Read For Empathy – Secondary

I really liked Jellybean. It’s a super quick read, but it actually packs a punch. It’s all about dealing with anxiety and that awful feeling of just not wanting to go into school, which I think a lot of children (and adults!) can relate to. However, the central theme is severe anxiety and school avoidance (EBSA).

Teachers should be aware of this in case it triggers conversations with children currently struggling with attendance or anxiety, but it is ultimately a hopeful story.

This thought-provoking narrative tells the story of ‘Phoenix Brothers’ Amir and Mo, who have recently arrived in England after a perilous journey fleeing from their home country, Iraq.

Amir has lost his home, his family and now his voice; Mo is alone in the world and has experienced unspeakable horrors on his journey. As they rise from the ashes and build a new life in the UK, they discover their talents and find friends who will stand with them even when others stand in their way.

Told through the eyes of Amir, the book subtly and sensitively explores themes of displacement, prejudice, language barriers and the impact of trauma. Amir’s recollections as he prepares for the George Orwell speech competition reveal the challenges and horrors faced by many vulnerable refugee children in their quest for safety and liberty.

This split narrative story – dividing time between Samim’s current situation in foster care awaiting his asylum decision, and his narrated past of how he came to Britain from Afghanistan – is both moving and pacey, standing out as a powerful refugee story.

Pathos is built through Samim’s narrative of his horrific journey and those he lost along the way, but also through the present tense story in which he is bullied at school, and the guilt he feels that he has let down and lost his best friend, Zayn. Throughout the present tense narrative, Zayn appears to him as a ghost, giving witty insights into his situation at school and his endeavours in chess club.

When Samim narrates his journey to his caseworker, Zayn is both alive and a lively character – Samim’s best friend and the closest thing he has to family. Both boys are superbly rendered, their personalities clear and engaging, which invokes empathy and understanding.

This book deals with many topical issues, not just refugees, but also the importance of cultural heritage, hobbies, friendships and an understanding of identity and rights.

This is not just an ‘issue’ book, but an engaging read. The story contains references to medication, fighting, and gender identity, and also portrays death and a graphic journey across water. Most suitable for the very oldest in primary or KS3, and is compelling and powerful, sitting alongside Welcome to Nowhere by Elizabeth Laird or Boy Everywhere by AM Dassu.

The First Year by Matt Goodfellow is the highly anticipated sequel to the emotionally powerful The Final Year. The previous book has made a profound impact on readers and significantly boosted the popularity of verse novels for Key Stage 2. The First Year follows into KS3, on as Nate navigates the ups and downs of his first year of secondary.

Matt Goodfellow explores the themes of family bonds, resilience, finding one’s voice, the power of language and the influence of supportive (and unsupportive) adults in school. This sequel is just as emotive – perhaps even more – as Nate is torn away from the familiar comfort and safety of primary school and finds himself thrown into the stark environment of secondary. The story also celebrates the joy of new friendships and the strong sense of belonging Nate shares with his brothers and friends.

This is a verse novel where the story unfolds through poetry. Some of the shortest and most sparse poems are the ones that evoke the greatest depth of emotion, with the white space on the page providing the reader with a moment to reflect and process – but only a moment, as this is really a page-turner that makes you greedy to read on.

A really well-presented, beautifully thought-out book. The layout makes it easy to dip in and out of and is very visually appealing to a reader. The author’s introduction is heart-warming and inspirational, with clear messages that ‘disabled is not a bad word.’ Though the title might lead you to believe that the main audience is the disabled population, it is also a great read for non-disabled readers to understand the best ways to support their disabled peers and loved ones, and to understand that we all must advocate for a more accessible, accepting world.

This is best for Key Stage 2 pupils and is definitely a book which should become a classroom staple read to pupils as an enjoyable text and not simply popped in the library to hit a diversity quota.

One Day shares the true story of survival during the Holocaust. Michael Rosen may be well known for his funny verses and entertaining poetry performances, but here he showcases a different, more serious and thought-provoking depth, inspired by real experiences from family history.

This stark, accessible picture book features Benjamin Phillips’s sombre and expressive illustrations in muted watercolour and inks, to follow a young French Resistance fighter who is captured by the Nazis and placed on a convoy headed to Auschwitz, but refuses to give up hope and eventually plans an escape.

The book deals with the harsh realities of the Holocaust and therefore is one for older primary or younger secondary readers. Among the darker historical truths, light also shines through in the focus on human courage and acts of agency in the face of evil. A gentle way to introduce a tough historical topic to children, making it a highly recommended choice for Upper Key Stage 2 history shelves.