Age Group: KS3 (Ages 11-14)

Strike

Chapter book

I found Mitch Johnson’s first novel for teens, ‘Kick’, impossible to put down, and with ‘Strike’ he’s done it again! ‘Strike’ is a follow on from ‘Kick’ but can equally be read as a stand-alone story.

Challenging, gripping, and perfectly pitched for boys who love football, this book should be on every secondary school library bookshelf! Relatable characters, best friends Owen and Teddy are scouted for the local club and join the football academy. Owen’s dedicated single parent Dad buys Owen a pair of new boots to mark the occasion, but what Owen finds hidden inside one of his boots sends him spinning and turns his football crazy world upside down: a note from a factory worker reading ‘PLEASE HELP US’.

Owen has a choice to make – will he keep his head down and pursue his dreams, or will he speak out and risk losing everything he has longed for?

Mitch Johnson puts the question of integrity and the plight of modern slaves front and centre in this brilliant book that never feels preachy and just draws the reader in.

Chicken Hill: Attack of the Zombie Cactus

Beccy Blake

Graphic novel

Welcome to Chicken Hill: join Ferdy, Gripper and Tink as they investigate all things strange in their seriously weird town.

Three hilarious and off-the-wall stories in one full-colour graphic novel, perfect for fans of Dog Man and Bunny vs Monkey.

Chicken Hill: Just your average, everyday, run-of-the-mill small town, where the pets can talk, the frogs rule over a secret underwater empire and you’re only ever one day away from an alien invasion.

Chicken Hill is home to Ferdy, a tech wiz with a knack for invention and a habit of running into trouble. Always with him is Gripper, his farty and self-obsessed pug, and Tink, his brother’s forever-tired cat. Together, they investigate the many wild and weird happenings in town…

And whether fending off an invasion of zombie cactuses, or trying to keep an army of cloned conspiracy theorist cats out of office, there’s no shortage of things to keep them busy. Because in Chicken Hill, there’s only one rule: if you think things can’t get weirder, they always can.

Endgame: Will Take You Down

Melinda Salisbury

Chapter book

Bestselling YA author Melinda Salisbury delivers a hair-raising thriller as Ruby, Freya and Ivy team up to take down the Ash Tree Foundation once and for all.

Ruby, Freya and Ivy are all survivors of the Ash Tree Foundation, an organisation that claimed to help teenagers deal with technology addiction but which was a front for a dangerously addictive augmented-reality platform, Novo Reality.

Novo Reality was the brainchild of tech-baroness Dagmar Nilsson, who disappeared without trace when the Foundation was busted. But now, a year later, just as the girls are all preparing to start a new chapter of their lives, it becomes clear that Dagmar is continuing with her aim of world domination.

Can the three friends draw her out of hiding and shut down the Foundation for good, or will Dagmar’s dream of controlling the world finally come true?

Because the Endgame is coming, and someone is going down …

Particularly suitable for readers aged 11+ with a reading age of 8.

Lily Tripp: Diary of an Accidental Time Traveller

Amelia Tait

Chapter book

Meet accidental time traveller Lily Tripp as she bounces throughout history navigating friendship dramas, first love and family. It’s LOTTIE BROOKS meets BACK TO THE FUTURE!

Every New Year’s Day, Lily Tripp time travels and wakes up in a new century. She’s lived in Roman times and the Victorian era and never knows where she’ll end up next. Thank goodness her bestie, family and secret crush all time travel with her too . . . even if they don’t know it.

But how will she live in a time before chicken nuggets were invented? Why are her brother’s clothes so ridiculous in every era? And how on earth can she cope with being mean girl Georgia’s servant?!

The Shadow Pony

David Litchfield & Olivia Wakeford

Chapter book

This highly recommendable book would be a very worthwhile addition to the school library alongside Olivia Wakeford’s first novel, My Dog. It could be used as a class read, too, in Year 5 or 6, if not considered too long. There are links to history and mining, for schools where the curriculum covers these topics, and the links to Wales will make it particularly popular in Welsh schools.

The lives of quite a disparate group of characters intertwine with imagination and skill, focused around main character Evan, his family, school friends and dog. Evan’s Grandad has dementia (the word isn’t used, but ‘sundowning’ is and it’s clear he lives with this condition) and he does not like to talk about his memory of being a miner along with pit ponies who were put to work in the mines.

We begin to inhabit their world; the world of school museum visits and classroom bullies; of Welsh mining history, auras and ghostly apparitions; of grown-ups struggling to balance work and family; of arguments and reconciliations. There lives are sometimes disturbing, sometimes mundane, sometimes difficult and sometimes puzzling. This is fiction at its best; storytelling which deals sensitively with pertinent issues while still being enjoyable. The inclusion of a ghost pony introduces a magical element.

This is an engrossing read: eye-opening, heart-warming and memorable.

Wishbound

Clemency Brown

Chapter book

What if the price of magic was your best friend?

Leonie can make wishes come true, a rare gift on her tiny island of Onske.

But when she finds out that her magic will cost her freedom, she runs away to our world.

Here, she finds a new life, a new family and a best friend, Cress.

However, danger is lurking.

As Leonie’s enemies close in, is her only hope of keeping her friend safe a wish that will tie them together for ever…?

How to Love

Alex Norris

Non-fiction

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.

Breakthrough: From the Streets to Success

Omar Sharif

Chapter book, Non-fiction

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.

Make Good Trouble

Ashley Lukashevsky & Devon Blow & Jamia Wilson

Non-fiction, Short 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.

Mismatched

Anne Camlin & Isadora Zeferino

Graphic novel

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?

Best Books by Age

Popular Children's Authors

Age Group: KS3 (Ages 11-14)

NEWS: BooksForTopics Launches 2026-2027 Year Group Booklists

NEWS: Entries Open for the HarperCollins Reading for Pleasure Awards 2026

The Rise of the ‘Comic Strip Myth’ in the Classroom (plus Giveaway!) – Stephen Davies

Subscribe to our newsletter

Your Review