Recommended Reading List
Gone by Michael Grant
Suddenly there are no adults, no answers. What would you do? In the blink of
an eye, the world changes. The adults vanish without a trace, and those left must
do all they can to survive. But everyone’s idea of survival is different. Some look
after themselves, some look after others, and some will do anything for power…
Even kill.
Wonder by R.J. Palacio
‘My name is August. I won’t describe what I look like. Whatever you’re thinking,
it’s probably worse.’ Auggie wants to be an ordinary ten-year old. He does
ordinary things – eating ice cream, playing on his Xbox. He feels ordinary – inside.
But ordinary kids don’t make other ordinary kids run away screaming in
playgrounds. Ordinary kids aren’t scared at wherever they go…
Arena 13 by Joseph Delaney
Welcome to Arena 13. Here warriors fight. Death is never far away… Leif has
one ambition, to become the best fighter in the notorious Arena 13, here punters
place wagers on which fighter will draw first blood. And in grudge matches, they
bet on which fighter will die. But the country is terrorised by Hob, an evil
creature. And this is exactly what Leif wants…
Northern Lights by Philip Pullman
When Lyra’s friend Roger disappears, she and her daemon, Pantalaimon,
determine to find him. Their quest leads them to the bleak splendour of the
North where a team of scientists are conducting unspeakably horrible
experiments. But something more perilous awaits Lyra.
172 Hours on the Moon by Johan Harstad
Three teenagers are going on the trip of a lifetime. Only one is coming back. It’s
been more than forty years since NASA sent the first men to the moon, and to
grab some much-needed funding and attention, they decide to launch an historic
international lottery in which three lucky teenagers can win a week-long trip to
moon base DARLAH 2- a place that no one but top government officials even
knew existed…
Grandpa’s Great Escape by David Walliams
Grandpa lives in a Maximum Security Twighlight Zone, and his Grandson
attempts to set him free. Jack’s Grandpa… wears his slippers to the
supermarket; serves up tinned tongue for dinner; and often doesn’t remember
Jack’s name. But he can still take to the skies in a speeding Spitfire and save the
day…
Goal! by Robert Rigby
This is a terrific story of a young Latino boy, who spotted by an ex-scout, playing
in a park in Los Angeles, wins himself a trial at one of England’s Premier League
clubs – Newcastle United. Struggling to cope with the gritty Northern weather,
the rivalries and jealousies from other players and dodgy scouts, he has just this
one shot at fulfilling his dream…
Recommended Reading List
The Bad Beginning: A Series of Unfortunate Events by Lemony
Snicket
There is nothing to be found in the pages of A Series of Unfortunate Events but
misery and despair. You still have time to choose another international bestseller to read. But if you must know what unpleasantries befall the charming and
clever Baudelaire children read on…
The Sword of Summer by Rick Riordan
Magnus Chase has always been a troubled kid. Since his mother’s mysterious
death, he’s lived alone on the streets of Boston, surviving by his wits, keeping
one
step
ahead
of
the
police
and
the
truant
officers.
One day, he’s tracked down by a man he’s never met—a man his mother claimed
was dangerous. The man tells him an impossible secret: Magnus is the son of a
Norse god.
Cherry Crush: The Chocolate Box Girls by Cathy Cassidy
Cherry Costello’s life is about to change forever. She and Dad are moving to
Somerset where a new mum and a bunch of brand-new sisters await. And on
Cherry’s first day there she meets Shay Fletcher – the kind of boy who should
carry a government health warning. But Shay already has a girlfriend, Cherry’s
new stepsister Honey.
The House of Secrets by Chris Columbus and Ned Vizzini
When Brendan, Cordelia and Nell move to Kristoff House they have no idea
that they are about to unleash the dark magic locked within. For the house
once belonged to a crazed writer, whose stories have come to life. Literally.
Now the Walker kids must battle against deadly pirates, bloodthirsty warriors
and a bone-crunching giant. If they fail they will never see their parents again
and a power-mad Witch will take over the world. No pressure then.
Harry Potter and the Philosopher’s Stone by JK Rowling
Harry Potter is an ordinary boy who lives in a cupboard under the stairs at his
aunt Petunia and Uncle Vernon’s house, which he thinks is normal for someone
like him whose parents have been killed in a ‘car crash’. This normality is changed
when an owl delivers a letter addressed to Harry and suddenly everything is very
different.
Five on a Treasure Island by Enid Blyton
The very first Famous Five adventure, featuring Julian, Dick, Anne, not forgetting
tomboy George and her beloved dog, Timmy! There’s a shipwreck off Kirrin
Island. But where is the treasure? The Famous Five are on the trail – looking for
clues – but they are not alone! Someone else has got the same idea. Time is
running out for the Famous Five.
Itch by Simon Mayo
Meet Itch – an accidental, accident-prone hero. Science is his weapon. Elements
are his gadgets. Itchingham Lofte – known as Itch – is fourteen, and loves science,
especially chemistry. He’s also an element-hunter: he’s collecting all the elements
in the periodic table. Which has some rather interesting and rather destructive
results… All-action adventure perfect for Alex Rider and Young Bond fans.
Recommended Reading List
I’d Tell You I Love You, But Then I’d Have To Kill You by Ally Carter
Gallagher Academy might claim to be a school for geniuses – but it’s really a
school for spies. Cammie Morgan is fluent in fourteen languages and capable of
killing a man in seven different ways (three of which involve a piece of uncooked
spaghetti). But the one thing the Gallagher Academy hasn’t prepared her for is
what to do when she falls for an ordinary boy who thinks she’s an ordinary girl.
Skulduggery Pleasant by Derek Landy
Meet the great Skulduggery Pleasant: wise-cracking detective, powerful magician,
master of dirty tricks and burglary (in the name of the greater good, of course).
Oh year. And dead. Then there’s his sidekick, Stephanie. She’s… well, she’s a
twelve-year old girl. With a pair like this on the case, evil had better watch out…
Eragon by Christopher Paolini
One boy… one dragon… A world of adventure. When Eragon finds a polished
stone in the forest, he thinks it will buy his family meat for the winter. But when
the stone brings a dragon hatchling, Eragon soon realises he has stumbled upon
a legacy nearly as old as the Empire itself.
Zom-B by Darren Shan
Can you love a bullying racist thug if he’s your father? How do you react when
confronted with your darkest inner demons? What do you do when zombies
attack? B Smith is about to find out…
Alone On A Wide Wide Sea by Michael Morpurgo
How far would you go to find yourself? There were dozens of us on the ship, all
up on deck for the leaving of Liverpool, gulls wheeling and crying over our heads,
calling goodbye! That is all I remember of England. When six-year-old orphan
Arthur Hobhouse is shipped to Australia after WWII he loses his sister…A
lyrical, life-affirming novel.
Hetty Feather by Jacqueline Wilson
London, 1876. Hetty Feather is just a tiny baby when her mother leaves her at
the Foundling Hospital. The Hospital cares for abandoned children – but Hetty
must first live with a foster family until she is big enough to go to school. Life in
the countryside is sometimes hard, but with her foster brothers, Jem and Gideon,
Hetty helps in the fields and plays imaginary games… Hetty Feather is moving,
funny and fascinating.
The Set-Up: The Medusa Project by Sophie McKenzie
Fourteen years ago, scientist William Fox implanted four babies with the Medusa
gene – a gene for psychic abilities. But Fox died and the babies were hidden away
for years. Now the children are teenagers – and unaware that their psychic
powers are about to kick in. Cocky, charismatic Nico thinks his emerging
telekinetic abilities will bring him money, power and the girl of his dreams. He’s
about to find out just how wrong he is…
Geek Girl by Holly Smale
My name is Harriet Manners, and I am a geek. 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. She knows that bats always turn left when exiting a cave
and that peanuts are one of the ingredients of dynamite. 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 lying to
the people she loves.
Recommended Reading List
Artemis Fowl by Eoin Colfer
Twelve-year old villain, Artemis Fowl, is the most ingenious criminal mastermind
in history. His bold and daring plan is to hold a leprechaun to ransom. But he’s
taking on more than he bargained for when he kidnaps Captain Holly short of
the LEPrecon (Lower Elements Police Reconnaissance Unit). For a start,
leprechaun technology is more advanced than our own. Add to that the fact that
Holly is a true heroine and that her senior officer Commander Root will stop at
nothing to get her back and you’ve got the mother of all sieges brewing!
The Hitchhiker’s Guide to the Galaxy by Douglas Adams
One Thursday lunchtime the Earth gets unexpectedly demolished to make way
for a new hyperspace bypass. It’s the final straw for Arthur Dent, who has already
had his house bulldozed that morning. But for Arthur, that is only the beginning…
In the seconds before global obliteration, Arthur is plucked from the planet by
his friend Ford Prefect – and together the pair venture out across the galaxy on
the craziest, strangest road trip of all time.
Stormbreaker: Alex Rider by Anthony Horowitz
When his guardian dies in suspicious circumstances, 14 year old Alex Rider’s
world is turned upside down. Recruited into MI6 and armed with secret gadgets
he sets off on his first mission, to discover the truth about the free gifts of
Stormbreaker computers given to every school in the country.
Withering Tights by Louise Rennison
The misadventures of Tallulah Casey! Laugh your tights off at the (VERY) amateur
dramatic antics of Tallulah and her bonkers mates. Boys, snogging and bad acting
guaranteed! Picture the scene: Dother Hall performing arts college somewhere
Up North, surrounded by rolling dales, bearded cheesemaking villagers (male and
female) and wildlife of the squirrely-type.
Goodnight Mister Tom by Michelle Margorian
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 new-found happiness is shattered by a summons from his
mother back in London…
I Capture the Castle by Dodie Smith
An enchanting novel for older children by the author of 101 Dalmations.
Seventeen-year-old Cassandra and her family live in not-so-genteel poverty in a
ramshackle old English castle. Over six turbulent months, Cassandra tries to
hone her writing skills, filling three notebooks with sharply funny yet poignant
entries that chronicle the great changes that take place within the castle’s walls…
Silverfin by Charlie Higson
Before the name became a legend. Before the boy became a man. Meet Bond.
James Bond. There’s something in the water at Loch Silverfin. Something
deadly. Something that must be kept secret… It’s James Bond’s first day at
Eton, and he’s already met his first enemy. This is the start of an adventure that
will take him from the school playing fields to the remote shores of Loch
Silverfin and a terrifying discovery that threatens to unleash a new breed of
warfare.
Recommended Reading List
The One Dollar Horse by Lauren St John
Fifteen year old Casey Blue lives in East London’s grimmest tower block and
volunteers at a local riding school, but her dream is to win the world’s greatest
Three Day Event: the Badminton Horse Trials. When she rescues a starving, halfwild horse, she’s convinced that the impossible can be made possible.
The Hunger Games by Suzanne Collins
Sixteen-year-old Katniss Everdeen regards it as a death sentence when she is
forced to represent her district in the annual Hunger Games, a fight to the death
on live TV. But Katniss has been close to death before – and survival, for her, is
second nature. The Hunger Games is a searing novel set in a future with unsettling
parallels to our present. Welcome to the deadliest reality TV show ever…
Diamond of Drury Lane by Julia Golding
I am Cat Royal – Orphan, Adventurer, Actress . . . Meet the feistiest heroine in
children’s historical fiction. Reader, you are set to embark on an adventure about
one hidden treasure, two bare-knuckle boxers, three enemies and four hundred
and thirty-eight rioters. I was brought up in Drury Lane, so I have become
accustomed to a life less than ordinary. But this turn of events, I have to say,
surprised even me. Follow me, and I will show you in The Diamond of Drury
Lane. Exciting, funny and packed with adventure . . . Cat Royal never fails to stir
up trouble wherever she goes.
Charlie and the Chocolate Factory by Roald Dahl
Charlie and the Chocolate Factory is an incredible 50 years old! Charlie Bucket
desperately wants to eat more than cabbage soup every day. But, even more
than that, he longs to have a specially conducted tour of Wonka's enormous
chocolate factory. The Golden Ticket allows Charlie to fulfil his wish, and he
finds himself in a 'world of mystic and marvellous surprises'.
An African American Girl’s Diary 1859: My Story by Patricia C
McKissack
In the slave quarters of Virginia’s cruel plantations, Clotee’s people pray for
freedom. But when will it come? Clotee is a slave in a Virginia plantation. To her,
freedom is the greatest word in the world. In the slave quarters, people pray for
freedom, or as they call it ‘heaven’. But when will it come? Read this or another
fascinating novel in the My Story series.
Listen to the Moon by Michael Morpurgo
May, 1915. Alfie and his fisherman father find a girl on an uninhabited island in
the Scillies – injured, thirsty, lost… and with absolutely no memory of who she
is, or how she came to be there. She can only say one word: Lucy. Where has
she come from? Is she a mermaid, the victim of a German U-boat, or even – as
some islanders suggest – a German spy…?
Witch Child by Celia Rees
1659. A time of fear and persecution. Mary, granddaughter of a witch, keeps a
diary. It begins: I am Mary. I am a witch… She sees her grandmother hanged, is
rescued by a stranger, takes ships for America and finds a place in a Puritan
community there. All that befalls her, she records in her diary and as she
writes, she stitches the pages inside a quilt for discovery would mean death.
The quilt lies undisturbed for more than three hundred years. Then, during the
process of conservation, the diary is discovered. Her story can be told.
Recommended Reading List
My Sister Lives on the Mantelpiece by Annabel Pitcher
Seen through the eyes of ten-year-old Jamie Matthews, who has just moved to
the Lake District with his Dad and his teenage sister, Jasmine for a ‘Fresh New
Start’. They have lost their sister in a terrorist attack. Jamie knows he should
feel sadder than he does. The trust is, he can hardly remember his sister; and
what is happening with his new school and new friends, especially Sunya, is
more urgent – as is his yearning for his absent mother. Heartbreaking and
funny in equal measure.
The World of Norm by Jonathan Meres
Why on earth did Norm’s family have to move, anyway? In their old house he’d
never tried to pee in anything other than a toilet. And when Norm is in bed,
he’s kept awake by his dad snoring like a constipated rhinoceros! Will like ever
get less unfair for Norm?