Recommended children's booklists sorted by age or topic

Age Group: KS3 (Ages 11-14)

PoetryVerse novel

Follow-up to the award-winning The Deepest Breath. A warm and sensitive dual narrator LGBTQ+ story.

Stevie is about to start secondary school. She often feels anxious, but feels much better having her two best friends, Chloe and Andrew, by her side.Their new school is filled with excitement, like the LGBTQIA+ club, but also challenges, such as math class. The biggest challenge of all though comes when Andrew suddenly becomes distant. Andrew isn’t quite sure who he is yet. This didn’t matter much before, especially when he was hanging out with Stevie and Chloe. Now it seems to matter very much indeed, but he doesn’t know how to begin talking about it with his friends, who seem to be much clearer about who they are.

PoetryVerse novel

Rizu lives a comfortable life in the gated middle class suburbs of Delhi; her biggest worries are getting her homework done and keeping up with the mean girls at school. That is, until she’s accused of being a witch and the hysteria that follows triggers a chain reaction that ends in tragedy and life as she knew it changes forever.

Alone and fearing for her life, Rizu runs away and joins a group of pink sari wearing, stick wielding women, known for their revenge vigilantism. Together they can help Rizu take back her life and seek justice against those who wronged her.

But at what cost?

A brilliantly witty and wise illustrated guide to relationships for teens – by the hugely popular webcomic artist and creator of Oh No!

Isn’t it wonderful when love strikes? When you encounter someone beautiful and interesting and suddenly: feelings. But what do you do when that first crush squashes you flat, when sparks fly but fizzle out, when you and your other half just don’t click together?

Enter How to Love! Your funny, wise and very different guide to relationships of all shapes and sizes, covering topics from singlehood to jealousy to happily ever after – all delivered in Alex Norris’s clever, accessible and bright graphic style.

Full colour throughout and in an Agony Aunt format, with each chapter posed as a question – answered in comic book form. Inclusive of all genders and sexualities, and created by a queer non-binary artist.

The unforgettable true story of former gang member and Pride of Britain Award winner, Omar Sharif, who transformed his life – and might change yours…

Omar Sharif grew up in London surrounded by gangs with fierce loyalties. Carrying a knife offered him protection; belonging; family. But after three of his friends were murdered, Omar sought to change his life. He is now a Pride of Britain Award winner and coach who inspires teens and young people with his story, helping them grow self-belief, resist peer pressure and reach their potential.

In this book, Omar shares his powerful and moving true story, showing how gang life creates a bubble that makes young people believe it is their only choice; that they’re not good enough. But that a shift in thinking saved his life.

Sharing his 6 ingredients for success – from finding your passion, seeking the right friendships and knowing your worth, to creating a vision for your future, avoiding short-lived hits and giving back – Omar provides encouragement to all young people on how to make great decisions, navigate challenges and achieve success.

Non-fictionShort story collection

Read real stories about moments that changed history, and find out what you can do to make a difference!

“Our struggle is not the struggle of a day, a week, a month, or a year, it is the struggle of a lifetime. Never, ever be afraid to make some noise and get in good trouble, necessary trouble.”
– John Lewis, Twitter 2018

Inspired by civil rights activist and congressman John Lewis’s call to challenge injustice, explore famous moments of global activism throughout history with more than 70 narrative stories.

Featured stories include the Newsboys’ strike of 1899, the Freedom Summer Project of 1964, Greta Thunberg’s first School Strike for Climate, and students against book banning.

A must-have, illustrated narrative non-fiction guide through stories of exemplary activism:

Topics for every interest: Stories cover protests about climate change, racism, feminism, LGBTQIA+ pride, disability, and more from around the world.
Beautifully told stories and useful resources: Alongside the moving narrative retellings of historical moments, kids can find information about how they can be activists in a safe way, alongside a glossary and key dates for annual activism moments from across the globe.
Written by Jamia Wilson: The acclaimed author of Shining Bright, Shining Black, Big Ideas for Young Thinkers and Young, Gifted and Black.

Each true story in Make Good Trouble shares how activists across a variety of beliefs, ages, and backgrounds called for change, empowering young readers of all ages, abilities, and circumstances to make a difference. Brimming with illustrations and additional resources, including a timeline and information about how kids can get involved, this is essential reading for budding activists.

Evan Horowitz has it all: beauty, brains, and a not-so-secret flair for matchmaking! An Insta influencer with a talent for makeup and a taste for romance, he’s no stranger to playing Cupid for the clueless. So when shy new student Natalia shuffles into school, Evan recognises a Project with a capital P! With so many matches to choose from, it’s not long before he sets a plan in motion, much against the better judgement of his level-headed best friend, Davi. When he takes things too far, a web of drama spirals out of his control. Can Evan learn to put his friends before his misguided ambition? Or will he lose them and his own chance at romance, too?

Evie and Maryam are in the same class at school, uneasily thrown together at the start of a new term as they start a project together looking into their family trees.

The two girls don’t think they have much in common – Maryam feels like an outsider, and Evie thinks Maryam is a bit odd.

But when the two girls each find the same mysterious folder containing documents in a secret language that belong to their grandmothers, they discover their ties go back two generations, all the way to India, to partition, and to two best friends who inspired each other more than they ever know.

A beautifully told historical family-based exploration of identity, inheritance, difference and friendship.

Nine-year-old Jac sees his father as a hero, but when Jac joins a local football team with his best friend Zac, things start to get a bit weird at home.

It’s not until a group of professional footballers come into school to talk about racism that Jac realises what his father’s problem could be.

Part of the Rhyngom Scheme.

Red Sky in the Morning, Poet”s Warning is the fourth collection of mysterious, humorous, philosophical and charming poetry for young people by Alex Wharton, Children’s Laureate Wales. From Poems that describe ‘Wild Boys’ who live alone in the woods to poems about ‘Time’ and meeting an astronaut, there is something for everyone! These poems reflect on nature”s happenings, through observation and experience, but not forgetting to transport the reader to many magical, musical and imaginative worlds. A companion piece to Red Sky at Night, Poet’s Delight published exactly a year earlier, this ambitious volume reveals Alex as an evolving and maturing children’s poet whose vibrant work will resonate deeply with his readership.

Chapter book

Nadia Nadim was born in to a prosperous and well connected family in Afghanistan. She is one of five sisters who, with their Mother, had to leave their war torn country in fear of severe repression and even violence against them. Her story is one of an incredible and dangerous journey across continents to start a new life without fear of war and danger. It’s a story of starting again with nothing and with determination, courage, resilience, and talent, building a new life. Nadia’s story is a story of hope, arriving in a country where she did not understand the language to becoming a world famous football star, a doctor (and surgeon), a linguist, a broadcaster and a role model. In July 2019, Nadia was named UNESCO Champion for Girls and Women’s Education.

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