Recommended children's booklists sorted by age or topic

Format: Chapter book

Elsewhere

Chapter book

‘Elsewhere’ provides its readers with an intriguing, beautiful take on life after death. 15-year-old Elizabeth (Liz) dies as a result of a hit and run accident and finds herself in ‘Elsewhere’ – a place not dissimilar to Earth, yet completely different. Liz finds it hard to adjust and yearns for the life she will no longer get to live. She spends endless hours, days clinging desperately onto her old life refusing to accept that the life she once knew is over – she even makes a desperate forbidden attempt to make contact with Earth rather than accept her fate and start her new life in Elsewhere. But in doing so, Liz is miserable.

As the story unfolds, and with the help of some important characters that she encounters along the way, eventually Liz realises that happiness is a choice and that clinging to her old life is pointless.

This is a heart-warming, comforting story of dealing with the unpredictability of life, second chances, the power of friendship and love, and the importance of living life to its fullest. It is a well-written, absorbing easy read, which will make the reader smile at its charm.

Small Town Hero

Chapter book

Following the tragic death of his father, teenager Gabe’s world is turned upside down. As he grapples with grief and a new life with his estranged uncle, he discovers an extraordinary power: the ability to create alternate realities through a video game.

Gabe’s journey begins as an escape, but soon evolves into an interesting and empathetic exploration of family, loss and the very nature of reality.

This is a thought-provoking and rich read, perfect for older students and those interested in gaming or the notion of alternative realities.

The Disconnect

Keren David

Chapter book, Dyslexia-friendly

With a high-interest premise for today’s teens, Keren David’s fast-paced novel explores a challenge offered to a group of students: give up their phones for six weeks to win a prize of one thousand pounds.

The story follows Esther, who struggles with the challenge as she uses her phone to keep in contact with her father and sister in New York. She soon realises that not everyone is playing the challenge fairly.

This relatable story offers a look at the impact of technology and social media on young people in a fair and balanced way – unapologetically touching on both pros and cons of teenage mobile phone use. Written in a dyslexia-friendly format, it is an ideal and accessible short read exploring themes of friendship, peer pressure and the digital world.

Needle

Patrice Lawrence

Chapter book, Dyslexia-friendly

A powerful and heart-rending exploration of a teenager’s journey through grief, rage and getting caught in the criminal justice system from award-winning author Patrice Lawrence.

Winner of the 2023 Little Rebels Award and shortlisted for the Carnegie Medal.

Charlene is a demon knitter. It’s the only thing she enjoys and the only thing she believes she’s really good at.

So when her foster mum’s son destroys her latest creation, Charlene loses it and stabs him in the hand with her knitting needle. It damages a nerve and she gets sucked into the criminal justice system for assault.

Charlene’s not sorry and she’s never apologised to anyone in her life. But people keep telling her that if she says sorry, they’ll go easier on her. Can she bring herself to say it and not mean it when her freedom’s at stake?

The Hitchhiker’s Guide to the Galaxy

Chapter book

This sci-fi comedy classic wasn’t initially written for children, but so many young readers still fall in love with this pop-culture series between the ages of 12 and 17.

Perfectly ordinary Arthur Dent is surprised to learn that his best friend Ford Prefect isn’t from Guildford, but actually from Beletegeuse, and that Earth is about to be destroyed to make way for a new hyperspace bypass. The pair flee the planet and set off on a wild series of bizarre, hilarious adventures that will appeal to sci-lovers and fans of silly humour.

Douglas Adams’s Hitchhiker novels are imaginative and very funny. This edition, which is illustrated by former Children’s Laureate Chris Riddell, is brought to life with line illustrations that capture the spirit of quirky adventure perfectly.

When Shadows Fall

Sita Brahmachari

Chapter book

A human rights ambassador for Amnesty International, Sita Brachmachari is renowned for placing children’s rights, refugee rights and environmental rights at the forefront of her stories and When Shadows Fall encapsulates those struggles in a story that is at times distressing, but equally uplifting.

Voiced from the perspective of three friends, Brachmachari deftly weaves an account of how quickly someone’s life can unravel following the loss of a loved one, but also how help can come from the strength of a stranger, who has learned to not only survive the atrocities of war but also felt the isolation of rebuilding a life in a country where, as a refugee, they have not always been made to feel welcome.

A mature story that celebrates the joys of the innocence of childhood friendships, how dramatically one person’s life and mental health can deteriorate when that friendship fractures, how seeing those events from the other person’s perspective can help us to heal and rebuild what we might think was lost forever and how we can learn to love a new path in life.

I Dare You

Chapter book

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 Last Paper Crane

Chapter book

Nominated for the 2021 CILIP Carnegie Medal, joint winner of the UKLA 11-14 Book Award 2021 and winner of the Warwickshire Schools Library Award.

A Japanese teenager, Mizuki, is worried about her grandfather who is clearly desperately upset about something. He says that he has never got over something that happened in his past and gently Mizuki persuades him to tell her what it is.

We are taken to 1945, Hiroshima, and Mizuki’s grandfather as a teenage boy chatting at home with his friend Hiro. Moments later the horrific nuclear bomb is dropped on Hiroshima. What follows is a searing account of the blinding flash, the harrowing search for family and the devastation both human and physical. There is also the very moving and human story as the two teenage boys with great bravery search for and find Keiko, Hiro’s five-year-old sister. But then Keiko is lost when Mizuki’s grandfather has no option but to leave her in a safe place while he goes for help… Despite a desperate search in the aftermath of the bomb, where he leaves origami folded paper cranes for Keiko with his address on everywhere a survivor could be, he cannot find her… A powerful novel that, despite its harrowing subject matter, has hope at its heart.

Salt to the Sea

Ruta Sepetys

Chapter book

A compelling historical novel set in 1945.

Salt to the Sea follows a small group of refugees who are desperately fleeing the Russian army. As they make a dangerous journey across the country, their destination is a German evacuation ship, the Wilhelm Gustloff. Each chapter is told from a different character’s perspective as the group strives to flee to safety.

Based on meticulous research into the real-life maritime disaster, Ruta Sepetys weaves a masterfully crafted narrative that is both beautiful and sad. Told as a multiple perspective narrative, this story explores topics of survival and unity during the final months of the Second World War, as well as wider themes of refugee experiences, learning to trust others and the power of finding hope and human connection in difficult times.

Zac and Jac

Cathy Jenkins & Monique Steele

Chapter book

Nine-year-old Jac sees his father as a hero, but when Jac joins a local football team with his best friend Zac, things start to get a bit weird at home. It’s not until a group of professional footballers come into school to talk about racism that Jac realises what his father’s problem could be. After a traumatic turn of events, Jac learns of the difficulties faced by Zac’s grandparents and the Windrush Generation and becomes determined to help to make a change in society, starting with his own family.