Format: Chapter book

Enter Eddie Shakespeare

Chapter book

Eddie Shakespeare was the playwright’s very much lesser-known younger brother, but Barbara Henderson brings him thoroughly to life in this lively and imaginative novel for 9-12s.

Eddie is confident, reckless and desperate to follow his brother to the theatres of London and escape his fate as Stratford’s next glovemaker apprentice. His adventurous nature will draw children into the story initially, before he uncovers a plot against his brother Will, hatched by jealous rivals (Christopher Marlowe among them) and the pace really picks up. I really enjoyed all the accurate historical and theatrical detail Henderson has woven into the book – children will really get a feel for London at the time, as well as Tudor theatre – like boys playing women, the raucous and unpredictable nature of open air theatres, and the quick changeover of plays, players and playwrights.

I also liked the inclusion of a new friend for Eddie in Reasonable, a silk master’s apprentice, and the first Black person he has ever met. You can tell Henderson loves to write stories peppered with and threaded around historical fact – she does it so well. The plot remains simple and uncomplicated throughout.

Overall, it’s a great way to introduce children to Shakespeare and Tudor London!

Detective Thingy Majiggy

Cecelia Ahern

Chapter book

Detective Thingy Majiggy is a daft, funny and imaginative early chapter book that is sure to appeal to children who enjoy quirky characters, humour and a good mystery.

The story follows Mia, a young girl who has recently moved into a new home as a looked-after child. Her new carer, Detective Lucy, is friendly and welcoming, but Mia has a rather unusual gift: she can talk to inanimate objects, and, more importantly, they can talk back! From angry toasters and friendly teapots to anxious whiteboards, the objects around Mia have plenty to say.When Mia starts at her new school, things do not quite go according to plan. A fire breaks out in the classroom, and Mia’s unusual ability becomes an unexpected advantage as she attempts to work out exactly what has happened.

Cecelia Ahern creates a wonderfully silly world, with plenty of humour woven throughout the story. The illustrations are cute and add to the playful feel of the book, helping to break up the text and make it accessible to developing readers. As an early chapter book, it is easy to read and would work well for children who are ready to move beyond picture books but may not yet be confident with longer novels.

Mia’s experience as a looked-after child is also sensitively woven into the story without becoming the sole focus. Her new circumstances provide an opportunity to explore themes of belonging, friendship and starting again.

A fun, accessible choice for younger independent readers, particularly those who enjoy humorous, slightly bonkers adventures and imaginative characters.

The Summer My Wishes Came True

Radhika Sanghani

Chapter book

The Summer My Wishes Came True is a beautiful, heart-warming story about friendship, family, growing up and discovering that sometimes the things we think we want aren’t necessarily what we truly need.

I enjoyed the summer vibes and emotional themes. I also enjoyed the way the book explores wishes and dreams. It is easy to imagine that getting exactly what we want will make everything perfect, but this story gently reminds us that happiness can come from unexpected places. Sometimes the people we meet, the memories we make and the relationships we build are much more important than the wishes we originally had.

There is plenty of warmth and humour throughout the story, but also some touching moments. It is the kind of book that makes you smile while you are reading, but also leaves you thinking about it afterwards. A gorgeous summer read.

Creepy Araminta

Anne Fine & Emily Jones

Chapter book, Dyslexia-friendly

A short but brilliant Barrington Stoke read! Creepy Araminta is a wonderfully funny, spooky and completely entertaining book that is perfect for children who enjoy a little bit of mystery and mischief.!

Araminta is a brilliant main character. She is full of personality, and her adventures are packed with humour. The story has just the right amount of creepiness without becoming genuinely frightening, making it a great choice for children who enjoy spooky stories but might not be ready for anything too scary.

One of the things I particularly loved about Creepy Araminta is how accessible it feels for less confident readers. The book is dyslexia-friendly, with features that make reading easier and less overwhelming. The clear layout, accessible text and manageable sections help children navigate the story without feeling that they are faced with huge blocks of writing. This makes it a particularly good choice for children who may struggle with reading fluency or become put off by longer, more densely presented books.

The illustrations also help bring the story to life, giving readers visual clues and making the pages feel inviting. This is especially important for children who can find traditional chapter books intimidating.Despite being accessible, the book doesn’t feel like a book specifically designed for struggling readers.

I think this would make a fantastic choice for children who love ghosts, mysteries, eccentric characters and plenty of humour!

Soul Feeder

Jennifer Killick & Marina Vidal

Chapter book, Dyslexia-friendly

Caiden and Sam find themselves trapped and alone in a vast warehouse with a soul-feeding demon in this hair-raising horror from bestselling and award-winning author Jennifer Killick.

Caiden and his best friend Sam are used to coming across some pretty weird stuff while helping Caiden’s dad in his house-clearing business. But they’ve never seen anything like the grotesque mounted heads of bizarre, other-worldly creatures they find in what was Sasha Kinski’s home. It’s clear that something awful has happened here, and it’s not over yet …

Alone at the company warehouse that evening, the boys make the terrifying discovery that they have brought an uninvited evil passenger back with them from Miss Kinski’s house.

With their very souls in peril, can Caiden and Sam unravel the mystery in time to save themselves …?

Particularly suitable for readers aged 9+ with a reading age of 8.

Max and Ella, Stuck Together

Kristina Rahim

Chapter book

Max has always known that he was conceived with the help of a sperm donor. He loves both of his two Mums and had never felt he needed more but, since moving to secondary school, Max has been subjected to bullying from Isaac, just because his family looks a bit different. Max tries not to let it get to him, but even he can’t deny that it has affected him, where he previously loved to be in the spotlight, he now hides away.

Mumsha thinks it would help Max to get to know Hari, who is the donor and a friend of Mumsha – from way back to their college days together.

Meanwhile, Ella only found out her Dad had been a donor at the beginning of the holidays when he and her Mum sat her down to explain. She thought she was cool about it, but as Max seems to have crept more and more into their lives, finally disrupting the camping trip she was supposed to be sharing with her best friends this weekend before they all go off to different schools, Ella can’t stop feeling resentful before she has even met him.

Written with a dual narrative, with the clever use of font to differentiate each part, this novel helps explore two sides of the story and how far reaching choices can impact on different people’s lives whether that be the decision to go along the path of donor conception; the taunts and jibes that can affect someone else’s life; how anger can affect our decision making; and how we can have preconceived ideas about someone.

A wonderfully rich source of discussion for PSHE and/or as a class read. Suitable for mature KS2 or lower KS3. This might also be useful as an opened for Year 6 students grappling with their friends potentially going off to different schools.

Stableheart: Helping Hero

Nicci Johnson

Chapter book

The first book in a brand NEW horse series full of heart, set in an inner city riding stables. Perfect for fans of Heartland and Tracy Beaker.

Eleven-year-old Pres can barely remember her mum. Now, she’s leaving behind her foster parents to go and live in the city with her eccentric Aunty Janelle.

Here she discovers Stableheart, a riding stables in the heart of the city, and meets Hero, a bay pony who has his own secrets.

Hero won’t let anyone touch him, let alone ride him. But Pres knows all about difficult pasts and together they’ll learn that sometimes to make a place a home, you have to let the past catch up with you . .

A contemporary horse series with a diverse cast of characters, for children who love horses!

The Boy With Two Mums

Mel Elliott

Chapter book

Pearl’s dad makes the best hot chocolate in the world, Jemima’s grandma makes delicious cakes and Frida’s dad lives in a different house to her and her mum. When the children in Mrs Patel’s class are sharing stories about what makes their families’ special, new boy Rufus is excited to invite everyone to his mum’s art exhibition where Pearl discovers he has two mums. Rufus explains that they love each other very much and are married just like her own parents.

A beautifully-illustrated story about making friends, celebrating differences in family dynamics and demonstrating that family can be found in many different forms. This is a great ‘I see me’ book that demonstrates variety and inclusivity in a simple, child-friendly manner.

Ben’s Gargoyle

Keith Gray & Keith Robinson

Chapter book, Dyslexia-friendly

Keith Gray’s Ben’s Gargoyle is a powerful modern Gothic story that explores family breakdown, bullying, neglect and resilience through the eyes of 11-year-old Ben. After his mother moves to France with her new partner, Ben is forced to leave his friends behind and live with his angry, controlling father. Struggling to settle into a new school where he is bullied, Ben feels isolated and frightened. His only escape is the view from his tiny attic bedroom, where he begins to see a terrifying gargoyle creeping across the rooftops each night.

Gray skilfully blends psychological horror with emotional realism, using the gargoyle as a powerful symbol of Ben’s fear and trauma. The story builds tension effectively, with unsettling scenes as the creature moves ever closer. Some moments are particularly graphic, including detailed descriptions of the gargoyle feeding on a pigeon and a disturbing climactic sequence, making this a book better suited to confident readers who are comfortable with darker themes. There are also references to domestic abuse, neglect and emotional manipulation, as well as some strong language.

Despite its dark subject matter, Ben’s Gargoyle is ultimately a story of hope. As Ben begins to recognise that he is not alone, he discovers the courage to stand up to both the bullies at school and the far greater threat at home. Gray handles these difficult issues with sensitivity, creating believable characters and an emotionally satisfying conclusion.

Keith Robinson’s striking monochrome illustrations perfectly complement the brooding atmosphere, while Barrington Stoke’s dyslexia-friendly font, tinted paper and accessible layout ensure the story is available to a wide range of readers. Suitable for readers aged 9+, this compelling and thought-provoking novella would make an excellent choice for Upper KS2 or KS3, providing rich opportunities to discuss symbolism, resilience, healthy relationships and finding hope in difficult circumstances.