KS3 History Reading List

The first of Caroline Lawrence’s four Roman Quests, Escape from Rome is a completely gripping adventure filled with danger, excitement and some challenging themes to get stuck into.

Taking his siblings with him, twelve-year-old Juba is forced to flee the Emperor Domitian in Rome and set off on a journey to find his uncle in Britannia (the edge of the known world). Uncertain who to trust, Juba’s leadership skills are tested as he uncovers a sinister secret about his uncle’s lifestyle, requiring Juba to act like his hero Aeneas and make some difficult but important decisions.

Steeped in interesting historical details and covering challenging themes including slavery and immigration, this story is abundantly thrilling from the very first page and we recommend it for readers aged 10-13.

A gripping historical adventure featuring the Anglo-Saxon hoard that was unearthed at Sutton Hoo during WW2.

The story centres on a young Londoner called George, who has been evacuated to the countryside near Sutton Hoo and is intrigued to find out about the Anglo-Saxon treasures discovered nearby. The most interesting of the treasures is a mysterious Anglo-Saxon crown, carrying with it an ancient legend. Before long, George finds himself involved in an exhilarating plot to save the crown from falling into the hands of Nazi invaders.

This is a gripping read that is recommended for upper KS2 – and is especially useful for helping children to make links between different periods of history.

In a draughty castle in Scotland in the year 1300, a young laundress called Ada creeps into the tower to clandestinely deliver bread to the captured English noble Colban Graham. Unfortunately, Ada thinks she’s been spotted helping the prisoner by the cruel Castle Commander, Brian de Berclay, and he will want her head to roll. Soon, however, this becomes subsumed into a larger problem – Scotland is at war with England, Lord Maxwell is away with most of the fighting men, Caerlaverock is the first castle over the border, and King Edward is on his way to lay siege with an army of 3,000…

At only 159 pages, and mainly set over one day, this is a story that zips along like one of the arrows fired over the castle ramparts. Barbara Henderson brings the harshness of the Middle Ages so vividly to life, with all the damp and cold and stink that entails.

Fans of historical adventure fiction will love this book. An excellent introduction to the period, breathing life into a period many pupils may know little about.

Philip Reeve’s Carnegie medal-winning ‘Here Lies Arthur’ is a radical reimagining of the legend of King Arthur full of intrigue, subterfuge and gender politics.

From the moment that Gwyna is rescued by Myrddin, she becomes a key player in the carefully constructed legends aimed to persuade Britons of the one true king. Disguised as a young boy, she learns to fight, ride and live within Arthur’s court, travelling the land helping Myrddin spin stories that command awe and wonder and ease strategic alliance. But, as Gwyna grows up, her secret can’t stay hidden forever, and her days with Myrddin are numbered. Placed into service to Gwenhwyfar, wife of Arthur, Gwyna soon finds herself in a dangerous position as she struggles to keep her lady’s romantic secrets hidden from Mryddin and his greater political plans.

‘Here lies Arthur’ is a fast-paced adventure story with a unique twist on the Arthurian legends.

The Book of Boy is a fresh and unexpected pilgrim tale in which nothing is quite as it seems. Fans of more unusual historical accounts will enjoy this curious and emotional story. 

The year is 1350. With Europe freshly recovering from years of devastating plague and violent wars, death was everywhere, and many people looked to religion or superstition to find certainty of a welcome in paradise in the next life. As a hunchback, Boy’s world changes when a strange pilgrim called Secundus requests that Boy accompany him on a pilgrimage across Europe. Boy’s job is to carry a mysterious pack containing the thumb of St Peter. Reluctant at first, Boy soon warms to his role when he realises the pack disguises his hump and makes him look like a “real boy”. As Boy spends more time with Secundus, it becomes clear that the pilgrimage is somewhat unusual. Secundus is engaged in a quest to find a list of particular relics of St Peter and, believing that finding them all will save his soul, will go to any length to recover them.

The Book of Boy is an absorbing read with a fascinating setting and relatable themes of identity, self-acceptance and the deceptiveness of appearances. 

A timeless classic by renowned historical fiction writer Geoffrey Trease, A Cue for Treason is a thrilling adventure set in Elizabethan England.

The novel follows fourteen-year-old Peter Brownrigg, who joins a travelling theatre group and apprentices with William Shakespeare after fleeing a tyrannical lord. Peter uncovers a dangerous plot in a gripping tale of spies, betrayal and treason against Queen Elizabeth herself. 

Originally published in 1940, this is a story that remains exciting for today’s readers in KS3 who enjoy historical fiction and is an excellent companion to any study of the Elizabethan era.

Frances Hardinge’s historical fantasy A Skinful of Shadows transports readers to the turbulence of the English Civil War.

The tale follows twelve-year-old Makepeace, who has been raised to ward off the restless spirits of the dead. Her abilities are tested when, in a moment of grief, she is possessed by an unexpected spirit: a bear. With this powerful spirit residing within her, Makepeace is thrust into a terrifying new life with her estranged and sinister family.

This multi-layered narrative blends a paranormal mystery with fast-paced historical drama, creating a highly original story for teens that is as beautiful as it is thought-provoking.

Catherine Johnson scooped the Little Rebels Award in 2019 with this short, middle-grade chapter book about the historical horrors of slavery.

The story follows a young boy called Nat, who is enslaved on a Jamaican plantation. When Nat is brought to England in the 1700s, he hopes to finally find freedom from bondage. Instead, Nat discovers the disappointing truth that slavery is still very much alive in England, and he witnesses the heavy role that Britain plays in operating the slave trade.

Little Rebels Judge Darren Chetty comments that the story “explores the humanity of those whose humanity was denied through chattel slavery. It subtly examines the similarities and the differences between class oppression and a system of slavery rooted in racism. It tells a story of Britain that continues to be neglected.”

While the main character is fictional, the details of the story are very much rooted in historical events and features real-life people and places. We recommend this book as a go-to for pupils learning about Britain’s role in the slave trade. Teachers are likely to find helpful the informative historical notes at the end of the book.

This masterpiece is written by Benjamin Zephaniah, and it delivers a powerful story about what it was like to be part of the Windrush Generation.

Based on real events of the time, this fictional story features Leonard, a boy who was born in Jamaica and grew up in England. The women in Leonard’s life have instilled a deep sense of his Caribbean heritage and history, teaching him the stories that have been handed down through generations… not the history and songs that have been taught in his school.

Looking for a brighter future for them all, his family respond to the post-war plea from Great Britain for workers from the Empire to relocate to rebuild a broken country. In 1958, on a cold April morning, they arrive in Southampton – the reception they receive is frosty, in more ways than one. And so begins Leonard’s life in England, and we see how he is treated at school, at work, socially and in his later years too.

At times, this is a difficult read. How can society continually undervalue people who have given it so much? But it is also an important and powerful read, endorsed by Amnesty International, and would be well-placed in the hands of readers aged 10-14.

A gripping mystery adventure that young readers love to pick up, with powerful historical insight into nineteenth-century colonialism.

Anushka is the princess of an Indian kingdom. To her anger and frustration, the British East India Company has taken not only her land but also her family’s most precious emerald. Along with her father, Nush travels to Buckingham Palace to visit Queen Victoria. There, Nush employs all of her determination and resourcefulness to reclaim the jewel to where it belongs and bring restoration to her country. At the same time, she finds herself caught up in a royal mystery involving the British royal children and the Queen herself.

Year 7 readers will love this pacey Victorian story that provides plenty to think about as well as a highly likeable feisty female lead.

This is a brilliantly inspiring collection of short stories about women’s roles during the First World War by an impressive array of writers, including Adele Geras, Berlie Doherty and Sufiya Ahmed.

From a story about an ambulance driver risking her life to rescue wounded soldiers on the front line, a grieving singer entertaining and giving hope to the troops at the Front to a young nurse caring for injured and dying soldiers in a field hospital, this book covers a wide range of women’s experiences during the war, whether at home or in foreign fields. As can be expected from stories about wartime, they do not always make for easy reading and the stories take the reader through a full spectrum of emotions whilst reading, from grief and despair at the horrors of war through to hope and gratitude for all the people who worked so hard to make other’s lives better.

A great read for any pupils studying the First World War or at the changing roles and expectations of women.

The Skylarks’ War by Hilary McKay is a lovely story set in the midst of the First World War. We know how harrowing this war was and how tough it was on the men sent to the front lines, but also for those at home. Clarry is a wonderful main character who has boundless hope. She shows true determination throughout the story of her, her brother Peter and her cousin Rupert.

Most suitable for ages 10-13, this is such a beautiful story of love and hope in the face of adversity. I was laughing in places with the stories from Rupert and had tears streaming down my face in others. The author captures some intense moments of battle, fear and agony in such a way as to make it understandable for children reading the book. I was captivated throughout the whole book. I loved the characters, the storyline and the ending!

A wonderful story of mystery and adventure, which also sheds light on the incredible achievements of the World War Two codebreakers based out of Bletchley Park – a historically important story, which is rarely told in children’s literature.

The story is based around 14-year-old Lizzie Novis, who is on a mission to discover what happened to her mother Willa, whom Lizzie has been told died during a Nazi attack on Poland. But Lizzie is suspicious, and she pledges to uncover the truth. Her journey begins with her successfully plotting an escape from her guardian, who is supposed to be taking her to America to stay with her Gran. Lizzie tries to enlist the help of her brother Jakob, but he is an unwilling accomplice preoccupied with his own secret mission – Jakob has been recruited to Bletchley Park, a world in which Lizzie suddenly finds herself.

The protagonist Lizzie is a high-spirited, passionate, stubborn character who speaks her mind – her antics are brave, endearing and often amusing. Going on this journey with quick-thinking, smart, and surprising Lizzie was an adventure from start to finish. A great adventure story, with historical importance for ages 10-14.

Edda lives in the occupied Netherlands in the 1940s. It is a scary time, as German soldiers are taking young men from the streets and forcing them into hard labour in Germany. Edda has already lost an uncle to this brutality, and she has two brothers, one already in hiding to avoid being taken by the Nazis. Edda is also secretly working for the Resistance, at great personal risk. She even wonders if it is worth it, until things in her hometown get much, much worse.

The story of Edda is based on the early life of the film star Audrey Hepburn, who was half British and half Dutch. Whilst fictional, it contains many true events in Audrey Hepburn’s life, including the killing of her uncle, actually mentioned in Anne Frank’s diary. Aged only fifteen Audrey/Edda worked for the Resistance and showed incredible courage in the face of unimaginable cruelty and horror. As the war dragged on, people were slowly starving to death, as well as facing brutality on the streets of their towns. According to the information at the end of the book, more than 22,000 Dutch people died of starvation during this period, something I never knew.

Teachers teaching about World War 2 will find this book an invaluable resource to add to the plethora of books written about the period.

Safiyyah’s War is a gripping story of heroic defiance set in World War II Paris, all the more gripping for being based on underknown real-life events. It invites the reader to reflect on our shared humanity and the importance of community and compassion.

The story focuses on the central mosque, where a small team of devout North Africans see it as their moral duty to help endangered Jews escape to safety, despite the massive risks. Safiyyah’s Baba is among them. He does what he can to keep his actions secret from his daughter to protect her, but reckons without her strength of character and purpose. Unafraid to break a few rules in the process, Safiyyah insists on being trusted with the truth and allowed to make her own contribution. There is plenty of tension, but Safiyyah’s nerve holds in the face of her fear of the Nazis, leading her to a triumphant act of heroism.

The story illustrates how extreme circumstances can lead ordinary people to do extraordinary things and raises the old question of justice: can it sometimes be right to break the law? A beautiful, hope-affirming book for young people.

Set in the wake of the Chernobyl disaster of 1986, this fictional story of the dogs left behind to fend for themselves is both powerful and upsetting, yet exciting and inspiring.

Anthony McGowan weaves together the story of a young girl who is forced to flee from her home with that of pups Misha and Bratan, brothers who also live a life running away. The characters of the dogs and the other animals they encounter throughout the book are brought to life with vivid descriptions and wonderful storytelling. We are made to care about them as much as we do about the greatest human fictional characters.

The villains of the story, the predators, are menacing and fierce, and the fights between the dogs and them are told in a manner that is not for the faint-hearted. However, the reality of the battle for survival in the wild is not a story of fiction and is, therefore, a story that needs to be told. As such, I would recommend this book to readers of lower secondary school age, best suited to Year 8.

This book will pull at your heartstrings, make your heart skip a beat and leave you in awe of McGowen’s wonderful storytelling.

This is the definitive edition of The Diary of a Young Girl, which details the experiences of Anne Frank as a Jewish girl whose family fled Nazi occupation during World War II. 

Anne’s story is written in diary format and provides details of the months leading up to her time in hiding, background about her family and the political situation in Germany and then the Netherlands. The diary depicts Anne’s short life from her hiding place in the Annexe until she was discovered in 1944. It also gives details about those she was in hiding with and the very brave people who kept them safe.

The book is now considered a classic and is accessible for secondary school children – with language and themes appropriate for children in Key Stage. The book could be used in schools in a wider teaching context or for children to read in their own time, although discussion around the events of the book is always recommended. Anne’s is no ordinary diary and the gravity of the historical and political context needs to be keenly felt, particularly as our children grow up in an age where it would seem they need to be alert to hate crimes, extreme political movements and discrimination in various forms.

Nonetheless, her story is a remarkable and eye-opening one that – despite its dark historical context – also celebrates acts of courage in the face of adversity, making it a key text for readers in Key Stage 3.

The Austen Girls is the imagined tale of Jane Austen’s nieces, Anna and Fanny, and their introduction to society, balls, mature responsibility, and matters of the heart.

Anna and Fanny are cousins who have just reached marriageable age. Close friends with very different personalities, the girls have very different views of the world and their roles and responsibilities within it. The cousins are under pressure to find suitors, one for the money, the other for family. Whilst they navigate the pressures of society during the Georgian era, a darker plot enfolds, involving scams, prison and thief-takers.

The book is written by Lucy Worsley, famous for her history television programmes and the Chief Curator at Historic Royal Palaces. She was inspired to write this tale whilst researching for a Jane Austen Biography she was writing. It is clearly written by an Austen-lover, and there is a clear respect for the author here, which may inspire readers to start to explore Austen’s works for themselves.

A delightful and composed book for secondary pupils, this is a great read.

This adapted version of David Olusoga’s account of Black British history is essential reading is an accessible and informative non-fiction read for children and teens (and also a book I would thoroughly recommend for improving adults’ historical subject knowledge and especially those with input into their school’s curriculum design). It teaches readers to rethink assumptions about history and to question how culturally representative historical sources encountered might really be.

As expressed perfectly by Lavinya Stennett (CEO of the Black Curriculum) in the Afterword, ‘This book is a testimony to the rich experiences of Black people of Britain in different periods of our history, and a reminder of the dearth of Black history in our curriculums.’ 

In the book, Olusoga explains the overlooked history of Black people in Britain from Roman times to the present day. Readers may be surprised to imagine the multiculturally diverse make-up of Roman Britain – and indeed to question why sources of history in schools may paint a historically misrepresentative picture of Roman society. Equally interesting is the development of notions of race throughout the periods of history, as the book walks chronologically through key eras. Did you know that it was only during the time of James I that the term ‘white’ was used as a description of racial identity, or that long after the abolition of slavery, the Victorians were propagating their own racist theories to justify profiting from slave-powered commerce?

An illustrated version (Black and British: An Illustrated History) for younger children is also available.

Medicine: A Magnificently Illustrated History is a visually stunning and fact-packed exploration of the world of medicine. Authored by pharmacy historian Briony Hudson and featuring dynamic artwork by Nick Taylor, this non-fiction title is an excellent resource for classrooms and libraries aiming to evoke curiosity about the history of health and healing.

This comprehensive book covers thousands of years of medical advancements, from ancient herbal remedies to modern breakthroughs, in an accessible and engaging manner. Its chronological structure allows readers to follow the timeline of medical progress while also enabling them to explore topics of interest at their own pace.

Hudson’s writing expertly balances informative content with digestibility, offering fascinating insights into medical practices across various cultures and time periods. The book highlights the strange and shocking aspects of medical history, appealing particularly to children in Year 7 and beyond.

Medicine: A Magnificently Illustrated History exemplifies what children’s non-fiction can be — accessible, beautifully designed, and genuinely fascinating, making it a must-have for any classroom exploring the human story through medicine. The book addresses darker chapters of medical history with sensitivity and appropriateness, inviting meaningful discussions.

Normal Women by Philippa Gregory is a bold, eye-opening dive into the hidden histories of women in Britain – and is not your typical historical non-fiction. Aimed squarely at teens and young adults, this is an empowering and unflinching look at the lives of real women through the ages, from rebels and revolutionaries to everyday figures whose stories have too often been untold.

Gregory, best known for her historical fiction, turns her sharp storytelling skills and deep research to a new audience. She reclaims women’s historical roles with a refreshing, no-nonsense tone, refusing to sanitise or soften the truth. Rather than focusing on queens and noblewomen (as she points out), Gregory celebrates the “normal” women – the working-class, the enslaved, the protestors, the thinkers, the mothers, the childless, the defiant – and the roles they played in shaping the world.

This book encourages critical thinking about the narratives we’ve been taught. Gregory doesn’t just add women to history—she questions why they were left out in the first place. It’s a powerful invitation for young people to reflect on their place in the world and the systems they’re growing up within. The language is accessible and conversational, making it highly readable for secondary-age students while still grounded in rich, historical evidence.

For secondary pupils, the book could be a brilliant companion text to enrich studies in History, PSHE, or English. It also offers plenty of cross-curricular potential – opening doors to discussion, debate, and a deeper understanding of both history and the present day. It might also be a great book club choice for mature, socially aware readers ready to engage with feminist thought and historical injustices.

Philippa Gregory has undoubtedly delivered something special here: an unflinching, inspiring, and much-needed reminder that “normal” women have always been anything but ordinary.

This book packs a punch. It is a history book about the British Empire that takes a unique look forward, asking challenging questions for children to consider around the actions of the past, their impact on shaping the present and how we can learn from the past to build a more equitable future. The uncomfortable facts of the British Empire are tackled head-on (with an acknowledgement that they can be uncomfortable, but that doesn’t mean we shouldn’t discuss them). This includes slavery, colonisation, stripping countries of resources, and the corruption that can come alongside economic and political power.

It also discusses migration and how the Empire has shaped our country today. Themes of power, oppression and the importance of questioning who is telling the stories of the past and why they shape the narrative in a particular way run through the book. It is a book to provoke thought and discussion, and has a real depth to it. It will hugely enhance any history teaching and is a hugely valuable read.