Recommended
Reading
List
Regular reading in Years 5 and 6 will help you make excellent progress
in your reading and writing – the more you read, the better you will
get. It helps to improve your comprehension, language and vocabulary
and helps to develop your own ideas, imagination and opinions.
But that’s not the only reason for reading…
Reading also lets you escape to far-away places; it is a way to relax or
unwind; it should be enjoyable!
You should be reading these books for pleasure so you do not have to
read books aimed just at your age or ability – if they are tricky ask an
adult to read them to you or try listening to their audio version!
Find reading tricky but want to read interesting books on your own?
Or perhaps you’re dyslexic?
Try http://www.barringtonstoke.co.uk
Year 4 (age 8-9)
A selection of books especially selected for children in Year 4 (8 - 9 year olds) of average
reading ability.
A Boy and a Bear in a Boat by Dave Shelton
A boy and a bear go to sea, equipped with a suitcase, a comic book and a
ukulele. They are only travelling a short distance and it really shouldn't
take long. But their journey doesn't quite go to plan...Faced with
turbulent storms, a terrifying sea monster and the rank remains of a
very dangerous sandwich, the odds are against our unlikely heroes. Will
the Harriet, their trusted vessel, withstand the violent lashings of the
salty waves? And will anyone ever answer their message in a bottle?
Brilliantly funny and tender, this beautiful book maps the growth of a
truly memorable friendship and explores how, when all else is lost, the most unexpected joys
can be found.
Annie by Thomas Meehan
It's 1933 and for as long as she can remember, 11 year old Annie has
believed that her mother and father would come back to her New York
City orphanage to get her. But mean Miss Hannigan the headmistress is
making Annie's life a misery. So she runs away to find her parents - and
along the way she rescues a friendly dog, meets millionaire Oliver
Warbucks, and has a many scary and exciting adventures. Will kindhearted Annie find a way to escape her hard-knock life?
Charlotte's Web by E. B. White
This is the story of a little girl named Fern who loved a little pig named
Wilbur and of Wilbur's dear friend, Charlotte A. Cavatica, a beautiful
large grey spider. With the unlikely help of Templeton the rat, and a
wonderfully clever plan of her own, Charlotte saves the life of Wilbur,
who by this time has grown up to be quite a pig.
Gobbolino the Witch's Cat by Ursula Moray Williams
Gobbolino by Ursula Moray Williams is the charming tale of a witch's cat
who would rather be a kitchen cat. Gobbolino has one white paw and blue
eyes and isn't wicked at all, so his mother doesn't like him. He escapes to
look for a kitchen home but is distrusted everywhere he goes and blamed
for mysterious happenings, such as the farmer's milk turning sour and the
orphanage children's gruel turning into chocolate.
Highway Robbery by Kate Thompson
'Hold the mare for me, lad. And when I come back I'll give you a golden
guinea.' It's more money than the street urchin has ever dreamt of. But
who is the rider, and why is there so much interest in his big black
horse? And will the boy ever see the money he has been promised?
There's highway robbery in the air, but it isn't always entirely clear just
who is trying to rob who.
How to Train Your Dragon by Cressida Cowell
Read the books that inspired the How to Train Your Dragon films! This
book will be a hit with children and adults alike. THE STORY BEGINS in
the first volume of Hiccup's How to Train Your Dragon memoirs...Hiccup
Horrendous Haddock III was an awesome sword-fighter, a dragonwhisperer and the greatest Viking Hero who ever lived. But it wasn't
always like that. In fact, in the beginning, Hiccup Horrendous Haddock
III was the most put upon Viking you'd ever seen. Not loud enough to
make himself heard at dinner with his father, Stoick the Vast; not hard
enough to beat his chief rival, Snotlout, at Bashyball, the number one school sport and
CERTAINLY not stupid enough to go into a cave full of dragons to find a pet...It's time for
Hiccup to learn how to be a Hero.
I Was a Rat! Or, the Scarlet slippers by Philip Pullman
I WAS A RAT!' So insists Roger. Maybe it's true. But what is he NOW? A
terrifying monster rampaging in the sewers? The Daily Scourge is sure of
it. A money-spinning fairground freak? He is to Mr Tapscrew. A champion
wriggler and a downy card? That's what Billy hopes. Or just an ordinary
small boy, though a little ratty in his habits? Only three people believe
this version of the story. Only one of them knows who Roger really is. And
luckily a story about her can sell even more newspapers than one about a
rat-boy ...
Lost! The Hundred-Mile-An-Hour Dog by Jeremy Strong
From The Hundred-Mile-an-Hour Dog to karate princesses and hot cross
bottoms, there's a Jeremy Strong story to suit every child's sense of
humour. Jeremy's readers range from 7 to teen, perfect for fans of
Roald Dahl and Andy Stanton. Streaker the dog is lost. And not just a bit
lost, but really lost. It wasn't even her fault! She wanted to protect some
pies from the PIE ROBBER and suddenly she's miles from home and twolegged Trevor AND she has to make friends with a cat. A CAT! But it
gets a lot HAIRIER when they find themselves face-to-face with a
baboon...Will Streaker ever see her beloved pups again? And more importantly, will she ever
eat another donut again?
Lucky by Chris Hill
When lost red squirrel Lucky finds himself in Albion Park, the native
squirrels all around him are bigger, tougher, and much more grey. He needs
all the luck he can find to fit in, and even more to pass the Squirrel Trial
that will give him a permanent place in the park. But when Lucky discovers
a plot that threatens their home, he'll need more than just good fortune
on his side…
Lunatics and Luck by Marcus Sedgwick
Join the wonderfully weird Otherhand family and their faithful guardian,
Edgar the raven, and discover the dark secrets of Castle Otherhand.
Solstice and Cudweed are appalled to find their father has appointed a new
school master. But things get even worse when the grumpy, viciously mean
teacher actually arrives. The Otherhand children are sure there's
something more to him than meets the eye - the trouble is, who will believe
them? No one it seems. Except, perhaps, Edgar.
Mouse Bird Snake Wolf by David Almond
The dream team of David Almond and Dave McKean bring us a complete
story set in an incomplete world. The gods have created a world they've built mountains, a sea and a sky - and now their days are filled
with long naps in the clouds (and tea and cake). That's until Harry, Sue
and Little Ben begin to fill the gaps of the world: with a mousy thing, a
chirpy thing and a twisty legless thing. As the children's ideas take
shape, the power of their visions proves to be greater than they, or the
gods, could ever have imagined.
Mouse Noses on Toast by Daren King
'I will have the colourful parrot soup,' the lady said, 'with extra
beaky bits.' 'And I,' said her husband, 'will have mouse noses on
toast.' The waiter flipped open his notebook and wrote this down.
'Would that be with whiskers, Sir, or without?' Hiding on the
restaurant table, Paul Mouse's world has just turned upside down.
Surely the man is making a joke? Isn't mouse noses on toast just a big
myth? Gathering his friends - Sandra the Christmas tree decoration,
Rowley Barker Hobbs, the sheepdog, and the Tinby, a kind of monster
- Paul becomes determined to find the truth. So begins an adventure involving mouse
activists, the prime minister, cheese addicts and a wildly insane Tinby. But what awaits them
all at the mouse noses abbatoir...?
Mr Stink by David Walliams
The second original, touching, twisted, and most of all hilarious novel for
children from David Walliams, number one bestseller and fastest growing
children's author in the country - beautifully illustrated by Quentin
Blake. Mr Stink stank. He also stunk. And if it was correct English to say
he stinked, then he stinked as well... It all starts when Chloe makes
friends with Mr Stink, the local tramp. Yes, he smells a bit. But when it
looks like he might be driven out of town, Chloe decides to hide him in the
garden shed. Now Chloe's got to make sure no one finds out her secret.
And speaking of secrets, there just might be more to Mr Stink than meets the eye...or the
nose.
My Life as a Goldfish And Other Poems by Rachel Rooney
Magic slips between the cracks in real life. One day you will step on it. A
monster's lunch, a wolf boy, Monday mornings, monkeys, headlice,
Christmas, making friends, goldfish - and lots more. Full of jokes, surprises
and puzzles, but also sensitive and thought-provoking, this is a spellbinding
new collection from the winner of the CLPE Poetry Award.
Oliver and the Seawigs by Philip Reeve
A lively, gorgeously illustrated story from Dynamic Duo, Reeve and
McIntyre! Along with his new friends, a grumpy old albatross, a shortsighted mermaid, and a friendly island called Cliff, Oliver goes off in
search of his missing parents. But before he can put his rescue plan into
action there's the evil Stacey de Lacey and an army of greasy, green sea
monkeys to contend with ...
Ottoline and the Yellow Cat by Chris Riddell
This work introduces Miss Ottoline Brown, an exceptionally inquisitive
Mistress of Disguise, and her partner in crime, Mr Munroe. No puzzle is
ever too tricky for the two of them to solve ...Ottoline lives in a stylish
apartment in Big City with a small hairy creature called Mr Munroe.
Together they look after the Brown family's eclectic collections - and
dabble in a spot of detective work. So they are the first to the scene
of the crime when a string of high society dog-nappings and jewel
thefts hits Big City. Ottoline (who luckily has a diploma from the WhoR-U Academy of Disguise) and Mr Munroe go undercover - and expose an ingenious scam
masterminded by furry feline crook, the Yellow Cat. This is a quirky mystery - adventure
which is perfectly packaged and highly collectable.
Sophie and the Albino Camel by Stephen Davies
Sophie lives in Gorom-Gorom with her carnivorous-plant obsessed dad.
Despite living there for two years and speaking the local language, Sophie
finds it difficult to make friends. So when she meets Gidaado, a young
griot (story-teller) she agrees to join him and his albino camel, Chobbal, on
a journey to his village. It is not until they have set off that Sophie begins
to realise just how dangerous the desert is - it's full of djinns that creep
up behind you and jump on your head and make you go mad, not to mention
the infamous Moussa ag Litni, a ruthless bandit who steals camels...
Stig of the Dump by Clive King
Stig of the Dump by Clive King is 50 years old and the story of Barney and
his best friend, cave-man Stig, is as fresh today as it was when first
published. 'Stig's nice. He's my friend' Nobody believes Barney when he
says he's discovered a boy living wild in the dump. But for Barney, Stif is
totally real. They become great friends, learn each other's ways and
embark on a series of exciting adventures.
Stuart Little by E. B. White
Stuart Little is no ordinary mouse. Born to a family of humans he lives in
New York City with his parents, his older brother George and Snowball the
cat. He's an adventurous and heroic little mouse. When his best friend, a
beautiful little bird called Margalo disappears from her nest, Stuart is
determined to track her down. He ventures away from home for the very
first time in his life and finds himself embroiled in one exciting adventure
after another, making new friends and meeting old ones along the way.
The Battle of Bubble and Squeak by Philippa Pearce
Sid, Peggy and Amy adore the two gerbils, Bubble and Squeak, but their
mother detests them. A major family battle results, and it's clear life is
never going to be quite the same again. But after a near fatal encounter
between Bubble and Ginger the cat, Mrs Sparrow begins to see that life
with 2 gerbils might not be so bad after all.
The Boy in the Dress by David Walliams
Dennis was different. Why was he different, you ask? Well, a small clue
might be in the title of this book...Charming, surprising and hilarious - The
Boy in the Dress is everything you would expect from the King of Funny.
David Walliams's beautiful first novel will touch the hearts (and funny
bones) of children and adults alike.
The Dancing Bear by Michael Morpurgo
A gentle and deeply moving story of a young girl and her bear, told with
great charm by a master storyteller. High in the mountains, in a tiny
village, an abandoned bear cub is adopted by a lonely orphan child. Soon
they are inseparable, beloved by the whole village - safe, until the arrival
of a glamorous film crew who need a dancing bear...
The Firework-maker's Daughter by Philip Pullman
What Lila wants to be more than anything else in the world is ...a
Firework-Maker! But firework-making is not just about being able to make
Crackle-Dragons and Golden Sneezes. There is also one special secret:
every Firework-Maker must make a perilous journey to face the terrifying
Fire-Fiend! Not knowing that she needs special protection to survive the
Fire-Fiend's flames, Lila sets off alone. Her friends, Chulak and Hamlet the King's white elephant - race after her. But can they possibly reach her
in time?
The Grunts In Trouble by Philip Ardagh
Meet Mr and Mrs Grunt. Oh, go on. They're not that bad. No, actually,
they ARE. Maybe worse, even. But Sunny, their sort-of son, is okay. They
stole him from a washing line as a baby. He was hanging by his ears, which
probably explains why they're so wonky (but not why he has sticky-up hair
that NEVER lies flat, even if you pour glue into it or try taping it in place).
Sticky around and you'll also meet Lord Bigg of Bigg Manor, Bigg-hater
Larry Smalls, Mimi the Bigg Manor boot boy (yup, she's a girl) and...Well,
you'll have to READ the book to find that out. But I should mention the
bees. Did I warn you about the bees?!
The Iron Man by Ted Hughes
The Orca's Song
Volke Gordon
Mankind must put a stop to the dreadful
destruction by the Iron Man and set a trap for
him, but he cannot be kept down. Then, when a
terrible monster from outer space threatens
to lay waste to the planet, it is the Iron Man
who finds a way to save the world.
The Savage by David Almond
Imagine you wrote a story and that story came true. This is exactly
what happens to Blue Baker when he writes about a savage living alone
in the woods near his home. After his dad's death, Blue finds comfort
in dreaming of a wild kid who survives on a diet of berries and the
occasional hapless passer-by. But when the savage pays a night-time
visit to the local bully, boundaries become blurred and Blue begins to
wonder where he ends and the savage begins.
The Tail of Emily Windsnap by Liz Kessler
Emily Windsnap lives on a boat, but her mother has always been oddly
anxious to keep her out of the water. It is only when Emily has her first
school swimming lesson that she discovers why: as soon as she gets into
the water, she grows a tail! Soon Emily discovers a glorious underwater
world of fishes, coral, shipwrecks and mermaids, and, best of all, she finds
a best friend! With mermaid Shona Silkfin by her side, Emily uncovers a
surprising family secret and embarks on a quest to reunite her mum and
dad. This enchanting fantasy deals with universal themes of family,
friendship, love and justice - all handled with the lightness of touch for
which Liz Kessler is so well known.
Timmy Failure: Mistakes Were Made by Stephan Pastis
Meet Timmy Failure, founder of the best detective agency in town - Total
Failure, Inc. With the help of his polar bear, Total, the clueless, comically
self-confident Timmy already has plans for world domination. Plans that
will make his mother rich and unpaid bills a thing of the past. And plans
that will defeat Corrina Corrina, The One Whose Name Shall Not Be
Uttered . But she's not going away. Riotously funny, Timmy Failure is sure
to have readers in stitches.
The Trumpet of the Swan by E. B. White
Unlike other cygnets, Louis, the trumpeter swan, cannot utter a sound. But
with the encouragement of his father, Louis sets out to overcome his
problem. One way of doing this Louis decides, is to learn to read and write
and so he sets off to Montana to find his friend Sam Beaver. Louis goes to
school with him and learns to read and write, but when he returns to the
lakes and falls in love with the beautiful Serena, he is upset that Serena
can't read his sign, which says 'I love you'. Once again his parents are
determined to help him find a new way of expressing himself and it is his
father who dreams up the brilliant solution that will put Louis firmly on the path to success
and fulfilment.
Whale Boy by Nicola Davies
Michael, a young boy growing up on the tropical island of Rose Town, has
been saving up for his own fishing boat for years. But when a terrible
storm wrecks his home, Michael is forced to take a job working for a
rich, mysterious newcomer named Spargo. Spargo asks Michael to search
for one thing in the deep waters around Rose Town - whales...
Why is Snot Green? The Science Museum Question and Answer Book
by Glenn Murphy
Why is snot is green? Do rabbits fart? What is space made of? Where
does all the water go at low tide? Can animals talk? What are scabs for?
Will computers ever be cleverer than people? Discover the answers to
these and an awful lot of other brilliant questions frequently asked at the
Science Museum in this wonderfully funny and informative book. It is
divided into five sections which cover everything from the Big Bang to
bodily functions and cool gadgets: Lost in Space; The Angry Planet; Animal
Answers; Being Human; and Fantastic Futures.
Woof! By Allan Ahlberg
He felt a curious tingling in his hands and feet. He felt his nose becoming
cold and wet, his ears becoming flappy. The thought in his mind was: 'I'm
turning into a dog!' Eric is a perfectly ordinary boy. Perfectly ordinary that
is, until the night when, in fifteen seconds flat, he turns into a dog! Eric
and his best friend are determined to sniff out the truth - what makes an
ordinary boy go 'woof'?
Year 5 (age 9-10)
A selection of books especially selected for children in Year 5 (9 - 10 year olds) of average
reading ability.
If you are a competent reader or have read all these titles then try the books from the Year
6 list. Alternatively if these books are a little challenging try books from the Year 4 list.
A Tale Dark and Grimm by Adam Gidwitz
Reader: beware. Warlocks with dark spells, hunters with deadly aim, and
bakers with ovens retrofitted for cooking children lurk within these pages.
But if you dare, turn the page and learn the true story of Hansel and
Gretel - the story behind (and beyond) the bread crumbs, edible houses
and outwitted witches. Come on in. It may be frightening, it's certainly
bloody, and it's definitely not for the faint of heart. Gidwitz manages to
balance the grisly violence of the original Grimms' fairy tales with a
wonderful sense of humor and narrative voice.
Alex, the Dog and the Unopenable Door by Ross Montgomery
Alex Jennings is a boy with a problem. His mum's sent him away to boarding
school because his father, the most famously failed explorer in the history
of the Cusp, has escaped from hospital again, yelling 'squiggles'. Make that
two problems. Now the evil Davidus Kyte and all his henchmen are after
Alex, convinced he alone knows the meaning of the word 'squiggles'. OK,
make that three - Alex Jennings is a boy with a lot of problems. But with
the help of a talking dog and a girl with unfeasibly sharp teeth, he just
might have what it takes to cross the Forbidden Lands, escape the evil
Davidus Kyte, and find out what lies beyond the Cusp ...
Artemis Fowl and the Eternity Code by Eoin Colfer
Thirteen-year-old criminal mastermind Artemis Fowl has constructed a
supercomputer from stolen fairy technology. In the wrong hands it could
be fatal for humans and fairies alike. But no need to worry, Artemis has a
brilliant plan. He's not going to use the computer; he's just going to show it
to a ruthless American businessman with Mafia connections. His bodyguard,
Butler, will be with him. What could possibly go wrong...?
Black Hearts in Battersea by Joan Aiken
'Wait, wait! Save us! What'll we do?' Simon is determined to become a
painter when he grows up so he sets off to London to make his fortune.
But the city is plagued by wolves and mysterious disappearances. The
Twite household, where Simon is lodging, seems particularly shifty. Before
he even gets a chance to open his glistening new paints Simon stumbles
right into the centre of a plot to kill the King. And worse than that Simon
is kidnapped and sent to sea! Luckily there are two friendly stowaways
aboard - the feisty Dido Twite and the spoiled young Justin. But when the
ship catches fire things look pretty dire. Can they escape? Will they save
the king in time?
Carrie's War by Nina Bawden
'I did a dreadful thing ...or I feel that I did, and nothing can change it...'
It is the Second World War and Carrie and Nick are evacuated from
London to a small town in Wales, where they are placed with strict Mr
Evans and his timid mouse of a sister. Their friend Albert is luckier, living
in Druid's Bottom with Hepzibah Green who tells wonderful stories, and
the strange Mister Johnny, who speaks a language all of his own. Carrie and
Nick are happy to visit Albert there, until one day when Carrie does a
terrible thing - the worst thing she ever did in her life...
Chitty Chitty Bang Bang 1: Flies Again by Frank Cottrell Boyce
When the Tooting family find a vast abandoned engine and fit it to their
camper van, they have no idea of the adventure that lies ahead. The engine
used to belong to an extraordinary flying car - and it wants to be back on
the road again ...fast! The Tootings can haul on the steering wheel and pull
the handbrake as hard as they like, but their camper van now has a mind of
her own. It's not long before they're hurtling along on a turbocharged
chase as Chitty tracks down her long-lost bodywork. But there are sinister
forces at work too. When it comes to a car as special as Chitty, everybody
wants a piece of her ...
Cosmic by Frank Cottrell Boyce
Liam is too big for his boots. And his football strip. And his school blazer.
But being super-sized height-wise has its advantages: he's the only elevenyear-old to ever ride the G-force defying Cosmic rollercoaster -- or be
offered the chance to drive a Porsche. Long-legged Liam 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.
Emil and the Detectives by Erich Kastner
If Mrs Tischbein had known the amazing adventures her son Emil would
have in Berlin, she'd never have let him go. Unfortunately, when his seven
pounds goes missing on the train, Emil is determined to get it back - and
when he teams up with the detectives he meets in Berlin, it's just the
start of a marvellous money-retrieving adventure ...A classic and influential
story, Emil and the Detectives remains an enthralling read.
Five Children on the Western Front Inspired by E. Nesbit's Five
Children and it Stories by Kate Saunders
This is an epic, heart-wrenching follow-on from E. Nesbit's Five
Children and It stories. The five children have grown up and World
War I has begun in earnest. Cyril is off to fight, Anthea is at art
college, Robert is a Cambridge scholar and Jane is at high school. The
Lamb is the grown up age of 11, and he has a little sister, Edith, in tow.
The sand fairy has become a creature of stories ...until, for the first
time in 10 years, he suddenly reappears. The siblings are pleased to
have something to take their minds off the war, but this time the Psammead is here for a
reason, and his magic might have a more serious purpose. Before this last adventure ends, all
will be changed, and the two younger children will have seen the Great War from every
possible viewpoint - factory-workers, soldiers, nurses and ambulance drivers, and the people
left at home, and the war's impact will be felt right at the heart of their family.
Goblins by Philip Reeve
A wild world of magical creatures and heroic adventure from the
extraordinary imagination of Philip Reeve. The squabbling goblins who live
in the great towers of Clovenstone spend their time fighting and looting.
Only clever young Skarper understands that dark magic created by a
vanquished sorcerer is rising again. From the lands of men come fortuneseekers - and trolls, giants, cloud-maidens, boglins, swamp monsters, treewarriors and bloodthirsty goblins are swept into a fabulous magical conflict
to thrill all fantasy fans.
Goth Girl and the Ghost of a Mouse by Chris Riddell
Ada Goth is the only child of Lord Goth. The two live together in the
enormous Ghastly-Gorm Hall. Lord Goth believes that children should be
heard and not seen, so Ada has to wear large clumpy boots so that he
can always hear her coming. This makes it hard for her to make friends
and, if she's honest, she's rather lonely. Then one day William and Emily
Cabbage come to stay at the house, and together with a ghostly mouse
called Ishmael they and Ada begin to unravel a dastardly plot that
Maltravers, the mysterious indoor gamekeeper, is hatching. Ada and her
friends must work together to foil Maltravers before it's too late!
Haroun and the Sea of Stories by Salman Rushdie
Haroun's father is the greatest of all storytellers. His magical stories
bring laughter to the sad city of Alifbay. But one day something goes
wrong and his father runs out of stories to tell. Haroun is determined to
return the storyteller's gift to his father. So he flies off on the back of
the Hoopie bird to the Sea of Stories - and a fantastic adventure begins.
Harry Potter and the Philosopher's Stone by J. K. Rowling
Harry Potter has never even heard of Hogwarts when the letters start
dropping on the doormat at number four, Privet Drive. Addressed in green
ink on yellowish parchment with a purple seal, they are swiftly confiscated
by his grisly aunt and uncle. Then, on Harry's eleventh birthday, a great
beetle-eyed giant of a man called Rubeus Hagrid bursts in with some
astonishing news: Harry Potter is a wizard, and he has a place at Hogwarts
School of Witchcraft and Wizardry. An incredible adventure is about to
begin!
Krindlekrax by Philip Ridley
Ruskin Splinter is small and thin, with knock-knees, thick glasses and a
squeaky voice, and the idea of him taming a dragon makes the whole class
laugh. Big, strong Elvis is stupid but he looks like a hero. So who is more
likely to get the big part in the school play? But when the mysterious
beast, Krindlekrax, threatens Lizard Street and everyone who lives there,
it is Ruskin who saves the day and proves he is the stuff that heros are
made of after all.
Listen to the Moon by Michael Morpurgo
The stunning new novel of World War One from Michael Morpurgo, the
nation's favourite storyteller and multi-million copy bestseller. 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 say only 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...? Only one thing is for
sure: she loves music and moonlight, and it is when she listens to the
gramophone that the glimmers of the girl she once was begin to appear. WW1 is raging,
suspicion and fear are growing, and Alfie and Lucy are ever more under threat. But as we
begin to see the story of Merry, a girl boarding a great ship for a perilous journey across the
ocean, another melody enters the great symphony - and the music begins to resolve...A
beautiful tour de force of family, love, war and forgiveness, this is a major new novel from
the author of PRIVATE PEACEFUL - in which what was once lost may sometimes be found,
washed up again on the shore...
Matilda by Roald Dahl
Matilda is a brilliant and sensitive child, but her parents think of her only
as a nuisance. Even before she is five years old, she has read Dickens and
Hemingway and still her parents think of her as a pest. So she decides to
get back at them. Her platinum-haired mother and car salesman father are
no match for her sharp genius, and neither is the cruel headmistress Miss
Trunchbull. And then the child prodigy discovers she has an extraordinary
magic power that can save her school and especially the lovely kindergarten
teacher, Miss Honey.
Once by Morris Gleitzman
Once by Morris Gleitzman is the story of a young Jewish boy who is
determined to escape the orphanage he lives in to save his Jewish parents
from the Nazis in the occupied Poland of the Second World War.
Everybody deserves to have something good in their life. At least Once.
Once I escaped from an orphanage to find Mum and Dad. Once I saved a
girl called Zelda from a burning house. Once I made a Nazi with a
toothache laugh. My name is Felix. This is my story.
Percy Jackson and the Lightning Thief by Rick Riordan
Half boy. Half God. All Hero. Look, I didn't want to be a half-blood. I never
asked to be the son of a Greek God. I was just a normal kid, going to school,
playing basketball, skateboarding. The usual. Until I accidentally vaporized my
maths teacher. Now I spend my time battling monsters and generally trying to
stay alive. This is the one where Zeus, God of the Sky, thinks I've stolen his
lightning bolt - and making Zeus angry is a very bad idea.
Ratburger by David Walliams
From the bestselling author of Gangsta Granny and Demon Dentist comes
another hilarious, action-packed and touching novel - the story of a little
girl called Zoe. Things are not looking good for Zoe. Her stepmother Sheila
is so lazy she gets Zoe to pick her nose for her. The school bully Tina
Trotts makes her life a misery - mainly by flobbing on her head. And now
the evil Burt from Burt's Burgers is after her pet rat! And guess what he
wants to do with it? The clue is in the title...From the author that is being
called 'a new Roald Dahl', Ratburger is not to be missed!
Redwall by Brian Jacques
Redwall Abbey, tranquil home to a community of peace-loving mice is
threatened by Cluny the Scourge - the evil-one-eyed rat warlord - and his
battle-hardened horde of predators. Cluny is certain that Redwall will fall
easily to his fearsome army but he hasn't bargained for the courage and
strength of the combined forces of the Redwall mice and their loyal woodland
friends...
Scarlet Ibis by Gill Lewis
Longlisted for the 2015 Carnegie Medal.Red asks, 'Will we always be
together?' 'Always,' I say. 'Just you and me in that little boat, watching
the scarlet ibis flying back to the Caroni Swamp.' Scarlet's used to looking
after her brother, Red. He's special - different. Every night she tells him
his favourite story - about the day they'll fly far away to the Caroni Swamp
in Trinidad, where thousands of birds fill the sky. But when Scarlet and Red
are split up and sent to live with different foster families, Scarlet knows
she's got to do whatever it takes to get her brother back ...
Shadow Forest by Matt Haig
Samuel Blink is the hero of this story, but he doesn't know it yet. Right
now, he and his sister Martha are in the back of his parents' car. He has
no idea a giant log is about to fall from the sky and change his life
forever. He doesn't know that he and Martha will be forced to move to
Norway and eat their Aunt Eda's smelly brown cheese. He hasn't the
slightest clue Martha will disappear into Shadow Forest. A forest full of
one-eyed trolls, the sinister huldre-folk, deadly Truth Pixies and a witch
who steals shadows. A forest ruled by the evil Changemaker. A forest so
dangerous that people who enter never return. No. Samuel Blink doesn't know any of this. So
don't tell him. It might ruin the book ...
Skellig by David Almond
When a move to a new house coincides with his baby sister's illness,
Michael's world seems suddenly lonely and uncertain. Then he stumbles into
the old, ramshackle garage, and finds something magical. A strange
creature - part owl, part angel, a being who needs Michael's help if he is to
survive. With his new friend Mina, Michael nourishes Skellig back to health,
while his baby sister languishes in the hospital. But Skellig is far more than
he at first appears, and as he helps Michael breathe life into his tiny
sister, Michael's world changes for ever ...
Sky Hawk by Gill Lewis
When Callum and his friends find Iona on Callum's farm they try to chase
her back into the village. But Iona runs from them up into the hills. It is
late and dark and snow lies in the mountain gullies. Worried for Iona's
safety, Callum follows to find her shivering with cold but refusing to
leave. She is guarding a secret hidden in the forest above the dark waters
of the loch. So they make a deal. Iona shares the secret and in return
Callum allows her back onto the farm. They form a deep bond of
friendship and make a promise to keep their secret safe. It is a promise
that will change Callum's world forever ...She turned her head, and fixed me with her
brilliant yellow eyes. She looked right into me. And suddenly I knew then, in that one
moment, I was as much part of her world as she was of mine. Soar above the clouds in this
enthralling tale of friendship, loyalty, and hope.
Stormbreaker by Anthony Horowitz
When his guardian dies in suspicious circumstances, fourteen-year-old Alex
Rider finds his world turned upside down. Forcibly recruited into MI6, Alex
has to take part in gruelling SAS training exercises. Then, armed with his
own special set of secret gadgets, he's off on his first mission to Cornwall,
where Middle-Eastern multi-billionaire Herod Sayle is producing his stateof-the-art Stormbreaker computers. Sayle has offered to give one free to
every school in the country - but there's more to the gift than meets the
eye.
Swallows and Amazons by Arthur Ransome
The ultimate children's classic - long summer days filled with adventure.
John, Susan, Titty and Roger sail their boat, Swallow, to a deserted island
for a summer camping trip. Exploring and playing sailors is an adventure in
itself but the island holds more excitement in store. Two fierce Amazon
pirates, Nancy and Peggy, challenge them to war and a summer of battles
and alliances ensues.
The Box of Delights by John Masefield
'Two of the greatest children's books ever written' - The Times on Box of
Delights and The Midnight Folk. 'And now, Master Harker, now that the
Wolves are Running, perhaps you could do something to stop their Bite?' A
magical old man has asked Kay to protect the Box of Delights, a Box with
which he can travel through time. But Kay is in danger: Abner Brown will
stop at nothing to get his hands on it. The police don't believe Kay, so when
his family and the Bishop are scrobbled up just before Christmas, he knows
he must act alone ...
The Boy Who Swam with Piranhas by David Almond
Stanley Potts is just an ordinary boy, but when all the jobs in Fish Quay
disappear his Uncle Ernie develops an extraordinary fascination with
canning fish. Suddenly their home is filled with the sound of clanging
machinery and the stench of mackerel, and Uncle Ernie's obsession
reaches such heights that he would even can Stan's beloved goldfish!
Stan, however, has his own destiny, which leads him - via a hook-a-duck
stall - to Pancho Pirelli, the blue-caped madman who swims with piranhas.
And as Stan delves into the waters, he finally discovers who he really can
be.
The Brilliant World of Tom Gates by Liz Pichon
Tom Gates is the master of excuses for late homework: dog attacks; spilt
water; and, lightning. Tom's exercise book is full of his doodles, cartoons
and thoughts, as well as comments from his long-suffering teacher, Mr
Fullerton. After gaining five merits for his Camping Sucks holiday story,
Tom's work starts to go downhill - which is a pity, as he's desperate to
impress Amy Porter, who sits next to him...
The Dark Wild by Piers Torday
WINNER OF THE GUARDIAN CHILDREN'S FICTION PRIZE 2014.
Twelve-year-old Kester thought he had discovered the last wild animals in
the land. He thought his adventure was over. He was wrong. Below the
sparkling city of Premium, deep underground, a dark wild remains: animals
who believe the time is right to rise up against their human enemies. And
soon Kester realises: he is the only one who can stop them. Kester Jaynes
saved the animals. Can he save the humans too?
The Eighteenth Emergency by Betsy Byars
The school bully is out to get Mouse Fawley, and while Mouse is waiting for
that terrible event, he thinks of 17 other emergencies (lion attack, the
appearance of sharks, strangulation by boa constrictor) all of which he can
handle
The Girl Who Walked On Air by Emma Carroll
Louie, who was abandoned at Chipchase's Travelling Circus as a baby,
dreams of becoming a 'Showstopper', but Mr Chipchase keeps her hidden,
tucked away in the ticket booth. No Death-Defying Stunts for her. But
Louie has been secretly practising her act - tightrope-walking - and
dreams of being the Girl Who Walked on Air ...she just needs to be given
the chance to shine. And the circus needs her too - Wellbeloved's rival
show is stealing their crowds. They need a Showstopper. Desperate, Mr
Chipchase reluctantly lets Louie perform. She is a sensation, and gets an
offer from the sinister Mr Wellbeloved himself to perform ...over Niagara Falls. But nothing
is quite as it seems and soon Louie's bravery is tested not just on the highwire but in
confronting her past and the shady characters in the world of the circus ...Fans of Frost
Hollow Hall will love this epic adventure about following your dreams and becoming a
showstopper!
The Granny Project by Anne Fine
What does he mean? What's going on? Are you two thinking of putting
Granny into a Home? Thinking is finished,' Natasha told him. 'It is decided.
The four children, Ivan, Sophie, Tanya and Nicholas, can't believe it. Their
parents are planning to put their grandmother into a Home. She's a bit of a
dotty old lady - sometimes demanding, often annoying - but as much a part
of their lives as their shambly house or the whirring of the washing
machine. So they decide to take action. They begin 'The Granny Project',
with immediate and sensational results...
The Little Prince by Antoine de Saint-Exupery
A pilot stranded in the desert awakes one morning to see, standing
before him, the most extraordinary little fellow. Please, asks the
stranger, draw me a sheep. And the pilot realizes that when life's
events are too difficult to understand, there is no choice but to
succumb to their mysteries. He pulls out pencil and paper...Thus begins
this wise and enchanting fable that, in teaching the secret of what is
really important in life, has changed the world forever for its readers.
The Mouse and His Child by Russell Hoban
'What are we, Papa?' the toy mouse child asked his father. 'I don't know,'
the father answered. 'We must wait and see.' So begins the story of a tin
father and son who dance under a Christmas tree until they break the
ancient clockwork rules and are themselves broken. Thrown away, then
rescued from a dustbin and repaired by a tramp, they set out on a
dangerous quest for a family and a place of their own - the magnificent
doll's house, the plush elephant and the tin seal they had once know in the
toy shop.
The Ogre of Oglefort by Eva Ibbotson
When a Hag, an orphan boy called Ivo, Ulf the troll and wizard Brian
Brainsweller are sent to rescue a princess from an ogre, they briefly
consider running away and hiding. Can they be any match for the gruesome,
terrifying, ghastly, flesh-eating Ogre of Oglefort? But not all is as it first
appears - the Ogre is depressed and the princess doesn't want to be
rescued. The Norns, who rule their fates, decide to take things in hand
and send a gang of the vilest, most petrifying ghouls to get the job done
properly...
The Outsiders by Michelle Paver
'If an Outsider wields the blade, the House of Koronos burns...' Hylas is
only a boy but he knows three things: The Gods exist. Magic is real.
Somebody wants him dead. Hunted and alone, Hylas is desperate to find his
missing sister. His quest takes him across the hostile mountains and
treacherous seas of Ancient Greece. His only friend is a girl on the run. His
only guide is a wild dolphin. And his murderous enemies are closing in...
The Owl Service by Alan Garner
Winner of both the Guardian Award and the Carnegie Medal, this is an alltime classic, combining mystery, adventure, history and a complex set of
human relationships. It all begins with the scratching in the ceiling. From
the moment Alison discovers the dinner service in the attic, with its curious
pattern of floral owls, a chain of events is set in progress that is to affect
everybody's lives. Relentlessly, Alison, her step-brother Roger and Welsh
boy Gwyn are drawn into the replay of a tragic Welsh legend - a modern
drama played out against a background of ancient jealousies. As the tension mounts, it
becomes apparent that only by accepting and facing the situation can it be resolved.
The Parent Agency by David Baddiel
A brilliantly funny, gripping novel from a born storyteller, The Parent
Agency is an epic wish-fulfilment adventure for every child - and for the
child in everyone. Barry said, a third time, I wish I had better parents! And
then suddenly the entire room started to shake...Barry Bennett hates being
called Barry. In fact it's number 2 on the list of things he blames his
parents for, along with 1) 'being boring' and 3) 'always being tired'. But
there is a world, not far from this one, where parents don't have children.
The Silver Sword by Ian Serraillier
If you meet Ruth or Edek or Bronia, you must tell them I'm going to
Switzerland to find their mother. Tell them to follow as soon as they can
Having lost their parents in the chaos of war, Ruth, Edek and Bronia are
left alone to fend for themselves and hide from the Nazis amid the
rubble and ruins of their city. They meet a ragged orphan boy, Jan, who
treasures a paperknife - a silver sword - which was entrusted to him by
an escaped prisoner of war. The three children realise that the escapee
was their father, the silver sword a message that he is alive and
searching for them. Together with Jan they begin a dangerous journey across the
battlefields of Europe to find their parents.
The Sleeping Army by Francesca Simon
Freya is an ordinary girl living in modern Britain, but with a twist: people
still worship the Viking gods. One evening, stuck with her dad on his night
shift at the British Museum, she is drawn to the Lewis Chessmen and
Heimdall's Horn. Unable to resist, she blows the horn, waking three chess
pieces from their enchantment; the slaves Roskva and Alfi, and Snot the
Berserk. They are all summoned to Asgard, land of the Viking gods, and
told they must go on a perilous journey to restore the gods to youth. If
Freya refuses she will be turned into an ivory chess piece but, if she
accepts her destiny and fails, the same terrible fate awaits her.
The Turbulent Term of Tyke Tiler by Gene Kemp
Tyke Tiler is very fond of jokes, that's why there are so many in this
story. Tyke is also fond of Danny Price, who is not too bright and depends
a lot on his friend. Together Tyke and Danny are double trouble.
The Wolves of Willoughby Chase by Joan Aiken
Can you go a little faster? Can you run? Long ago, at a time in history that
never happened, England was overrun with wolves. But as Bonnie and her
cousin Sylvia discover, real danger often lies closer to home. Their new
governess, Miss Slighcarp, doesn't seem at all nice. She shuts Bonnie in a
cupboard, fires the faithful servants and sends the cousins far away from
Willoughby Chase to a place they will never be found. Can Bonnie and Sylvia
outwit the wicked Miss Slighcarp and her network of criminals, forgers and
snitches?
The Young Inferno by John Agard
Can our hoodie hero make it through nine circles of Hell and back again?
Will he find love with his soulmate, Beatrice? Discover the city of Dis
where everybody disses everybody. Meet Frankenstein, the lovesick
bouncer with the bling-bling. Come face to face with the Furies, a gang
of snake-haired females in T-shirts. Prepare for a host of gluttons,
bigots and plunderers from the world of history and politics. John Agard
fires Dante's Inferno into the 21st century in a red-hot retelling, with
wicked artwork from Satoshi Kitamura.
Timmy Failure: Mistakes Were Made byStephan Pastis
Meet Timmy Failure, founder of the best detective agency in town - Total
Failure, Inc. With the help of his polar bear, Total, the clueless, comically
self-confident Timmy already has plans for world domination. Plans that
will make his mother rich and unpaid bills a thing of the past. And plans
that will defeat Corrina Corrina, The One Whose Name Shall Not Be
Uttered . But she's not going away. Riotously funny, Timmy Failure is sure
to have readers in stitches.
Tom's Midnight Garden by Philippa Pearce
Lying awake at night, Tom hears the old grandfather clock downstairs
strike ...eleven ...twelve ...thirteen ...Thirteen! When Tom gets up to
investigate, he discovers a magical garden. A garden that everyone told him
doesn't exist. A garden that only he can enter ...A Carnegie-Medal-winning
modern classic that's magically timeless.
Two Weeks with the Queen by Morris Gleitzman
'I need to see the Queen about my sick brother.' Colin Mudford is on a
quest. His brother Luke has cancer and the doctors in Australia don't seem
to be able to cure him. Sent to London to stay with relatives, Colin is
desperate to do something to help Luke. He wants to find the best the
doctor in the world. Where better to start than by going to the top? Colin
is determined to ask the Queen for her advice. In Morris Gleitzman's
trademark style, this very moving story illuminates deeply serious issues
about illness and loss with bright moments of humour.
Wild Boy by Rob Lloyd Jones
BEHOLD THE SAVAGE SPECTACLE OF THE WILD BOY! London, 1841. A
boy covered in hair, raised as a monster, condemned to life in a travelling
freak show. A boy with an extraordinary power of observation and
detection. A boy accused of murder; on the run; hungry for the truth.
Behold the savage spectacle of Wild Boy. Ladies and Gentlemen, take your
seats. The show is about to begin!
Year 6 (age 10-11)
A selection of books especially selected for children in Year 6 (10 - 11 year olds) of average
reading ability.
If you are a competent reader or has read all these titles then try the books from the Year
7 list. Alternatively if these books are a little challenging try books from the Year 5 list.
A Wizard of Earthsea by Ursula K. Le Guin
The first book of Earthsea is a tale of wizards, dragons and terrifying
shadows. The island of Gont is a land famous for wizards. Of these, some
say the greatest - and surely the greatest voyager - is the man called
Sparrowhawk. As a reckless, awkward boy, he discovered the great power
that was in him - with terrifying consequences. Tempted by pride to try
spells beyond his means, Sparrowhawk lets loose an evil shadow-beast in
his land. Only he can destroy it, and the quest leads him to the farthest
corner of Earthsea.
Artemis Fowl by Eoin Colfer
Join the world of Artemis Fowl , the number one bestseller by Eoin Colfer.
Rumour has it Artemis Fowl is responsible for every major crime of the
new century. Just twelve years old and already he's a criminal genius,
plotting to restore his family's fortune with a spot of corruption and
kidnapping. Kidnapping a fairy for ransom, to be precise. Artemis Fowl has
discovered a world below ground of armed and dangerous - and extremely
high-tech - fairies. But he may have underestimated their powers. They
will fight back. Is the boy about to trigger a cross-species war?
Back Home by Michelle Magorian
It's 1945. World War II has just ended and twelve-year-old Rusty comes
back home to Britain after being evacuated to the US. The greyness and
bleakness of life in England is a shock, but even worse is adapting to the
strict discipline of her family, including a brother she's never met, after
the warmth and openness of her adopted American family. Rusty is sent to
a horrific boarding school, before finally running away as her search for
happiness becomes more and more desperate.
Circus of Thieves and the Raffle of Doom by William Sutcliffe
Hannah's life is boring, boring, boring! But when Armitage Shank's
Impossible Circus comes to town, Hannah's world is turned on its head.
Meeting Billy Shank, his astonishing camel, Narcissus, and a host of other
bizarrely brilliant members of the circus. But all is not as it seems;
Armitage Shank, evil ringmaster and Billy's surrogate father, has a
dastardly plan involving light-fingered thievery. can Hannah and Billy to
stop his stinking scheme before it's too late...
Cosmic Disco by Grace Nichols
A sparkling galaxy of new poems by one of the UK's most exciting
contemporary poets. From Aurora Borealis, Sun - You're a Star and A
Matter of Holes, to Lady Winter's Rap, the Earthworm Sonnet and You - a
Universe Yourself, this is brilliant poetry with an astonishing range - comic
riddles, animals and nature, home truths and the explosive wonder of the
cosmos.
Five Children and it by E. Nesbit
When five siblings - Cyril, Anthea, Robert, Jane and their baby brother,
the Lamb - discover a sand-fairy in their gravel pit, they are jolly
surprised and a little delighted. Even better, the Psammead is able to
grant them wishes, although the magic wears off at the day's end.
Unfortunately, all of the wishes the children make go hilariously wrong
and they soon learn that their foolish desires are more likely to get them
into trouble than get them what they want! Five Children and It has been
loved by children - and their parents - for over a hundred years. And Cyril, Anthea, Robert,
Jane and Lamb will continue to be loved, with the appearance of Kate Saunders' Five Children
on the Western Front, an epic, heart-wrenching follow on from Five Children and It and the
Psammead trilogy.
Goodnight Mister Tom by Michelle Magorian
Young Willie Beech is evacuated to the country as Britain stands on the
brink of the Second World War. 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 ...Winner of the
Guardian Children's Fiction Award.
Greyhound of a Girl by Roddy Doyle
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. A
GREYHOUND OF A GIRL is a perfectly-pitched funny and tender tale
about four generations of an Irish family, and the special bonds between
mothers and daughters. It will entrance readers from 10 to adult.
Hitler's Angel by William Osborne
Otto and Leni have escaped to England from Nazi Germany. They thought
they were safe, but now the British want them to go back. Dropped behind
enemy lines, they embark on a secret operation codenamed Wolfsangel.
Their mission is to find and kidnap a girl who could bring down Hitler And
so begins their bravest journey yet \.
Holes by Louis Sachar
Stanley Yelnats' 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.
I am David by Anne Holm
'You must get away tonight,' the man had told him. David escapes from the
concentration camp where he has spent his entire life and flees across
Europe. He is utterly alone - who can he trust? What will await him? And all
the while, how can he be sure that they won't catch up with him ...This is
the remarkable story of David's introduction to the world: sea, mountains
and flowers, the colours of Italy, the taste of fruit, people laughing and
smiling, all are new to David. David learns that his polite manner, his
haunted eyes and his thin features are strange to other people. He must
learn to fend for himself in this strange new world.
Mrs Frisby and the Rats of NIMH by Robert C. O'Brien
A fabulous adventure for children by Robert C. O'Brien about superintelligent rats. They are not like other rats. They work at night, in
secret...Time is running out for Mrs Frisby. She must move her family of
mice before the farmer destroys their home. But her youngest son,
Timothy, is too ill to survive the move. Help comes in the unexpected form
of a group of mysterious, super-intelligent rats. But the rats are in danger
too, and little by little Mrs Frisby discovers their extraordinary past...
My Brother's Secret by Dan Smith
Germany, 1941. 12-year-old Karl Friedmann is looking forward to joining the
Hitler Youth, like all boys his age. But when his father is killed, his
rebellious older brother Stefan shows him things that leave his faith in the
Fuhrer shaken. What does it mean to be a good German? What does it
mean to wear the mysterious flower sewn inside his brother's jacket? Who
is the real enemy?
Northern Lights by Philip Pullman
Without this child, we shall all die. Lyra Belacqua and her animal daemon
live half-wild and carefree among scholars of Jordan College, Oxford. The
destiny that awaits her will take her to the frozen lands of the Arctic,
where witch-clans reign and ice-bears fight. Her extraordinary journey will
have immeasurable consequences far beyond her own world...
One Dog and His Boy by Eva Ibbotson
But a dog would damage the expensive carpets in Hal's glamorous home,
and his wealthy parents refuse to consider one. Then they discover Easy
Pets, a convenient dog-rental agency. Terrier Fleck arrives on Hal's
birthday, but when Hal discovers that his dog must be returned, he runs
away. Hal and Fleck are joined by a group of pedigree breeds joyfully
escaping from Easy Pets \- among them is Otto, the wise and sombre St
Bernard, and the fierce and excitable Pekinese Li-Chee. A large reward is
offered for the missing boy, and soon Hal and his dogs are being chased
across the country by ruthless pursuers. Helped by a travelling circus, and the sympathetic
children from an orphanage, they race for their freedom in a classic adventure in the
tradition of 101 DALMATIANS.
Private Peaceful by Michael Morpurgo
Heroism or cowardice? A stunning story of the First World War from a
master storyteller. 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. Both a love story and a deeply moving account of the horrors of
the First World War, this book will reach everyone from 9 to 90.
Roll of Thunder, Hear My Cry by Mildred Delois Taylor
Roll of Thunder Hear My Cry follows a feisty African-American girl Cassie Logan - as she grows up in Mississippi during the Great Depression
and learns the shocking realities of racism.
'Look out there, Cassie girl, all that belongs to you.' Cassie finds it
difficult to understand why the farm means so much to her father. But, as
she witnesses the hatred and destruction all around her, she begins to
learn the importance of standing up for your rights.
Russian Roulette by Anthony Horowitz
An international contract killer has been given his orders. His next target
is a fourteen-year-old spy ...Alex Rider. The man's name is Yassen
Gregorovich. He knows Alex well. The two of them share a secret from the
past. As he considers his next mission, Yassen remembers the forces that
turned him from an ordinary schoolboy into a hired assassin. What is it
that makes someone choose to do evil? What would it take to make them
kill? This thrilling adventure will be the deadliest yet...
Rooftoppers by Katherine Rundell
. My mother is still alive, and she is going to come for me one day.
Everyone thinks that Sophie is an orphan. Found floating in a cello case and
swaddled in a Beethoven score, she is the only recorded female survivor of
a shipwreck on the English Channel. But Sophie remembers seeing her
mother wave for help...Charles, a fellow survivor and an eccentric scholar,
finds Sophie 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.
So when the child welfare agency in its bureaucratic wisdom threatens to send Sophie to an
orphanage, the optimistic girl and her odd guardian flee to Paris on a quest to find her
mother, starting with the only clue she has - the address of the cello maker. Secured in an
attic to evade the French authorities, Sophie escapes through the skylight and meets
Matteo and his network of rooftoppers - homeless urchins who tightrope walk above the
busy streets below, dining on pigeons and snails alongside the gargoyles and bell tower of
Notre Dame. Together they set out on an unimaginable adventure, scouring the city for
Sophie's mother before she is caught and sent back to London - and most importantly,
before she loses hope.
The Amazing Maurice and His Educated Rodents (Discworld Novel 28)
Terry Pratchett
It's A Rat-Eat-Rat World...Every town on Discworld knows the stories about
rats and pipers, and Maurice - a streetwise tomcat - leads a band of
educated ratty friends (and a stupid kid) on a nice little earner. Piper plus
rats equals lots and lots of money. Until they run across someone playing a
different tune. Now he and his rats must learn a new concept: evil...
The Cay by Theodore Taylor
The Cay is a tense and compulsive survival story by Theodore Taylor of a
young boy and an old man adrift on the ocean, then marooned on a tiny,
deserted island. It is also a fascinating study of the relationship between
Phillip, white, American, and influenced by his mother's prejudices, and
the black man upon whom Phillip's life depends.
The Dark Wild by Piers Torday
WINNER OF THE GUARDIAN CHILDREN'S FICTION PRIZE 2014.
Twelve-year-old Kester thought he had discovered the last wild animals in
the land. He thought his adventure was over. He was wrong. Below the
sparkling city of Premium, deep underground, a dark wild remains: animals
who believe the time is right to rise up against their human enemies. And
soon Kester realises: he is the only one who can stop them. Kester Jaynes
saved the animals. Can he save the humans too?
The Death Defying Pepper Roux by Geraldine McCaughrean
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
set off to sea in an attempt 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. But can he stay one step ahead of
death? Or will fate catch up with him? And, if he does live, which of his many lives will he
choose to adopt? This riot of a story is a wonderful adventure, and Pepper is an
unforgettable character who stays with you long after his story has been told.
The Last Wild by Piers Torday
This is a story about a boy named Kester. He is extraordinary, but he doesn't
know that yet. All he knows, at this very moment, is this: 1. There is a flock of
excited pigeons in his bedroom. 2. They are talking to him. 3. His life will never
be quite the same again...A captivating animal adventure destined to be loved
by readers of all ages.
The Machine Gunners by Robert Westall
'Some bright kid's got a gun and 2000 rounds of live ammo. And that gun's
no peashooter. It'll go through a brick wall at a quarter of a mile.' Chas
McGill has the second-best collection of war souvenirs in Garmouth, and he
desperately wants it to be the best. When he stumbles across the remains
of a German bomber crashed in the woods - its shiny, black machine-gun
still intact - he grabs his chance. Soon he's masterminding his own war
effort with dangerous and unexpected results...
The Midnight Folk by John Masefield
'You ought to know about the treasure, Kay ...for until it is restored or
traced, no man of our name ought to rest.' Determined to recover the longlost family treasure, Kay finds himself in a race against the evil Abner
Brown. Abner has his witch friends and his dark magic to help him, but Kay
has the very special Midnight Folk. John Masefield's classic children's
book is considered to be one of the great works of modern children's
fiction.
The Penalty by Mal Peet
This is the thrilling sequel to the award-winning Keeper . As the city of San
Juan pulses to summer's sluggish beat, its teenage football prodigy El
Brujito, the Little Magician, vanishes without trace. Paul Faustino, South
America's top sports journalist, is reluctantly drawn into the mystery. As a
story of corruption and murder unfolds, he is forced to confront a bitter
history of slavery, and the power of the occultPrice: £5.24 - Saving
The Secret Diary of Adrian Mole Aged 13 ¾ by Sue Townsend
Friday January 2nd. I felt rotten today. It's my mother's fault for singing
'My Way' at two o'clock in the morning at the top of the stairs. Just my
luck to have a mother like her. There is a chance my parents could be
alcoholics. Next year I could be in a children's home. Meet Adrian Mole, a
hapless teenager providing an unabashed, pimples-and-all glimpse into
adolescent life. Writing candidly about his parents' marital troubles, the
dog, his life as a tortured poet and 'misunderstood intellectual', Adrian's
painfully honest diary is still hilarious and compelling reading thirty years
after it first appeared.
The Unforgotten Coat by Frank Cottrell Boyce
From the award-winning author of Millions comes a story of friendship in
the midst of adversity. Winner of the 2012 Guardian Children's Fiction
Prize, this magical and poignant book is enriched by stunning and
atmospheric Polaroid photos. Two refugee brothers from Mongolia are
determined to fit in with their Liverpool schoolmates, but bring so much
of Mongolia to Bootle that their new friend and guide, Julie, is hardpressed to know truth from fantasy.
Tiger Wars by Steve Backshall
Deadly Adversaries. An Impossible Mission. Tiger Wars. Saker is on the
run from the only life he knows. From India to the Himalayas and China
he'll be pursued by hunting dogs, mercenaries, spies, thieves and assassins
in his quest to set free the most majestic, lethal and valuable of all the
predators - the tiger. With him, on every dangerous step of the adventure,
is Sinter, a girl who has her own reasons for running away..
Toby Alone by Timothee de Fombelle
Toby Lolness is just one and a half millimetres tall, and he's the most
wanted person in his world, the great oak Tree. When Toby's father makes
a ground-breaking discovery, tapping into the very heart of the Tree's
energy, he also realises that exploiting it could do permanent damage to
their world. Refusing to reveal the secret of his invention to an enraged
community, the family is exiled. But one man is determined to get hold of
the forbidden knowledge...and his plan is to destroy the Tree. Now Toby's
parents have been imprisoned and sentenced to death. Only Toby has
managed to escape, but for how long?
Valentine Joe by Rebecca Stevens
Rose's granddad takes her on a trip to Ypres, Belgium to visit the graves
of those who died in the Great War. It's the day before Valentine's, but
Rose can sense the shattered old city beneath the chocolate-box new. And
it seems that it can sense her too. When she goes up to her room that
night, she hears the sound of marching feet and glimpses from her window
a young soldier on his way to the front line
Wolf Brother by Michelle Paver
Thousands of years ago the land is one dark forest. Its people are huntergatherers. They know every tree and herb and they know how to survive in
a time of enchantment and powerful magic. Until an ambitious and
malevolent force conjures a demon: a demon so evil that it can be
contained only in the body of a ferocious bear that will slay everything it
sees, a demon determined to destroy the world. Only one boy can stop it 12 year old Torak, who has seen his father murdered by the bear. With
his dying breath, Torak's father tells his son of the burden that is his. He
must lead the bear to the mountain of the World Spirit and beg that spirit's help to
overcome it. Torak is an unwilling hero. He is scared and trusts no one. His only companion is
a wolf cub only three moons old, whom he seems to understand better than any human.
Theirs is a terrifying quest in a world of wolves, tree spirits and Hidden People, a world in
which trusting a friend means risking your life. Launched at the height of the Harry Potter
phenomenon, the Chronicles of Ancient Darkness is the ultimate magical adventure.
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 stared at wherever
they go. Born with a terrible facial abnormality, Auggie has been homeschooled by his parents his whole life. Now, for the first time, he's being
sent to a real school - and he's dreading it. All he wants is to be accepted
- but can he convince his new classmates that he's just like them,
underneath it all?
Year 7 (age 11-12)
A selection of books especially selected for children in Year 7 (11 - 12 year olds) of average
reading ability.
If you are a competent reader or has read all these titles then go to
www.reading4schools.co.uk to see some books suggested for Year 8 children. Alternatively if
these books are a little challenging try books from the Year 5 or 6 lists.
After Tomorrow by Gillian Cross
What if you woke up tomorrow and everything had changed? Money is
worthless. Your friends are gone. Armed robbers roam the streets. No one
is safe. For Matt and his little brother, Taco, that nightmare is a reality.
Their only hope of survival is to escape through the Channel Tunnel. But
danger waits on the other side...Stay or go. What would you do?
Artichoke Hearts by Sita Brahmachari
Twelve-year-old Mira comes from a chaotic, artistic and outspoken family
where it's not always easy to be heard. As her beloved 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 mysterious 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.
Brilliant by Roddy Doyle
When Uncle Ben's Dublin business fails, it's clear to Gloria and Raymond
that something is wrong. He just isn't his usual cheerful self. So when the
children overhear their granny saying that the Black Dog has settled on
Ben's back and he won't be OK until it's gone, they decide they're going to
get rid of it. Gathering all their courage the children set out on a midnight
quest to hunt down the Black Dog and chase it away. But they aren't the
only kids on the mission. Loads of other children are searching for it too,
because the Black Dog is hounding lots of Dublin's adults. Together - and
with the help of magical animals, birds and rodents - the children manage
to corner the Black Dog ...but will they have the courage and cleverness to
destroy the frightening creature?
Flour Babies by Anne Fine
Let it be flour babies. Let chaos reign. When the annual school science fair
comes round, Mr Cartwright's class don't get to work on the Soap Factory,
the Maggot Farm or the Exploding Custard Tins. To their intense disgust
they get the Flour Babies - sweet little six-pound bags of flour that must
be cared for at all times.
Dandelion Clocks by Rebecca Westcott
Dandelion Clocks by Rebecca Westcott will be loved by fans of Jacqueline
Wilson, Cathy Cassidy or Annabel Pitcher. Liv takes us on a journey through
her life from Thirteen Weeks Before to Six Months After . We discover
Liv's passion for photography, her brother's obsession with sticking to the
rules, the stupidity of Moronic Louise at school, and how the family copes
as Mum's terminal illness takes hold...Guided by Mum's own childhood
diaries, Liv finds a new way to live. This book is real, funny, utterly
touching and absolutely heartwarming.
Eragon Book One by Christopher Paolini
One boy ...One dragon ...A world of adventure. When Eragon finds a
polished stone in the forest, he thinks it is the lucky discovery of a poor
farm boy; perhaps it will buy his family meat for the winter. But when the
stone brings a dragon hatchling, Eragon soon realizes he has stumbled upon
a legacy nearly as old as the Empire itself. Overnight his simple life is
shattered and he is thrust into a perilous new world of destiny, magic and
power. With only an ancient sword and the advice of an old storyteller for
guidance, Eragon and the fledgling dragon must navigate the dangerous
terrain and dark enemies of an Empire ruled by a king whose evil knows no
bounds. Can Eragon take up the mantle of the legendary Dragon Riders?
The fate of the Empire may rest in his hands...
Fly by Night by Frances Hardinge
A breathtaking adventure story, set in reimagined eighteenth-century
England. As the realm struggles to maintain an uneasy peace after years
of cival war and tyranny, a twelve-year-old orphan and her loyal
companion, a grumpy goose, are about to become the unlikely heroes of a
radical revolution. Mosca Mye is on the run, heading for the city of
Mandelion. There she finds herself living by her wits among cut-throat
highwaymen, spies and smugglers. With peril at every turn, Mosca
uncovers a dark plot to terrorize the people of Mandelion, and soon merry
mayhem leads to murder ...With an unforgettable cast of characters and an inspiring
message at its heart -- sometimes the power of words can change the world!
Gabriel's Clock by Hilton Pashley
Jonathan is half-angel, half-demon, and the only one of his kind. But he has
no idea of his true identity, and now a rogue archdemon wants him for his
own sinister purpose...With the aid of a group of unlikely new friends,
Jonathan races to find the mysterious Gabriel's Clock, which has the
power to start a war between Heaven and Hell that could engulf them all.
Gabriel's clock is ticking ...and time is running out.
Greyhound of a Girl by Roddy Doyle
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. A
GREYHOUND OF A GIRL is a perfectly-pitched funny and tender tale
about four generations of an Irish family, and the special bonds between
mothers and daughters.
Kensuke's Kingdom by Michael Morpurgo
Kensuke's Kingdom is a true children's classic by Michael Morpurgo, the
creator of War Horse. I heard the wind above me in the sails. I remember
thinking, this is silly, you haven't got your safety harness on, you haven't
got your lifejacket on. You shouldn't be doing this ...I was in the cold of the
sea before I could even open my mouth to scream. Washed up on an island
in the Pacific, Michael struggles to survive on his own. With no food and no
water, he curls up to die. When he wakes, there is a plate beside him of
fish, of fruit, and a bowl of fresh water. He is not alone…
Liar and Spy by Rebecca Stead
Georges (the s is silent) has a lot going on. He's having trouble with some
boys at school, his dad lost his job and so his mum has started working all
the time - and they had to sell their house and move into an apartment. But
moving into the apartment block does bring one good thing - Safer, an
unusual boy who lives on the top floor. He runs a spy club, and is
determined to teach Georges everything he knows. Their current case is to
spy on the mysterious Mr X in the apartment above Georges. But as
Georges and Safer go deeper into their Mr X plan, the lines between
games, lies, and reality begin to blur.
Mars Evacuees by Sophia McDougall
The fact that someone had decided I'd be safer on Mars, where you could
still only sort of breathe the air and sort of not get sunburned to death,
was a sign that the war with the aliens was not going fantastically well.
When Alice Dare finds out that she's being evacuated to Mars to join the
youth defence force, she isn't sure what to expect. But it sure wasn't
being shot at, chased by invisible aliens, befriending a robot goldfish - and
then having to save the galaxy! It is a stellar new adventure sci-fi series,
perfect for fans of Percy Jackson and Artemis Fowl.
Moonfleet by John Meade Falkner
Everyone in the tiny village of Moonfleet lives by the sea one way or
another, so it's no surprise when young John Trenchard gets involved in
the smuggling trade. Forced to flee England with a price on his head, John
little guesses the adventures and trials he will have before he sees
Moonfleet again or the change in his fortunes when he does.
My Family and Other Animals by Gerald Durrell
Sometimes it's pretty hard to tell them apart...my family and the animals,
that is. I don't know why my brothers and sisters complain so much. With
snakes in the bath and scorpions on the lunch table, our house, on the
island of Corfu, is a bit like a circus. So they should feel right at home...
My Name is Mina by David Almond
There's an empty notebook lying on the table in the moonlight. It's been
there for an age. I keep on saying that I'll write a journal. So I'll start
right here, right now. I open the book and write the very first words: My
name is Mina and I love the night. Then what shall I write? I can't just
write that this happened then this happened then this happened to boring
infinitum. I'll let my journal grow just like the mind does, just like a tree or
a beast does, just like life does. Why should a book tell a tale in a dull
straight line? And so 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.
My Sister Lives on the Mantelpiece by Annabel Pitcher
Ten-year-old Jamie Matthews has just moved to the Lake District with
his Dad and his 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, Jasmine turns to piercing, pink hair
and stops eating. 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, and 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 to the family she walked out on months ago.
When he sees a TV advert for a talent show, he feels certain that this will change
everything and bring them all back together once and for all.
Noughts and Crosses Book 1 by Malorie Blackman
ephy is a Cross - a member of the dark-skinned ruling class. Callum is a
nought - a 'colourless' member of the underclass who were once slaves to
the Crosses. The two have been friends since early childhood. But that's as
far as it can go. Against a background of prejudice, distrust and mounting
terrorist violence, a romance builds between Sephy and Callum - a romance
that is to lead both of them into terrible danger ...
My Swordhand is Singing by Marcus Sedgwick
In the bitter cold of an unrelenting winter Tomas and his son, Peter,
arrive in Chust and despite the inhospitability of the villagers settle there
as woodcutters. Tomas digs a channel of fast-flowing waters around their
hut so they have their own little island kingdom. Peter doesn't understand
why his father has done this, nor why his father carries a long battered
box everywhere they go, and why he is forbidden to know its contents.
But when a band of gypsies comes to the village Peter's drab existence is
turned upside down. He is infatuated by the beautiful gypsy princess,
Sofia, intoxicated by their love of life and drawn into their deadly quest. For these
travellers are Vampire Slayers and Chust is a dying community - where the dead come back
to wreak revenge on the living. Amidst the terrifying events that follow, Peter is stunned to
see his father change from a disillusioned man to the warrior hero he once was. Marcus
draws on his extensive research of the vampire legend and sets his story in the forbidding
and remote landscapes of the 17th century. Written in his usual distinctive voice, this is also
the story of a father and his son, of loss, redemption and resolution.
Refugee Boy by Benjamin Zephaniah
Alem is on holiday with his father for a few days in London. He has never
been out of Ethiopia before and is very excited. They have a great few
days togther until one morning when Alem wakes up in the bed and
breakfast they are staying at to find the unthinkable. His father has left
him. It is only when the owner of the bed and breakfast hands him a
letter that Alem is given an explanation. Alem's father admits that
because of the political problems in Ethiopia both he and Alem's mother
felt Alem would be safer in London - even though it is breaking their
hearts to do this. Alem is now on his own, in the hands of the social services and the Refugee
Council. He lives from letter to letter, waiting to hear from his father, and in particular
about his mother, who has now gone missing...
Smith by Leon Garfield
A London street urchin Smith is 12 years old, and an experienced pickpocket. One day on Ludgate Hill, he robbed an old gentleman, and one
minute later watched him silently murdered by two men, who chased him
for the document he had stolen but could not understand. Smith artfully
dodges the two men and winds up in the odd company of a wealthy blind
man, who takes Smith into his home and provides him with an education.
But this new comfort is lost when Smith himself is suspected of the very
murder he witnessed.
The Adventures of Sherlock Holmes by Arthur Conan, Sir Doyle
Stoneheart by Charlie Fletcher
'Deep in the City something had been woken, so old that people had been
walking past it for centuries without giving it a second look...' When
George breaks the dragon's head outside the Natural History Museum he
awakes an ancient power. This prehistoric beast, sentry-still for
centuries, hunts him down with a terrifying wrath. And this is just the
beginning...The taints and spits - statues with opposing natures - are
warring forces; wreaking deadly havoc on the city landscape. The World
War One gunner offers protection of sorts; and the wisdom of the
Sphinx is legendary. But George and his companion Edie are trapped in a world of danger. And
worse - they are quite alone. The rest of London is oblivious to their plight. This epic
adventure exposes forces long-layered in the fabric of London. After entering its richly
original and breathtaking world, the city streets and skyline will never again seem the same!
The After Iris The Diaries of Bluebell Gadsby by Natasha Farrant
Being a combination of conventional diary entries and transcripts of videos
shot by the author on the camera she was given for her 13th birthday, and
beginning at the end of summer. Bluebell Gadsby is 13 but that's the least
of her problems. Both her parents seem more interested in their careers
than the family, leaving Blue and her three siblings as well as their three
pet rats (who may or may not be pregnant), in the care of Zoran the au
pair. The enigmatic Joss moves in next door and Blue thinks she might be
falling in love, until he takes out her older sister Flora instead (who,
incidentally, is trying to make a statement by dying her hair bright pink
but no one takes the blindest bit of notice). Blue thinks and feels very deeply about life but
can't really talk to anyone about it, because no one in the Gadsby family wants to address
the real problem - that Blue's twin sister, Iris, died a year ago, and they are all just trying
to hide their grief in busyness...So Blue turns to her diary and her unique way of seeing the
world through her camcorder to express herself. A tender, funny, smart and ultimately
heartwarming story.
The White Darkness by Geraldine McCaughrean
Captain Titus Oates, hero of the Antarctic, has been dead for nearly 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. When she is taken on a mystery expedition by
her eccentric uncle Victor, Sym can't believe her luck. Destination
Antarctica-the very place she's always wanted to visit. But Victor has other
plans, more sinister than Sym could possibly imagine. Stranded in the most
isolated part of the world with her trust in someone she comes to realize is a madman, she
must find a way to avoid a gruesome fate. But what should a teenage girl do? Could it be that
Titus, the one who perished in that very place, will be the means of her survival?
The Red Necklace by Sally Gardner
The story of a remarkable boy called Yann Margoza; Tetu the dwarf, his
friend and mentor; Sido, unloved daughter of a foolish Marquis; and Count
Kalliovski, Grand Master of a secret society, who has half the aristocracy
in thrall to him, and wants Yann dead. Yann is spirited away to London but
three years later, when Paris is gripped by the bloody horrors of the
French Revolution, he returns, charged with two missions: to find out
Kalliovski's darkest deeds and to save Sido from the guillotine. With a
tangle of secrets, a thread of magic and a touch of humour, the follies of
the aristocracy and the sufferings of ordinary people are unfolded as their lives move
relentlessly towards the tragic and horrific days of the Terror.
The Hobbit by J. R. R. Tolkien
The Hobbit is the unforgettable story of Bilbo, a peace-loving hobbit, who
embarks on a strange and magical adventure. A timeless classic. Bilbo
Baggins enjoys a quiet and contented life, with no desire to travel far from
the comforts of home; then one day the wizard Gandalf and a band of
dwarves arrive unexpectedly and enlist his services -- as a burglar -- on a
dangerous expedition to raid the treasure-hoard of Smaug the dragon.
Bilbo's life is never to be the same again.
The Letter for the King by Tonke Dragt
A young messenger. A secret mission. A kingdom in peril. When sixteenyear-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 who lives across the Great Mountains - a letter upon
which the future of the entire realm depends. It means abandoning his
home, breaking all the rules and leaving everything behind - even the
knighthood that he has dreamed of for so long. The fate of a kingdom
depends on just one person...He must trust no one. He must keep his true
identity secret. Above all, he must never reveal what is in the letter.
The Little Soldier by Bernard Ashley
When Kaninda survives a brutal attack on his village in East Africa he joins
the rebel army, where he's trained to carry weapons, and use them. But
aid workers take him to London, to a new family and a comprehensive
school. Clan and tribal conflicts are everywhere, and on the streets it's
estate versus estate, urban tribe against urban tribe. All Kaninda wants it
to get back to his own war and take revenge on his enemies. But together
with Laura Rose, the daughter of his new family, he is drawn into a
dangerous local conflict that is spiraling out of control.
The Positively Last Performance by Geraldine McCaughrean
The performances at The Royal Theatre are extraordinary. You'd have to
see them to believe them! But that's the problem. Nobody can see them.
Except Gracie, that is. Newly arrived in her favourite seaside town and its
beautiful old theatre, Gracie's quickly making friends. There's Mikey the
Mod who wears a parka and drives a scooter, Miss Melluish whose skirt is
missing, and Frank Stuart, the maker of mechanical elephants. But the old
theatre is under threat. Will Gracie and her friends be able to save their
home, or is the curtain set to fall on their very last performance?
The Reluctant Assassin by Eoin Colfer
It all began with the FBI and WARP (Witness Anonymous Relocation
Programme). Hiding witnesses in the past to protect the future - until now.
Riley is a Victorian orphan, hurtled into the twenty-first century and on
the run from his evil master. Albert Garrick, the terrifying assassin-forhire pursuing Riley through time, along with. Chevie Savano, the FBI's
youngest and most impulsive special agent. As Garrick relentlessly hunts
them down, Riley and Chevie face a desperate race to stay alive and stop
Garrick from returning to his own time - armed with knowledge and power
that could change the world forever.
The Strange Case of Dr Jekyll and Mr Hyde by Robert Louis Stevenson
Everyone has a dark side. Dr Jekyll has discovered the ultimate drug. A
chemical that can turn him into something else. Suddenly, he can unleash his
deepest cruelties in the guise of the sinister Hyde. Transforming himself at
will, he roams the streets of fog-bound London as his monstrous alter-ego.
It seems he is master of his fate. It seems he is in complete control. But
soon he will discover that his double life comes at a hideous price.
The Tulip Touch by Anne Fine
Nobody wants Tulip in their gang. She skives off school, cheeks the
teachers and makes herself unpopular with her classmates by telling awful
lies. None of this matters to Natalie who finds Tulip exciting. At first she
doesn't care that other people are upset and unnerved by Tulip's bizarre
games, but as the games become increasingly sinister and dangerous,
Natalie realises that Tulip is going too far, much too far, racing, in fact, to
the novel's shocking ending.
Valentine Joe by Rebecca Stevens
Rose's granddad takes her on a trip to Ypres, Belgium to visit the graves
of those who died in the Great War. It's the day before Valentine's, but
Rose can sense the shattered old city beneath the chocolate-box new. And
it seems that it can sense her too. When she goes up to her room that
night, she hears the sound of marching feet and glimpses from her window
a young soldier on his way to the front line \.
The Weathermonger by Peter Dickinson
Long-awaited new editions of Peter Dickinson's cult classics England in the
future - but an England that is less rather than more civilised. This is the
time of The Changes - a time when people, especially adults, have grown to
hate machines and returned to a more primitive lifestyle. It is a time of
hardship and fear...When 16-year-old Geoffrey, a weathermonger starts to
repair his uncle's motorboat, he and his sister Sally are condemned as
witches. Fleeing for their lives, they travel to France - where they discover
that everything is normal. Returning to England, they set out to discover why the country is
under this mysterious spell. Only discovering the origin of the deadly magic will allow them to
set the people free of its destructive influence. Peter Dickinson began writing the books
after he'd had a nightmare. The trilogy is not sequential; rather, each book explores a
different aspect of England during the time that simply became known as The Changes.
TimeRiders by Alex Scarrow
Liam O'Connor should have died at sea in 1912. Maddy Carter should have
died on a plane in 2010. Sal Vikram should have died in a fire in 2029. Yet
moments before death, someone mysteriously appeared and said, 'Take my
hand ...' But Liam, Maddy and Sal aren't rescued. They are recruited by an
agency that no one knows exists, with only one purpose - to fix broken
history. Because time travel is here, and there are those who would go
back in time and change the past. That's why the TimeRiders exist: to
protect us. To stop time travel from destroying the world ...
The Head Over Heart by Colette Victor
Zeyneb is like any other thirteen-year-old British girl, juggling the
demands of her social life, school work and family. But as a Muslim girl
attracted to a non-Muslim boy she has more difficult choices \- and one
very big decision. Now a woman in the eyes of her religion, she must decide
if she will wear a headscarf. Zeyneb wants to make the right choice, not
just for her family or friends, but for herself.
Ways to Live Forever by Sally Nicholls
My name is Sam. I am eleven years old. I collect stories and fantastic
facts. By the time you read this, I will probably be dead… Sam loves facts.
He wants to know about UFOs and horror movies and airships and ghosts
and scientists, and how it feels to kiss a girl. And because he has leukaemia
he wants to know the facts about dying. Sam needs answers to the
questions nobody will answer. Ways to Live Forever is the first novel from
an extraordinarily talented young writer. Funny and honest, it is one of the
most powerful and uplifting books you will ever read.
KS2 (7 - 11 yrs) - Reluctant Readers
The list below was created from a survey run on Lovereading4schools where they asked
Teachers and Parents to recommend books that they have found helpful in encouraging
reluctant readers.
Cirque du Freak by Darren Shan
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 - a spider freak - 'falls in love' with Madam Octa - an
enormous tarantala owned by Mr Crepsley. Darren determines to steal the
spider so that he can train it to perform amazing deeds. But his daring
theft goes horribly wrong and Darren finds himself having to make a
bargain with a creature of the night.
Count Karlstein The Novel by Philip Pullman
No one in the village of Karlstein dares to leave their home on All Souls
Eve - the night Zamiel, the Demon Huntsman comes to claim his prey. But
the evil Count Karlstein has struck a terrible bargin with Zamiel, and so
the lives of his young nieces, Lucy and Charlotte, are in danger. Their only
hope lies with Hildi, a castle maidservant, and her fearless brother, Peter.
Can they save the girls from their dreadful fate? Only one thing is certain
- the Demon Huntsman will not return to his dark wood unsatisfied!
Deadly! By Morris Gleitzman, Paul Jennings
When Amy arrives home for her birthday tea, her parents have vanished
and in their place is a baby she's never seen before. At around the same
time Sprocket wakes up naked on a deserted mountainside and realises
that he has lost his memory. Both kids set out on journeys to find the
people they belong to, little knowing that they will soon join forces and
embark, with the baby, on the deadliest quest of their lives.
Doctor Proctor's Fart Powder by Jo Nesbo
Doctor 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! And with the help of his new neighbour
Nilly, and Nilly's friend Lisa, Doctor Proctor's Fart Powder is ready to go
worldwide! But ruthless twins Truls and Trym are determined to get hold
of the powder for themselves. Their plot to spoil the Doctor's plans
sparks a fart-filled adventure involving a firework extravaganza, a trip to
prison and an escaped anaconda.
First Term at L'Etoile by Kelly Willoughby and Holly Willoughby
We are the Willoughby sisters and we have a story to share with you
about one of the most important things in the world - friendship. On the
first day of term at L'Etoile, School for Stars, twins Maria and Molly
Fitzfoster meet Pippa Burrows who's won a song-writing scholarship to
the school. The talented trio share the same dreams of super-stardom
and become best friends. But will their friendship stand up against
Lucifette Marciano's plans to wreck their chances and claim fame for
herself?
Flour Babies by Anne Fine
Let it be flour babies. Let chaos reign. When the annual school science
fair comes round, Mr Cartwright's class don't get to work on the Soap
Factory, the Maggot Farm or the Exploding Custard Tins. To their
intense disgust they get the Flour Babies - sweet little six-pound bags of
flour that must be cared for at all times.
Goodnight Mister Tom by Michelle Magorian
Young Willie Beech is evacuated to the country as Britain stands on the
brink of the Second World War. 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
Holes by Louis Sachar
Stanley Yelnats' 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.
Smuggler! By Martyn Beardsley
Jack finds a secret compartment, and an ancient letter. It takes him
back into the dark and dangerous days of 18th-century smugglers - when
a boy his age could be hanged for his crimes...Barrington Stoke
specialise in books for reluctant, struggling and dyslexic readers.
The Butterfly Lion by Michael Morpurgo
All my life I'll think you you, I promise I will. I won't ever forget you.
Bertie rescues an orphaned white lion cub from the African veld. They
are inseparable until Bertie is sent to boarding school far away in
England and the lion is sold to a circus. Bertie swears that one day they
will see one another again, but it is the butterfly lion which ensures that
their friendship will never be forgotten.
The Ghost in the Bath by Jeremy Strong
Brand new comedy from Jeremy Strong. Luke is rather surprised to find
a ghost in his bath - and she needs his help! Luke's family has a new
member - The Ghost in the Bath! Can Luke help Ellie to find her fiance
Charlie AND finish his history project for Mrs Trouble - sorry, Mrs
Rubble - before he's really in hot water?
The Number 7 Shirt by Alan Gibbons
The story of a boy's journey to becoming a professional footballer. Will
the advice of 5 of Manchester United's greats help him achieve his
dream? A must for football fans everywhere. Jimmy has always dreamed
of becoming a pro footballer and gets one step closer when he's invited
to go for a trial for the Man U Academy! But he still has lots to learn.
Follow Jimmy's progress with the help of 5 of Man U's heroes, all
legends of the number 7 shirt.
The Story of Matthew Buzzington by Andy Stanton
Hilarious story with trademark Stanton-esque nonsense. Matthew
Buzzington has a superpower - he can turn into a fly! It's just that it
hasn't happened yet, which is pretty bad timing really because there
are robbers and flying pineapples out to get him. Can he make his
superpower work? A fun, chunky format including stickers. Particularly
suitable for struggling, reluctant and dyslexic readers aged 7+
The Vampire of Croglin by Terry Deary
The villagers live in fear of noises in the night. The new tenants at the
Grange have been attacked. What is the truth behind the legend of the
vampire? Barrington Stoke specialise in books for reluctant, struggling
and dyslexic readers.
Two Weeks with the Queen by Morris Gleitzman
'I need to see the Queen about my sick brother.' Colin Mudford is on a
quest. His brother Luke has cancer and the doctors in Australia don't seem
to be able to cure him. Sent to London to stay with relatives, Colin is
desperate to do something to help Luke. He wants to find the best the
doctor in the world. Where better to start than by going to the top? Colin
is determined to ask the Queen for her advice.
Young Wizards by Michael Lawrence
New edition of a laugh-out-loud horror. Brin and Arlo are just two normal
boys. Or so they think. But today is a very special day, and some strange
things are about to happen. Well, weird things are bound to occur when
there are young wizards about...Particularly suitable for struggling,
reluctant and dyslexic readers aged 8+