Age Group: KS3 (Ages 11-14)

The Ordnance Survey Puzzle Book

Non-fiction

Do you know your trig points from your National Trails? Can you calculate using contours? And can you fathom exactly how far the footpath is from the free house?

Track down hidden treasures, decipher geographical details and discover amazing facts as you work through this unique puzzle book based on 40 of the Ordnance Survey’s best British maps. Explore the first ever OS map made in 1801, unearth the history of curious place names, encounter abandoned Medieval villages and search the site of the first tarmac road in the world.

With hundreds of puzzles ranging from easy to mind-boggling, this mix of navigational tests, word games, code-crackers, anagrams and mathematical conundrums will put your friends and family through their paces on the path to becoming the ultimate map-master!

Lonely Planet Kids The Maps Book

Joanne Bourne & Lonely Planet Kids

Non-fiction

Explore the amazing world of maps from the first sketches on cave walls to real time maps on phones. Discover their incredible history and marvel at ancient maps, war maps, weather maps and even interactive maps from computer games. Packed with awesome facts, kids will soon grasp how to read maps and symbols – plus learn how to make their own!

Wow-factor maps, astounding historic photographs and lively text make this incredible map book the ultimate gift for kids – and grown ups too. Insightful case studies including Winston Churchill’s Map Room and John Snow’s groundbreaking 1854 cholera map will fascinate readers and aid learning; while unusual maps of the night sky, wildlife, populations, time-zones and even famous maps from literature and video games show the full breadth of the many mind-blowing maps in existence.

The Maps and Flags Book

Andy Rowland & Joe Fullman

Non-fiction

This fun and engaging book contains everything kids need to know about maps and flags of the world.

The book features a detailed introduction, so readers can learn how maps are created, how countries are defined and some useful background information about flags before they get stuck in.

The rest of the book is laid out by continent, with every country in the world listed, alongside its flag and some key stats, such as population, capital city and area. Each entry is accompanied by a fascinating fact to unpack the meaning and symbolism of each flag. Bonus quirky maps are dotted throughout, covering topics such as national animals, journeys of exploration, pirate maps and flags, and time zones.

Packed with information and exciting facts, this is the perfect introduction to maps and flags for young geographers.

UK in Maps

Collins Kids & Stephen Scoffham

Non-fiction

The must-have thematic atlas for schools.
Bring geography, history and the environment together with this thematic UK atlas suitable for Key Stage 2 and lower Key Stage 3.

Fully up-to-date and endorsed by the Geographical and Historical Associations, it helps children to understand how things came to be, as well as how they might change in years to come.

UK in Maps investigates themes with a focus on environmental issues, energy, transport, farming and tourism and includes reference maps for all the different regions of the UK.

Ideal for classroom use and home learning, it provides opportunities for pupils to conduct their own enquiries and explore maths in context using maps, satellite images, diagrams, charts and photographs.

How to Get Magically Popular

Radhika Sanghani

Chapter book

A fresh, relatable story with a sprinkling of magic, about a girl who just wants to fit in but her magic powers make her stand out, from award-winning journalist and author Radhika Sanghani. Perfect for fans of Lottie Brooks and Dork Diaries.

Sabina Patel just wants to fit in. But in her new school, in a new town where she doesn’t know anyone, Sabina feels more out of place than ever.

Then she accidentally unlocks magic powers and starts to see the future, and she quickly stands out as one
of the most popular girls at school.

But when Sabina starts seeing futures she’d rather not know about, she’s not sure if she’s unlocked a gift or a curse…

A book about learning to be happy in the present, rather than letting the future take over your life.

The Moonlighters

Lee Newbery

Chapter book

Theo finds himself lost and alone in London after accidentally knocking the head off a Velociraptor with an old piece of dinosaur poop and running away from the chaos that ensues. He soon finds himself in the company of the fabulous and well-mannered Alistair Goodfellow, who offers him a get out of jail clause with a stay at the Casablanca Lily. He finds Alastair mysterious with his tricks and strange objects that seem to be magic.

As he finds himself needing to stay at Casablanca Lily, he soon realises that he has entered a magical world where even the house becomes alive and enchanted at night. He meets Alistair’s other lodgers and soon finds himself hunting for magical relics and enjoying having a taste of what fun the magic can bring. It all seems too good to be true, and soon the Moonlighters find themselves in danger and also doubting whether Alistair is as kind as he seems.

This book screams Oliver Twist meets Harry Potter with its characters and storyline. Alistair Goodfellow plays a Fagin-like character (but more stylish and devoted) with his group of run-away children, known as his Moonlighters, who are fighting a magical villain for the good of the magical community. It was easy to read, and I was gripped and emotionally invested in the Moonlighters as they faced their challenges. I would really recommend this book for Key Stage 2 children to read and lose themselves within the magical storyline.

Livia in Rome

Bruna De Luca

Chapter book

Could Rome be where the heart is? Sixteen-year-old Scottish–Italian Livia feels like an outsider, spending the summer in her grandmother’s bar in Rome.

Smug local boy Giulio works there too, and quickly becomes Livia’s nemesis. She is not going to be the cliché foreign girl who has a summer romance.

But as Livia navigates family drama, new-found friendships and . . . Giulio, she starts to see the city – and herself – in a new light . . .

Perfect for fans of Love and Gelato, To All the Boys I’ve Loved Before and Anna and the French Kiss.

Think ice cream dates, gorgeous Italian boys and sightseeing on a Vespa!

Scottish Italian author, Bruna De Luca, draws on her own experiences of growing up as a third culture ‘Scotalian’ kid.

There Was a Roman in Your Garden

Bettany Hughes

Non-fiction

The underpinning idea is that an imaginary time capsule has been buried by a Roman child and dug up in the reader’s garden. By taking objects as a starting point, Hughes can roughly mirror the processes followed by archaeologists. The book encourages children to think about sources in a critical way, rather than accepting facts on trust.

The objects themselves are carefully chosen to enable explanations of different aspects of the Roman world and explore connections and differences between then and now. A typical chapter on an incense burner explains how the tree resin was harvested, traded and used by the Romans (they thought it helped them to communicate with the gods). There’s a little bit of etymology, and then links are made to other (much less fragrant) Roman smells and the use of incense today.

Bettany Hughes has deep knowledge of the ancient world, and there is a richness of information here that is often missing from other books about the Romans aimed at this age group.

The book is designed to be accessible, with black and white illustrations and typographical effects breaking up the text. The tone is generally chatty, with liberal use of the first and second person, questions and exclamations. It would be an excellent Romans-themed addition to the class library.

Boys Don’t Cry

Malorie Blackman

Chapter book

In Boys Don’t Cry, bestselling author Malorie Blackman explores the unchartered territory of teenage fatherhood.

You’re waiting for the postman – he’s bringing your A level results. University, a career as a journalist – a glittering future lies ahead. But when the doorbell rings it’s your old girlfriend; and she’s carrying a baby. Your baby.

You’re happy to look after it, just for an hour or two. But then she doesn’t come back – and your future suddenly looks very different.

Malorie’s dramatic new novel will take you on a journey from tears to laughter and back again.

Black Artists Shaping the World

Sharna Jackson

Non-fiction

As you read this thought-provoking book, you feel safe in the hands of an expert. It’s well-written and carefully put together. Sharna Jackson uses her knowledge of contemporary art to celebrate twenty-six exciting Black artists, working in a wide variety of different media. Some are well-known, others less so. The author makes clear how many candidates had to be (regretfully) left out.

Each artist is represented by one expressive photographic portrait of them in black and white and one carefully chosen piece of their artwork. The accompanying text is written with clarity and intelligence, describing the thinking and themes behind each piece and how it fits into the artist’s wider work. Abstract ideas are demystified in succinct and straightforward language.

As with all ambitious art, the work here is designed to provoke emotional responses and some of the ideas the artists are wrestling with are challenging. It’s not a surprise that this book has won several awards, including three categories in the coveted SLA Information Book Awards. It introduces some inspiring role models for aspiring artists.

It is a useful sourcebook for teachers, covering refreshingly different ground from many standard art books aimed at secondary school children. It is an interesting read for anyone and a feast for the eyes of everyone who chooses to pick it up. The attention to detail in the crisp design makes it a beautiful object. I thoroughly recommend it.

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