Have fun with books in the Lower 4s
2016-2017
THE MURIEL HALL LIBRARY
Dear Reader
At the start of the summer break, one of my favourite tasks is to plan my summer
reading list. There is nothing quite like knowing that those books that have been
beckoning for weeks and months from the shelves of the Muriel Hall Library can now
be seized upon and enjoyed as the sun shines (hopefully!). As the long hot summer
days stretch out ahead of us, the promise of having the luxury to spend time reading
for pleasure is priceless.
We are, of course, very lucky to have such a lovely library and the help and guidance
of Mrs Norris who is always on hand to advise on something that will either meet all
our research needs or entice us into a world where we can be absorbed by a good
tale or a richly told story. Her 'top tips' list of books that have been recently
published is always worth perusing and we all value her recommendations.
We are fortunate that there are many ways at Queen Anne's to discover a book that
we will enjoy: Book Week, when we all try to write a review of a book we have
enjoyed, is always fun and informative. Personal recommendation is valued here and
we enjoy discussing the books we have enjoyed and sharing our views.
The reviews contained in this brochure will, I hope, help you to find books that you will
enjoy over the summer and during the coming academic year. As you join us in
September, I look forward to sharing those stories, histories, autobiographies, poetry
and other materials that you have enjoyed and absorbed over the summer break.
Have a wonderful summer and I hope you enjoy some of the wonderful works of
literature recommended in this brochure. I know I will!
Julia Harrington
Headmistress
Queen Anne's School
Caversham
Tel: 0118 918 7302
L4 Reading List
Louisa May ALCOTT
Little Women
A sensitive portrayal of the lives of the four March sisters, Meg, Jo, Beth and Amy, growing up
during the American Civil War. In a small New England community, Marmee looks after her
daughters in the absence of her husband, who is serving as an army chaplain, and the girls
experience domestic trials and triumphs as they attempt to supplement the family's small
income.
David ALMOND
My Name is Mina
Mina writes and writes in her notebook, and here is her journal. Mina's life in Mina's own
words: her stories and dreams, experiences and thoughts, her scribblings and nonsense, poems
and songs. Her vivid account of her vivid life. This book is the prequel to Skellig, and
introduces us to Mina before she knows either Michael or Skellig.
David ALMOND
Skellig
12-year-old Michael has just moved house. His babysister is seriously ill. Michael discovers an
angel, Skellig, who is bad-tempered and eats Chinese takeaways. Over time Skellig
mysteriously helps Michael's sister to be restored to health. This novel challenges the
boundaries of reality.
Laurie Halse ANDERSON
Chains
Isabel and her sister Ruth are slaves. Sold from one owner to the next, they arrive in New York
as the Americans are fighting for their independence. Soon Isabel is struggling to keep herself
and her sister safe in a world in which they have no control. This haunting novel tells not only
the story of a remarkable girl and her incredible strength, but also of a time and place in
which slavery was the order of the day and lives were valued like weights of meat or bundles
of vegetables.
Lynne Reid BANKS
The Indian in the Cupboard
For Omri, it is a dream come true when the plastic American Indian he locks into the old
cupboard comes to life. Little Bull is everything an Indian brave should be -- proud, fearless
and defiant. But being in charge of a real, live, human being is a heavy responsibility, as
Omri soon discovers. And when his best friend, Patrick, is let in on the secret, he soon realises
that life-changing decisions lie ahead.
Frank Cottrell BOYCE
Cosmic
Liam is too big for his boots, his football strip and his school blazer. But being super-sized
height-wise has its advantages: he is the only 11-year-old to ever ride the G-force defying
Cosmic rollercoaster or be offered the chance to drive a Porsche. He makes a giant leap for
boy-kind by competing with a group of adults for the chance to go into space. Is Liam the best
boy for the job? Sometimes being big isn’t all about being a grown-up.
John BOYNE
The Boy in the Striped Pyjamas
Nine-year-old Bruno knows nothing of the Final Solution and the Holocaust. He is oblivious to
the appalling cruelties being inflicted on the people of Europe by his country. All he knows is
that he has been moved from a comfortable home in Berlin to a house in a desolate area
where there is nothing to do and no one to play with. Until he meets Shmuel, a boy who lives a
strange parallel existence on the other side of the adjoining wire fence.
L4 Reading List
Sita BRAHMACHARI
Artichoke Hearts
12-year-old Mira comes from a chaotic, artistic, outspoken family. As Nana Josie's health
declines, Mira begins to discover the secrets of those around her, and also starts to keep
some of her own. She is drawn to Jide, a boy who is clearly hiding a troubled past and has
grown hardened layers, like those of an artichoke, around his heart. As Mira is experiencing
grief for the first time, she is also discovering the wondrous and often mystical world around
her.
Stephanie BURGIS
A Most Improper Magick
At 12 years old, any proper young lady in Regency England should be sitting quietly at
home, practising her embroidery and keeping her opinions to herself. But Kat Stephenson is no
ordinary young lady. Kat's father may be a respectable vicar, but her late mother was a
notorious witch and Kat herself is the newest target of an ancient magical Order. In the 1st
thrilling instalment of The Unladylike Adventures of Kat Stephenson, there are highwaymen to
foil, sinister aristocrats to defeat and true loves to capture for Kat's two older sisters.
David CALCUTT
The Map of Marvels
When Connor starts creating a map of an imaginary world for his school project he has no
idea where it will lead. As he draws the outlines of the islands and the mountains, the map
begins to take shape. Perhaps without the tower, the map might not even exist. But the map
does exist, and so does the tower. Connor meets others in his imagined world, all with their
own tale to tell. On their journey together they encounter places and creatures beyond
Connor's imagination. But he has imagined them … hasn't he?
Rachel CAMPBELL-JOHNSTON
The Child’s Elephant
When a baby elephant is left orphaned on the African savannah, Bat, a young herdsboy,
takes her home and cares for her. But Bat's grandmother knows that Meya cannot stay with
them for ever; the call of the wild will always be sounding in her soul. The extraordinary story
of the incredible friendship between a boy and an elephant, and their survival against all the
odds.
Lewis CARROLL
Alice’s Adventures in Wonderland
Bored on a hot afternoon, Alice follows a White Rabbit down a rabbit-hole and tumbles into
Wonderland, where animals answer back, a baby turns into a pig, time stands still at a
disorderly tea party and croquet is played with hedgehogs and flamingos. In a land in which
nothing is as it seems and cakes, potions and mushrooms can make her shrink to ten inches or
grow to the size of a house, will Alice be able to find her way home again?
Cathy CASSIDY
Angel Cake
Anya used to dream of moving to Britain to start a brand-new life. But as she sits in a school
where nobody understands her, she dreams of Polish summer skies and the place where she
once belonged. Then Anya meets bad boy Dan. He’s no angel, but she’s sure there’s a
sweeter side to him. And when things begin to fall apart, Anya realizes she’s not alone – how
can Dan be such bad news when being with him feels like heaven?
Linda COGGIN
The Boy with the Tiger’s Heart
In a world where nature and darkness are feared, where wild animals are held captive and
cities are illuminated by permanent light, Nona must flee with her only friend, a bear who is
strangely human. In their desperate attempt to escape capture, Nona and her bear encounter
two strange boys, Caius and Jay. Together, the four of them will hide, fight and make the
deadliest of enemies in their desperate race to a forbidden place called The Edge, where
nature is unrestrained, and where there is light and shade, forest and mountain.
L4 Reading List
Suzanne COLLINS
Gregor the Overlander
When 11-year-old Gregor falls through a grate in the laundry room of his apartment
building, he hurtles into the dark Underland, where spiders, rats and giant cockroaches coexist
uneasily with humans. This world is on the brink of war, and Gregor's arrival is no accident.
Gregor has a vital role to play in the Underland's uncertain future. Gregor wants no part of it
until he realizes it's the only way to solve the mystery of his father's disappearance.
Sarah CROSSAN
Apple and Rain
When Apple's mother returns after eleven years of absence, Apple feels whole again. She
will have an answer to her burning question - why did you go? And she will have someone
who understands what it means to be a teenager - unlike Nana. But just like the stormy
Christmas Eve when she left, her mother's homecoming is bitter sweet, and Apple begins to
wonder who is really looking after whom.
Roald DAHL
Boy
Many remarkable things happened to Roald Dahl when he was a boy, and maybe that's
where some of the marvellous ideas for his books came from. This is the story of his own
childhood, of his early years at school and with his family.
Roddy DOYLE
A Greyhound of a Girl
A Greyhound of a Girl is a funny and tender tale about four generations of an Irish family,
and the special bonds between mothers and daughters. 12-year-old Mary's beloved
grandmother is near the end of her life. Letting go is hard, until Granny's long-dead mammy
appears. Her ghost has returned to help her dying daughter say goodbye to the ones she
loves. But first she needs to take them all on a road trip to the past…
Gerald DURRELL
My Family and Other Animals
Soaked in the sunshine of Corfu, where the author lived as a boy, this delightful book tells of
Gerald Durrell's early life. Brought vividly to life are the extraordinary members of the
Durrell family and their many eccentric hangers-on, as well as the bizarre menagerie Gerry
adopts for closer study. The procession of creatures he brings back to the villa includes toads
and tortoises, bats and butterflies, scorpions and geckos, ladybirds, glow-worms, octopuses
and rose-beetles, Quasimodo the pigeon, the puppies Widdle and Puke and the Magenpies.
Phil EARLE
Demolition Dad
This is the story of Jake Biggs and his dad, George. George spends all week knocking down
buildings and all weekend knocking down wrestlers. He's the ‘Demolition Man’ and Jake
couldn't be prouder. But when Jake hears about a pro-wrestling competition in the USA, and
persuades his beloved dad to apply, things don't turn out quite the way he expected ...
Deborah ELLIS
The Breadwinner
In Afghanistan, Parvana's father is arrested and taken away by the Taliban soldiers. Under
Taliban law, Parvana, her mother, and sisters must stay inside their home. Four days later, the
food runs out. They face starvation. So Parvana must pretend to be a boy to save her family.
It is a dangerous plan, but their only chance. In fear she goes out, and witnesses the horror of
landmines, and the brutality of the Taliban. She suffers beatings and the desperation of trying
to survive. But even in despair lies hope.
L4 Reading List
Lissa EVANS
Small Change for Stuart
This is a fast-moving blend of comedy and magic. 10-year-old Stuart moves to the dreary
town of Beeton. He meets his new next-door neighbours, the unbearable Kingley triplets, and
things get even worse. But the strangest adventure of Stuart's life begins as he is swept up in a
quest to find his great-uncle's lost workshop which is stuffed with trickery and magic. There are
clues to follow and puzzles to solve, but what starts as fun ends up as danger, and Stuart
begins to realize that he can't finish the task by himself . . .
Jasper FFORDE
The Last Dragonslayer
In the good old days, magic was powerful, unregulated by government, and even the largest
spell could be woven without filling in magic release form B1-7g. Then the magic started
fading away. 15-year-old Jennifer Strange runs Kazam, an employment agency for
soothsayers and sorcerers. But work is drying up. Drain cleaner is cheaper than a spell, and
even magic carpets are reduced to delivering pizzas. So it's a surprise when the visions start…
Anne FRANK
The Diary of a Young Girl
The Diary of a Young Girl is among the most enduring documents of the 20th century. In
Amsterdam, in the summer of 1942, the Nazis forced teenager Anne Frank and her family
into hiding. For over two years, they, another family and a German dentist lived in a 'secret
annexe', fearing discovery. All that time, Anne kept a diary. An intimate record of tension and
struggle, adolescence and confinement, anger and heartbreak. The diary ends abruptly when
she and her family were betrayed.
Neil GAIMAN
The Graveyard Book
Winner of the Carnegie Medal. When a baby escapes a murderer intent on killing an entire
family, who would have thought he would find safety and security in the local graveyard?
Brought up by the resident ghosts, ghouls and spectres, Bod has an eccentric childhood
learning about life from the dead. But there is also the danger of the murderer still looking
for him, the last remaining member of his family. Will Bod survive to be a man?
Sally GARDNER
Maggot Moon
When his best friend Hector is suddenly taken away, Standish Treadwell realises that it is up
to him, his grandfather and a small band of rebels to confront and defeat the ever-present
oppressive forces of the Motherland, a ruthless regime determined to beat its enemies in the
race to the moon. Utterly original and stunning, it is impossible not to be moved by this
powerful story and the unforgettable heroism of Standish.
Sally GARDNER
Tinder
A young soldier, a captive princess, witches, wolves and Death walk hand in hand in Sally
Gardner's exquisitely written novel inspired by Hans Christian Andersen’s fairy tale, The
Tinderbox. Fairy tales are often the cruellest stories of all; in this exquisite novel, beautifully
illustrated by David Roberts, Sally Gardner writes about great love and great loss.
Rohan GAVIN
Knightley & Son
A funny, warm, fantastical crime caper with an unlikely hero and a brilliant comic cast, perfect
for fans of Sherlock and criminally good storytelling. Darkus Knightley is not your average
13-year-old. Ferociously logical, super-smart and with a fondness for tweed, detective work is
in his blood. His dad Alan was London's top private investigator and an expert in crimes too
strange for Scotland Yard to handle, but 4 years ago the unexplained finally caught up with
him and he fell into a mysterious coma. Darkus is determined to find out what happened.
L4 Reading List
Frances HARDINGE
Cuckoo Song
When Triss wakes up after an accident, she knows that something is very wrong. She is
insatiably hungry, her sister seems scared of her and her parents whisper behind closed doors.
She looks through her diary to try to remember, but the pages have been ripped out. Soon
Triss discovers that what has happened to her is more strange and terrible than she could ever
have imagined, and that she is quite literally not herself. A breathtakingly dark and twisted
tale.
Sonya HARTNETT
The Midnight Zoo
World War II, Eastern Europe. Tomas and his younger brother, Andrej, carrying Wilma, their
baby sister, in a sack, have fled their Romany encampment which has been besieged by the
Germans. In an abandoned, bombed-out town, the children discover a zoo. In it are a wolf
and an eagle, a monkey, bear, lioness, seal, chamois and llama. The animals tell their stories
to the children as they try to begin to understand what has become of their lives, and, as they
try to figure out a way to release the animals, what it means to be free
Eva IBBOTSON
The Dragonfly Pool
Tally Hamilton is furious to hear she is being sent from London to a horrid, stuffy boarding
school in the countryside. And all because of the stupid war. But Delderton Hall is a far more
interesting place than Tally ever imagined, and an exciting school trip to the beautiful and
luscious kingdom of Bergania whisks Tally into an unexpected adventure . . . will she be able
to save her new friend, Prince Tamil, before it's too late?
Judith KERR
When Hitler Stole Pink Rabbit
Anna is too busy with schoolwork and tobogganing to listen to the talk of Hitler. But one day
she and her brother are rushed out of Germany in alarming secrecy, away from everything
they know. Their father is wanted by the Nazis - dead or alive. This is the start of a huge
adventure, sometimes frightening, very often funny, and always, always exciting. Judith Kerr
was born in Berlin and left Germany in 1933 to escape the Nazis. Her novels are based on
her own experience.
Suzanne LaFLEUR
Love, Aubrey
Something terrible has happened. Eleven-year-old Aubrey is on her own. She is determined to
hide away and take care of herself, because facing the truth is too much to bear. But with the
love of her grandmother and the letters she writes, Aubrey can begin to see that even though
she seems to have lost everything, all is not lost.
Tanya LANDMAN
Mondays are Murder
When Poppy Fields goes on an activity holiday to a remote Scottish island, she is looking
forward to a week of climbing, hill-walking and horse riding. But things take a bad turn when
their instructor has what appears to be a fatal abseiling accident. When Poppy discovers that
his rope was cut, and more of the instructors start to have "accidents", she and her best friend
Graham suspect foul play and decide to investigate.
Michael LAWRENCE
Kid Swap
Jiggy is horrified to hear that his parents have signed him up for a reality TV show called Kid
Swap. He is to move in with another family and everything he does will be filmed. Sadly, most
of what he does while the camera is pointing his way is not the kind of thing he wants to share
with millions of total strangers. And then, on top of it all, there’s his bizarre skin problem...
L4 Reading List
Madeleine L’ENGLE
A Wrinkle in Time
When Charles goes searching for his lost father, he finds himself on an evil planet where all
life is enslaved by a pulsating brain known as "IT". Charles, his sister and his friend find and
free his father. This novel is a mixture of fantasy and science fiction.
Michelle MAGORIAN
Goodnight Mister Tom
Young Willie Beech is evacuated to the country as Britain stands on the brink of WW2. A sad,
deprived child, he slowly begins to flourish under the care of old Tom Oakley - but his newfound happiness is shattered by a summons from his mother back in London... Winner of the
Guardian Children's Fiction Award.
Michelle MAGORIAN
A Spoonful of Jam
The war is over but Elsie is still fighting her own battles. She's bullied because she's the only
scholarship pupil at the grammar school, and she has an awkward relationship with her father
as he struggles to resume a normal life after fighting in the war. But when she begins working
at the local theatre, Elsie discovers she can escape…
Simon MAYO
Itch
Itchingham Lofte, known as Itch, is 14 and loves science, especially chemistry. He's also an
element-hunter; he's decided to collect all the elements in the periodic table, which has some
interesting and rather destructive results in his bedroom… Then, Itch makes a discovery: a new
element, never seen before. At first no one believes him, but soon someone hears about the
strange new rock and wants it for himself, and Itch is in serious danger…
Geraldine McCAUGHREAN
The Death Defying Pepper Roux
When Pepper Roux was born his aunt foretold that he would not live past 14 years of age.
Throughout his childhood his parents haven't bothered with him much, knowing that his life
would be short-lived. So when Pepper wakes up on his 14th birthday he knows this will be the
day that he'll die. But as the day wears on, and Pepper finds himself still alive, he decides to
try and avoid death for as long as possible. As time goes on Pepper steps into many roles
and personas and has numerous outrageous adventures. Will fate catch up with him?
Geraldine McCAUGHREAN
The Middle of Nowhere
When her mother dies from a snakebite, Comity's life in the Australian outback changes
forever. As her father retreats into his work, Comity turns to Fred, the Aboriginal yard boy,
who becomes her only friend. But then a new assistant arrives who delights in playing cruel
games. As Fred becomes his target, events spiral dangerously out of control.
Geraldine McCAUGHREAN
The White Darkness
Captain Titus Oates, hero of the Antarctic, has been dead for a century. But not in Sym's
head. In there, he is her constant companion, her soul mate, her adviser. It is as if he walked
out of the Polar blizzard and into her mind. In fact, if it were not for Titus, life might be as
bleak a place as the Antarctic wilderness. Then a short family expedition makes her ask the
question she has long been avoiding. Is she mad to trust someone or something that isn't there
to give her happiness?
L4 Reading List
A. A. MILNE
Winnie the Pooh
A. A. Milne's first stories about Winnie-the-Pooh, the most famous bear in the world, and his
Forest friends, were published ninety years ago. Discover what happens when Pooh goes
visiting and Piglet meets a Heffalump, not forgetting when Eeyore loses his tail and Pooh finds
one!
L. M. MONTGOMERY
Anne of Green Gables
A brother and sister send for a boy to help them on their farm, Green Gables. By mistake
they are sent an 11-year-old girl. She picks a fight with anyone who mentions the colour of
her hair and causes havoc, but ends up being loved.
Michael MORPURGO
Kaspar, Prince of Cats
Kaspar first came to the Savoy Hotel in a basket - Johnny Trott knows, because he carried him
in. Johnny was a bell-boy, and he carried all of Countess Kandinsky's things to her room. But
Johnny didn't expect to end up with Kaspar on his hands forever. Pretty soon, events are set in
motion that will take Johnny and Kaspar all around the world, surviving theft, shipwreck and
rooftop rescues along the way. Because everything changes with a cat like Kaspar around. As
far as anyone knows, he was the only cat to survive the sinking of the Titanic!
Michael MORPURGO
Private Peaceful
Heroism or cowardice? A stunning tale of the First World War told in the voice of a young
soldier. The story follows 24 hours in his life at the front during WW1, and captures his
memories as he looks back over his life. Full of stunningly researched detail and engrossing
atmosphere, the book leads to a dramatic and moving conclusion. The book is both a love
story and a deeply moving account of the horrors of the First World War.
Michael MORPURGO
Waiting for Anya
This is a gripping historical adventure. It is World War II and Jo stumbles on a dangerous
secret: Jewish children are being smuggled away from the Nazis, close to his mountain village
in Spain. Now, German soldiers have been stationed at the border. Jo must get word to his
friends that the children are trapped. The slightest mistake could cost them their lives.
Patrick NESS
A Monster Calls
The monster showed up just after midnight. As they do. But it isn't the monster Conor's been
expecting. He's been expecting the one from his nightmare, the one he's had nearly every
night since his mother started her treatments, the one with the darkness and the wind and the
screaming... The monster in his back garden, though, this monster is something different.
Something ancient, something wild. And it wants the most dangerous thing of all from Conor.
It wants the truth.
Annabel PITCHER
My Sister Lives on the Mantelpiece
10-year-old Jamie has just moved to the Lake District with his Dad and teenage sister,
Jasmine for a 'Fresh New Start'. Five years ago his sister's twin, Rose, was blown up by a
terrorist bomb. His parents are wrecked by their grief. The family falls apart. But Jamie
hasn't cried in all that time. To him Rose is just a distant memory. Jamie is far more interested
in his cat, Roger, his birthday Spiderman t-shirt, in keeping his new friend Sunya a secret
from his dad, and in his deep longing and unshakeable belief that his Mum will come back.
L4 Reading List
Eleanor H. PORTER
Pollyanna
When orphan Pollyanna is sent to live with her bad-tempered aunt, she realizes that many of
the folk in Beldingsville could use her help. As she brings cheer and hope to the people around
her, and reminds them that every cloud has a silver lining, she brightens up many lives. But
then Pollyanna experiences something so terrible that she wonders if she'll ever feel glad
again. A classic of children’s literature.
Terry PRATCHETT
Nation
Mau is on his way home from the Boys' Island. Soon he will be a man. Then the wave comes a huge wave, dragging black night behind it and bringing a schooner which sails over and
through the island rainforest. The village has gone. The Nation as it was has gone. Now
there's just Mau, who wears barely anything, a ‘trouserman’ girl who wears far too much,
and an awful lot of big misunderstandings…
Sarah PRINEAS
The Magic Thief
Conn should have dropped dead the day he stole a wizard's locus stone, but miraculously he
survives. Becoming the wizard's apprentice, Conn becomes embroiled in his master's plan to
save the city, whose magic is slowly dying. Meanwhile, the wizard, Nevery, is secretly
beginning to question Conn's past: why did the thief survive in the Twilight and why is he
immune to injury? Conn, however, is hiding a much darker secret.
Arthur RANSOME
Swallows and Amazons
To John, Susan, Titty and Roger, simply being allowed to use the boat Swallow, and to go
camping on the island, is adventure enough. But they soon find themselves under attack from
the Amazon pirates, Nancy and Peggy. Thus begins a summer of battles, alliances,
exploration and discovery.
Katherine RUNDELL
Rooftoppers
Join plucky heroine Sophie, her eccentric guardian Charles, and her intrepid orphan allies on
the rooftops of Victorian Paris. Charles, a fellow shipwreck survivor and an eccentric scholar,
finds Sophie in the English Channel and brings her home to his London bachelor flat. Raised in
a quirky home filled with music, words and love (though questionable diet), Sophie grows into
a free-spirited tomboy with a taste for Shakespeare and the unshakeable belief that
anything is possible. And you should never ignore a possible.
Louis SACHAR
Holes
Stanley Yelnat's family has a history of bad luck going back generations, so he is not too
surprised when a miscarriage of justice sends him to Camp Green Lake Juvenile Detention
Centre. Nor is he very surprised when he is told that his daily labour at the camp is to dig a
hole, five foot wide by five foot deep, and report anything that he finds in that hole. The
warden claims that it is character building, but this is a lie and Stanley must dig up the truth.
This is a wonderfully inventive, compelling novel that is both serious and funny.
Kate SAUNDERS
Five Children on the Western Front
Cyril is off to fight, Anthea is at art college, Robert is a Cambridge scholar and Jane is at
high school. The Lamb has reached the grown up age of 11 and he has a little sister, Edith, in
tow. These are characters you may have met in E. Nesbit’s Five Children and It. The sand fairy
has become a creature of stories, until he suddenly reappears. The siblings are pleased to
have something to take their minds off the imminent First World War, but this time the
Psammead is here for a reason, and his magic might have a more serious purpose.
L4 Reading List
Marcus SEDGWICK
Midwinterblood
Have you ever had the feeling that you've lived another life? Been somewhere that has felt
totally familiar even when you've never been there before, or felt that you've known someone
even though you are meeting them for the first time? Beautifully imagined, intricately and
cleverly structured this is a heart-wrenching and breathtaking paranormal romance, but it also
has the hallmark Sedgwick gothic touch with plenty of blood-spilling, a vampire and sacrifice.
Darren SHAN
Cirque du Freak
The chilling Saga of Darren Shan, the ordinary schoolboy plunged into the vampire world.
Darren goes to a banned freak show with his best mate Steve. It's the wonderfully gothic
Cirque Du Freak where weird, frightening half human/half animals appear who interact
terrifyingly with the audience. Darren finds himself having to make a bargain with a creature
of the night. Atmospheric, funny, realistic, moving and terrifying!
Holly SMALE
Geek Girl
Harriet Manners knows that a cat has 32 muscles in each ear, a “jiffy” lasts 1/100th of a
second, and the average person laughs 15 times per day, but she doesn’t know why nobody
at school seems to like her. So when Harriet is spotted by a top model agent, she grabs the
chance to reinvent herself. Even if it means stealing her best friend's dream and lying to the
people she loves…
William SUTCLIFFE
The Wall
Joshua lives with his mother and stepfather in a divided city, where a wall and soldiers
separate two communities, and the rubble-strewn residue of their broken world gives hints of
the old life before the wall was built. Joshua discovers a manhole, which leads to a tunnel,
which leads in pitch darkness under the wall and across to the other side. Forbidden,
dangerous and violent territory, which a boy like him, visibly different, shouldn't stray into…
J. R. R. TOLKIEN
The Hobbit
The Hobbit is a tale of high adventure, undertaken by a company of dwarves in search of
dragon-guarded gold. A reluctant partner in this perilous quest is Bilbo Baggins, a comfortloving unambitious hobbit, who surprises even himself by his resourcefulness and skill as a
burglar. Encounters with trolls, goblins, dwarves, elves and giant spiders, conversations with
the dragon, Smaug, and a rather unwilling presence at the Battle of Five Armies are just some
of the adventures that befall Bilbo.
Jacqueline WILSON
Hetty Feather
London, 1876 and Hetty Feather is a tiny baby left at the Foundling Hospital. The Hospital
cares for abandoned children, but Hetty must first live with a foster family. Life in the
countryside is hard but with her 'brothers' Jem and Gideon, she helps in the fields. They sneak
off to visit the travelling circus and Hetty is mesmerised, especially by Madame Adeline and
her performing horses. When Hetty is returned to the Foundling Hospital, the new life of
uniforms and terrible food is a struggle. But now she has the chance to find her real mother.
Malala YOUSAFZAI
Malala (N/F – Biography)
920 YOU
She's a girl who loves cricket, gossips with her best friends and, on the day of the shooting,
nearly overslept and missed an exam. Malala saw women suddenly banned from public,
schools blown up, the Taliban seize control, and her homeland descend into a state of fear.
This is the story of her life, edited for younger readers.
L4 Reading List
This reading list has been compiled by the School Librarian in consultation with
members of the English Department teaching staff.
All books listed are available for loan from the Muriel Hall Library (the School
Library).
Most of the titles listed are still in print at the time of issue of this reading list, and
should be available from all good bookshops.
We look forward to welcoming you to the Library! We aim to provide support for
your school studies and prep (homework), and also to make available a rich variety of
reading material and other resources for your leisure time.
We are here to help you in all sorts of ways – we can help you find information, or
recommend good books to read. We can provide a quiet place to study or to sit and
read.
We are looking forward to meeting you!
Mrs. H. Norris
School Librarian
Mrs. A. Cohen
Library Assistant
January 2016
L4 Reading List