Recommended children's booklists sorted by age or topic

Age Group: KS4 (Ages 14-16)

From the ashes of the Krakoan era, the flagship X-Men title returns at last, with a familiar team in an all-new direction!

Professor X is gone!

Now, a core group of essential X-Men must find a way to rise again.

All bonds among the mutant community seem to be slipping away, and Rogue reluctantly finds herself as the hero designated to bring them back together.

But a fearless, malignant power is out there hunting mutants, and it has a terrible secret that may destroy what remains of the X-Men!

Rogue can count on Gambit and Wolverine, but they”ll soon welcome back another friend – just in time to face four uncontrollable and wild mutants in the swamps of Louisiana!

But will a grieving Rogue take Xavier”s place in guiding them to the light?

Or will a darkness from the past destroy the X-Men, one at a time?

Gale’s trying to master his anxiety, and he’s hoping the latest wonder-cure “Simply Pear” can help.

Not turning up to his art classes and feeling like everyone is a lot cooler and more in control than he is, he chugs his Simply Pear products and takes advice from its demanding app.

Oh, it’s definitely not working…

His plan is thrown into chaos by the bubbly Aiden, who needs a buddy to help him get a job.

Can this colorful and heartfelt romp through shoddy part-time jobs help Gale out of his anxious bubble?

There’s only one way to find out.

WITNESS KRYPTON’S GREATEST CRIMINAL IN A WHOLE NEW LIGHT!

The disgraced General of the doomed planet of Krypton returns to stand center stage in a brand-new series.

The criminal known as Zod has achieved everything he s ever wanted.

But what does someone with ultimate power crave?

More power!

With a planet at his fingertips, Zod s followers will kneel before him in the most brutal DC book you ll read this year.

From Adventures of Superman writer Joe Casey and artist Dan McDaid comes the first volume in a dark new day for General Zod!

Zod’s nuclear family must truly go nuclear to achieve its sick and twisted goals.

Collects Action Comics #1060 and Kneel Before Zod #1-8.

Spell slinging, sword swinging, and the luck of the dice have shaped the lives of the Stranger Things boys well before they had real monsters to face.

This D&D crossover delves into Eddie Munson”s past and his rise to de facto leader of the Hellfire Club, and explores his recruitment of Lucas, Dustin, and Mike.

Throughout, there are brilliant glimpses into the fantasy world of Dungeons & Dragons that they explore together.

This book highlights what really makes tabletop RPGs great through the lens of the hit Netflix series.

At first, the Mirkwood gang is hesitant to join a new campaign without Will and El, but Eddie conjures up his charm and does his best to inspire them to answer his call to adventure.

Reflecting on the legendary campaign that got him hooked, Eddie remembers how the original Hellfire crew navigated the weird social dynamics of Hawkins High, seeking new party members to help take on a vicious manticore that nearly wiped out their party, proving time and time again that the party is always stronger than the individual adventurer.

Rumours about Eddie”s bad reputation make Lucas worry that joining his club might hurt his chances of making the basketball team.

But when the dice are cruel, Eddie”s true character shines through, earning all of the boys” respect.

Eddie Munson ushers in a new age for Hawkins High Hellfire Club with an exciting conclusion to Mike, Dustin, and Will”s first big Hellfire Club victory.

An action-packed fantasy love letter to the nerds of the eighties who dared to roll dice before it was cool, written by Jody Houser (Critical Role, Doctor Who) and Eric Campbell (Frank Frazetta”s Dawn Attack), and expertly drawn by Diego Galindo (Stranger Things: Tomb of Ybwen).

Collects Stranger Things and Dungeons & Dragons: The Rise of Hellfire #1 – #4.

High school student Kaede’s new job is out of this world—or at least his clients are…

When high school student Kaede is hired to use his uncanny ability to sniff out fact from fiction for Cosmos, an intergalactic insurance agency, he embarks on a journey that is out of this world…

Kaede’s search for a missing classmate leads to the shocking discovery that his friend is actually an alien in a human flesh suit. Grateful for Kaede’s help with her case, cute and ruthless insurance investigator Rin headhunts him. Kaede’s job interview leads to an epic battle on a commuter train, alien treachery, and a hidden spaceship. But before he can decide whether to accept the position or not, Kaede discovers another alien hidden in plain sight—one with a tragic story to share.

11-year-old Alanna of Trebond dreams of becoming a knight, but like in all good adventure stories, her path is not easy. How can a girl become a knight? This is a book to pick up if you love swords, sorcery and very clever cats.

With themes of adventure, magic, bravery, identity and journeys.

Chapter book
resources-available

Willow and Alma are best friends, sharing a love of the spotlight. All they want is fame and fortune, and Willow is determined that the best way to get it is to go viral. So they start filming dares. Okay, so getting stuck in a basketball hoop doesn’t get them the sort of attention they were hoping for, but as their challenges get more extreme, their fan base grows. Duct-taping themselves to a wall? No-brainer. Eating super-hot chillis? Of course! Waxing an eyebrow off? Super funny! And if they get in a bit of trouble, it’s worth it.

But if they really want to prove themselves, they have to go all-out. So they come up with the perfect idea. An idea that causes more than just a bit of trouble. An idea that might destroy not just their ambitions but their entire friendship for good.

The first in Philip Pullman’s thrilling Victorian mystery series for teens and young adults.

Sally Lockhart finds herself embroiled in a perilous adventure after her father’s unexpected death at sea. When Sally moves to London to live with her cousin, an anonymous letter leads her to the city’s dangerous underworld. Determined to uncover the truth about her family’s past, Sally is soon at the centre of a plot involving murder and deceit.

This mystery adventure story, inspired by Victorian melodrama, is full of suspense, excitement and historical insights into the injustices of the era, making it a rich and compelling read.

Robert Swindells’ Brother in the Land is a much-loved story of survival, first published in 1984, with a post-apocalyptic setting.

 This powerful story plunges the reader into a world shattered by nuclear war, tapping into public fears that are still as prevalent today as they were when it was first published during the Cold War. The story follows Danny Lodge and his younger brother as he navigates the grim aftermath of a nuclear bomb, his hometown now a scene of devastation and emptiness.

Without the comforts and safety of civilised society, Danny contends with a landscape where danger abounds – including the impact of radiation and the inevitability of human selfishness. Meanwhile, his efforts to protect his sibling are admirable as he strives not to give up hope. The narrative is an unflinching look at human responses to the fight for survival.

Brother in the Land is a stark and highly memorable adventure, recommended for Year 9.

This first book in J.R.R. Tolkien’s epic Lord of the Rings saga, first published in 1954, introduces hobbit Frodo Baggins, who inherits the all-powerful One Ring forged by the dark lord Sauron. To prevent Sauron from dominating Middle-earth, Frodo must embark on a perilous journey to destroy the Ring.

Joining forces with a wizard and various travelling companions, he begins his quest towards Mordor.

This series is considered a foundational work of epic fantasy, earning its place in the literary canon for both adult and teen readers.

Subscribe to our newsletter

Your Review

Stone Girl Bone Girl

review

Year group(s) the book is most suitable for:

Year group(s) the book is most suitable for:

Does the book contain anything that teachers would wish to know about before recommending in class (strong language, sensitive topics etc.)?

Does the book contain anything that teachers would wish to know about before recommending in class (strong language, sensitive topics etc.)?

Would you recommend the book for use in primary schools?

yes

Curriculum links (if relevant)

Curriculum links (if relevant)

Any other comments

Any other comments