Book recommendations
Since our children are passionate about reading, we have been thinking about recommending books to one another. There is also a whole host of wonderful suggestions on the website : www.lovereading 4kids.co.uk. Here you can search by age group, you can also find best rated and those that are award winners. There are books on both the 9+ and 11+ section that would still appeal to the children in our group. You can see which would be more challenging as it indicates if they also appear in the 13+ section.
The children’s current recommendations are below and we will add to them in class on an ongoing basis: they are not listed in any particular order and I cannot say I have read every one myself so always scan and check that you are happy that it is appropriate for your child!
1) Malorie Blackman – A fabulous author who has been Children’s Laureate and often deals with issues that make the children think and elicit some interesting discussion. Be aware that she does also writes for older children and her Noughts and Crosses series may be better for when the children are older. The children chose:
* Thief
* Antidote
* Boys don’t cry
* Hacker
* Pig Heart Boy
2) James Dashner – The Maze Runner (Science Fiction adventure)
3) Erin Hunter – The Warrior Cats ( Adventure series)
4) Ross Welford - Time travelling with a hamster - shortlisted for Costa children’s book award (time travel adventure)
5) Trenton Lee Stewart – The Mysterious Benedict Society Series (Mystery)
6) The London Eye mystery by Siobhan Dowd
7) Michael Grant - The Gone series (listed as 11+ and 13+ on Love reading)
8) Terry Pratchet
* I shall wear Midnight
* Wintersmith
9) Joan Aiken –A well- known Children’s writer of many books that could be considered modern classics. (fantasy)
* Serial Garden
* The Wolves of Willoughby Chase
10) Emma Carroll
* The girl who walked on Air (Adventure)
* Letters from the Lighthouse (Nominated as Children’s book of the Year)
11) S.K Sheridan – The top secret diary of Davina Dupree
12) Libby Parker – Bertie the Blitz Dog
13) Sandi Toksvig – Hitler’s Canary
14) Lemony Snicket – All the wrong questions series (Detective mystery)
15) Veronica Roth – Divergent series (some of the children have read this but it is considered more of a 13+ read so do look carefully- action adventure)
16) The Lady Grace mysteries by Grace Cavendish (Murder mysteries set in Tudor/Elizabethan period
17) Wonder – R J Palacio – Carnegie shortlisted, very thought provoking
18) Gary Paulsen – Hatchet (Survival adventure)
19) Phillip Pullman (winner of Carnegie medal)
Has a wide range of books that will appeal to differing reading levels and ages. Our group chose the following as favourites
* Northern Lights – Part of Dark materials trilogy – The Golden Compass is the film version
* Ruby and the Smoke (action, detective)
* The book of dust
20) Mike Wilks – Mirrorscape (fantasy adventure)
21) Ali Sparks
* Frozen in time ( A mystery adventure)
* Car jacked (Nominated for Children’s book of the Year 2017)
22) Robin Stevens – Mistletoe and Murder (Nominated for several awards recognising crime genre for children)
23) Maz Evans – Who Let the Gods Out? (I’m told it’s a super funny adventure and nominated for several awards.
24) Kiran Milwood- Hargrave – The Island at the End of Everything (Nominated for many awards)
25) Claire Fayers – Journey to the magical North (from 9+, Shortlisted for 2017 Children’s book of the Year) Includes Pirates, magic and adventure
26) Suzanne Collins – The Hunger games (Many of the children have read this but please be aware that it is listed as a 13+/ young adult book so you may want a look yourself first)
27) Anthony Horowitz
* Alex Rider series (teenage spy)
* Diamond brothers (humour/detective)
28) Rick Riordan (Mythical adventures) There are many to choose from
29) Michael Morpurgo – There are many books by this author!
* Eagle in the Snow
* Listen to the Moon
* Kensuke’s Kingdom
* Lucky Button (Nominated as Children’s book of the Year)
30) Some of the children are enjoying some classic stories such as
* Arthur Ransome – Swallows and Amazons
* Johanna Spyri - Heidi
