the author’s other books, such as her latest The Boy Who Fooled the World.
*Alex Wheatle Liccle Bit
Followed by Crongton Knights, Straight Outta Crongton and Home Girl
Liccle Bit is the second shortest guy in his year and his best friends tell him he
has no chance with girls. Things aren't much better at home, and Liccle Bit gets
sucked into running errands for South Crongton’s notorious gang leader. Now
things are about to get a whole lot worse. This wise and witty book is a
triumph of language and a joy to read.
Lara Williamson The Boy Who Sailed the Ocean in an Armchair
As with all her books, the author walks a fine line between humour and
sadness. Here she tells the story of 10-year-old Becket Rumsey, who is all at
sea. He is struggling to find the answers to some important questions: how to
properly say goodbye to his mum, who died when his little brother was born,
and why his dad has suddenly left their ‘second mum’ Pearl.
Tamsin Winter Being Miss Nobody
Rosalind suffers from selective mutism and is unable to speak at school. She
hates her new secondary school, where bullies call her the Mute-ant…it’s easy
to pick on someone who can’t fight back. So Rosalind starts a blog - Miss
Nobody; a place where she has a voice. But there's a problem... Is Miss
Nobody becoming a bully herself?
26
Myths and Legends
Nicholas Bowling In the Shadow of Heroes
Cadmus has been Tullus's slave since he was a baby, so when Tullus disappears
and a taciturn slave called Tog - daughter of a British chieftain - arrives with a
secret message, Cadmus's life is turned upside down. The pair follow a trail
that leads to Emperor Nero himself, and his crazed determination to possess
the Golden Fleece of Greek mythology. A brilliant mix of myth and history!
Sarwat Chadda Ash Mistry and the Hidden Fortress
Followed by Ash Mistry and the City of Death and Ash Mistry and the World of Darkness
Ash Mistry hates India – which is a problem since his uncle has taken him
there for his holidays. However, our reluctant hero soon has bigger
problems as he finds himself in a desperate battle, struggling to prevent the
freeing of a monster that has been locked away for millennia. This action-
packed story is full of gory battles and Indian mythology.
Roshani Chokshi Aru Shah and the End of Time
Followed by Aru Shah and the Song of Death and Aru Shah and the Tree of Wishes
Now published under the imprint ‘Rick Riordan Presents’ this terrific trilogy
joins other wonderful mythological adventures from different cultures, such
as Dragon Pearl by Yoon Ha Lee or The Storm Runner by J. C. Cervantes.
Susan Cooper ‘The Dark is Rising’ Sequence
If you enjoy myths and legends, you’ll love this classic fantasy series. Good
and evil, kings and wizards, the Holy Grail, and the power of the ‘Old Ones’...
It’s all here in a sequence that starts with Over Sea Under Stone.
Kevin Crossley-Holland Arthur:The Seeing Stone
Followed by At the Crossing Places and King of the Middle March
Set on the Welsh borders in the closing months of the 12th century, and
written in diary form in 100 short chapters, this is the award-winning tale of
13-year-old Arthur de Caldicot, who is given a mysterious obsidian stone by
the wise man of the village, and soon discovers its magic as it shows him the
story of his namesake, the King Arthur of legend.
Maz Evans Who Let the Gods Out?
Followed by Simply the Quest, Beyond the Odyssey and Against all Gods
Elliot's difficult home life is radically changed when a shooting star that
crashes on his farm turns out to be Virgo - a young Zodiac goddess on a
mission. When the pair accidentally release a wicked death daemon they turn
to the Olympian gods for help - but are Zeus and his crew still up to the
task? A very funny story that is also a heart-warming adventure.
Alan Garner The Owl Service
From the moment Alison discovers the dinner service in the attic, with its
curious pattern of floral owls, she is drawn relentlessly into a replay of the
tragic Welsh legend of Blodeuwedd. This spooky, sparsely written drama,
played out against a background of ancient jealousies, won the Carnegie
Medal in 1967, and remains a must-read for an ambitious reader.
Alan Gibbons Shadow of the Minotaur
Followed by Vampyr Legion and Warriors of the Raven
Phoenix is a death-defying hero of the Greek myths, battling Medusa and the
invincible Minotaur…but only when he’s not being bullied at school. Real life
meets mythology meets fantasy in this story about a virtual reality game that
becomes all too real.
27
Roger Lancelyn Green Myths of the Norsemen
This author was renowned for his retellings of the great myths and legends
of the world, and they are all still in print so a great resource for any boy
really interested in mythology. This title is one of his best, as it is clear, lively
and very atmospheric, but there are many others you could try.
Kiran Millwood Hargrave The Girl of Ink and Stars
Isabella dreams of faraway lands, so when her closest friend disappears into
the island’s Forgotten Territories, she volunteers to guide the search. She has
the mapping skills, but beneath the smoking mountains, a legendary fire
demon is stirring from its sleep. Soon, following her map and an ancient myth,
Isabella discovers the true end of her journey: to save the island itself.
Michael Morpurgo Outlaw:The True Story of Robin Hood
This ever-reliable author presents Robin as a young man enduring the pain of
separation from his family and, with the help of friends, finding the courage to
become a legendary hero. If you enjoy this re-telling, then try others by this
author, such as Beowulf or Sir Gawain and the Green Knight.
Philip Reeve Here Lies Arthur
Gwyna is just a small girl when she is bound in service to Myrddin the bard,
yet she is an integral part of his plan to build the very human Arthur into the
mythical hero his people need him to be. The triumph of this award-winning
book is its ability to tell the story of Arthur in realistic terms without spoiling
the charm of the myth.
Rick Riordan Percy Jackson and the Lightning Thief
Followed by The Sea of Monsters, The Titan’s Curse, The Battle of the Labyrinth and The Last
Olympian
“Look, I didn't want to be a half-blood.” So begins one of the most popular
children's series in recent years, as Percy Jackson learns that he is not just an
ordinary teenager, but a ’demigod’ who must help avert a war among the
gods of Olympus. Those feeling bereft at the end of this brilliant series can
read on in the Heroes of Olympus and the Trials of Apollo series.
Rick Riordan The Red Pyramid
Followed by Throne of Fire and The Serpent’s Shadow
Percy Jackson fought Greek gods. Now the gods of Egypt are waking in the
modern world, and these books in The Kane Chronicles contain the author’s
trademark action, suspense and humour! Or if you prefer Norse gods then
try his series about Magnus Chase, beginning with The Sword of Summer.
Michael Scott The Alchemyst
Followed by The Magician, The Sorceress, The Necromancer, The Warlock and The Enchantress
The renowned alchemist Nicholas Flamel was said to have discovered the
secret of eternal life. Records show that he died in 1418, but sometimes
legends are true... and 21st century twins Sophie and Josh Newman are
about to find themselves in the middle of the greatest legend of all time.
Philip Womack The Arrow of Apollo
A generation after the fall of Troy and the gods are abandoning the earth to
live in peace in other worlds. In their place, dark forces are rising and Python
is massing an army of immense power. The only thing that can save the world
is the Arrow of Apollo - but it has been split into two. Now Silvius and
Tisamenos must put aside their bitter rivalries to bring together the pieces
of the Arrow and use it to lay Python low once more.

28
Other Lives
Saroo Brierley Lion: A Long Way Home
Lost on a train in India at the age of five, Saroo was too young to know how to
get home, or even to know where he was from. Despite this, he survived for
weeks on the streets of Kolkata before being taken into an orphanage and
later adopted. As a young man, he pored over satellite images of India until,
miraculously, he found landmarks he recognized. This is the Young Readers’
Edition of the astounding true story of how he finally found his family again.
Deborah Ellis The Breadwinner
Followed by Parvana’s Journey and Mud City
Parvana's father is arrested and taken away by Taliban soldiers. Women are not
allowed to leave the house on their own.so, to avoid starvation, Parvana must
pretend to be a boy to save her family. This is an eye-opening story about the
brutality of the Taliban, and the desperation of a country trying to survive.
Ele Fountain Lost
This author’s debut novel, Boy 87, won many plaudits for its brilliant tale of a
refugee’s survival against the odds, and her second vivid page-turner conjures
the world of Indian street children with empathy and compassion. It is the
story of Lola, who lives with her father and younger brother Amit, until the day
everything changes and she must find a new way to survive.
Zana Fraillon The Bone Sparrow
9-year-old Subhi was born in the refugee camp where he still lives with his Maa
and his sister Queeny. He knows no other life until he meets Jimmie, an
Australian girl who lives outside the camp. His world of struggle and survival
becomes transformed by the transformative power of friendship.
Morris Gleitzman Boy Overboard
Followed by Girl Underground
This author’s writing often combines humour and pathos, and this novel is no
exception. Football mad Jamal and his family have to leave Afghanistan when
the authorities discover his mother has been secretly running a school, yet
their journey to Australia is fraught with difficulty.
Alan Gratz Refugee
Josef is a Jewish boy escaping Nazi Germany; Isabel is a Cuban girl in 1994,
hoping a tiny raft will take her safely to America; Mahmoud leaves war-torn
Syria in 2015 to trek toward Europe. All three children face unimaginable
dangers in search of refuge, and although separated by continents and decades,
their stories come full circle in a timeless connection of courage and survival.
Mitch Johnson Kick
Branford Boase Award 2018
Budi is a child labourer in a factory in Jakarta making the football boots he
longs to wear. When one unlucky kick puts him in debt to the Dragon, the
most dangerous man in Jakarta, Budi’s life becomes even more difficult. This
story about big dreams is also a very modern tale of poverty and child labour.
Elizabeth Laird A House Without Walls
This author never puts a foot wrong in her perfectly-researched stories of
different cultures. In her latest book Safiya and her family have been driven out
of Syria by civil war. Safiya knows how lucky she is not to be living in a refugee
camp, but it's hard to feel grateful when she’s lost her home and is forced to
look after her father and brother rather than go back to school.
29
Michael Morpurgo Shadow
At first, Aman is wary of the dog that appears outside the caves in Afghanistan
where he lives. Yet when Aman and his mother finally decide to flee from the
horror of war, ‘Shadow’ will not leave their side. This compelling story
demonstrates the horrific reality of war, and the often inhumanity of
behaviour towards asylum seekers, together with insights into the cultural
divide between Afghanistan and England.
Andy Mulligan Trash
Raphael spends his days wading through mountains of steaming trash: sifting it,
sorting it, breathing it, sleeping next to it. Until the day he finds a small leather
bag, and his world turns upside down. With his friends Gardo and Rat, he finds
himself running for his life as he tries to fulfil a dead man’s mission to right a
terrible wrong.
Beverley Naidoo The Other Side of Truth
Followed by Web of Lies
This Carnegie Medal-winning book tells the story of Sade and her brother
Femi, who have to flee their home in Nigeria after an assassination attempt on
their father's life. When the children are abandoned by their escort in London
they find themselves alone in a new, often hostile, environment. Also try
Journey to Jo’burg or No Turning Back by the same author.
Linda Sue Park A Long Walk to Water
In Sudan, Nya, makes two trips every day to collect water from a pond that is
two hours' walk from her home; Salva is a refugee, searching for his family
and a safe place to stay. Two stories, told in alternating sections, about a girl in
2008 and a boy in 1985, converge in an astonishing and moving way.
William Sutcliffe The Wall
The “Wall” separates Amarias, the Israeli settlement town where 13-year old
Joshua lives, and the Palestinian town on the other side. Joshua’s experiences
after he discovers a tunnel under the wall give him a devastating insight into
the lives of populations living so close together, and yet so bitterly divided.
*Michael Williams Now is the Time for Running
Deo is a great footballer and a fierce protector of his older brother, Innocent,
who has the mind of a child. When Mugabe's soldiers destroy their home they
face terror and violence as they attempt to flee to South Africa with nothing
but a football stuffed with worthless dollars. A thought-provoking book which
won the 2014 UKLA Book Award.
Malala Yousafzai & Patricia McCormick I Am Malala
This children's edition tells the remarkable story of a girl who fought for the
right to be educated. Despite nearly losing her life to the cause, she is now an
international symbol of peaceful protest and the youngest-ever Nobel Peace
Prize winner. Her journey will open your eyes to another world and will
make you believe in the power of one person to inspire change.
Benjamin Zephaniah Refugee Boy
Alem’s mother is Eritrean, his father Ethiopian, and with both countries at war
his family is not safe anywhere. For his own safety, Alem is left in London by
his father, where he becomes a refugee – with only the social services and the
Refugee Council to protect him. The author shows how every refugee has a
unique story to tell.

30
Recent Award Winners
Sophie Anderson The Girl Who Speaks Bear
Independent Bookshop Award 2020
Found abandoned in a bear cave as a baby, Yanka has always caught between
the world she knows and the world she feels drawn to. When she flees her
home, searching for answers, her journey takes her beyond her imaginings and
into a magical world of folklore and fairy tales. Also read the author’s award-
winning debut, The House With Chicken Legs.
Jasbinder Bilan Asha & the Sprit Bird
Costa Children’s Book Award 2019
Asha lives in the foothills of the Himalayas but needs to find her father, missing
in the faraway city. She faces real danger as she journeys across the world's
highest mountains, yet has the unshakeable sense that the spirit bird of her
grandmother will be watching over her. A richly evocative sense of place is
coupled with terrific characters and plot and then sprinkled with magic.
Catherine Bruton No Ballet Shoes in Syria
‘Books are My Bag’ Children’s Fiction Award 2019
Aya is an asylum seeker, looking after her mother and baby brother in the
cold, unfamiliar city of Manchester. A local ballet teacher believes that Aya has
the potential to earn a prestigious ballet scholarship, but how can Aya do that
whilst fighting to be allowed to remain in the country, and trying to find her
father - separated from the rest of the family on their journey from Syria?
*Sarah Crossan Toffee
‘Books are My Bag’ YA Fiction Award 2019
When Allison runs away from home she is taken in by Maria, an elderly woman
with dementia, who mistakes her for an old friend called Toffee. As her bond
with Maria grows, Allison begins to ask herself what home and family really
means, and who she really is. As brilliant as all this author’s other verse novels,
such as One, Moonrise or The Weight of Water.
Catherine Doyle The Storm Keeper’s Island
BAMB Middle Grade Award 2018, Independent Bookshop Award 2019
Followed by The Lost Tide Warriors
Once in a generation, Arranmore Island chooses a new Storm Keeper to keep
its magic safe. The time has come for Fionn's grandfather to step down but,
when Fionn arrives and the battle to take over begins, a more sinister magic is
waking up deep underground, intent on rekindling an ancient war.
Vashti Hardy Wildspark
Blue Peter Best Story Award 2020
In a world where the spirits of dead people can be harnessed and given new
life in mechanical animals, Prue takes on her late brother's apprenticeship in an
effort to bring him back. This hugely enjoyable tale mixes steampunk, fantasy
and big questions about life and death. You should also try the author’s first
brilliant steampunk adventure entitled Brightstorm.
Alyssa Hollingsworth The Eleventh Trade
UKLA Book Award 2020 (7-10+)
When Sami’s grandfather's prized Afghan musical instrument is stolen, Sami
resolves to get it back. He finds it at a music store for $700, but Sami doesn't
have even one penny. What he does have is a keychain that has caught the eye
of his classmate. If he trades the keychain for something more valuable, could
he keep trading until he has $700?
31
*Anthony McGowan Lark
Carnegie Medal 2020
This is a companion piece to Brock, Pike and Rook, and all four books are
poignant, beautifully written novellas about two brothers. Nicky takes care of
Kenny, who has special needs, and they have lived through difficult times after
their mum left and their dad struggled to cope. The books take an unflinching
look at teenage problems, but they’re also full of fun and tenderness.
Susin Nielsen No Fixed Address
UKLA Book Award 2020(11-14+)
Trivia-mad Felix hasn’t always lived in a van. There was a time when his life was
settled and secure, before his mum lost her latest job and they became
homeless. As their situation becomes worse, Felix realises that he needs to
help his mum turn their fortunes around. If he could just get accepted as a
contestant on Canada’s biggest quiz show...
Tom Palmer Armistice Runner
Children’s Book Award 2019 (10-18)
Lily is struggling to compete in her fell-running races and, worse, she's losing
her gran to Alzheimer's. But then she discovers her great-great-grandfather's
diaries from WWI. Could his incredible story of bravery help her reconnect
with her gran and give her the inspiration she needs to push through and win?
Liz Pichon Tom Gates: Epic Adventure (Kind Of)
Laugh Out Loud Book Award 2019
Tom Gates' exercise books are full of his thoughts and doodles, as well as
comments from his long-suffering teacher. The hilarious results, now available
in 15 volumes (the latest is What Monster), have won many awards of which
this is the latest!
Onjali Q. Raúf The Boy at the Back of the Class
Blue Peter Best Story Award 2019, Waterstone’s Children’s Book Prize 2019
Four children try to befriend a quiet new boy in their class; when they
discover that Ahmet is a Syrian refugee, they take him under their wing and
end up having a huge impact on his life. This charming book is written through
the eyes of a 9‐year‐old, so complex issues suddenly seem simple!
*Jason Reynolds Long Way Down
UKLA Book Award 2019 (12-16)
When Shawn, Will’s big brother, is shot dead, Will is ready to follow "the rules"
and get revenge. He finds his brother’s gun, and heads down in the lift from
his seventh floor flat. And so begins a surreal journey of discovery, guided by
the ghosts of other dead people in Will’s life. The action of the book takes
place, all in free verse, on that journey down to the ground floor...
Katherine Rundell The Explorer
Costa Book Award, Children’s Book Award 2018, UKLA Book Award 2019 (7-11)
Four children are stranded in the Amazon rainforest following a plane
crash. Dreamer Fred finds himself following in the footsteps of his heroes.
Con is distant and unpredictable. Lila is as caring and practical as a mother,
while her little brother Max is innocently defiant of the perils they must face.
David Walliams The Ice Monster
British Book Awards Children’s Book of the Year 2019
This story of a 10-year-old orphan and a 10,000-year-old woolly mammoth is
the latest by this author, and full of his trademark funny lists, silly words and
wicked humour. Yet there is always a moral at the heart of each story, which
ensures his books are as heart-warming as they are funny.
32
Scary Stories
Joseph Delaney The Spook’s Apprentice
Thomas Ward is the seventh son of a seventh son and has been apprenticed
to the local Spook. Somehow Thomas must learn how to exorcise ghosts,
contain witches and bind boggarts… The series has now reached its 13th and
final book - The Spook’s Revenge - but if you can’t bear to leave it there you
can continue with the ‘Starblade Chronicles’.
Berlie Doherty The Company of Ghosts
Ellie finds herself left alone on a deserted island without any means of getting
help from the mainland - which is tantalisingly near. As she gradually realises
her plight, her increasing fear and growing feeling that the island is haunted is
mesmerising. Like all the best ghost stories, the tension builds up slowly...
Tom Fletcher The Creakers
When all the grown-ups disappear into thin air, chaos descend as the children
in Lucy's town run riot. But Lucy lost her dad not long ago, and she's
determined not to lose her mum too. She's going to get her back - and
nothing is going to stop her . . .except maybe the Creakers under the bed.
Lovely stuff—and not actually very scary!
Neil Gaiman Coraline
In this eerie horror story a little girl enters a world that is almost the same as
her own except for certain surreal differences – such as the fact that her
parents have buttons for eyes. As she attempts to escape from this twisted
world, Coraline experiences a chilling series of ever more bizarre encounters.
*Susan Hill The Woman in Black
When Arthur Kipps, a junior solicitor, is summoned to attend the funeral of
the sole inhabitant of Eel Marsh House, he is unaware of the tragic secrets
which lie hidden there. It is only when he sees a young woman, dressed all in
black, at the funeral, that a creeping sense of unease begins to take hold.
Anthony Horowitz Horowitz Horror
In a world where everything seems normal, the weird and the sinister are
lurking just out of sight. Like an ordinary-looking camera with evil powers, a
bus ride home that turns into your worst nightmare, and a mysterious
computer game that nobody would play if they knew the rules. These are
classy horror stories with a sting in every tail.
Leo Hunt 13 Days of Midnight
Followed by 8 Rivers of Shadow and 7 Trees of Stone
When Luke’s father dies, he leaves his son a dark inheritance: a collection of
eight restless spirits who want revenge for their long enslavement. Once they
realise that Luke is clueless, they become increasingly belligerent. Luke has just
13 days to work out how to send his unquiet spirits to their eternal rest or
join their ghostly ranks himself.
Gareth P. Jones Constable & Toop
Sam Toop lives in a funeral parlour and, while his father buries the dead, Sam is
haunted by their constant demands for attention. Now something is
mysteriously imprisoning ghosts into empty houses in the world of the living.
Sam is caught in the middle - will he be able to bring himself to help?

33
Jennifer Killick Crater Lake
Little do Lance and his Year 6 classmates know what lies in store at the newly
opened Crater Lake outdoor adventure centre! When a bloodstained man
bangs on their coach window, things turn creepy, but this is just the beginning
of a school trip from hell. Can Lance and his friends save the day and their
classmates? Whatever they do, they must never, ever, fall asleep…
Cliff McNish Breathe: A Ghost Story
Jack has an unusual gift: he can communicate with the dead. So when he and
his mother move into a new house he soon senses spirits - but one soul is
much stronger than the rest. This is a seriously spooky tale that will make
the hairs on the back of your neck stand up.
Kristina Ohlsson The Glass Children
This chilling Swedish bestseller is the story of Billie, who moves to an old
dilapidated building in a small town. The house is full of musty furniture and
odd belongings, including two small glass figures of a boy and a girl. Billie
becomes convinced that the house is haunted and, with the help of her new
friend Aladdin, tries to uncover the house’s dark, tragic history.
*Michelle Paver Dark Matter: A Ghost Story
It's 1937, and Jack is a wireless operator on an expedition to the Norwegian
Arctic. His group set up camp in an uninhabited bay, but, as the Arctic night
falls and Jack's companions leave, he realises that something else is out there.
Told in the increasingly fearful words of Jack’s journal, this is a truly chilling
ghost story. If you enjoy this, then you should also try Thin Air, the author’s
second ghost story which is set on Everest.
Chris Priestley Uncle Montague’s Tales of Terror
Also: Tales of Terror from the Black Ship and Tales of Terror from the Tunnel’s Mouth
Visits from his nephew give Uncle Montague lives the opportunity to tell
some of the most frightening stories he knows. But gradually an even more
spine-tingling narrative emerges: Uncle Montague's tales of terror, it seems.
are not so much works of imagination as dreadful, lurking memories. …
Ransom Riggs Miss Peregrine’s Home for Peculiar Children
When 16-year-old Jacob journeys discovers the crumbling ruins of Miss
Peregrine s Home for Peculiar Children it soon becomes clear that the
children who lived there were more than just peculiar. They may have been
dangerous. And, impossible though it seems, they may still be alive. This
unforgettable novel mixes a supernatural story with decidedly spooky
photographs! The fifth title, The Conference of the Birds, was published in 2020.
Jonathan Stroud Lockwood & Co:The Screaming Staircase
Followed by The Whispering Skull, The Hollow Boy, The Creeping Shadow and The Empty Grave
Ghosts are everywhere in England, and their touch can kill. As only young
people can actually see the ghosts, teenager Anthony Lockwood founded an
agency of young people to help those with a Visitor problem. Despite some
terrifying ghosts, the book still features the author’s trademark humour.
Danny Weston Inchtinn: Island of Shadows
Inchtinn...where sinister beings stir and tormented souls seek revenge. But
what if survival relied on facing your greatest fears? This author’s latest very
scary story is probably better for Upper School (unless you’re very brave!)
Also try The Piper or The Haunting of Jessop Rise.
34
Science Fiction
Alastair Chisholm Orion Lost
The transport ship Orion is four months out of Earth when catastrophe
strikes - leaving the ship and everyone on board stranded in deep space.
Suddenly it's up to 13-year-old Beth and her friends to get them safely home,
despite space pirates, mysterious aliens, and an artificial intelligence that Beth
doesn't know if she can trust. Gripping adventure with incredible twists!
Frank Cottrell Boyce Sputnik’s Guide to Life on Earth
Prez is living with a foster family and feeling isolated and scared - until he
meets Sputnik, a small, loud alien in a kilt who tells him that the planet is
about to be destroyed unless he can find ten worthwhile things about Earth.
But there are problems - one being that everyone else who looks at Sputnik
thinks he’s a dog… Just one of several brilliant books by this author.
Christopher Edge The Jamie Drake Equation
Jamie Drake's dad is orbiting the Earth in the International Space Station and
Jamie really misses him. Hanging out at his local observatory, Jamie picks up a
strange signal on his phone. It looks like alien life is getting closer to home.
But space is a dangerous place and when his dad's mission goes wrong, can
Jamie prove that he's a hero too? Sci-fi at its best - moving and exciting.
Stuart Gibbs Space Case
Followed by Spaced Out and Waste of Space
It's a murder mystery on the moon in this humorous and exciting adventure.
Like his fellow lunarnauts living on Moon Base Alpha, 12-year-old Dashiell
Gibson is famous for being one of the first humans to live on the moon. But
he’s bored - trapped inside the tiny moon base with next to nothing to do.
Until their top scientist dies and Dash senses there's foul play afoot. ..
Lucy & Stephen Hawking George’s Secret Key to the Universe
George's pet pig escapes into the garden next door - introducing him to his
new neighbours: the scientist, Eric, his daughter, Annie, and a super-intelligent
computer called Cosmos. From that moment George's life will never be the
same again, for Cosmos can open a portal to any point in outer space! This
popular series has now reached book 6: George and the Ship of Time.
Polly Ho-Yen Boy in the Tower
Ade loves living on the seventeenth floor of a tower block—until the day
that other tower blocks on the estate start falling down around them and
strange, menacing plants begin to appear. Now Ade and his mum are trapped
and there’s no way out . On the surface, this is classic sci-fi, yet this wonderful
book is also about loyalty and courage, about friendship and family.
Madeleine L'Engle A Wrinkle in Time
Followed by A Wind in the Door, A Swiftly Tilting Planet, and Many Waters
When Charles goes searching through a "wrinkle in time" for his lost father,
he finds an evil planet where all life is enslaved by a huge pulsating brain
known as "it". This is a classic of children’s science fiction.
Nick Lake Nowhere on Earth
16-year-old Emily is miserable and alienated from her parents by the family’s
recent move to Alaska, and Aidan is a lost ‘child’ with an otherworldly secret.
This thrilling story of their survival in the Alaskan wilderness after a plane
crash - shortlisted for the 2020 Carnegie Medal - is an intriguing page-turner.
35
Ross Montgomery Perijee & Me
11-year-old Caitlin is lonely, so when she discovers a shrimp-like alien on the
beach, she becomes increasingly close to it. But there's a problem - Perijee
won't stop growing. When the authorities arrive, Perijee disappears and, in
his terror, starts causing destruction. Can Caitlin save the world from her
best friend?
*Patrick Ness The Knife of Never Letting Go
Followed by The Ask and the Answer and Monsters of Men
There are no women in Prentisstown, a human colony on another planet. The
women all died when the Noise came - unleashed on the human settlers by
the native species, the Spackle. Todd, the last boy in the colony, leads a life
buzzing other people's secrets and thoughts, until he discovers a tiny pocket
in the swamp where Noise does not penetrate. Highly recommended.
Jeff Norton Alienated: Grounded at Groom Lake
Sherman Capote is quite used to moving schools, but he's never been to a
place like Groom Lake High, the high school for aliens at Area 51. His new
friends are a gang of galactic misfits, but they prove to be loyal and
courageous when the school bully, NED (a minor god), initiates a War of the
Worlds. Sherman and his new friends must set aside homework in order to
save the planet in this surprisingly fun and funny space adventure.
Philip Reeve Railhead
Followed by Black Light Express and Station Zero
The Great Network is a place of drones and androids, Hive Monks and
Station Angels. It is a place with a thousand gates, where sentient trains criss-
cross the galaxy in a heartbeat. It is also a place of danger and excitement for
someone who rides the rails as Zen Starling does. Astonishingly imaginative!
S.F. Said Phoenix
'One boy alone can save the galaxy' is what it says on the back of the book.
That sounds unlikely but actually, in this immensely imaginative and exciting
sci-fi novel, everything seems possible. In parts of the book the beautiful
illustrations and the text work together like a graphic novel, to help bring
this brilliant space adventure to life.
M. M.Vaughan Slick
The story of Eric, a child android who thinks he is just a new boy in the
neighbourhood trying to make friends, and Danny, who doesn’t have any
friends and thinks he doesn’t really care. It’s a story about science taken to
extremes, but more than that it’s the story of friendship and how the ability
to share and show emotion is the essence of being human.
Mark Walden Earthfall
Followed by Earthfall: Retribution and Earthfall: Redemption
Sam wakes to see strange vessels gathered in the skies around London and
people streaming past towards the enormous ships, which emit a persistent
noise. It is only when Sam is rescued by a band of other teens who are also
immune to the signal that he discovers the truth behind the invasion.
Ross Welford The Kid Who Came From Space
When Tammy disappears, only her twin brother, Ethan, knows she is safe.
Together with his friend Iggy and the mysterious Hellyann, he teams up with
a spaceship called Philip, and Suzy the trained chicken, for a nail-biting chase
to get his sister back… The latest, totally captivating story from this author
is perhaps his best yet.
36
Spies and Special Agents
Linwood Barclay Chase
Followed by Escape
Chipper is meant to be the ultimate in canine spy technology - a fusion of
dog and machine - but the experiment hasn’t worked and he’s about to be
terminated. When he escapes he meets up with Jeff, a lonely orphan, and
together they must outrun and outsmart Chipper’s creators who are
determined that no evidence of their experiment should survive.
Lauren Child Look Into My Eyes
Followed by Take Your Last Breath, Catch Your Death, Feel the Fear, Pick Your Poison and Blink
and You Die
Ruby Redfort is a super-detective, genius code-cracker and gadget-laden
special agent. This witty and absorbing book, from a multi award-winning
author, is quite long, and it’s about a girl... but don’t let that put you off!
Joe Craig Jimmy Coates: Killer
Followed by Jimmy Coates: Target, Revenge, Sabotage, Survival, Power and Blackout
11-year-old Jimmy Coates seems like an ordinary boy, but he's not. He's
genetically engineered to grow into the perfect government assassin. Speed,
strength and deadly instincts are all in his blood. Now he has discovered
these strange powers, and he has to fight not to kill.
Stuart Gibbs Spy School
Followed by Spy Camp, Evil Spy School, Spy Ski School, Spy School Secret Service, Spy School Goes
South and Spy School British Invasion
Ben Ripley reckons life as a secret agent would be amazing - so when he
learns he's been recruited to the CIA's top secret Academy of Espionage, it
sounds too good to be true. And it is. From the moment he arrives Ben finds
Spy School is going to be far more difficult and dangerous than he expected!
Charlie Higson Silverfin
Followed by Blood Fever, Double or Die, Hurricane Gold and By Royal Command
This first book in a series of adventures about the young James Bond starts
with Bond as a 13-year old at Eton in the 1930s. If you enjoy these, you
should also read the next series which continues after James is expelled from
Eton, beginning with Young Bond: Shoot to Kill, written by Steve Cole.
Anthony Horowitz Stormbreaker
The first in a gripping series that follows the super - if reluctant - young spy
Alex Rider through his many adventures. Once you’re hooked you’ll want to
read the first 11 in the series and the book of seven new Alex Rider stories,
Secret Weapon. And now the brilliant new title, Nightshade.
Simon Lelic The Haven
Followed by Revolution and Deadfall
Alone and on the run, Ollie Turner has nowhere to hide until he is found by a
secret organisation, far from adult eyes, called the Haven. Soon Ollie
becomes one of the team battling to stop super-villain Maddy Sikes from
destroying the entire city for her own ends. (PS. For those readers familiar
with the characters in Oliver Twist, try to spot the connections!)
Sophie McKenzie The Set-Up
Followed by The Hostage, The Rescue, Hunted, Double Cross and Hit Squad
Fourteen years ago, a scientist implanted four babies with the ‘Medusa’ gene
for psychic abilities. Only now becoming aware of their powers, the teenagers
are brought together by government agents to create a secret crime-fighting
force - The Medusa Project.
37
Robert Muchamore The Recruit
There are no super-villains or high-tech gadgets in this addictive series. It is
simply fast-paced action based around the CHERUB organization for child
spies. The series (now at 18 titles) as well as the author’s ‘Henderson’s Boys’
series, can be violent and sometimes unsuitable for the under-11s, but they
are unsurpassed at gripping and holding the reluctant reader.
Tom Palmer The Squad: Black Op
Followed by White Fear
The Squad is a group of teenage spies with the perfect cover: they are also
part of an English youth football team. Wherever trouble is kicking off, the
Squad is sent in. In the first book in an exciting series the Squad are sent to
Krakow, Poland, just before the Euro 2012 tournament there.
Chris Ryan Agent 21
Followed by Agent 21: Reloaded, Codebreaker, Deadfall, Under Cover and Endgame
After Zak Darke's parents die in an unexplained mass murder he's recruited
for a government agency and becomes Agent 21. What happened to the 20
agents before him he'll never know. What he does know is that his life is
about to change for ever . . . Also try this author’s Alpha Force series.
Chris Ryan Special Forces Cadets: Siege
Followed by Missing, Justice, Ruthless and Hijack
A top-secret government programme needs a crack team of undercover
military operators. They must have awesome levels of endurance and fitness,
be able to think on their feet and, in order to operate in circumstances where
adult forces would be compromised, the recruits must be under 16. Chris
Ryan’s books are always popular but this is definitely hitting the mark!
Ali Sparkes Finding the Fox
Followed by Running the Risk, Going to Ground, Dowsing the Dead, Stirring the Storm and Feather
and Fang
One day Dax Jones, frightened for his life, inexplicably changes into a fox.
Soon after, he is persuaded by a government agent to join a secret school for
‘colas’ (children of limitless ability) but, before long, he begins to wonder who
exactly is behind the school, and what they want from the pupils there. Read
on in the ‘Unleashed’ series, beginning with A Life and Death Job.
Mark Walden H.I.V.E.
H.I.V.E. is a secret school where children with a gift for wrongdoing are sent
to develop into criminal masterminds. The children cannot leave until training
is complete, six years later, so there is plenty of time for lots of thrilling action
in this eight book series. They are special agents, just not the good guys!
Katherine Woodfine Peril in Paris
Followed by Spies in St. Petersburg and Villains in Venice
It’s 1911, and the young detectives of Taylor & Rose (see p.10) are turning
their talents to espionage. On a case for the mysterious Secret Service
Bureau, Sophie and Lil must head to the boulevards of Paris. Danger lurks
beneath the bright lights of the city and our heroines will need to put all their
spy skills to the test to face the peril that awaits them!
*Allen Zadoff The Hit
Followed by The Mission and The Traitor
He is always the new boy in school, staying Just long enough for someone in
his new friend's family to die - of "natural causes." Mission accomplished, he
disappears. He is a trained assassin - but deep inside, ‘Boy Nobody’ is just a
boy who wants a normal life.
38
Sports Stories
Bob Cattell Glory in the Cup
Hooker, Cal, Erica and the rest are all big cricket fans. When a teacher
suggests they form a proper team the Glory Gardens XI is born. This is the
first title in the ‘Glory Garden’ series, which is recommended by the English
Schools Cricket Association.
S.E.Durrant Running on Empty
12-year-old AJ lives a stone’s throw from the London Stadium, and his dream
is to run there one day. However, his parents have learning difficulties and are
struggling to cope. This powerful book is the moving story of a young carer's
struggle to keep his family together whilst trying to follow his own dreams.
Dan Freedman The Kick Off
Followed by Shoot to Win, Golden Goal, Man of the Match, World Class, Final Whistle and Prequels
Skills from Brazil and Born to Play
Jamie Johnson is desperate to become his school's star football player (and in
his dreams, a top professional too). He's got so much to prove, and not just
on the pitch - so why aren't his Mum, teachers and best mate on his side?
Tom Palmer Foul Play
Followed by Dead Ball, Off Side, Killer Pass and Own Goal
Danny Harte is obsessed with two things - watching football and tackling
crime. So when his hero, legendary footballer Sam Roberts is kidnapped,
Danny gets on the case! Boys who want an easier read, should also try the
author’s brilliant ‘Football Academy’ series, beginning with Boys United.
*Mal Peet Keeper
In this award-winning book, set in South America, a football reporter sits
down with El Gato (the Cat), a World Cup-winning goalkeeper, to hear the
incredible story of how he was trained by a mysterious former goalie on a
ghostly, perfectly-cut pitch in the middle of the jungle. surrounded by trees. A
slightly older read, but plenty of football action to keep enthusiasts happy!
Jason Reynolds Ghost
Followed by Patina, Sunny and Lu
Running is a passion for Ghost (real name Castle Cranshaw), but he’s been
running for the wrong reasons until he meets Coach, an ex-Olympic Medallist.
If Ghost can stay on track, literally and figuratively, he could be the best
sprinter in the city. A fast-paced, easy-to-read story about a troubled
teenager finding himself as part of an athletics squad in inner-city America.
Robert Rigby Goal! The Dream Begins
Followed by Living the Dream and Glory Days
A young Latino boy is spotted in Los Angeles by an ex-scout, and wins a trial
at Newcastle United. Struggling to cope with the weather and player rivalries,
he has only one shot at fulfilling his dream. He has the skill; does he have the
stamina for success?
Gerard Siggins Rugby Spirit
Followed by Rugby Warrior, Rugby Rebel, Rugby Flyer, Rugby Runner, Rugby Heroes, Gaelic Spirit
Eoin has just joined a new, rugby-mad school, yet he has never held a rugby
ball before. With new rules to learn and new friends to make, he really
doesn’t need to have Richie Duffy, the resident bully, picking him out as his
latest target. There are relatively few rugby stories around (lots about
football!), and this is a great read for any keen sportsmen.
39
Steampunk
Steampunk is a subgenre of fantasy usually set in a Victorian or quasi-Victorian setting. It
could be described as: "What the past would look like if the future had happened sooner."

Peter Bunzl Cogheart

Followed by Moonlocket, Skycircus and Shadowsea
In steampunk Victorian Britain, Kings Cross station has an airship dock and
humans live alongside mechanicals and mechanimals, both of which run on
clockwork. Lily doesn’t believe reports that her father has died in an airship
accident, so she sets off with Malkin (her mechanical fox) to discover the truth.
Dave Butler The Kidnap Plot
In a brilliantly reimagined London, Charlie’s inventor father is kidnapped by a
sinister group calling themselves the Anti-Human League. Aided by a motley
crew of helpmates that includes a troll, an aristocratic pixie, and two young
aeronauts, Charlie races to save his father and foil a plot against Queen
Victoria during her Diamond Jubilee.
Catherine Fisher The Clockwork Crow
Followed by The Velvet Fox and The Midnight Swan (Oct.2020)
This spooky story of orphan Seren, and the mysterious adventure she is
plunged into at her grandfather’s remote house in Wales, is not strictly
steampunk - but the combination of a wonderfully atmospheric Victorian
setting and magical clockwork allows it to be squeezed into this category!
Pádraig Kenny Tin
Christopher is 'Proper': a real boy orphaned in a fire. He works for an
engineer who makes the eccentric totally individual ‘mechanicals’ who are
Christopher's best friends. But after a devastating accident, a secret is revealed
and Christopher's world is changed for ever.
Kenneth Oppel The Boundless
The hero of this thrilling book is a train, the Boundless, seven miles long,
composed of almost a thousand carriages, built to cross Canada from west to
east at the end of the 19th century. Will Everett is on its maiden voyage and,
after witnessing a murder, must flee for his life through a train packed with
chancers, entrepreneurs and enthusiasts.
Philip Reeve Mortal Engines
Followed by Predator’s Gold, Infernal Devices and A Darkling Plain
This multi-award winning quartet is set in a future world that relies on old
technology and where mobile cities fight for survival. The first instalment
introduces Tom, who falls from the fast-moving city of London and is forced
to survive on the ‘Bare Earth’.
Paul Stewart & Chris Riddell Fergus Crane
Followed by Corby Flood and Hugo Pepper
Fergus Crane has an almost ordinary life until he is plunged into adventure
when a steam powered mechanical winged horse brings him to his long-lost
uncle to discover his true mission - to rescue his father.
Scott Westerfeld Leviathan
Followed by Behemoth and Goliath
This brilliant steampunk trilogy about the war between the Clankers, who put
their faith in machinery, and the Darwinists, who have begun evolving living
creatures into tools, is sadly only available on Kindle at present, but is a great
trilogy for Upper School readers and available in the school library!
40
Time Travel
Patience Agbabi The Infinite
Some Leaplings (children born on the 29th of February) have The Gift - the
ability to leap through time. Elle, an autistic12-year-old, has The Gift, but
she's never used it. Until she receives a mysterious warning from the future
and must race against time to save the world as she knows it. A really in-
ventive time-travelling, crime-fighting, sci fi adventure!
Jennifer Bell Wonderscape
When Arthur, Ren and Cecily investigate a mysterious explosion on their
way to school, they slip through a time portal and find themselves thrown
400 years into the future, trapped in a complex virtual reality video game
world called Wonderscape. Now they must call on the help of some unlikely
historical heroes, and their own gaming skills, to play their way home.
Linda Davies Longbow Girl
Merry Owen is desperate for her family to stay on their struggling farm in
Wales. She is skilled in the family tradition of archery and, after discovering
an ancient Welsh text she is catapulted back to a time when her skills with
the longbow are vital to the future of her ancestors.
Christopher Edge The Many Worlds of Albie Bright
When Albie's mum dies, it's natural he should wonder where she's gone.
Dad mutters something about Albie's mum being alive and with them in a
parallel universe. So Albie finds a box, his mum's computer and a rotting ba-
nana, and sends himself through time and space to find her...obvious really!
Sophie Kirtley The Wild Way Home
When Charlie's baby brother is born with a serious heart condition, Charlie
flees the hospital, upset and afraid, and makes for the forest. There she finds
an injured boy dressed in deerskins - for Charlie has unwittingly fled into
the Stone Age. Can Charlie and the Stone Age boy work together to find
what they have lost - their courage, their hope, and their way home?
Caroline Lawrence The Time Travel Diaries
Followed by The Time Travel Diaries: Adventures in Athens
As always with this author’s books, you immediately realise that she really
knows her stuff! The sights, sounds and smells of ancient London are
brought vividly to life as schoolboy Alex Papas is sent back to the 3rd centu-
ry in a billionaire’s time machine to search for a blue-eyed African girl.
Alex Scarrow Time Riders
Followed by Day of the Predator, The Doomsday Code, The Eternal War, Gates of Rome, City of
Shadows, The Pirate Kings, The Mayan Prophecy and The Infinity Cage
Liam should have died at sea in 1912; Maddy should have died on a plane in
2010; Sal should have died in a fire in 2029. Yet moments before death, a
stranger appeared and said, ‘Take my hand’. They have been recruited to pro-
tect the world from those who would go back in time and change the past.
Ross Welford Time Travelling with a Hamster
Al Chaudhury is trying to travel back in time to alter the event that led to
his father’s death, 22 years later. It’s a project that requires Al to be daring
and imaginative, whilst not losing his pet hamster, Alan Shearer… A wonder-
ful mix of science and adventure with a dash of philosophy.
Verse Novels
Not strictly a ‘genre’, the verse novel format - like the graphic novel - has become increas-
ingly popular in recent years.
*Kwame Alexander The Crossover
Also prequel: Rebound
12-year-old Josh and his twin Jordan are star basketball players for their
school team, yet there is hardship in their life which tests their sibling bond.
This powerful novel won the prestigious American Newbery Medal in 2015.
If you prefer football, you should definitely read Booked, also in free verse.
Katherine Applegate Home of the Brave
Kek, a young cattle herder from Sudan is a refugee in America where he is
struggling with the language and with loneliness. In this unsentimental book,
we learn how he weathers the cold Minnesota winter by finding warmth in
his few friendships, strength in his memories, and belief in his new country.
Malorie Blackman Cloud Busting
The story of Sam who, despite his Mum's insistence, really doesn't want to
be friends with Davey. But then Davey saves Sam's life and a bond is
formed between the two boys, until something terrible happens. Told in
several different poetic forms, this is the touching story of an extraordinary
friendship that changes two boys’ lives for ever.
Sharon Creech Love That Dog
This charming book - one of the early novels in free verse - is the moving
story of Jack and his beloved dog, told in Jack’s own words as his teacher
encourages him to write poetry. On page 1 he states: “I don't want to/
because boys/ Don't write poetry./ Girls do.” But by the end of the book,
poetry has transformed his life. Perhaps it will transform yours?
Sarah Crossan The Weight of Water
This coming-of-age story, which won the 2013 UKLA Book Award, tells the
story of a young Polish girl, Kasienka, and her mother, and the alienation
they feel when they arrive in England. Deeply moving, without being senti-
mental, it is utterly page-turning as the reader shares the experiences of a
young girl who demonstrates how quiet courage can prevail.
*Sarah Crossan One
Grace and Tippi are conjoined twins, united in blood and bone. It’s a situa-
tion that most of us could never begin to understand, and yet the story of
their lives seems almost normal as they make friends and deal with every-
day family life. This multi-award winning novel is just one of several this au-
thor has written in free verse.
*Karen Hesse Out of the Dust
This journey to the heart of a family caught in the Oklahoma dust-bowl is
the story of Ma, of Bayard, her husband, who can’t come to terms with his
failure to provide for his family, and of Billie Jo who knows she must find a
way to get out of the dust. Another Newbery Medal winner.
Thanhha Lai Inside Out and Back Again
Inspired by the author's childhood experience as a refugee fleeing Vietnam,
this verse novel is the story of ten-year-old Hà, who has fled with her fami-
ly from Saigon to America. This moving story of one girl's year of grief, and
healing paints a vivid picture of what it means to be a refugee.
Wartime Stories
John Boyne The Boy in the Striped Pyjamas
The narrator of this book, 9-year-old Bruno, is the son of a Nazi officer who
becomes the Commandant at "Out-With" camp and moves his family to a
house on the edge of the camp to be with him. Bruno’s loss of innocence
comes at a terrible price, and this understated fable carries a powerful punch.
Also try this author’s other wartime stories such as Stay Where You Are
and Then Leave and The Boy at the Top of the Mountain.
Emma Carroll Letters from the Lighthouse
Londoners Olive and her brother have been evacuated to Devon, but big
sister Sukie is still missing from the night of the bombs. While trying to help
their reluctant host, Mr Ephraim the lighthouse keeper, Olive finds a strange
coded note which seems to seems to link Sukie to Devon… One of the best
from an author described as the Queen of historical fiction!
Paul Dowswell Bomber
WW2 is raging and Harry Friedman is the gunner of an American Flying
Fortress stationed in East Anglia. To make it through the bombing missions
Harry will need luck on his side... and plenty of courage. Just one of many
great historical novels from an author who combines compelling storytelling
with meticulous research.
Morris Gleitzman Once
Followed by Then, Now, After, Soon and Maybe
It is 1942 and 9-year old Felix escapes from his orphanage in Poland in a
desperate attempt to find his Jewish parents who, he believes, are still alive
and in danger. The book brilliantly captures the thinking of a small boy in a
frightening world and is highly recommended.
Alan Gratz Allies
D-Day, June 6, 1944. Only world cooperation would bring down Hitler and
the Axis powers so people (including children) across the globe played their
part. Teamwork as well as heroism was necessary to dismantle tyranny -
from the young US soldiers in the boats to spies in the French countryside.
Also try the author’s other great wartime novels, such as Prisoner B-3087,
Grenade or Projekt 1065.
James Holland Duty Calls: Dunkirk
Also Duty Calls: Battle of Britain
Friday 24th May, 1940: Private Johnny Hawke awakens to artillery fire and
Messerschmitt fighters roaring towards his regiment. What chance is there
that he, and his fellow soldiers, can stop the German advance? This is a
realistic portrayal of the events of Dunkirk by a respected historian.
Anne Holm I am David
David escapes from a concentration camp and flees across Europe. He is
utterly alone - whom can he trust? What will await him back home? And all
the while he knows that they may catch up with him.
Judith Kerr When Hitler Stole Pink Rabbit
Followed by The Other Way Round and Small Person Far Away
This semi-autobiographical trilogy is one of the best books written about
World War II and has been in print for nearly 50 years. It’s a touching story of
how a child’s innocence was stolen by the Nazis - along with her pink rabbit.
43
Matt Killeen Orphan Monster Spy
Followed by Devil Darling Spy
After her mother is killed at a roadblock in Berlin, Sarah escapes from the
crash but then meets an enigmatic ‘Captain’ who is also evading the Nazis.
She agrees to help him expose a plot to build a massive bomb, but to do so
she must infiltrate a boarding school for the daughters of high-ranking and
wealthy Nazis...and Sarah is Jewish. A tense, chilling WWII thriller.
Lois Lowry Number the Stars
Life 1943 in Copenhagen in 1943 is complicated for Annemarie. There are
food shortages, curfews, and soldiers on every corner. It is much worse for
her Jewish best friend, Ellen, however, whose life in danger, so Annemarie must
summon all her courage to help stage a daring escape.
Michelle Magorian Goodnight Mister Tom
Willie is evacuated to the country at the start of World War Two. A sad,
deprived child, he begins to flourish under the care of old Tom Oakley, but his
happiness is shattered by a summons from his mother back in London. This
touching children’s classic deserves to be read by all.
Hilary McKay The Skylarks’ War
Costa Children’s Book Award 2018
The three main protagonists in this outstanding book about WWI are all in
their teens, and they all have battles to face in this dark period of history. We
follow the trio (brother, sister and cousin) from schoolroom to battlefield,
and their compelling story stays in the mind long after the book is finished.
Michael Morpurgo Private Peaceful
One of the author’s many books set in wartime, this now classic story of a
young farm boy who suffered the nightmare of the trenches in WWI is
essential reading for all. It’s a powerful story about childhood, about growing
up too young, about loss and friendships and love and war.
Ian Serraillier The Silver Sword
Alone in a Poland devastated by World War Two, Jan and his three friends
cling to the silver sword as a symbol of hope as they search for their parents.
This classic book is a moving insight into the reality of life in war-torn Europe.
Robert Westall The Machine Gunners
Followed by Fathom Five
When Chas McGill finds a crashed German bomber in the woods complete
with machine gun, he knows he has not only beaten his rival in the race to
find the best war souvenir, but he can also play a role in the war.
*Markus Zusak The Book Thief
It is1939 in Nazi Germany. Death has never been busier. Liesel is living with a
foster family on Himmel Street, as her parents have been taken away to a
concentration camp. Death narrates her story, and that of the other ordinary
Germans around her, with a slightly bemused air over the antics of humanity.
*Erich Maria Remarque All Quiet on the Western Front
In 1914 a room full of idealistic German schoolboys are goaded by their
schoolmaster to troop off to the 'glorious war'. With the fire and patriotism
of youth they sign up. What follows is the moving story of a young 'unknown
soldier' experiencing the horror and disillusionment of life in the trenches.

44
Zombies, Demons, Vampires and other Monsters
Guy Bass Skeleton Keys: The Unimaginary Friend
Followed by The Haunting of Luna Moon
Skeleton Keys became unimaginary many years ago, and he’s concerned that
Ben’s new unimaginary friend, the Gorblimey, may not be as kind as he
seems.... Full of monster chases but ultimately a story about fitting in and
being confident in yourself. It’s an easy read - nothing wrong with that!
Max Brallier The Last Kids on Earth
Jack Sullivan has so far survived the zombie apocalypse by hiding out in his
treehouse (42 days and counting), but that's all thrown into jeopardy when a
monster called Blarg becomes intent on killing him off... The sixth novel in this
zany monster adventure series The Last Kids on Earth and the Skeleton
Road has just been published (Sep. 2020).

John Connolly The Gates

Followed by Hells Bells and The Creeps
Samuel Johnson and his dog Boswell are out Trick-or-Treating when they
witness strange goings-on at 666 Crowley Avenue… The Abernathys are
having a séance, but it just happens to coincide with a malfunction in the Large
Hadron Collider that creates a portal to Hell. And now there are some
pretty terrifying beings just itching to get out . . . Magical, scary - and funny!
Gillian Cross The Demon Headmaster
The children at Dinah’s new school are very robotic, and she soon realises
that they are under the demonic power of the creepy Headmaster. In this
first book of a seven-book series, Dinah must try to stop his evil plan to
dominate not just the school, but the nation!
Lorraine Gregory The Maker of Monsters
Brat has grown up on an island with a Frankenstein-like master who is using
magic to create a monster army. When these evil creations take control of
the island, Brat has to escape with his best (and only) friends, Tingle and
Sherman to warn the outside world. A lovely book, with delightful characters!
Shane Hegarty Darkmouth
Followed by Worlds Explode, Chaos Descends and Hero Rising
Legends (also known as human-eating monsters) have invaded the town of
Darkmouth. The last remaining Legend Hunter - 12-year-old Finn - tries really
hard, but good intentions are not the best weapons against a hungry Minotaur.
A book of monsters, myths, a little horror and a little more humour.
Charlie Higson The Enemy
Followed by The Dead, The Fear, The Sacrifice ,The Fallen, The Hunted and The End
When the sickness came, every adult fell ill. The lucky ones died. The others
are reduced to slavering zombies eager to kill and eat the children left behind.
A gang of children, fighting to survive, begins a quest across London - but the
grown-ups lie in wait. Best for Upper School, and not for the faint-hearted!
*Will Hill Department 19
Followed by The Rising, Battle Lines, Zero Hour and Darkest Night
After Jamie Carpenter's mother is kidnapped by strange creatures, he finds
himself involved with Department 19, the government's most secret agency….
but something much older has begun to stir. An extra dash of classic
literature and history bring depth to this vampire series.

45
Curtis Jobling Max Helsing: Monster Hunter
Followed by The Beast of Bone Creek
Descended from a long line of monster hunters, Max Helsing does a pretty
good job of being a schoolboy by day and keeping his town safe from demons,
and ghouls by night. That is, until he turns thirteen and discovers he's been
cursed by an ancient vampire who wants him dead - at any cost. A great blend
of action and humour, with monsters who are not all as evil as they look.
Pete Johnson The Vampire Blog
Followed by Vampire Hunters, Vampire Fighters and The Vampire Bewitched
He thought vampires didn't exist but, on his 13th birthday, Marcus learns that
his parents are half-vampire and he is about to become one too. Wise-cracking
Marcus writes in his secret blog about his resistance to the encroaching
horrors of fangs, bad breath and cravings for blood. Surprisingly fun!
Gareth P. Jones The Considine Curse
When her grandmother dies, 14-year-old Mariel returns to England for the first
time since she was a baby, and discovers relatives she never knew about and
some strange goings-on. The cover gives little away, so this witty yarn, which
won the Blue Peter Book of the Year Award, may not be what you expect!
Derek Landy Skulduggery Pleasant
Meet the great Skulduggery Pleasant: wise-cracking detective, powerful
magician, master of dirty tricks and burglary. Oh yes - and he’s a skeleton!
Everyone should try this award-winning mixture of magic, humour, adventure
and a little bit of horror. The 13th book in the series is Seasons of War.
Dave Rudden Knights of the Borrowed Dark
Followed by The Forever Court and The Endless King
Denizen Hardwick doesn't even believe in magic – until he finds until he's
ambushed by a monster created from shadows and discovers that, beyond the
world he knows, there’s another where an unseen enemy awaits. Fortunately
for humanity, between us and the shadows stand the Knights of the Borrowed
Dark. Unfortunately for Denizen, he discovers he’s one of them!
Darren Shan The ‘Saga of Darren Shan’
This popular 12-book series, starting with Cirque du Freak, is the story of one
boy's terrifying journey from human to Vampire. You can read on in the more
gruesome Demonata series (starting with Lord Loss) or go right back to the
beginning with the prequel series – The Saga of Larten Crepsley.
Thomas Taylor Malamander
Followed by Gargantis
It’s hard to know where to put this fabulous adventure, but it has a
mythological sea monster at its heart so this feels right! But there are also
shadowy villains, age-old vendettas, spirits of dead mariners, magic stones, a
Book Dispensary with a macabre mechanical monkey and, of course, missing
parents. All set in the mysteriously chilling town of Eerie-on-Sea!
Danny Wallace Hamish and the Worldstoppers
Followed by Hamish and the: Neverpeople, GravityBurp, Baby BOOM!, Monster Patrol
Hamish has a fairly miserable time at school, and lives an uneventful life in a
very boring town. All this changes suddenly when he finds himself with a big job
on his hands: saving the world from some rather repulsive creatures. Many
plots twists and a little scary in places, but mostly very, very funny.

46
Index of Authors
Adams, Douglas, 23
Agabi, Patience, 41
Alexander, Kwame, 42
Alexie, Sherman, 8
Alric, David, 15
Anderson, Sophie, 17, 31
Applebaum, Kirsty, 13
Applegate, Katherine, 42
Baddiel, David, 23
Barclay, Linwood, 37
Barnhill, Kelly, 11
Barron, Adam, 25
Bass, Guy, 45
Bell, Alex, 19
Bell, Jennifer, 41
Bell, P. G.,17
Bertagna, Julie, 15
Bilan, Jasbinder, 31
Bishop, Sylvia, 9
Black, Holly, 11,17
Black, Peter Jay,1
Blackman, Malorie, 9, 13, 42
Bowling, Nicholas, 27
Boyne, John, 43
Bradford, Chris, 1,21
Brahmachari, Sita, 15
Brallier, Max, 45
Brierley, Saroo, 29
Broadway, Alice, 13
Brooks, Kevin, 9
Brown, Jeffrey, 7
Brown, Matt, 23
Brown, Peter, 15
Bruton, Catherine, 31
Bunzl, Peter, 40
Butchart, Pamela, 23
Butler, Dave, 40
Butterworth, Jess, 15
Carroll, Emma, 43
Cattell, Bob, 39
Chadda. Sarwat, 27
Child, Lauren, 37
Chisholm, Alastair, 35
Chmakova, Svetlana, 7
Chokshi, Roshani, 27
Christie, Agatha, 9
Clare, Cassandra, 17
Colfer, Eoin, 1
Collins, Suzanne, 13, 19
Connolly, John, 45
Cooper, Susan, 27
Copeland, Sam, 23
Cornwell, Bernard, 21
Cottrell Boyce, Frank, 35
Cowell, Cressida, 11, 17
Craig, Joe, 37
Creech, Sharon, 42
Cross, Gillian, 45
Crossan, Sarah, 31, 42
Crossley-Holland, Kevin, 27
d’Lacey, Chris, 11
Dashner, James, 13
Davies, Linda, 41
de Castell, Sebastien, 19
de Fonbelle, Timothée, 5
de Saint-Exupéry, Antoine, 5
Delaney, Joseph, 33
Denton, Terry, 23
Dickinson, Matt, 1
DiTerlizzi, Tony, 11
Doherty, Berlie, 21, 33
Dowd, Siobhan, 1
Dowswell, Paul, 43
Doyle, Catherine, 31
Dragt, Tonke, 5
Draper, Sharon M., 25
Duffy, Malcolm, 25
Duggan, Helena, 1
DuPrau, Jeanne, 13
Durrant, S. E., 25, 39
Eagle, Judith, 1
Edge, Christopher, 35, 41
Elliott, Joseph, 19
Ellis, Deborah, 29
Elphinstone, Abi, 17, 19
Ende, Michael, 5
Evans, Lissa, 23
Evans, Maz, 27
Fargher, Anna, 3
Farook, Nirzana, 1
Farrant, Natasha, 2
Fayers, Claire, 3
Fforde, Jasper, 11
Fisher, Catherine, 40
Fisher, Justin, 17
Flanagan, John, 19
Flanagan, Liz, 11
Fletcher, Tom, 33
Forde, Patricia, 13
Fountain, Ele, 29
Fraillon, Zana, 29
Frank, Ann, 8
Freedman, Dan, 39
Funke, Cornelia, 5, 11
47
Gaarder, Jostein, 5 Jones, Gareth P., 33, 46
Gaiman, Neil, 33 Kästner, Erich, 6
Galvin, Lindsay, 2 Kenny, Pádraig, 20, 40
Garner, Alan, 27 Kerr, Jane, 3
Gavin, Jamila, 21 Kerr, Judith, 43
Geda, Fabio, 5 Khan, Joshua, 18
Gibbons, Alan, 27 Kibuishi, Kaza, 7
Gibbs, Stuart, 35 Killeen, Matt, 44
Gleitzman, Morris, 29, 43 Killick, Jennifer, 23, 34
Goscinny, René, 7 Kinney, Jeff, 8
Gourlay, Candy, 21 Kirtley, Sophie, 41
Govett, Sarah, 15 L’Engle, Madeleine, 35
Grant, Michael, 13 Lai, Thanhha, 42
Gratz, Alan, 29, 43 Laird, Elizabeth, 16, 29
Green, Roger Lancelyn, 28 Lake, Nick, 35
Green, Sophie, 9 Landman, Tanya, 9
Gregory, Lorraine, 45 Landy, Derek, 46
Griffiths, Andy, 23 Larwood, Kieran, 3
Haddon, Mark, 25 Lawrence, Caroline, 21, 41
Haig, Matt, 15 Le Guin, Ursula, 12
Hardinge, Frances, 19 Lelic, Simon, 37
Hardy, Vashti, 31 Leonard, M. G., 2, 9
Hare, Lucinda, 11 Lewis, Gill, 16
Hawking, Lucy, 35 Lloyd Jones, Rob, 2
Hawking, Stephen, 35 London, Jack, 3
Heathfield, Lisa, 13 Lowry, Lois, 14, 44
Hegarty, Shane, 45 Mackenzie, Ross, 18
Hergé, 7 Magorian, Michelle, 44
Hesse, Karen, 42 Malley, Gemma, 14
Hiaasen, Carl, 16 Mankell, Henning, 6
Higson, Charlie, 37, 45 Marks, Janae, 25
Hill, Stuart, 19 Martin, Laura, 14
Hill, Susan, 33 Mathias, Tracey, 14
Hill, Will, 45 Matharu,Taran, 20
Hiranandani, Veera, 8 McCall Smith, Alexander, 10
Hitchcock, Fleur, 2 McCaughrean, Geraldine, 21, 31
Ho-Yen, Polly, 35 McCormick, Patricia, 30
Holland, James, 43 McGowan, Anthony, 32
Hollingsworth, Alyssa, 31 McKay, Hilary, 44
Holm, Ann, 43 McKenzie, Sophie, 37
Horowitz, Anthony, 33, 37 McLaughlin, Tom, 24
Huckerby, Mark, 12 McNish, Cliff, 34
Hunt, Leo, 33 Millwood Hargrave, Kiran, 28
Hunter, Erin, 3 Mitchell, Tom, 10
Ibbotson, Eva, 3 Montgomery, Ross, 36
Iggulden, Conn, 21 Morpurgo, Michael, 4, 28, 30, 44
Iserles, Inbali, 3 Muchamore, Robert, 2, 38
Jackson, Sharna, 9 Mull, Brendan, 12
Jacobs, Jaco, 5 Mulligan, Andy, 4, 30
James, Anna, 17 Murphy, Adam, 7
James, Greg, 23 Murray, Struan, 20
Jobling, Curtis, 46 Nadin, Joanna, 25
Joelson, Penny, 9 Naidoo, Beverley, 30
Johnson, Mitch, 29 Nesbø, Jo, 6
Johnson, Pete, 8, 46 Ness, Patrick, 25, 36
48
Nicholls, Sally, 22
Nicholson, William, 20
Nielsen, Susin, 32
Northfield, Gary, 22
Norton, Jeff, 36
O’Flynn, Catherine, 10
O’Hart, Sinéad, 20
O’Hearn, Kate, 12
Ohlsson, Kristina, 34
Oppel, Kenneth, 40
Orton, Katharine, 18
Ostler, Nick, 12
Palacio, R.J., 26
Palmer, Tom, 32, 38, 39
Paolini, Christopher, 12
Park, Linda Sue, 30
Pastis, Stephan, 24
Patrick, S. A., 12
Paver, Michelle, 20, 34
Pearson, Jenny, 24
Peers, Bobbie, 6
Peet, Mal, 39
Peirce, Lincoln, 24
Penfold, Nicola, 16
Pennac, Daniel, 6
Pennypacker, Sara, 4
Pichon, Liz, 32
Priestley, Chris, 34
Pullman, Philip, 20
Raúf, Onjali K., 26, 32
Reeve, Philip, 28, 36, 40
Remarque, Erich Maria, 44
Reynolds, Jason, 32, 39
Riddell, Chris, 20, 40
Rigby, Robert, 39
Riggs, Ransom, 34
Riordan, Rick, 28
Rix, Megan, 4
Roth, Veronica, 14
Rudden, Dave, 46
Rundell, Katherine, 4, 10, 32
Ryan, Chris, 38
Said, S.F., 4, 36
Sachar, Louis, 24
Sage, Angie, 18
Sands, Kevin, 22
Scarrow, Alex, 41
Scarrow, Simon, 22
Schmidt, Annie M. G.,6
Scott, Libby, 26
Scott, Michael, 28
Sedgman, Sam, 9
Sedgwick, Marcus, 16
Serraillier, Ian, 44
Shan, Darren, 46
Shaw, Fiona, 14
Sherrick, Ally, 22
Siggins, Gerard, 39
Skinner, Nicola, 16
Slater, Kim, 26
Smith, Chris, 23
Smith, Dan, 2
Smith, Jeff, 7
Smith, Jim, 24
Smith, Wilbur, 2
Snicket, Lemony, 24
Solomons, David, 24
Sorosiak, Carlie, 4
Spangler, Jenni, 18
Sparkes, Ali, 38
St John, Lauren, 4, 10
Stevens, Robin, 10
Stewart, Paul, 20, 40
Stroud, Jonathan, 18, 34
Sutcliff, Rosemary, 22
Sutcliffe, William, 30
Sutherland, Tui T., 12
Tan, Shaun, 7
Taylor, Thomas, 46
Teigemeier, Raina, 7
Thompson, Lisa, 26
Thomson, Jamie, 24
Tolkien, J.R.R., 18
Torday, Piers, 16
Townsend, Jessica, 18
Townsend, Sue, 8
Uderzo, Albert, 7
Uehashi, Nahoko, 6
Van der Ruit, John, 8
Vaughan, M. M., 36
Walden, Mark, 36, 38
Wallace, Danny, 46
Walliams, David, 32
Wegelius, Jakob, 6
Welford, Ross, 22, 41
Westall, Robert, 44
Westcott, Rebecca, 26
Westerfeld, Scott, 40
Weston, Danny, 34
Wheatle, Alex, 26
Williams, Michael, 30
Williamson, Lara, 26
Wilson, S. M., 14
Winter, Tamsin, 26
Womack, Philip, 28
Woodfine, Katherine, 10, 38
Yousafzai, Malala, 30
Zadoff, Allen, 38
Zephaniah, Benjamin, 30
Zusak, Markus, 44
49
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53
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54
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