Recommended children's booklists sorted by age or topic

Publisher: HarperCollins Publishers

My Perfect Cousin

Chapter book, Dyslexia-friendly

Cousins Yasmin and Ruby have always been rivals, but both sides of the story are exposed in this cleverly composed clean-teen novella from Karen McCombie.

Ruby can’t stand her “perfect” cousin Yasmin. Yasmin is pretty, popular and has a gorgeous boyfriend Max. She’s set to get excellent grades in her GCSEs and her parents won’t stop going on about how brilliant she is.

Ruby always feel small and hopeless around Yasmin, and whenever she gets any attention, Yasmin tries to make sure the spotlight turns back to her.

Or that’s how Ruby feels anyway. But is there another side to the story?

Trapped

Melania Badosa & Sophie McKenzie

Chapter book, Dyslexia-friendly

A dramatic coach crash forces Hailey to re-examine her relationships with her fellow singing-club members in this gripping drama from queen of teen thrillers Sophie McKenzie.

A singing-club trip ends in disaster when the coach carrying the members spins out of control. Hailey is trapped at the back of the coach with her nemesis Bex, who’s taken the lead role in their latest performance, and handsome Kit, on whom Hailey has a massive crush.

As the coach hangs over the edge of a precipice and Kit escapes to find help, Hailey and Bex have to get over their initial judgements about each other and work together if they are to stand a chance of survival. Will they find a way to safety?

City Boy

Alan Combes & Aleksandar Sotirovski

Chapter book, Dyslexia-friendly

Josh undertakes some unusual training methods to improve his technique in this fun football story, edited to a reading age of 6.5.

Josh is football mad – and so is his granddad, who used to be a league player. Josh is disappointed when he doesn’t do so well in matches at school, so his granddad comes up with some rather unorthodox training methods to help him. Will Josh make it all the way?

The Wrong Wheels

C. L. Tompsett & Julia Page

Chapter book, Dyslexia-friendly

A boastful teen faces the consequences of showing off in this funny short school story, specially designed for seriously struggling and reluctant teen readers.

Troy loves to show off. He loves to boast about his money and his dad’s new car. Will Troy ever learn his lesson?

Date with Danger

Jo Browning Wroe & Julia Page

Chapter book, Dyslexia-friendly

A day at the beach turns deadly in this gripping story, specially designed to engage seriously struggling and reluctant teen readers.

It was supposed to be a great day at the beach. Carla said she’d help Ben in the water. But now Carla has swum away – and Ben can’t swim!

Because of You

Chapter book, Dyslexia-friendly

Poppy feels like her life is falling to pieces in this coming-of-age novella of blended families and online bullying from acclaimed author Eve Ainsworth.

Poppy’s having a nightmare at home. Her parents have split up and her mum’s new boyfriend is moving in. Dad is the one who’s always been there for Poppy, but now he’s drifting further and further away. It seems like things can’t get any worse until it all goes wrong at school as well and Poppy finds herself being targeted by spiteful bullies. As the vicious online comments keep coming, who can Poppy turn to for help?

Dance of Resistance: The Josephine Baker Story

Chapter book, Dyslexia-friendly

Rags to riches, superstar to spy, abject poverty to civil rights activism… This re-telling of the true-life story of Josephine Baker – the famous Black stage performer of the 1920s – is utterly fascinating, and a perfect piece of narrative non-fiction.

Inspiring, vivid, insightful, thought-provoking and accessible.

A Poem for Every Question

Poetry

Funny and thought-provoking answers to curious questions … in poetry form!

Join renowned poet Brian Bilston for a hilarious, non-fiction adventure in 100 poems – with subjects ranging from science and animals to unicorns, pyramids, technology and MUCH more.

Questions include …

· How many stars in the Universe exploded today?

· Who invented football?

· Who is the champion weightlifter of the animal world?

· How did the ancient Egyptians make a mummy?

Each fascinating question about the world around us is answered with one of Brian’s unforgettable, witty and characterful poems. Expect the hilarious, thought-provoking, poignant – and downright silly!

Brian’s poems are accompanied by an extra non-fiction explainer, filled with facts and written with just as much humour and heart as the poems. Prepare to find some amazing stories and information to share with your family, teachers and friends!

Each page is brought to life with bright, humorous and characterful artwork by Bristol-based illustrator, animator and cartoonist Joe Berger. Joe has illustrated over 40 children’s books including Sammy Striker and the Football Cup by Catherine Emmett and Sometimes I am Furious by Timothy Knapman. He is a past official illustrator for World Book Day, and winner of Booktrust’s Best New Illustrators Award.

Scarlet Morning, Book 1: Scarlet Morning

Chapter book

From the powerhouse creator of Nimona comes a breathtaking illustrated novel, the start of a duology, following two orphans who leave the only home they’ve ever known to sail with an eccentric crew of pirates.

Viola and Wilmur have been waiting for their parents for fifteen boring years in the colorless town of Caveat. Their lives are a drudge of salt, trash, pirate stories, and what-ifs . . . until one very stormy night, when Captain Cadence Chase breaks down their door. They cut a deal with the captain: Chase can take their most prized possession, a mysterious book, but only if she takes them, too. After all, if their parents aren’t coming, Viola and Wilmur might as well have a grand adventure to find them.

Setting sail into the treacherous and beautiful world beyond Caveat, the two inseparable friends must uncover the facts behind legend—and the key to saving all of Dickerson’s Sea from obliteration—before the truth tears them apart.

Wickedly funny, deeply emotional, and sharply incisive, Scarlet Morning is a tale of love, betrayal, and the extraordinary lengths we’d go to save a world broken beyond repair.

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?

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Publisher: HarperCollins Publishers

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