Age Group: KS3 (Ages 11-14)

Gone

Chapter book

Sam Temple was in history class when the teacher disappears. Moving out of the classroom, the class discovers everyone aged 15 or over has vanished. Exploring a world that has become suddenly eerily quiet, the kids discover they are trapped by a mysterious wall that surrounds their town and, with the telephone and internet down, no means of communicating outside of it.

Many of the kids look to “School Bus Sam” to lead them, but he has a secret that keeps him from wanting to step up. Then the arrival of the kids from Coates, the strange school from out of town, leads to gangs forming and the discovery that some of the kids have developed strange powers adds to the layers of mistrust. All the while, the question of what has happened and why is pushed into the background while they wrestle with what will happen next.

Gone is the first of a series that portrays a dystopian life at the hands of those controlled by “the Darkness”. Sometimes graphic in its portrayal of violence, it is most suitable for those who can happily separate fiction from life is a wonderful first step into the literary world of action and horror. Described on the cover as a “Lord of the Flies for the 21st century”, Gone has its fair share of villains and heroes but space is given for those characters to be humanised and provides thought for the potential reasons as to how and why they may have developed as such and can still change for better or worse.

The Other Side of Truth

Beverley Naidoo

Chapter book

The Other Side of Truth by Beverley Naidoo is a powerful, emotionally charged novel that remains as relevant today as when it won the Carnegie Medal in 2000.

Set in the politically turbulent landscape of 1990s Nigeria, and later in London, it tells the harrowing story of 12-year-old Sade and her younger brother Femi, who are forced to flee their home after their mother is killed in an assassination attempt meant for their father—a political journalist targeted for speaking out against the Nigerian military regime.

Their journey to England, smuggled into the country under false identities, is anything but a rescue mission. Abandoned in London and left to navigate a foreign legal system and an often hostile environment, Sade and Femi’s experience reveals the stark and complex realities of life as refugees. Naidoo explores with deep compassion the trauma of displacement, the fear of the unknown, and the desperate hope of reunion and safety.

Seen through Sade’s eyes, the novel deftly portrays the emotional toll of being labelled ‘illegal’, the cruelty of bullying, and the injustice of a system that fails to protect the most vulnerable. Naidoo avoids romanticising the children’s ordeal or portraying England as a safe haven; instead, she presents a nuanced, often uncomfortable truth. Yet, amid the darkness, there is resilience, love, and the quiet courage of children who fight to keep their family and identity intact.

Drawing inspiration from real-world events, such as the execution of activist Ken Saro-Wiwa, Naidoo’s storytelling is grounded, honest and deeply human. It’s a book that confronts tough issues—freedom of speech, political persecution, and racism—while never losing sight of the emotional core: the bond between siblings and their unwavering longing for home.

An essential read for ages 12+, this novel belongs in every school library.

Crossing the Line

Tia Fisher

Poetry, Verse novel

Gripping from start to finish, this heart-wrenching verse novel plunges the reader into the terrifying jeopardy of life in a gang.

Erik and his mum are left financially and emotionally vulnerable after the unexpected and untimely death of his father. At school, Erik’s bad behaviour recommends him to members of the local drug-dealing gang. The promise of money and the apparent safety of belonging to a close-knit group make him easy prey. All too soon, he is sucked into their world of threats, violence and fear. Safety becomes a dream of the past.

Too late, he realises that he’s trapped and everything that he cares about is in danger, including his mum and his little sisters.

The language is simple and direct. The story is told in Erik’s voice, so anything else would be jarring. Key points in the story are highlighted expressively by typography: a calligram; a change in font; disruption of the text layout. The central theme – criminal exploitation of the vulnerable – means that strong language and violent scenes are inevitably part of the plot, but the violence does not feel gratuitous, and the subject is one we shouldn’t shy away from. It could provide a good way into discussions about grooming and coercion.

As a story, it is accessible, immersive, and impossible to put down. I enjoyed it in one greedy sitting. It is ideal for Key Stage 3. I thoroughly recommend it to teachers too, as a poignant reminder of the importance of vigilance in schools. Erik is creative in his deceptions and his teachers seem to miss every warning sign.

Where the Heart Should Be

Sarah Crossan

Poetry, Verse novel

The outstanding novel from the Carnegie Medal-winning, former Laureate na nÓg Sarah Crossan; thought-provoking and moving, it explores love and family during The Great Hunger.

Ireland, 1846. Nell is working as a scullery maid in the kitchen of the Big House. Once she loved school and books and dreaming. But there’s not much choice of work when the land grows food that rots in the earth. Now she is scrubbing, peeling, washing, sweeping for Sir Philip Wicken, the man who owns her home, her family’s land, their crops, everything. His dogs are always well fed, even as famine sets in.

Upstairs in the Big House, where Nell is forbidden to enter, is Johnny Browning, newly arrived from England: the young nephew who will one day inherit it all. And as hunger and disease run rampant all around them, a spark of life and hope catches light when Nell and Johnny find each other.

This is a love story, and the story of a people being torn apart. This is a powerful and unforgettable novel from the phenomenally talented Sarah Crossan.

A Sudden Storm

Bali Rai & David Shephard

Chapter book

An innocent night out to celebrate a sixteenth birthday turns to tragedy in this powerful story of racial intolerance from award-winning author Bali Rai.

It’s Arjan’s sixteenth birthday and he’s celebrating with his mates – going to see a film and then get a Nando’s. He’s looking forward to some good banter and wondering what might happen with Jem, who’s been looking at him differently these days …

But the night comes to a dramatic and violent end when Arjan is targeted by a group of racist thugs, who single him out due to the colour of his skin and the turban that he wears as a symbol of his commitment to his faith and culture.

Is the life of a good friend and beloved son really worth so little?

Please note that this book contains mature content (with themes of racially motivated violence) and language that some may find offensive.

All That It Ever Meant

Blessing Musariri

Chapter book

An outstanding YA novel of family love, loss, and life lived between two cultures, by an astonishing, super-stylish new voice.

‘I’m going to tell you exactly how everything happened. Baba always says, Mati mwana’ngu, I love a good story but I don’t have time for a long one, so make it short.’

When Mati and her two siblings travel from London to Zimbabwe with their father, they are forced to confront the knotty family dynamics caused by the loss of their mother. Along for the trip is Meticais, a fabulously attired gender-neutral spirit — or ghost? or imaginary friend? — who only Mati can see and talk to.

Guided by Meticais’s enigmatic advice and wisdom, Mati must come to terms with her grief and with the difficulty of a life lived between two cultures, while her family learn to forge their way in a world without their monumental mother. This is distinctive, stylish, powerful writing by a vital new voice.

King of Nothing

Nathanael Lessore

Chapter book

ANTON AND HIS FRIENDS ARE THE KINGS OF YEAR 9.

They’re used to ruling the school and Anton wears the crown. The other kids run away when he’s about but that’s the way he wants it – he’s got a reputation to live up to after all.

So when he gets into serious trouble at school, he doesn’t really care, but his mum most definitely does. She decides it’s time for Anton to make some new friends and join the Happy Campers, a local activity group. Anton would quite literally rather do anything else, especially when he finds out Matthew, the biggest loser in school, is also a member.

But after Matthew unexpectedly saves Anton’s life, Anton figures maybe this kid is worth a shot. Teaching him some game is the least Anton can do to repay the debt.

As the boys strike up an unlikely friendship, Anton finds himself questioning everything he thought was important. Does he want ruling the school to be his crowning glory or should he set his sights on better things?

Perfect for teen readers of Alex Wheatle, Jason Reynolds and Patrice Lawrence.

Northern Soul

Phil Earle

Chapter book, Dyslexia-friendly

A truly funny and poignant look at first love and the fumbling attempts to gain the attention of a new girl in school.

Hilarious, cool, heartfelt, soulful and brilliant!

Only This Beautiful Moment

Abdi Nazemian

Chapter book

From a Stonewall Honor-winning author comes a sweeping story of three generations of boys in the same Iranian family. Perfect for fans of?Last Night at the Telegraph Club, As Long as the Lemon Trees Grow?and?If You Still Recognise Me.

2019 -?Moud is an out gay teen living in Los Angeles with his distant father, Saeed. When Moud gets the news that his grandfather in Iran is dying, he accompanies his dad to Tehran, where the revelation of family secrets will force Moud into a new understanding of his history, his culture, and himself.

1978 – Saeed?is an engineering student with a promising future ahead of him in Tehran. But when his parents discover his involvement in the country’s burgeoning revolution, they send him to safety in America, a country Saeed despises. And even worse – he’s forced to live with the American grandmother he never knew existed.

1939 -?Bobby, the son of a calculating Hollywood stage mother, lands a coveted MGM studio contract. But the fairy-tale world of glamour he’s thrust into has a dark side.

Set against the backdrop of Tehran and Los Angeles, this tale of intergenerational trauma and love is an ode to the fragile bonds of family, the hidden secrets of history and all the beautiful moments that make us who we are today.

Running Away for Beginners

Mark Illis

Chapter book

You can’t run from bad news. Or can you?

Jasper was just diagnosed with cancer. His treatment starts in a week, and in the meantime his parents want him to carry on as normal. Jasper knows that’s impossible.

His friends help to organize a weekend trip to get away from everything that’s happened and clear his mind. It’ll be like running away for beginners, they joke.

On the journey, they come to understand each other better as everyone’s secrets come out. Except Jasper doesn’t tell his friends his own secret: that when the return journey begins, he won’t be going with them.

A funny, heartfelt journey of a book, with vivid friendship dynamics and an unforgettable protagonist and narrator facing devastating news

This story was inspired by Mark Illis’s own experiences from when he was a teen diagnosed with cancer

Perfect for fans of John Green and Nicola Yoon

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Age Group: KS3 (Ages 11-14)

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