Recommended children's booklists sorted by age or topic

Publisher: HarperCollins Publishers

Needle

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?

Failosophy for Teens

Non-fiction

A game-changing guide to being happier, healthier and succeeding better, from Sunday Times bestselling author Elizabeth Day.

Failosophy For Teens is an inspiring and empowering guide to those moments when life doesn’t go to plan. Using personal experience and stories shared by guests on her award-winning podcast, How to Fail, Elizabeth’s book is full of creative and inspiring advice on how to fail well.

Failing better is the key to learning, growing and ultimately loving yourself as the truly AWESOME human being you are. Failosophy For Teens will challenge your self-perception and change your life!

The Fellowship of the Ring

J.R.R. TOLKIEN

Chapter book

This first book in J.R.R. Tolkien’s epic Lord of the Rings saga, first published in 1954, introduces hobbit Frodo Baggins, who inherits the all-powerful One Ring forged by the dark lord Sauron. To prevent Sauron from dominating Middle-earth, Frodo must embark on a perilous journey to destroy the Ring.

Joining forces with a wizard and various travelling companions, he begins his quest towards Mordor.

This series is considered a foundational work of epic fantasy, earning its place in the literary canon for both adult and teen readers.

Dracula: A Retelling

Tanya Landman

Chapter book, Dyslexia-friendly

Carnegie Medal winner Tanya Landman delivers a terrifyingly enthralling and truly accessible retelling of Bram Stoker’s legendary Gothic horror novel.

Bram Stoker’s Dracula is a masterpiece of horror fiction in which he creates a nightmarish world of vampires, evil-doing and insanity.

A ship steered by a dead man…

A huge black dog springing from its deck…

A girl, sleepwalking towards disaster…

When rising young solicitor Jonathan Harker helps the mysterious and sinister Count Dracula purchase property in London he unleashes an evil that threatens to destroy the whole of humanity.

Echostar is Always Listening

Melinda Salisbury

Chapter book, Dyslexia-friendly

Aimed at a teen market, Echostar is a short pacey novel which could appeal to more reluctant readers or be easily digested in one sitting by more prolific ones.

A useful conversation starter regarding internet safety, use of social media and apps, Melinda Salisbury covers themes of cybercrime, assault, bullying and grooming through the use of characters who seem unlikely to be caught up in such difficulties – widening the accessibility of the story.

An absorbing ready, this is highly relevant to the teen generation who often seem keen to identify shortcut to success. Echostar might serve as a timely reminder that if something appears to be too good to be true, it often is.

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.

Blitzers

Alastair Chisholm & Francesca Ficorilli

Chapter book, Dyslexia-friendly

Another enjoyable read from the Barrington Stoke team, this story is a welcome addition to the gaming genre and should interest readers who have an interest in any of the major game platforms.

Blitzers are the latest craze: characters in handheld electronic games that fight against each other when their owners join their screens together. Danny is desperate to have one, so when his brother Jay brings one home, he starts to ‘train’ it to become a champion. However, Danny’s Blitzer, Chew Lip, is a bit different to the others and doesn’t want to fight. He is advised to reset it, but Danny takes a different approach, and Chew Lip surprises him. When all the Blitzers suddenly vanish from their screens and the manufacturers declare technical issues, Danny receives a mysterious message, and the hunt is on to find out what is really going on at the Blitzers Inc. headquarters.

There are themes of friendship, self-esteem and celebrating differences, as well as a message of concern regarding ‘big tech’. The story does play with the emotions too: it is genuinely funny in places as Danny tries in vain to make Chew Lip more combative, but there is a sorrowful side to it when the electronic game appears to have feelings and becomes emotional. This book does make you think!

My Soul, A Shining Tree

Jamila Gavin

Chapter book

My Soul, a Shining Tree is a short, powerful novel that looks at war through the eyes of different characters. By showing multiple perspectives, it helps readers understand the different ‘sides’ of the conflict and the very real impact on people’s lives. I also really enjoyed how the different perspectives interacted with each other. I found Ernst’s story, in particular, incredibly moving: his experiences really brought the experiences of young people who went into battle to the forefront. Because the book is short, teachers could easily use extracts from the different perspectives as writing prompts or as a stimulus to support lessons about World War I.

The shifting narratives also help children think about how perspective can shape a story, while encouraging discussion about courage, loss, and resilience. I also really liked the inclusion of Khudadad, an Indian gunner, highlighting the important role soldiers from across the Commonwealth played in supporting the war. My Soul, a Shining Tree is perfect for helping young readers connect with history and develop empathy.

Jellybean

Eve Ainsworth & Theo Parish

Chapter book, Dyslexia-friendly

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.

What it was like to be an Ancient Greek

David Long & Stefano Tambellini

Dyslexia-friendly, Non-fiction

Delving into this short, dyslexia-friendly book, there is an opening map for readers to consider what Greece is like now compared to 3000 years ago, when over 7 million people were occupying this land, named Hellas.

It is filled with an abundance of facts and would make a great accompaniment to the classroom and curriculum for anyone studying the Ancient Greeks. It also does a great job of relaying the message that the ‘Ancient Greeks still influence how we live our lives today.’

This book referred to parts of Ancient Greek life that are not always mentioned in primary schools, but help give a great base of knowledge on the history of this country. A fascinating read!

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Publisher: HarperCollins Publishers

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