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Find out moreThe books in this section have been given a primary age range of 11+. The reading world now lies wide open. Individual choices of genre become more significant as readers become more discriminating. Readers develop their critical faculties as they weave their way towards the kind of readers they are growing into. The books in this section are suitable for 11-12+ readers. The books in this section might also be given a secondary age range. Some are suitable for 9+ year olds reading above their age. Please note, content & subject matter will be suitable for a 9 year old. Where indicated, less confident teen readers will enjoy the stories. Non-Fiction in this section is often fascinating and educational to a wider age range.
Brimming with kindness, and voiced with humour by its adorable Charlton-obsessed protagonist, Adam Baron’s Some Sunny Day evokes all the fears and frustrations of pandemic lockdown from a child’s perspective. With a cast of gloriously authentic characters, it’s also a beautiful tribute to the work teachers did during the pandemic, and incredibly funny, with a mystery to boot. Cymbeline Igloo (Cym) is well and truly fed up of being locked down. His mum is super-paranoid about COVID-19 and takes social distancing to the extreme. She’s also obsessed with keeping busy, which is why a massive clear out leads to her accidently giving away Cym’s beloved signed football shirt. A powerful subplot about the experience of refugees comes to the fore when Cym discovers who has his shirt. Then, when COVID strikes close to home and his fellow Charlton-supporting neighbour Mrs Stebbings, the much-loved school cook, is taken into hospital, Cym realises what really matters, and rallies his class to pivot their WWII history assignment into a magical project to make her feel better. Incredibly moving (reader, I cried), Some Sunny Day also brilliantly evokes the hilarious absurdities of lockdown, from taking daily exercise with a TV personality and baking sourdough bread, to supermarket shortages, and the triumph/despair of discovering/missing out on that last pack of toilet paper or bottle of ketchup. A truly special story that will chime with thousands of young readers, this would also make a great book to read as a class.
As satisfying (and sweet) as the confectionary its unforgettable protagonist is an expert on, Jessica Scott-Whyte’s The Asparagus Bunch tells the chock-full-of-charm story of Leon and his fellow neurodiverse friends. Refreshing and endlessly insightful on Leon’s autism spectrum disorder, it’s a funny, thought-provoking delight. Confectionary aficionado Leon is 4779 days old (“13 years and 1 month, if you’re mathematically challenged”), and lives with his mum Caroline who works at Blackpool Pleasure Beach. “Most people think I’ve got an attitude problem,” he acknowledges, but Caroline isn’t most people, and neither are the friends he makes at his sixth new school, which he joins as Dr Snot diagnoses him with autism spectrum disorder. After being shown round school by creative, kind dyslexic Tanya, and meeting loveable bee keeper Lawrence, who’s also neurodiverse, the three form The Asparagus Bunch club, subverting how Leon was mocked for having “asparagus” (he’s also called “ass-burger”). When the Bunch resolve to tackle the school bully, Leon decides revenge is a dish best served salty in the form of Scandinavian salmiakki confectionary, until Dr Snot advises against it. With Leon being a self-professed “man with a fork in a world of soup”, there are misunderstandings and fallings-out between friends and family. But above all, there’s empathy, comedy and a joyful sense of life being about “making the most of what comes along,” in the wise words of Dr Snot.
Discover the magical, timeless, bestselling children's adventure series from Lev Grossman, #1 New York Times bestselling author of The Magicians. It's been a year since Kate and Tom became conductors on the Great Secret Intercontinental Railway, and life has changed completely! Delivering animal passengers to their rightful habitats using their very own secret steam train, The Silver Arrow, is exciting and magical and fulfilling. Until one day a new and mysterious train almost rams them off the track! Its name? The Golden Swift. Kate catches a glimpse of the conductors. They're children, like them, and they're dropping animals off at all the wrong stations! Kate is determined to catch up with their rivals and confront them. Her actions will lead to an adventure bigger than she could have dreamed of, racing through the highlands of Western Scotland, trekking in the Australian outback and diving down deep into the Bering Sea on a magical submarine. Kate will have to discover a whole new way to offer endangered animals safe and lasting homes.
One boy's mission to take down a team of super-villains, with the help of his boring, dishcloth-selling grandad? When Jesse's grandad wins tickets to a retirement cruise and offers to bring Jesse along, Jesse is not exactly thrilled. A boat load of old age pensioners?! No thanks. Not to mention that he's pretty sure his parents are going to be talking about a D.I.V.O.R.C.E. while he's safely out of the way. But from the moment the pair arrive on the cruise ship, it's a different story. Mysterious cat burglars, crime lords and smugglers all seem to be on board and odder than that, Gramps knows them all! When an attempted murder occurs, Jesse decides it's time to find out what they're hiding, and catch the villain responsible. But Gramps might be hiding the biggest secret of all. Can Jesse unravel the mystery, before time runs out? A hilarious adventure with heart for fans of The Worst Holiday Ever and Gangsta Granny featuring a gorgeous intergenerational relationship between a boy and his grandad, who is determined to reconnect with his family before illness intervenes. Brought to life with fabulous illustrations throughout - this package will delight readers.
Summer 1940. As the cuckoo sings out across the Lake District, life is about to change for ever for local boy Tommy and his friend Sally, the mysterious evacuee girl who lives on the neighbouring farm. When they find a wounded Nazi airman in the woods, Sally persuades Tommy not to report it but to keep the German hidden. This starts a chain of events that leads to the uncovering of secrets about Sally's past and a summer of adventure that neither child will ever forget.
Rabbit and his mum have moved to the coast to run a small caravan park. Rabbit has been struggling since he saw his father die - he finds it hard to speak. When he befriends a local boy, Joe, Rabbit begins to feel better - but he keeps having strange dreams of a frightened white horse. Hunting for the animal, the two boys stumble across something much more dangerous: a man being held hostage by a criminal gang. Their discovery will set them on a dangerous path that will risk everything Rabbit holds dear...
Medal Boy lives in a caravan on his own in the woods. His dad, John, is in prison and promises to get out soon. All the boy needs to do is survive alone for a little while longer. But dark forces are circling - like the dangerous man in the Range Rover, who is looking for his stolen money. And then there are the ancient forces that have lain asleep in the woods for an age.
A hilarious whodunit adventure for readers aged 9+ from the author of Escape from Camp Boring. Full of mishaps, mayhem and Tom Mitchell's trademark wit, When Things Went Wild is also a timely call to protect our environment and its wildlife. When Kit's family move to a crumbling house in the Scottish Highlands, he's got a lot to deal with - terrible Wi-Fi, a new school in the middle of nowhere, and, as always, his annoying little brother, Jack. But it's not until the brothers find a strange object on the moors that Kit's problems really begin. A policewoman comes knocking, and the boys learn that they have found a tracker that has been removed from the leg of a golden eagle. The illegal killing of these majestic birds is all too common, and now a pair of nesting eagles are under threat. Kit and Jack start to investigate, soon joined by Tamora - the most popular girl in school - and her younger sister, Bea. Who is trying to harm the eagles, and why? Chief suspects are landowner Lord Cavendish, local farmer McNab and sinister game keeper Mosby. Can the city kids cope with the country - and catch the culprit?
A gripping story of myth and mystery about a legendary mermaid and her dark power. When the truth comes out, will it bring freedom or a terrible retribution? Vivien's never going to win the Mermaid Crown and she knows it. Does she care? Who wants to be rewarded just for being pretty anyway? So she joins Alice on her quest to find the mermaid of the lake instead. But as the legend starts to unravel, it reveals an ugly truth. And leads the girls into terrible, watery danger. Cover illustrations by Kathrin Honesta.
Publishing for the 75th anniversary of the Partition of India in August 2022, this book is a unique exploration of the rich and complicated history of India, Pakistan, Bangladesh, and Britain. There are many ways of telling the same story, and how you tell it depends on your point of view. Some stories are so complicated, or difficult to explain, that they're not often told at all. Like the story of how a company ended up running a country, or how one man drawing a line on a map could change the lives of millions of people forever. This book aims to piece together the interesting, surprising, and sometimes very sad story of India, Pakistan, Bangladesh, and Britain, and how these countries have shaped one another over the centuries. From exploring the vast empires and amazing inventions of ancient India, to revealing the challenges faced by South Asian migrants to Britain - or celebrating the amazing culture, innovations, inventions, and achievements of British people of South Asian heritage today - this book shows how the past, present and future of these four countries will always be intertwined. Written by Donna and Vikesh Amey Bhatt who were inspired to write this book for their two young sons, with consultancy by Rajbir Hazelwood, historian of South Asia and Modern Britain, Lands of Belonging includes an exploration of the impact of British rule over India (India, Pakistan and Bangladesh were all one country at the time), from the foundation of the East India Company to India's involvement in supporting Britain during both World Wars, to India's fight for independence and the British government's decision to Partition the country, resulting in the largest migration of people in history.
Fun, fast-paced, high-octane action adventure, 21% Monster is a perfect page-turning new series for fans of Alex Rider, Percy Jackson and the MCU generation. When Darren Devlin is arrested for destroying his school with his bare hands, it's not just the police who are after him. Enter Marek Masters, 14 years old, 19% alien, and the most intelligent, most wanted almost human alive. Marek is here to tell Darren the truth - he is 21% monster, and together they must take down the secret organisation that created them. Darren and Marek are wanted, powerful and dangerous. And now it's payback time.
The blackbirds' song uplifts and restores in this captivating novella from one of the most exciting voices in children's fiction. After a devastating car crash, Annie is unable to play her flute and retreats from the music she's always loved. She exists in a world of angry silence - furious with her mum and furious she can't seem to play her beloved flute any more. Then she meets Noah, who shows her the blackbirds' nest hidden in the scrubland near their flats. As their friendship grows, the blackbirds' glorious song reignites Annie's passion for music. But when tragedy strikes again, will her fragile progress be put at risk?
One evening Edie is babysitting for a neighbour, Donna, who has repeatedly caught sight of an estranged friend from overseas. What is troubling Donna, however, is that it seems she's been in the same place at the same time as this friend on a number of occasions over the past few days. At Donna's request, Edie looks into these apparent coincidences, using a combination of investigative work and conversations with her rabbi (who is tutoring Edie in preparation for her bat mitzvah) about the nature of fatalism and determinism. Meanwhile, Edie's school friend Harry Coranger is suspicious of his stepfather, who has become involved with ultra-radical anti-capitalists who, furious at the state of the planet and its greed-fuelled decline, are plotting an audacious double atrocity: a bombing and a hijacking. When Harry bizarrely disappears, Edie becomes embroiled in trying to find him and, ultimately, foil the terrorists' plans. Utilising her brave instincts and skills as a supersleuth for hire, Edie sets about resolving and averting the mysteries and crises that she is confronted with as she comes to realise that things often happen outside of chance, and outside of our understanding and control. Outside Chance is the second instalment in Anthony Kessel's four-book Don't Doubt the Rainbow series a new contemporary middle-grade detective series with a difference. To solve each mystery, 13-year-old Edie Marble must harness the Three Principles, a new approach to understanding how the mind works that is currently proving invaluable in improving mental health and well-being in children internationally. Reading age 11+.
Meet Mo Merrydrew - independent young woman, Mini Battenberg fan, president of the debating society - and reluctant vampire queen ... Fifteen-year-old Mo Merrydrew isn't exactly expecting to be asked to be Vampire Queen of Great Britain when she's cycling home from school one wet Tuesday evening. Apparently, she is 'the Chosen One'. Aside from being uncomfortable with the idea of unelected power (not very democratic), there's the blood drinking to consider (Mo is a vegetarian), and frankly it's just not really the sort of role Mo's looking for (she wants to aim for a real job in politics). But - if you're Vampire Queen, you probably don't have to do PE any more, and when the dreamy Luca, a vampire familiar, turns up, it all suddenly starts to look a bit more appealing ... Geek Girl meets Buffy in a brilliantly funny new teen series from bestselling author Jo Simmons
Ema Vašková belongs to a family of famous scientists and yet she appears to have the very unscientific ability to predict events, but she is never allowed to talk about this. When she is sent to stay with her eccentric uncle in Prague, she fears she'll lose the chance to ever fit in and become a true scientist like her beloved older siblings. But there she meets the mysterious Silvie and soon the girls are meeting for secret midnight adventures aimed at conquering Ema’s fears. When Silvie disappears it’s up to Ema to find her with the only clue pointing to the mysterious Midnight Guild. Ema proves herself to be both resourceful and brave and she needs to be. It seems that Silvie has been on a quest to find a murderer and that Ema will discover more about her family history and her own abilities as well as save her friend. Ema is a really engaging heroine and this is an assured, inventive and original fantasy, populated with fascinating, and occasionally macabre, characters with which to follow Tooke’s acclaimed debut The Unadoptables and likely to prove just as popular.
Chosen as a Book of the Month by our Guest Editor, Emma Carroll | There’s an absolute bumper crop of brilliant books out this summer, but my pick has to be the first in a brand new series, The Lizzie and Belle Mysteries by JT Williams (June, Farshore). The story is set in C18th London, and centres around Lizzie Sancho, and her friend Dido Belle as they try to find out who is threatening to murder Lizzie’s father, Ignatius, before his debut performance on the West End stage. Expect high-speed action, lavish period detail, complicated friendships and plenty of drama. It’s a fabulously told story- I couldn’t put it down!- and also gives voice to the experiences of people of colour in the C18th. Dido Belle and Ignatius Sancho were real people whose lives make for interesting reading. The Lizzie and Belle Mysteries does what, in my view, great historical fiction should do- it tells a cracking story from the view of someone you might not find in the history books. It’s a winner! ~ Emma Carroll
If we want to change the world, we need to do things differently, just like all the unstoppable Artists in this book have done. Rise up, make art and break the mould!
Environment Award for Children's Literature Winner | This award-winning title from Australia will resonate with young activists everywhere and is a really enjoyable read to boot! Casey, Zeke and Cookie are Green Peas- their own secret activist organisation designed to grab attention for important environmental issues- usually by means of ‘pranks’ or practical jokes, which cause great hilarity to their school mates but certainly get attention. Casey is the pranks mastermind having been trained in pranking from an early age by her delightfully mischievous Grandpa , the mainstay of the family since the death of Casey’s mother Trixie. Trixie passed on her passion for the environment to Casey and also left her a box of cards with Trixie Wu’s Thoughts on …which pop up throughout the book. The Green Peas have to get more serious when the trio discover what the greedy town Mayor is up to, and they must use all their considerable ingenuity to reveal her schemes to an apathetic community and get the plans overturned. These are delightful, diverse and well-rounded characters and the family and friends’ relationships feel authentic and believable. Grandpa’s hearing problems are based upon the author’s own family and some of Grandpa’s anecdotes are true! Casey’s obsession with collecting and using interesting words adds a lovely vocabulary boosting learning opportunity to this fantastic heart-warming, fast paced and funny story, which has a serious message of empowerment for young readers.
A brilliantly funny story of what happens when a galactic princess moves in next door and almost brings about the end of the world. Exciting new fiction from the bestselling, award-winning author of My Brother is a Superhero. Gavin's got a new neighbour and she's really annoying. Niki follows him everywhere, bosses him about, and doesn't care that her parents will obliterate Earth with their galactic warships if she doesn't stop running away from them. Can Niki and Gavin sort out the alien despots (aka Mum and Dad) and save the planet? Possibly. Will they become friends along the way? Doubtful.
A glorious silver anniversary edition of J.K. Rowling’s classic first story, featuring the original 1997 cover illustration by Thomas Taylor and exciting bonus material to celebrate 25 years of Harry Potter magic. This is where the adventure begins, as Harry Potter discovers that he is no ordinary boy but a wizard of great reknown, as well as expected at Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry. Moreover, at Hogwarts, he encounters "He Who Must Not Be Named", a master of magic whose ambition is more dark and terrifying than Harry can possibly imagine.
Writing a sequel to a much-loved book that has deservedly achieved ‘classic’ status is no mean feat, but Emma Carroll has risen to the task masterfully. While it is a delight to meet again characters such as among others, Maia, Finn, Miss Minton and Clovis, this is a unique story with its own distinctive voice. It is such a relief that there has been no attempt to pastiche the voice or style of Ibbotson. Carroll is esteemed in her own right as an author of gripping historical adventures, and this is no exception. The central character, Rosa, escaped from Vienna (a nice link to Ibbotson’s birthplace) on the Kindertransport and spent the war years at the dilapidated West Country mansion house owned by Sir Clovis and Lady Prue, surrounded by the girls from an evacuated London school and the animals from the local zoo. Post war loneliness and the arrival of Dr Yara Fielding, a young scientist, is the catalyst for the next stage of her adventure, in the beautifully evoked Amazon rainforest where she finds the perfect found family and starts to come to terms with what might have happened to her mother and sister. But the lingering horrors of war are reaching out into the jungle too and there are dangers to face and villains to defeat. There are some fascinating themes to explore in this rich and enjoyable text: exploitation of land and resources in both the UK and the Amazon basin, the ethics of keeping animals in captivity; or the fate of child refugees whether during WWII or in the present time. Invaluable also for topic work on rainforests, South America or rivers this book will be thoroughly and deservedly welcomed in KS2 classes everywhere.
Exploring pertinent themes of identity, racism and resistance, A.M. Dassu’s Fight Back is a powerful, moving triumph. A gripping story that will support and inspire young readers who experience Islamophobia and racism, and enlighten all readers on how to be a better ally. Thirteen-year-old Aaliyah is into reading, K-pop, and loves her best friends Lisa and Sukhi. But life as a Muslim isn’t easy in a society that ripples with racism. After a terrorist bombing, she’s passed a note in class - “Is the London attacker one of your uncles? I heard your dad got the weapons from Pakistan for him”. Meanwhile, Aaliyah’s lawyer mum is abused in a supermarket for wearing a hijab. Then, when another attack happens closer to home – very close, in fact – the abuse escalates and Aaliyah is ghosted by Lisa, whose controlling older brother Darren holds despicable “take back our country” views. Though hurt, Aaliyah’s response is one of pride and courage. She decides “wearing a hijab would empower me to be true to myself… I’d show everyone a proper Muslim wasn’t anything like the few bad ones plastered all over the news. It was time I came out and was confident about who I was. It was time to fight.” When her school bans hijabs in response to complaints from pupils and parents, and Darren organises a “BRING BACK OUR SAFE WHITE NEIGHBOURHOODS” protest, Aaliyah decides that enough is enough and speaks out at a public event. Perfectly pitched and paced, and radiant with Aaliyah’s courage, Fight Back is an engaging must-read that challenges racist stereotypes as it shines with the vitality of empathy, friendship and positive protest.
June 2022 Graphic Novel of the Month | A gripping, emotional and intimate look into the life of a Black family living through the early months of 2020, Oxygen Mask serves as a moving reminder of the human spirit.
Cassie's older brother Byron has fallen in with the wrong crowd - it's soon clear these boys are wild, reckless and not human at all. They are tylwyth teg - Fair Folk, who tempt humans down into the dark places of the world. And Byron is tempted. When he goes missing, Cassie and her cousin, Sian, follow his trail to an old abandoned railway tunnel which goes down and down into Annwn, the underworld. Here they find that the tylwyth teg are restless - and angry. Their leader, Gwenhidw, wants to protect Annwn from the damage humans are doing to the world. Byron is part of her plan. But Cassie won't let her big brother be part of anyone's plan. Can she rescue her brother before it is too late?
A Julia Eccleshare Pick of the Month June 2022 | Tautly written and full of jeopardy, this is a fast-paced adventure with a cast of characters who's intersecting lives propel the drama excellently. Set in a crumbling society that is ruled by fear, Colony is heading towards complete destruction. But there is one girl, living secretly in the woods under the fiercely protective watch of the guardian who has cared for her since her parents died, who has an extraordinary power that may be able to change the destiny of Colony. If she summons all her mental powers, Cora can change the course of an action. Its a terrifying power that can be easily abused so it is no surprise that everyone in hunting done Cora. When she sets out on a dangerous journey how can she stay safe and who can she trust?.
June 2022 Debut of the Month | Caribbean folklore meets futuristic fantasy in Alake Pilgrim’s Zo and the Forest of Secrets, an exhilarating Middle Grade adventure driven by the determination of its endearing heroine and the shocking secrets she finds in the forest. This is heartily recommended for readers who are into adventure, fantasy and ecological issues – it’s an an absolute page-turner with real-life resonance. Zo is staying in Samaan Bay on Trinidad’s northeast coast with her mum, baby brother and stepdad, and she’s not happy. Missing her dad and friends, she decides to run away. What could go wrong? Zo’s dad has taught her everything about the forest. At least, that’s what she thinks until it takes a strange and sinister turn, and Zo must summon all her courage to find a way home, save a lost boy and navigate the unsettling truths of an abandoned research facility. The landscapes of the author’s beloved Trinidad are brilliantly evoked — rushing rivers and tangled mangroves, mountainous rainforests teeming with plants and creatures of both the familiar and fantastical variety, among them a talking pirate spider (Cap’n Peg), robotic gnats, and the fearsome Flesh-skinner. The novel also interweaves ecological topics, with Zo mentioning the devastating effects of large-scale logging and mining, and lamenting how companies have “destroyed the rich plant and animal life of the forest”. As Zo faces a thrillingly relentless succession of challenges, she makes a shocking discovery that splendidly sets the scene for the second book in this duology.
A Julia Eccleshare Pick of the Month June 2022 | When Noah’s father goes off to fight in the war Noah promises that he will look after their dog Winn. But how can he do that if he is evacuated to the country? Noah, like all his friends, are told their pets will have to be put down when they go away. There is no way that Noah will let that happen to Winn! Instead, Noah and his friends and their pets – including a pretty terrifying Python – take off on a leaky old boat travelling up the Thames to find the animals a place of safety. Can Noah keep his promise to his dad? It’s a journey of a lifetime and only the children’s resilience and passion for their animals and the right for them to stay alive can make it come true!
While there’s certainly no shortage of fart-themed books for children, and no sign that the perennial appeal of parps is waning among contemporary readers, actor and comedian Stephen Mangan’s The Fart that Changed the World is a satisfyingly surreal addition to the canon of flatulence-themed fiction. With crisply comic line drawings by graphic designer and illustrator Anita Mangan, this story of a king whose unexpected fart unexpectedly changes the world is sure-fire way for kids to entertain themselves. What’s more, it’s also excellent for reading aloud (the joys of being read to at an older age should never be underestimated), with a strident, knowing tone of voice that makes it easy - and satisfying - to inject further funniness and drama. On the very morning King Fabian is set to host neighbouring rulers, he emits a morning fart. “Tight and high-pitched like a short, sharp note from a bugle”, this was “a fart like no other in history. This was a fart with consequences…a fart that changed the world.” When Dimmock the royal butler is blamed and confined to the dungeons, the royal household faces a problem, for the butler is the brains behind the crown, not bumbling Fabian. And so it falls to young kitchen hand Frank to step into the breach (or should that be breeches?) as the royal butler, and it falls also to Frank to step up to save Fabian from unfortunate fart-triggered embarrassment.
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