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Age Group: KS2

the wanderdays journey to fantome island

The Wanderdays: Journey To Fantome Island

Chapter book

Are you brave enough to join the Wanderdays in their first thrilling adventure? They’re off on an edge-of-your-seat underwater quest to find out what’s really happening on the secret Fantome Island.

Meet Flo and Joseph Wanderday.

Their mum is one of the world’s greatest explorers, but she’s gone missing on her latest expedition. When a mysterious stranger appears, they discover the sinister reason for Mum’s trip.

This was no ordinary expedition and Mum was trying to uncover crimes committed by Sir Frederick Titan, a much-loved TV presenter who claims to be a protector of the natural world.

Flo, Joseph and their friends Funmi and Isaac find a map and follow clues taking them to a secret island to save Mum and expose Titan’s fishy plans…

An exciting watery adventure packed with brilliant baddies, bravery, friendship and real passion for protecting the natural world.

i am wolf

I Am Wolf

Chapter book

An outstanding, highly original and unputdownable read! This is a bold, thought-provoking adventure perfect for fans of MORTAL ENGINES and THE LAST WILD.

Coll is Wolf.

He lives with his clan on a Construct, a huge technological “creature” driven by the clan’s combined willpower. Together they roam their world, fighting other clans and absorbing them into their own.

But when a new and dangerous Construct attacks them, Coll is thrown clear from Wolf and left behind. Now he must survive life on ground and get back to his clan. He is helped by Rieka, a “Tock” who makes the Constructs work. She promises Coll a way to return, but can she be trusted? And what is she really trying to do…?

When Coll uncovers the truth, it destroys everything he thought he knew about his clan, the world they live in, and even himself. In a world full of danger, and suddenly without meaning, can he find a way back?

paws

Paws

Chapter book

Alex’s best friend is Kevin the cockapoo, although what he wants most of all is a friend at school. A charming and gentle story about how life isn’t one size fits all.

Everything is changing for 11-year-old Alex and, as an autistic person, change can be terrifying. With the first day of high school only a couple of months away, Alex is sure that having a friend by his side will help. So, he’s devised a plan – impress the kids at school by winning a trophy at the PAWS Dog Show with his trusty sidekick, Kevin. This should be a walk in the park … right?

the boy the witch and the queen of scots

The Boy, the Witch and The Queen of Scots

Chapter book

No.

Not the Palace.

Anywhere but the Palace.

12-year-old Alexander Buchan was once content, training as a falconer at Strathbogie Castle in Huntly. But when his Earl sends him to Edinburgh to the court of the newly arrived Mary, Queen of Scots, the boy finds himself lured into a world of intrigue, terror and treachery. Alexander knows right from wrong, but how can he hope to outwit the Earl’s murderous messenger? Surely no one can defy such a powerful master whose wife is rumoured to be a witch!

Soon, more than the boy’s own life is at stake: his friend Lizzie is arrested and the the angry clouds of Reformation Scotland gather around the young Queen.

It seems that Alexander must spy – or die.

ettie and the midnight pool

Ettie and the Midnight Pool

Chapter book

Ettie has lived blissfully with just her grandma for company and the wild woods as her playground. Until she meets the mysterious Cora and she starts to crave more – now she wants to explore further, to discover secrets of her own. So, when Cora leads her to the hidden quarry pool – deep, cold, beautiful and dangerously inviting – Ettie is ready to jump straight in. But the quarry has secrets too, and Ettie will have to dive deep into the darkness to uncover them . . .

the island at the edge of night

The Island at the Edge of Night

Chapter book

A twisty-turny shadowy mystery from highly-acclaimed and Waterstones Prize-shortlisted author Lucy Strange.

Abandoned at a boarding school on a bleak and remote Scottish island, Faye discovers that she and the other pupils have been sent there for doing something wicked. But what is it that Faye has done?

She might be bold enough to explore the prison-like island but has she the courage to face a secret deep within herself?

A stunning new tale from the Queen of Gothic, Lucy Strange – author of The Secret of Nightingale Wood, Sisters of the Lost Marsh, The Ghost of Gosswater and the Waterstones Prize-shortlisted Our Castle by the Sea.

A masterful blend of thrilling Gothic mystery, a touch of magical realism and stunning writing, all wrapped up in a twisty-turny plot.

Perfect for fans of Frances Hardinge and Emma Carroll.

the broken leg of doom

The Broken Leg of Doom!

Chapter book

Hilarious, illustrated school-based antics where everything that happens leads to DRAMA and RUNNING AROUND and even some FAINTING!
When a session of extreme dancing leaves Maisie in hospital with a broken leg, things take a turn for the weird! Strange noises in the ward at night, missing cuddly toys and a sandwich trolley that only ever has TUNA sandwiches. Could Maisie’s leg be CURSED? If it is, and it DEFINITELY IS, then everything is DOOMED!

Laugh-out-loud fun from Blue Peter Award winners Pamela Butchart and Thomas Flintham.

The Day My Dog Got Famous

Chapter book

Perfect for fans of Danny Wallace, Liz Pichon and Katie Kirby – buckle up, you’re in for a dog-tastic adventure, packed with comic strips and cartoons.

When Destiny boasts about videos of her dog, Princess Foo-Foo, going viral, Ferris foolishly claims that Aldo can easily become a BIGGER internet star. There’s just one problem: Aldo has about as much talent as a teaspoon.

Then Ferris and Tia accidentally film Aldo doing what looks like an amazing trick . . . will Aldo finally live up to the name of his comic book alter-ego and wow the world with his skills or is this about to be the biggest EPIC FAIL ever?

best books for 8 year olds

Best Recommended Reading Books for 8 Year Olds

Best Recommended Books For Children Age 8

Are you looking for good books for 8 year olds? Our collection of recommended children’s books for 8-year-olds is here to help guide you to find your eight year old’s next read. This reviewed and hand selected booklist has been put together by experts.

Children at the age of 8 often like books that entertain them and help them to understand the world around them. Books provide children of this age group with opportunities to stretch their imagination as well as to consider what life might be like in a myriad of different settings and situations. Illustrated chapter books are extremely popular with this age group.

Whether you are looking for interactive choose-your-own style stories like The Monster Maker, exciting animal worlds like Varjak Paw or magical stories to whisk you away into fantasy worlds like The Worst Witch, our guide will help you to pinpoint recommended reads for 8-year-old children.

Featuring literary classics like Charlotte’s Web, thought-provoking favourites like The Wild Robot, popular graphic novels like Peng and Spanners and popular illustrated funny stories like Tom Gates, we’ve covered all tastes in our top 20 picks of the best books for 8-year-olds.

For more comprehensive booklists for this age group, browse our lists of 50 Best Books for Year 3 or 50 Best Books for Year 4.

Open the pages of the next chapter of your child’s reading journey with our age 8 recommended reading list below.

yaras chance to dance

Yara’s Chance to Dance

Chapter book

Pirouette your way into the Shimmer & Shine dance studio, where the ballet besties are ready to put on a show!

When Yara joins Shimmer & Shine, a community dance school, she meets lots of other children her age, who are there to either start their training or just for the fun of it. Soon she has a group of ballet besties she loves to dance with.

But then Dame Clougston-Wilmott, their grumpy, dance-hating landlady, threatens to close the studio. Suddenly it’s up to Yara and her new friends to keep Shimmer & Shine open!

Will putting on a performance of The Sleeping Beauty reawaken the Dame’s love for dance? Will Yara have the chance to dance her dream role of Aurora? And most importantly of all, can the ballet besties save their studio?

A fun, inclusive and accessible series that will bring the joy of dance to young readers!

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Stone Girl Bone Girl

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