Recommended children's booklists sorted by age or topic

Age Group: KS3 (Ages 11-14)

Lionheart Girl is filled with magic, mystery and intrigue. It is set in West Africa and focuses on Sheba, a girl born into a family of witches, who is just discovering the extents of her powers as well as the many secrets that sit within her extended family. Sheba’s relationship with her mother, Sika, is challenging. Sika’s powers are much more negative and destructive than those of her aunts, as well as her own. The way in which Sheba grapples with her feelings towards Sika is woven throughout the novel and offers much to reflect upon.

The story is written in the first person, which sets the reader right at the heart of the story; Sheba’s teenage voice is so clearly conveyed through Yaba Badoe’s writing and makes her relatable to the reader. Her quest to find her father brings so many challenges, and it is wonderful to see her grow into her powers as well as develop into an empowered young woman.

This gripping and powerful book deals with mature themes and is suitable for KS3 and upwards

A gripping tale of conflict and survival that has inspired millions of young readers and adults alike, with three million copies sold worldwide

Eleven-year-old Salva is forced to flee on foot when his village comes under attack. Braving every imaginable hardship – including killer lions and hungry crocodiles – he is one of the ‘lost boys’ travelling the African continent on foot in search of his family and a safe place to stay.

Nya goes to the pond two times a day to fetch water. It takes her eight hours. But there is unexpected hope, as these two stories set in Sudan – one unfolding in 2008 and one in 1985 – go on to intersect with Nya’s in an astonishing and moving way.

Chapter book

Ten strangers trapped in a television studio Forty-two remote cameras One rule: Trust no one When a casting call is announced for new reality TV show Lie or Die, Kass is tricked into auditioning by her best friend. Big Brother meets Mafia, Lie or Die pits contestants against each other as they try to discover who is a murderous agent and who is an innocent player. But when contestants start to turn up dead (the real kind, not the fake kind), Kass realises that not being eliminated and winning the game is the least of her worries. No longer a game of truth and lies, Kass and her friends are in a fight for survival. ‘Reality’ just got very real.

Discover the groundbreaking Korean YA thriller, for fans of Squid Game, Black Mirror and The Hunger Games.

Raised in a climate-ravaged, frozen world, every day is a struggle for survival for Chobahm. Her only solace comes in the form of twenty-four-hour reality television shows, streamed directly from Snowglobe – the climate-controlled domed city at the heart of her world, and the only warm place left on the planet.

The citizens of Snowglobe have everything: fame, fortune and, above all, safety from the frigid wasteland outside their walls. In exchange, their lives are broadcast to the less fortunate of their world, who watch eagerly, hoping for the chance to one day become an actor themselves and join their ranks.

Chobahm is one of the dreamers. But her life changes in an instant when she is visited by two strangers from Snowglobe, who deliver earth-shattering news: Goh Haeri, Snowglobe’s biggest star has died – and because of Chobahm’s striking resemblance to her, she’s been chosen to take her place.

Given the chance of a lifetime, Chobahm agrees to enter Snowglobe and take on Haeri’s identity. Within the domed city’s walls, she will finally have the existence she’s always dreamed of – but if life in Snowglobe is so great, why did Haeri seem so desperate to escape it?

Translated from its original Korean by Joungmin Lee Comfort, the critically acclaimed Snowglobe is a page-turning thriller with twists around every corner.

Mira Levenson is bursting with excitement as she flies to India to stay with her aunt and cousin for the first time. As soon as she lands Mira is hurled into the sweltering heat and a place full of new sights, sounds, and deeply buried family secrets . . . From the moment Mira meets Janu she feels an instant connection. He becomes her guide, showing her both the beauty and the chaos of Kolkata. Nothing is as she imagined it – and suddenly home feels a long way away.

Before Mira leaves India she is determined to uncover the truth about her family, whatever it takes, and she must also make a decision that will break someone’s heart.

Back on track is a no-nonsense guide to when things aren’t going to plan in secondary school. This guide is divided into 8 short chapters covering topics such as The Meh Monster and Fitting back in.

It’s easy to read with lots of funny bits along the way. As an adult and a parent, a lot of the messages resonated with me, especially “Find your normal in a world that’s not at all normal”. There are lots of tips and comforting words for when things aren’t going so well.

This book is targeted at secondary school pupils and could be a useful tool for those transitioning between key stages.

When I first picked up A Good Girl’s Guide to Murder, I was curious to see why it had become such a hit with teenagers. Very quickly, I found myself completely drawn in. Holly Jackson has written a gripping, clever mystery that feels both modern and accessible, while still offering plenty of depth for discussion.

The story centres on Pippa Fitz-Amobi, a sixth-form student who decides to re-investigate a local murder for her school project. What begins as a straightforward academic exercise soon turns into something much darker, as she uncovers secrets the town has worked hard to keep hidden.

As a teacher, I was struck by how well the book models critical thinking skills. Pippa questions assumptions, evaluates evidence, and reflects on bias – skills we encourage in the classroom across subjects. It also raises important issues for discussion, including truth, justice, and how we decide whose voices are believed. These themes make it more than just a page-turner; it’s a book that invites students to think deeply about the world around them.

Does anyone ever really want to ‘fall’ in love? Knowing me I’ll just trip over it and graze my knee on the gravel of humiliation.

Haylah Swinton is fairly confident she’s brilliant at being a girl.

She’s an ace best friend, a loving daughter, and an INCREDIBLY patient sister to her four-year-old total nutter of a brother, Noah.

But she has a secret. She wants to be a stand-up comedian, but she’s pretty sure girls like her – big girls, girls who don’t get all the boys, girls who a lot of people don’t see – don’t belong on stage.

That hasn’t stopped her dreaming though, and when the seemingly perfect opportunity to write routines for older, cooler, impossibly funny Leo arises . . . well, what’s a girl to do? But is Leo quite an interested in helping Haylah as he says he is?

Will Haylah ever find the courage to step into the spotlight herself? And when oh when will people stop telling her she’s ‘funny for a girl’?!

Real Friends is a friendship memoir graphic novel from Shannon Hale and LeUyen Pham. It deals with complicated friendship groups and the dynamics of popularity in school. It also treats some of the challenges of sibling relationships in a large family. Shannon is surrounded by people but feels constantly left out. She is desperate to form close connections but is too often hurt. The drawings are powerful and make good use of colour, capturing Shannon’s anxiety and the real joy when things go well for her.

This book is great for KS2 and into KS3 and will be particularly popular with the many fans of Raina Telgemeier, Jerry Craft and other graphic novels revolving around school and friendship-based issues.

The year is 1904. Luki has lived a tribal life in the mountains of the Philippines. Now she’s growing up, she is expected to become a wife and a mother, but Luki isn’t ready to give up her dream to become a hunter.

When her tribe are offered a journey to America to be part of the St. Louis World’s Fair, Luki will discover that the land of opportunity does not share its possibilities equally . . .

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