Author & Illustrators
This is a brilliant, powerful read. Bog Child manages to balance two completely different storylines – a modern political conflict and an ancient mystery – without it feeling messy. It’s perfectly paced for teenagers.
The story is set during the Troubles in 1981, so it deals with political violence, the IRA, and the Hunger Strikes (prisoners starving themselves), which is a heavy topic. There is some strong language used, which reflects the intensity of the setting.
You really root for the main character, Fergus, who is just trying to get through his exams while his world falls apart. It’s sad in places but ultimately a really rewarding story. Highly recommended for KS3 and KS4.
This is an award-winning and profoundly evocative tale by Patrick Ness. Filled with pathos, this is not a story for the faint-hearted. In equal parts emotionally challenging and rewarding, the narrative also offers a profound exploration of love, loss and hope found in unexpected places.
Conor has experienced the same terrifying nightmare since his mother’s illness began. One night, a different kind of visitor arrives at his window – an ancient, elemental monster. As Conor grapples with his mother’s worsening condition, bullies at school and worries about family relationships, the monster’s nightly visits and enigmatic stories force him to confront his deepest fears and the painful realities he struggles to acknowledge.
This powerful novel explores themes of grief, loss and fear while also highlighting the courage required to confront troubling truths and raw human emotions. Ness doesn’t shy away from the deep sadness of Conor’s situation, but at the same time weaves in elements of light and dark and points the reader towards the slow but hopeful process of healing.
A Monster Calls is a poignant and unforgettable modern classic, best suited for mature readers in Key Stages 3 and 4.
My name is Ted Spark. Three months ago, I solved the mystery of how my cousin Salim disappeared from a pod on the London Eye. This is the story of my second mystery.
This summer, I went on holiday to New York, to visit Aunt Gloria and Salim. While I was there, a painting was stolen from the Guggenheim Museum, where Aunt Gloria works. Then Aunt Gloria was blamed for the theft, and I realised just how important it was to find the painting, and discover who really had taken it.
Ted and his sister Kat watch their cousin Salim climb aboard the London Eye. But when his pod returns to the ground and the doors open, Salim has completely vanished. Where could Salim have gone? Has he been kidnapped — or worse? With the police baffled by his disappearance, it’s down to Ted to use his unique abilities to solve the mystery — following a trail of clues that lead across London, with Kat’s help. Starring a brilliant young detective, Siobhan Dowd’s ‘howdunnit’ is a real classic, which will keep you gripped from beginning to end.
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
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Curriculum links (if relevant)
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